RLAAQ - Chapter 15 < The Peak Of Power And Desire >
Refusing Love As A Queen
"I'm sorry to see that you don't seem to have kept my teachings in mind at all. This was the case before and it is still the case now."
When the Queen woke up, she heard a familiar voice with a bit of coldness. The sound of her teacher. The after-effects of Belladonna made her vision blurred for a while before she could clearly see Heinrich sitting in the room.
Adele was not surprised to see him.
The Heinrich family has a long history and is one of the behemoths of the Roland Empire. Families like theirs have a background that is difficult for outsiders to pry into. Because of this, even though they were expelled from the imperial capital more than ten years ago, they were still able to send their heirs to the Crown Prince.
He has the ability to drive Dalton away at this time.
"Six."
Adele sat up and put her hand on her forehead.
"It takes at least ten to be fatal."
When the second gooseberry entered her mouth, she realized something was wrong. During the time after her mother died, there were so many people who wanted her dead. How can a young Princess disappear from the palace as quickly as possible? The answer is belladonna.
During Heinrich's first month as her tutor, the gooseberries in her fruit bowl were mixed with belladonna. That was the real danger. If it weren't for the Heinrich family's secret medicine, the Roland Empire would not have its first Queen.
She always remembered the difference between gooseberries and belladonna.
"I'm honored that you remember the original teaching, but why don't you remember the second half - for adults with worse physiques, even less than ten pills may be fatal?"
Heinrich sat in front of the candlelight, wearing b black blouse with silver buttons.
"As long as there is one more belladonna, even the coming of a saint will not be able to save you."
After he rebuked, he realized that his tone was exactly the same as when he was still the Queen's tutor. Adele looked at him.
"If you are so careless about your own life, then I think there is no need for the Heinrich family to continue to cooperate with you."
Heinrich avoided her gaze.
"We need stable companions, not a lunatic who gambles her life."
The time from the beginning to the end of actually not long, but it seemed that they had not been together like this face-to-face for a whole century.
"Dalton is suspicious," the Queen said slowly.
Heinrich frowned at her.
"Your family may really have a dragnet in the port, but that may not be the case in Gaelt City."
Adele lifted the silk quilt, walked barefoot to her dressing table, opened the drawer, and took out an envelope. The secret letter passed by.
"Reconciled on August 1st, within less than a week, rumors that I was enamored with Dalton and that I intended to marry him spread throughout the Gaelt... The speed was too fast, and it was suspicious from the beginning."
"But he was fooled."
Heinrich said calmly.
They are like back in the old days when teachers and students could quickly understand each other's meaning. Queen and Heinrich carefully arranged a game for Dalton.
Everyone is saying "Marry the Queen and become the King of Roland".
If he listens to it for a long time, even if Dalton doesn't pay attention at first, he will be lured into the trap later. Once Dalton has this idea, in order to pursue the Queen or even propose to her, he will inevitably make the gesture that a suitor should have.
In some government affairs, he had to start considering the Queen's thoughts and opinions. Therefore, even if the Queen indulges Dalton in the Queen's Council, she can still use this method to subtly push things in the direction she wants.
In fact, the most fatal point has been on the surface from beginning to end. How can a commoner marry the Queen?
The nobility would not allow it, Congress would not allow it, and even the common people would not allow it. However, traps laid with sweet lies and glorious crowns are always the most tempting. Dalton's ambition drove him in.
"He asked me what I wanted to do, control the Crown Prince of the Root Empire, just like controlling him."
Adele recounted Dalton's words before the quarrel verbatim. The arrival of Prince Arthur alerted Dalton.
No matter how glamorous he is at this time, in everyone's eyes he is of civilian origin. Rumors are beautiful, but they can never come true.
"Jealousy is a double-edged sword. It can break through the fog that surrounds people's eyes, and it can also make people fall into a new quagmire."
The Queen said meaningfully.
"Who is behind Belladonna? The Old God Sect, or Yager King? Or both?"
"Both."
King John VI of Jacob was furious when his proposal was rejected. The alliance between the Root Empire and the Roland Empire forced him to recall the fleet, but he made up his mind not to make things easier for Queen Roland. So, the Ambassador of Yager, who was still staying in Roland, naturally came together with the Old God Sect.
"Treason."
The Queen's tone was cold.
"You want to take this opportunity to take action against the Old Gods?"
Heinrich frowned.
"Their counterattack will only become more ferocious."
"In what capacity do you speak? An Old God believer, or a fearful person? The family patriarch of the Emerging Chamber of Commerce?"
Adele asked sharply. The harmonious relationship between teachers and students was shattered in an instant, and the disguise of warmth was torn away, revealing the core of the interaction of interests.
"Just a reminder, although the Temple Knights have been silent for a long time, don't underestimate them."
"I put my life on the line. Do you think I'll have nothing?"
The Queen turned to look at him. She was only wearing fine linen clothes, and under the candlelight, the thin skirt hugged her body. She looked extremely slender, just like the saints in linen clothes holding up candles on the walls of the monastery.
“When I sacrifice enough, I’m bound to get more in return. "
She made Heinrich feel strange.
"The suppression of the Old Gods will not involve the port."
The Queen handed him the letter and said.
"Tell Archbishop Rodri that I want to see him." "
Heinrich took the letter and realized one thing. Perhaps some people think that the Queen is vicious and cold-hearted, but in Kelly's heart, she is always warm, fair, and kind - no matter what she does.
