Margit went straight into the hallway leading from the Queen's Palace to the Serene Palace with a frighteningly stiff expression on her face.
From inside the salon, where the door was open at an angle, laughter exploded like firecrackers. Margit peeked inside through a crack in the door and frowned when she saw Libencia sprawled out on the sofa, draped in colorful silk and lace.
All of the separate rooms in the Serene Palace were for Krald and Flavia. However, Krald gave the most luxurious salon of all to Libencia. When someone argued that there was no such law, he responded by saying that he was the owner of Serene Palace, so what was wrong?
Although it was a salon, not a bedroom, Libencia would openly stay at Serenea Palace for several days. She also invited noble women of similar age to her to parties and bought things for her. It seemed like the tailor was still there with the fabric.
“Look at this touch. Do you want me to touch it? Prince Krald told me to buy whatever I wanted. I’m going to wear this lace on my dress and my shoes.”
A loud voice echoed out into the hallway. Margit trembled, clenching her fists tightly with an expression of anger, and then turned around.
The place she ran to was where Flavia's bedroom was. Flavia, who had been sitting idly holding the frame and needle she had finished embroidering with, jumped up in shock as if she had been stung by something when she saw Margit coming in without warning. The maids each ran outside to avoid being notified in advance.
Just by looking at the maids' attitude, one could tell what Flavia's position was in Serene Palace. Margit felt a fire burning inside her. She hated seeing her only daughter flustered, looking at her with a dumb expression on her face.
“Please sit down.”
Margit said. Then, before Flavia could offer her a chair, she sat down first. Even though she was Flavia's mother and her public status was not higher than that of Flavia, her personal manners had long since been erased from Margit's mind.
"Uh... What brings you here..."
“What brings me here?”
Margit’s voice rose.
Kang! Like hitting metal!
Flavia's shoulders shrug at the bouncing voice. Margit took away her embroidery frame and needle, which she was holding on to, and threw them behind her.
"Mother!"
“Do you think it’s time for you to be doing something like this?”
“What are you talking about? I am...”
“Go to His Highness right now. Go fawn like that girl or do whatever it takes! You are the same Princess, but Judith, why is it that only that girl gets the favor and you can’t!”
Flavia's face turned white as she picked up the embroidery frame and needle that were lying on the floor.
What she was embroidering was actually for Franz. She was not good at embroidery, so the best she could do was carve Franz's initials into the corner of her handkerchief, but she finished it and was happily imagining it just thinking about handing it to him.
However, the moment her mother shouted mentioning Judith, her imagination, which was as fleeting as a thin piece of sugar, was shattered in vain. The image of her handing him the handkerchief disappeared in the fog, and only the image of Judith filled her eyes. Franz was next to Judith as if it was natural.
"Uh... Mother, what on earth is that... What do you mean? What on earth can I do to His Majesty?”
"How? What do you plan on using your head for? That little girl the size of a mouse sticks by His Makesty's side day and night, clouding her heavenly eyes and trying desperately to make her husband a Crown Prince. Are you saying you don't even have that much greed? If His Highness Krald becomes the Crown Prince, you too will become the Crown Princess! If that happens, you'll be able to get rid of things like Libencia Montfort that are flaunting right in front of you with just a finger! What on earth is wrong with you?”
Only then did Flavia realize why all this had happened. She had heard the news that Franz would participate along with the King in the ceremony to hold the Founding Ceremony. But Flavia, like Queen Gilsis or Margit, did not resent it or feel it was a crisis. She thought it was rather natural.
If someone like Krald was to receive attention as a candidate for Crown Prince along with Franz, it would have been even more ridiculous and shocking to Flavia. Although he was her own husband, Flavia had never felt human affection from Krald. He felt more like a monster than a human being. She happened to be forced to sleep, but the sleeping arrangements were also terrible.
Because of that situation, she never had any great jealousy toward Libencia. Of course, she thought it was disgusting, but it wasn't out of jealousy that her husband had been taken away from her.
What a huge mistake the mother has made. She thought that Flavia was a poor wife who yearned for Krald's affection, was hit by Libencia's backlash, and did not receive any love from her husband.
Flavia was able to understand. This was because Margit was someone who had lived like that her whole life. Her father, the Count of Bloset, committed numerous extramarital affairs even when his family was poor, and on several occasions, he even brought his partner's woman into the mansion. Of course, since he's the kind of person who gets bored easily, it wasn't long before he ended up kicking them all out.
“Isn’t it all natural?”
Margit opened her eyes and glared at Flavia. Flavia thought that her face was very similar to Queen Gilsis.
