Beneath the Surviving Princess's Joyful Facade - Chapter 150

“Gella, never undress! Keep your wits about you!”

“I… can’t help it.”

When Gella mumbled her response, Miesa grabbed her arm and pointed toward the stairs leading back to the Central Palace.

“Sit down there for a moment, and let’s have a proper conversation. What if you get pregnant?”

“I’ve been keeping track of my cycle. For some reason, it’s safe for a few days after my period.”

Miesa became even more furious, trembling with anger as she smacked Gella’s back again.

“You should’ve told me about that!”

“Ow…”

“I didn’t know that either! Eirik has left me alone for so long!”

Though the queen’s delicate hands didn’t really hurt, Gella feigned exaggerated pain and explained in her defense.

“Well, it only reduces the chances, it’s not foolproof.”

“So, you could still get pregnant!”

“If that happens, I’ll be living the high life.” For the first time, Gella spoke honestly, grinning. “Your Majesty, if I ever went back to my hometown, I’d probably end up marrying a butcher’s son.”

“…Going back to your hometown?”

“Eventually, yes. With my skills as a doctor, my own forge, and the experience I’ve gained working at the palace, I might even marry the son of a family that owns a couple of grocery stores.”

“Back to Kazen?”

Miesa blinked in surprise, and Gella widened her eyes in return.

“Do you think I’ll stay here forever? Do you really think I’ll keep working as a lady-in-waiting? There’s no way.”

“……”

“I’ll return to Kazen once Your Majesty is settled. After all, there are plenty of ladies-in-waiting here besides me.”

Deep down, Miesa had always known this would happen eventually. But hearing it aloud now filled her with both betrayal and sadness.

However, she was used to analyzing situations rather than succumbing to emotions. Instead of lamenting, she pressed Gella further, “If you end up with the Grand Duke, you’ll stay in the capital, right?”

“Well, I suppose I’ll stay by his side for a few years. But once he comes to his senses and wonders why he kept someone like me around, I’ll take whatever I can get and head back to Kazen.”

“What nonsense! A Grand Duchess doesn’t just leave.”

“Please, Your Majesty. I’m already underqualified to be a lady-in-waiting. What makes you think I could ever be a Grand Duchess? I’ll just stay with him for a few years, gather what I can, and then head back.”

That won’t do. Miesa took a deep breath, her thoughts racing. She would rather keep Gella with her, even if it meant making the grumpy Grand Duke do something about it.

“Let me think about this.”

“What’s there to think about?”

Gella laughed, but Miesa remained serious. They climbed the stairs together, each lost in their own thoughts, and headed towards the Central Palace.

When Miesa returned to her office, Duke Salachez greeted her cheerfully, as if he had been eagerly waiting.

“Your Majesty, there’s a new report from Cladis.”

The Duke’s bright red curls bounced gleefully as he spoke, confident that the news would please the queen.

For someone who had once harbored an inappropriate interest in the royal couple’s relationship, Salachez had quickly shifted his focus. His latest obsession was the position of Minister of State. If Count Raviate slipped up just once, Salachez was ready to swoop in and take his place.

“The Esquillir army has captured Batina Castle.”

Salachez revealed the news before Miesa even had a chance to unfold the report. As expected, her face lit up, and the Duke beamed proudly, as if he had played a part in the victory.

“Batina Castle?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As Miesa examined the letter, the Duke swiftly spread out a map of Sidate on the desk.

Taking the Batina region, which lay deep within the borders of the Principality Sidate, meant they were surely on the brink of victory.

***

Cullen gagged the lord of Batina, while Vallek and the other knights lined up the Sidate prisoners and led them down to the dungeon. Eirik, standing at the top of the hall, watched them before slowly sitting in the lord’s seat.

Emmerich, removing his gauntlets, addressed Eirik, who was lost in thought. “All that remains now is to force the ruler of Sidate to concede defeat.”

But Eirik shook his head. “No, I think I acted too hastily in sending the letter. I should have requested reinforcements from the Central Defense.”

“Why?”

“This has been too easy.”

Though their proximity to the capital was good, the ease with which they had advanced was concerning.

Looking at the map, Eirik noted how narrow the swathes of Sidate land they had captured were. If they lost the territory in the middle, those on the front lines, like themselves, would be quickly isolated.

“We need to move half the troops stationed at Oeneka to this area.”

“Half from Oeneka? Isn’t that where more troops are needed?”

“That’s why we need reinforcements from the Central Defense.”

Eirik informed the knight in charge of communications to amend the letter and send it again. Then, he gathered the knights around him.

“We will regroup and fortify our position at Batina for a week. In the meantime, divide the forces to stabilize the castle.”

While the knights’ squires prepared meals and baths, Eirik headed for the lord’s chambers.

The aftermath of the siege was still evident in the room. Clothes and jewels, hastily left behind, were scattered across the floor.

Eirik glanced around the room, then, out of habit, checked inside the wardrobe and behind the curtains before approaching the bed.

He hadn’t expected to find anything, but when he lifted the sheets, a small figure was hiding beneath them.

“The lord’s child?”

Eirik addressed the small person curled up under the bed.

“Come out. I won’t hurt you.”

But there was no response. Eirik sighed.

At some point, Miesa must have been just as frightened, hiding away like this. The thought softened his tone.

“Your parents are alive and unharmed. I’ll take you to them, so come out.”

“……”

“Children belong with their parents. Come on.”

At that, the figure stirred. A dusty young girl, no more than ten years old, crawled out.

“What’s your name?”

Though her clothing clearly marked her as the lord’s daughter, Eirik asked again.

“You need to answer.”

“…The one asking for a name should give theirs first.”

The Sidate language, though different in accent, was similar enough to Esquillir’s that he understood her without difficulty. Despite her tear-streaked face, her voice was defiant.

“Alright. I’m Eirik, Margrave of Cladnier.”

“…Svetlana Batina.”

The girl spat out her name, glaring at him. Her defiant expression reminded him even more of Miesa.

Eirik nodded with a wry smile. “Very well, Svetlana. You are the lord’s daughter. Now, let’s go see your father.”

Eirik walked to the door and opened it, waiting. But Svetlana just stood there.

“Why?”

Lifting her skirt, the child answered, “My foot hurts. I can’t walk.”

“I see.”

Eirik slowly approached her, careful not to startle or frighten the girl who so reminded him of his wife.

“I’ll carry you. Your parents are in the dungeon, and there are many stairs to climb. Do you understand?”

Svetlana nodded, and Eirik extended his arms. The girl immediately clung to him, wrapping her arms around his neck.

He began walking out of the room. The warmth of the child in his arms brought thoughts of his wife to mind.

It wasn’t until he felt her squirming that he noticed something was off. His instincts had failed him.

By the time he realized, the needle had already sunk into the exposed skin of his neck.

Eirik dropped the struggling child and reached for the horn at his waist. His strength was quickly draining, likely from the poison on the needle.

Kneeling, his trembling hand reached for the horn, but before he could blow it, he saw Svetlana rolling back the carpet and knocking on the floor.

A trapdoor opened beneath the carpet, and a man in Sidate armor emerged.

It was the last thing Eirik saw.

A short while later, a squire came to inform the Margrave that his meal was ready, but Eirik was nowhere to be found.