"It's fun to tease when you have a clear goal."
Claudel seemed to be trying to remain very calm.
For her, it must have been a big decision to run away and abandon her husband.
However, Claudel loved Kaian very much, and such feelings could not have disappeared overnight.
It was always Valquiterre who spoke first, casually and indifferently, about Kaian or the atmosphere of Rowen Castle.
At such times, Claudel tried to act calm as if nothing had happened, as if Kaian had become someone who could no longer hurt her, but she could not hide the agitation in her bright golden eyes.
"You can't be my Queen while still being Kaian's."
He reached into his pocket, took out a jewel the size of his thumbnail, and flicked it. A fairly large red ruby sparkled in the sunlight and fell back into his hand.
It was the item in the jewelry box that Claudel had been clutching tightly and had disappeared.
“By the time you take my hand, your heart will be mine.”
That way, wouldn’t it be a proper take?
He had no intention of taking only the shell of a woman who harbored feelings for Kaian.
The moment she said that she truly loved him, Claudel glowed.
It was the marriage that Vermont and Temnes had ended after a bitter relationship.
The impossible had happened.
‘Why do such miraculous and wonderful things in the world always happen to Kaian?’
He had received almost the same education as Valquiterre. It was because their twin smothers had raised them from the same place.
Kaian probably knew what he had gotten himself. He had been forced to marry his enemy by royal command, and yet he had ended up with such a noble love.
That fact made Valquiterre even angrier.
He could not be satisfied.
Everything he had in his hands was worthless.
‘Because it wasn’t what I wanted.’
The things surrounding Valquiterre, including the palace, did not make him happy.
He kept looking at the things he didn’t have, and he didn’t think he would feel like his marriage was being robbed and stolen like this.
Valquiterre was staring at the jewel he was holding between his thumb and index finger for a long time.
“Your Majesty. A telegram from Rowen.”
Count Makie handed him the tray with the telegram on it.
“Shall I see what Kaian is doing?”
Between the lines of the concisely written sentences, he could sense Kaian’s heart, as if he were dying.
“Makie. Do you think I’m too much?”
“Why do you say that?”
Count Makie became serious.
“Everything His Majesty does is royal and right.”
“Do you really think so?”
“Your Majesty must be getting rained on. You haven’t had a suitable Queen so far, so it’s fortunate that you’ve found a woman you like.”
“The people should think the same.”
“If you give them enough food and drinks on the day of the national wedding, they’ll soon forget.”
Valquiterre folded the telegram after reading it.
“They say they don’t know why the owner of the capital salon was summoned.”
The most unexpected part of the telegram was that the mistress of the salon Arvo showed up at the Rowen Castle without anyone knowing when she arrived.
The woman who had stayed at the Rowen Castle for a while left for the capital with Madame Marcel, the castle’s seamstress, but there was still no information on what secret order she received from Kaian to return.
“Isn’t the Salon Arvo the most famous place in the capital?”
Makie, the Count of the Palace, began.
“Yes. It was built with Kaian’s money. Did you sense something?”
“Are you talking about Lady Claudel? That’s ridiculous, Your Majesty.”
“That’s true. If he had suspected that Claudel was here, he would have come after her immediately.”
Valquiterre nodded, tapping the folded telegram lightly on his palm.
“However, I wonder what order he gave to the salon to visit in person without sending a telegram or letter.”
He handed the telegram to Count Makie.
“As soon as the owner of the salon returns, look around. We need to find out what Kaian is up to.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I hope Kaian dog won’t bite me.”
Valquiterre smiled faintly at Count Makie.
“By the way, would this jewel suit Claudel?”
“An ambassador from the Kingdom of Orpen has come.”
He wrapped the jewel in a handkerchief and put it in his bosom.
“Find a craftsman who can make a tiara suitable for the Queen.”
There was no end to the things to worry about.
I returned to my room and sat by the sunny window.
