“If this happens to her again,”
Chavolti raised his chin arrogantly.
“I will take her without a second thought.”
“I’ll be careful.”
Laslo replied briefly. Only then did Chavolti pursed his lips and left the room.
“You don’t have to listen to what Chavolti said.”
“No. He’s right. The princess almost got hurt because I was careless.”
“Why is this the Duke’s fault?”
“You’re my wife.”
Laslo turned around and looked straight at Agnes.
“It means I am responsible for you.”
Agnes chuckled softly as she looked into his firm eyes.
Yes, he was always this kind of man.
“I believe in the Duke.”
“Hmm?”
“I trust the Duke more than I trust myself.”
There was no hint of doubt or hesitation in Agnes’s eyes.
Upon seeing his reflection in her eyes, Laslo felt a strange sensation.
“I believe that you will protect me more securely than anyone else in the world.”
“……”
“If the king tries to kill me again, don’t blame yourself.”
Agnes spoke calmly. Laslo looked at her even more pitifully.
“Princess.”
“I got this from the palace.”
Agnes took the invitation that she had placed next to her and showed it to Laslo.
Laslo’s face hardened at once. Just seeing the royal seal made his stomach churn.
“Don’t go.”
Laslo snatched the invitation.
“It’s okay, Duke. The invitation wasn’t sent by the king. The queen sent it this morning to join her for brunch.”
Agnes smiled faintly as she opened the invitation to show him.
“I’ll go with you.”
“No, it’s fine.”
“It was just a few days ago when the king sent an assassin. It’s too dangerous to go to the palace alone.”
“That’s why I have to go alone even more.”
“Why?”
“If I go with the Duke, they might think I’m wary of the king.”
“…….”
“I have to act calm and pretend like nothing happened.”
She comforted him and stepped into the carriage sent by the royal palace.
After just a few minutes with her eyes closed, the coachman announced their arrival and opened the carriage door.
Agnes took a deep breath before getting off. The lady-in-waiting from the queen’s palace came out to greet her.
“You’re here, Duchess.”
“Guide me.”
The queen’s palace remained unchanged. Some maids looked familiar.
Agnes looked slowly at the palace with longing eyes.
“Duchess.”
“I greet Your Majesty the Queen.”
Agnes bent her knees and bowed to Queen Ilona.
She quickly helped Agnes up.
“You don’t need to be so formal with me. Please treat me as you did before.”
“If Your Majesty wishes.”
Agnes sat down where she was guided. Ilona grabbed Agnes’s hands.
“How have you been? Tell me everything. Do you know how lonely it was that the lights no longer lit in the palace where the princess used to live?”
She did not utter the same words in front of the king, knowing how much disdain she held for the king.
Ilona was the first daughter of Count Jante.
Although she has a beautiful smile, she was not as good as Count Jante’s second daughter, who is known as a beauty.
Whenever someone mentioned a daughter of Count Jante, they would think of the second daughter, Lea.
People began to remember Ilona Jante’s name when her fiancé was found dead in the river and then suddenly got married to Sebastian.
Agnes had a conversation with Ilona the day after she married Sebastian.
— It won’t be easy to adapt to the palace. If you’re having a hard time, please don’t hesitate and talk to me.
— Was it Sebastian who killed Ballaz?
Ilona asked bluntly out of the blue.
Agnes put down the teacup she was holding. Ilona’s eyes were swollen, indicating how much she had cried.
Maybe because of the tea her mouth taste bitter.
— Sebastian is someone who smiles while offering poison to his own twin sister. It wouldn’t be weird if he was like that to your ex-fiancé.
— Ah, no!
Ilona cried out in anguish, tears streaming down her face.
The tears leaking through her eyes were filled with anger.
— Listen to me carefully.
Agnes grabbed Ilona’s hand as she twisted her body and whispered.
— Suppress your emotions. That’s the only way you can survive in this dreadful place.
Unfortunately, that was the only advice Agnes could offer her.
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
Sebastian was particularly in a good mood today. The problem he was struggling with, was solved more neatly than expected.
Serving envoys from various countries was also progressing smoothly. The coronation ceremony will be completed soon.
“What about the queen?”
