Dawn came with the sound of birds chirping.
As the darkness that had penetrated deep into the depths began to recede, new colors filled the empty space. The color of water seemed to have collected the stars that had risen in the night and attached them to its body, the green that flowed from the edge of the forest, and the pale gold that spread as if dancing along the trajectory of the still life.
The sunlight of a summer morning is not humble. When the outside of the window, which had not yet been curtained, became bright, she could not bear to keep her eyes closed. Judith opened her eyes before Franz. She stroked his head, which was still sleeping soundly, and gently kissed his ear exposed by his short hair and his shoulder, which was not covered by the sheet, before getting out of bed.
When she opened the side door that led to the space set aside for the Princess, she found Mary Anne dozing off with her back against the wall. Judith reached out her hand and tried to squeeze her shoulder lightly. But before she could reach it, Mary Ann suddenly opened her eyes and hastily adjusted her posture.
“Princess, are you awake? Sorry, I dozed off...”
“It’s early in the morning, everyone is tired. What do you have to be sorry about?”
Mary Anne smiled brightly as if she had just woken up from a nap. Then she carefully led Judith inside. When she came out after washing, Cheraan had already arrived. While she was changing clothes and carefully combing her long hair, Cheraan told her the story of meeting the Queen's maid in front of the Nation Palace.
“As soon as you finish dressing up, bring the Crown Princess to the palace. What are she trying to do with you so early in the morning?”
“Cheraan.”
It was a tone that sounded like a scolding, but it wasn’t a genuine reprimand for Cheraan. Mary Anne, who was calmly braiding her thin strands of hair, also frowned as she looked at Cheraan.
“Ever since the founding of the nation ended, I feel like I’ve been getting more and more anxious about harassing Judith.”
“Who said no?”
Cheraan, who had come up next to her, began to slowly braid Judith's hair while Mary Anne helped her. While the two went back and forth gossiping about Queen Gilsis, Judith looked lost in thought with a deep expression on her face.
She looked at her own face in the mirror, then at Mary Anne and Cheraan's hands moving skillfully, and her eyes kept moving aimlessly. Meanwhile, the words Franz had said last night kept lingering in her ears.
The debate over what to do with Flavia, who had committed such an outrageous act, had somehow reached an agreement last night. The only question was whether Franz would really use such a method. No matter how much she thought about it, it was an unbelievable trap that came from his head.
“Would you like to go to the Queen’s Palace and have breakfast? And should I also inform the Crown Prince in advance?”
Judith, who had been lost in thought while fiddling with her slightly askew earring, soon shook her head.
“No, don’t tell the His Highness. If anything happens, I will tell him myself.”
Cheraan nodded. Judith told them to prepare breakfast on the western terrace and left the Nation Palace. She thought to herself that depending on what reason the Queen had called her, she might end up for lunch instead of breakfast.
Compared to what she expected upon arrival, the atmosphere in the Queen's palace was more peaceful. Queen Gilsis was wearing a dark purple dress with grape pattern embroidery today. The clothes suited her arrogant features and blackened eyebrows very well, but perhaps because of the expression on her face, she also gave off an ominous aura.
“Queen, did you have a good night?”
Queen Gilsis, who did not accept Judith's greeting, made a gesture. Then, to her surprise, the maid, who was standing behind her, pulled out another chair for her and placed it next to Judith.
“Sit down.”
What else are we supposed to do with this?
Judith hesitated for a moment and then carefully sat down on the chair.
Although she had been called to the Queen's palace more than once, this was the first time she had offered a chair to Judith. In most cases, she had to stand until her legs started to hurt, and there were countless other situations where it was worse than that.
Therefore, Judith was not happy at all about this unexpected situation. Instead of being happy, only distrust raised its head. The Queen, who was looking at Judith, who was silently looking down, tilted her head. Her fingers supporting the side of her head twitched slowly like the legs of a spider.
Judith carefully looked at the Queen's expression. It was her nervous guess that she might know something related to Flavia. However, as everyone expected, Queen Gilsis seemed completely unaware of the matter. If she had known, there was no way she could have kept her mouth shut all this time due to her quick temper.
“You’ve heard that the poorhouse at Minotole 3 was destroyed, right?”
Minotole 3 refers to the slum area located on the outskirts of the capital. The King, who was the great-grandfather of the current King, wanted to provide new shelters for the homeless poor scattered throughout the capital, but designating areas was not easy. The discussion was limited to the fact that the nobles residing nearby rose up like a swarm of bees to object.
The son who succeeded him in taking the throne mirrored his father's failure and took a workaround. First, the royal almshouse, basic education facilities, commercial facilities requiring individual skills, and vocational training centers were built in succession on the streets east of Minotole.
