Chapter 11
Fortunately, although her face was not wet, water dripped steadily from her long, black, wavy hair and her light aqua dress.
Suddenly, a shiver of cold crept over her, rendering her speechless.
If only I had Isar at a time like this…
Am I nothing but a child who knows nothing without Isar?
I can’t afford to think like this anymore. I need to grow up now.
“What’s all this commotion?”
At that moment, Mrs. Sinaba, who had been enjoying the flattery of the noblewomen in the reception room, appeared.
She seemed to realize I was there just now. She asked, “Lena? What’s going on here?”
Mrs. Sinaba swept me up and down with a fan adorned with purple feathers.
“Hmm. But…”
“It’s been a while, madam.”
“Oh, yes. I didn’t realize you were here. By the way, are you wearing new jewelry? And in such a precarious situation for the whole country.”
“My brother gave it to me. Otherwise, he would surely be upset.”
“Who wouldn’t be upset with such extravagance? People are starving on the streets while the imperial citizens gorge themselves.”
Mrs. Sinaba’s gaze towards me was sharp.
She probably knew about the enormous amount of taxes and donations Carneluti was giving to the palace and the temple.
And of course, that money was supposed to be used for the country.
But what about Mrs. Sinaba herself? Did she truly have the country’s best interests at heart to host such a feast?
Yet she criticized me for being extravagant. It was just to grasp at straws.
Of course, I noticed that fact. That’s probably why Mrs. Sinaba invited me to the salon.
“Hehe. Someday you’ll be the mother of the country, behaving like this.”
Mrs. Sinaba smiled, her bright red lips stretching wide. Being restrained in front of people made me feel humiliated and upset.
But I couldn’t possibly confront her. After all, she was part of the royal family.
Maybe someday I would become the Empress. It wasn’t time yet.
So I couldn’t possibly collapse under such an obvious provocation.
At this moment, I felt like I knew why Father and Renac were so desperate to make me the Empress.
Damn those fake noble treatment, I’m sick of it.
I didn’t want to get used to being a laughingstock like this.
I wish no one could ridicule me. I wish no one could dare to oppose me.
“Why are you silent, Lena?”
Sinaba tilted her head to the side, revealing her slender neck, and asked. The amethyst necklace hanging over her fair and straight neck was a type I had seen several times before.
Ah, so that’s it.
I finally understood.
I couldn’t help feeling a pang of envy as I continued to wear the same piece of jewelry, even though I was much younger and of lower rank, amid the war-torn turmoil, where it was difficult for me to acquire a necklace.
…How childish.
“It’s as if I’m the one being…”
Sinaba found a convenient target for her mild frustration and continued to throw questions at me.
Then, there was suddenly a commotion near the door to the reception room, which had been concealed by curtains, and my attention shifted in that direction.
“Why are you all so hesitant…”
But Sinaba’s voice was drowned out by the murmurs of the nobles.
Soon, an interesting sight unfolded.
It was like a scene from the teachings of the temple.
For a moment, the nobles split into two groups like the sea, then quickly retreated, exchanging glances.
“…Thud.”
Someone seemed to have knocked over a chair, judging by the sound of it. Somewhere, there was the sound of someone pounding their chest forcefully.
However, amidst the rift, the figure who approached was not a saint.
…Why are you here?
Just then, in a place where encountering such a person was least expected, Khalid appeared, with his golden hair shining like the sun, neatly tucked behind his forehead, and dressed in an incongruously clean suit.
“Why can’t I come somewhere? Lighten up, everyone.”
Khalid seemed uncomfortable with his outfit, buttoned up to the neck.
As he fumbled with the cravat around his neck, he paused and stood still as he spotted me a beat late. He asked,
“What’s wrong with you? Why the face? …What’s going on?”
Khalid spoke and acted as if there were no one else here but the two of us, without any embarrassment.
Although we had become bitterly estranged by now, like Izzar, Khalid had spent nearly twelve years with me.
If it weren’t for recent marriage problems, we could have remained friends who teasingly banter with each other, rather than becoming like strangers.
Khalid looked at me seriously and then quickened his pace towards me.
Not getting any response from me seemed to frustrate Khalid, prompting him to ask again.
“Renata, what’s wrong? Who on earth would do this to you?”
“…Just a moment, Your Highness. Your voice is too loud.”
“What’s wrong with my voice? Don’t beat around the bush, just tell me.”
Although Khalid said so, I couldn’t straightforwardly answer in front of Lady Sinaba.
Anyway, I had to consider her feelings.
So, I hoped Khalid would move with me to a quiet and secluded place.
But before I could even grab his arm, Karina suddenly burst out and raised her hand.
“…It’s me. I did it.”
She confessed like this without any explanation of the circumstances.
Khalid’s expression turned stern.
“Karina Lezenin? Do you want to die?”
“I want to live, of course.”
“Oh, really. Then it would only be fair if you suffer the same fate as Renata.”
“Okay, I’m ready…!!”
What kind of conversation was this? I couldn’t find a good timing to intervene and just kept opening and closing my mouth in astonishment.
As Karina stepped forward, Khalid looked at me as if something was odd.
Thinking quickly, I gestured towards Karina, shaking my head.
“What do you mean by ‘joint’?…”
But Khalid didn’t understand my intention. I looked at him anxiously, wondering if he would really go through with it.
Nevertheless, Khalid swiftly seized a nearby teapot that someone had picked up.
Only then did I belatedly recall, ‘Come to think of it, Khalid is really that kind of person.’
But I couldn’t find a way to stop him.
Khalid grabbed the teapot and poured tea over Karina’s head without any hesitation. There was no sign of hesitation in his actions.
I was just staring blankly at the scene.
“I’m sorry, Renata. But I really didn’t mean to do it on purpose. Why would I want to make fun of you?”
Water dripped steadily from beneath Karina’s slender jawline.
She continued to apologize, still not even opening her eyes.
But spilling tea on me didn’t seem to sober her up; it was something else entirely.
Or perhaps it was intentional.
“What are you saying again? Making fun of me?”
Khalid, who had been forcibly handed the teapot, retorted.
“Oh, come on…”
His muttered gaze shifted towards Lady Sinaba.
Eventually, Khalid put on the most confident expression I’d ever seen him wear. It was that expression of extreme disdain towards the other party, one that I had experienced before.
“Aunt, is it really you? The one who orchestrated such childish antics?”
“Please, Your Highness, refrain from speaking harshly. Stop driving people away.”
Lady Sinaba folded her fan in confusion. She wore a stern expression.
But Khalid showed no concern.
“What else could it be? The weather outside is bone-chillingly cold. What if the child catches a cold? Even if we assume it wasn’t Aunt’s doing. He shouldn’t be left soaked like a wet rat until I arrive.”
“Why are you blaming me? I don’t know anything about it.”
“The way you react makes you even more suspicious.”
“There are many eyes watching. Be careful with your words.”
Lady Sinaba’s face flushed with embarrassment.
She couldn’t stand the sight of her much younger nephew humiliating her in front of so many nobles.
So, she glared warningly at Khalid, but he only sent her a contemptuous look and shrugged his shoulders.
