Erdene looked like she didn’t understand at all, but fortunately, she nodded to Pelarhar.
That didn’t put Pelarhar’s mind at ease, though.
“I don’t know what I’m doing right now.”
Pelarhar slightly increased his horse’s speed with a somewhat disturbed expression.
Behind him, Montiel Zelma could be heard chattering.
Arkan didn’t seem to say a word in response, but it seemed that even talking like that by herself was a talent, if anything.
“It was a promise, Your Majesty.”
Erdene shrugged.
“I promised. Don’t worry.”
When the group arrived at the lakeside, the pouring sunlight sparkled dazzlingly across the waves.
While the servants and maids were busily laying out the carpets they had prepared and taking out the snacks they had brought in each basket, Montiel stayed next to Arkan, continuing to chatter meaninglessly without anyone listening.
“Didn’t you come with me to serve the Queen?”
Arkan, unable to stop listening, asked, and Montiel answered with a bright expression.
“Yes, that’s right. I’m sorry, Your Majesty. The weather was so nice that I thought you were out for a walk.”
“Now that you know, let’s go.”
Montiel was sullen and embarrassed by the tone of voice that didn’t feel warm, so she retreated for the time being.
Erdene was sitting on the carpet, her eyes closed as if enjoying the breeze, when Montiel approached, Anne, who was next to her, lowered her head and whispered.
“Your Majesty.”
Erdene opened her eyes with a languid expression, and when her eyes met Montiel’s, she raised one corner of her mouth and smiled.
“Do you have anything to say to me?”
It was as if she was not a maid who had come to serve her, but an intruder.
Montiel felt resentful but tried to keep a friendly expression and approached Erdene.
“Today, I will serve Your Majesty instead of Miss Fiddler. I will comb your hair.”
Then, Montiel looked at Anne, who was preparing refreshments and said in a very arrogant voice.
“Give me Her Majesty’s comb.”
Anne looked troubled for a moment. Montiel furrowed her brows impatiently, and Erdene said,
“As you can see, my hair doesn’t need any tidying. If you have free hands, go and comb the mane of the horse I rode. Anne is here, so you don’t need to help.”
Montiel’s eyes widened.
“Huh?”
Erdene deliberately turned her head a beat later, even after hearing her question.
“Didn’t you hear what I just said, or did you not understand? I mean, go and comb the mane of the horse I rode. He is always being touched, and he is sensitive, so he hates his mane getting tangled.”
Montiel timidly protested.
“Your Majesty, combing a horse’s mane is the job of the servants. How can I comb it when I have never done it before? I would rather have the servants...”
“If you don’t know, then go and ask them to teach you. If you want to see my face often and forgive you for being so reckless toward me, then do as I say.”
Montiel, embarrassed, stood up, her face red.
Although it was not the kind of behavior to show in front of the Queen, Erdene did not point it out.
Instead, it was Anne, who was usually calm, who got angry.
“Your Majesty, aren’t you being too lenient? How rude of her to act so rudely.”
“Leave her alone. It won’t last long.”
Anne tilted her head as Erdene hummed.
“I’ll go see His Majesty for a moment.”
Erdene stood up and approached Arkan, who was standing alone, looking out at the lake, apart from the crowd.
He was standing with his back turned, and you could tell just by looking at his back that he was upset.
“Your Majesty.”
Erdene called, but Arkan didn’t look at her right away.
After a while, he shifted his gaze, but his mouth was stiff and blunt.
The atmosphere was completely different from when he usually acted like he was furious at her pranks or teasing.
“I’m really angry.”
Erdene blinked and said quietly.
“Shall we talk?”
“What are you talking about?”
The answer that came out right away was also very blunt. The look in his eyes that he quickly withdrew was also extremely cold.
Erdene followed Arkan and looked at the lake, feeling a sense of disorientation.
“I had to do that, so please relax your expression.”
Arkan turned his head sharply.
His golden eyes, brighter than usual in the sunlight, were sparkling with complex emotions.
