Beneath the Surviving Princess's Joyful Facade - Chapter 119

After delivering the final blows, Viscountess Manere took a deep breath and continued, “And when Her Majesty wakes, go to her and say you’ve committed a grave sin. No, wait, don’t do that. If you show too much remorse, she might take it upon herself to punish you…”

The ladies-in-waiting grew increasingly frightened by her words. Most of all, the stark terror on her face told them much.

“I’ll berate you in front of her and have you all expelled from the palace. Don’t make a sound and leave quietly. Pack your things tonight.”

“…Madam?”

A lady-in-waiting standing at the back gulped and asked, “Is Her Majesty really that scary?”

“What do you think?” Viscountess Manere retorted sharply, causing the ladies-in-waiting to hesitate. They had assumed the new queen was nothing more than a spoiled child who had recently regained her senses.

“She acted insane all those years to survive until now. What do you think she’s like? She endured everything with a clear mind and remembers every detail, every word, without forgetting a single thing,” Viscountess Manere murmured.

The ladies-in-waiting turned pale. Even those who had been crying on the floor, wiping their tear-streaked faces, shuddered in fear.

***

The next day, the ladies-in-waiting were brought in, their faces swollen. Viscountess Manere confessed her mistakes to Miesa and apologized to Gella.

But Miesa merely blinked at the grim sight presented to her first thing in the morning. Eirik, instead, narrowed his eyes and asked, “Why are their faces like that?”

“I punished them. Though their sins deserved more…”

It must have hurt, Miesa thought. Why hit them when they could simply be expelled?

Having resolved to be more understanding after her conversation with Eirik the night before, Miesa found Viscountess Manere’s punishment excessive.

“Your Majesty, I ask for permission to expel them immediately,” Viscountess Manere implored.

“…Well.”

Seeing how terrified they were, there seemed no need for further punishment. Miesa shook her head and spoke with a blank expression.

“Expelling them is…isn’t there another way?”

Viscountess Manere was shocked, her breath coming in ragged gasps. The ladies-in-waiting, too, trembled with fear.

“Please, Your Majesty, allow me to send them away. I beg you.”

As Viscountess Manere bowed and pleaded, Miesa reluctantly nodded. The viscountess thanked her profusely and led the ladies-in-waiting out. They cried with relief as they left.

Why cry when they begged to be let go? It was strange. Puzzled, Miesa moved toward the bathroom.

Upon returning to her room after washing up, she found the other ladies-in-waiting busily setting up breakfast. Expecting to see Gella nervously flitting around, she was surprised to find the opposite.

“Yes, Gella, the lid for the plate goes here.”

“Well done.”

The ladies-in-waiting were treating Gella with an unexpected warmth.

Something’s up. Miesa sensed it immediately but kept silent, watching to see what they were up to. Were they lulling her into complacency to poison the food? Her long-held habit of suspecting strange behavior as a threat wasn’t easily dispelled.

“Your Majesty, won’t you start breakfast?” Eirik asked as he returned from another room.

When he sat at the table, Miesa discreetly signaled him to stop.

[Stop].

Then, she gave an order to the lady-in-waiting pouring water in front of her.

“You, taste that water you’re pouring.”

The young woman turned pale and trembled as she nervously drank from the glass. At Miesa’s gesture toward the bread, soup, and other dishes, the lady-in-waiting tasted each one, as instructed.

“Swallow properly.”

“I did, Your Majesty. I ate it properly.”

The woman’s chin quivered as she tried to show her empty mouth, but Miesa, not wanting a repeat of Salachez’s antics, frowned.

“Enough. You can all leave now.”

“Thank you, thank you.”

The lady-in-waiting trembled as she left, and Salachez quietly took her place at the table, his expression smug.

Eirik, noticing Salachez’s proud grin, whispered to Miesa before he forgot.

“The food probably wasn’t poisoned. It’s all served on silverware.”

“Why? Does silver neutralize poison?”

“It changes color. And if you really wanted to test food for poison, you should wait and observe after they eat it, not dismiss them immediately.”

“Why?”

“Because it takes time for poison to take effect.”

Oh. Miesa nodded and asked Eirik, “But Maleca died instantly back then, right?”

