Erdene burst into laughter, still dumbfounded even when thinking about it again.
More followed Erdene's side with an expression brighter than ever before.
“What the heck, you’re saying that the fact that she tripped over a tree while backing up had something to do with me?”
“Oh, no, then... Are you saying that Your Majesty didn’t knock Miss Zelma over?”
The wrinkle between Erdene’s eyebrows deepened.
“If I had deliberately knocked her over, would she have been able to get up on her own?”
“T-That’s true.”
More nodded absentmindedly, making an awkward expression as if she had no idea what to do about it.
“Everyone thought that Your Majesty had knocked over Miss Zelma...”
“Let them think as they wish. What good would it do to claim that I didn’t knock her over? And even if it did, why would I do it?”
Erdene’s eyes flashed. Even sparks seemed to fly. More was not particularly sensitive for a noblewoman. She was also not the type to quickly read the situation.
However, at that moment, Erdene looked like a beast that had been unjustly whipped while locked in a cage.
She had given up after realizing that there was nothing she could do even if she howled and stuck her claws out, but she had never forgotten her anger and seemed to be pent up in her own blood.
‘If you think about it, Your Majesty, you shouldn’t have done it, either.’
More thought deeply.
If she said it out loud, Erdene would get angry again, so More swallowed it, but her situation suddenly hit her like a thorn.
“Of course not, Your Majesty. I know some of the people who were there... and I will tell them that Miss Zelma fell down alone and cried in shame.”
More was still scared, but she spoke more clearly and logically than last time.
Erdene didn’t like that either, but she knew well that in upper-class society, a single word could be scary.
In the empire, she didn’t care if rumors were spread about her, and no one had the guts to spread rumors about her in the first place, but everything was different here.
“Did Miss Zelma... behave rudely to Your Majesty? If so, you should report it to His Majesty...”
“Don’t even mention that person.”
More’s eyes and mouth opened at the same time in shock. 'That person', she wanted to ask who on earth Erdene was referring to... but there was no need.
Given the circumstances, it was obvious who Erdene was referring to here.
“Your Majesty, what’s going on with His Majesty...”
However, Erdene didn’t seem to be listening to More any longer.
Erdene struggled to suppress her boiling anger, but finally, she couldn’t hold it in and raised her voice.
“I’m just getting angry, so what do you mean, pitiful? Who on earth are I so pitiful and sad about? If I were so pitiful and sad, wouldn’t I have just gotten married and become Queen in the first place! Why on earth do I tremble in pity over the King of a country as if I were a begging child?”
“Pitiful? Are you saying that about Your Majesty?”
“Yes!”
Her voice was loud enough to shake the hallway.
It was a difficult situation for More, who was not only a little dull but also weak-hearted, but as she listened to Erdene, she could guess the situation to some extent.
“That, Your Majesty... Th, in fact, everyone tends to overprotect His Majesty Arkan like a child... as you said. It’s not just Miss Zelma... You saw the case of Marchioness Fiddler’s, right? The nobles of Vetor are generally... that’s how it is.”
More, who had difficulty finishing his speech, glanced at Erdene.
Erdene listened to her with her arms crossed and then burst out laughing.
“What do you do with a grown man? Does he have a fatal disease that I don’t know about? Or does he just throw gold coins at him every now and then?”
“T-that’s not it. That’s not it. Well, young ladies... tend to adore and worship His Majesty because His Majesty is so handsome. It may be foolish, but how can it threaten Your Majesty’s position?”
The last words were clearly added to reassure Erdene, but Erdene, whose mind was already twisted, could not give a very nice answer.
“It’s not like I can live off of my face. In that case, I’d rather be an actor. There are many handsome clowns in the circus.”
“Oh, no, then... Are you saying that Your Majesty didn’t knock Miss Zelma over?”
The wrinkle between Erdene’s eyebrows deepened.
“If I had deliberately knocked her over, would she have been able to get up on her own?”
“T-That’s true.”
More nodded absentmindedly, making an awkward expression as if she had no idea what to do about it.
“Everyone thought that Your Majesty had knocked over Miss Zelma...”
“Let them think as they wish. What good would it do to claim that I didn’t knock her over? And even if it did, why would I do it?”
Erdene’s eyes flashed. Even sparks seemed to fly. More was not particularly sensitive for a noblewoman. She was also not the type to quickly read the situation.
However, at that moment, Erdene looked like a beast that had been unjustly whipped while locked in a cage.
She had given up after realizing that there was nothing she could do even if she howled and stuck her claws out, but she had never forgotten her anger and seemed to be pent up in her own blood.
‘If you think about it, Your Majesty, you shouldn’t have done it, either.’
More thought deeply.
If she said it out loud, Erdene would get angry again, so More swallowed it, but her situation suddenly hit her like a thorn.
“Of course not, Your Majesty. I know some of the people who were there... and I will tell them that Miss Zelma fell down alone and cried in shame.”
More was still scared, but she spoke more clearly and logically than last time.
Erdene didn’t like that either, but she knew well that in upper-class society, a single word could be scary.
