Chapter 9

Her expression was calm, as if she were an outsider observing everything. She slowly approached Lev and bowed her head.  

“Then, I’ll take my leave.”  

It was Albina who was unsettled by Nadia’s unwavering composure. Albina watched Nadia walk away in disbelief.  

No way. How could she be so indifferent?  

“Is that expression genuine?”  

Albina muttered, shocked.  

“She doesn’t seem affected by today’s events at all.”  

“She did seem that way.”  

“How can she be like that? She said she had no experience in society—is that why? For most people, this would be humiliating enough to faint.”  

Lev thought the same. No matter how much society was a battlefield, Albina’s behavior today was extremely rude—almost an insult to Nadia’s character.  

If he hadn’t been there, it wouldn’t have been strange for Nadia to punish Albina severely.  

Of course, if she did so, Nadia, already disliked by society, would be completely ostracized.  

Still, what mattered was that Nadia’s composure didn’t seem like an act. It wasn’t strange, though.  

“After all, she’s Agnesa’s daughter.”  

“Oh, I forgot. She’s the daughter of a woman who seduced another’s husband while married.”  

Albina sighed, pressing her forehead.  

“So ordinary humiliation won’t work on her. What would shake her?”  

Albina frowned, sounding troubled. Lev was about to leave, thinking she could figure it out herself. He’d already paid his debt by letting her vent.  

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

That small complaint stopped him in his tracks.  

Lev narrowed his brows and looked at Albina. She quickly realized her mistake and gave him an apologetic look.  

“Of course, with your attitude, that’s impossible. I don’t expect anything unreasonable.”  

Lev sighed and turned to leave.  

In any case, it was to his advantage as well to cooperate with Albina within reasonable bounds.

It was not as though he himself did not wish for Nadia’s unhappiness.

‘But she’s not an easy opponent.’  

As Albina said, they had underestimated Agnesa’s daughter. To remain unfazed after today’s events was truly impressive…  

“Ah.”  

Just then, a raindrop fell on Lev’s forehead.  

He frowned and looked up. The clear sky quickly darkened, and rain began to fall faster.  

Anton hurriedly opened an umbrella for him. Lev walked on calmly as if nothing had happened.  

Meanwhile, the rain turned into a downpour, roaring like a waterfall from the sky.  

“A sudden shower. Sir Illich said it would rain today—I’m glad I listened.”  

“Sir Illich has such talent?”  

“His knee bothers him.”  

Lev clicked his tongue lightly, still walking with an indifferent gaze. Then he saw a strange sight.  

“…Isn’t that Her Majesty, the Queen?”  

It seemed so. The woman crouched on the ground, with Olga Ryabova holding an umbrella over her, was unmistakably Nadia.  

“Why is she like that? Is she ill?”  

“Who knows. Maybe she’s overwhelmed by what happened earlier.”  

Lev replied carelessly and started to walk past Nadia.  

-Flash!  

Lightning struck, followed by loud thunder. At the same time, a small scream came from Nadia’s direction.  

“…How embarrassing for the royal family.”  

Lev sighed and strode toward Nadia. Olga looked surprised when she saw him.  

“Your Majesty.”  

“What’s going on?”  

“I don’t know. As soon as it started raining, she suddenly sat down…”  

Lev sighed and knelt on one knee before Nadia to meet her eyes. Nadia’s body was trembling uncontrollably.  

Even when she learned Lev’s identity, or witnessed her mother and half-brother’s deaths, she never shook like this. Lev frowned and spoke.  

“Queen.”  

“……”  

“Nadia Turik.”  

At his call, Nadia flinched and slowly lifted her head. Lev was startled when he saw her face.  

Her wide eyes were full of fear. He’d never seen her like this before. Lev was a bit taken aback.  

“…Your Majesty?”  

Her voice was frozen with fear, and Lev quickly regained his composure and asked,  

“What’s wrong?”  

“Ah…”  

Nadia’s dazed eyes seemed to focus at his question. She shook her head and answered,  

“No, nothing… My legs just gave out.”  

She didn’t look normal, but Lev didn’t feel like pressing further.  

“Let’s get up. It’s not fitting for the Queen to be like this.”  

“…Yes.”  

Nadia tried to stand, but collapsed again. She looked embarrassed—her legs wouldn’t support her.  

Seeing her try to push herself up, Lev couldn’t just watch. He lifted her into his arms.  

“Ah…!”  

Nadia gasped in surprise. She wasn’t the only one—everyone around watched the King’s actions in shock.  

“Which way is the Queen’s palace?”  

Lev asked Olga calmly. Olga quickly collected herself and led the way, Lev following behind.  

“…Your Majesty, I’m all right now.”  

Nadia spoke quietly.  

“Please put me down…”  

“If I do, you’ll just fall again and look ridiculous.”  

Lev interrupted with a mocking tone and asked coldly,  

“You don’t care about the Queen’s dignity?”  

It was a provocation. After today, she’d surely react to such words.

‘You care so much about the Queen’s dignity, yet you humiliated me today?’

Maybe she’d start with that.

‘Why did you make me Queen?’

Maybe she’d end with that. Either way, Lev thought she wouldn’t get the answer she wanted, but the silence continued.  

Nadia said nothing, as if she agreed. Lev was irritated by her attitude.  

“Now you’re openly ignoring me.”  

“…It’s not that.”  

When he pressed her again, she finally spoke. He waited to see what she’d say, but the answer was disappointing.  

“I’m sorry.”  

He was so taken aback by the unexpected apology that he stopped walking. Boom! Suddenly, thunder crashed.  

“Ah…!”  

At the sound, Nadia curled up and buried her face in Lev’s chest.  

Like a child hiding under a blanket, she hid her face completely. Lev stared at her in disbelief and confusion.  

He watched to see how long she’d stay like that.  

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”  

Her body trembled as she begged for forgiveness. It might have seemed pitiful, but Lev’s gaze was cold.  

Of course. Her mother, Agnesa, had done something similar before the King, in front of Lev’s father. What could he feel seeing Agnesa’s daughter act like this?  

He sighed irritably. He wanted to hand her off to someone else, but letting the Queen fall into another man’s arms wouldn’t look good.  

So he carried the trembling Nadia all the way to the Queen’s palace. The heavier the rain, the stronger the lavender scent became. 

Had she gone back to the Lavender Garden since then?  

Lev only set Nadia down once they reached the Queen’s palace. Nadia glanced at him, her face completely pale, then quickly bowed her head.  

Her skin, already pale as plaster, looked even more so now. Lev frowned as he watched her, then turned away without a word.  

If Albina knew, she’d tease him—‘Did you go that far just to help her?’ It felt like a waste of time, and Lev was annoyed.  

Maybe it was because Agnesa’s daughter smelled like his mother. Lev spoke immediately.  

“Tell Madame Ryabova to remove all lavender-scented oils from the Queen’s collection, understood?”  

She was a woman who irritated him in many ways.