“What did you just say?”
“His Majesty allowed His Highness Franz to participate in the holding ceremony, in a way... It's natural. Franz, I mean... He is recognized as an excellent person... Also, he is the eldest son. Well, of course, the position of Crown Prince...”
“You’re still talking so mesmerized!”
A fire flashed before her eyes.
"Mother!"
“Do you think it’s time for you to be doing something like this?”
“What are you talking about? I am...”
“Go to His Highness right now. Go fawn like that girl or do whatever it takes! You are the same Princess, but Judith, why is it that only that girl gets the favor and you can’t!”
Flavia's face turned white as she picked up the embroidery frame and needle that were lying on the floor.
What she was embroidering was actually for Franz. She was not good at embroidery, so the best she could do was carve Franz's initials into the corner of her handkerchief, but she finished it and was happily imagining it just thinking about handing it to him.
However, the moment her mother shouted mentioning Judith, her imagination, which was as fleeting as a thin piece of sugar, was shattered in vain. The image of her handing him the handkerchief disappeared in the fog, and only the image of Judith filled her eyes. Franz was next to Judith as if it was natural.
"Uh... Mother, what on earth is that... What do you mean? What on earth can I do to His Majesty?”
"How? What do you plan on using your head for? That little girl the size of a mouse sticks by His Makesty's side day and night, clouding her heavenly eyes and trying desperately to make her husband a Crown Prince. Are you saying you don't even have that much greed? If His Highness Krald becomes the Crown Prince, you too will become the Crown Princess! If that happens, you'll be able to get rid of things like Libencia Montfort that are flaunting right in front of you with just a finger! What on earth is wrong with you?”
Only then did Flavia realize why all this had happened. She had heard the news that Franz would participate along with the King in the ceremony to hold the Founding Ceremony. But Flavia, like Queen Gilsis or Margit, did not resent it or feel it was a crisis. She thought it was rather natural.
If someone like Krald was to receive attention as a candidate for Crown Prince along with Franz, it would have been even more ridiculous and shocking to Flavia. Although he was her own husband, Flavia had never felt human affection from Krald. He felt more like a monster than a human being. She happened to be forced to sleep, but the sleeping arrangements were also terrible.
Because of that situation, she never had any great jealousy toward Libencia. Of course, she thought it was disgusting, but it wasn't out of jealousy that her husband had been taken away from her.
What a huge mistake the mother has made. She thought that Flavia was a poor wife who yearned for Krald's affection, was hit by Libencia's backlash, and did not receive any love from her husband.
Flavia was able to understand. This was because Margit was someone who had lived like that her whole life. Her father, the Count of Bloset, committed numerous extramarital affairs even when his family was poor, and on several occasions, he even brought his partner's woman into the mansion. Of course, since he's the kind of person who gets bored easily, it wasn't long before he ended up kicking them all out.
“Isn’t it all natural?”
Margit opened her eyes and glared at Flavia. Flavia thought that her face was very similar to Queen Gilsis.
“What did you just say?”
“His Majesty allowed His Highness Franz to participate in the holding ceremony, in a way... It's natural. Franz, I mean... He is recognized as an excellent person... Also, he is the eldest son. Well, of course, the position of Crown Prince...”
“You’re still talking so mesmerized!”
A fire flashed before her eyes.
Slam!
She heard a sound that struck her ears, but the sound of Margit shouting next was so muffled that she couldn't hear it very well. Instantly, water dripped from Flavia's eyes and cupped her cheeks. Margit, who got up with the intention of overturning the table, stamped her foot and screamed.
“I should tear my own heart and die for believing in someone like you as my daughter! That's what's coming out of your mouth right now! Then, you are free to let His Highness Krald be left alone like this!”
Usually, when the situation got to this point, it would end with Flavia unconditionally begging Margit. But not today. Flavia jumped up, glaring at her mother with venomous eyes.
“It’s only natural that His Majesty treats His Highness Franz more favorably! Mother... Why doesn’t your mother know the truth? Why are you doing this to me!”
"What... What's wrong? Have you said everything now?”
“What are you telling me to do? Now, if you fawn over me like Princess Judith, will His Majesty think that His Highness Krald is better than His Highness Franz! That won't happen! It will never happen!”
“Flavia!”
Margit screamed in a piercing voice, but Flavia did not respond and ran out of the room. Her dropped embroidery frame got stained and dirty under her shoes.
