Chapter 18

After asking his question, the King fixed his gaze on Nadia for a long time. It was a silent look, as if he wanted something from her.  

Exposed to it, Nadia felt tension fill her whole body.  

The King seemed to notice, and slowly raised his hand. His hand touched Nadia’s shoulder.  

It felt like a situation she’d experienced before. It wasn’t hard to recall when. Nadia’s expression grew increasingly tense.  

The King began to gently stroke her shoulder. To an outsider, it might seem dry, but to Nadia, the movement felt quite intimate.  

“Think carefully.”  

His voice remained unnecessarily gentle. As he kept moving his fingers, he spoke.  

“If that was the only reason, you must have thought—I could’ve sent you as a slave.”  

Yes, she had thought so. But if there really was another reason… Ah, it made no sense.  

Nadia felt utterly disconnected from reality.  

To wake her from that state, the King finally spoke words she’d heard once before.  

“If I want you to serve me in another way.”  

But even that… was not normal. What kind of madman would desire the daughter of the woman who killed his mother?  

‘And on our wedding night, he left me alone.’  

But if that was just to insult her, it wouldn’t be strange. He could take her whenever he wanted.  

If he wanted to take her right here, she had no way to escape.  

That was her situation. Maybe he could deeply humiliate her that way. But he didn’t seem to intend that after all.  

If it was simply for that, he wouldn’t have made her Queen while keeping his lover as mistress. That was what bothered her.  

There was definitely something more… What was it?  

No matter how much she thought, there was no answer for now. Trying to figure out his intentions only led her deeper into confusion.  

If his goal was to trap her in this web of doubt and make her suffer, he’d succeeded.  

“Nadia Turik, answer me.”  

The King’s voice cut through her confused mind. Nadia swallowed dryly and met his gaze.  

His eyes were dry, not the look of someone who desired a woman. It made her think—maybe even desire could be faked.  

“Would you ‘gladly’ obey then, too?”  

Was he asking if she saw herself as a woman to him? Nadia’s gaze, unintentionally, flickered to the King’s waist.  

Just for a moment. She quickly looked away as if burned. The banquet hall was still silent, but she thought she heard the King’s laughter.  

……There had been no pretense.

***

The next day, Nadia had lunch with the May Queen. The debutante chosen as May Queen that year was granted the privilege of learning the qualities of a lady from the true lady of society.  

‘Of course, this year’s May Queen must feel terribly unlucky.’  

Still, Nadia thought, it was better to learn from her than from a Queen who was the former mistress.  

She wondered if the girl might refuse to meet her, but thankfully that didn’t happen.  

Grateful, Nadia ordered the kitchen to prepare the meal with extra care.

“Welcome, Lady Gelazhe.”  

“I greet the moon of Arbat, Your Majesty.”  

The girl, simply bowing, had outstanding beauty, fitting for this year’s May Queen.  

Perhaps because of her porcelain-like white face, her impression was a little cold.  

Nadia naturally thought of Albina Vellevin as she watched her.

“May I sit?”  

“Ah, yes.”  

Nadia answered, a bit flustered. The girl acted as confidently as if she were in her own home, but Nadia didn’t show her discomfort.  

As they ate, Nadia spoke kindly,  

“I never debuted in society, so I’m sorry I can’t offer much useful advice.”  

“It’s all right, Your Majesty.”  

Her voice sounded as if she hadn’t expected much in the first place. Nadia awkwardly raised the corners of her mouth.

“But I do have something I’m curious about. May I ask?”  

“Go ahead.”  

“I wonder if the rumor circulating lately is true.”  

Nadia paused, sensing what was coming, but soon decided she was just being paranoid.  

Surely she wouldn’t ask such a thing directly…

“Did His Majesty and you truly become husband and wife?”  

Lady Gelazhe continued brightly,  

“As you know, it’s widely believed you didn’t spend your wedding night together, and a mere ceremony doesn’t make a real couple. Please don’t take my question as rude…”  

“That is rude, Lady Gelazhe.”  

There was no reason for a newly debuted girl to insult her like this. Unlike Albina Vellevin, Nadia owed nothing to the girl before her.  

“A debutante shouldn’t ask the Queen such questions. I don’t see how it’s your business.”  

Nadia’s expression hardened as she rebuked her, but Lady Gelazhe, unfazed, continued.  

Showing no sign of remorse, Nadia’s face grew steadily blank. Only then did Lady Gelazhe seem to realize something was wrong.

“I know what my situation is. But even so, you came to meet me, Lady Gelazhe.”  

Of course, Nadia knew Lady Gelazhe didn’t come because she wanted something from her. She’d come with a light heart, to ask rude questions and satisfy her curiosity.  

Still, Nadia regretted ordering the meal with care, thinking the girl would be grateful.  

Why had she thought the girl wouldn’t bear her any ill will? In Arbat, nobles like that had long since vanished.

“If facing me is uncomfortable, you can leave right now.”  

Nadia firmly dismissed her, and Lady Gelazhe frowned, surprised.  

But soon, the girl rose lightly, bowed briefly, and left the dining hall without hesitation.  

Nadia was left alone in the sunlit hall. The maids who entered with two servings of entrée looked puzzled.

“Bring both here.”  

Nadia, feigning calm, told them,  

“From the next dish onward, bring only my portion.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”  

After a moment of confusion, the maids turned away, and Nadia saw them smirk.  

‘They must have expected this.’ Nadia lost her appetite, but didn’t want to waste food.  

At least the soup wasn’t too much. Nadia finished her potato soup and was about to eat Lady Gelazhe’s as well.

“Did His Majesty and you truly become husband and wife?”

Half of it was meant to insult her, but half was genuine curiosity.  

Did Countess Vellevin hear from His Majesty that nothing happened? 

Nadia thought about it, then remembered last night.  

…Can I really say nothing happened?