Gretchen laughed softly at Liena's words. The laughter that came out of her twisted face was bitter and harsh. Liena stared at Gretchen blankly. Else's mother. She couldn't help but think of the wife of Viscount Roate, once called Lady Gerjon. It had been more than twenty years, but to Gretchen, it was not something that happened twenty years ago, but a humiliation and wound that was still ongoing.
“That’s fun.”
Gretchen, who was taking a sip of sweet black tea, sharpened her blue eyes, which were almost gray. Liena lowered her gaze slightly and thought of Gretchen when she was younger and more delicate. Objectively, she was not ugly. Since she was Rosaline, she could not even be 'mentioned' as a comparison. However, Princess Gretchen was a slender and dignified beauty, whether she was young or now.
If she hadn't been comparing herself to Rosaline and destroying her self-esteem, her impression would have been much brighter and gentler. Just like her mother, Queen Anais, she had curly tawny hair and pearly skin. The ash-colored sky-blue eyes characteristic of the Riccarlo royal family...
Surely, before Rosaline made her debut in the society of the court of Siena, Gretchen must have been a girl with nothing to envy. No. Perhaps, if the Marquis of Aperato had not been a little more generous in his love for Rosaline, she would not have become so withered.
“Your Highness...”
Henrietta, who had been fiddling with her teacup with a deadpan face, raised her head.
“It was just a moment.”
Gretchen put down her teacup with a noise. Her face, devoid of the crooked smile, was calm and serene. Henrietta looked at her with an unfamiliar expression. The daughter of the Marquis of Aperato and the Baron Gerjon. So, anyone at court who knew anything about the story of the Viscountess of Roate knew it.
The story that the Marquis of Aperato, whom the Queen had previously chosen as Princess Gretchen's groom, courted the daughter of Baron Gerjon, disregarding the Queen's gaze... Even the story that the Baron's daughter, who was the Princess's rival and comparison in the story, was a girl so beautiful that the Princess could not even compare. However, the reason that this worthless story is still valid and has not disappeared is that the Marquis still could not forget her.
The Marquis still did not appear with the Princess except on external occasions. The Princess was no different. Their relationship was one of duty, except for a few events that had to be attended. It was not known whether Princess Gretchen still loved the Marquis.
Gretchen, who was younger and more tender than she is now, was a girl who couldn't stand the Marquis. As far as Liena can remember, her gaze was always directed in his direction, and her gestures were the same. So, Rosaline's daughter Else couldn't be happy.
“Love... such shallow emotions are fleeting, Lady Grancel.”
Gretchen's monotonous mumbling echoed through the Princess's palace. Henrietta, who had been hunched over in gloom, glanced at Gretchen. Gretchen smiled gently at the woman who would become her niece-in-law.
“My father, Logranto VIII, also said he loved the woman he was in love with every day. Six years later, he had her beheaded with an axe...”
Henrietta slowly withdrew her gloomy expression at the words that he had cut off her neck with an axe. Liena, who saw the corner of her lips slightly rising, quickly turned her gaze away. 'Love is temporary.' 'Shallow emotional play.' In the end, the only things left for the people of the court were status and power.
Roxelana was the same. Born into a family of knights who were far more humble than the Queen's own family, she had nothing but beauty. They say that there was nothing easier for her than to capture a man. However, even if capturing him was easy, keeping him tied down for life would have been difficult.
She gave birth to Philip and died six years later. The King refused the woman's request to see her just once before she was beheaded. He even turned down every request, saying, "For the sake of our children."
The 'children' that the current King cherished and hung up on were nothing to a couple whose love had cooled. Not only Logranto VIII, that is, Henrik, but all the Kings and nobles were like that. When the passion cooled down, they also cruelly abandoned their children as if nothing had happened. It was so much so that the past, when they cherished them as children, they would not mind putting in their eyes, was pale in comparison.
