Beneath the Surviving Princess's Joyful Facade - Chapter 146

Just as Duke Salachez arrived in front of the queen’s office, he spotted Gella, who had returned early from the Grand Duke’s residence. The duke skillfully opened the door, letting Gella enter first before following her inside with a loud, teasing remark.

“I ran into the Grand Duchess on my way here. You’re back early from the Grand Duke’s residence today.”

“The door isn’t even fully closed yet, Duke. They can hear you outside.” Gella snapped back irritably, but she tried to feign a bashful expression.

“Gella! How was the Grand Duke today?” asked Miesa.

“He took all the medicine prescribed yesterday, and his complexion is gradually improving.”

“Well, that’s good news, but the Grand Duke sent me this ridiculous threat.”

The sapphire brooch sent by the Grand Duke to congratulate her birthday looked precious, but it was obvious that even the box it came in hadn’t been properly dusted.

But the letter that came with it was even more absurd.

In a trembling hand, the Grand Duke had written that he couldn’t tolerate the fact that the queen had a commoner as a lady-in-waiting and that, as a senior member of the royal family, he was demanding that Gella be adopted into the family of the Minister of State.

“He wants to make Gella the adopted daughter of the Minister of State’s family? And he plans to discuss it directly with Count Raviate?”

Gella’s eyes widened in shock, and Duke Salachez was equally surprised, his mouth falling open before he quickly regained his composure.

“Well, if he’s planning to take Gella as a mistress, it’s better for her to be the daughter of a count’s family.”

After all, the Grand Duke of Hagail wasn’t just any noble; he was royalty. However, Miesa’s expression instantly darkened at Salachez’s words.

“A mistress? You want to send Gella to be the mistress of such an old man?”

Startled by Miesa’s fierce tone, Salachez fell silent, and Gella spoke up, “Your Majesty. Given my background and status, being a mistress to the Grand Duke would actually be an unimaginable rise in fortune.”

“Gella.” Miesa glared at her, speaking in a cold tone she had never used with Gella before, “I knew what was going on, but I played along with you two because you tried so hard.”

“……”

“From now on, drop this nonsense. And inform Grand Duke that I will be visiting tomorrow.”

Miesa then directed the rest of her anger toward Salachez, growling in a low voice. “This is my final warning, Salachez. If you mention sending Gella to the Grand Duke as a mistress again, I’ll skewer your throat and pull out all your entrails.”

“I will never bring it up again, Your Majesty.”

That wasn’t a threat. Salachez knew Miesa meant every word. This made him realize just how remarkable Eirik Cladnier really was.

As that thought crossed his mind, Duke Salachez quickly spoke up again. “By the way, Your Majesty.”

Miesa’s eyes, sharp as daggers, turned toward him, and Salachez hurried to continue. “The Margrave of Cladnier has prepared a birthday gift for you.”

“Eirik?”

As expected, Miesa’s expression softened immediately.

Salachez quickly pulled out an envelope, smiling. “This is a letter addressed to Your Majesty. Please read it first.”

“Did it come from the frontier?” Miesa snatched the envelope and tore it open, carefully reading the letter.

Salachez, who knew how quickly Miesa usually read documents, started to say something, but Miesa shook her head. “Not yet.”

What on earth could take so long? After waiting for quite some time, Miesa finally folded the letter neatly and placed it back in the envelope before asking.

“The gift isn’t something like a live bird, is it?”

“Uh, it’s somewhat similar, but it’s not a living bird. What did the letter say?”

“The letter mentioned that the gift was prepared as an apology for not being able to carry out a complete revenge, so it’s not likely to be Sellas’s corpse.”

“Well… the Margrave sent a picture book. He wanted me to read the contents to you before you see it.”

After listening to Salachez’s explanation, Miesa thought for a moment before making a decision. “Alright. Read it to me now.”

Salachez left the office briefly to retrieve the storybook from a servant. He returned and sat down across from Miesa at the desk.

“Let’s begin then.”

Clearing his throat, Salachez began to read the story, making sure not to show the illustrations. Though it felt a bit odd to read a children’s book to an adult, the tale of the little bird’s adventures was quite well-crafted.

“And that’s the end.”

During the reading, Miesa had taken out Eirik’s letter again and was rereading it. “Eirik’s handwriting is just so… it’s so perfectly Eirik, isn’t it?”

“Yes. The affection between the two of you is evident.”

“No, I mean it. How can someone write so neatly and elegantly?”