When Kelly arrived at the Queen's room, I found the Queen sitting quietly behind the rose window, wearing only a thin petticoat.
"Why did you open the window?"
Kelly tried to make her voice normal but failed.
"They said you were injured."
The Queen whispered. It was only at this moment that she showed weakness after being poisoned, and fatigue filled her eyebrows. After waking up, Adele also learned that Kelly's husband played a role in the entire poisoning incident. He took over a vineyard and made a silent woman the new member of the summer palace kitchen. Normally, this would be an innocuous thing. But the new cook picked out the vinegar Chestnut.
Kelly's husband, Bligh, did not intend to poison the Queen, but he did bring death threats to the Queen. Adele is a born political animal, and underneath her beautiful skin is a heart of stone that is more terrifying than a viper.
Musketeers took him away.
When he was dragged away, he cried and shouted to her.
"Kelly! For the sake of my love for you! I have done so much for you! Please... let your majesty forgive me, she will listen to you..."
Kelly stood in the corridor watching him being taken away, unable to feel the pain in her shoulders. Kelly took the Queen's outstretched hand and found that the Queen's hand was cold and trembling slightly.
"Let him get what he deserves, Your Majesty."
Kelly said, feeling hot liquid coming out of her eyes, but her voice was unexpectedly calm. There was no way Bligh would survive.
The Queen and Dalton arrest Ambassador Yager and a group of Old Gods for "treason," and their associates will seize every opportunity to retaliate against the Queen. If the Queen insists on sparing Bligh, then on what grounds can she put the others to death? If the Queen signs Bligh's death sentence, what will happen between them?
It was a knife that stabbed her and the Queen at the same time. If this is what the enemy wants, then Kelly is to break the knife and throw it into the fire.
"I'm sorry, Kelly."
Adele, in turn, held Mrs. Kelly's hand tightly.
"I'm sorry... I know it was Belladonna, I knew..."
She felt guilty. Because if it happens again, even if she knows that this matter will involve Kelly's husband, she will seize this opportunity without hesitation. She should hide the truth and let Kelly think that she was poisoned by accident, but...but she was unwilling and unable to do so.
After speaking, Adele waited for Kelly's answer. She didn't know if she would lose this last family member... Yes, Kelly was no longer a maid to her, but an inseparable family member.
"Don't do that again."
Kelly hugged her tightly, fearing that she would disappear in the blink of an eye.
"What if... what if you never wake up again?"
Adele felt a wave of relief, knowing she had not lost the last of her family. She hugged back Kelly, the second mother in her life.
"But..." she said, "Kelly, besides risking my life, what else do I have?"
Kelly was about to cry.
"We make mistakes, we think, we are tortured between good and evil."
Adele softly read her mother's last words before her death. The night before dawn was cold and long, and the flames of candles burned and danced in the Queen's eyes, condensing into countless shadows, all the weak, hard, defenseless, and indestructible women in the past.
***
Archbishop Rodri hurriedly walked through the cloister.
He knew that the Temple Knights were planning a conspiracy against the Queen, but he did not expect that they would actually murder the Queen. When the news came that the Queen had survived the danger, the Archbishop breathed a sigh of relief - for Roland, for the Old God Sect, and for...himself.
If the Queen is not dead, then things will not be irreversible and the chaos will not expand further. As he thought this, the Queen took action.
Belladonna did not kill the queen, but in turn, pushed the Old Gods to a dangerous cliff. Collaboration with the enemy and treason is a more unforgivable crime than heresy. A series of Old Gods who had contact with Ambassador Yager were arrested. Roland and Yager had a long-standing hatred. After the news spread, the Old Gods were denounced as "traitors" and shameless, and their prestige plummeted.
After the Root Empire heard that Prince Arthur had narrowly escaped assassination, they were furious. While declaring war on Yager, they also exerted pressure on the Roland royal family, forcing Roland to abolish some of the privileges enjoyed by the Old God Sect. The Archbishop can be sure that this is actually the case. What the Queen wants.
The Queen's counterattack was fierce and swift, and could even be said to have been planned in advance. She naturally had a plan, wasn't he the one who warned her?
The Archbishop felt himself being torn apart by two voices. One thing is saying: 'When you join the Knights, you have sworn an oath... to stand with your brothers, promise to remain chaste, poor, obedient to God, Our Lady, and the brothers of the Knights, and promise to abide by the rules and regulations of the Knights until death. Never change... Look what terrible things you have done? You betrayed your brothers, you plunged them into death...'
'You did nothing wrong, the Queen cannot die, Roland needs her, Roland cannot withstand new chaos and war. She did not take the lead in attacking the Old Gods. It was they who betrayed the country. They forgot their honor and creed first. They deserved it...'
But soon, the first voice came out to refute him.
'That’s a good point, but is it really just for this? Why did you keep that damn diamond? Why didn't you throw it away? When you look at it at night, what do you think of it?'
Everything is in disarray. From that afternoon, from that confessional, all hell broke loose. He turned a corner and arrived at the agreed-upon room - the room where they had taken refuge from the guards that night.
The Queen sat sideways on a Geer chair with light gold curtains, with a thread-bound scripture unfolded on her knees. Just after escaping death, her face became paler and her figure became thinner. Even the ruthless executioner would hesitate for a moment to raise his knife in front of her sick appearance. Still, she sat very straight.
The archbishop paused.
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