“She is receiving guests.”
The chamberlain replied promptly without any hesitation. While he may not know everything, he must always be aware of what the queen is doing and where she is.
“Guest? Who is she receiving?”
“The Queen invited the Duchess of Arpad for lunch.”
Sebastian continued to walk silently. There was no change in expression, but his steps were faster than before.
Before he knew it, he arrived at the queen’s palace.
The lady-in-waiting of the queen approached as if she had been waiting and informed him of the queen’s whereabouts.
“After the luncheon, they’re enjoying tea in the garden.”
Sebastian turned without hesitation.
As he entered the garden, he heard the laughter of the woman he always longed for and desired. It was higher and brighter than usual.
“What made my Queen so happy?”
“Your Majesty.”
Sebastian stood behind the Queen and gently swept her shoulder.
Agnes, who was sitting across from her, stood up abruptly and bowed.
“You’re here.”
Ilona, his wife, the queen of Nirseg, greeted him in a rather business-like voice.
For some reason, Sebastian couldn’t resist and lightly kissed Ilona’s cheek.
“I heard you enjoyed lunch with Agnes.”
“Yes.”
“It must be quite a pleasure to see a face you haven’t seen in six months since the marriage.”
“That’s correct.”
The queen responded to the king’s words so stiffly that her replies were almost curt.
Undeterred, Sebastian continued to engage Ilona in conversation.
Agnes, not hearing a command to sit, stood silently before the king and queen.
Ilona, in a stern manner, kept glancing at Agnes while the king was speaking. Only then did Sebastian waved his hand.
“Sit down, Agnes.”
“No, Your Majesty. I shall take my leave.”
“Why don’t you stay longer? The duchess’ favorite tea came in, but you haven’t tasted it yet. And a fascinating sculpture has been sent as a gift from the South; take a look before you go.”
Ilona held Agnes’s hand, objecting. Agnes shook her head.
“Let’s save it for our next meeting.”
As Agnes firmly declined, Ilona couldn’t insist any further.
Sebastian promptly sat in the seat where Agnes had been sitting.
“A fascinating sculpture has arrived?”
“Yes.”
“What is it?”
“It’s not something you would find interesting, Your Majesty.”
As Agnes left, Ilona’s expression turned cold.
Sebastian casually laughed it off and moved on.
It wasn’t just a day or two the Queen treated him with coldness, but his heart ached every time.
“What did you talk about with Agnes, my dear?”
“Just exchanging greetings.”
As the conversation dragged on, Ilona showed signs of irritation.
Sensing her discomfort, Sebastian took her hand. Fortunately, she didn’t pull it away.
Despite already having two children together, Sebastian’s heart still raced whenever he touched Ilona.
He recalled the first day he had seen her.
What clothes she wore, what color her eyes under the shining sun,
How beautiful the smile around her mouth.
It is clear how sweet the lips that used to call his name.
At the time, Ilona had a fiancé, but nothing could hinder Sebastian’s ardent love for her.
— Can you make my daughter a queen?
That was the only condition Count Jante, Ilona’s father, had set before their marriage.
Sebastian nodded without hesitation.
Who else could be more fitting for the most noble position in Nirseg than her?
That’s why he had Vivian killed. His twin sister who was his strongest political opponent.
Chavolti didn’t look greedy for the throne, but he felt uncomfortable leaving him alone.
Without hesitation, he made Chavolti half-paralyzed.
The sole reason Agnes was kept alive was solely because of his wife.
It was because she was one of the few people Illona, who does not enjoy interacting with people, likes.
“Should we invite Agnes to the palace once more before she goes to their territory?”
“Please don’t.”
A firm response came back. Sebastian, still wearing a smile, asked further.
“Then Agnes…….”
“Your Majesty.”
Ilona cut off the king’s word.
If it was another person, they would be punished severely but if it was the Queen, it would be different.
“Speak. My dear.”
As expected, Sebastian just laughed.
“Leave Princess Agnes alone.”
“Ilona”
“She is the one who kneeled at His Majesty’s feet and asked for mercy. So, don’t do anything.”
Sebastian’s smile faded slightly as he gazed at Ilona, understanding the depth of her plea.
He is really crazy!