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Chapter 60
“Bellie’s nowhere to be seen.”
“She’s on vacation.”
The maids moved in perfect synchrony. With just a flick of Erne’s hand, the accessories were chosen.
A large sapphire necklace was fastened around her neck, and at a glance from her, her hairstyle changed.
“But this is the busiest time, isn’t it?”
Winzerd looked around for Bellie, who was absent among the dressing maids.
In the busy days following the coronation, it was unthinkable that not a single trusted maid would be by Erne’s side. Winzerd frowned instinctively.
“She hasn’t gone home in ages because she was helping me and Schuknen at House Douglas. She said there’s something going on at home and asked to leave for a bit.”
Unlike Winzerd, who thought Bellie’s absence was irresponsible, Erne remained perfectly calm.
“But isn’t Bellie someone Your Majesty holds dear? Wouldn’t it be better to have her on a day like this?”
“I do care for her, but…”
As the maids bustled about, Erne caught Winzerd’s gaze in the mirror and said,
“Do you know what’s most important in the future of Nesheld?”
“…”
“Especially for the servants.”
When Winzerd shook his head with a puzzled expression, Erne replied firmly,
“Welfare.”
She might not be able to establish the four major insurances in Nesheld, but she could certainly implement labor laws.
Having once lived as an ordinary citizen in South Korea, Erne had vowed to completely overhaul Nesheld.
No more endless overtime. No vacation-less jobs. No passion-pay. Every rotten practice would be eradicated.
“Welfare… is that what you mean?”
“It’s absurd for a boss to keep an employee from taking vacation just because they have important business.”
Winzerd struggled with her unfamiliar phrasing, but Erne explained again in simpler terms.
“I don’t want my staff to feel like they have to walk on eggshells around me to get time off. If they’ve worked hard, they deserve proper rest. That boosts loyalty and productivity. And Bellie—she looked like she had something going on at home.”
“…”
“I’m not so heartless as to ignore something that obvious.”
As Erne finished speaking, Winzerd let out a quiet sigh.
Sometimes, she caught him off guard like this.
Despite her delicate appearance, there was a strange kind of strength in her words—a conviction that made it impossible to argue.
And each time, she reminded him of things he hadn’t even considered. It humbled him.
Soon, Winzerd nodded in acceptance.
“As Your Majesty commands.”
He bent his knees slightly and straightened them—a formal gesture of complete respect.
“Your Majesty, once we finish this last part, you’ll be all set.”
One of the maids carefully tied the knot at the end of Erne’s dress sleeve. All that remained was the crown.
“It’ll be heavy, but please endure for just a while. Once the speech is over, we’ll replace it with the lighter crown for the banquet.”
“Okay.”
Though Erne didn’t show it, she was quite nervous.
This was her first official appearance.
As the absurdly heavy crown was placed on her head, she nearly lost her balance.
Winzerd, standing nearby, caught her by the waist in an instant.
“You look beautiful.”
His words were heartfelt.
“Th-thank you.”
Her posture suddenly turning intimate, Erne’s cheeks flushed red as she looked away.
She was always beautiful, but today, with the extra attention to detail, she shone even brighter.
With a slightly dazed expression, Winzerd helped her to her feet and offered his arm.
“I’m nervous.”
“I’m nervous too, Your Majesty.”
His voice trembled slightly with anticipation.
And no wonder—today wasn’t just her first appearance as queen. It was also the day they would announce their engagement.
“You’ll do wonderfully.”
“You too, Winzerd.”
The two offered each other quiet encouragement.
“Your Majesty, there’s still some time before your entrance. You may rest here for a moment.”
At the maid’s suggestion, Erne and Winzerd entered the waiting room near the banquet hall and sat down.
It was a good moment to steady their nerves.
“Ah, where’s Schuknen?”
“Huger is bringing him.”
“If there’s any chance they might be late, I should go get him myself.”
Even in the chaos, Erne remembered the promise she made to Schuknen the night before.
Winzerd’s eyes widened.
“You’re planning to make your entrance with him? And not even in your banquet dress?”
“We’re announcing our engagement today anyway. It wouldn’t be strange for Schuknen to be with us. And we promised. The three of us would enter together—me, you, and Schuknen.”
“Well, yes, but… Isn’t your dress and crown too heavy? I’ll go get him.”
Winzerd was well aware of how heavy her accessories were—he had casually lifted them up more than once.
“And we wouldn’t want all the maids’ careful work ruined, right? I’ll go quickly and come right back.”
“Would you?”
Erne’s face brightened at his offer. Her dress did indeed restrict her movement.
“I’ll return soon, Your Majesty.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
Just as he was about to leave, Winzerd turned around at the door and looked back at her.
