The ball began at sunset. Else, who had a simple meal in the cathedral, returned to her bedroom with a tired face and fell asleep. She didn’t look for Sibyl or what he was doing. She and Sibyl parted ways after sharing a meal of dry bread and porridge made with only oats, as was the custom. Sibyl didn’t say anything to Else’s questions.
Jeanne and Jules were preparing to take her to the ball, exhausted and tired from the daytime ceremony. Else was tired especially quickly, or the women of the court were healthy. Amid this incomprehensible situation, Else collapsed on the bed and fell asleep.
She had a dream while she was half asleep. It was a dream of Sybil with a pale face, carrying Else's two legs on his shoulders and shaking his waist. The heat and the distant shaking engulfed her. The pungent bodily fluids were vivid as if they were real. Henrietta watched them as they shook and broke apart in such a state of ecstasy. It was shameful and horrible.
"Your Highness."
Jeanne's voice was heard. Else opened her eyes and stared at her. As she stared blankly at her, Jeanne reached out and touched Else's forehead.
“Are you very tired? Would you like to sleep a little longer?”
Else shook her head. Jeanne seemed to be telling her not to attend and to rest. She didn’t want to do that. It might have been a different ball, but it was a celebration of the twins’ baptism. Shr didn’t want to send the babies away alone in the nanny’s arms.
“Or should I call the doctor?”
"It's okay."
Else got up and stood before the mirror with unsteady steps. Jeanne looked at her with a worried face and then called the maids to prepare her makeup.
“She is indeed beautiful. I can understand why His Majesty fell in love with her.”
A young nobleman opened his mouth. The acrid smoke from his lips was puffing and puffing. Henrietta flapped her fan, hiding her twisted expression. As befitting a royal ceremony, all the nobles of Siena were present. The King’s aunt, Princess Gretchen, was also present. Henrietta sat down, waiting for her.
“That kind of beauty is fleeting. Youth and beauty can’t last forever.”
“That’s true.”
The nobleman who had listened to the young man's words glanced at Henrietta. Henrietta did not open her lips. She looked away and took a sip of the amber wine. Princess Gretchen entered the banquet hall with her husband, the Marquis of Aperato.
The nobles who had been sitting with languid faces playing cards bowed to the Princess’s appearance. Henrietta also consciously approached her. While the nobles were rushing to bow to the Princess and speak to her, the King appeared. Henrietta stared blankly at Sybil. Suddenly, Gretchen approached her and lent her an ear.
“There will be good news today.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You find your place.”
Instead of widening her eyes at the words, “Your place,” Henrietta slid her lips. Is this finally today? Henrietta coughed to calm her quivering lips. No matter how much people told her that they would break off the engagement, her father told her to wait. He calmed her down by saying that His Majesty had something in mind.
Henrietta believed only that. When her father left the Privy Councilor's seat vacant for a few days, His Majesty ordered her to enter the palace and gave her a subtle message. That word... That's why Henrietta waited and waited. She believed that there was still a place for her in His heart.
But today is that day? Henrietta hid her flushed cheeks with her fan and stared at Gretchen. Gretchen pulled the corners of her lips smoothly and looked away. Her heart was pounding. She was a princess who never said anything unnecessary. It couldn’t have been a joke. She left Henrietta and went to her husband, the Marquis of Aperato.
I looked at the king, holding back my pounding heart. The king had a calm expression as always. Whenever I looked at him, my mind was always in turmoil. Everyone except my father said that Henrietta would not become queen. Like many of the king’s fiancées, they believed that Henrietta would also be broken off.
In fact, engagements and breakups were commonplace for royalty. Not only royalty, but also high-ranking nobles frequently engaged and broke off engagements. Henrietta also had three engagements and breakups before becoming engaged to the King. It was common in aristocratic society to take advantage of their children’s marriages. Still, Henrietta believed in her engagement. No matter how much the King had with other women, Henrietta was still his fiancée.
If only he had broken off the engagement on the day he returned to Siena. The King still considered her his fiancée. Even if it was a fleeting hope, she could endure the woman because she believed in what his aunt had promised her in the past. And today, it was finally... Henrietta stared at the king with throbbing eyes.
The navy robe with gold-embroidered collar and sleeves and the neatly tied cravat suited the King perfectly. In the quiet evening, unlike his usual simple but dignified uniform, he was dressed in much lighter clothes, and his face was as dignified and handsome as any other noble youth. His face was so young and handsome that it was hard to believe he was the biological father of the newborn twins... His face was so cheerful and relaxed without a single shadow, and her heart pounded.
Suddenly, the sound of the door opening was heard again. The King's gaze shifted to the small woman. The nobles' gazes also turned to the small and beautiful woman.
“Is that woman a Montana concubine?”