Click. Click.
I sat there blankly for a while, opening and closing the small, beautiful jewelry box with a roof that opened.
In general, prenatal education is about taking in pretty and good things with your eyes and heart and conveying the emotions that the mother feels to the baby.
However, even looking at the precious objects that I rarely saw, I felt noisy and dizzy.
“You’re not doing this on purpose, are you?”
Valquiterre was the King, so he wouldn’t have to worry about other people’s feelings.
Maybe that’s why. There were several times when I felt uncomfortable while talking to Valquiterre and felt awkward answering, so I awkwardly left the room.
“You’re not that free. There’s no reason for you to do that.”
The problem was that contrary to my awkwardness, Valquiterre was the head of the Oberon kingdom and was busy with things both inside and outside.
Then, the only conclusion left was that it was all my own mood.
I set down the small house with sullenly shiny enamel and gold rim on the table.
“Whew.”
I sighed involuntarily.
“What do you think?”
I asked the baby in my stomach as if talking to myself.
“If you are really born as Temnes’s child, can we return to Rowen?”
The prerequisite was that the child had Vermont blood, but as my stomach grew, my heart ached.
I felt like I was constantly being a sinner to the baby.
“Who do you resemble? Your mother? Your father?”
I leaned back and slowly stroked my belly in a circular motion.
“I keep getting sad because I was happy when I lived there.”
It was the marriage that Vermont and Temnes had ended after a bitter relationship.
The impossible had happened.
‘Why do such miraculous and wonderful things in the world always happen to Kaian?’
He had received almost the same education as Valquiterre. It was because their twin smothers had raised them from the same place.
Kaian probably knew what he had gotten himself. He had been forced to marry his enemy by royal command, and yet he had ended up with such a noble love.
That fact made Valquiterre even angrier.
He could not be satisfied.
Everything he had in his hands was worthless.
‘Because it wasn’t what I wanted.’
The things surrounding Valquiterre, including the palace, did not make him happy.
He kept looking at the things he didn’t have, and he didn’t think he would feel like his marriage was being robbed and stolen like this.
Valquiterre was staring at the jewel he was holding between his thumb and index finger for a long time.
“Your Majesty. A telegram from Rowen.”
Count Makie handed him the tray with the telegram on it.
“Shall I see what Kaian is doing?”
Between the lines of the concisely written sentences, he could sense Kaian’s heart, as if he were dying.
“Makie. Do you think I’m too much?”
“Why do you say that?”
Count Makie became serious.
“Everything His Majesty does is royal and right.”
“Do you really think so?”
“Your Majesty must be getting rained on. You haven’t had a suitable Queen so far, so it’s fortunate that you’ve found a woman you like.”
“The people should think the same.”
“If you give them enough food and drinks on the day of the national wedding, they’ll soon forget.”
Valquiterre folded the telegram after reading it.
“They say they don’t know why the owner of the capital salon was summoned.”
The most unexpected part of the telegram was that the mistress of the salon Arvo showed up at the Rowen Castle without anyone knowing when she arrived.
The woman who had stayed at the Rowen Castle for a while left for the capital with Madame Marcel, the castle’s seamstress, but there was still no information on what secret order she received from Kaian to return.
“Isn’t the Salon Arvo the most famous place in the capital?”
Makie, the Count of the Palace, began.
“Yes. It was built with Kaian’s money. Did you sense something?”
“Are you talking about Lady Claudel? That’s ridiculous, Your Majesty.”
“That’s true. If he had suspected that Claudel was here, he would have come after her immediately.”
Valquiterre nodded, tapping the folded telegram lightly on his palm.
“However, I wonder what order he gave to the salon to visit in person without sending a telegram or letter.”
He handed the telegram to Count Makie.
“As soon as the owner of the salon returns, look around. We need to find out what Kaian is up to.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I hope Kaian dog won’t bite me.”
Valquiterre smiled faintly at Count Makie.
