The Queen and the Lion - Chapter 1
The Kingdom of Flowers, Florea. A place overflowing with beauty. Florea, which enjoys warm spring weather for most of the year, was perfect both geographically and environmentally. If there was a place on the continent that could be described as paradise on earth, everyone would unanimously choose Florea as the best.
Florea was famous for two things: first, its splendid and beautiful flowers, and second, its people, who were as beautiful as the flowers. The people of Florea were all remarkably attractive, admired by other nations. It was no exaggeration to say that some visited this country just to see how beautiful Floreans were. There were even many whose lifelong dream was to marry a Florean. This allure contributed to a significant income from tourism.
However, where there is beauty, there are those who covet it. Florea, which was not only beautiful but also prosperous, had long suffered from numerous foreign invasions seeking to conquer it. Despite this, Florea had never been overtaken in its centuries-long history, thanks to its strong military power.
Because of their stunning appearances and non-confrontational nature, Floreans were often mistakenly thought to be weak. However, they never avoided the battles that came their way. Just as a Venus flytrap snatches a fly that approaches it, Florea subdued invading nations one by one, solidifying its position as a powerful country.
“How goes the confrontation with Heiban?”
“It will be concluded soon.”
At the question of the current queen of Florea, Lysianthus Blossom Florea, the ministers bowed their heads and answered. Sitting on the throne, Lysian nodded.
Her long, light pink hair, slightly curled at the ends, swayed gently like willow leaves in the breeze with her movements. Resting atop her smooth, exposed forehead was a thin circlet studded with jewels, over which a crown designed to fit her head was placed. Her pale skin resembled magnolia petals, and her dreamy, light violet eyes seemed to pull one into a mist, making it hard to think clearly. The young queen, whose appearance seemed to drip with sweetness, boasted a beauty that was unrivaled even in Florea, a land of renowned beauties.
At that moment, Prime Minister Primula stepped forward and spoke resolutely.
“The current matter of importance is not merely the dispute with Heiban, Your Majesty!”
“Calling it ‘merely’ seems a bit much, given that the situation has remained stagnant for quite some time.”
The queen’s delicate brow furrowed slightly. Even if the war was proceeding favorably, it was ultimately a costly political maneuver. Continuing a wartime stance would only deplete resources, so Lysian wanted to bring the war to an end as quickly as possible.
The Prime Minister also understood well the importance of ending the war quickly. However, in the face of greater concerns, it seemed like a minor issue. His eyes grew heavy with worries about the nation’s future.
“Heiban is nothing more than a peripheral tribe destined to kneel before Florea. What is most important for us is for Your Majesty to promptly select a consort and produce an heir!”
As soon as the Prime Minister finished speaking, the meeting room fell silent, as if cold water had been poured over it. The finance minister, the military minister, and all the other officials exchanged uneasy glances. Before long, they all began to speak in unison.
“Indeed! Securing an heir is the utmost priority!”
“Please understand our anxious hearts, Your Majesty.”
“This time, you must choose a consort. Handsome and robust men from various kingdoms are eagerly waiting for the queen!”
“It feels as though the entire world is just waiting for me to escape my single life,” Lysian muttered dryly.
Their unanimous remarks, as if rehearsed beforehand, were almost comical. Considering the current state of affairs—still locked in a confrontation with Heiban—turning her attention elsewhere was far from ideal for the queen. Especially when the topic at hand was one she found distasteful.
Lysian did not bother to hide her displeasure, her face twisting in irritation. Even so, her beauty was so striking that the officials sighed with regret at her expression. This queen of Florea was flawless in every way—save for one issue.
She was remarkably indifferent to men.
At just eighteen, she was in the prime of her youth. While young, she was at the perfect age to focus on producing an heir as the sole sovereign of her nation.
Florea, a matriarchal monarchy, had always been ruled by the Blossom family as its line of flower queens. The Blossom royal family had a dominant lineage of women, producing wise and beautiful queens without being bound to the bloodlines of men.
Long, light pink hair and soft lavender eyes—the purity of their lineage had remained untarnished through generations.
Yet even the Blossom royal family had its challenges. The most significant was their difficulty in bearing children.
The burdens of queenship were heavy, and Lysian was not particularly robust to begin with. Thus, the officials strongly encouraged her to have children at a young age. Giving birth later in life placed considerable strain on the body.
