Genevieve smiled as she watched Marlowe stand tall, despite the exhaustion in her eyes. The past weeks had been relentless—lessons in diplomacy, strategy, etiquette, and the hidden intricacies of ruling a kingdom. Marlowe had been tested in every way possible, and she had endured it all.
“At least you made the test of becoming a queen,” Genevieve finally said, her tone carrying both approval and warmth.
Marlowe exhaled slowly, absorbing those words. She had doubted herself countless times, had pushed through moments where she thought she would fail. And yet, here she was—stronger, wiser, and more prepared than she had ever been.
“I didn’t do it alone,”
_
Two years had passed since Marlowe completed her training under Genevieve. The lessons, the challenges, and the silent tests had shaped her into a woman fit to stand beside a king.
At eighteen, Marlowe was no longer just the second princess of Everthorns—she was the future queen of Drach. The moment had finally come. She would soon wed Easton, the man who had waited patiently for her, the man who had defied expectations for her, and the man she had come to love more deeply than she ever thought possible.
The castle of Everthorns was alive with preparations. Though Marlowe’s departure to Drach was inevitable, the weight of leaving her home for good settled heavily on her chest. She stood on the balcony overlooking the vast lands of her kingdom, inhaling the scent of the wildflowers she had grown up with.
A soft knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. Turning, she saw her sister, Seraphine, standing there with a knowing smile.
“It’s time,” Seraphine said gently.
Marlowe nodded, her heart pounding. She took one last look at the horizon before stepping away, ready to embrace her future.
—
At Drach Castle, Easton stood at the grand hall, awaiting her arrival. His hands were clasped behind his back, his heart steady, yet his thoughts raced. He had been preparing for this moment for years, ensuring that his kingdom was strong enough to receive its future queen.
When Marlowe finally arrived, stepping through the grand entrance with the elegance of a ruler, the hall fell silent. Easton took a step forward, his eyes locked onto hers.
"You made it," he said, his voice filled with something deeper than relief.
Marlowe lifted her chin, her lips curving into a small smile. “At least you made the test of becoming a queen.”
Their journey had been long, filled with trials neither of them could have imagined. But in the end, they had won—not just their places in history, but each other.
Their wedding was grand, but it was not the celebration that mattered most. It was the quiet moment after, when Easton and Marlowe stood together in the royal garden, hands entwined.
“This is just the beginning,” Easton murmured, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
Marlowe closed her eyes, feeling the weight of her new crown, the warmth of his hand, and the certainty of their future.
“Yes,” she whispered, “but it’s a beginning I’ve been waiting for.”
_
The grand halls of Drach Castle were adorned with golden banners and cascading flowers. The air was filled with the soft melody of harps and violins, yet to Easton, all the sounds of celebration faded the moment he saw Marlowe walking down the aisle.
She was breathtaking—dressed in a gown that shimmered like the stars, her golden crown resting atop her flowing hair. But what took his breath away most was her eyes. Those same sharp, fearless eyes that had challenged him, comforted him, and, in the end, loved him.
As she walked toward him, Marlowe held her head high, but Easton knew her well enough to see the emotions beneath her calm exterior. Her hands trembled slightly, and her lips pressed together in an effort to hold back her tears.
When she finally stood before him, Easton gently took her hands in his. They were warm, alive, and real. He gave her a small squeeze, silently reminding her that she was not alone.
The high priest spoke the sacred words of union, but for Easton, it all felt like a dream—one he never wanted to wake from. When the vows were spoken, his voice was steady, full of promise.
"I swear to stand beside you, to protect you, to love you as my queen and as my equal. In war and in peace, in darkness and in light—I am yours, Marlowe."
A single tear escaped Marlowe’s eye, but her voice remained steady.
"And I swear to stand by your side, to guide you, to challenge you, and to love you as my king and as the man I chose. No matter what comes, I am yours, Easton."
Their rings were exchanged, and as Easton slid the band onto her finger, he whispered, "You are my everything."
Then came the final moment—the sealing of their vows. Easton lifted her veil and cupped her face gently. He leaned down, brushing his lips against hers in a kiss filled with all the love, passion, and devotion he had carried for her since they were only two lost souls in a garden.
The hall erupted into cheers, but for them, the world had quieted. In that moment, there was no war, no politics, no past burdens—only the love between a king and his queen.
And as they stood hand in hand, ready to face their future together, Marlowe whispered the words that made Easton’s heart clench.
"At least," she said with a teasing glimmer in her eyes, "I passed the test of becoming a queen."
Easton chuckled, pressing his forehead to hers. "No, my love. You were always meant to be one."
_
The grand halls of Drach Castle were adorned with golden banners and cascading flowers. The air was filled with the soft melody of harps and violins, yet to Easton, all the sounds of celebration faded the moment he saw Marlowe walking down the aisle.
She was breathtaking—dressed in a gown that shimmered like the stars, her golden crown resting atop her flowing hair. But what took his breath away most was her eyes. Those same sharp, fearless eyes that had challenged him, comforted him, and, in the end, loved him.
As she walked toward him, Marlowe held her head high, but Easton knew her well enough to see the emotions beneath her calm exterior. Her hands trembled slightly, and her lips pressed together in an effort to hold back her tears.
When she finally stood before him, Easton gently took her hands in his. They were warm, alive, and real. He gave her a small squeeze, silently reminding her that she was not alone.
