Chapter 10

“That won’t make His Majesty feel sorry for you, Your Majesty.”  

Olga spoke as she dried Nadia’s hair after her bath, her hands gentle but her voice cold.  

“It’s best to realize quickly that sympathy won’t work on him.”  

“That’s not it. I didn’t know when His Majesty would come, so I wouldn’t do such a thing…”  

Nadia, who had been silent, finally spoke with a sigh. Olga frowned and asked,  

“Then were you sitting on the ground to trouble me?”  

“No. I just…”  

Nadia hesitated, then continued,  

“I’m afraid of rainy days. So if it rains, I might end up looking foolish again.”  

It was an answer Olga found hard to understand.  

Afraid of rainy days? Why?  

“Thunder scares me even more. On such days, I’ll never go outside. As His Majesty said, it’s not a proper look for the Queen.”  

But there was no need to wonder. She wasn’t meant to form such bonds with the Queen. Olga nodded as if to say she’d remember.  

“May I lie down for a bit?”  

Instead of answering, Olga left with the maids. Left alone, Nadia sighed deeply and lay on the bed. She had no strength left in her body.  

It wasn’t as if today’s events hadn’t been humiliating. No matter how little she expected from her position or how grateful she was to the King for not sending her abroad, what happened today was a complete denial of her dignity. But what would change if she got angry and resisted? The King condoned it, and his favorite orchestrated it.  

“I’d only be hated more.”  

Of course, she didn’t think staying quiet would make people hate her less. She knew for sure that if she got angry, she’d be the first to wear herself out.  

That was the fate of the weak, and Nadia knew it from experience.  

Her eyes slowly closed. She could clearly hear raindrops tapping the closed window.  

When would these damned rainy days stop frightening her?  

The King’s words weren’t wrong.  

Nadia felt pathetic, still trapped in the memories of a child.

***

After that, time passed quietly. Of course, that didn’t mean nothing happened.  

“Countess, it’s been a while…”  

Spotting Albina approaching from afar, Nadia raised her hand in greeting. But Albina ignored her and walked right past.  

Nadia watched her go with an awkward expression and shrugged.  

“She must be busy.”  

Things like this.  

“When will Countess Vellevin arrive? I’ve been waiting thirty minutes.”  

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. The Countess must be spending extra time with His Majesty.”  

“……”  

Things like this.  

“For Mother’s Day, my son gave me a diamond as big as a deer’s eye.”  

“It’s beautiful. You have a wonderful son.”  

“He grew up well thanks to my proper conduct. At least I never had an affair with another man while married.”  

Or things like this.  

‘Endure it.’  

Nadia tried to treat each as trivial. Sometimes she wondered if she’d have avoided such humiliation had she gone abroad.  

But the answer was always ‘no’. No one would treat her kindly after her mother’s death and her own fall from grace.  

Nadia knew her place. She endured every humiliation silently and focused only on her duties.  

Despite the constant contempt, as the Queen focused solely on her role, rumors began to circulate in society that she was impressive.  

“Who else but Agnesa’s daughter? I’d cry every night if it were me. But the Queen never reacts to any insult.”  

“She’s calm in public, but who knows about behind closed doors. Still, I hear her palace duties are flawless—that’s admirable.”  

“If she couldn’t even do her work, where would she go? His Majesty keeps only Countess Vellevin close, and everyone hates her.”  

Even a worm will squirm if stepped on, but as Nadia endured every humiliation with composure, people gradually lost interest in tormenting her.  

“What a chilling woman!”

Some even grew more frustrated. Albina threw a cushion at the wall in anger.  

She’d expected Nadia to be tough, but Nadia simply endured every insult and provocation.  

It made Albina feel as though Nadia were insulting her, insulting her mother, insulting the late Queen Anna, and even insulting the King.

“How can I strip off that woman’s mask? At this rate, I’ll never get anywhere.”  

“If the Queen falls for His Majesty, things will get easier.”  

Albina shook her head at her maid’s advice.  

“If I were Queen, I’d never love His Majesty. Who could love a husband who took a mistress before marriage and just watched as she was humiliated?”  

“You could ask His Majesty for help…”  

“Forget it. He’s already sacrificed enough by marrying her.”  

Of course, his purpose was to keep his heart sharp by marrying a woman he hated…  

But she also knew he wanted to complete his revenge by making Nadia the target for everyone who suffered because of Agnesa.  

“But unless it’s His Majesty, things will stay stuck. He’s handsome, so if he just stepped back a little…”  

“Are you talking about me?”  

Startled by the voice, Albina bowed her head. Lev raised an eyebrow and asked,  

“What’s going on, Albina?”  

“Nothing important…”  

Albina tried to sound casual, but then sighed and spoke honestly.  

“No matter what I do, the Queen doesn’t react. It makes me so angry.”  

Grinding her teeth, Albina continued,  

“I feel like just killing her outright. That’s my style, but instead I have to wear dresses and give petty insults—it’s unbearable.”  

“……”  

He understood Albina’s feelings. Nadia suffered every humiliation, yet seemed unaffected—those who tried to torment her must be exhausted.  

“Blood can’t be ignored, it seems.”  

“Yes, Agnesa endured in the palace just like that.”  

“Nadia’s more impressive. At least Agnesa had the King’s favor as support.”  

Now, the Queen had no one to run to and cry about her hardships. Lev wondered how to resolve this.

“If the Queen loved you, Your Majesty, things would be easier.”  

Why did that thought come to him? Lev frowned. He also recalled the moment Nadia’s eyes first wavered during their kiss.  

Yes, just as Albina said, he’d avoided the easy path until now. He hadn’t felt the need—but now, change was necessary.  

“There’s a way, Albina.”  

Lev spoke slowly, and Albina’s eyes widened.  

“What will you do?”  

“We can’t keep things stagnant. Sometimes you have to retreat to advance.”  

Albina still looked uneasy, but Lev continued with a calm expression.  

“The debutante ball is coming up soon. It’s the perfect stage for a turnaround.”  

The day when flowers bloom sweetly and everyone dresses up to find a partner.  

On such a day, anything can happen.

***

The debutante ball was the first palace banquet Nadia hosted as Queen.  

It was her first time, so there were bound to be mistakes, but Nadia poured her heart into making it perfect.  

“You’re overdoing it.”  

Olga, watching, quietly remarked.  

Surprised by the unexpected warmth, Nadia looked at Olga, who added, as if to clarify,  

“If you collapse, people will call me an irresponsible maid.”  

“Ah…”  

Despite the blunt words, Nadia seemed pleased. Maybe she shouldn’t have said it. Olga regretted it a bit.  

“Don’t worry. I’m strong.”  

With a bright smile and a cheerful voice, Nadia tried to reassure her.  

Strong? Her limbs were thin as branches.  

Recently, Nadia had put so much effort into preparing for the ball that she barely ate, and now her body was even slimmer than before.  

“Your Majesty, the Queen.”  

A maid entered with unexpected news.  

“His Majesty has sent you a gift.”