SOLVED. Fantasy kingdom, heroine is forced to marry a mute king who is held captive in his castle by his closest advisor. [s]

[Karina]

I read this book between 2007 and 2009, I got it from the public library and it was still in the "New Books" section. Can't remember author, title, or cover, or character names.

Heroine is an innocent young girl that is forced to marry the king. She develops into a stronger person at the end of the book.

Hero is a tall strong silent king (he became king very young, willing to say almost a child) that looks scary but is vulnerable due to the fact that he has been manipulated (or abused) by the king's advisor. He is only a figurehead for the people, his advisor is the one with the real power.

I believe the advisor is the one that arranges the marriage between these two for the sole purpose of producing an heir. Both Hero and Heroine are innocent young people. At first they both mistrust each other. He doesn't trust her because he believes that she was sent to him as a spy by his advisor. She believes his reputation of being a big, bad, mean king. They both slowly discover how to care for and trust each other.

The advisors tell her the king doesn't like to be touched. He tells her that if she wants things to go easier she should kneel at the foot of the bed until the king tells her what to do. The king has no idea what or why she is doing this. He doesn't even know how babies are made, that's how closed off he's been from the world. This is their first meeting. Eventually she starts faking having sex with him by jumping on the bed and making noises after she figures out that the advisor knows they hadn't done anything after a few days.

I hope someone can help me find this book. I was remembering it the other day and want to re-read to see if it's as good a story as I remember.

[Random]

It sounds like Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson.
First published in 2009, so the time period sounds about right.

In regards to your kneeling description, not only does he not know why, but if I remember right, he is mute and so is unable to tell her to rise.

[Karina]

Yes! Thank you so much Random