The high priest spoke the sacred words of union, but for Easton, it all felt like a dream—one he never wanted to wake from. When the vows were spoken, his voice was steady, full of promise.
"I swear to stand beside you, to protect you, to love you as my queen and as my equal. In war and in peace, in darkness and in light—I am yours, Marlowe."
A single tear escaped Marlowe’s eye, but her voice remained steady.
"And I swear to stand by your side, to guide you, to challenge you, and to love you as my king and as the man I chose. No matter what comes, I am yours, Easton."
Their rings were exchanged, and as Easton slid the band onto her finger, he whispered, "You are my everything."
Then came the final moment—the sealing of their vows. Easton lifted her veil and cupped her face gently. He leaned down, brushing his lips against hers in a kiss filled with all the love, passion, and devotion he had carried for her since they were only two lost souls in a garden.
The hall erupted into cheers, but for them, the world had quieted. In that moment, there was no war, no politics, no past burdens—only the love between a king and his queen.
And as they stood hand in hand, ready to face their future together, Marlowe whispered the words that made Easton’s heart clench.
"At least," she said with a teasing glimmer in her eyes, "I passed the test of becoming a queen."
Easton chuckled, pressing his forehead to hers. "No, my love. You were always meant to be one."
After the grand wedding, the celebration continued late into the night. The halls of Drach Castle were alive with music, laughter, and the joyous voices of nobles and commoners alike. But for Easton and Marlowe, the world had quieted as they retreated to their private chambers.
The heavy doors shut behind them, sealing them away from the festivities. For the first time in what felt like forever, they were alone.
Marlowe stood near the grand window, gazing out at the kingdom now truly hers. The moonlight cast a soft glow on her face, highlighting the quiet emotions beneath her calm expression. Easton, standing a few steps behind her, watched in silence before stepping forward.
"You look lost in thought," he murmured, his voice softer than usual.
Marlowe turned to him, her lips curving into a small smile. "I was just thinking… how everything has led to this moment. It doesn’t feel real."
Easton reached for her hands, intertwining their fingers. "It is real, my queen. We made it here together."
For a moment, they stood there, just holding each other, letting the reality of their union settle in. Easton gently traced his thumb over the back of her hand, as if grounding himself in her presence.
Marlowe let out a soft chuckle. "Do you remember when we first met? We were children, and I thought you were the most insufferable boy I had ever seen."
Easton smirked. "And I thought you were the most reckless girl I had ever met. And yet, here we are."
Her smile softened. "Here we are," she echoed.
Easton lifted her hand and kissed it. "No matter what comes next, we will face it together."
Marlowe nodded, her eyes filled with something deeper than just affection—trust. "Together."
As the night stretched on, they spoke of their future, of their hopes, of the kingdom they would rule side by side. There was no rush, no fear—only the steady rhythm of their hearts beating as one.
And for the first time in their lives, they knew with certainty—they were exactly where they were meant to be.
_
Proving Her Worth as Queen
Marlowe knew that words and declarations wouldn’t be enough to earn the respect of Drach’s nobles. She had to show them through action.
Her first step was attending every council meeting, listening more than speaking. She studied Drach’s economy, military strength, and alliances, memorizing details of trade routes, agriculture, and diplomatic ties. She asked questions no one expected a queen to ask—ones about taxation, resources, and the common people's struggles. Some lords scoffed, believing she was merely playing politics. Others, however, began to take notice.
Then, she acted.
1. The Grain Crisis
One of Marlowe’s first challenges came when a poor harvest threatened the kingdom’s food supply. The nobles suggested raising grain prices to make up for the loss, but Marlowe knew that would only cause the poor to suffer. Instead, she proposed redistributing surplus grain from noble estates, offering tax cuts to those who contributed the most. It was a bold move, one that many protested at first.
But Easton backed her.
With the king’s support, Marlowe implemented the plan. The people rejoiced, and for the first time, nobles saw that she wasn’t just a queen in name—she was a ruler who understood power and how to wield it.
2. Strengthening the Military
Marlowe also took an interest in Drach’s military, something no queen had done before. She visited training grounds, speaking with commanders and soldiers alike. She noticed flaws in the armor supply chain, how lower-ranked soldiers often lacked proper gear while noble-born knights had excess.
Taking action, she redirected funding, ensuring fair distribution. When questioned, she calmly replied, “A king rules with power, but a queen ensures that power is not wasted.”
The generals, once skeptical of her presence, began to respect her insights. Even Easton, who had always seen her strength, found himself admiring her in a new way.
3. Winning Over the Court
Despite her successes, Marlowe knew she still had enemies in court. Some nobles still whispered that she was a foreign queen, loyal to Everthorns rather than Drach.
Instead of confronting them, she used patience. She invited noblewomen to private tea gatherings, listening to their concerns. She ensured that key lords received small victories—minor land disputes settled in their favor, their sons given prestigious positions. Slowly, the whispers began to fade.
By the time her first year as queen ended, Marlowe had done what many thought impossible. She was no longer just Easton’s wife—she was the Queen of Drach, and everyone knew it.
One evening, as she and Easton stood on the castle balcony, overlooking the city below, he took her hand and whispered, “You’ve done more than just pass the test of becoming queen. You’ve become the heart of this kingdom.”
Marlowe smiled, knowing that her journey had only just begun.