“Are you kidding me?”
Erdene sighed.
“No, listen to me.”
Arkan let out a deep sigh.
“Yes, fine. Go ahead and try it.”
It wasn’t the first time she had turned people upside down with something so absurd.
He thought, let’s see what on earth would make her push Count Zelma’s daughter towards him, and then ignore Erdene as if he had brought he to be his mistress.
If he had known that he would soon regret that very thought, he wouldn’t have done it...
“If I scold her a few times now, will she reflect on her mistakes?”
Arkan frowned as if asking what she was talking about. However, Erdene ignored him and continued speaking.
“If I had scolded her for being rude and ill-mannered and kicked her out just now, she would have gone back and tried to frame me while squeezing out the tears that were not coming out. And she would have tried to challenge me again when the opportunity arose. She probably imagined crawling into His Majesty’s bed next time while riding with His Majesty just now.”
Arkan’s face turned red.
The fact that he couldn’t clearly say that Erdene was wrong made him the most angry and astonished.
There was no way he didn’t know that Montiel Zelma was trying to trick him.
If Erdene was weak and Arkan was even more foolish, she would have already tried to seduce him.
So the reason Arkan was angry was not because Montiel Zelma was rude. He was angry because he couldn’t figure out Erdene’s intentions for keeping Montiel with him even though he knew everything.
“That’s why.”
Erdene crossed her arms and continued calmly, not knowing whether she knew Arkan’s voice had gotten lower.
“That’s why we have to pull out the root. We have to make her act so arrogantly that she can’t escape or get away just by squeezing out a few tears, and we have to make her so that she can never set foot in the palace again.”
“So?”
Erdene raised an eyebrow as if asking why Arkan was asking her the same question.
“This is the end. Didn’t I tell you that it was necessary? This is the reason.”
Arkan, who had been blinking silently, spoke calmly.
“Why didn’t you say that earlier?”
Erdene furrowed her brow and stared at him.
“You can’t lie. I was worried that you would mess things up.”
The corners of Arkan’s lips went up slightly before he burst into a hollow laugh.
“It’s true that Count Zelma’s daughter did something rude, and that it made you angry, and that’s why you don’t want to look at her anymore. But you’re using me like this for that?”
“Using Your Majesty...”
“No, don’t say anything.”
Arkan cut off Erdene’s words and cupped his forehead with one hand. His tightly shut lips trembled.
Arkan lowered his head for a moment and then looked straight at Erdene.
“It’s okay. Yes, I understand. I didn’t say anything because I was afraid I’d ruin your work, right?”
“You don’t have to be so angry, do you? If you let something like that go, it’ll definitely cause you trouble later.”
“I understand!”
Arkan raised his voice, and the servants nearby looked at the two in surprise, then quickly averted their gazes at the ominous atmosphere.
It wasn’t just the servants who were flustered and surprised.
Erdene also stared blankly at Arkan with a somewhat flustered expression.
But she was neither scared nor cowered like everyone else.
On the contrary, she felt suffocated because she could not understand why Arkan was so angry, and that suffocation became vague anger.
“Why are you so angry?”
At those words, Arkan turned his gaze to Erdene.
The moment she met his eyes, Erdene felt her heart sink.
If it had been an annoyed and angry gaze, she would not have done so.
Arkan looked very sad.
It was the first time she had seen that expression since meeting him.
His prominent chin seemed to snap once, and Arkan turned away from her.
“No problem. I do not feel like talking to you right now.”
“Your Majesty.”
Arkan turned around without answering and started walking. She could have followed him and grabbed his shoulder, but Erdene did not.
The sad look in his eyes for a moment, and the back of his head that looked hurt as he turned away first, were disconcerting.
The blue eyes that were watching his back shook absentmindedly.
“Ha...”
Erdene sighed belatedly, and a nervous sigh escaped her mouth.
Something was wrong. It was not in her plan for Arkan to be this angry.
She didn’t even know why he was angry in the first place. Isn’t this the most efficient?
