I Became The Extra King With Seven Wives-Chapter 21: Facing The Wives

"You can stand now."

When I gave the authorization, they rose in unison. Now that they were on their feet, I could see better. I could see the hard, flinty look in Asthenia’s eyes and the barely suppressed irritation in Morgana’s stance.

Ravenna had the same cold, dead-fish stare as always. I honestly wondered if she had even listened to a word I said or if she was mentally dissecting a frog.

Dorothy... ha. She looked away the second I turned my gaze toward her, like vibrating with anxiety.

And finally, Diana. She was looking straight at me, waiting with a serious expression. There was a flicker of expectancy there, a curiosity. Despite being a Royal Princess with every reason to be difficult, she seemed surprisingly obedient.

"What I would love the most is to trust you," I said, sweeping my gaze over the five of them. "My father’s last act was choosing you officially as my wives. I want to believe in my father’s judgment. And I will honor him by trying to know you and trust you because I want to do it. Not just for him, but personally."

I walked in front of Dorothy first.

She was the shortest girl here, and with my recent growth spurt, the height difference was quite the sight. Her head barely reached my chest. With how withdrawn she was, shoulders hunched, she looked like a frightened kitten trying to make itself invisible.

"Dorothy, would you look at your King?" I asked gently.

At my demand, she slowly raised her purple eyes to mine.

"Your Majesty..." She muttered, her gaze quivering, hesitant. There was genuine fear or maybe anxiety there.

Our status were worlds apart after all.

"I heard our fathers were quite good friends," I started.

When I mentioned her father, as expected, some of the tension drained from her shoulders.

"Indeed..."

"They both agreed upon this marriage, so I hope you will put in as much effort as I do to make it work," I said.

"I—I will, Your Majesty," she nodded vehemently, looking relieved to have an instruction she could follow.

I smiled at that. "Do you wish for anything else in particular? Any needs that aren’t being met?"

"Not at all," she shook her head immediately, too quickly.

As expected. She wouldn’t ask for water if she were on fire. I would need more time to crack that shell.

I walked next to Ravenna.

"Dear Ravenna."

"Your Majesty," she replied, her dark, cold blue eyes staring back at me without a flicker of emotion.

I felt myself smiling just looking at her. She was a puzzle box I couldn’t wait to force open.

"As always, you intrigue me, Ravenna." I reached out, my fingers brushing a strand of her pitch-black hair. She didn’t flinch at my touch. "Would you one day be honest with me? Tell me everything about yourself?"

Ravenna kept silent.

"Answer me, Ravenna," I said, sharpening my tone just enough to be an order.

"What does His Majesty wish to know?" She asked.

I just smiled at her very smart, very evasive answer.

A villainess indeed.

I didn’t press further and walked next to Asthenia.

"Dear and lovely Asthenia." I couldn’t help but flash her my brightest, most charming smile. "It’s been a while since I last saw you. If I remember correctly, the last time I greeted you, you ignored me. A Royal Prince, ignored in his own palace, only you could pull of something like that.."

Asthenia averted her gaze slightly.

"Are you happy with this marriage, Asthenia? To be married to me?" I asked, enjoying the squirm.

"I am, Your Majesty," she replied, as emotionless as Ravenna.

"Do you know how much I waited and dreamed about this moment? Since I learned you would become my Queen? Since I first laid eyes on you?" I asked, letting a note of mock-wistfulness enter my voice.

"I am not your Queen, Your Majesty," she replied sharply, snapping back.

"You are not," I agreed, nodding at her. "My Father chose Diana as my Queen, and I intend to keep it that way. Do you have anything to say against it?"

"I don’t," she replied curtly.

I smirked slightly, satisfied with the scratch on her armor, before stepping in front of Diana.

"Your Majesty," she started, moving to lower her head in a bow.

I immediately reached out, my hand cupping her chin to stop her.

"No need to bow, Diana," I said softly, looking into those startling pink eyes. "You are my Queen, after all."

"Y—Yes, Your Majesty," she stuttered slightly as I held her chin, forcing the connection.

"And I want to see your face," I added, scanning her features like a cartographer mapping a new world.

Her face was perfect. Statistically, artistically perfect. Long purple eyelashes framed eyes the color of pink dawn. A small, straight nose. Full pink lips that looked painted on porcelain and soft only to be devoured.

Looking at her this close, I could confirm the hyperbole was justified. She was indeed worthy of the title ’Most Beautiful Woman in the World.’

Diana stared at me awkwardly, trapped by my grip, but when she caught the intensity of my gaze, she averted her eyes, unable to hold the contact.

"I am sorry for your loss," I said quietly. "I have also lost my father recently. I can understand the shape of your grief."

"Thank you, Your Majesty..." She muttered. A flicker of emotion passed through her eyes, pain, recognition, perhaps a tiny spark of gratitude.

She was still grieving, her father, her home, everything she had lost in the chaos of Gardenia. But I knew her situation was even more complicated than simple bereavement.

If I asked her what she wanted, I knew exactly what she would say. She wanted an army. She wanted me to march on Gardenia and reclaim her birthright, her Kingdom and plenty of other things possibly. But I wasn’t going to ask, because I couldn’t grant that wish. I had a kingdom of my own currently being circled by sharks. I couldn’t bleed for hers just yet.

"My father chose you as Queen over Asthenia," I said, letting go of her chin but holding her gaze. "I hope you will live up to his expectations."

"I will, Your Majesty," she replied.

"Good," I smiled, stepping back.

I moved to the last one.

Morgana.

"How have you been, Morgana?" I asked, stopping in front of her. "Looks like you have been quite busy playing around with your sword."

"I am not playing around," Morgana shot back with a glare.

"Is that so?" I raised a brow, letting my eyes travel slowly from her messy ponytail down to her scuffed boots. "And yet you stepped into my Throne Hall wearing such a ridiculous costume?"

Morgana bit her lip, clearly holding back a sharp retort she would have definitely given me before, before I was King.

"I came in a hurry," she muttered.

"In a hurry? I called this council for a specific hour. You had plenty of time to get ready to meet your new husband. In fact, you had a duty to get ready properly. I don’t mind your obsession with swords and knights, Morgana, but etiquette is the armor of the court. You came to my palace in training attire, your boots staining my floors."

Morgana’s glare intensified, her hands clenching into fists at her sides.

"I accepted becoming your wife for the sake of the Kingdom," she nearly spat out. "I have no intention of changing myself for you."

"Lady Morgana," Eleanor called out immediately shooting her a very stern look.

I raised a hand, stopping Eleanor before she continued.

I crossed my arms and stared at Morgana. My smile widened, but it was definitely not a friendly. I waited, letting the silence stretch, daring her to say more. Daring her to dig the hole deeper.

Morgana shifted, looking awkward under the weight of my stare. Was that regret in her eyes?

No. If she regretted it, she would have apologized. She was just uncomfortable with the silence.

"May I leave now..." She asked, grinding the words out. Then, as an afterthought she added, "Your Majesty?"

I leaned my face close to hers, invading her space until she stiffened.

"You may leave, Morgana," I whispered.

She nodded and turned on her heel, nearly stomping toward the exit.

My smile vanished instantly as I watched her walking off.

A second later, I caught Dorothy staring at me. When our eyes met, she immediately looked away, terrified.

"Dorothy," I said. "Would you call all those old men back? The King and Wives talk has ended."

"Y—Yes!" She stuttered, scrambling toward the door Morgana had left ajar.

"His Majesty is calling you..." She said timidly to the nobles gathered outside.

I walked back to my throne and settled on it, watching as the court filed back in, their eyes darting nervously between me and the remaining wives.