First, I want to explain that this is not the Esther story you're used to, it is a modern-day version. It does, however, follow the basic heart of the story with the same plot.
But I realized early on that to do this story as a modern version, I couldn't follow the Biblical outline and allow her to be kidnapped and fall in love with her captor as in our standards of today that would be quite unbelievable and even illegal.
Scholars and Rabbi's alike agree that Esther was at the palace for an entire year before she went to the King and spent an intimate night with him. Immediately becoming Queen after.
For obvious reasons, I did not feel I could write the story that particular way as that isn't really how I want my writings to go. So I decided the best way to portray their relationship, in my novel at least, was to show their romance and definite attraction to each other. So in doing this, I tried to create a more intimate emotional attraction and bond between them rather than just a physical one.
During my research for this novel, I have learned so much more about Esther than ever before. One fun fact is that King Darius in the book of Daniel is her son!!! (Daniel 9:1)
She was quite a fascinating woman, but perhaps the most exciting thing I discovered was that the King was truly in love with her.
The Hebrew text, the Megillah, has a different translation of her tale than our English Bible. It paints her entrance to the King's throne room in this way, it says "he leaped from his throne, and took her in his arms till she recovered her composure, comforting her with loving words."
It was this verse that inspired my take on their story. I wanted to show a love between them that hasn't been shown before. I do hope you enjoy this adaptation of the beloved tale of: The Queen.