‘I really can’t live.’
That didn’t put Pelarhar’s mind at ease, though.
“I don’t know what I’m doing right now.”
Pelarhar slightly increased his horse’s speed with a somewhat disturbed expression.
Behind him, Montiel Zelma could be heard chattering.
Arkan didn’t seem to say a word in response, but it seemed that even talking like that by herself was a talent, if anything.
“It was a promise, Your Majesty.”
Erdene shrugged.
“I promised. Don’t worry.”
***
When the group arrived at the lakeside, the pouring sunlight sparkled dazzlingly across the waves.
While the servants and maids were busily laying out the carpets they had prepared and taking out the snacks they had brought in each basket, Montiel stayed next to Arkan, continuing to chatter meaninglessly without anyone listening.
“Didn’t you come with me to serve the Queen?”
Arkan, unable to stop listening, asked, and Montiel answered with a bright expression.
“Yes, that’s right. I’m sorry, Your Majesty. The weather was so nice that I thought you were out for a walk.”
“Now that you know, let’s go.”
Montiel was sullen and embarrassed by the tone of voice that didn’t feel warm, so she retreated for the time being.
Erdene was sitting on the carpet, her eyes closed as if enjoying the breeze, when Montiel approached, Anne, who was next to her, lowered her head and whispered.
“Your Majesty.”
Erdene opened her eyes with a languid expression, and when her eyes met Montiel’s, she raised one corner of her mouth and smiled.
“Do you have anything to say to me?”
It was as if she was not a maid who had come to serve her, but an intruder.
Montiel felt resentful but tried to keep a friendly expression and approached Erdene.
“Today, I will serve Your Majesty instead of Miss Fiddler. I will comb your hair.”
Then, Montiel looked at Anne, who was preparing refreshments and said in a very arrogant voice.
“Give me Her Majesty’s comb.”
Anne looked troubled for a moment. Montiel furrowed her brows impatiently, and Erdene said,
“As you can see, my hair doesn’t need any tidying. If you have free hands, go and comb the mane of the horse I rode. Anne is here, so you don’t need to help.”
Montiel’s eyes widened.
“Huh?”
Erdene deliberately turned her head a beat later, even after hearing her question.
“Didn’t you hear what I just said, or did you not understand? I mean, go and comb the mane of the horse I rode. He is always being touched, and he is sensitive, so he hates his mane getting tangled.”
Montiel timidly protested.
“Your Majesty, combing a horse’s mane is the job of the servants. How can I comb it when I have never done it before? I would rather have the servants...”
“If you don’t know, then go and ask them to teach you. If you want to see my face often and forgive you for being so reckless toward me, then do as I say.”
Montiel, embarrassed, stood up, her face red.
Although it was not the kind of behavior to show in front of the Queen, Erdene did not point it out.
Instead, it was Anne, who was usually calm, who got angry.
“Your Majesty, aren’t you being too lenient? How rude of her to act so rudely.”
“Leave her alone. It won’t last long.”
Anne tilted her head as Erdene hummed.
“I’ll go see His Majesty for a moment.”
Erdene stood up and approached Arkan, who was standing alone, looking out at the lake, apart from the crowd.
He was standing with his back turned, and you could tell just by looking at his back that he was upset.
“Your Majesty.”
Erdene called, but Arkan didn’t look at her right away.
After a while, he shifted his gaze, but his mouth was stiff and blunt.
The atmosphere was completely different from when he usually acted like he was furious at her pranks or teasing.
“I’m really angry.”
Erdene blinked and said quietly.
“Shall we talk?”
“What are you talking about?”
The answer that came out right away was also very blunt. The look in his eyes that he quickly withdrew was also extremely cold.
Erdene followed Arkan and looked at the lake, feeling a sense of disorientation.
“I had to do that, so please relax your expression.”
Arkan turned his head sharply.
His golden eyes, brighter than usual in the sunlight, were sparkling with complex emotions.
“Are you kidding me?”