However, in Henrik's case, he pitied his illegitimate son, Philip. He must have felt sorry for him, since he was only five years old. So, although he did not love him as much as before, he pitied his son, who had no maternal family to support him, and preserved the position of Duke of Aspayol. If he had not been so greedy, he would still be alive as a powerful noble and exert influence at court... Liena turned her gaze and stared at Gretchen.
“That is what a government is to a King.”
The woman hummed softly. Henrietta smiled faintly.
Else watched the long fingers caressing her thigh. Even though the doctor said he had applied the ointment himself, he did not listen and just looked at her red thigh. She looked up at her round eyes. The round blue eyes of babies looked regretful and emotionless at the same time.
“It’s okay. Now...”
She tried to lower her robe, pushing away the hand that was trying to squeeze her skinny thigh. He stepped back and stroked Else's pale face with the back of his hand. Else lowered her gaze and looked down at the twins. She had not known that they were twins.
Immediately after giving birth, the midwife asked Else if her belly was particularly heavy, but Else couldn't answer. Isn't it natural for pregnant women to have heavy bellies? Since she had no previous experience with pregnancy, she couldn't answer easily.
“The babies’ names are...”
The chin that had been dropped was lifted. Their lips immediately overlapped, and hot breath rushed in. Else, who was holding her daughter, threw her upper body back in surprise, but long arms wrapped around her. The hand that was holding the child touched her chest.
"Hmm..."
A moist tongue slipped into her mouth. The soft lump was familiar, but it felt new. The tongue that had been rummaging around in her mouth swept over her round teeth and sucked on it vigorously. Her breathing was ragged. Else squeezed her eyes shut and pushed against her hard chest.
"Ha..."
Her still chest heaved, and her lips parted. Else looked up at him with bewildered eyes. The red light from the lamp shimmered in his dry eyes. Else quickly turned her gaze away and hugged her daughter. Those were eyes that were hard to ignore. Eyes filled with passion... Those were the emotions Else could read from him the fastest.
"...Sorry."
She couldn't understand what he was apologizing for. Else didn't raise her head and just looked down at her young daughter. It felt like tears were going to fall. She cried so much that she was sick of it... Else couldn't possibly cry over such violence.
“Never again you...”
The man moved his lips. Else did not respond. The newborn daughter's small, plump lips moved as if responding to her father's voice.
“Else.”
“...”
“Else.”
The back of his hand touched her cheek. Else flinched and avoided him. At some point, Else started to cower or back away in surprise at even the slightest touch of his. Just like she had done to Millium... She didn’t want to do that, but it happened.
“Look at me.”
At his words, Else raised her head. When she looked up at him with frightened eyes, he frowned. A bitter look was clearly visible. She didn't know what to say. In fact, she didn't know what to do. What should she do with this situation... What did she plan to do...
When she was carrying the babies in her womb, she wanted to see their father. She wanted to show him what she had in her womb and make her feel loved. But today, when that happened... Else wanted to go back. To the time when she was abused by Millium.
If not violence, then verbal abuse. The man who trampled and crushed Else like that was better. It was much better than having the man she loved do all that. Else wanted to leave him before she was damaged any further.
“I want to make you happy. And our babies too...”
"I am..."
“I want to make you shine next to me.”
“But, but I already...”
“You don’t want to say that you’re someone’s wife, do you?”
The man who had been gently coaxing her made a hard face. Else looked at him with an unpredictable face and lowered her gaze. Else moved her lips and barely managed to utter a single word.
“...I want to go back.”
The hand that was holding her shoulder gained strength.
"Where."
“With babies...”
Ian. No, she didn't want to be by Sybil's side. She knew what he meant when he said she would make her happy... and stay by his side. Else didn't want to be his mistress. She had never thought of leaving him like that, even when he was a slave in Lugdun.
Even in that way, having someone was not love. Even while forcing herself to have him, she thought so. Even while swearing at him, hitting him, and nagging him... Having someone she loved in that way was no different from breaking them and confining them. Else loved him. And so she knew that he had honor that had to be protected.
