Chapter 2 – Uninvited Guest

When entering a room with an occupant, knocking is a basic etiquette in the entire country. It goes without saying if the person inside is the ruler of this nation. Neither Lenoa nor Betier had heard any sign of Kairan’s presence.

“Your Excellency the Grand Duke, isn’t knocking a matter of courtesy?”

“I did send messages continuously, and I certainly knocked.”

Even as Betier infused her voice with force to question him, Kairan replied indifferently. Seeing him, Lenoa felt a twinge in her heart.

Kairan was Lenoa’s closest aide. However, it was widely known among the court that Lenoa kept her distance from him. In reality, even when Kairan sent multiple messages through Betier in a day, she would always decline, citing busyness or inventing excuses.

Afterwards, it became a habit for him to visit her unannounced. While it was not a big deal considering their public and private relationship, she always felt uneasy around him.

This was the same for Betier, her true closest confidant both publicly and privately. Betier actively helped her liege, Lenoa, to ensure that Kairan would not have the opportunity to be alone with her. Even though she was opposing a Grand Duke, who was just a paper’s width away from royalty, as a daughter of a Marquis family.

“By the way… what brings you to Her Majesty?”

“Well… of course.”

Kairan fixed his gaze on Lenoa and walked inside with firm steps. The sound was significantly louder compared to the earlier inaudible presence.

He passed by the maid sitting next to Lenoa as if she were invisible and knelt on one knee before Lenoa. His right hand, clad in a white glove, was extended towards her.

“I will escort you to the dining hall.”

Kairan was now sporting a friendly smile. The cold demeanor was nowhere to be seen. To an outsider, it might seem as if Lenoa had requested the escort in advance.

“…It’s okay. I can go with Betier.”

Instead of taking Kairan’s hand in front of her, Lenoa placed her hands on Betier’s hands beside her.

Lenoa couldn’t be assertive with Kairan. He was always overwhelming, and she could never understand why he acted that way.

In the past, he had not ascended to the throne due to various factors. Instead of the ruler’s position, he remained in the palace and worked by Lenoa’s side.

This was not unusual. Although Kairan had received the title of Grand Duke, he was not of royal blood, so the closest position under the ruler was suitable for him.

Lenoa neither wanted to be a successor nor a queen, but she eventually accepted it. If she refused, it would be like betraying the forces that had supported her all along, and those who wanted her to succeed the throne more than anyone were none other than her parents. Although she was a royal who had to engage in all sorts of non-violent political struggles, the affection her parents gave her made her a warm person who knew how to think of others more than herself.

In any case, the one who won the competition for the throne was not Kairan, but her. So surely he must be upset with her. She even considered yielding the throne, but by now, yielding would only stir up the barely settled winds in Celesta again. Moreover, she had spent time studying as an heir, and her skills in statecraft were improving day by day.

Perhaps it was only natural for Kairan to resent Lenoa. Yet, he always volunteered to escort her and sought her out without fail every day.

Lenoa found Kairan’s persistent attempts to get closer to her burdensome.

“I’ve had enough of being ignored by you all day.”

“…….”

“Who am I to you, Your Majesty? Please think about it.”

Lenoa and Kairan were inseparable. It was as if a long, strong rope bound them together through their respective positions.

Lenoa paused to think as she faced Kairan, who still had his hand outstretched. As he said, she had refused all three of his requests for an audience today, aside from breakfast and lunch. This was largely thanks to Betier.

However, no matter how much she disliked him personally, he was her secretary in official matters. It was perfectly natural to have meetings with a secretary. Dealing with people she didn’t get along with was something she would frequently encounter as a queen. She learned from the book on the table that it was also part of the queen’s duty.

“Then… please.”

In the end, Lenoa gently raised her hand and took Kairan’s hand, leaving the room together and heading down to the dining room on the first floor.

Throughout the journey, Lenoa’s heart trembled. Holding hands with someone she found uncomfortable, and knowing they would naturally have dinner together once they reached the dining room, was unsettling. Meals for royalty were typically shared with close aides like secretaries.

The footsteps of the two, now reaching the first floor, filled the dim hallway. Just as they arrived, with no one around, Kairan suddenly broke the silence.

“Your Majesty.”

Lenoa flinched, almost letting go of Kairan’s hand. However, he tightened his grip as if he wouldn’t let go.

“As I mentioned earlier, I am the closest person to you, Your Majesty.”

“…….”

“Please refrain from avoiding me thoughtlessly.”

