He knew about it all. Her pride, her joy, her fear, her regret. He had seen her at her worst and treated her no differently than he had at her best. No one else had done that before. He knew her doubts and hesitations from previous experiences and continued to reassure her that not only were her feelings valid but that she was safe to express them without repercussions. She was safe with him in a way she had never been with anyone else.
The others said he was no good. He was the villain who had terrorized countless people, killed without remorse, and tormented the minds of others. He was a bad man, and her loved ones begged her to leave him, fearing she would be hurt by him. She had refused to believe them until he showed her of what he was capable. He proved them right, yet he revealed there was more there.
He never hurt anyone who did not deserve his cruelty and never killed or harmed children or hostages. He was caring to his workers and was loved by those who served him. He was untouchable by the law because he protected people who in turn protected him from facing consequences he would pay for otherwise. There was always a reason he acted with cruelty towards specific people. The people he targeted had always done something cruel towards someone else prior to becoming his targets.
She had never been one of his targets. He only showed her love, kindness, and gentleness. He could be rough but only when she expressed that she wanted him to be rough. He took control only when she expressed that she wanted him to take control. He ensured she was always protected but gave her freedom to be alone when she chose to. He never overstepped her boundaries when she established them. She felt safer and more at peace with him than she had with anyone else in her life.
She refused to give him up and he always showed her appreciation for it. He had repeatedly attempted to prove to her that she had made the right decision even though she assured him it was not necessary. He spoiled her with gifts and affection, promising anything she desired as she continued to assure him all she wanted was him. She still doubted she made the right decision some days but that was because of her doubts that she was worthy of him, and he always assured her that he was the one unworthy of her. He always soothed her worries that she would not be enough for him one day. He proved her wrong every chance he got.
No one else understood why she chose to stay with him. They all tried to turn her against him, claiming he was a horrible person and would betray her. They all failed to understand how a hero would give up their love to save the world while the villain would give up the world to save their love. She chose him again and again. He may have been the villain to everyone else and may have been morally grey, but he was her hero who would give up the world for her and had done so before.
Yes, she was afraid, but he was always there when her fears spiked and quickly soothed them away. She was safer with him than she was anywhere or with anyone else. There was no place she would rather be. As soon as everyone else understood that life would be much easier. Until then, she would need to correct these so-called heroes about her husband while he took care of other pressing matters. It is not every day that she becomes his queen.