Chapter 5 – The Queen’s Secret Hobby

The royal castle of Delva Kingdom was decorated as elegantly and purely as its flower-like Queen.

The white outer walls shone with a pristine light, and every morning new flowers were arranged throughout, filling the air with fresh fragrance.

And, while the attendants and maids worked diligently to keep it that way, they whispered quietly.

“Her Majesty missed the morning council? She’s never done that before…”

“Seems she’s ill. She dismissed almost everyone, leaving only the minimum staff.”

“She’s been working hard every day ahead of the birthday celebration. She’s always been so delicate, it’s no surprise her health suffered.”

“Hopefully she can rest quietly, just for today… Oh, dear.”

The maids fell silent as they adjusted the curtains.

Inside the white window frame, morning sunlight streamed in beautifully, and one person strode down the marble corridor toward the inner palace.

Click, click—her confident footsteps made everyone step aside and bow their heads.

The scent of her luxurious red dress and deep perfume passed through them.

Once she disappeared, the maids raised their heads and exchanged glances.

“She won’t be dismissed, will she?”

“Hmm…”

Including them, no one stopped the beautiful and captivating woman as she ascended the central staircase toward the deepest inner palace.

She was Princess Murien.

Originally, she should have been called Countess Cassel, taking her husband’s surname, but after five marriages and five changes of name, few called her that.

Behind her back, she was secretly known as the man-eating spider, the scarlet-haired temptress.

When that formidable woman finally reached the Queen’s private chambers, the knight guarding the door stopped her for the first time.

“Countess Cassel. Her Majesty has ordered that no one be allowed in.”

“…Am I just anyone, Sir Istara?”

“Pardon?”

Murien smiled softly. It was a smile as dazzling and thorny as a single rose.

The female knight with ash-gray hair, Hilde Istara, the Kingdom’s Second Knight Commander, flinched at that, but firmly added,

“You are not just anyone. But there are no exceptions to the royal order.”

“Ah! You really are the same as ever, then and now…”

Just as Princess Murien was about to speak in an irritated voice, the door suddenly opened. A maid with a gentle demeanor stepped out and bowed to Murien.

“Countess, Her Majesty says she is unwell and wishes to see you another time.”

“Really? Tell her next time I plan to be unwell.”

“But Countess…”

“Otherwise, I’ll have to spread the word everywhere. The real reason our dear Queen is bedridden isn’t just illness…”

“Please, come in.”

At Murien’s quiet, added words, the maid immediately changed her stance and opened the door wide. The Knight Commander guarding the door sighed and stepped aside as well.

Murien entered the Queen’s chambers with irritated steps, and the attendants and maids watching from afar whispered quietly.

“She receives Princess Murien’s audience after all.”

“It seems true that Her Majesty relies entirely on the Princess.”

“Who knows. Whether she relies on her, or is simply under the thumb of that scarlet-haired temptress…”

“Idiot. Quiet…”

One attendant, catching eyes with the Second Knight Commander still standing at the door, quickly pulled their companion away.

As they vanished in an instant, the Knight Commander’s gaze grew hazy.

‘They’re all fooled…’

And coincidentally, Murien, just entering the Queen’s chambers, wore a similar expression.

***

‘I knew it would be like this…’

As soon as the door closed, Murien sighed. She gazed at the scene before her with tired eyes.

Unlike the bright morning sunlight outside, the inner chamber was dim. Clothes and shoes were scattered across the elegant carpet, and there was even a faint scent of alcohol.

A maid hurriedly tidied the mess on the floor, making excuses.

“I’m sorry. I haven’t finished cleaning yet…”

“When did she start acting like this?”

“She’s been asleep for less than thirty minutes, Princess…!”

Murien strode over and yanked open the heavy curtains.

Swish! Brilliant sunlight flooded in, and the woman with black hair sprawled on the long couch flinched.

Her white undergarments had ridden up, exposing her thigh, one leg hanging over the armrest, and her shoulder strap had slipped, leaving her pale chest exposed.

Her arm, dangling below the chair, groped the air before covering her face.

“Senri… Curtains…”

“How are you sprawled out like this at this hour? ‘Camellia.’”

“…?”

Hearing a voice that wasn’t her loyal maid’s, Camellia, lying like a corpse, moved her arm and looked up. Seeing Murien standing against the dazzling sunlight, she mumbled drowsily.

“Senri… Water… Maybe I drank too much, I’m seeing things…”

“Tsk.”

Murien clicked her tongue and picked up a glass of water from the table. She handed it to Camellia’s outstretched hand… and poured it over her face instead.

Splash!

“Ah! What the…!”

“Are you awake now?”

Soaked and startled, Camellia’s black hair fell away. Beneath it, bright platinum-blonde hair was revealed.

She wiped the water from her face and hurriedly grabbed the black wig from the floor.

“What are you doing! This thing is so hard to take care of…”

“If it’s that precious, you should have kept it safe. What if someone else had come in?”

Murien set the glass on the table and gestured at Senri, who was quickly tidying up the scattered dress and shoes.

The maid carefully placed even the camellia hairpin petals into a box, and took the wig from Camellia’s hand. She seemed unfazed by the commotion, as if accustomed to it.

Camellia sighed, her bravado diminished.

“No one else comes in. Senri only opens the door for maybe one person.”

“Carelessness leads to trouble.”

Murien sat before Camellia, who was slowly pulling herself up with wet hair, maintaining her flawless elegance. She sighed again.

“If the world saw you like this, what would they think, Camellia… No, Irien.”

Gulp, gulp.

Queen Irien filled her glass again and drank it all in one go, exhaling loudly.

Despite her casual manner, her hand placed the glass down with smooth grace.

“Why worry about that, Countess Cassel?”

The Queen, picking up a fan thrown onto the chair, gently covered her mouth and smiled.

It was a pure smile, entirely different from the alluring dance she’d shown the audience the night before.

“No one knows but you, my maid, and the knights I trust.”

“You’re winking.”

“Oh dear.”

Irien blinked. One fake eyelash on her eye wobbled.

Senri, returning after storing the wig, brought cleansing cream and a towel and sat beside her.

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. I was cleaning when the Princess arrived…”

“What would you do without Senri?”

“I’m lucky to have her. So, what news have you brought, my capable sister?”

Irien calmly let Senri tend to her face as she asked. Murien, seeing her unfazed little sister, smiled irritably.

‘Who calls her a gentle and kind Queen? They’re all fooled. Fooled.’

The world believed Murien controlled the gentle Queen, but the truth was the opposite. The real power was in the hands of that gentle Queen.

Nobles who once believed the lie supported her ascension, hoping to use her, but Murien and Senri, knowing the truth, worked behind the scenes to support the Queen’s strength.

Just like now.

“Marquis Valantour, Minister of Foreign Affairs, secretly met with the Weldon Kingdom’s prince. It seems the prince will join the Weldon Kingdom’s delegation for your birthday celebration.”

“Ah, finally.”

With all her makeup removed, Irien’s pale skin and clear blue eyes shone as she smiled brightly.

“I’ll meet the future sovereign.”

“…Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Why? The Weldon Kingdom’s prince is a fine match. He may have lost out to the current king, but his bloodline is impeccable, so even our stubborn elders won’t object. Plus, his maternal family owns the most ships in the Weldon Kingdom. Imagine, sister: if he becomes our sovereign, and goods brought in on his ships travel our railways to the central continent. This marriage would bring great progress…”

“Irien.”

As Senri tended to her hair, Irien listed the advantages one by one, but Murien interrupted.