“Else.”
He called her with a sigh. Else didn't respond.
“There is nowhere you can go.”
“That’s fun.”
Gretchen, who was taking a sip of sweet black tea, sharpened her blue eyes, which were almost gray. Liena lowered her gaze slightly and thought of Gretchen when she was younger and more delicate. Objectively, she was not ugly. Since she was Rosaline, she could not even be 'mentioned' as a comparison. However, Princess Gretchen was a slender and dignified beauty, whether she was young or now.
If she hadn't been comparing herself to Rosaline and destroying her self-esteem, her impression would have been much brighter and gentler. Just like her mother, Queen Anais, she had curly tawny hair and pearly skin. The ash-colored sky-blue eyes characteristic of the Riccarlo royal family...
Surely, before Rosaline made her debut in the society of the court of Siena, Gretchen must have been a girl with nothing to envy. No. Perhaps, if the Marquis of Aperato had not been a little more generous in his love for Rosaline, she would not have become so withered.
“Your Highness...”
Henrietta, who had been fiddling with her teacup with a deadpan face, raised her head.
“It was just a moment.”
Gretchen put down her teacup with a noise. Her face, devoid of the crooked smile, was calm and serene. Henrietta looked at her with an unfamiliar expression. The daughter of the Marquis of Aperato and the Baron Gerjon. So, anyone at court who knew anything about the story of the Viscountess of Roate knew it.
The story that the Marquis of Aperato, whom the Queen had previously chosen as Princess Gretchen's groom, courted the daughter of Baron Gerjon, disregarding the Queen's gaze... Even the story that the Baron's daughter, who was the Princess's rival and comparison in the story, was a girl so beautiful that the Princess could not even compare. However, the reason that this worthless story is still valid and has not disappeared is that the Marquis still could not forget her.
The Marquis still did not appear with the Princess except on external occasions. The Princess was no different. Their relationship was one of duty, except for a few events that had to be attended. It was not known whether Princess Gretchen still loved the Marquis.
Gretchen, who was younger and more tender than she is now, was a girl who couldn't stand the Marquis. As far as Liena can remember, her gaze was always directed in his direction, and her gestures were the same. So, Rosaline's daughter Else couldn't be happy.
“Love... such shallow emotions are fleeting, Lady Grancel.”
Gretchen's monotonous mumbling echoed through the Princess's palace. Henrietta, who had been hunched over in gloom, glanced at Gretchen. Gretchen smiled gently at the woman who would become her niece-in-law.
“My father, Logranto VIII, also said he loved the woman he was in love with every day. Six years later, he had her beheaded with an axe...”
Henrietta slowly withdrew her gloomy expression at the words that he had cut off her neck with an axe. Liena, who saw the corner of her lips slightly rising, quickly turned her gaze away. 'Love is temporary.' 'Shallow emotional play.' In the end, the only things left for the people of the court were status and power.
Roxelana was the same. Born into a family of knights who were far more humble than the Queen's own family, she had nothing but beauty. They say that there was nothing easier for her than to capture a man. However, even if capturing him was easy, keeping him tied down for life would have been difficult.
She gave birth to Philip and died six years later. The King refused the woman's request to see her just once before she was beheaded. He even turned down every request, saying, "For the sake of our children."
The 'children' that the current King cherished and hung up on were nothing to a couple whose love had cooled. Not only Logranto VIII, that is, Henrik, but all the Kings and nobles were like that. When the passion cooled down, they also cruelly abandoned their children as if nothing had happened. It was so much so that the past, when they cherished them as children, they would not mind putting in their eyes, was pale in comparison.
However, in Henrik's case, he pitied his illegitimate son, Philip. He must have felt sorry for him, since he was only five years old. So, although he did not love him as much as before, he pitied his son, who had no maternal family to support him, and preserved the position of Duke of Aspayol. If he had not been so greedy, he would still be alive as a powerful noble and exert influence at court... Liena turned her gaze and stared at Gretchen.