“That poison dissolved the insides rapidly because she ingested a large amount. But there are many kinds of poison in the world.”

Eirik continued whispering, finding Salachez’s watchful gaze annoyingly irritating.

“Besides, that lady-in-waiting eagerly ate the food to prove her innocence,” Eirik explained, noting that observing a suspect’s reaction was also part of the process. Miesa nodded, showing she understood.

“Well then, why don’t you both start your meal? It’s delightful to see such warmth between you so early in the morning,” Duke Salachez interjected smoothly, flashing a cheerful smile.

Miesa said she would meet Anika today, as she had mentioned yesterday.

“It’s fine. I really just want to see her face today.”

Tilberg, recalling her change of heart yesterday, wasn’t convinced. He bowed and requested, “Your Majesty, I’d like to request a change of duty today. Please allow it.”

“Why?”

“I’m not feeling well suddenly,” Tilberg replied.

“I understand. Then—” Miesa began, but she noticed Viscountess Manere trying to slip away.

“I’m not feeling well either, Your Majesty…” Viscountess Manere added hastily.

“All right,” Miesa sighed, looking around the room thoughtfully.

She considered her options. Taking Gella, who was sensitive, might lead to tears if Anika talked about the past. But bringing Eirik or Duke Salachez, whom she didn’t know well, felt awkward.

At that moment, the vice-captain of the guard stepped forward and saluted, saying, “I will ensure Your Majesty’s safety in the captain’s stead.”

Miesa squinted her eyes. She was sure she had heard that voice at the hunting tournament, just before being dragged to the birdcage in front of the tent.

“It is the king’s command. Defiance is treason.”

It was the same man who had tossed Gella aside. Even as she was restrained, Miesa had heard him clearly.

Miesa stared at the vice-captain’s face for a moment, but then nodded reluctantly. “Fine. Do so.”

She had agreed to let bygones be bygones to secure the loyalty of the guards. Though being a queen yet unable to deal with a single disagreeable person was frustrating, she reminded herself of Eirik’s gift she still had to look forward to.

As Miesa was about to leave, Eirik stepped in front of her. “Your Majesty, if it’s just to see her face, may I accompany you?”

Eirik had his reasons. Cullen still didn’t look well. He didn’t want the guards from House Cladnier to be shaken, and meeting Anika, who hadn’t been delivered in a gift box, didn’t count as going back on his word.

“…All right. Today is really just about talking.”

Miesa spoke with determination, graciously allowing Duke Salachez to wait outside the hall as he offered.

Miesa entered the audience chamber, sunlight pouring through the large glass windows. The high ceiling and marble, reflecting light, created an intimidating atmosphere, but it was the golden chair on the dais that she truly disliked.

It looks too uncomfortable. But plush thrones are something even storybooks don’t mention, she thought as she ascended the dais.

Eirik stood below, in the customary position for a margrave. Miesa assumed this was a matter of royal protocol and decided not to question it further. It was time to address the vice-captain of the guard.

“Bring Anika.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

A few moments later, three or four guards brought in Anika, the former king’s mistress.

“So this is the central hall, is it?” Anika’s voice carried a thick Sidate accent. Her face still bore the marks of bruises, and her demeanor was that of a cornered animal.

Her appearance, drastically different from the seductive elegance she displayed at the banquet, surprised only Eirik. To Miesa and the guards, it was a familiar sight.

Anika looked around the central hall as if it were her first time there, then glanced at Miesa. Miesa stared back silently, their eyes locked, but neither spoke.

After a long silence, Miesa’s voice echoed through the chamber. “Why did you want my head?”

There was no connection between Miesa and Anika. It wasn’t as if they had competed for Vermel’s favor. Yet Anika had often demanded her head when Vermel was in a good mood, and Miesa had always wondered why.

She asked again, “Vermel taunted and tormented me because he was mad. I wasn’t curious about his reasons and had no interest in what he had to say. But you are different. I want to know why you insisted on trying to kill me, someone nobody cared about.”

Instead of answering, Anika laughed aloud. Her giggling echoed through the hall until she rasped with a hoarse voice, “It’s hilarious, truly hilarious. The madwoman of Celia Palace sits on the throne.”