Beneath the Surviving Princess's Joyful Facade - Chapter 123

The carriage left the palace and headed straight for the Cladnier mansion.

As soon as they arrived at the familiar mansion, Miesa flung off her mantle and leaped from the carriage with Eirik’s assistance. Her ankles ached, but she didn’t notice the pain.

She ran breathlessly toward the east wing, to Madam Cladnier’s chamber, leaving the mansion staff blinking in surprise as they watched her. They had heard that the madam had become queen and seemed like a completely different person, as if regaining her senses. But seeing her running like that, they began to question everything.

“My lady…?” one of the servants ventured hesitantly.

“We’ll talk later,” Miesa dismissed them.

Eirik followed closely behind Miesa, sprinting up the stairs. When he rushed into the open bedroom, he found Miesa kneeling by the bed, clutching Madam Cladnier’s hand, not caring about the white dress getting crumpled.

“Ah, you’re finally coming to your senses,” the former Margravine remarked.

“I’m so relieved. Truly relieved…” Miesa whispered quickly, her voice tinged with urgency.

Madam Cladnier asked in a faint, hesitant voice, “Was I your mother in the end?”

“Yes?” Miesa blinked, surprised by the question.

“The hand signal,” she said slowly. “The one you sent me.”

Miesa couldn’t easily reply. She had no idea why she made a gesture meaning ‘mother’ in the midst of such fear at the new aviary, whether it was because her dying mother had appeared in her mind or if she truly called out to Madam Cladnier.

As she hesitated to answer, Madam Cladnier clicked her tongue. “So, it wasn’t true. How infuriating. If I had died deceived by that, I would have been terribly wronged.”

“Mother,” Miesa called in a trembling voice.

“Why would I be your mother?” Madam Cladnier turned her head away with a small, bitter smile. “I’m your husband’s mother.”

She muttered while facing away. “Even until my last memory, I wasn’t sure. But I thought I had no regrets.”

Miesa sighed in relief, and the former Margravine continued, pretending to threaten her. “I’m regretting it now. You’re well enough to run around, but you didn’t stay by the side of the one who risked their life to protect you. You came only now, when I woke up in the afternoon.”

“We didn’t receive the news in time. We were caught up with other matters,” Eirik interjected, standing by Miesa’s side.

“What matters?” Madam Cladnier’s eyes sharpened.

“There was a coronation,” he replied.

“What… a coronation?” she echoed, her gaze finally taking in their formal attire. Despite her weakness, she burst into laughter. “So, it was for your ascension as the new queen. Truly, what an unexpected reason.”

Laughing with her shoulders shaking and then wincing in pain, Madam Cladnier spoke earnestly. “May the goddess’s glory and blessing be upon the highest.”

Among the many greetings she had heard that day, this was the most beautiful. Miesa decided that she would always recall the Madam’s gentle yet elegant voice whenever she heard those words.

“Mother. Thank you.”

“Is my son still your husband?” Madam Cladnier asked suddenly, catching Miesa off guard.

With a bitter smile, Madam Cladnier continued, “Your Majesty must have been stripped of succession rights.”

At this, Eirik laughed aloud. “Mother, shall I tell you about that day?”

Eirik sat at the edge of the bed and calmly recounted the events of that day. Madam Cladnier listened, sometimes surprised, sometimes delighted. Yet, it was Miesa who was the happiest. In Eirik’s story, she was truly magnificent.

Miesa’s heart pounded as if it would burst, thinking that he must have seen her that way. With a bashful smile, she rested her head against the edge of the bed. After hearing the entire story, Madam Cladnier slowly raised her hand.

“I knew Your Majesty was exceptional, but you are truly brilliant.”

The former Margravine hesitated, her hand poised to stroke Miesa’s hair. Noticing this, Miesa quickly guided her hand to rest on her head, feeling the gentle caress.

“This will be the last time I dare touch Your Majesty’s hair,” Madam Cladnier said, her voice tinged with regret.

