Originally, when Queen Gilsis started acting viciously, there was no one other than Helen who could stop her, but when the headache started, the situation became more serious.
“I’m so nervous I can’t stand it. Why does it take so long to bring me a glass of water!”
The maids who served her became restless as they noticed the Queen's temper, saying that the maid did not come quickly even after she had just given the order. The maid who had become her contemplation came running carrying a glass of water, but her toe caught on a fold of the carpet and she fell.
"Oh!"
The water in the glass spilled out, leaving a large stain on the carpet. Queen Gilsis, who was seeing this, jumped up from where she was sitting and kicked the maid's shoulder as she fell to the ground.
“You useless thing! You can’t do that one thing right!”
“Your Majesty, I’m sorry! Please forgive me, Your Majesty!”
“Take this girl out now!”
When the Queen, whose eyes were wide open, pointed and screamed, the other servants who were standing without daring to breathe ran over and dragged the maid away. The maids were busy removing the dirty carpets and bringing in new ones. Even the untidy atmosphere fueled the Queen's irritation.
“This is all because of that damn girl.”
The Queen clenched her fists and wheezed. If Helen had been there, she would have quickly responded to her words and cooled her boiling insides, but since none of these clueless people said a word tactfully, she felt irritated.
She didn't feel any human emotions when she quickly ordered Helen to be executed for fear that an arrow would come back to her, but now she felt sorry for her absence as she became irritated at every turn and no one helped her.
Even after hearing that Judith had recovered, Queen Gilsis left her alone for a while. It was not because she wanted to, but because she was so consumed by the feeling that she had ostracized the young Princess, that she lay down on the bed.
She felt refreshed, but her anger did not go away, and on the contrary, it only got worse. However, Helen was not there, and even the maids sent by the Queen's palace were all kicked out, so they could not spy or do anything.
“They say she is the daughter of the Marquis Ebelta and is a perfect match. Ha! What kind of people were the former King of Tien and his wife that she gave birth to such a wicked girl?”
Queen Gilsis gnashed her teeth day and night, even mentioning the dead parents of Judith, whom she had never seen. If Judith was seen in front of her, she would at least slap her, but of course, Judith did not even come near the Queen's palace.
“Queen, the doctor serving Your Majesty requests an audience.”
“Even if they didn’t, my head would hurt to death. Let them in.”
The Queen turned her head in annoyance and did not even look at the doctor who came in and bowed his head. The doctor wearing a white robe was an old man with gray hair. However, he was a cunning man with long, drooping eye corners, as if time had brought him only grumpiness and stubbornness rather than wisdom.
“What’s going on?”
“Mother Queen, the chamberlain who served His Highness has suddenly fallen ill and has to be absent. It will be difficult for us to provide the little service on our own, so I think you will need to send a new servant.”
“I take every penny of money I can get, and you can’t even attend to His Majesty, who is bedridden. Do you have a conscience?”
"Your Majesty, we are just therapists who monitor His Majesty's condition and study the combination of medicine to help him wake up quickly. If we take on all the personal care, we will have less time to research ways to cure his illness.”
The palace doctor, who had been working as a therapist at the palace since he was young and was oblivious, did not take it easy even in front of the Queen. The Queen, who had been glancing at his eyes that had become cloudy due to his age, as if disapproving, waved her hand away with an annoyed expression on her face.
“I understand, so stay back.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty."
“You must be using the medicine properly, right?”
In response to Queen Gilsis' question, the doctor quietly nodded. After he left, Margit, who had been rolling her eyes back and forth behind the Queen, approached with a cautious attitude.
“Your Majesty, I have something to tell you.”
“What else?”
Margit flinched for a moment at the sharp retort. It had already been three years since she had served the Queen, but she was still so afraid of Queen Gilsis that she never uttered her words properly.
Margit's husband, Count Bloset, was a lazy and greedy man. He stayed at home every day, eating and drinking, and beat Margit harshly every time she returned home from the palace. What happened was that she received nothing from serving the Queen who even dropped birds.
At first, what was just a scolding turned into opposition, and when it reached the point of severe beatings, Margit could no longer bear it. He tried to talk to the Queen, but with Helen by her side, trying to please her, she had no luck.
