Chapter 3 – Jinx (1)

Kairan scanned his surroundings meticulously. The trail of bloodstains extended all the way to the dining hall’s entrance. Suppressing the unsettling feeling that had suddenly risen within him, he stormed out of the dining hall.  

Just then, he spotted a maid entering with a basin of laundry. Without hesitation, he grabbed her arm.  

“Ah… Y-Your Grace, Grand Duke! Wh-What is the matter?”  

Recognizing who stood before her, the maid hastily set the basin down and bowed her head.  

Though praised for his handsome face, Kairan was infamous for his intimidating personality. It was widely known among the palace staff that no attendants could endure serving him. Even when royal protocol assigned a few to him, they were all dismissed within a day.  

“Her Majesty, Queen Lenoa, is in danger.”  

“…Pardon? What happened? Where is Her Majesty?”  

Kairan, having run in his urgency, was breathless and stuttering.  

The maid, startled beyond belief, froze in place. Queen Lenoa, despite her high status, was known for treating lower-ranking individuals with kindness. She even bowed and spoke respectfully to the elderly. Her angelic nature earned her a stellar reputation among the palace staff.  

But now, such a warm-hearted person was said to be in peril? The maid’s face turned pale.  

“Immediately, summon the palace physician to her side.”  

“Y-Yes…”  

Barely managing to respond, the maid was still reeling from the shocking news. She had already been on edge, having been alone with Kairan, whose reputation was the worst in the palace.  

Nevertheless, she hurried off to fetch the physician. However, before she could get far, Kairan’s thunderous voice rang out from behind.  

“Stop!”  

“Y-Yes!”  

“The physician’s quarters are that way, not where you’re heading. Move quickly!”  

Kairan pointed sharply in the correct direction, his tone laced with irritation.  

The maid, realizing her mistake, corrected her course and rushed off. In her panic, she had forgotten the correct location, but Kairan’s words brought her back to her senses.  

Before she disappeared entirely from sight, Kairan shouted after her.  

“If anything happens to Her Majesty, I will see to it that you face severe punishment!”  

In that moment, the maid feared Kairan’s venomous voice behind her more than the worsening condition of Lenoa.  

* * *  

Lenoa barely managed to reach the third floor, avoiding the palace staff, especially the servants. Looking back, she saw the trail of bloodstains marking her path. As a queen, she couldn’t run, so she had to clutch her dress and hastily ascend the stairs.  

Since morning, she had felt unwell. By the afternoon, she was unusually irritable and nauseous, which she attributed to wearing a corset. Though she had grown accustomed to corsets since her days as a princess, they remained uncomfortable.  

‘I should’ve done something earlier… I can’t believe it had to happen now.’  

For Queen Lenoa Celesta, her menstrual cycle was closely tied to her overall health and was therefore of great importance. If her period didn’t come on the expected date, the palace physician would be summoned for a check-up.  

However, during the first few months after her menarche, there had been no significant health issues despite irregular cycles. As time passed, thanks to nutritious meals and a comfortable environment, her periods gradually became more regular.  

The first time her cycle was delayed was a month and a half after she ascended the throne—during her father’s passing. The sudden death of the King had been devastating, and she spent the entire day attending the funeral, feeling as though she were dying alongside him. It wasn’t until the funeral ended and she returned to her chambers on the verge of collapse that the maids realized her cycle had shifted.  

This month, her period was once again irregular, delayed by a full fifteen days. During dinner with Kairan, as Lenoa was eating her favorite lemon pudding, she felt an itch on her leg. Looking down, she saw blood dripping onto the floor and felt the warm, wet sensation soaking her leg. Swallowing the pudding in a hurry, she left the dining hall and briskly made her way to her room.  

Even now, she worried whether her earlier behavior might have offended Kairan. She prayed he hadn’t noticed the truth about her condition.  

“Oh no, Lady Lenoa!”  

Betier, who had been waiting near the bedroom, gasped at the sight of Lenoa’s pale complexion and the bloodstains on her yellow dress. Without needing an explanation, she understood what had happened. Lenoa had bled through her period and barely made it to her room without any assistance.  

Betier quickly supported Lenoa and led her into the bedroom. She helped her change into a dark indoor dress, loosened her corset, and laid her down on the bed. Then, she soaked a towel in warm water and carefully cleaned Lenoa’s legs. Judging by the amount of blood, it had clearly been a struggle for her to get here.  

The warmth of the towel and Betier’s gentle care somewhat eased Lenoa’s distress. After tying a black cloth around Lenoa’s lower body, Betier spoke.  

“I’ll call the physician and inform the other maids. Please wait here for a moment.”  

Though Lenoa wished Betier would stay by her side longer, she understood that this was for her own good. Betier was doing everything in her power to care for her. Besides, the other maids would arrive soon enough.  

‘I’ll rest my eyes until the physician or the maids arrive.’  

