Chapter 51
Arden couldn’t understand her. Every time they missed each other, he was gradually getting tired of it. He tried to discuss what they both wanted and find a solution, but she didn’t even show any willingness to do so. If they talked, at least they could consider a solution together.
“You seem to have a lot on your mind,” Raymond said.
“I tried to have a conversation as you suggested,” Arden replied.
“It seems like it didn’t go well,” Raymond commented.
Arden didn’t answer Raymond. Feeling overwhelmed and needing to do something, he went to his office, only to find Raymond still there, not yet off work.
“By the way, why aren’t you going home?” Arden asked.
“You need to send me home,” Raymond replied.
“…Are you saying I’m not sending you home?”
Raymond didn’t answer and avoided eye contact. Arden didn’t like how Raymond was dodging the issue like a slippery eel. Raymond stared intently at the documents, avoiding Arden’s gaze.
Arden sighed deeply and leaned against his desk, crossing his arms and glaring at Raymond.
“It seems I definitely have some issues,” Arden said.
“Did you just realize that?” Raymond asked.
“It seems you have more than one life. Your tongue is unusually sharp today.”
“…I think it’s time for me to go home since it’s quitting time.”
“There seems to be work left.”
“Even if there is work, I will leave today. Somehow, it feels like if I stay, I’ll end up getting the blame.”
Arden’s eyebrows raised. His piercing gaze seemed as if it could penetrate Raymond. Finally, Raymond put down the documents and asked,
“Alright, fine! What exactly did you talk about?”
He raised his hands in surrender and plopped down into a chair.
Arden sat opposite him, remaining silent for a while as he pondered. Raymond, accustomed to such royal behavior, waited quietly.
“I tried to have a conversation, but she said she wanted to rest and that it wasn’t possible,” Arden eventually said.
“…Did you force the conversation?” Raymond asked.
“…”
Arden hesitated for a moment. Then he quickly defended his actions, trying to justify himself.
“I had no other choice if I wanted to have the conversation.”
“Even so, it seems you realize that the method was wrong.”
Raymond scratched his chin and rolled his eyes. However, without that approach, it seemed impossible to have a conversation with Leticia. She disliked him and was keen on avoiding him.
“Leticia hates me.”
“It seemed that way.”
“She blames me. The problem is that she hates me without any reason…”
“Do you really think there’s no reason?”
“I know. It’s an excuse.”
Raymond furrowed his brow in frustration and pushed himself away from the desk, striding over to the chair with long, graceful steps. He reached the chair in a few steps, sat down, and sank deeply into the seat.
“What exactly did I do wrong?”
“The fact that you don’t know what you did wrong is itself a mistake.”
“If you know so well, then tell me. Why does the queen dislike me so much?”
Raymond took a deep breath. He wondered how the king would take this. He was concerned that he might be doing something foolish. He had always believed that meddling in someone’s romantic affairs and giving advice was the height of foolishness. Little did he know that he would become that foolish person.
“You didn’t even properly observe the first night, and since then, you haven’t sought her out. That was a bad start. You should have fulfilled your duties.”
“…If the start was wrong, are there more mistakes?”
“What does it matter if you give the queen everything she wants? There’s no emotional exchange. Even if you buy every building in the kingdom, it’s only temporary. People need to communicate and share their stories to connect.”
“…Connect?”
He still had a puzzled look on his face. Resting his chin on his hand, he listened seriously, but Raymond’s patience was running thin. It was as if Arden was a machine with no emotions, acting purely rationally in every situation.
Raymond wanted to check Arden’s heartbeat. He felt so frustrated that he wondered if he might lose his head on the spot. That’s how exasperated he was.
Even if he provided answers, they only seemed to go in circles, and the relationship between the two was worsening rather than improving. How much disdain, resentment, and hatred could have come from the queen’s mouth?
“You’ve shared enough connection. You’ve done your duty.”
“No! It’s different from what Your Majesty is talking about. I’m not talking about physical relations but about the connection of hearts. Love! Love! No one dislikes being loved. The queen, before being the queen of the kingdom, is a woman. Even if you say you married without love, don’t you know from just a glance? How much the queen loved you! You don’t know anything!”