Erdene sighed.
“No, listen to me.”
Arkan let out a deep sigh.
“Yes, fine. Go ahead and try it.”
It wasn’t the first time she had turned people upside down with something so absurd.
He thought, let’s see what on earth would make her push Count Zelma’s daughter towards him, and then ignore Erdene as if he had brought he to be his mistress.
If he had known that he would soon regret that very thought, he wouldn’t have done it...
“If I scold her a few times now, will she reflect on her mistakes?”
Arkan frowned as if asking what she was talking about. However, Erdene ignored him and continued speaking.
“If I had scolded her for being rude and ill-mannered and kicked her out just now, she would have gone back and tried to frame me while squeezing out the tears that were not coming out. And she would have tried to challenge me again when the opportunity arose. She probably imagined crawling into His Majesty’s bed next time while riding with His Majesty just now.”
Arkan’s face turned red.
The fact that he couldn’t clearly say that Erdene was wrong made him the most angry and astonished.
There was no way he didn’t know that Montiel Zelma was trying to trick him.
If Erdene was weak and Arkan was even more foolish, she would have already tried to seduce him.
So the reason Arkan was angry was not because Montiel Zelma was rude. He was angry because he couldn’t figure out Erdene’s intentions for keeping Montiel with him even though he knew everything.
“That’s why.”
Erdene crossed her arms and continued calmly, not knowing whether she knew Arkan’s voice had gotten lower.
“That’s why we have to pull out the root. We have to make her act so arrogantly that she can’t escape or get away just by squeezing out a few tears, and we have to make her so that she can never set foot in the palace again.”
“So?”
Erdene raised an eyebrow as if asking why Arkan was asking her the same question.
“This is the end. Didn’t I tell you that it was necessary? This is the reason.”
Arkan, who had been blinking silently, spoke calmly.
“Why didn’t you say that earlier?”
Erdene furrowed her brow and stared at him.
“You can’t lie. I was worried that you would mess things up.”
The corners of Arkan’s lips went up slightly before he burst into a hollow laugh.
“It’s true that Count Zelma’s daughter did something rude, and that it made you angry, and that’s why you don’t want to look at her anymore. But you’re using me like this for that?”
“Using Your Majesty...”
“No, don’t say anything.”
Arkan cut off Erdene’s words and cupped his forehead with one hand. His tightly shut lips trembled.
Arkan lowered his head for a moment and then looked straight at Erdene.
“It’s okay. Yes, I understand. I didn’t say anything because I was afraid I’d ruin your work, right?”
“You don’t have to be so angry, do you? If you let something like that go, it’ll definitely cause you trouble later.”
“I understand!”
Arkan raised his voice, and the servants nearby looked at the two in surprise, then quickly averted their gazes at the ominous atmosphere.
It wasn’t just the servants who were flustered and surprised.
Erdene also stared blankly at Arkan with a somewhat flustered expression.
But she was neither scared nor cowered like everyone else.
On the contrary, she felt suffocated because she could not understand why Arkan was so angry, and that suffocation became vague anger.
“Why are you so angry?”
At those words, Arkan turned his gaze to Erdene.
The moment she met his eyes, Erdene felt her heart sink.
If it had been an annoyed and angry gaze, she would not have done so.
Arkan looked very sad.
It was the first time she had seen that expression since meeting him.
His prominent chin seemed to snap once, and Arkan turned away from her.
“No problem. I do not feel like talking to you right now.”
“Your Majesty.”
Arkan turned around without answering and started walking. She could have followed him and grabbed his shoulder, but Erdene did not.
The sad look in his eyes for a moment, and the back of his head that looked hurt as he turned away first, were disconcerting.
The blue eyes that were watching his back shook absentmindedly.
“Ha...”
Erdene sighed belatedly, and a nervous sigh escaped her mouth.
Something was wrong. It was not in her plan for Arkan to be this angry.
She didn’t even know why he was angry in the first place. Isn’t this the most efficient?
‘I really can’t live.’
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