Lenoa lay back on the bed and closed her eyes. As Betier glanced at her one last time and prepared to leave the room—  

Knock, knock.  

A knock sounded at the door. Lenoa opened her eyes and sat up.  

“Who is it?”  

“It is the palace physician. I was ordered to examine Her Majesty.”  

Both women’s eyes widened in surprise. They had only just decided to call for him, yet he had already arrived. Betier opened the door to let him in, and the physician entered, carrying several medical kits.  

The physician, who had served since the reign of the late king, was known for his kind demeanor. Naturally, Lenoa had a good rapport with him. He had always been the one to care for her whenever she fell ill.  

The only issue was that he was a male physician. While it didn’t matter for most ailments, situations like today’s menstrual-related matters made it awkward. Thankfully, Betier had already cleaned up the bloodstains, changed the bed linens, and helped Lenoa into a fresh dress.  

The physician checked Lenoa’s pulse and examined her as she lay on the bed. Though she felt uneasy at his touch, she didn’t show it.  

He asked Betier various questions about Lenoa’s recent diet, daily activities, and stress levels. While Betier answered confidently about her routine, she hesitated when it came to the last question. Sensing her reluctance, Lenoa spoke up.  

“I think I’ve been…overexerting myself lately.”  

Lenoa forced a smile. Indeed, even she felt she had been pushing herself too hard recently.

The death of her father had been just a month and a half ago. The coronation, along with the mountain of responsibilities that followed, had left her with no appetite. On the day of her father’s passing, she had coincidentally started her menstrual cycle, leaving her no time to rest. The only time she shed tears was while she slept.  

However, Lenoa could never tell the palace physician the specific causes of her stress. Though he was a kind man, much like her father, and they shared a close relationship, she was still the ruler of this kingdom, even if it had only been a month since her ascension.  

― A monarch must never show weakness.  

This was something she had learned during her lessons as the heir.  

When she gave an evasive explanation, the physician accepted it without further questions. As a noble who served the royal family and their closest confidants, he was well-versed in royal customs and history.  

“Then please rest. Call for me anytime if you feel unwell.”  

The physician bowed respectfully and was about to leave the room when Lenoa called out to him.  

“How did you know about my condition and come here?”  

Sitting on the bed, Lenoa asked. She had been curious about this the entire time but had held back until now.  

From the dining hall to her room, she hadn’t encountered anyone. Well, not entirely. While climbing to the second floor, she had seen a servant descending the stairs from a distance. She had hidden behind the staircase, holding her breath until the servant disappeared, before continuing up. If it had been a maid instead of a servant, she might have asked for help rather than hiding.  

Come to think of it, whenever Kairan was around, it always seemed as though no one else was nearby. It was the same this time. Inside and outside the dining hall, even on the first floor, she hadn’t run into anyone. She hadn’t paid much attention to it since anyone would come running at her slightest gesture.  

Today, however, she couldn’t help but think about it, especially after what had happened.  

‘Could it have been because of him?’  

She had her suspicions but wasn’t certain.  

Still, she couldn’t ask Kairan directly. She thought it better to leave her suspicions unspoken than to confront him.  

Kairan. For Lenoa, dealing with him was more burdensome than anything else.  

In any case, someone must have noticed the trail of blood leading to her room and urgently called for the physician. Lenoa wanted to know who it was and to express her gratitude. Even if it had been the servant she saw earlier, they had recognized her condition and sent for help.  

Deep down, she prayed it wasn’t Kairan.  

“A maid came rushing in, saying you seemed to be in grave danger, Your Majesty.”  

“What did she look like?”  

“Hmm… She had light brown hair and eyes of the same color.”  

Lenoa’s face lit up instantly. She knew exactly who it was. She made it a point to remember the names and appearances of all palace staff, even the lowliest maids and servants, as part of her commitment to earning their loyalty.  

It was the maid Rosetta. Just a few days ago, Lenoa had shared tea and refreshments with her. While it was unthinkable for a Queen to dine with a common maid, such things were not unusual for Lenoa.  

During her days as a Princess, Lenoa had once offered Rosetta tea after the maid finished cleaning her room while she and Betier were chatting. Watching Rosetta hastily thank her and retreat after enjoying the refreshments, Lenoa had laughed with Betier, saying she looked like a squirrel.  

“I’ll call her later to thank her. Thank you for today. You may leave now.”  

Despite still feeling unwell, Lenoa made the effort to stand and bow to the physician. After he left, she immediately turned to Betier.  

“Betier, please bring Rosetta to me.”  

“Yes, Your Majesty.”  

Lenoa wanted to thank Rosetta and perhaps chat with her after some time.  

After Betier left the room, several maids began waiting outside. Lenoa instructed them to prepare tea and refreshments. Though her body was still weak, she forced herself to sit at the table.  

She eagerly anticipated the refreshments the maids would soon bring. Having barely eaten dinner, and with her cravings for sweets heightened during her menstrual cycle, she couldn’t help but feel excited.