When Judith heard that Queen Gilsis was looking for her, she immediately knew that it was because of Krald.
As Judith, dressed in a pale cream dress with little elaborate decoration, entered the Queen's chambers, something flew toward her. Startled, she quickly dodged, and at the same time, a loud cracking sound was heard next to her ear, and something lukewarm poured down on her face and hair.
“Your Majesty!”
The maid raised her voice in surprise before Judith. Queen Gilsis glared at the maid with eyes that seemed ready to strangle her at any moment, then turned her head to Judith, who was drenched in reddish medicine.
"You!"
While lying down, her skinny fingers, which had lost weight since before, pointed at Judith. Judith stared blankly at the Queen’s trembling face and roughly wiped the medicine flowing down her face with her sleeve. Although it smelled bitter and strong, she paid no attention and walked to the foot of the bed where the Queen was lying and knelt on the floor.
“Your Majesty, I heard you were looking for me.”
Queen Gilsis's frowning lips twitched unsteadily. The Queen, who gripped the sheet with her bony hands with all her might, spoke.
“Did you think you could get away with putting my son in danger?”
Judith, who had been bowing her head, raised her gaze without saying a word.
“Your Majesty, these are unreasonable words. What on earth have I done to His Highness Krald?”
“Did you think I was blind and deaf because I was lying in the palace? Did you think I didn’t know about the things you did to deceive the King’s heart?”
Judith didn't even blink an eye in front of the Queen who was shouting for the palace to leave. The story was going to be told to the Queen sooner or later anyway. From the moment the Queen learned that it was Judith who had persuaded King Jedercayer, the Queen must have instinctively sensed that this was not something to be happy about.
But Queen Gilsis did not know what Judith truly wanted. If she had, she would not have ended up throwing the medicine bowl away.
She was only indignant at the fact that Krald had been sent to the war-torn south, and even as a Count. What Queen Gilsis had originally wanted was for Krald to retain the status of Grand Duke, but on the condition that he would not leave the palace or the capital. Judith had already figured that out.
She, who loved her son as if he were her own flesh, could not possibly just ignore these conditions. She would do whatever she could to get away with it, and in that case, she would surely say that it would be better not to receive a title at all.
Queen Gilsis's reaction was exactly what was needed to push Krald over the edge. To harden the King's heart, which could be weak at any moment, and to stimulate Krald's arrogant pride.
“Your Majesty, I don’t know who told you what, but...”
Judith, who had been pretending to slur her words, looked straight at Queen Gilsis. Her face, which was thin enough to look stubborn, was puffy, either from the drugs or from the madness she had suffered from.
“I won’t tell shallow lies about not knowing anything. There’s no reason for me to do that.”
“What!”
“It is true that I spoke to Your Majesty about the creation of Grand Duke Krald. But how could that have been the thing that drove Claude to his death?”
“Don’t you know what the southern region is like? Did you do that because you didn’t know that if my son became a lord of such a place, his life would be in danger?”
Judith shook her head once.
“The situation in the South is said to be chaotic, but that is an external matter. Rotair has not yet supported either of the two principalities, and I have heard that Hibs, who gathered the chieftains and declared himself King, is an outsider in political negotiations. If His Highness Krald becomes the Grand Duke of the South, they will certainly be nervous. They may even cause division among themselves.”
The Queen's face twisted into a strange expression. She had no idea what Judith was trying to say. So she could neither confirm nor deny it.
“Haven’t they been living on rented lands in the principality up until now? So, wouldn’t some would like to come under the shadow of Rotair this time?”
Judith took a deep breath as if to tell her to listen, and continued speaking.
“If His Highness Krald can make good use of their divisions, Rotair will not only be able to calm the chaos in the southern regions but also gain their loyalty. If that happens, won’t the world’s reputation for His Highness Krald change?”
“His reputation has changed?”
Queen Gilsis, who had been listening to Judith with an ambiguous expression, asked again in a sharp voice as if she had found fault with her. Judith looked back at her gaze, which had become fierce and twisted, very indifferently.
“I’m sure Your Majesty doesn’t know how the nobles, as well as the citizens living in the capital, view the decline of Krald.”
“What does that mean now?”
“Must I tell you with my own mouth, Your Majesty? What has Lord Krald done to the ladies of the capital?”
