Reincarnated as the Betrothed: Bride of the Shadow Queen

In the meeting hall of the Kingdom of Gaelen's palace

Queen Serena sat on her ornate throne in the grand meeting hall, a space filled with the echoes of previous decisions that had shaped her kingdom. Her emerald gown flowed around her like a cascade of forest leaves, contrasting sharply with the storm brewing in her chest.

Disappointment and anger swirled within her, directed toward Selmor Sherwood, whose recent behavior had crossed a line. Beside her, King Mikael exuded an aura of calmness, his presence a steadfast anchor amidst the rising tide of her emotions.

With a gentle yet firm tone, he spoke, "Serena, take a moment to breathe. Do not let anger guide your hand. When Selmor arrives, keep your words measured; don't make any hasty judgments." Serena inhaled deeply, her chest rising like a ship's sail catching the wind. "I understand, Mikael. I won't act on impulse," she replied, her voice steady yet laced with determination.

"But I must clarify a few things to Selmor—he needs to understand the gravity of his actions, and I won't let him off easily this time, He better fix these things in empty brain of his phantom." Her eyes narrowed with resolve, fixating on the door of the meeting hall, eager for Selmor Sherwood's arrival as the tension in the air seemed to thicken, like a storm waiting to break.

After what felt like an eternity, Serena's anxious wait culminated in the creaking of the grand door to the meeting hall. The atmosphere grew electric as Selmor Sherwood glided in, each step exuding a grace that belied the tension in the air.

He stood tall at the center of the room, his posture regal as he faced the Queen and King, his head held high like a proud lion. "I was awaiting your messenger's call, Your Majesty," Selmor said, a subtle smile gracing his lips as his gaze flickered towards Serena.

Serena's eyes bore into Selmor, a tempest of emotions swirling within her, but words eluded her. "So you are already aware of the reason for my summons," she said, her voice sharp and clipped. "Can you also elucidate why you treated my daughter in such a manner?"

For a few tense moments, Selmor locked eyes with Serena, his expression heavy with a profound and haunting longing. "Decades of restraint emotions got unravelled, thanks to your daughter. I assure you, I won't let it happen again," he responded, his voice steady, but the weight of his words hung in the air.

In an instant, he transformed, shifting from his solid human form to a shadowy wraith, a figure of ethereal mist that whispered through the hall. "But let your daughter know that her mentor is but a phantom," he stated, the words resonating with an eerie finality as he began to drift through the meeting hall, his spectral form gliding silently across the polished floor.

"Stop, Selmor! I understand your turmoil, but she is the daughter of Serena Orien," Serena implored, her brow furrowing in concern. "If you cannot place your trust in her, then at least have faith in your Queen." The worry etched onto her face revealed the depth of her maternal instincts and her hope for reconciliation.

As Serena's heartfelt words echoed through the grand hall, Selmor's restless spirit ceased its wandering. He materialized once more before her, a spectral figure cloaked in shadow, standing resolutely in the center of the expansive room.

"Decades ago," he began, his voice heavy with the weight of sorrow, "I placed my trust in royal blood, and I paid that trust with the life of my brother. I hold deep respect for you, Your Majesty. You've ignited a flicker of hope within me, making me believe that the Kingdom of Gaelen is now in capable hands. Yet, I find myself adrift in a sea of doubt. I trust no one, not even the faint outline of my own shadow." His words hung in the air, thick with pain, as a tremor of emotion broke through his facade.

Upon hearing his confession, tears gathered in Serena's eyes, shimmering like dew on a spring morning, but she steeled herself to maintain her poise. "Selmor Sherwood," she said, her voice unwavering yet tinged with vulnerability, "if you have faith in your queen, then impart your wisdom to her children—guide them through every aspect of leadership just as you once guided their mother. Leave everything else to me. I vow, Serena Orien will never falter in her duty to the people of this kingdom, and I know you will never let your student, Serena Orien, down." As she spoke, her tears glistened like tiny stars caught in a gentle stream, reflecting both her unwavering determination and deep-seated compassion.

Selmor listened intently, his gaze locked onto Serena, as if he were attempting to decipher the secrets hidden in her expressive eyes. Each word she spoke floated through the air, enveloping him in a cocoon of thoughts and emotions.

Inside his mind, a solitary refrain echoed: "No one can truly understand me, yet I'm always expected to understand everyone, as always." As Serena's voice faded into silence, Selmor's form shimmered, shifting from his dark, ethereal shadow into a solid, human presence. With a respectful nod, he addressed her, "Alright, Your Majesty, I'll do my utmost." After delivering his promise, he turned away, the weight of duty pulling him back as he stepped out of the meeting hall, leaving behind the flickering candlelight and the lingering tension in the air.

As the door clicked shut behind him, Serena let out a deep, weary sigh, her chest feeling heavy as she brushed away the tears that had started to spill. The warmth of Mikael's assuring hand settled on her shoulder, a silent gesture of support that wrapped around her like a comforting blanket.

"Mikael, why does the past cling to us so tightly? It feels like it's always there, holding on like a leech," she asked, her voice tinged with exhaustion. Mikael tenderly ran his fingers through her hair, his touch gentle and reassuring. "The past is an inseparable part of us, much like our limbs. It can never fully detach; it can only become less painful as time flows on. Remember, time has a way of healing all wounds."

Serena listened in silence, drawing strength from his words. She intertwined her fingers with her husband's, feeling a sense of connection and warmth. As she sat there, her thoughts drifted to her family's future and the well-being of her kingdom.

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"Do you understand, do you understand what it means when you have absolutely nowhere to turn?"

- By Fyodor Dostoyevsky