Ines looked up at Carlos’s response, noticing the slight smile on Count Colsen’s face.

“Then my daughter…”

Colsen’s expression brightened immediately, thinking Carlos was agreeing with him. But Ines understood what that man’s expression truly meant.

“So everyone, please support my wife well.”

Carlos had no intention of accepting Colsen’s suggestion. As he continued to speak, everyone fell silent.

“Now that the wedding is over and Ines is officially the queen, it’s time for her to begin her duties. It would be great if Count Colsen’s daughter could assist my wife by volunteering at the charity home. With the beloved Count Colsen’s daughter by her side, perhaps the queen’s image will improve.”

“Ahem…”

The nobles avoided eye contact, each wearing a reluctant expression, as Carlos didn’t provide the answer they had hoped for. Except for Count Colsen’s daughter.

“That’s a great idea, Your Majesty,” Raella said as she approached Ines.

“If Her Majesty the Queen volunteers at the charity home, it will leave a good impression on the people. After all, you’ve never done such volunteer work before.”

It was a jab at Ines for not fulfilling her duties as the king’s fiancée in the past. But it wasn’t incorrect. She had struggled with the idea of going to the charity home.

Standing with a cane on uneven ground was challenging enough, and after negative rumors about her began to spread, she rarely went out.

“I’m sure people will think the queen has changed. What do you think, Your Majesty? Would you like to go to the charity home with me?”

Knowing she would face criticism if she refused, Ines had no choice but to nod.

“I’m very happy to have you accompany me.”

Raella smiled at Ines’s words. Watching the two, Carlos spoke again.

“Why don’t you two have a chat? I have somewhere I need to be.”

Carlos’s gaze landed on the delegation from another country. They were probably there for political discussions. Staying among them would only be uncomfortable for everyone involved.

Being alone would only make her a spectacle for everyone. So, dealing with Raella was a much better option. After Carlos left, Raella soon filled the empty seat beside her.

Raella whispered to Ines in a friendly voice.

“Come to think of it, you’re the first woman in the kingdom to have two weddings here at Crystal Bloom. Oh, but since one wedding was canceled before it even happened, maybe it’s not quite two. Anyway, the Claudia family’s influence seems remarkable even after its downfall. The family may have fallen, but its daughter became queen in the end.”

Her words were sharp despite the gentle tone.

Ines quietly observed Raella, who was subtly mocking her. Raella’s eyes were pleasantly curved, but they held animosity towards Ines.

It was a familiar look. She had grown used to receiving such hostile gazes from those who disliked her, so it didn’t bother her much. But she was curious.

‘As far as I remember, I didn’t have any particular connection with her.’

Perhaps it was disappointment over not becoming queen. Or maybe she saw Ines as an obstacle. Given Count Colsen’s actions, he likely intended to place his daughter in the queen’s position.

So, Ines spoke up to clear up the misunderstanding.

“Before the wedding, I mentioned to His Majesty that it would be better for him to marry Count Colsen’s daughter instead of me.”

“What?”

She herself wanted to shed this superficial title as soon as possible. So, she sincerely hoped Raella would put in a little more effort.

“But His Majesty refused. I also sincerely hope that Count Colsen’s daughter wins His Majesty’s heart.”

Ines expressed her genuine intentions to Raella. However, Raella unfortunately didn’t take it well. Her expression twisted into a scowl, as if she felt insulted by Ines’s words.

Raella glared at Ines with sharp eyes, seemingly on the verge of losing her composure.

“By the way, how do you plan to spend your wedding night? I hear the first time can be painful, oh dear…”

Raella sneered at Ines.

“Or maybe it’s not your first time.”

This was a mocking remark alluding to rumors that, even before her past marriage, Ines had been involved with Joseph and other men.

“There’s no smoke without fire. I heard you already spent the night with Joseph on the day of your engagement…”

Raella fluttered her fan and trailed off, watching Ines’s reaction. But instead of denying it angrily or avoiding eye contact as Raella expected, Ines remained frozen, as if she was reliving the pain of past memories she had tried to suppress.

Sensing something was amiss, Raella cautiously called out to Ines.

“Your Majesty?”

But there was no response.

Because.

‘You wretched woman.’

Suddenly, the nightmare of that day vividly resurfaced in Ines’s mind, as if it had happened just yesterday. The harsh voice echoed in her head.

‘How dare you deceive me?’

The voice of the man who had openly condemned her.

‘Smack—!’

And the sting of his harsh hand.

Ines, who had been barely standing, suddenly swayed.

“Oh my, are you alright?”

Raella, startled, hurriedly supported Ines. However, Ines couldn’t respond to Raella’s concerned voice.

‘You filthy woman.’

The memories of that day, which she had tried so hard to bury, continued to torment her. Despite Raella holding her and calling out several times, her voice didn’t reach Ines.

Meanwhile, Carlos, who had been conversing with others, finally noticed the situation and quickly approached the two women.

“What’s going on?”

Carlos immediately realized something was wrong when he saw Ines’s pale face. Ines, regaining her senses, lifted her head.

“I’m not feeling well… so I’d like to rest for a bit…”

Ines spoke weakly, looking utterly exhausted.

“Are you feeling very unwell? I wonder if you could hold on a little longer.”

But today was their wedding day. It wouldn’t look good for the queen, one of the main figures of the event, to leave early, so he asked her again.

Then, as he reached out to check on her condition, it happened.

“…!”

Ines flinched noticeably at his touch, shrinking away as if afraid she might be struck. Carlos froze with his hand still extended.

Realizing it was Carlos who had reached out, Ines bit her lip. Without meeting his eyes, she spoke.

“I’m sorry. I need to go inside first.”

With those words, Ines hurriedly moved away. However, in her haste, she forgot one crucial thing: she didn’t have her cane with her. Was it due to her unusually hurried steps? Or perhaps the sudden resurgence of past memories? She hadn’t even taken ten steps before she fell right in front of everyone.

―Oh my, goodness!

Simultaneously, sighs erupted from all around. It was only natural for attention to focus on the queen, who had suddenly fallen clumsily in the center of the banquet hall.

And there was someone watching the queen sprawled on the floor.

“Pfft.”

They couldn’t hold back a laugh. That was the beginning, and soon intermittent snickers and whispers filled the banquet hall.

―It seems she has trouble walking without a cane. Poor thing.

―Poor? It’s all because she was having an affair with another man while engaged and fell from a railing, isn’t it?

―That’s right. There were even rumors for a while that the engagement was going to be broken off, I think?

The crowd’s criticism was directed at Ines. Feeling it all, Ines’s body began to tremble.

‘This is the problem with those from dirty backgrounds.’

Once again, fragments of the past tormented her.

‘Couldn’t even hide that one thing, and look what happened?!’

Her father’s voice blaming her, and the disdainful eyes that looked at her with contempt, tightened around her.

She couldn’t get up.

Her legs wouldn’t move.

No one came to help her.

Not even her husband, Carlos.