Chapter 3 – Jinx (1)

Kairan thoroughly examined his surroundings. The bloodstains extended all the way to the entrance and exit of the dining hall. Suppressing a sudden sense of incongruity, he stormed out of the dining hall.

Just then, he saw a maid entering with a basin full of laundry. Kairan abruptly grabbed her.

“Ah… G-Grand Duke! Wh-What is it?”

Recognizing the person before her, the maid quickly set down the basin and bowed her head.

He was known among the court as someone with a handsome face but a frightening personality. It was said that no attendant could stay with Kairan due to his unique temperament, and even those assigned by royal custom were driven away in less than a day.

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

“…Pardon? How did this happen? Where is Lady Lenoa?”

Kairan, having run in such urgency, stammered as he spoke.

The maid, shocked to her core, froze on the spot. Lenoa, who held a higher position than Kairan as the Queen, was known for treating subordinates like herself kindly. She even bowed and showed respect to those much older. Thanks to her angelic nature, Lenoa was well-regarded by the court.

But now, hearing that such a kind person was in danger, the maid’s face turned pale.

“Bring the royal physician to her immediately.”

“Y-Yes…”

The maid barely managed to respond to the shocking news that had suddenly struck her. She was already on edge from meeting Kairan, whose reputation was at its worst.

She had to call the royal physician, so she hurriedly set off. Just then, Kairan’s thunderous shout came from behind.

“Wait!”

“Y-Yes!”

“Isn’t the royal physician’s quarters in that direction, not this one? Hurry without delay.”

Kairan pointed irritably in the correct direction.

The maid, barely responding, headed properly towards the royal physician’s quarters. In her confusion, she had forgotten, but Kairan was right; she had been going the wrong way.

Before the maid’s figure completely disappeared, Kairan shouted loudly.

“If something happens to Lady Lenoa, I will severely punish you!”

At that moment, the maid found Kairan’s venomous voice more terrifying than the worsening condition of Lenoa.

* * *

Lenoa barely managed to reach the third floor, avoiding the court members, especially the servants. Looking back, she saw bloodstains scattered along her path. As a queen, she couldn’t run, so she had hurried up here, clutching her dress.

Since this morning, she had felt out of sorts, and in the afternoon, uncharacteristically irritable for a queen, with an upset stomach, she thought it was just due to the corset she was wearing. Although she had worn corsets since her days as a princess and could tolerate them to some extent, they were still uncomfortable.

‘I thought it wouldn’t happen, but it just suddenly burst…’

Lenoa, as Queen of Celesta, had her menstrual cycle closely linked to her health, making it extremely important. If it didn’t occur on the scheduled day, she would call the royal physician for an examination.

However, for several months after her first period, the dates often changed even without any special symptoms. Therefore, she usually did not call the royal physician or receive prescriptions. Moreover, thanks to good food and a pleasant environment, her cycle gradually aligned with the scheduled days.

The first time the date was delayed was a month and a half after she became queen, on the day of her father’s passing. Because it started along with the sudden death of her father, she attended the funeral all day long, feeling as if she were dying alongside him. Only after the funeral, when she returned as if she would faint, did the maids realize that her cycle had changed.

This time, her period was irregular like before. It was a full fifteen days late. During dinner with Kairan, while eating her favorite lemon pudding, her leg itched, and when she looked down, she saw drops of blood falling on the floor. She finally felt the sensation of blood soaking her leg. She hastily swallowed the pudding and left the dining hall, quickly making her way to her room.

In the midst of this, she worried whether her earlier demeanor might have offended Kairan, hoping he hadn’t noticed her menstrual situation.

“Oh, no, Lady Lenoa!”

Betier, who was standing near the bedroom, was horrified to see Lenoa’s pale complexion and the bloodstained yellow dress. It was clear without needing to hear the story. Lenoa had barely made it here, bleeding from her period, without a maid or servant.

Betier hurriedly assisted Lenoa into the bedroom. She changed her into a dark-colored indoor dress and loosened the corset. Next, she laid her on the bed and thoroughly wiped her legs with a towel soaked in warm water. It must have been quite a struggle with the significant amount of blood that had flowed.

Lenoa’s heart eased somewhat with Betier’s touch and the warm sensation on her skin. Betier tied a black towel under Lenoa and spoke.

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

Though Lenoa inwardly wished Betier would stay by her side longer, this was all for her own good. Betier was taking care of her with all her might. Anyway, other maids would arrive soon.

‘I’ll close my eyes until the royal physician or maids come.’