Flavia ran out crying and left the corridor without any idea of where to go. The area around Serene palace was quiet as not many people came to visit except for her Queen and Krald's guests. She ran as far as her feet would take her, her breath reaching her chin, and then she leaned against a random tree and began to sob. She was sad and appalled and couldn't bear it because she was so irritated.
She hated my mother, Queen Gilsis, and Krald, but she also hated Judith. She said that if it weren't for her, everyone wouldn't have bothered her so much. All they say is that Judith sits next to the King every day and monopolizes his affection, so why can't she do the same? How can it be her fault!
“Oh my, I thought I must have taken a wrong turn, but it seems I really did.”
Flavia, who was shaking, was startled by the unfamiliar voice she suddenly heard. She frantically tried to rub her face with her hands, but her eyes were already swollen and she couldn't hide her tear-stained cheeks.
“I thought people crying alone in places like this were only in fairy tales.”
The voice was ambiguous as to whether it was soft or teasing. Flavia only knew who he was when she saw his unique hair color. Dark green hair mixed with white here and there. He was Rogero.
“You are the Prince.”
Rogero's head was tilted.
“Why were you crying?”
For a moment, Flavia forgot that it was really rude and stared at Rogero's face. However, Roger was still smiling as he didn't know what mistake she had made, and even though he knew, he didn't care.
“I have not something worth telling to His Highness the Prince... Because it wasn’t.”
“I should tear my own heart and die for believing in someone like you as my daughter! That's what's coming out of your mouth right now! Then, you are free to let His Highness Krald be left alone like this!”
Usually, when the situation got to this point, it would end with Flavia unconditionally begging Margit. But not today. Flavia jumped up, glaring at her mother with venomous eyes.
“It’s only natural that His Majesty treats His Highness Franz more favorably! Mother... Why doesn’t your mother know the truth? Why are you doing this to me!”
"What... What's wrong? Have you said everything now?”
“What are you telling me to do? Now, if you fawn over me like Princess Judith, will His Majesty think that His Highness Krald is better than His Highness Franz! That won't happen! It will never happen!”
“Flavia!”
Margit screamed in a piercing voice, but Flavia did not respond and ran out of the room. Her dropped embroidery frame got stained and dirty under her shoes.
Flavia ran out crying and left the corridor without any idea of where to go. The area around Serene palace was quiet as not many people came to visit except for her Queen and Krald's guests. She ran as far as her feet would take her, her breath reaching her chin, and then she leaned against a random tree and began to sob. She was sad and appalled and couldn't bear it because she was so irritated.
She hated my mother, Queen Gilsis, and Krald, but she also hated Judith. She said that if it weren't for her, everyone wouldn't have bothered her so much. All they say is that Judith sits next to the King every day and monopolizes his affection, so why can't she do the same? How can it be her fault!
“Oh my, I thought I must have taken a wrong turn, but it seems I really did.”
Flavia, who was shaking, was startled by the unfamiliar voice she suddenly heard. She frantically tried to rub her face with her hands, but her eyes were already swollen and she couldn't hide her tear-stained cheeks.
“I thought people crying alone in places like this were only in fairy tales.”
The voice was ambiguous as to whether it was soft or teasing. Flavia only knew who he was when she saw his unique hair color. Dark green hair mixed with white here and there. He was Rogero.
“You are the Prince.”
Rogero's head was tilted.
“Why were you crying?”
For a moment, Flavia forgot that it was really rude and stared at Rogero's face. However, Roger was still smiling as he didn't know what mistake she had made, and even though he knew, he didn't care.
“I have not something worth telling to His Highness the Prince... Because it wasn’t.”
"Is it so? Well, this is the Rotair royal family, not the empire. Whatever happens, is not something I should know about.”
Flavia's cheeks turned pale and then blushed nervously. It was difficult and difficult for her to deal with people like Rogero. People who are outspoken, outgoing, and seem to have no hesitation at all.
For example, she thought that Rogero was similar to people like Libencia Montfort and Krald. For some reason, she thought that all those people would laugh at her. There was a prejudice that people would be made fun of even if they did something or nothing.
“If you are lost, how to get out of Serene Palace... The fastest way is to follow the southwest path. Then...”
Flavia spread the hem of her dress and gave a cursory greeting before turning around. She had a feeling that her mother would not be back yet and that she would be waiting for her with a fire in her eyes, but she knew that she would rather be with her mother than be alone with the same person. Sbe thought it would be better to receive the torch.
“Excessive desires always like people’s tears. Don’t you think so?”
Rogero's words flew into the back of Flavia's head as she turned around. Flavia turned her head at an angle, her eyes wide open and a disapproving expression on her face.
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