“Neither of us should cross the line, and Your Majesty should not indulge in such whims with me.”

“Yes, Mother,” Miesa replied.

“That title is also only for today,” Madam Cladnier added with a warm gaze before turning to her son.

“So, when did our son, the consort, realize how astute Her Majesty is?”

The question led to a long conversation. Eirik recounted everything, from the events after their wedding to her extraordinary memory, as they spoke, the sun set, and it was time for dinner.

Eirik stood up and bid his mother farewell. “I shall now visit Father.”

“Ah, right. Is your father still alive?” Madam Cladnier asked with a hint of irony.

“Please don’t say ‘still,’ mother. I will go to Father’s chamber for a moment.”

“I will go with you,” Miesa said, quickly following suit. Together, they headed to the former Margrave’s chamber.

“The doctor said that his recovery might be faster than Madam’s,” the butler relayed in the doctor’s absence. Although the former Margrave had not yet regained consciousness, he had recovered enough to assure them that his life was not in danger.

He lay in bed, wrapped in bandages from head to toe. After standing and gazing at his father for a long time, Eirik finally spoke. “At least it’s a relief. If Father had gone like that…”

His voice trailed off. Miesa silently clasped his hand, offering comfort without words.

The following morning, Count Silanz, the Minister of Finance, arrived at the central palace to report on the national budget.

Upon hearing that the new queen was in the study instead of the office, he had to climb up to the third floor, leaving him breathless. Unable to comprehend why anyone would use the study when a perfectly fine office was available, he muttered his complaints under his breath.

“May the goddess’s glory and blessing be upon the highest.”

“Let’s skip the formalities and get started,” Miesa instructed.

The queen and Margrave Eirik were already seated. Count Silanz, wiping the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief, briefly explained the size of this year’s budget. He then proceeded with the report that the queen and Margrave would be most curious about, namely the budget allocated for each of them for the year. He had, of course, generously adjusted it to win favor with the new queen.

Listening to the figures, Eirik was surprised by the amount the queen and her consort were able to utilize. However, he had already made up his mind and spoke to Miesa.

“With the budget allocated to me, let’s first carpet the entire floor of the central palace.”

Eirik had noticed Miesa flinch every time she walked down the hallways where no carpet was laid.

Whether it was the blinding light reflecting off the floor, the cold chill from the floor, or perhaps painful memories associated with it, he wasn’t sure. Regardless, he had long decided to renovate the hallway for Miesa’s sake.

Count Silanz tilted his head at the sudden mention of carpeting. “The central palace already has a separate budget for facilities. Why should you personally…?”

“Surely, the existing facility budget for the central palace did not cover that amount,” Eirik replied smoothly. “As it’s a new addition based on my input, it’s better done this way.”

When there’s a chance to grab some money, one should do so quickly, rather than acting all high and mighty. Count Silanz glanced at Eirik as if looking at a naïve fool who didn’t know the ways of the world.

He thought no one noticed, but not only Eirik but also Miesa caught his disrespectful gaze. She smirked and ordered Count Silanz, “Leave the budget ledger here. I’ll take a thorough look at the details.”

“The entire ledger for this year? There’s quite a lot of it,” Count Silanz replied, surprised by her request to leave behind the ledger, which was as thick as a palm. But Miesa wasn’t interested in the money he had embezzled in just one year.

“How long have you been the Minister of Finance, Count?”

“About nine years.”

“Bring me the ledgers for all twelve years. Complete, without omission.”

Count Silanz, puzzled by the queen’s inexplicable demand, quickly drew his conclusions and inwardly sneered.

A queen who never received proper education would be fortunate to read, let alone understand state affairs. Having nothing to do, she must have felt uneasy in the eyes of the courtiers and pretended to be busy by holding onto papers with lots of numbers.

“Yes, Your Majesty, as you wish,” Count Silanz replied politely and left the study.