In the empire, she didn’t care if rumors were spread about her, and no one had the guts to spread rumors about her in the first place, but everything was different here.
“Did Miss Zelma... behave rudely to Your Majesty? If so, you should report it to His Majesty...”
“Don’t even mention that person.”
More’s eyes and mouth opened at the same time in shock. 'That person', she wanted to ask who on earth Erdene was referring to... but there was no need.
Given the circumstances, it was obvious who Erdene was referring to here.
“Your Majesty, what’s going on with His Majesty...”
However, Erdene didn’t seem to be listening to More any longer.
Erdene struggled to suppress her boiling anger, but finally, she couldn’t hold it in and raised her voice.
“I’m just getting angry, so what do you mean, pitiful? Who on earth are I so pitiful and sad about? If I were so pitiful and sad, wouldn’t I have just gotten married and become Queen in the first place! Why on earth do I tremble in pity over the King of a country as if I were a begging child?”
“Pitiful? Are you saying that about Your Majesty?”
“Yes!”
Her voice was loud enough to shake the hallway.
It was a difficult situation for More, who was not only a little dull but also weak-hearted, but as she listened to Erdene, she could guess the situation to some extent.
“That, Your Majesty... Th, in fact, everyone tends to overprotect His Majesty Arkan like a child... as you said. It’s not just Miss Zelma... You saw the case of Marchioness Fiddler’s, right? The nobles of Vetor are generally... that’s how it is.”
More, who had difficulty finishing his speech, glanced at Erdene.
Erdene listened to her with her arms crossed and then burst out laughing.
“What do you do with a grown man? Does he have a fatal disease that I don’t know about? Or does he just throw gold coins at him every now and then?”
“T-that’s not it. That’s not it. Well, young ladies... tend to adore and worship His Majesty because His Majesty is so handsome. It may be foolish, but how can it threaten Your Majesty’s position?”
The last words were clearly added to reassure Erdene, but Erdene, whose mind was already twisted, could not give a very nice answer.
“It’s not like I can live off of my face. In that case, I’d rather be an actor. There are many handsome clowns in the circus.”
They were ridiculous targets to compare to the king of a country, but now was not the best time to point that out.
Of course, if it had been Marchioness Fiddler, she would have been out of breath, but More was more afraid of Erdene, who was nearby, than of Arkan, who was not there.
“It’s not just because of His Majesty’s appearance, but also because... You have a lot to take care of not only for Vetor but also for the inland kingdoms, so everyone is worried. And the previous King and Queen...”
When More trailed off, Erdene looked away as if she was annoyed.
“Why are you stopping? What did the previous King and Queen do?”
“Oh, no. No. I don’t think it’s for me to talk about... More likely, Your Majesty, is the reason you’re upset because you fought with His Majesty?”
“Then I guess I’m the only one who’s losing my temper after laughing so hard?”
“T-That’s right. Um...”
Erdene muttered, holding her forehead as if she was about to die from the frustration.
“Why is he being so picky about everything? He acts like he's going crazy because he doesn’t like every single one of my actions. Is he expecting that if he made me the Queen of Vetor, his wife, things would get better right away?”
“That’s not true. I... His Majesty is strict with etiquette and careful with his words and actions. Of course, it’s partly due to his innate nature, but it’s also because the previous King and Queen treated him a bit... strictly.”
Erdene’s expression changed slightly upon hearing those words.
Erdene didn’t know how strict they were, but she thought he was just an only son who grew up well, wrapped in the hem of his mother's skirt, so it was unexpected.
More hesitated as if someone was listening, then continued.
“I can’t say such things so carelessly... Umm, that, His Majesty the previous King and Her Majesty originally had another Prince besides His Majesty Arkan. If he were alive, he would be His Majesty Arkan’s older brother. He was exceptionally intelligent since childhood, but he got sick and died at the age of ten. Maybe that’s why the two of them placed all their expectations on the second Prince... that is, His Majesty Arkan now. They treated him very strictly, placing all their expectations on him. Of course, they didn’t abuse him severely, but His Majesty Arkan lost his brother overnight, became the Crown Prince, and lost his free-spirited life, so he was always depressed for a while. If the previous King found out about that, he would get scolded again...”
Although she was told not to say such things, More’s ramblings were unexpected.
The previous King and Queen usually treated Arkan very strictly, emphasizing his behavior as the Crown Prince to the point of excessiveness, and sometimes letting him be ridiculously lax, embracing him as their cute and pretty child no matter what he did.
“The previous Queen was especially like that. He loved his eldest son, who was born through a difficult labor, very much, but when he passed away, she said that she would follow his son, and for several days, and months, she forgot to eat and sleep and became weak. At that time, Marchioness Fiddler, who was serving His Majesty, took care of His Majesty Arkan for a while. But when Her Majesty was dear to him, she was very fond of him... She would nag his servants to procure all kinds of luxurious foreign goods. His Majesty Arkan had to personally open the goods as soon as they arrived, express his gratitude to Her Majesty, and act cute.”
Erdene, who was quietly listening to her words, suddenly felt her stomach churn and she became excited.
