Beneath the Surviving Princess's Joyful Facade - Chapter 144

The prayer led by the High Priest at the Grand Temple was tedious and monotonous. However, Miesa did her best to focus.

“May the goddess, in her mercy, look upon the kingdom and grant victory to Esquillir—”

As the High Priest’s voice echoed through the sanctuary, Miesa knelt beneath the solemnly carved statue of the goddess and prayed silently.

I’m sorry for calling you a demon. But isn’t this too much?

No, I won’t resent you anymore. I won’t resent you, goddess, so…

As she prayed in her heart, Miesa felt anger rising within her. The goddess, who could see through all things above and below the earth, surely knew of the resentment she harbored. It was pointless to lie.

In the end, Miesa mumbled a protest in her mind.

You know I still can’t understand why you put me through such trials.

Let me have some peace. Let me wake up with a smile in the morning and sleep soundly at night.

As the High Priest continued his prayer, her thoughts wandered to Anika’s final words.

“I suppose you sleep well at night. I had to watch the dreadful morning sun rise every day with sleepless eyes.”

Miesa’s heart darkened in an instant.

Anika. If only she hadn’t taken her own life, I wouldn’t have had to send Eirik into danger. But I can’t even fully blame her, knowing how much she suffered.

Unable to find a place for her anger, Miesa felt more tormented. Her thoughts spiraled downward.

What if this war puts Eirik in great danger? What if, like in the records I read, the Sidate forces annihilate the Esquillir army, leaving him alone…

No, no!

Miesa shook her head, trying to banish those thoughts. Just as she was about to shove them into the deepest recesses of her mind, the High Priest, noticing her troubled expression, cautiously asked, “Your Majesty, have you finished your prayer?”

“Perhaps.”

Miesa rose from her knees, feeling uneasy.

If such prayers displease the goddess, it might be better not to pray at all.

On the way back to the palace in the carriage, Salachez did his best to capture the queen’s attention.

“Your Majesty, doesn’t praying bring some comfort?”

“No. I won’t be going to pray again.”

After sending her husband to war, it would be difficult to divert the queen’s attention with anything trivial. But Salachez knew that the queen, for all her responsibilities, still had a childlike curiosity that could be piqued by something novel. So, he continued his efforts.

“Your Majesty, have you ever seen a performance by the Extreme Troupe?”

“Vermel invited them a few times, but someone always died at the end.”

“…Indeed, Your Majesty. Do you like sweets?”

“I do, but not right now.”

As Salachez sighed inwardly, he suddenly remembered the most interesting person he had encountered recently.

“By the way, if we keep going this way, we’ll come upon the Grand Duke of Hagail’s residence.”

“No. We need to go past the bell tower, turn right, and then go quite a bit further… Oh, come to think of it, the Grand Duke of Hagail. I wonder how he’s doing.”

Salachez couldn’t hide his delight at finally capturing the queen’s interest. “That’s right! You’re cousins, after all. Wouldn’t it be nice to pay him a visit and exchange greetings?”

“The Grand Duke would find my visit bothersome.”

Salachez knew well that the Grand Duke wouldn’t welcome the queen’s visit. But what did it matter what the Grand Duke thought? It was better to have the queen bicker with the Grand Duke than to see her despondent.

Having made up his mind, Salachez urged her more strongly. “No way. Your Majesty must feel lonely, and the Grand Duke must miss having company. Why not pay him a visit today?”

The Grand Duke probably didn’t miss anyone, but Miesa was curious about how he was doing. She glanced around the carriage, deep in thought.

Salachez was one thing, but could she bring Gella along? After all, Eirik had explained the exact state of the Grand Duke of Hagail to her after her last visit, when she had acted sullenly.

What if he suddenly bangs his head against the wall? Well, Gella would probably be better at handling it than the timid Viscountess Manere, so she spoke up.

“You know, Gella, the Grand Duke is… a bit mad.”

“Seriously, or just pretending?”

“He’s genuinely mad. He might even act out.”

“It’s fine. I’ve dealt with enough unruly people,” Gella responded cheerfully.

Indeed, Gella was strong enough to take down a couple of wolves, so dealing with the frail Grand Duke should be easy.

Miesa instructed Salachez to head toward the Grand Duke’s residence.

While Tilberg and the Royal Guard stood watch outside the Grand Duke’s residence, Miesa knocked on the door. The butler, who opened the door, was startled to see them.

Miesa entered the Grand Duke’s residence with Duke Salachez and Gella. They waited in a barren reception room, devoid of even a single chair, until the Grand Duke of Hagail appeared, his face twisted in a scowl.

“You don’t even notify me before coming now?”

The Grand Duke, clad in a deep blue velvet robe, shuddered in annoyance. He still reeked of alcohol, even in broad daylight, and his complexion hadn’t improved.