Miesa smiled as she gazed at the letter, and Salachez couldn’t help but chuckle. Miesa, who had been growling like a wild animal earlier, was now smiling like a lovestruck teenager.

He couldn’t help but wonder what it felt like to be loved so completely by one person. That curiosity was what kept him lingering outside Miesa’s bedroom.

“Your Grace, it’s time to stop.”

Later that night, as he habitually headed toward the queen’s bedroom, Tilberg blocked his way. As usual, Salachez tried to make an excuse.

“I need to monitor the queen’s mood. I must know what she’s thinking—”

“No, it’s enough that we’ve turned a blind eye for this long. It’s time for you to leave.”

The captain of the Guard was particularly firm tonight. Salachez tried to stall by grinning and thinking of a way out, but the captain wasn’t swayed.

“If you don’t leave now, I’ll have to inform Her Majesty immediately.”

“If you do that, she’ll skewer my insides with a stake.”

“That’s exactly why you should stop now.”

There was no way around it. Salachez pouted and turned away.

Tilberg watched him quietly as he left. He had tolerated the duke’s behavior for a few days because Salachez had a knack for cheering up the queen. But it was clear that he was starting to cross the line.

He could not afford to disappoint the queen any further. Tilberg stood steadfastly in the hallway outside the queen’s bedroom, guarding the door.

Meanwhile, Miesa, completely unaware of what was happening outside her chamber, was reflecting on her conversations with Eirik. His actions replayed in her mind, one by one.

The first words he ever said to her, and the way he had behaved toward her on various occasions, now became clearer with the distance between them.

“‘You’re upset because I didn’t take any action against those who harbored feelings for Your Majesty, yet I took the side of the ladies who coveted me?’”

And then the next thing he said…

“‘That’s why I’ve decided to live my life to the fullest from now on. There’s no point in being dignified if it only leads to misunderstandings with you.’”

Miesa chuckled. Judging by his mention of a misunderstanding, it seems he was jealous too.

“Eirik wasn’t honest either.”

He had hidden his own oddities so well while pushing her to open up. What a ridiculous man.

Thinking back, it really had been her fault that she hadn’t been able to properly discuss Tilberg with him in the first place. But how could he be so cold? Remembering the anguish she had endured because of his icy demeanor, she suddenly felt indignant.

“This is something I must bring up with him at least once.”

He wasn’t perfect either. Now, for the first time, Miesa could see him as a person, not as an infallible figure to be worshipped.

“Yes, Eirik needs to be scolded a little.”

But the problem was, she found his imperfections endearing and adorable, which made things even more difficult.

Miesa shook her head as if to clear her thoughts. She tried to wear a fierce expression, thinking of the face Salachez made when dealing with Emmerich. It wasn’t too hard.

When he returns, I must confront him. But how should I do it?

“You were too harsh on me back then. How could you do that?”

If she asked him that, Eirik would surely respond, “What do you mean? Please, tell me slowly, one thing at a time.”

His reaction would be predictable. Miesa carried on the conversation in her head without him even being there.

“You have no idea how hurt I was at the time.”

No, it wasn’t just hurt.

“I felt completely abandoned by the world. How could you turn your back on me so suddenly? I wasn’t even in a state to have a proper conversation then.”

And how would he respond?

“That was my fault.”

She could almost hear him apologizing so easily that it drained all the fight out of her. Miesa pouted.

She often rehearsed what she would say to Eirik when he returned.

“Eirik, I missed you so much.”

No, she needed to be more composed. She had managed to hold out bravely on her own; she couldn’t show weakness now.

“Eirik, I believed you would return safely.”

Sitting on the bed with her chin resting on her knees, Miesa sighed.

Would there ever come a day when they would argue? And if they did, what would they argue about? She didn’t think she would be as scared as she used to be, even if he got angry. After all, he truly loved her. Even if the heat of their love cooled one day, she was sure its warmth would never fade.

Looking back, it was clear that Eirik genuinely liked her for who she was. Even if she showed her weaknesses, made foolish mistakes, or changed in appearance, he wouldn’t care. Even if she did something he hated the most—betraying him, for example—he would at least make sure she had a clean bed and food.

As she giggled at the thought, she felt an intense longing for him. But she quickly pushed that feeling aside and spoke aloud again.

“…You were jealous then, weren’t you?”

If he admitted it…

“‘Eirik, jealous men are unattractive.’”

She would tease him in the tone of Madam Cladnier, just to annoy him. Definitely.

So hurry back. So I can argue, tease, get mad, kiss, and hold you, telling you I love you.