Chapter 4 – Prejudice (Part 8)
For a moment, Annette’s golden eyes turned cold, and Sophia found it unfamiliar. Worried that she might ruin her relationship with Annette by saying the wrong thing, Sophia answered cautiously.
“I’m not saying I won’t divorce. It’s just that it hasn’t been long since we got married, so it feels too hasty.”
“Why do you feel hasty? If you want it, Father will agree.”
“That’s true, but I feel it’s too rushed right now. The Royal Family might still be watching.”
“No, now is the perfect time. If you wait too long, it might become difficult to divorce.”
“Alright. I’ll talk to Father about it next time I see him.”
No matter how much Sophia tried to steer the conversation away from divorce, Annette was determined to make it happen. Eventually, Sophia found herself agreeing with Annette just to wrap up the conversation.
“Then I’ll be going now. If anything happens, contact me immediately.”
“Alright. Take care.”
Having said her piece, Annette stood up, and Sophia walked with her to where the carriage was waiting to see her off.
Sophia waved until Annette’s carriage disappeared from view, her face bright with a smile. But as soon as Annette was out of sight, the smile vanished.
Meeting Annette had left her feeling more stifled, and she couldn’t keep smiling anymore.
Sophia understood that Annette brought up the topic of divorce because she believed it would improve Sophia’s life. But hearing about divorce repeatedly only made Sophia feel resistant.
“Sister, I’m sorry. I don’t have the confidence to follow your advice.”
Muttering the words she couldn’t say to Annette, Sophia walked away with a heavy heart.
* * *
“A representative from the Royal Family has arrived.”
The day after Annette’s visit, a guest from the royal family came to see Sophia.
Since the disputes between the Dveshi and Loden families had nearly disappeared, there had been no contact from the royal family for some time.
The order to live with the Loden family for a year had also been lifted, so Sophia thought she could finally relax about her marriage. But it seemed she was mistaken.
“His Majesty wanted to come himself, but he thought it might be overwhelming, so I came instead.”
The person who came to see Sophia was the Chancellor, known as the King’s right hand.
It was better than having the King come himself, but he was still a sufficiently burdensome presence, so Sophia couldn’t help but be tense.
“Welcome.”
With a stiff face, Sophia led the Chancellor to the drawing room. Following her guidance, he sat on the sofa she indicated. Just by sitting on the sofa, he exuded an aura of unapproachable dignity.
“How is married life?”
As soon as he sat down, the Chancellor spoke as if he had been waiting.
“It’s going well.”
“That’s good to hear.”
With a gentle smile, the Chancellor signaled to the attendant who had come with him. The attendant then lifted what he was holding and showed it to Sophia.
“It’s peppermint tea specially bestowed by the King. It’s a rare tea that cannot be cultivated in our Kingdom, so there might not be anyone who knows how to brew it properly. So, leave it to the maid who came with me.”
“Yes, understood.”
Peppermint tea wasn’t common, but it wasn’t so rare as to be unobtainable. So Sophia thought that the peppermint tea bestowed by the king might be different from what she knew.
Following his instructions, the maid accompanied by Emily went to the kitchen.
A short while later, Emily returned with a tray of tea and desserts, which she carefully set down in front of them. As soon as it was placed, a unique aroma wafted from the tea that Sophia had never experienced with other teas.
“His Majesty prepared this especially for the two of you, so please accept it gratefully.”
“Thank you for the precious gift. I will drink it with gratitude.”
The Chancellor tasted the tea first, showing a satisfied smile, and then Sophia carefully took a sip from her teacup.
The bright and refreshing aroma slid smoothly down her throat. The aftertaste was so clean that it brought a smile to her face.
“Do you like the tea?”
“Yes.”
“That’s good. If you want more, just let me know. We brought plenty, so you can have as much as you like.”
“Thank you.”
Sophia lifted the teacup again, which she had momentarily set down.
“What about children?”
Just as she was about to take another sip, Sophia choked. She managed to calm her coughing fit and asked him,
“Is that what you’re here to check?”
“A bit of both?”
“I’m sorry, but not yet.”
Though smiling, Sophia sensed a subtle pressure in the Chancellor’s eyes to have a child, which made her feel intimidated.
“I don’t know if Sir Killain has told you, but we’ve told him several times to have children quickly.”
This was the first time Sophia learned that Killian was under pressure from the royal family regarding children. He had never shown any sign of it before.
The Chancellor, reading Sophia’s thoughts, couldn’t hide his disappointment.
“Judging by your expression, it seems Sir Killian hasn’t mentioned it. Well, knowing his personality, he wouldn’t force someone to do something they don’t want to.”
“…”
Unable to agree and unwilling to lie about having heard it, Sophia couldn’t say anything. The Chancellor continued.
“Remember that His Majesty’s patience has its limits. The only reason he has been patient so far is that there have been no disputes between the Dveshi and Loden families since the marriage. But I consider it a temporary lull. I believe it could erupt at any time. So, don’t forget that there are high expectations for you and your husband.”
“I understand.”
Having said what he needed to, the Chancellor stood up. He then uttered words with a significant undertone.
“I look forward to it soon.”
Seeing his broad smile, Sophia felt a peculiar sensation.
Why is he saying that?
The nuance, as if he had some scheme, left Sophia feeling uneasy.
While they could pressure her about having children, they couldn’t interfere in her relationship with Killian. No matter how much Killian adhered to the king’s orders, he couldn’t change human emotions.
Sophia recalled Killian’s recent behavior. Since moving to their new residence, apart from one accidental kiss, he hadn’t touched her.
From his behavior, Sophia sensed that Killian was being considerate in his own way. So she didn’t think he would suddenly force himself on her or impose unwanted actions, even if the king ordered it.
Strangely, over the past few days, Sophia had developed a trust in Killian that she couldn’t quite understand. So she decided not to dwell too deeply on the chancellor’s attitude.
After gracefully seeing off the Chancellor, Sophia headed to the bathroom. She felt the need to relax her tense body in hot water after the conversation.
But before she could enter the bathroom, Sophia suddenly felt her body grow lethargic. Her vision blurred, and all her energy seemed to drain away. It was strange because she had felt full of energy just moments ago.
“What’s happening?”
Sophia touched her forehead and staggered slightly.
“Are you alright?”
“I’m fine.”
She gestured to Emily, who approached with a worried expression, trying to say it was nothing. But then, Sophia’s body swayed, and she lost consciousness.
<To be continued in Volume 2>
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Nous_Defions
The first time Annette mentioned Killian earlier in the novel, I already havs a feeling that I’m not gonna like her… This chapter just solidified that feeling… She’s already engaged, for crying out loud. It wasn’t Sophia’s choice either… But even if she were the one chosen as Killian’s bride, I positively certain he won’t treat her as kindly as he does oir Sophia…