“That’s how it turned out. I’ll make sure to notify you in advance next time.”

“And you’re planning to come again?”

The Grand Duke, who seemed utterly exasperated, fixed his gaze on Gella. After staring at her for a while, he turned back to Miesa. “Who is that woman?”

“Gella? She’s my lady-in-waiting and—”

Miesa hesitated, wondering if she should refer to Gella as a friend.

“Your lady-in-waiting and?”

“She’s also a doctor.”

“So, you absolutely had to bring a doctor with you?”

The Grand Duke let out a sarcastic laugh, then gestured to the butler who had been standing awkwardly behind him.

“The garden is too cold. Let’s go to the dining room.”

“Are you sure that’s okay?”

“At least it’s bright and airy there.”

Though the Grand Duke’s residence was dark and damp, the dining room, as he mentioned, had large windows that let in plenty of sunlight.

“Do you ever use this place?” Because the table was covered in a thick layer of dust, like velvet, Miesa asked again, “Grand Duke, what do you usually eat?”

“There’s nourishment in alcohol.”

“That can’t be true. Your limbs are so thin, but your belly is swollen. It’s very strange,” Miesa expressed her genuine concern.

Grand Duke frowned. “Are you a doctor, Your Majesty?”

“No.”

“Then please don’t irritate me and keep your mouth shut. I’m about to conduct a rare treatment.”

Gella, who had been watching with a sullen expression, spoke up bluntly.

“Your Highness, the Grand Duke, I’m just a lowly commoner, so please forgive my lack of manners.”

The Grand Duke stared at Gella with bulging eyes, but Gella wasn’t intimidated by the sight of his swollen belly.

“Well, Your Highness doesn’t show much courtesy to the queen either, so I guess it doesn’t matter.”

“Your liver has come out of your stomach.”[1]

[1] A figurative way to say someone is acting audaciously or fearlessly beyond what is considered normal or safe.

“Yes, just like your current condition, Your Highness. May I take a look?”

Without hesitation, Gella opened the front of the Grand Duke’s robe. Despite it being winter, the inside of the robe was sparse, but no one in the room found his appearance to be provocative—his body was in too poor a state for that.

After pressing down on the Grand Duke’s swollen abdomen, Gella respectfully adjusted his clothing and stepped back.

“What do you think?” Miesa asked, but Gella shook her head.

“…It doesn’t look good. His liver is hardened, likely from excessive drinking.”

“Could it burst out of his belly?”

“More likely he’ll be buried in the ground first.”

As Miesa and Gella conversed, the Grand Duke stood up irritably. “Well, when I’m in a coffin, you can come and clean up.”

“No, that won’t do. I don’t have an heir right now.”

Miesa’s casual remark, as if she were talking about a missing object, caused the Grand Duke’s face to harden.

“What nonsense are you talking about? What do you mean?”

“If I were to die tomorrow, you’re the only one who could inherit the throne.”

This was a thought that had been on her mind since meeting with the ladies. Miesa stood up and grabbed the Grand Duke’s thin arm.

“This won’t do. Grand Duke, come to the palace with me.”

“This is madness…”

“Oh, I’m a bit less mad now. So come to the palace, get treated, and improve your health and mind—just like I did.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

The Grand Duke shook off her hand, but despite looking as though he might storm out of the dining room at any moment, he sat back down in his chair.

“I hate the palace.” Grand Duke continued to glare at Gella while pointing lazily with his fingers. “Send the doctor to my residence. Every day.”

Miesa looked at Gella with a frown. If Gella had to go back and forth between the palace and the Grand Duke’s residence, Miesa wouldn’t see her for half the day.

“Every day? That’s a bit much.”

“Didn’t you say I should be treated?” When Miesa showed reluctance, the Grand Duke pressed her in a snappish tone. “Then just give me the doctor.”

Miesa was about to refuse outright but turned to look at the Grand Duke’s eyes and was startled by what she saw.

“No way. Why? What are you planning to do with Gella?”

“I just want treatment. Didn’t you see it earlier? I even tolerated her touching me.”

“Carlisle’s eldest son is still alive. Should I give you him instead?”

“I’m not planning to harm her.”

“Then why do you look at Gella like you’re about to chop her into pieces?”

“I’ve just had too much to drink, so my eyes are bleary.”

Miesa glared at the shameless Grand Duke, thinking of what Eirik would do in this situation. He would surely come up with a compromise.

“Alright, I’ll send a doctor to you every day—the best one from the palace.”

“You’re not making any sense.”

Despite it being a reasonable compromise, the Grand Duke shook his head in refusal. Fearing that he might actually pull a knife on Gella, Miesa quickly dragged her out of the Grand Duke’s residence.

Duke Salachez hurried after them, but he didn’t miss the fact that the hourglass on the table had long since run out.