Chapter 19

She remembered all too clearly the sign of desire she had ended up seeing after all.

Unlike the heart, it was not something that could be feigned.

Did that mean the King, who acted as if Albina was his one and only love in public, was secretly desiring Nadia?  

It wasn’t pleasant for her as a woman. It only made her feel indebted to Countess Vellevin.  

Of course, rationally, she knew as Queen she had no reason to feel that way toward Albina, the mistress… but what could she do?  

Living as the daughter of the perpetrator meant constantly being weighed down by such feelings unless she was shameless.  

Sometimes, even as a victim, it was the same.  

‘Just pretend not to notice. Like always.’  

Even if the King’s desire was real, Nadia had no intention of accommodating it.  

He might be able to separate his feelings from his actions, but she couldn’t. The guilt she felt toward the King was a different issue.  

Her rational mind strongly warned her not to get entangled with him romantically.  

If she did, the peaceful life she’d maintained with her patience would soon shatter.  

And, as he wished, she might end up living in agony worse than death.

***

She had told the maids to bring only her portion, but they kept bringing two servings to the dining room. Nadia was reminded again that the Queen’s palace maids would never cooperate with her.  

At least the food wasn’t poor quality. Since it would be wasted if she didn’t eat it, Nadia forced herself to finish as much as she could.  

By the end of the meal, she felt like she might throw up.  

“I’m going out for a walk.”  

She walked forward, not knowing how long she’d been at it, when a fragrant scent brushed past her nose.  

Maybe it was because she was full, or intoxicated by the scent, but Nadia absentmindedly walked toward where the fragrance grew stronger. She stopped when the lavender scent was so rich it seemed to seep deep into her lungs.  

‘This is crazy.’  

Her face flushed with embarrassment. She hadn’t brought Olga, who seemed busy, and now this happened.  

‘Luckily, no one seems to be here yet.’  

If she could just return before anyone saw…

“Nadia Turik.”  

The voice behind her sent chills down her spine. Nadia turned, tense, and saw the King standing at the entrance to the Lavender Garden, his gaze icy.  

In that serious moment, Nadia suddenly realized the King’s eyes now were not so different from those she’d seen last night, when he confessed his desire.  

“Was my last warning not enough?”  

“Your Majesty, I…”  

Nadia squeezed her eyes shut and then opened them. This was clearly her mistake. No matter what she said, it would sound like an excuse, but she couldn’t help but try to explain.  

“I wasn’t trying to come here. The scent was so nice, I was drawn without realizing…”  

Suddenly, her body was pulled forward. The King was drawing her into the garden.  

He hated it when she came here before, so why all of a sudden now….

‘Oh, no.’  

Nadia immediately understood his look. Albina Vellevin was approaching from the other side.  

She was not far from the garden entrance, but was distracted talking with her maids and hadn’t noticed them yet.  

Meanwhile, the King closed the garden door and led Nadia into a narrow space between a pillar and the wall. Soon after, the garden door opened and someone entered.  

“Your Majesty, are you here?”  

It was Albina’s voice. Nadia looked at the King in panic.  

Actually, it wasn’t Albina that bothered her. It was the closeness in the cramped space, feeling the contours of their bodies pressed together. Nadia naturally recalled the look she’d seen last night and squeezed her eyes shut.  

Albina called for the King a few more times, then seemed to leave. The sound of the iron garden door closing finally made Nadia open her eyes. But her senses remained on edge.

“…Wouldn’t it be better for you to go to Vellevin Palace now,Your Majesty?”  

Nadia asked gently. The King laughed as if he’d heard something ridiculous.  

“Why would I, when my Queen is here?”  

He slowly raised his hand and tucked Nadia’s loose hair behind her ear. Though his touch was gentle, Nadia’s body tensed with anxiety.  

She remembered her own resolve—not to get entangled with him romantically.  

‘Run away.’  

Nadia tried to slip away, but the King blocked her with his foot.  

She looked at him in surprise. He wore a mischievous smile, not a friendly one, but like a hunter watching prey caught in a trap.  

“Trying to escape?”  

Could she really get away? Suddenly, a feeling of helplessness pierced her mind.  

But even if it seemed impossible, wasn’t it right to try as much as she could?

“I’m just trying to follow your warning, Your Majesty.”  

“You expect me to believe that, after coming all the way here?”  

“It really was a mistake. You may not believe me…”  

“I believe you.”  

Nadia’s eyes widened at the unexpected answer. At that moment, the King lowered his head and lightly kissed her lips.  

It happened so fast Nadia’s eyes widened as much as they could. Her heart raced as if she’d been running.  

No, even that was an understatement. Her heart was pounding wildly, like a colt gone mad. The fierce throbbing made her chest ache.

“It was a mistake.”  

The King, gazing at Nadia, raised the corner of his mouth slightly.  

“You may not believe me.”  

Nadia looked at him in disbelief. He seemed to find such a kiss easy.  

If so, nothing more would be difficult for him. Her urge to avoid him grew stronger. Maybe the pain in her chest was a warning.

“No, I believe you.”  

Nadia looked at him as if to say, Now please let me go. The King watched her quietly, then stepped aside.  

Nadia fled.

***

“Countess Vellevin is in the drawing room.”  

Lev asked as if he expected it.  

“When did she arrive?”  

“She arrived twenty minutes ago.”  

Lev immediately went to the drawing room.  

She must have come after hearing he’d gone to the Lavender Garden, found he wasn’t there, and returned to the central palace, only to find he was still absent.  

He thought an explanation was necessary.

“Where have you been?”  

Albina questioned him about his whereabouts as soon as she saw him. Lev smiled faintly, and Albina’s eyes narrowed.  

“Why are you smiling?”  

“That’s exactly the kind of question a mistress would ask.”  

“Really.”  

Albina frowned and shook her shoulders.

“All right, as your mistress, I’ll ask. There’s a rumor that you spent the night of the debutante ball with another woman, not me.”  

“Nothing happened that night, even though you missed the ball.”  

“But you did try to seduce her?”  

“I had a migraine for a while, and Nadia Turik happened to see it and helped me to the central palace.”  

“Oh, so something did happen.”  

“Not really.”  

Lev replied skeptically.

“Nadia Turik is quite clever. I think I showed all my cards.”  

She’s the cunning, sly daughter of Agnesa. He believed if he showed even a hint of weakness, she would seize it and never let go.  

He hadn’t expected her to see through his intentions so quickly, but even so, he thought she wouldn’t miss the ‘opportunity’ to reverse her miserable situation.  

The result was the opposite. After realizing his true intentions, Nadia seemed to want to avoid him even more.  

Of course, she did enter the Lavender Garden on her own, but her explanation that it was a mistake didn’t seem like a lie.

‘Or is it?’  

Maybe it was a sophisticated tactic to attract his attention.