The man who had been whispering as if he was just seeing a distant hallucination let out a breath full of ecstasy. Henrietta clenched her fists. The woman was wearing a gorgeous dress made of red satin. Below her round, white, snowflake-like shoulders, puffed out puffs and delicate lace sleeves. Below her slender waist, the hem of the dress was gathered.
The diamonds that adorned her hands and neck sparkled with a divine and noble sparkle, and the pearls and pure silver that adorned her hair shone so beautifully that it was hard to believe they were of earthly origin. A woman with her hair braided low and decorated with lace ribbons entered with her hands clasped together.
On either side of her were the ladies of noble families. Henrietta despaired. Unlike her peaceful father, she could understand her mother’s constant anxiety. Even if they were illegitimate, they were children who had become true Prince and Princess. The title of Duke’s wife, the highest title a King could hold. And the maids who matched that title... To anyone, the woman before her eyes was the closest to the position of Queen.
It was when she was catching her breath and moving her lips. The guerrilla stopped digging in her place. The King walked up to the stage and began his keynote speech. His beautifully shaped lips spoke blessings for his young children and sang about the kingdom’s perpetuity and glory.
“...So I feel that the time has come to fill the position of Queen.”
The King's lips slid. His gaze turned to the woman who had given birth to his children. But the woman had no expression. She was like a doll that had no feelings. She was just staring at him blankly.
“The national wedding will take place this coming summer, and the position of the Queen of the nation will be taken by a daughter of the Grancel family who has long guarded the royal capital while waiting for me.”
The King pursed his lips. Henrietta continued to stare at the woman as he finished his speech. She was a woman who seemed to have everything. She had even worn the crown of a Queen at her baptism. All of this was possible only because the King had given her permission.
But the King who permitted it...
“Congratulations, Lady Grancel.”
The noblewoman of the family she was very close to, whispered and nodded in greeting. Then, even the nobles who had been far away from her came closer to greet her.
“Lady Grancel, I am sure it was worth the long wait.”
The woman who came to her, waving her fan, spoke words that were either congratulatory or mocking. Although this was the way the noble women of Siena spoke, they were strangely irritating. However, Henrietta never showed any hurt feelings and accepted all the greetings. Then she turned her gaze again.
The guerrilla, who was expected to run away, was still standing in that spot. If it had been Henrietta, she would have been unable to suppress her surging emotions and left. However, the woman did not respond and only looked at her young son in the nanny’s arms.
And the King... The King was staring at the woman. Normally, he would be smoking a cigarette with the young noblemen he occasionally met, or drinking a glass with his knights. But he was just sitting on his throne, staring blankly at her. And so Henrietta began to suspect that something was wrong.
Jeanne and Jules were preparing to take her to the ball, exhausted and tired from the daytime ceremony. Else was tired especially quickly, or the women of the court were healthy. Amid this incomprehensible situation, Else collapsed on the bed and fell asleep.
She had a dream while she was half asleep. It was a dream of Sybil with a pale face, carrying Else's two legs on his shoulders and shaking his waist. The heat and the distant shaking engulfed her. The pungent bodily fluids were vivid as if they were real. Henrietta watched them as they shook and broke apart in such a state of ecstasy. It was shameful and horrible.
"Your Highness."
Jeanne's voice was heard. Else opened her eyes and stared at her. As she stared blankly at her, Jeanne reached out and touched Else's forehead.
“Are you very tired? Would you like to sleep a little longer?”
Else shook her head. Jeanne seemed to be telling her not to attend and to rest. She didn’t want to do that. It might have been a different ball, but it was a celebration of the twins’ baptism. Shr didn’t want to send the babies away alone in the nanny’s arms.
“Or should I call the doctor?”
"It's okay."
Else got up and stood before the mirror with unsteady steps. Jeanne looked at her with a worried face and then called the maids to prepare her makeup.
“She is indeed beautiful. I can understand why His Majesty fell in love with her.”
A young nobleman opened his mouth. The acrid smoke from his lips was puffing and puffing. Henrietta flapped her fan, hiding her twisted expression. As befitting a royal ceremony, all the nobles of Siena were present. The King’s aunt, Princess Gretchen, was also present. Henrietta sat down, waiting for her.
“That kind of beauty is fleeting. Youth and beauty can’t last forever.”
“That’s true.”
The nobleman who had listened to the young man's words glanced at Henrietta. Henrietta did not open her lips. She looked away and took a sip of the amber wine. Princess Gretchen entered the banquet hall with her husband, the Marquis of Aperato.
The nobles who had been sitting with languid faces playing cards bowed to the Princess’s appearance. Henrietta also consciously approached her. While the nobles were rushing to bow to the Princess and speak to her, the King appeared. Henrietta stared blankly at Sybil. Suddenly, Gretchen approached her and lent her an ear.
“There will be good news today.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You find your place.”