“That is what a government is to a King.”
The woman hummed softly. Henrietta smiled faintly.
***
Else watched the long fingers caressing her thigh. Even though the doctor said he had applied the ointment himself, he did not listen and just looked at her red thigh. She looked up at her round eyes. The round blue eyes of babies looked regretful and emotionless at the same time.
“It’s okay. Now...”
She tried to lower her robe, pushing away the hand that was trying to squeeze her skinny thigh. He stepped back and stroked Else's pale face with the back of his hand. Else lowered her gaze and looked down at the twins. She had not known that they were twins.
Immediately after giving birth, the midwife asked Else if her belly was particularly heavy, but Else couldn't answer. Isn't it natural for pregnant women to have heavy bellies? Since she had no previous experience with pregnancy, she couldn't answer easily.
“The babies’ names are...”
The chin that had been dropped was lifted. Their lips immediately overlapped, and hot breath rushed in. Else, who was holding her daughter, threw her upper body back in surprise, but long arms wrapped around her. The hand that was holding the child touched her chest.
"Hmm..."
A moist tongue slipped into her mouth. The soft lump was familiar, but it felt new. The tongue that had been rummaging around in her mouth swept over her round teeth and sucked on it vigorously. Her breathing was ragged. Else squeezed her eyes shut and pushed against her hard chest.
"Ha..."
Her still chest heaved, and her lips parted. Else looked up at him with bewildered eyes. The red light from the lamp shimmered in his dry eyes. Else quickly turned her gaze away and hugged her daughter. Those were eyes that were hard to ignore. Eyes filled with passion... Those were the emotions Else could read from him the fastest.
"...Sorry."
She couldn't understand what he was apologizing for. Else didn't raise her head and just looked down at her young daughter. It felt like tears were going to fall. She cried so much that she was sick of it... Else couldn't possibly cry over such violence.
“Never again you...”
The man moved his lips. Else did not respond. The newborn daughter's small, plump lips moved as if responding to her father's voice.
“Else.”
“...”
“Else.”
The back of his hand touched her cheek. Else flinched and avoided him. At some point, Else started to cower or back away in surprise at even the slightest touch of his. Just like she had done to Millium... She didn’t want to do that, but it happened.
“Look at me.”
At his words, Else raised her head. When she looked up at him with frightened eyes, he frowned. A bitter look was clearly visible. She didn't know what to say. In fact, she didn't know what to do. What should she do with this situation... What did she plan to do...
When she was carrying the babies in her womb, she wanted to see their father. She wanted to show him what she had in her womb and make her feel loved. But today, when that happened... Else wanted to go back. To the time when she was abused by Millium.
If not violence, then verbal abuse. The man who trampled and crushed Else like that was better. It was much better than having the man she loved do all that. Else wanted to leave him before she was damaged any further.
“I want to make you happy. And our babies too...”
"I am..."
“I want to make you shine next to me.”
“But, but I already...”
“You don’t want to say that you’re someone’s wife, do you?”
The man who had been gently coaxing her made a hard face. Else looked at him with an unpredictable face and lowered her gaze. Else moved her lips and barely managed to utter a single word.
“...I want to go back.”
The hand that was holding her shoulder gained strength.
"Where."
“With babies...”
Ian. No, she didn't want to be by Sybil's side. She knew what he meant when he said she would make her happy... and stay by his side. Else didn't want to be his mistress. She had never thought of leaving him like that, even when he was a slave in Lugdun.
Even in that way, having someone was not love. Even while forcing herself to have him, she thought so. Even while swearing at him, hitting him, and nagging him... Having someone she loved in that way was no different from breaking them and confining them. Else loved him. And so she knew that he had honor that had to be protected.
“Else.”
He called her with a sigh. Else didn't respond.
“There is nowhere you can go.”
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