It was something even a fool couldn’t help but notice, given the attitudes of the maids and, above all, Lenoa’s demeanor. Lenoa responded with silence.

Finally, they arrived at the dining room, which felt even more distant today. Inside, luxurious food prepared by the royal chef for the royal family was laid out on a long rectangular table. The ingredients and cooking methods were of the highest quality, truly the finest feast in the country.

However, even with such gourmet dishes before her, Lenoa had no appetite. Even though Kairan seated her and pushed in her chair, she couldn’t immediately pick up the utensils.

“Your Majesty?”

Lenoa, lost in thought while staring at the food, finally snapped back to reality at Kairan’s voice. Traditionally, one could not pick up utensils until someone of higher rank did. Since she was alone with him, Lenoa had to take the lead. She sighed and gently picked up the fork with her weary hand.

“Do I have to pick up the fork for you?”

“Oh, no.”

“I am not your maid.”

Lenoa was at a loss for words and felt even more drained. If someone had seen this, it would have become an amusing story behind her back.

Finally, the uncomfortable meal began. However, despite the sumptuous spread, the corset she was wearing made her stomach ache, and she couldn’t eat much.

Moreover, her entire body felt unusually fatigued today.

‘I don’t feel like eating…’

But she couldn’t express this honestly to him. He might get irritated.

“Do you not have an appetite?”

It was always Kairan who broke the silence. He had already put down his utensils and was resting his chin on his hand, watching Lenoa.

Caught off guard by the eye contact when she looked up, Lenoa was startled. Even after the dinner began, she was only picking at the salad closest to her.

Today, her body felt more sluggish than usual, and she couldn’t mention feeling unwell because of tomorrow’s meeting. Her mind was also unsettled, which led her to refuse all of Kairan’s requests for an audience, which she usually would have accepted at least once.

With her physical and mental condition poor, and Kairan’s gaze making it difficult to eat, she decided to skip dinner altogether. She planned to use this time to review what she hadn’t been able to earlier.

“I will excuse myself now. Please take your time eating.”

Just as Lenoa was about to stand up.

“Please wait a moment.”

Kairan grabbed her arm firmly.

‘I didn’t expect him to stop me…’

Kairan sat the stiffened Lenoa back in her chair.

“Unless Your Majesty speaks, it is difficult for me to understand your intentions.”

Kairan picked up a plate and handed it to her. It was a cute lemon pudding with a red cherry on top, served as dessert.

It was Lenoa’s favorite food. Since her days as a princess, she would always eat it first during meals, prompting her mother to scold her for eating dessert first. She loved it then and still did, so the royal chefs always included lemon pudding at her meals, even if the personnel changed.

Though she hadn’t touched it due to various circumstances, the soft yellow pudding, reminiscent of Lenoa’s hair color, was tangy and sweet enough to revive her lost appetite.

Lenoa picked up the fork again.

“Please don’t get up until you’ve finished this.”

As soon as Kairan finished speaking, Lenoa quickly stabbed the lemon pudding with her fork and took a bite. She intended to eat it quickly and leave first.

“…….”

Instead of watching Lenoa hurriedly eat the pudding, Kairan turned his gaze elsewhere. He knew she was conscious of him while eating.

A short while later, Lenoa left the dining room as if fleeing.

Kairan followed her with his eyes.

‘I should have given her mine too. Then she would have stayed longer.’

Alone in the dining room, Kairan looked at the lemon pudding.

Lemon pudding was also his favorite food. It reminded him of Lenoa, who had disappeared. Not just the hair color, but the tangy and sweet taste, and the cute cherry on top.

“…….”

Both the pudding and the door reminded him so much of Lenoa that it drove him crazy.

‘Even though she refused all my requests for an audience, she was so amicable with that maid. Could she have sensed my ugly anger that had surfaced? Is that why she ran away from me without looking back?’

Kairan, overwhelmed by fiery emotions, gripped the plate tightly with his trembling hand. He was about to throw it to the floor.

He often had moments like this. Even before he first met Lenoa, no, ever since before that. Symptoms of throwing things recklessly or not being able to sleep properly at night. This made him an even more difficult person to deal with.

This was something Lenoa, who had been with him until just a moment ago, did not know.

Kairan was about to lift the plate with all his might when his gaze suddenly fell on Lenoa’s chair. There was something there. He hurriedly examined the chair.

‘Ah… no.’

Kairan felt as if his heart had stopped for a moment.

Red droplets of blood were on the floor near Lenoa’s chair, leading towards the door.