Instead of widening her eyes at the words, “Your place,” Henrietta slid her lips. Is this finally today? Henrietta coughed to calm her quivering lips. No matter how much people told her that they would break off the engagement, her father told her to wait. He calmed her down by saying that His Majesty had something in mind.
Henrietta believed only that. When her father left the Privy Councilor's seat vacant for a few days, His Majesty ordered her to enter the palace and gave her a subtle message. That word... That's why Henrietta waited and waited. She believed that there was still a place for her in His heart.
But today is that day? Henrietta hid her flushed cheeks with her fan and stared at Gretchen. Gretchen pulled the corners of her lips smoothly and looked away. Her heart was pounding. She was a princess who never said anything unnecessary. It couldn’t have been a joke. She left Henrietta and went to her husband, the Marquis of Aperato.
I looked at the king, holding back my pounding heart. The king had a calm expression as always. Whenever I looked at him, my mind was always in turmoil. Everyone except my father said that Henrietta would not become queen. Like many of the king’s fiancées, they believed that Henrietta would also be broken off.
In fact, engagements and breakups were commonplace for royalty. Not only royalty, but also high-ranking nobles frequently engaged and broke off engagements. Henrietta also had three engagements and breakups before becoming engaged to the King. It was common in aristocratic society to take advantage of their children’s marriages. Still, Henrietta believed in her engagement. No matter how much the King had with other women, Henrietta was still his fiancée.
If only he had broken off the engagement on the day he returned to Siena. The King still considered her his fiancée. Even if it was a fleeting hope, she could endure the woman because she believed in what his aunt had promised her in the past. And today, it was finally... Henrietta stared at the king with throbbing eyes.
The navy robe with gold-embroidered collar and sleeves and the neatly tied cravat suited the King perfectly. In the quiet evening, unlike his usual simple but dignified uniform, he was dressed in much lighter clothes, and his face was as dignified and handsome as any other noble youth. His face was so young and handsome that it was hard to believe he was the biological father of the newborn twins... His face was so cheerful and relaxed without a single shadow, and her heart pounded.
Suddenly, the sound of the door opening was heard again. The King's gaze shifted to the small woman. The nobles' gazes also turned to the small and beautiful woman.
“Is that woman a Montana concubine?”
The man who had been whispering as if he was just seeing a distant hallucination let out a breath full of ecstasy. Henrietta clenched her fists. The woman was wearing a gorgeous dress made of red satin. Below her round, white, snowflake-like shoulders, puffed out puffs and delicate lace sleeves. Below her slender waist, the hem of the dress was gathered.
The diamonds that adorned her hands and neck sparkled with a divine and noble sparkle, and the pearls and pure silver that adorned her hair shone so beautifully that it was hard to believe they were of earthly origin. A woman with her hair braided low and decorated with lace ribbons entered with her hands clasped together.
On either side of her were the ladies of noble families. Henrietta despaired. Unlike her peaceful father, she could understand her mother’s constant anxiety. Even if they were illegitimate, they were children who had become true Prince and Princess. The title of Duke’s wife, the highest title a King could hold. And the maids who matched that title... To anyone, the woman before her eyes was the closest to the position of Queen.
It was when she was catching her breath and moving her lips. The guerrilla stopped digging in her place. The King walked up to the stage and began his keynote speech. His beautifully shaped lips spoke blessings for his young children and sang about the kingdom’s perpetuity and glory.
“...So I feel that the time has come to fill the position of Queen.”
The King's lips slid. His gaze turned to the woman who had given birth to his children. But the woman had no expression. She was like a doll that had no feelings. She was just staring at him blankly.
“The national wedding will take place this coming summer, and the position of the Queen of the nation will be taken by a daughter of the Grancel family who has long guarded the royal capital while waiting for me.”
The King pursed his lips. Henrietta continued to stare at the woman as he finished his speech. She was a woman who seemed to have everything. She had even worn the crown of a Queen at her baptism. All of this was possible only because the King had given her permission.
But the King who permitted it...
“Congratulations, Lady Grancel.”
The noblewoman of the family she was very close to, whispered and nodded in greeting. Then, even the nobles who had been far away from her came closer to greet her.
“Lady Grancel, I am sure it was worth the long wait.”
The woman who came to her, waving her fan, spoke words that were either congratulatory or mocking. Although this was the way the noble women of Siena spoke, they were strangely irritating. However, Henrietta never showed any hurt feelings and accepted all the greetings. Then she turned her gaze again.
The guerrilla, who was expected to run away, was still standing in that spot. If it had been Henrietta, she would have been unable to suppress her surging emotions and left. However, the woman did not respond and only looked at her young son in the nanny’s arms.
And the King... The King was staring at the woman. Normally, he would be smoking a cigarette with the young noblemen he occasionally met, or drinking a glass with his knights. But he was just sitting on his throne, staring blankly at her. And so Henrietta began to suspect that something was wrong.
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment