Chapter 16

Tap tap.

Irien, trailing her long dress, headed for the banquet hall.

The palace staff she passed greeted her respectfully, and she responded with gentle smiles, but her mind was cold and clear.

“Brandon’s foolish act turned out to be a blessing in disguise. If it had gone to the second son, something even more terrible would have happened today…”

“…A blessing? Are you serious?”

“Of course, Sister. I know because I experienced it myself. The power of that magic tool is strong. If you had encountered it without knowing anything, not only you, but even my Captains would have fallen asleep and been left completely defenseless. What would have happened then?”

“……”

Marquis Oro intended to have his son violate her.

He wanted the Queen to bear the bloodline of the Oro Family, so that the throne would eventually belong to his kin.

Murien could not continue speaking, but Hilde, finally understanding the situation, was the first to radiate murderous intent.

“Should I just go and k*ll them all?”

“Hilde, you don’t need to act. Please send my subordinates, Your Majesty. They’re good at stirring up trouble on rainy days.”

Egon also frowned and made a suggestion. His subordinates, the 1st Knight Order, were former mercenaries notorious during the civil war, now the strongest force in the Kingdom.

“What should we start with, Your Majesty? Poisoning, strangling, falling, drowning, burning—just give the order.”

“Senri, really. Is quick death enough? We should make them taste pain and fear, even if it takes time.”

“That’s right. Then let’s disguise it as a very painful s*icide…”

Loyal maids Senri and Anri quietly laughed and whispered, while only Irien and Murien remained silent.

Sensing the subtle tension between them, the others wisely fell silent again. Soon, Murien spoke in an unusually harsh voice.

“Don’t attend the banquet. Send Anri instead.”

“Sister.”

“Marquis Oro will attend. He didn’t find Brandon, but he can’t afford to lose ground among the other Sovereign candidates, so he’ll bring his second son as well.”

“That’s right. That’s why I must go myself. If I act as usual, they’ll relax and let their guard down…”

“As usual? How can you act as usual in front of them?! Those men tried to do something horrible to you! Even locking them up now wouldn’t be enough, and I can’t let you face those trash…”

“I’m fine. It’s not the first time I’ve seen such trash.”

“Irien!”

“The birthday festival is more important. We’ll handle it later.”

“……”

“Later, Sister.”

That was why Irien, knowing the whole story, dressed beautifully and headed to the banquet hall.

‘It’s fine. I knew from the start.’

Unlike the people who praised the benevolent Queen, Irien was well aware that the former King’s officials saw her as a tool to produce the next King. Knowing this, she used it to make them fight among themselves.

It was not surprising that Marquis Oro, the final victor among the old powers, reached out to her.

‘I came in knowing all this.’

Irien looked at the doors of the banquet hall, practicing her smile once again.

As the doors opened, eager gazes began pouring in, and her lips, hidden behind her fan, curved from a crooked line to a graceful arc.

‘As usual. As usual.’

“Queen Irien Liona Delvast, Her Majesty, enters!”

With the attendant’s loud announcement, Irien stepped gracefully forward.

Tap tap, the soft sheen of her silver shoes peeked out beneath her voluminous skirt.

The sky-blue chiffon dress fluttered with her gentle steps. Scattered pearls sparkled on her dress, creating a beauty like ripples on a lake.

Her slim waist contrasted with the wide dress, and the neckline revealed delicate shoulders that seemed almost pitiful. The long platinum hair flowing smoothly occasionally revealed her neck, and some libertine men drooled over her beauty.

On her small head, a new crown made for the first Queen glittered under the chandelier, and above her blue fan, her delicate eyebrows, pearl-like skin, and clear, bright eyes hinted at her pure beauty.

A few steps behind the Queen, the Kingdom’s strongest knight couple entered, and only then did the people in the hall belatedly applaud.

“Happy birthday, Your Majesty!”

“Congratulations!”

“Ah, it’s been so long since we’ve seen your face, Your Majesty. Words cannot express your beauty…”

Though the two Captains’ intimidating aura kept people from approaching, most unmarried men still loudly praised her, hoping to catch her eye.

Among them, sons of powerful families and famous figures drew closer and tried to speak to the Queen with obvious intent.

“Ah…”

But their answers amounted to little. Irien nodded elegantly and soon passed them by.

Among the applause, whispers spread: “She’s still shy and finds men difficult.”

‘Ah… They’re like rutting beasts. I don’t even want to speak.’

Only her close aides could see the disgust hidden in her smile.

Irien looked past the greedy nobles to the slow-moving old noble and smiled gently.