“Like a boomerang.”
At that, Erne’s lips twitched, and she muttered,
“…Just go already. Please.”
＊＊＊
After Winzerd left, the remaining maids exited as well.
They wanted to give her a moment of peace before the banquet began.
Once the room grew quiet, Erne relaxed her upright posture and enjoyed a rare moment to herself.
The room offered a clear view of the outside banquet area, where people were beginning to gather.
Standing on the second floor and looking down, Erne let out a sudden cough.
She had hidden it from Winzerd, but his earlier fuss now seemed more justified than she had thought.
‘I’ve been coughing more… Even though I woke up before dawn, it’s still early in the day, and I already feel this tired. Maybe I really am unwell.’
With a grim face, Erne looked at her reflection in the mirror.
She had even sent word to the crow out of anxiety, but Rivera and Noma’s replies were still delayed.
She vaguely remembered hearing that Winzerd had asked them to investigate the one who chases stars.
‘If the shaman really is tied to my health… who could be behind this?’
The late queen? Or Pashina and Derick?
Each time she coughed, a dull ache spread from her chest. It frightened her.
As she bit her lip in thought, the door burst open—without a knock.
She spun around at the sudden presence behind her.
“Oh.”
“…”
“My apologies. I seem to have taken a wrong turn.”
A tall, handsome man bowed politely as he spotted Erne.
“It is an honor to meet Your Majesty.”
Erne observed the unfamiliar man carefully.
‘A servant?’
Judging by his clothes, he was definitely dressed in the style of palace staff.
“My name is Marters. I was recently hired as a royal servant, but I’m still not used to the palace layout. Please forgive my rudeness.”
His calm, composed demeanor and formal apology helped Erne relax.
“You all have worked hard for today’s banquet. Where were you headed?”
“To the gardens outside the hall. The head butler asked me to assist there.”
“To get there, just follow this hallway and turn right. There should be stairs leading down to the first floor.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
His graceful manners caught her slightly off guard.
Just as he turned to leave, Marters looked back at her.
“Would it be too bold of me to hope for another meeting someday?”
Erne knew exactly how many people worked in the palace—and how few could be close to the queen.
Other than her dressing maids like Bellie, no one.
Still, she nodded lightly.
“Yes. Thank you for your work today.”
She thought little of his words. Just idle talk. She might run into him again by chance.
“I sincerely congratulate you on becoming queen.”
The comment might have bordered on inappropriate for a servant, but Erne showed no reaction.
“Thank you.”
Though his words and manner seemed unusually refined for a servant, she dismissed it as nothing more than curiosity.
Behind the man leaving through the open door, a familiar voice echoed.
“See why I can’t leave your side?”
When had he arrived?
Apparently, Winzerd had returned but had stood outside the door without entering—watching her.
“Winzerd! You’re back? What about Schuknen—”
But he cut her off and strode toward her, glaring daggers at the passing servant.
“Why didn’t you say I’m your man?”
“…What?”
Where did that come from?
It was a scenario far too familiar. Erne’s lips twitched awkwardly.
“You should’ve said, ‘That’s my man, the Duke of Douglas!’”
“…”
“Why didn’t you? Are you ashamed of me?”
This damn K-drama writer.
Meeting Winzerd’s fiery, jealous gaze, Erne called out to him.
“…Winzerd.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Still answering so obediently.
Erne sighed, holding her spinning head.
“He was just a passerby. Just a random extra, okay?”
“He was a man.”
“And? Just a servant who took a wrong turn.”
Winzerd only pouted.
With no other choice, Erne reached out her hand.
“Come here. Closer.”
Lately, she’d begun feeling the need to treat him the same way she did Schuknen.
“What day is it today?”
“It’s the day we celebrate Your Majesty’s coronation.”
His voice softened.
“And? It’s the day you meet the people of Nesheld for the first time. And?”
“…?”
“It’s also the day we announce our engagement to all of Nesheld. Are you still feeling insecure?”
Blushing deeply, Winzerd lowered his head and replied in the tiniest whisper,
“Yes. …Because you’re just so beautiful, Erne.”
It was the look of a man who had just realized how insanely jealous he’d sounded.
“From now on, I’ll tell everyone a hundred times that my fiancé is the Duke of Douglas. You’re the queen’s rock, after all.”
“Then maybe… instead of announcing our engagement, we could just get married to—”
“Winzerd.”
“Yes.”
“Stop at the first verse. Just the first.”
“Yes.”
And so, as Erne focused on calming Winzerd, and Winzerd focused only on Erne—
Neither noticed that the servant named Marters was still standing quietly behind the door.