Repairmen who repair furniture and musical instruments, tanners who work with leather, carpenters and plasterers were always in need of assistants and workers to teach their skills and help with their work, so people without jobs first flocked to Minotole Street.
The same was true for the homeless poor who had to get food and lodging provided by the workhouse. They did not leave the area near Minotole Street and at some point began to build houses and live there. If they asked the workhouse, they could get enough wood and tools to build a shack, and the labor was shared.
In this way, a year passed, then three years, and finally, just as the previous King had intended, most of the homeless, wandering poor gathered and settled in the streets of Minotole.
The name of the place, Number 3, was a nickname given by the nobles thereafter. There were slums within the block called Minotole Street, but in some places, there were also nobles' mansions. The nobles living there created the name 'Minotole Number 3' to distinguish between the slums and their own residential area, but the kingdom did not officially discriminate.
Judith had also heard that there was great chaos when the poorhouse there collapsed. It is said that the warehouse where food and cloth were distributed to the poor collapsed due to problems caused by the aging walls and pillars not being repaired in time.
Although no one was injured or died, many people had difficulty eating a single meal without the food provided by the workhouse, so repair work had to be done as soon as possible.
“I heard that the warehouse collapsed and people in need of help from the poorhouse are having a hard time.”
“Yes. His Majesty is sending relief personnel, but in this case, it seems inevitable that those in charge of domestic affairs will step forward.”
When harvests were poor or the country's circumstances became difficult, the task of providing relief to the poor was often entrusted to the Queen. Queen Gilsis would have had to take part in the collapse of the poorhouse had the King not confiscated all of her authority to intervene in the affairs.
Judith carefully organized the series of circumstances in her head and then nodded. The Queen continued.
“We have already requested funds to build a new workhouse from nobles with the rank of Count or higher. Of course, the Queen concubine also plans to give a certain amount of money.”
“In that case, I will be happy to help Queen Mother.”
“Since you have just become a Crown Princess, it would be much better to go and show your face in person rather than just giving money and valuables along with others.”
Judith's eyes blinked slowly. The Queen looked at her expression and suddenly let out a short, high-pitched laugh.
“Didn’t you understand what I said with that smart brain? How are you looking so stupid?”
“...I apologize. Do you mean, Your Majesty, that I should go to the workhouse myself and help them with their work?”
“Yes. But with your weak limbs, will you carry wood? Will you cover sand? While the workhouse is being built, His Majesty has ordered you to distribute food to the poor in the temporary barracks. I’m telling you to help out there. It doesn’t have to be long. In a day or two, the beautiful Crown Princess will be singing a song about her heart being like silk.”
The last words were clearly sarcastic, but Judith didn't care. Although the intention was questionable as to why the Queen, who had been secluded as if to protest against the King, suddenly came forward, the offer itself was not something worth rejecting.
“I understand, Your Majesty. I will.”
“I heard that the people dispatched by His Majesty are rotated every ten days. So, make sure you are ready within 10 days. And the second Princess will also go with you.”
Flavia?
Judith was somewhat surprised, but couldn't show it. Nominally, they were both the Queen's daughters-in-law, so it wasn't strange for them to go together.
If she object rashly, the Queen will try to find fault with her again. When Judith agreed, the Queen sent her away as if chasing away something annoying.
After Judith left, Margit, who had been standing restlessly, came to the Queen's side. Queen Gilsis furrowed her brows as if she knew what she was going to say without having to hear it.
“Don’t worry about useless things. No matter how much you don’t like it, why are you so anxious like a dog that is afraid that I will harm my son’s wife?”
“Ha, Your Majesty...”
“It’s a pretty good plan for something that came out of your dull head. In ten days, you won’t have to see that filthy woman again.”
The Queen smiled as if she felt relieved just thinking about it. It was Margit's idea to send Judith to the poor house so that the smugglers brought in by Count Bloset could kidnap her outside the palace.
Margit was frightened at the thought of her daughter accompanying Judith to such an event. Would it be okay if they accidentally hurt Flavia?
However, Queen Gilsis said that it was none of her business. Margit bowed her head, her expression trembling with anxiety.
Although she had been called to the Queen's palace more than once, this was the first time she had offered a chair to Judith. In most cases, she had to stand until her legs started to hurt, and there were countless other situations where it was worse than that.
Therefore, Judith was not happy at all about this unexpected situation. Instead of being happy, only distrust raised its head. The Queen, who was looking at Judith, who was silently looking down, tilted her head. Her fingers supporting the side of her head twitched slowly like the legs of a spider.
Judith carefully looked at the Queen's expression. It was her nervous guess that she might know something related to Flavia. However, as everyone expected, Queen Gilsis seemed completely unaware of the matter. If she had known, there was no way she could have kept her mouth shut all this time due to her quick temper.
“You’ve heard that the poorhouse at Minotole 3 was destroyed, right?”
Minotole 3 refers to the slum area located on the outskirts of the capital. The King, who was the great-grandfather of the current King, wanted to provide new shelters for the homeless poor scattered throughout the capital, but designating areas was not easy. The discussion was limited to the fact that the nobles residing nearby rose up like a swarm of bees to object.
The son who succeeded him in taking the throne mirrored his father's failure and took a workaround. First, the royal almshouse, basic education facilities, commercial facilities requiring individual skills, and vocational training centers were built in succession on the streets east of Minotole.
Repairmen who repair furniture and musical instruments, tanners who work with leather, carpenters and plasterers were always in need of assistants and workers to teach their skills and help with their work, so people without jobs first flocked to Minotole Street.
The same was true for the homeless poor who had to get food and lodging provided by the workhouse. They did not leave the area near Minotole Street and at some point began to build houses and live there. If they asked the workhouse, they could get enough wood and tools to build a shack, and the labor was shared.
In this way, a year passed, then three years, and finally, just as the previous King had intended, most of the homeless, wandering poor gathered and settled in the streets of Minotole.
The name of the place, Number 3, was a nickname given by the nobles thereafter. There were slums within the block called Minotole Street, but in some places, there were also nobles' mansions. The nobles living there created the name 'Minotole Number 3' to distinguish between the slums and their own residential area, but the kingdom did not officially discriminate.
Judith had also heard that there was great chaos when the poorhouse there collapsed. It is said that the warehouse where food and cloth were distributed to the poor collapsed due to problems caused by the aging walls and pillars not being repaired in time.
Although no one was injured or died, many people had difficulty eating a single meal without the food provided by the workhouse, so repair work had to be done as soon as possible.
“I heard that the warehouse collapsed and people in need of help from the poorhouse are having a hard time.”
“Yes. His Majesty is sending relief personnel, but in this case, it seems inevitable that those in charge of domestic affairs will step forward.”
When harvests were poor or the country's circumstances became difficult, the task of providing relief to the poor was often entrusted to the Queen. Queen Gilsis would have had to take part in the collapse of the poorhouse had the King not confiscated all of her authority to intervene in the affairs.
Judith carefully organized the series of circumstances in her head and then nodded. The Queen continued.
“We have already requested funds to build a new workhouse from nobles with the rank of Count or higher. Of course, the Queen concubine also plans to give a certain amount of money.”
“In that case, I will be happy to help Queen Mother.”
“Since you have just become a Crown Princess, it would be much better to go and show your face in person rather than just giving money and valuables along with others.”
Judith's eyes blinked slowly. The Queen looked at her expression and suddenly let out a short, high-pitched laugh.
“Didn’t you understand what I said with that smart brain? How are you looking so stupid?”
“...I apologize. Do you mean, Your Majesty, that I should go to the workhouse myself and help them with their work?”
“Yes. But with your weak limbs, will you carry wood? Will you cover sand? While the workhouse is being built, His Majesty has ordered you to distribute food to the poor in the temporary barracks. I’m telling you to help out there. It doesn’t have to be long. In a day or two, the beautiful Crown Princess will be singing a song about her heart being like silk.”
The last words were clearly sarcastic, but Judith didn't care. Although the intention was questionable as to why the Queen, who had been secluded as if to protest against the King, suddenly came forward, the offer itself was not something worth rejecting.
“I understand, Your Majesty. I will.”
“I heard that the people dispatched by His Majesty are rotated every ten days. So, make sure you are ready within 10 days. And the second Princess will also go with you.”
Flavia?
Judith was somewhat surprised, but couldn't show it. Nominally, they were both the Queen's daughters-in-law, so it wasn't strange for them to go together.
If she object rashly, the Queen will try to find fault with her again. When Judith agreed, the Queen sent her away as if chasing away something annoying.
After Judith left, Margit, who had been standing restlessly, came to the Queen's side. Queen Gilsis furrowed her brows as if she knew what she was going to say without having to hear it.
“Don’t worry about useless things. No matter how much you don’t like it, why are you so anxious like a dog that is afraid that I will harm my son’s wife?”
“Ha, Your Majesty...”
“It’s a pretty good plan for something that came out of your dull head. In ten days, you won’t have to see that filthy woman again.”
The Queen smiled as if she felt relieved just thinking about it. It was Margit's idea to send Judith to the poor house so that the smugglers brought in by Count Bloset could kidnap her outside the palace.
Margit was frightened at the thought of her daughter accompanying Judith to such an event. Would it be okay if they accidentally hurt Flavia?
However, Queen Gilsis said that it was none of her business. Margit bowed her head, her expression trembling with anxiety.
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