It was an unexpected shade that was hard to find in Arkan's appearance, which was always easygoing and smiling or engaging in childish arguments.
However, her hardened heart could not be immediately relieved by one or two moments from his sad childhood. Erdene, who had her arms crossed, snorted as if to tell her to listen.
“Isn’t that any of my business? I was about to beat him up but I held back.”
More fidgeted and then answered cautiously with a pitiful forced smile.
“You’re newlyweds, so of course you’ll clash often... On the other hand, since you’re newlyweds, it’ll probably be easier for you to let things go.”
"What are you talking about?”
Of course, if it had been Marchioness Fiddler, she would have been out of breath, but More was more afraid of Erdene, who was nearby, than of Arkan, who was not there.
“It’s not just because of His Majesty’s appearance, but also because... You have a lot to take care of not only for Vetor but also for the inland kingdoms, so everyone is worried. And the previous King and Queen...”
When More trailed off, Erdene looked away as if she was annoyed.
“Why are you stopping? What did the previous King and Queen do?”
“Oh, no. No. I don’t think it’s for me to talk about... More likely, Your Majesty, is the reason you’re upset because you fought with His Majesty?”
“Then I guess I’m the only one who’s losing my temper after laughing so hard?”
“T-That’s right. Um...”
Erdene muttered, holding her forehead as if she was about to die from the frustration.
“Why is he being so picky about everything? He acts like he's going crazy because he doesn’t like every single one of my actions. Is he expecting that if he made me the Queen of Vetor, his wife, things would get better right away?”
“That’s not true. I... His Majesty is strict with etiquette and careful with his words and actions. Of course, it’s partly due to his innate nature, but it’s also because the previous King and Queen treated him a bit... strictly.”
Erdene’s expression changed slightly upon hearing those words.
Erdene didn’t know how strict they were, but she thought he was just an only son who grew up well, wrapped in the hem of his mother's skirt, so it was unexpected.
More hesitated as if someone was listening, then continued.
“I can’t say such things so carelessly... Umm, that, His Majesty the previous King and Her Majesty originally had another Prince besides His Majesty Arkan. If he were alive, he would be His Majesty Arkan’s older brother. He was exceptionally intelligent since childhood, but he got sick and died at the age of ten. Maybe that’s why the two of them placed all their expectations on the second Prince... that is, His Majesty Arkan now. They treated him very strictly, placing all their expectations on him. Of course, they didn’t abuse him severely, but His Majesty Arkan lost his brother overnight, became the Crown Prince, and lost his free-spirited life, so he was always depressed for a while. If the previous King found out about that, he would get scolded again...”
Although she was told not to say such things, More’s ramblings were unexpected.
The previous King and Queen usually treated Arkan very strictly, emphasizing his behavior as the Crown Prince to the point of excessiveness, and sometimes letting him be ridiculously lax, embracing him as their cute and pretty child no matter what he did.
“The previous Queen was especially like that. He loved his eldest son, who was born through a difficult labor, very much, but when he passed away, she said that she would follow his son, and for several days, and months, she forgot to eat and sleep and became weak. At that time, Marchioness Fiddler, who was serving His Majesty, took care of His Majesty Arkan for a while. But when Her Majesty was dear to him, she was very fond of him... She would nag his servants to procure all kinds of luxurious foreign goods. His Majesty Arkan had to personally open the goods as soon as they arrived, express his gratitude to Her Majesty, and act cute.”
Erdene, who was quietly listening to her words, suddenly felt her stomach churn and she became excited.
It was an unexpected shade that was hard to find in Arkan's appearance, which was always easygoing and smiling or engaging in childish arguments.
However, her hardened heart could not be immediately relieved by one or two moments from his sad childhood. Erdene, who had her arms crossed, snorted as if to tell her to listen.
“Isn’t that any of my business? I was about to beat him up but I held back.”
More fidgeted and then answered cautiously with a pitiful forced smile.
“You’re newlyweds, so of course you’ll clash often... On the other hand, since you’re newlyweds, it’ll probably be easier for you to let things go.”
"What are you talking about?”
“Oh, that... Hmm, I guess if you’re close... your anger tends to subside.”
Erdene raised one eyebrow.
“What do you mean, being close?”
“No, that, that... that thing.”
“That?”
How suffocating! More held back the urge to pound her chest and tilted her head close to Erdene’s ear.
“That, Your Majesty. I’m talking about... between a married couple.”
Only then did Erdene understand what she meant. Although the 'marital affair' that More spoke of has never happened even once.
"Ah... that one?"
More's face brightened.
"Yes, yes! That one."
"What difference does that make?"
"It makes a lot of difference. I can guarantee it, having lived with my husband for 24 years."
Erdene furrowed her brow for a moment, then blew her lips and made a pouting sound.
"Yes. I'll think about it."
"I'll take you to your residence."
More followed Erdene's side with an expression brighter than ever before.
More, who had been criticized for being taciturn and dull, did not consider herself to be very witty, but this time, she smiled in confidence that she had solved the problem well.
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