“By the way, would this jewel suit Claudel?”
“An ambassador from the Kingdom of Orpen has come.”
He wrapped the jewel in a handkerchief and put it in his bosom.
“Find a craftsman who can make a tiara suitable for the Queen.”
There was no end to the things to worry about.
***
I returned to my room and sat by the sunny window.
Click. Click.
I sat there blankly for a while, opening and closing the small, beautiful jewelry box with a roof that opened.
In general, prenatal education is about taking in pretty and good things with your eyes and heart and conveying the emotions that the mother feels to the baby.
However, even looking at the precious objects that I rarely saw, I felt noisy and dizzy.
“You’re not doing this on purpose, are you?”
Valquiterre was the King, so he wouldn’t have to worry about other people’s feelings.
Maybe that’s why. There were several times when I felt uncomfortable while talking to Valquiterre and felt awkward answering, so I awkwardly left the room.
“You’re not that free. There’s no reason for you to do that.”
The problem was that contrary to my awkwardness, Valquiterre was the head of the Oberon kingdom and was busy with things both inside and outside.
Then, the only conclusion left was that it was all my own mood.
I set down the small house with sullenly shiny enamel and gold rim on the table.
“Whew.”
I sighed involuntarily.
“What do you think?”
I asked the baby in my stomach as if talking to myself.
“If you are really born as Temnes’s child, can we return to Rowen?”
The prerequisite was that the child had Vermont blood, but as my stomach grew, my heart ached.
I felt like I was constantly being a sinner to the baby.
“Who do you resemble? Your mother? Your father?”
I leaned back and slowly stroked my belly in a circular motion.
“I keep getting sad because I was happy when I lived there.”
Could it be that I wanted to use the baby’s excuse to return to Rowen?
To Kaian.
I imagined the man who would be commanding the land, wrapped in the bright sunlight like a blessing from God.
However, I quickly shook my head before his face came to mind clearly.
“Who does it matter who you resemble?”
I wrapped my arms around my stomach as if I was holding him tightly.
“I will protect you. Mom will raise you well.”
If that’s the case, it would be nice if he was born with red hair so that I wouldn’t even think about him.
I didn’t know that my mind was constantly changing like this, which was a sign that I was slowly entering the final stages of my pregnancy.
It had been three months since the mistress had left.
Rowen Castle had a different, more eerie atmosphere than before.
Unlike the usual liveliness, the surroundings of the castle were quiet, as if a stubborn old man had stubbornly kept his mouth shut during the period when the workers inside and outside the castle were busy chanting.
“Well. It doesn’t feel like people live here.”
A servant who was sweeping the castle yard and shaking his hands muttered softly, and a maid who was passing by frowned.
“Watch your mouth. You might get kicked out if you don’t.”
Rowen Castle was quiet, but it wasn’t just because of the mood.
About half of the people who worked at the castle had lost their jobs.
“What did I say? Why should I be kicked out for something like this? The atmosphere in the castle is gloomy, so I just said that.”
To Kaian.
I imagined the man who would be commanding the land, wrapped in the bright sunlight like a blessing from God.
However, I quickly shook my head before his face came to mind clearly.
“Who does it matter who you resemble?”
I wrapped my arms around my stomach as if I was holding him tightly.
“I will protect you. Mom will raise you well.”
If that’s the case, it would be nice if he was born with red hair so that I wouldn’t even think about him.
I didn’t know that my mind was constantly changing like this, which was a sign that I was slowly entering the final stages of my pregnancy.
***
It had been three months since the mistress had left.
Rowen Castle had a different, more eerie atmosphere than before.
Unlike the usual liveliness, the surroundings of the castle were quiet, as if a stubborn old man had stubbornly kept his mouth shut during the period when the workers inside and outside the castle were busy chanting.
“Well. It doesn’t feel like people live here.”