But now Helen is dead. Margit thought that now was her chance to take Helen's place. She had no choice but to somehow please the Queen and get her to look after her husband, the Count of Bloset.
“Speak up!”
Queen Gilsis shouted, unable to control her impatient temper. Margit bit her lip tightly, her face wide with fear.
“Hasn’t the Princess been disloyal to Queen Mother and done something scandalous?”
“So?”
“So shouldn’t we make the Princess regret her mistake?”
“So I gave him a beating, but didn’t you see that little bastard? Franz, didn’t you see that arrogant man rolling his eyes in my face, claiming she was his wife?”
“Slapping a cane can be misleading. Of course, Your Majesty did it because you were worried that the Princess would fall into her old habits, but foolish people don’t know Your Majesty's feelings.”
This is quite tongue-in-cheek.
Queen Gilsis' eyes narrowed. margit always had a scared look on her face and her eyes were wide open, so she thought she was stupid, but now she sees that Margit can roll her tongue quite a bit.
“So what do you mean to do?”
“Didn’t the royal doctor just come in and say something? Someone has to attend to Your Majesty, but the chamberlain has fallen ill. If it is a Princess, she becomes your subject and child, and she should be happy to take care of her father, the King. Also, if she makes a mistake, she will have to be severely punished.”
A strange light appeared on Queen Gilsis' face. She seemed to think about Margit's words for a moment and then began to laugh until she was out of breath. The corners of Margit's lips trembled uneasily as the Queen suddenly started laughing like a crazy person.
“Countess Bloset, no. Your name was Margit, right?”
“Yes, yes, Your Majesty."
“Go and bring that girl. And from now on, please serve me more closely.”
“Um, are you sure, Queen Mother?.”
"Yes. In that case, it would be best to do something about that shabby dress first. Bring the girl, and call the tailor to make you a new dress.”
"... Thank you, Your Majesty! I will come back soon.”
Margit, so moved that she even had tears in her eyes, ran out of the palace, clutching the hem of her old, shabby dress.
“So what do you mean to do?”
“Didn’t the royal doctor just come in and say something? Someone has to attend to Your Majesty, but the chamberlain has fallen ill. If it is a Princess, she becomes your subject and child, and she should be happy to take care of her father, the King. Also, if she makes a mistake, she will have to be severely punished.”
A strange light appeared on Queen Gilsis' face. She seemed to think about Margit's words for a moment and then began to laugh until she was out of breath. The corners of Margit's lips trembled uneasily as the Queen suddenly started laughing like a crazy person.
“Countess Bloset, no. Your name was Margit, right?”
“Yes, yes, Your Majesty."
“Go and bring that girl. And from now on, please serve me more closely.”
“Um, are you sure, Queen Mother?.”
"Yes. In that case, it would be best to do something about that shabby dress first. Bring the girl, and call the tailor to make you a new dress.”
"... Thank you, Your Majesty! I will come back soon.”
Margit, so moved that she even had tears in her eyes, ran out of the palace, clutching the hem of her old, shabby dress.
The young and innocent face of the Princess, who had lost consciousness like a doll whose strings had fallen from her harsh beatings, came to mind, but she quickly erased it from her mind.
If she just stays like this, she might die at her husband's hands. She couldn't have died like that. The Prince's wife is still the Prince's wife, so why should the Queen kill her?
'My situation is more urgent than that girl's.'
Margit pursed her small lips and recited as if she were brainwashing herself.
"Ah!"
When the round blue horse was placed on the board with a click, Judith let out a small sigh.
If she just stays like this, she might die at her husband's hands. She couldn't have died like that. The Prince's wife is still the Prince's wife, so why should the Queen kill her?
'My situation is more urgent than that girl's.'
Margit pursed her small lips and recited as if she were brainwashing herself.
***
"Ah!"
When the round blue horse was placed on the board with a click, Judith let out a small sigh.
Franz, looking at her with his drooping eyebrows and his sullen expression, bit his lip as if trying to suppress his laughter.
“Shall I buy it?”
“...That's against the rules. It’s okay if you don’t leave.”
Judith, who had a pouty expression on her face for some reason, focused her eyes and glared at the pieces scattered on the board. Mary Anne and Cheraan, who were standing next to the table, looked at Judith winked at each other, and giggled.
