Chapter 17

“Crazy, crazy…”  

On her way back to the Queen’s palace, Nadia kept muttering to herself.  

How could she fall asleep there as if it were her own bed, unless she’d lost her mind? It wasn’t even that comfortable—was she just very tired?  

Once the King fell asleep, her tension melted away. She’d meant to stay a little longer, then leave, but ended up dozing off.  

She knew he’d dislike seeing her there when he woke, but she couldn’t bring herself to leave his side.  

‘Why did he have to do that right in front of me?’  

That was the only reason. If he hadn’t staggered in pain before her, she wouldn’t have felt so concerned.  

It was a special circumstance.  

He’d told her to come inside the central palace, to stay by his side for a while. The King’s unusual behavior was surely due to his weakened body and mind.  

‘I hope Countess Vellevin doesn’t misunderstand.’  

She didn’t want to befriend her, but she also didn’t want their relationship to worsen. She didn’t want to be tormented any more.  

A Queen worrying about the mistress—what nonsense. But what could she do? Everyone acknowledged Albina Vellevin as the King’s true Queen.  

Even Nadia herself.

“You’re late, Your Majesty.”  

When she reached the Queen’s palace, Olga greeted her in a casual tone. It was well past midnight, and Nadia felt bad for keeping her up.  

Sending all the maids back earlier, as they headed to the central palace, eased her guilt a little.  

“It’s my fault, Madame. So…”  

“I’ll help you with your bath.”  

Olga, unexpectedly, didn’t ask anything or react much. Nadia found that odd.  

Even so, she’d spent hours at the central palace…  

As the late Queen’s maid, Olga should have been suspicious and reacted coldly.  

“You’re not asking anything.”  

Nadia finally spoke as Olga helped her undress. Olga glanced at her and replied,  

“How could I question the one I serve?”  

“……”  

It wasn’t wrong, but Nadia still felt something was off. She had neither the justification nor the courage to dig deeper, so she let it go.

***

“Did you hear? Her Majesty came back past midnight yesterday. She was at the central palace.”  

“I heard too. Did something really happen?”  

“I don’t know. The central palace attendants are tight-lipped… Eek!”  

The gossiping maids, startled by footsteps, froze. They’d run into Nadia out for her morning walk.  

Nadia paused, thinking about how to respond, then sighed and spoke.  

“Everyone, please be careful with your words.”  

“S-sorry, Your Majesty.”  

The excited maids paled and fled. Nadia felt a bitter taste in her mouth as she kept walking.  

Normally, she would have dismissed them, but she wasn’t a typical Queen. People debated whether she and the King actually shared a bed.  

‘Rumors will spread throughout the palace.’  

She never expected the maids to keep quiet about their mistress’s every move.  

‘I just want peace and quiet.’  

But as always, her wishes went unfulfilled.

“What are you thinking about?”  

The next day, the King invited Nadia to dinner—again. On the surface, it was just to thank her for the other night. But did he really need to do that for Agnesa’s daughter?  

“…Alcohol isn’t good for migraines.”  

She spoke honestly, thinking it was the kind of concern Countess Vellevin would show. Thankfully, he didn’t seem annoyed, but fell silent, as if lost in thought.  

“Are you worried about me?”  

Breaking the silence, Lev asked. Nadia hesitated, then answered,  

“Well, you are a patient.”  

“I’m fine. No need to worry.”  

Lev tipped his wine glass.  

“It was just a temporary migraine.”  

Was she overstepping? Nadia quietly regretted it as the hors d’oeuvre arrived—eggplant cooked in olive oil and chilled.  

She ate the dishes before her, barely tasting them.  

Soon, the entrée was artichoke pasta, and then there should have been a fish dish.  

‘Huh…?’  

But the next dishes were ham and cheese toast, bean stew, roasted duck—no seafood at all. However long she waited, no fish appeared.  

It couldn’t be a coincidence… Normally, a main course would include at least one seafood dish. It seemed intentional.  

And Nadia didn’t like seafood.  

‘Did he really consider me?’  

Impossible. Even if this dinner was meant as thanks, it was too much kindness for her.  

“There’s no seafood in the meal.”  

“I noticed you didn’t like it last time.”  

His answer was even more considerate than she expected, and for a moment, she felt breathless.  

This wasn’t normal.

“Did I get it wrong?”  

“…No, you’re right.”  

Normally, she’d simply thank him and leave it at that. But their relationship wasn’t normal.  

‘Am I being too sensitive? Maybe he’s just being kind without thinking…’  

No, that can’t be. Don’t you remember what you saw as soon as you arrived?  

It’s still strange. What does he want from her? Nadia looked at the King. His deep green eyes were unreadable.

““If I really wanted that, would you do it? You seem pretty satisfied with your life right now.”

That question brought the theory back to her mind. If he couldn’t stand seeing her endure in the palace any longer, what then?  

Should she declare she could never love him?  

No, maybe it was better to pretend to be fooled. If this didn’t work, he might try something even crueler.  

“Thank you.”  

She spoke before her answer could be delayed by overthinking.  

“You’re very kind to me.”  

It sounded forced, and the King surely noticed.  

Nadia bit her lower lip, thinking she’d made a mistake. She heard a faint, dry laugh.  

“Do you realize how awkward this is?”  

“…To be honest, I can’t believe it.”  

Nadia spoke frankly.  

“You’re someone who hates me, yet you show such kindness for something so trivial.”  

“……”  

“I’m confused because I can’t figure out your intentions.”  

Even after hearing Nadia’s confession, Lev kept his unreadable expression, lost in thought. Nadia felt endlessly uneasy about his silence.  

“I think I haven’t known you nearly enough, my Queen.”  

Only after a long pause did Lev break the silence, his face expressionless.  

“I didn’t realize you were so outspoken.”  

“…I told you before. If you want something, just say it—I’ll gladly obey.”  

“Is that so?”  

The King put down his fork and walked toward Nadia. His slow steps felt like a lion hunting a gazelle cornered. Nadia’s heart began to pound.  

She watched him approach, tense, until he knelt down to meet her gaze. From afar, it would look quite romantic.  

“Nadia Turik.”  

His voice was needlessly gentle as he called her name.  

“Do you really think all I want is revenge?”