‘But today is important.’

She couldn’t let her personal feelings ruin the selection of the future sovereign.

Whether Marquis Oro knew her cold heart or not, he approached with his second son Glen and bowed.

“Your Majesty, happy birthday.”

“Marquis Oro.”

Irien steadied herself and, for the first time since entering the hall, lowered her fan.

Her delicate, pure beauty drew quiet admiration from those nearby.

Pretending not to hear, Irien addressed the Marquis with a friendly smile, as if he were a neighbor.

“I was pleased to see you at the audience earlier, and now at the evening banquet as well.”

“Of course I must attend. How could this old man miss the birthday of our Kingdom’s treasure? This is Glen. How long will you stay frozen? Greet Her Majesty.”

“Oh, yes. Sorry, Your Majesty. I’m deeply moved to see you again… You’ve become even more beautiful.”

“Haha, it’s been a while, Lord Oro. I’ve heard you’re diligently fulfilling your duties as Captain of the Capital Defense Forces.”

“It’s nothing. It’s what I must do for you, Your Majesty.”

Glen, the spitting image of Marquis Oro in his youth, stepped forward to greet her, and Irien shyly smiled in return.

Seeing their warm exchange, Marquis Oro interjected, satisfied.

“It feels like yesterday that the late King and I had you and this boy on our knees, discussing the war. Time truly flies.”

“Yes, it does.”

“If the late King could see you now, he’d be so proud. I myself have no regrets when I look at my son.”

Behind Irien, Hilde quietly checked her ceremonial sword and muttered,

“If that’s true, should I k*ll him now?”

“Shh, dear.”

Egon, pretending to tidy Hilde’s hair, gently calmed her.

Irien smiled inwardly. Half serious, half joking, her friend was trying to lighten her mood.

‘But I can’t.’

Seeing the old man naturally flaunt his ties to the late King, Irien kept her gentle smile.

‘If I deal with him rashly, I’ll face backlash from the old King’s officials. I need to plan more secretly, more carefully.’

Until that plan was complete, she needed to reassure and lull this fox-like old man.

…Yes. Even if he was the one who tried to have his son defile her.

She could do nothing at the moment. Irien’s hand holding the fan gripped tighter.

“So this time, Glen, this boy…”

“Your Majesty.”

Murien, in a splendid red dress, appeared with people in tow, interrupting Marquis Oro.

“There are people who came a long way to congratulate you in person, Your Majesty, so I brought them.”

“…Countess.”

“Oh my, Marquis Oro. We meet again, after seeing each other earlier. Are you well? And Glen is here too.”

“Ahem, it’s been a while, Princess… No, Countess. Excuse me.”

“Haha, it’s fine. I’m still more used to being called Princess.”

Murien dropped her hand and smiled subtly, and Glen, lips twitching, kissed her fingertips.

‘Is the Princess interested in me?’

Ahem! Hearing his father’s cough, Glen composed himself, but Murien caught the momentary oily look and hid her disgust behind her fan.

‘Like father, like son—both trash.’

Regardless, Murien had interrupted the Queen and Marquis’s conversation. Seizing the opportunity, Minister of Foreign Affairs Marquis Valantour introduced foreign dignitaries.

“Ahem, Your Majesty. It’s an honor to introduce a distinguished guest on this joyful day. Prince Fernan of Delva Kingdom.”

Marquis Oro glared internally at Marquis Valantour, who introduced the Prince with pride.

‘Cunning. Bringing in foreigners since he has no son to match mine?’

But he couldn’t block the path of foreign royalty. Prince Fernan, dressed more splendidly than at the audience, gave the Queen a charming smile.

“Once again, happy birthday, Your Majesty. Is your cold fully recovered?”

“……”

“Your Majesty?”

“Ah…”

She didn’t answer immediately, drawing curious looks. But Irien soon smiled shyly.

“Sorry, Prince. I was just startled…”

“Did I offend…?”

“Oh, no. Nothing like that. It’s just…”

Irien raised her fan, covering half her face. Under her long lashes, her pale blue eyes glanced at Fernan, then looked away.

“Seeing you up close, you’re… much taller than I expected.”

“…Ha ha! Is that so? My apologies.”

No man dislikes being called tall.

Fernan, secretly dissatisfied from the earlier audience, quickly smiled and knelt before Irien.

Then, leisurely, he reached out his hand to her.

“Will this be more comfortable, Your Majesty?”

“Haha, you’re so kind.”

Irien smiled softly and carefully placed her hand atop his. Fernan kissed her gloved fingertips.