Raymond panted heavily from the words he had let out. He could no longer hold back and spilled everything he had inside.
“…I’m sorry! I’ll be leaving now.”
He darted out of the office before Arden could stop him. He felt the oppressive presence around him.
❖ ❖ ❖
In the end, Leticia didn’t manage to meet His Majesty. She hurried to see him early in the morning, but he had already left the kingdom.
‘I had so many questions.’
She stood at the main gate, unable to leave, gazing longingly. She hoped he might return, but no matter how long she waited, the carriage bearing the Arcerion crest did not come back.
“Your Majesty, it’s getting cold.”
“I’m wearing a thick shawl, so don’t worry.”
“Today, a new personal physician is arriving.”
“There’s enough medicine in reserve, so let them know I will see them later.”
Rueina nodded. She tightly wrapped her shawl around her, braving the cold wind as she quietly gazed at the garden in the courtyard. If only she had gone secretly yesterday, would she have been able to talk to him?
Regret was futile for what was already past. She pushed her feelings of disappointment aside and headed toward her room.
Her steps halted abruptly as her gaze fell upon Arden. He looked somewhat startled, as if he hadn’t expected to encounter her.
‘Hmm… It seems like yesterday’s events might continue.’
Leticia tried to walk away to avoid him. However, Arden was quicker and turned to walk in the opposite direction, clearly avoiding her. Leticia’s eyes narrowed at his behavior.
His avoidance was likely due to the words she had spoken. The man who had told her to do as she wished in response to her request for a divorce had chosen to avoid the issue altogether. She had chosen a different way than divorce, and he had to remain oblivious to it until the end. To make that happen, she thought it best to let him continue avoiding her to prevent a divorce.
“I’m hungry. Since the weather is nice today, it would be good to eat in the garden.”
“I will make the preparations.”
“I would also like to discuss the upcoming tea party after we’ve eaten. Please call the head maid.”
Rueina nodded. As it was the first tea party hosted by the queen, she was excited. It would probably be extremely glamorous and splendid. Rueina, already in high spirits just imagining it, quickly moved to convey the queen’s instructions.
Leticia sat in the garden, cutting a pound cake with a fork and placing it in her mouth.
Was the pastry chef’s skill improving daily? The pound cake, which she had expected to be dry, melted away in her mouth. The soft particles lingering pleasantly made her fork never stop.
“Your Majesty, I heard you were looking for me.”
“Yes, I called you to discuss what is needed for the upcoming tea party. I expect that the budget allocated to me will be quite substantial, but it looks like there will be significant expenses this time.”
“Just let me know. I will have everything prepared immediately.”
“I would like to see the related ledgers.”
The head maid, Serna, said she would be right back and quickly went inside the palace. Leticia, sipping her tea, looked at the leaves and flowers shining brightly in the sunlight. She felt envious of the flowers, which seemed to flaunt their existence.
Had she ever made her presence known like those flowers? It was only recently that she had started to speak up, and even then, it wasn’t something she had achieved on her own, which left her feeling unsettled.
Soon, Serna returned with the ledgers and handed them to her.
“Since many invitations have been sent, I’d like the event to be held outdoors. Please open the greenhouse in the courtyard as well. I’m planning to use flowers for decorations, so arrange them in the specified locations as per the list of flowers provided.”
“Understood. I will submit the menu as soon as it’s decided. Please let me know if there are any changes needed.”
“I will. This tea party will be a significant event. There are many weeds on the ground, so kneeling shouldn’t be painful.”
Serna listened attentively to Leticia’s words, not missing a single one. She bowed her head and focused completely on what Leticia was saying. Leticia continued, smiling brightly like a child.
“Getting clothes dirty is something we’ll have to endure. There’s no need for me to worry about their clothes when they’re coming to apologize. Isn’t that right?”
At her words, Serna nodded. No one stopped the queen from showing her enthusiasm with her golden eyes sparkling. The people who had underestimated the queen deserved what was coming to them. They had brought it upon themselves, and there was no need for sympathy. Regardless of the situation, Serna and Rueina were the queen’s maids.
Seeing their mistress being disregarded was almost like being insulted directly to their faces. The expressions of the two maids grew resolute. Their eyes burned with determination to make the queen’s tea party a flawless success.
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