A servant who was sweeping the castle yard and shaking his hands muttered softly, and a maid who was passing by frowned.
“Watch your mouth. You might get kicked out if you don’t.”
Rowen Castle was quiet, but it wasn’t just because of the mood.
About half of the people who worked at the castle had lost their jobs.
“What did I say? Why should I be kicked out for something like this? The atmosphere in the castle is gloomy, so I just said that.”
The servant spoke loudly but then lowered his voice as if he felt a sting.
“It was better when Madam was here.”
Everyone kept their mouths shut and lowered their heads at the words he added.
Claudel wasn’t in charge of the household affairs of Rowen Castle.
Even so, the saying goes that even if you don’t show your position, you show your position.
The servants of the castle were keenly aware of the fact that she was gone.
“The problem is those who spoke carelessly about Madam.”
Kaian had never really questioned the discipline of the castle.
However, looking back, he had never really cared about the issue of discipline.
Born into noble royal bloodlines, he grew up as the sole successor of the Duke’s family and ascended to the position of the head of the Temnes family without anyone’s objection.
The people of Rowen were sending their enthusiastic support and cheers for the lord who had gone to war, and no one in the land of Rowen would dare to rebel against Kaian.
After Claudel went missing, Kaian changed.
He must have been extremely tired from the search, so he fell ill and began to search the castle like a sledgehammer to find those who had ignored or harassed Claudel. He was very persistent as if he believed that she would only return if he drove out all the impure elements in the castle.
“It was better when Madam was here.”
Everyone kept their mouths shut and lowered their heads at the words he added.
Claudel wasn’t in charge of the household affairs of Rowen Castle.
Even so, the saying goes that even if you don’t show your position, you show your position.
The servants of the castle were keenly aware of the fact that she was gone.
“The problem is those who spoke carelessly about Madam.”
Kaian had never really questioned the discipline of the castle.
However, looking back, he had never really cared about the issue of discipline.
Born into noble royal bloodlines, he grew up as the sole successor of the Duke’s family and ascended to the position of the head of the Temnes family without anyone’s objection.
The people of Rowen were sending their enthusiastic support and cheers for the lord who had gone to war, and no one in the land of Rowen would dare to rebel against Kaian.
After Claudel went missing, Kaian changed.
He must have been extremely tired from the search, so he fell ill and began to search the castle like a sledgehammer to find those who had ignored or harassed Claudel. He was very persistent as if he believed that she would only return if he drove out all the impure elements in the castle.
After hearing that he would take into consideration those who reported them, the basket in front of his office was filled with complaints, and because they had to tell each other, they left the castle together in tears.
Since ancient times, working in the castle and earning a steady salary was a job that everyone desired. However, because they did not feel guilty about cursing together, they were all sentenced to three months of hard labor, desperately searching for Madame on the lakeside search party.
After that, the only people left in the castle were those who tried to treat Claudel and Hannah well, and those who just stood by, but the atmosphere could not be good.
“What will happen today?”
A servant passing by sighed, and while others quickly joined in to tell them to be careful with their words, the vassals who had been called out of nowhere gathered around the castle and stared at the head of the household with wide eyes.
“W-what do you mean?”
Kaian looked down at them with an overbearing attitude.
“Drain the lake. Is that hard for you to say?”
Since ancient times, working in the castle and earning a steady salary was a job that everyone desired. However, because they did not feel guilty about cursing together, they were all sentenced to three months of hard labor, desperately searching for Madame on the lakeside search party.
After that, the only people left in the castle were those who tried to treat Claudel and Hannah well, and those who just stood by, but the atmosphere could not be good.
“What will happen today?”
A servant passing by sighed, and while others quickly joined in to tell them to be careful with their words, the vassals who had been called out of nowhere gathered around the castle and stared at the head of the household with wide eyes.
“W-what do you mean?”
Kaian looked down at them with an overbearing attitude.
“Drain the lake. Is that hard for you to say?”
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