“What did you say!”
Only then did the Queen understand what Judith meant and tried to get up from her seat. However, Judith was quicker to raise herself and look down at the Queen.
“Shouldn’t you be glad that I have told His Majesty about the title of Lord Krald? Your Majesty speaks as if the war in the southern regions has caused Lord Krald great harm, but don’t you know that remaining in the capital is actually strangling Lord Krald?”
A loud laugh burst out of Queen Gilsis' mouth.
“You should know that it is an honor to receive the attention of my son. Who would dare touch my son just because you have played with one or two dirty girls? Do you think I will fall for it just because you wag your tongue freely?”
“However you interpret my intentions, it is up to Your Majesty the Queen. However, you know that if things continue as they are, His Majesty will leave nothing to Krald. Didn’t you anticipate this when His Majesty postponed the title once?”
"You...!"
“If His Highness Krald can fulfill his duties as a Margrave… and if he can even earn the loyalty of the southern tribes to Rotair, that will be the quickest and best path for His Highness Krald. If His Highness Krald does not make foolish choices.”
“What a stupid choice?”
Judith did not respond any further, but bowed and turned away. She heard the Queen grumbling behind her but did not feel the need to turn around.
There was no need to convey everything she had intended to Queen Gilsis. The Queen had no idea what secrets were hidden in those words, such as gaining loyalty from the fierce tribes of the southern region. However, time would tell, whether she liked it or not. Judith hoped that Queen Gilsis would remember the conversation she had had today until then.
“Your Highness!”
Judith, who was sitting by the window and looking outside, turned her head at Mary Anne's voice. She placed the warm teacup on the shiny, solid windowsill, and the steam that rose clouded the glass white.
“Look at this, I made it!”
What Mary Anne proudly showed off was a snow-white rabbit fur cape. A pale blue-purple ribbon was tied around the neck, and the lower hem, which reached down to the elbows, was densely embroidered with Veronica in a similar color, making it look cute.
“Did you make this by yourself?”
“Yes! Miss Cheraan went hunting before and caught a lot of rabbits. I made it with those. Try it on.”
As Judith stood up with a smile, Mary Anne quickly unbuttoned the cape and draped it over her shoulders. It was very soft and warm, yet light as if it had no weight.
“It’s very light and warm. Thank you, Mary Anne.”
“Please wear this when you go for a walk with His Highness the Crown Prince. I’m worried that you might catch a cold since you always wear a thin cloak.”
“It’s not that cold yet.”
“Still! You shouldn’t be sick. The wedding is just around the corner.”
Judith did not argue any further, but smiled silently and stroked the soft surface of the cape with her fingertips.
Although it was still early for snow, the people of Rotair felt that winter had come early because the temperature was lower than usual.
As the ice began to form on the edge of the great lake near the capital, King Jedercayer announced to the entire kingdom that the wedding of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess would take place. Preparations had been underway for some time, but once the exact date was announced, the schedules of those who had anything to do with the ceremony became even busier.
Invitations were sent to the nobles of Rotair, as well as to the royal families of other countries with whom they were acquainted, and replies asking whether they would attend were arriving one after another. Judith was busy all autumn, choosing a dress to wear for the wedding and having it fitted, and Franz was busy adjusting the Prince's ceremonial clothes and acting as regent for the King, who was in poor health, so he had no time to open his eyes morning or night.
“Didn’t you say the dress would arrive this afternoon?”
In response to Judith's question, Mary Anne, who was bringing a box to store the cape, quickly nodded.
“That’s right. Shouldn’t they be here soon? It’s almost time for our appointment.”
The long-delayed wedding of the Crown Prince and his wife caused the jewelers and dress shops of the capital to scream with joy. No matter how complex the orders were, no one dared to refuse them.
Jewels, fabrics, lace, and even decorative beads were sold in a line of expensive and rare items. The orders for the Crown Prince and Crown Princess alone were considerable, but the number of orders from nobles who wanted to attend the wedding was truly beyond imagination.
“But Your Highness, where did Miss Cheraan go? I haven’t seen her since a while ago.”
“She went to get something for Bartholomew. I wonder if it’ll be too late to talk to him.”
Then Mary Anne giggled with a mischievous expression.
“Those two, don’t you think they got along much better after they got married? I guess that’s just how it goes when you live together.”
