Chapter 23

Nadia quickly changed the subject.  

“What was Murk’s reaction?”  

“I told you. Thanks to you nearly dying, there’s no problem at all.”  

Nadia let out a belated sigh of relief.  

“That’s a relief.”  

Of course, there must have been some complaints. But since she herself had been the one to make the sacrifice, at least any royal involvement was completely denied.  

“It is a relief.”  

The King responded, but his voice was strangely twisted. When Nadia looked at him, he spoke sharply.  

“Call for the palace physician.”  

Having seen her awake and safe, the King stood as if he’d finished his business. Nadia watched him leave.  

“Oh, right.”  

He stopped at the door, turned, and said,  

“The dancer is dead.”  

“Pardon?”  

“She took her own life on the spot.”  

Nadia nodded, though her face was a little puzzled. She’d assumed the dancer wouldn’t have survived after being caught. The King studied her expression and added,  

“It seemed like you were having a nightmare.”  

That made Nadia uneasy. She furrowed her brow, trying to hide her anxiety as she asked carefully,  

“…Did I say anything?”  

After a brief pause, the King replied,  

“You begged for your life.”

***

The palace physician soon came and went. He said the wound was deep and there had been a crisis due to a high fever during the night, but she had survived.  

“To be honest, we were worried about the worst-case scenario.”  

It was serious, but Nadia nodded without much feeling. She didn’t remember that moment, and in any case, she was alive now.  

The physician added that, with time, she would heal without any lasting effects, though there would be a scar.  

She was glad the banquet had ended without further problems. Even if not as much as Countess of Vellevin, she’d played a small part in the event. She had acted like a proper Queen.  

The physician left, reminding her to keep ointment on the wound.  

“I’ll apply the ointment for you.”  

As Olga unwrapped the bandages, the wound was revealed. It looked worse than Nadia expected, and she grimaced and turned away. She wasn’t used to this kind of injury.  

Olga let out a dry laugh at her reaction.  

“For someone who took a knife without hesitation, you’re rather squeamish.”  

“I don’t even know what I was thinking…”  

Nadia muttered in a daze.  

“My body just moved. If King Murk had been stabbed, it would’ve been a disaster.”  

“But it’s no big deal if Our Majesty gets stabbed?”  

At Olga’s sarcastic tone, Nadia smiled awkwardly.  

“I know. It’s strange. I never thought I’d have that kind of courage.”  

“……”  

Though she meant it lightly, Olga looked displeased. Nadia, feeling more awkward, closed her mouth.  

“Madame Ryabova, Her Majesty has a visitor.”  

“She just woke up.”  

Olga frowned and asked,  

“Who is it?”  

“It’s King Hokon of Murk.”  

Both Olga and Nadia looked surprised at the unexpected visitor. Olga recovered first and said,  

“Tell him Her Majesty just woke and ask him to visit another time.”  

“It’s all right.”  

Nadia interjected.  

“He’s probably just here to pay his respects. I think it’s best to meet him now to wrap things up properly.”  

“…As you wish.”  

Olga frowned and stood. Soon after, a man entered the bedroom.  

Nadia, who had only seen Hokon briefly at the banquet, now got a closer look at him.  

He was as tall as King Lev, with tanned, muscular skin that gave him a powerful presence.  

If Lev Arbat’s impression was cool and sharp, Hokon Murk’s was intense and commanding.  

But in Nadia’s opinion, Lev Arbat was more handsome.

“I greet the Queen of Arbat.”  

Hokon Murk bent his knee slightly, something he hadn’t done even before Lev Arbat. Nadia greeted him with an awkward smile.  

“Welcome, King of Murk.”  

“I’m glad for your hospitality.”  

Hokon lifted the corner of his mouth and approached Nadia, then took her hand and kissed the back of it as it rested on the bed.  

Nadia was a little surprised, but it was a common greeting in high society, so she let it go.  

She had heard that Murk’s culture was more reserved and men didn’t touch women’s hands lightly, but Hokon seemed to have quickly adapted to Arbat’s customs.

“I came as soon as I heard you were awake. I’m glad you’re safe.”  

“Thanks for your concern.”  

Nadia answered politely and withdrew her hand. Hokon grinned and asked,  

“Have you seen the palace physician?”  

“He just left. As long as I focus on recovery, there will be no aftereffects.”  

“I was really surprised.”  

Hokon spoke dramatically.  

“Of course, it would be a lie to say I never thought I might not leave Arbat safely.”  

“……”  

“But this was even more unexpected.”  

Nadia chose the safest, most proper answer.  

“I only wanted to prevent relations between our countries from worsening.”  

“And yet it happened anyway.”  

“It had nothing to do with the royal family. As you know, the dancer took her own life immediately.”  

Nadia’s eyes were as calm as her words. Hokon stared intently into them.  

His gaze was so persistent that Nadia felt uncomfortable and looked away.  

A brief silence followed, making Nadia uneasy after the previous atmosphere.  

‘Does he not believe me?’  

Nadia was about to assert the royal family’s innocence again when—

“So, Your Majesty, you really risked your life to save me.”  

His voice was strangely heated.

Nadia finally met Hokon’s eyes again. They shone with an unreadable light.  

Was this the look of a predator who’d found its prey? It wasn’t exactly threatening, but it felt dangerous.  

“It’s a strange feeling. I expected this, but didn’t think it was possible in reality.”  

“It sounds as if you had another theory.”  

“Of course—it’s just hard to believe.”  

He murmured, squinting slightly.  

“I’ve been in many situations where people tried to kill me, but never one where someone tried to save me.”  

For the first time, Nadia felt sorry for the man before her.  

‘He beat out all his brothers to become king, didn’t he?’  

She’d heard that in Murk tradition, the next leader was chosen solely by martial prowess.  

How many trials and pains had the youngest prince endured to become king?  

It was a life Nadia could hardly imagine. Of course, he’d probably think it ridiculous if he knew she felt that way.

“So I wanted to ask you honestly. I don’t know if I’ll get the truth.”  

Nadia narrowed her eyes at his next words.  

“Are you in league with the culprit?”  

“What do you mean?”  

“As I said. Are you the one who ordered the dancer to kill me, Your Majesty?”  

Nadia stared at Hokon, dumbfounded. He seemed to take her reaction as confirmation he’d uncovered a secret.  

Hokon grinned slyly and shrugged. Nadia found his patronizing attitude even more unpleasant.

“You can tell me honestly. I wasn’t harmed, after all. I’ll keep your secret.”  

“That’s rude, King of Murk.”  

Nadia frowned, showing her true feelings for the first time.  

“I can’t understand why you’d suspect me.”  

Why would she do such a thing? Who would risk their own life for such a plot?  

Besides, the physician said if the knife had been just a little off, she would have been in grave danger. Nadia’s look of incomprehension grew more intense.  

Hokon observed her carefully, then opened his mouth.

“I…”  

And as he continued, Nadia’s face quickly turned pale.