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Chapter 100
Gift
“Anne.”
Diana turned around at the sound of her name. Giskar was walking toward her. She quickly lowered her head, worried their eyes might meet.
“Your Majesty.”
Had the fatigue from the journey completely worn off? Even at a glance, her long hair had been neatly trimmed to the point it could cover her eyes, and her previously dull face now looked refreshed. Strangely, she looked somehow different.
“Are you holding a banquet today?”
Giskar’s expression shifted subtly at the sudden question.
“If that were the case, I would have informed you beforehand.”
I see… Huh? What does that mean? Does it imply Diana should naturally attend? Or does it acknowledge her right, as queen, to preside over the banquet? Just as Diana was about to pass by, he spoke again.
“Let’s talk.”
“About what?”
Her voice was colder than even she expected. Giskar stared intently into her eyes. Under that heavy gaze, Diana spoke weakly:
“If Your Majesty wishes, I will gladly do so.”
“The Queen doesn’t seem very willing.”
Diana said nothing. After all, if she was to live obediently as a ‘slave,’ then she would speak when told to speak and stay silent when told to stay silent.
With Princess Levian and Princess Kragel behind her, Diana restrained the urge to be sarcastic.
“Do you have something to say?”
Giskar shook his head at Diana’s question. His violet eyes seemed like they wanted to say something, but Diana looked away. If he had nothing to say, she would just leave.
She didn’t want to look at Giskar. The memory of him saying he wanted to put a collar on her still rang in her ears. As she walked past him, she heard Kragel’s curse.
“That one’s really trashy.”
“Even so, saying that to His Majesty is a bit….”
When Diana turned to caution her, she saw a scene behind her: Princess Levian and Giskar. Levian was smiling broadly, speaking something, and Giskar listened attentively, responding quietly.
“Still doing that nonsense?”
“Princess.”
“Yes, yes, we know our kind Queen won’t say a word. I still don’t understand why someone like that is allowed near her. I know she’ll continue to tolerate it.”
“He was assigned by His Majesty.”
“Then we should tell His Majesty and have him removed.”
“…….”
“Ah, fine, fine.”
Seeing Diana say nothing, Kragel pouted. The scene made her feel nauseated. Is this how they bonded through conversation, pretending to be close while keeping a slave seated next to them as if she were a wife?
For a moment, Giskar’s gaze fell on Diana. A wave of disgust washed over her. She truly lost interest and returned to her room.
Even afterward, Giskar lingered around Diana several times. Yet, their conversations never progressed. Diana saw Princess Levian speaking with Giskar a few times and avoided looking his way ever since.
Diana herself was busy. After chasing away the gargoyles, she received invitations. Occasionally, in the Rodbrock Kingdom, rare ‘banquets’ were held, and she was invited.
However, Diana refused all invitations, citing her injuries. Her interest would fade eventually, but writing a plausible refusal was still a task.
‘It would have been better before I returned.’
She could do as she pleased without worrying about anything. Rebus annoyed her slightly, but that was all. Perhaps, she had even been waiting for him… just slightly. The man who sent no letters and brought no news.
It had all been in vain. Reading documents gave her a headache, so she went out for a walk alone and felt the warm spring breeze. Without realizing it, she began inspecting the garden.
As she had directed, the garden had been neatly organized. Trees had been pruned, and the shrubs were tidied. Soon, flowers would bloom in spring. While the green was lovely, a splash of other colors would make it even more beautiful.
Though she hadn’t touched everything, these were her own arrangements. Seeing them naturally lifted her mood.
In her past life, she had done nothing, which made this unfamiliar palace hard to adjust to.
‘Still, this is nice.’
Things made by her own hands could never feel alien. At that moment, Rebus appeared suddenly.
“Your Majesty, the Queen!”
“…….”
“You look beautiful today as well.”
Is he insane?
Diana looked at Rebus, who continued to flatter her. Despite her disgusted expression, he smiled slyly, as if genuinely praising her.
“Why that expression, ah? When I walk through the garden you’ve created, Your Majesty, I can sense your fragrance. It’s wonderful.”
He was truly strange. Diana stepped back, and Rebus chuckled as he approached. Squatting, he carefully touched a sprout in the flower bed with his fingers.
“His Majesty is so cruel, isn’t he? I almost died too.”
“…….”
“It seems the Queen must be protected by His Majesty, like this delicate sprout.”
Diana looked at the sprout Rebus touched. Small and fragile.
“If you intend to mediate between His Majesty and me, I’ll decline.”
“…….”
This person dislikes her. Probably still does. Yet, since a conflict between the Queen and the King is undesirable, he must have come to mediate.
“Didn’t the ministers hope a queen would come from a powerful family, especially from the House of Levian?”
He chuckled.
“Indeed. I still think that way sometimes.”
“…….”
“Still, I don’t think His Majesty’s judgment is wrong.”
Diana said nothing. What was that—was he trying to lull her into letting her guard down? Rebus smiled mysteriously at her expression.
“Do you know, because of your actions, His Majesty has become foolish?”
“Excuse me?”
“The Bargharti knights shook their heads at His Majesty’s actions. He has made a mistake.”
“…….”
“The king has never been the type to speak gently, considering others’ feelings.”
“…….”
“And the same goes for the Queen…”
“I’m supposed to live obediently like a slave. Should I forgive that?”
Diana’s words widened Rebus’s eyes. He looked puzzled, but she offered no further explanation. He understood and buried his head in his hands.
“Still, to hear someone crush a delicate sprout…”
“…….”
“Wow, this is hopeless. Fine, I’ll make it right. I’ll apologize properly.”
“Excuse me?”
Rebus hurriedly left after standing. Diana expected him to lecture her about living obediently or persuading her to understand Giskar, but he reacted rationally, and Diana felt an inexplicable emotion.
“Why side with me?”
The person who once hated and despised her…
This place was truly strange.
Princess Levian acted like a fish in water. With Diana being passive, it was natural. Princess Kragel complained a few times, but Diana observed indifferently.
A deep sense of powerlessness once again dominated Diana. She had clung to her budgetary rights simply because she had nothing else to do. Diana became silent and lethargic again.
Yet, Diana overlooked a small detail.
Being underestimated and ignored from the start is different from being recognized as capable and therefore a target. Being a target meant being attacked.
“Your Majesty, the Queen! I have a gift!”
One spring day, Princess Levian exclaimed with a bright smile. Wearing a vivid red outfit like a wild rose, she looked especially lively and beautiful that day. Diana felt an ominous premonition.
As Levian clapped, the door opened. Diana still wondered what the gift could be.
“Ah, ah, ahhh, Miss!”
At the sound of the voice, time seemed to stop. Diana stared blankly at the person before her.
[You are already in the hands of fate.]
It felt as if she heard the voice of God from before. Suddenly, a harsh truth dominated Diana’s mind.
“Miss.”
A frail old woman held Diana’s hand, tears streaming down her face. This was impossible—time had passed, and… this person couldn’t possibly be here.
Emil is alive, isn’t he?
“Mirva…”
“Ah, Miss. I’ve missed you, Miss!”
The old woman embraced Diana. Diana looked toward Princess Levian.