As Judith, dressed in a pale cream dress with little elaborate decoration, entered the Queen's chambers, something flew toward her. Startled, she quickly dodged, and at the same time, a loud cracking sound was heard next to her ear, and something lukewarm poured down on her face and hair.
“Your Majesty!”
The maid raised her voice in surprise before Judith. Queen Gilsis glared at the maid with eyes that seemed ready to strangle her at any moment, then turned her head to Judith, who was drenched in reddish medicine.
"You!"
While lying down, her skinny fingers, which had lost weight since before, pointed at Judith. Judith stared blankly at the Queen’s trembling face and roughly wiped the medicine flowing down her face with her sleeve. Although it smelled bitter and strong, she paid no attention and walked to the foot of the bed where the Queen was lying and knelt on the floor.
“Your Majesty, I heard you were looking for me.”
Queen Gilsis's frowning lips twitched unsteadily. The Queen, who gripped the sheet with her bony hands with all her might, spoke.
“Did you think you could get away with putting my son in danger?”
Judith, who had been bowing her head, raised her gaze without saying a word.
“Your Majesty, these are unreasonable words. What on earth have I done to His Highness Krald?”
“Did you think I was blind and deaf because I was lying in the palace? Did you think I didn’t know about the things you did to deceive the King’s heart?”
Judith didn't even blink an eye in front of the Queen who was shouting for the palace to leave. The story was going to be told to the Queen sooner or later anyway. From the moment the Queen learned that it was Judith who had persuaded King Jedercayer, the Queen must have instinctively sensed that this was not something to be happy about.
But Queen Gilsis did not know what Judith truly wanted. If she had, she would not have ended up throwing the medicine bowl away.
She was only indignant at the fact that Krald had been sent to the war-torn south, and even as a Count. What Queen Gilsis had originally wanted was for Krald to retain the status of Grand Duke, but on the condition that he would not leave the palace or the capital. Judith had already figured that out.
She, who loved her son as if he were her own flesh, could not possibly just ignore these conditions. She would do whatever she could to get away with it, and in that case, she would surely say that it would be better not to receive a title at all.
Queen Gilsis's reaction was exactly what was needed to push Krald over the edge. To harden the King's heart, which could be weak at any moment, and to stimulate Krald's arrogant pride.
“Your Majesty, I don’t know who told you what, but...”
Judith, who had been pretending to slur her words, looked straight at Queen Gilsis. Her face, which was thin enough to look stubborn, was puffy, either from the drugs or from the madness she had suffered from.
“I won’t tell shallow lies about not knowing anything. There’s no reason for me to do that.”
“What!”
“It is true that I spoke to Your Majesty about the creation of Grand Duke Krald. But how could that have been the thing that drove Claude to his death?”
“Don’t you know what the southern region is like? Did you do that because you didn’t know that if my son became a lord of such a place, his life would be in danger?”
Judith shook her head once.
“The situation in the South is said to be chaotic, but that is an external matter. Rotair has not yet supported either of the two principalities, and I have heard that Hibs, who gathered the chieftains and declared himself King, is an outsider in political negotiations. If His Highness Krald becomes the Grand Duke of the South, they will certainly be nervous. They may even cause division among themselves.”
The Queen's face twisted into a strange expression. She had no idea what Judith was trying to say. So she could neither confirm nor deny it.
“Haven’t they been living on rented lands in the principality up until now? So, wouldn’t some would like to come under the shadow of Rotair this time?”
Judith took a deep breath as if to tell her to listen, and continued speaking.
“If His Highness Krald can make good use of their divisions, Rotair will not only be able to calm the chaos in the southern regions but also gain their loyalty. If that happens, won’t the world’s reputation for His Highness Krald change?”
“His reputation has changed?”
Queen Gilsis, who had been listening to Judith with an ambiguous expression, asked again in a sharp voice as if she had found fault with her. Judith looked back at her gaze, which had become fierce and twisted, very indifferently.
“I’m sure Your Majesty doesn’t know how the nobles, as well as the citizens living in the capital, view the decline of Krald.”
“What does that mean now?”
“Must I tell you with my own mouth, Your Majesty? What has Lord Krald done to the ladies of the capital?”
“What did you say!”
Only then did the Queen understand what Judith meant and tried to get up from her seat. However, Judith was quicker to raise herself and look down at the Queen.
“Shouldn’t you be glad that I have told His Majesty about the title of Lord Krald? Your Majesty speaks as if the war in the southern regions has caused Lord Krald great harm, but don’t you know that remaining in the capital is actually strangling Lord Krald?”
A loud laugh burst out of Queen Gilsis' mouth.
“You should know that it is an honor to receive the attention of my son. Who would dare touch my son just because you have played with one or two dirty girls? Do you think I will fall for it just because you wag your tongue freely?”
“However you interpret my intentions, it is up to Your Majesty the Queen. However, you know that if things continue as they are, His Majesty will leave nothing to Krald. Didn’t you anticipate this when His Majesty postponed the title once?”
"You...!"
“If His Highness Krald can fulfill his duties as a Margrave… and if he can even earn the loyalty of the southern tribes to Rotair, that will be the quickest and best path for His Highness Krald. If His Highness Krald does not make foolish choices.”
“What a stupid choice?”
Judith did not respond any further, but bowed and turned away. She heard the Queen grumbling behind her but did not feel the need to turn around.
There was no need to convey everything she had intended to Queen Gilsis. The Queen had no idea what secrets were hidden in those words, such as gaining loyalty from the fierce tribes of the southern region. However, time would tell, whether she liked it or not. Judith hoped that Queen Gilsis would remember the conversation she had had today until then.
***
“Your Highness!”
Judith, who was sitting by the window and looking outside, turned her head at Mary Anne's voice. She placed the warm teacup on the shiny, solid windowsill, and the steam that rose clouded the glass white.
“Look at this, I made it!”
What Mary Anne proudly showed off was a snow-white rabbit fur cape. A pale blue-purple ribbon was tied around the neck, and the lower hem, which reached down to the elbows, was densely embroidered with Veronica in a similar color, making it look cute.
“Did you make this by yourself?”
“Yes! Miss Cheraan went hunting before and caught a lot of rabbits. I made it with those. Try it on.”
As Judith stood up with a smile, Mary Anne quickly unbuttoned the cape and draped it over her shoulders. It was very soft and warm, yet light as if it had no weight.
“It’s very light and warm. Thank you, Mary Anne.”
“Please wear this when you go for a walk with His Highness the Crown Prince. I’m worried that you might catch a cold since you always wear a thin cloak.”
“It’s not that cold yet.”
“Still! You shouldn’t be sick. The wedding is just around the corner.”
Judith did not argue any further, but smiled silently and stroked the soft surface of the cape with her fingertips.
Although it was still early for snow, the people of Rotair felt that winter had come early because the temperature was lower than usual.
As the ice began to form on the edge of the great lake near the capital, King Jedercayer announced to the entire kingdom that the wedding of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess would take place. Preparations had been underway for some time, but once the exact date was announced, the schedules of those who had anything to do with the ceremony became even busier.
Invitations were sent to the nobles of Rotair, as well as to the royal families of other countries with whom they were acquainted, and replies asking whether they would attend were arriving one after another. Judith was busy all autumn, choosing a dress to wear for the wedding and having it fitted, and Franz was busy adjusting the Prince's ceremonial clothes and acting as regent for the King, who was in poor health, so he had no time to open his eyes morning or night.
“Didn’t you say the dress would arrive this afternoon?”
In response to Judith's question, Mary Anne, who was bringing a box to store the cape, quickly nodded.
“That’s right. Shouldn’t they be here soon? It’s almost time for our appointment.”
The long-delayed wedding of the Crown Prince and his wife caused the jewelers and dress shops of the capital to scream with joy. No matter how complex the orders were, no one dared to refuse them.
Jewels, fabrics, lace, and even decorative beads were sold in a line of expensive and rare items. The orders for the Crown Prince and Crown Princess alone were considerable, but the number of orders from nobles who wanted to attend the wedding was truly beyond imagination.
“But Your Highness, where did Miss Cheraan go? I haven’t seen her since a while ago.”
“She went to get something for Bartholomew. I wonder if it’ll be too late to talk to him.”
Then Mary Anne giggled with a mischievous expression.
“Those two, don’t you think they got along much better after they got married? I guess that’s just how it goes when you live together.”
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