After sending individually embroidered handkerchiefs to all the noble families in the capital at the Queen's order, Judith began to visit Astel Palace from time to time during her free time. Franz, who seemed perplexed at first, seemed to have come to regard Judith's arrival without any notice.
Although they did not talk much or spend intimate time alone together, Judith was very satisfied with the time. On sunny days, it was nice to take a walk in silence, with just enough space for their fingertips to lightly graze.
Today Franz had prepared a small game for Judith and was waiting for her. It was a game called Colonea, where players alternated moves with blue and green pieces, and the person who covered the most territory won. The rules were simple, but Judith had never played before, so she lost two rounds. And even now, she was on the defensive.
“Umm...”
Judith picked up the green horse and glanced at Franz. Seeing no change in the expression of Franz, who was leisurely crossing his arms, Judith quietly took the horse to the other side and looked at him again. When their eyes met for the second time, laughter burst out from the mouths of everyone who was watching Judith.
“Why, why are you smiling?”
“No matter where you go, it’s your heart, so why are you looking at me?”
“Well, but...”
“Princess, I told you to change your pieces this time. His Majesty Franz keeps using the blue horse, and seeing as he has been winning since a while ago, it seems like the blue horse is luckier.”
Cheraan chimed in playfully. Judith frowned and shook her head. Then, as if she had finally made up her mind, she tried to put down her pieces.
“Are you really going to put it there?”
Franz suddenly asked. Judith's hand stopped twitching, and her watery eyes were filled with confusion.
“Well, then here?”
“Why are you asking me? I am now in a fight with you over land.”
"Your Highness!"
When Judith finally let out a pouty voice, Franz burst out laughing. After laughing for a while, he looked at Judith's face looking at him and made a puzzled expression.
“Do you have something to say?”
“No, that’s not it... It’s my first time seeing you smile like that.”
At Judith's words, Franz cleared his throat slightly, as if embarrassed. Suddenly, his gaze fell diagonally at the subtle feeling of a soft feather tickling his cheek.
“Shall I buy it?”
“...That's against the rules. It’s okay if you don’t leave.”
Judith, who had a pouty expression on her face for some reason, focused her eyes and glared at the pieces scattered on the board. Mary Anne and Cheraan, who were standing next to the table, looked at Judith winked at each other, and giggled.
After sending individually embroidered handkerchiefs to all the noble families in the capital at the Queen's order, Judith began to visit Astel Palace from time to time during her free time. Franz, who seemed perplexed at first, seemed to have come to regard Judith's arrival without any notice.
Although they did not talk much or spend intimate time alone together, Judith was very satisfied with the time. On sunny days, it was nice to take a walk in silence, with just enough space for their fingertips to lightly graze.
Today Franz had prepared a small game for Judith and was waiting for her. It was a game called Colonea, where players alternated moves with blue and green pieces, and the person who covered the most territory won. The rules were simple, but Judith had never played before, so she lost two rounds. And even now, she was on the defensive.
“Umm...”
Judith picked up the green horse and glanced at Franz. Seeing no change in the expression of Franz, who was leisurely crossing his arms, Judith quietly took the horse to the other side and looked at him again. When their eyes met for the second time, laughter burst out from the mouths of everyone who was watching Judith.
“Why, why are you smiling?”
“No matter where you go, it’s your heart, so why are you looking at me?”
“Well, but...”
“Princess, I told you to change your pieces this time. His Majesty Franz keeps using the blue horse, and seeing as he has been winning since a while ago, it seems like the blue horse is luckier.”
Cheraan chimed in playfully. Judith frowned and shook her head. Then, as if she had finally made up her mind, she tried to put down her pieces.
“Are you really going to put it there?”
Franz suddenly asked. Judith's hand stopped twitching, and her watery eyes were filled with confusion.
“Well, then here?”
“Why are you asking me? I am now in a fight with you over land.”
"Your Highness!"
When Judith finally let out a pouty voice, Franz burst out laughing. After laughing for a while, he looked at Judith's face looking at him and made a puzzled expression.
“Do you have something to say?”
“No, that’s not it... It’s my first time seeing you smile like that.”
At Judith's words, Franz cleared his throat slightly, as if embarrassed. Suddenly, his gaze fell diagonally at the subtle feeling of a soft feather tickling his cheek.
Comments
Post a Comment