Chapter 6

Her gaze was troubled as she looked at her sister.

“I was asking if you’re okay.”

“What? Of course I am. I’ve worked so hard to make this happen.”

“Is it okay for someone to drink all night, who quit alcohol long ago?”

“That’s exaggerated. I just went to bed late, didn’t drink that much. Maybe a beer…”

Irien’s mouth closed mid-sentence.

Murien bent down and picked up a bottle from under the table. The label showed it was a famously strong whiskey.

Senri, always calm during the sisters’ conversation, looked startled for the first time.

“Ah.”

“…”

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”

“You don’t need to apologize. I drank it, and my sister’s sharp eyes caught it.”

They had cleared away all the problematic bottles, but missed one. Irien waved a hand at Senri, who bowed deeply.

Murien looked incredulously at the Queen’s casual attitude.

“What would you do without Senri?”

“I’d be in trouble. Please stay by my side forever, Senri.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Don’t change the subject.”

Murien sighed.

“The prince is famous for his affairs. He even caused a scandal with the king’s former fiancée. The national benefit of the marriage is secondary; your married life after…”

“Secondary?”

Murien flinched as Irien cut her off. Suddenly, Irien’s expression lost all playfulness, and she stared at her sister.

Her clear blue eyes, usually bright as the sky, froze like ice.

“No. National benefit comes first.”

“…Irien.”

“So, Murien.”

Her cold gaze softened ever so slightly.

“Help me, as you always have.”

“…You never change.”

Murien closed her eyes, resigned, then opened them to see her half-sister smiling kindly again.

‘If I don’t go out and dance, I’ll suffocate.’

She never confides her true feelings—to her closest aides, her dearest friends, even to the sibling who knows her secret.

How many realize that the gentle smile everyone praises is her own prison?

Murien’s gaze drifted to the Queen’s fan.

More precisely, to the hand holding it.

Even after drinking and sleeping, clothes disheveled, the gloves on her hands were spotless and new. It was obvious she, or Senri, had cared for those gloves above all else.

Murien was bothered by this, but said nothing more.

Senri brought tea to lighten the mood. Murien calmed herself with the fragrant aroma and spoke in a composed voice.

“I’ll gather more information on the prince and report. Given the political situation, he’ll surely propose, but it won’t hurt to be prepared.”

“See, reliable as always.”

Murien was not just a socialite. Alongside her fame and notoriety, she gathered secrets as well as public information, and shared them with Irien.

“Oh, right. The Tefnu Merchant Group Leader is leaving the country.”

Irien’s hand paused minutely as she sipped her tea. Murien, setting down her cup, continued, not noticing.

“I got a message early this morning. He’ll hand things over to the next branch manager, so please take care.”

“…Is that so?”

“Well, as long as the contract is kept, it doesn’t matter who’s in charge. Once distribution starts, as you said, people’s prejudice against foreigners will fade, and even the stubborn elders will have no choice.”

Murien stroked her wrist, smiling confidently as she looked at the gold bracelet with exotic patterns and jewels.

“Their noble wives will soon buy plenty of foreign luxury goods.”

It was a gift from the Tefnu Merchant Group. Everything Murien wore became a trend, so it was perfect advertising.

“If you combine the merchant group, the prince’s ships, and our railways, as you said, this country could become a trading hub surpassing the Weldon Kingdom… Irien? Are you listening?”

“Ah.”

Irien, pausing with her teacup, blinked slowly. Then, seeing Murien’s questioning look, she smiled and set the cup down.

“I felt a bit queasy. Must be the hangover.”

“…Honestly.”

Murien clicked her tongue and began preparing to leave.

“I have afternoon appointments. Let’s finish this conversation later.”

“Sorry, you came all this way.”

“Put some proper clothes on.”

Murien added, gazing sternly at the Queen still in her undergarments.

“Time to wrap up your ‘Camellia’ life.”

“I’m confident I won’t get caught.”

“Irien.”

“All right. I got it.”

“Quit drinking too.”

“Are you my mother?”

“Be glad you’re not my daughter. If you were, it wouldn’t end here.”

“…”

“Answer me.”

“Yes…”

Only after Murien got a reply did she leave, satisfied.

Irien, who had been sitting upright, sprawled out on the chair as soon as Murien left.

“That sister nags even more since she became a mom…”

“…Is it all right not to tell the Princess the truth?”

“What truth?”

At Senri’s rare, forward opinion, Irien—her face buried in the chair cushion—lifted her head, tousled.

Despite her relaxed posture, the pale blue eyes that peeked out were tinged with a chilly light.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“…I apologize. I overstepped.”

Senri quickly bowed her head. The maid, who had long watched the Queen’s secret nightly outings, knew there were things Irien couldn’t tell her sister.

“Usher, that heartless man. Leaving behind such words about ‘last time’—how could he… Huh? How could I…!”

“Yes, yes.”

“Hilde, don’t you think he’s too much? What kind of man does that?”

“Yes, yes.”

“Answer me properly, Hilde!”

“Yes, yes. You’re absolutely right, Your Majesty. Senri, could you bring some cold water?”

“Yes, Dame Hilde.”

Senri remembered clearly how, upon returning from her outing last night and drinking, Irien had complained to her escort, Second Knight Commander Hilde. Even then, Senri had been on duty.

But before the Queen’s warning gaze, Senri quickly fell silent. Advice and concern were not hers to offer.

Irien buried her face back into the cushion.

‘…Who am I taking this out on? Get a grip.’

Irien realized she was more sensitive than usual, and it was clearly related to the ‘truth’ Senri had mentioned.

‘How could I say that? That I connected my sister and the merchant group for personal reasons, not national interest? Or that I was thoroughly rejected yesterday?’

Nothing would change by saying it.

It was the same as the previous day, when she hid her feelings and pushed Usher away.

“The thing I truly wanted, after coming to this country, was you.”

He had given his heart to her, despite not knowing her true self.

‘…It was a relationship with no future from the start.’

The true feelings hidden behind the Queen’s smile and Camellia’s mask finally surfaced. But Irien buried her face deeper, so no one could see her expression.

‘I just wanted to keep meeting him, even for a little while longer.’

She thought if the Tefnu Merchant Group settled successfully, Usher would stay longer under the same sky.

A cigarette in the tavern’s backyard—a brief moment. She only wished that time would last a bit longer.

But it was all futile.

The second branch of Tefnu Merchant Group was set to open, but Usher left. Contrary to Murien’s claim that it didn’t matter who the manager was, it mattered greatly to Irien.

‘If I’d known it would end like this…’

Short moments spent with Usher flashed through her mind.

Even the kiss she couldn’t forget, no matter how much she drank.

The moment she danced with all her heart, thinking it was her last performance for him.

The gaze that never left her…

‘I wish I’d been a bit more honest… Ah, enough!’

Wham!

Irien screamed inwardly, pounding the cushion.

‘It’s over. Just forget it.’

Senri remained quietly by her side as Irien buried her face, trying to calm her feelings.