Lenoa lay sprawled on the bed and closed her eyes. Just as Betier was about to leave the room after glancing at her.

Knock, knock. The sound of knocking was heard. At the sound, Lenoa also opened her eyes and sat up.

“Who is it?”

“It’s the royal physician. I’ve been ordered to examine Her Majesty.”

Both women’s eyes widened at the royal physician’s voice. They were just about to call him, yet he had already heard the news and came. Betier opened the door, and the royal physician entered, carrying various medical kits.

The royal physician, whom she knew since the late king’s time, was kind-hearted. Lenoa naturally had a good relationship with him. He always came to treat her whenever she was even slightly ill.

The only concern was that he was a male royal physician. Other symptoms were fine, but especially matters related to her period, like today, made it awkward to meet him. Fortunately, Betier had hurriedly cleaned the bloodstains in the room and changed the bedding and dress.

The royal physician checked Lenoa’s pulse and examined her as she lay down. Though she disliked the touch of his hand, she didn’t show it.

He asked Betier about Lenoa’s recent diet, living conditions, and stress levels. Betier, well-acquainted with Lenoa’s lifestyle, found it easy to answer, but the last question posed a challenge. Unable to find the words, Lenoa answered instead of Betier, who hesitated.

“I guess I’ve been pushing myself a bit lately.”

Lenoa forced a smile. Indeed, she felt she had overexerted herself recently.

It had only been a month and a half since her father passed away. Handling the coronation and a mountain of duties all at once had left her with no appetite. On the day her father died, she had to stand without rest due to her period. The only time she shed tears was when she slept.

However, Lenoa couldn’t reveal the specific causes of her stress to the royal physician. He was a good person she was close to, like a father, but even though it had only been a month since her coronation, she was the ruler of this country.

– A ruler never shows weakness.

She learned this during her heir training.

The royal physician accepted her vague explanation. He was responsible for all the royal family members. As a noble residing in the royal palace and a close confidant of the royal family, memorizing royal customs and history was essential.

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

Just as the royal physician was about to leave the room after bowing, Lenoa called him.

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

Lenoa asked while sitting on the bed. She had been curious all along but had refrained from asking during the examination.

On her way from the dining hall to here, she hadn’t encountered anyone. Well, not entirely no one. As she was about to go up to the second floor, a servant was coming down the stairs. She had hidden quietly behind the stairs until the servant disappeared, then went up the stairs. If it had been a maid instead of a servant, she would have sought help rather than hiding.

Come to think of it, whenever Kairan was with Lenoa, there seemed to be no one around. It was the same this time. There was no one in and around the dining hall or on the first floor. Anyway, she hadn’t paid much attention since anyone would come running with just a flick of her hand.

Today, it was rather fortunate, but because of today’s events, it was more on her mind.

‘Could it have been his influence?’

She suspected but was unsure.

However, she couldn’t ask Kairan. She thought it better to keep her suspicions buried rather than asking directly.

Kairan. For Lenoa, getting entangled with him was the biggest burden.

In any case, someone must have noticed the bloodstains leading to Lenoa’s room and urgently called the royal physician. Lenoa was curious about that person and wanted to repay them. Even if it was that servant from earlier, they had noticed her condition and quickly sent the royal physician.

She hoped inwardly that it wasn’t Kairan.

“A maid came running, saying Her Majesty seemed to be in danger.”

“What did she look like?”

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

Lenoa’s face brightened instantly. She knew exactly who it was. Knowing the names and appearances of all court members, even a mere maid or servant, was one of the reasons they were loyal to Lenoa.

The maid, Rosetta. She had shared tea with Lenoa a few days ago. It was an absurdly unusual event for a mere common maid, but it was common for Lenoa.

During her princess days, while chatting with Betier in her bedroom, Lenoa had once insisted that Rosetta, who had just finished cleaning, join them for tea. After gratefully accepting the tea and snacks, Rosetta disappeared quickly, and Lenoa had laughed with Betier, saying she looked like a squirrel.

“I should call her and thank her later. Thank you for today, then.”

Despite still feeling unwell, Lenoa rose to bow to the royal physician. After he left, Lenoa immediately spoke to Betier.

“Betier, please bring Rosetta.”

“Yes.”

She wanted to thank Rosetta and chat with her after a long time.

After Betier left the room, several maids waited outside. She asked them to prepare tea and snacks. Though still not fully recovered, she made an effort to sit at the table.

Her heart raced in anticipation of the snacks the maids would soon bring out. Having barely eaten dinner, she was hungry, and during her period, she particularly craved sweets.