Chapter 2: Candidates
"I'm still here."
I stared up at the ceiling as I tried to take in the fact that the life I Iived two days ago no longer existed and now I was stuck as the empress who was about to marry more than one man.
Well...
That wasn't something to complain about. I no longer needed to work and could live in luxury for the rest of my life and my love life would be soaring through the roof.
"I still can't believe it though." I groaned out, turning on my side and glued my gaze on the door which I knew would open any time soon.
My thoughts were right as my maid, Heather stepped into the room with a smile on her face but it dropped as she saw I was already awake.
"Greetings, your majesty. Did you have trouble sleeping in the night?" She asked but I shook my head, smiling in her direction.
"I woke up earlier than usual, that's all," I said and she looked relieved, moving over to the other side of the room to open the curtains.
I went through the same routine as I did the day earlier but was dressed in a beautiful navy dress that hugged my curves and flared out from the waist down.
"You are to meet the candidates in the guest room, your majesty." I took a deep breath and turned to Heather, looking more nervous than I was earlier.
"Do you think everything will go well?" She seemed to notice my nerves and smiled reassuringly.
"If I may?" She offered her hand and I placed my own on top.
She gave my hand a light squeeze as a source of comfort and spoke up.
"I believe that all will go well. I believe in you, your majesty."
I couldn't help myself and hugged Heather as a way of thanking her, startling her at first but she returned the warm embrace.
"Shall we go?" She asked and I nodded, now determined to face my duty.
I stepped with elegance towards the guest room, hearing the whispers of awe from the maids and butlers around me as they admired my beauty.
'I would be the same too if I was in their position. She's so beautiful!' I behaved like a fangirl in my mind but continued acting neutral on the outside.
We arrived by the guest room and I entered, locating myself a seat by the table, making myself look presentable as I waited for the first candidate to arrive.
Candidate 1:
"Duke Aston's son, Sir Arnold is here." One of the maids announced to me before the doors opened, my eyes widening ever so slightly due to his handsome features.
'When I heard the name, Arnold I assumed it was going to be a sleazy kind of guy. Maybe I was-" My thought process was cut off as soon as he spoke.
"Oh how beautiful you are, my majesty!" Arnold went onto one knee and presented me a rose causing me to glance back at my maid, Heather who was trying not to laugh.
"T-Thank you." I accepted the flower and Arnold took a seat on the other chair across me.
"So...Sir Arnold, tell me about yourself." I tried to start a conversation to get the flow going but I began to regret it as soon as he spoke about himself for nearly thirty minutes.
"Has the time ended already. What a shame..." He said with a sad look but I was relieved, wanting the next candidate to arrive.
"Farewell, Sir Arnold."
Candidate 2:
I prepared myself for the next man to enter and he seemed as if he saw a ghost, too petrified to even speak a single word and I sighed, dismissing him from the room.
Candidate 25:
At this point, I was exhausted, leaning back on my chair to take a break from looking graceful and royal.
"Duke Xavier's son, Sir William is here."
I straightened my posture and the doors opened for the nth time that day to welcome another guest but this time, he took my breath away.
"Greetings, your majesty."
He was tall, possibly six foot and his hair resembled the shade, midnight black whereas his eyes were a pristine green colour that had me hypnotised.
"May I?" He asked me and I came out of my daze to send him my approval.
He sat down with grace and as we made eye contact once again, I was blown away by how beautiful his eyes were.
"Has anyone ever told you that your eyes are exquisite?" I asked and he seemed startled by what I had questioned, a blush painting his cheeks.
Heather was surprised by my sudden boldness and held back her smile, happy that I was finally showing an interest in someone.
"No." He replied, his tone soft.
I smiled in a sweet way that had his blush turning a darker shade of red and he avoided my eyes that had me giggling.
So, he was the shy type.
We spoke for the time we had been limited too and I felt relaxed with William compared to the other men who were either too boisterous or much too uncomfortable to have a conversation with.
"I don't think we need to discuss anything further. I will be sending a letter to you soon, Sir Williams." I told and he was once again surprised by my words but he simply bowed as a response and stood up, moving to leave the room with his eyes cast to the ground.
As the doors closed, Heather spoke up right away with enthusiasm in her voice.
"You did well, your majesty!" Heather praised as she clapped her hands in joy.
I remained silent, thinking back on the blue screen that appeared yesterday and how it claimed that I would receive a reward which was my first husband. Maybe it was William?
I was too tired to think about it further so I decided to head back to my room and take a rest. It was already past noon and I was not hungry since I had been throughout the time I was spending with the candidates.
Honestly, I was expecting more action and the potential to come across something worrying but because I had transmigrated after the plotline of the story where the war had been done and peace had taken over, there was nothing to do other than in this situation where I have to get married to more than one man.
I resided back into my room, Heather leaving my quarters after helping me change to more comfortable clothing and letting me rest in my bed once again.
It was peaceful now but who knows what would happen after I marry more than one man.
Would there be conflict?
Or will it still be peaceful?
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone