Beneath the Surviving Princess's Joyful Facade - Chapter 167

The discipline in the Cladnier mansion was well-maintained, so there were hardly any incidents or accidents, and even the news the head cook shared about Kazen ran dry after a few days. Miesa didn’t even feel like watching a maid getting beaten and thrown out just for talking back to her, so she soon left the kitchen.

On her way back, looking displeased with her pouting lips, Miesa wandered here and there, hoping for some amusement. She heard giggling coming from the maids’ workroom.

“Why does Lizel always end up with men like that, even when things get twisted?”

“Right? Even Madam is worried about you. Anyway, it’s a good thing. This time, try to meet someone decent.”

“What about Conard as an errand boy back then?”

“That guy’s not good.”

Those little rascals. Miesa stomped her feet and entered the workroom.

“While I was here, you all just worked, huh? Lizel, why don’t you like Conard as an errand boy?”

“Eek!”

The maids were startled and froze. Miesa stood at the door, her eyes glaring, and the maids nudged Lizel in the ribs.

“Uh, it’s just… his face…”

There was no point in making something up—Madam would press on until she got the truth. Lizel, sweating, blurted out her excuse.

“He’s short, and he also has bad breath.”

“Oh, well, that won’t do. Conard’s not a good match.”

They still couldn’t understand why Madam took such an interest in the affairs of mere maids, as if she were arranging marriage prospects for her personal maids. But in a way, they found this aspect of Madam fascinating and even endearing.

“Madam, the baby is moving right now. Would you like to feel it?”

Nea mustered up her courage and stood, offering her belly. Miesa hesitated but couldn’t resist her rising curiosity.

“Can I really?”

“Of course.”

Miesa approached cautiously, placing just her fingertips lightly on Nea’s belly. Nea smiled and pulled Miesa’s hand in further.

“You can touch it more firmly. Just a moment… ah, right here.”

“……!”

Miesa was surprised by the unfamiliar sensation under her palm. Something seemed to be pushing out from inside the belly, and she was almost worried it might tear open.

“Are… are you okay? Won’t your skin tear?”

“I’m fine. It’s just because it’s my second, so my belly sticks out more.”

Miesa placed both hands on Nea’s belly, fascinated by the fact that there was another human being inside a person’s body.

“I heard childbirth hurts a lot.”

That was about all Miesa knew about childbirth. Nea exchanged a glance with Madam Manere, who stood behind Miesa, then smiled.

“It does hurt, but once it’s over, you feel relieved.”

“What?”

“Your body feels lighter, and that’s why you end up having more children.”

“I see…”

Miesa nodded. She was too busy marveling at the new information to think about scolding Nea later for lying to her.

“Does the baby move all the time like this?”

“Sometimes they’re asleep in the womb, and sometimes they’re awake and playing like this.”

“Wow…”

Miesa couldn’t take her hand off Nea’s belly. There was a baby inside this taut, firm belly.

Meanwhile, Eirik, who had been watching Miesa from behind as she was engrossed in touching the maid’s belly, was wondering when to announce his presence.

After waiting a moment, Eirik saw a few maids notice him and rise, prompting him to knock on the door.

At the sound of the knock, Miesa turned around. When she saw Eirik, her face lit up with a bright smile.

“Eirik! Are you done with work?”

“Yes. I was wondering if you’d like to take a walk before lunch.”

“Sounds good. Nea, rest here for a while before going home. Manere, rest until I call you. And Lizel, we’ll continue our talk tomorrow.”

“Yes, Madam.”

Lizel, resigned to continuing the conversation tomorrow, wore a troubled expression, but the other maids suppressed their rising smiles. They were happy that, thanks to Madam’s orders, Lizel might finally break things off with the lowly man they had been trying to dissuade her from seeing.

“Come back anytime, Madam.”

“Of course, this is my home.”

Now that they felt quite comfortable, laughter even spilled out from the maids. Eirik raised an eyebrow but said nothing as he led Miesa out.

The autumn breeze was cool as they stepped out into the garden. Eirik took off his coat and draped it over her shoulders.

“Didn’t they deliver things from the tailor’s yesterday? I recall there being a shawl and a cloak. Should I fetch them?”

“It’s alright. As long as you’re not cold, let’s keep walking like this.”

Eirik asked again, concerned that it might be uncomfortable to have such a stiff jacket on her shoulders, but Miesa stubbornly insisted.

“I like it because it smells like you.”

“…I see.”

Eirik easily dropped the subject, and Miesa looked at him intently. Despite having spent such a heated night together, here he was, blushing. She found him adorable.

Eirik had resolved to live as he pleased, yet each morning, he still shaved neatly, dressed properly, and headed to his study.

There was no one in the mansion who would criticize what the lord wore at home, yet he donned a shirt and even a vest to work. She just couldn’t understand it.

“Why do you dress so uncomfortably? Hagail used to just walk around in a robe.”

The Hagail Miesa spoke of was the current person on the throne.

Eirik smiled as he replied, “I find this comfortable, and you find that comfortable, so we should each dress as we like.”

“That’s true.”

They walked slowly through the garden and stopped in front of the tree Miesa had climbed onto yesterday.

“Lift me up.”

“Again today?”

She must have enjoyed sitting on the branch. Eirik carefully lifted her onto a low branch.

“No, today, lift me to that higher one.”

“No. If the branch breaks, you could get hurt.”

“Tch.”

As Miesa pouted, Eirik looked around the garden, shrugged, and said, “It seems about time now.”

“For what?”

“It seems like staying indoors all the time is getting dull for you. Also, there aren’t any suitable trees in the capital mansion’s garden.”

Eirik adjusted her dress, smoothing it over her calves that peeked out.

“I think it’s time we went down to the estate. What do you think?”

“To Cladis? I like that idea!” Miesa stomped her feet in excitement. “We should say goodbye to Gella before we go.”

“Of course. It’ll take a few days to prepare anyway.”

After lunch, Miesa dressed up and got into the carriage. The dark brown velvet dress tailored recently from the boutique was adorned with elegant and dignified embroidery, but it wasn’t entirely to Miesa’s liking.

“Isn’t it too dull?”

“You’re both the margravine and the former queen, so it’s appropriate for official occasions,” Madam Manere said, with Eirik nodding in agreement to console her.

“You can wear something brighter when we go to the estate.”

Eirik opened the carriage window, reached out, and stroked Miesa’s face with a smile.

“Alright then, off you go.”

“I’ll be back before dinner.”

Even for a short outing, they exchanged affectionate goodbyes, which Madam Manere did not find strange. Since the war had ended, the two of them hadn’t wanted to be apart, even for half a day.

The carriage headed toward the central palace. As they had announced their visit before lunch, the guards bowed deeply in respect.

“The margravine has arrived.”

After the loud announcement, Hagail’s disgruntled voice echoed down the corridor.

“Why do you visit so often?”

The king frowned, but Miesa retorted, as if it were absurd. “Then let the queen leave the palace. Why are you keeping her locked inside?”

“The queen is waiting in the courtyard.”

Instead of answering, her cousin pointed behind him shamelessly, and Miesa frowned.

“I already heard and am heading there. Now move aside.”

Those in the palace, accustomed to the two’s antics, took a step back and stared at the floor.

When he was still the grand duke, her attitude toward the king had seemed almost disrespectful, but now that she was the former queen and the margravine, her manner was even more irreverent. Yet no one could stop her, as she occupied a truly unprecedented position.

The two glared at each other, but as Miesa walked past, the king spoke in a low voice, “Come by the office for a moment before you leave.”

“Why would I go there?”

“I have something to discuss regarding the Flamtia region.”

“…Alright.”

Miesa clicked her tongue. She supposed she had no choice if it concerned the Flamthia region, which was directly connected to Cladis.

As they entered the central garden, Gella, draped in a luxurious dress, sat like a doll. When Miesa noticed Gella’s appearance, seemingly thinner, she was about to glare angrily. But at that moment, Gella, who had just spotted her, excitedly shrugged her shoulders.

“Your Majesty, over here! Over here!”

Seeing Gella’s cheerful smile, just like before, Miesa figured she must have been mistaken. She hurried her steps and ran to Gella.

“Gella!”

The two embraced and spent a while caressing each other’s faces. But up close, Gella’s face seemed even more sunken, with dark circles under her eyes.

“Gella, why does your face look like this? Why have you lost so much weight?”

How could healthy, lively Gella end up like this? Miesa was thinking, ‘I’m going to kill that Hagail bastard,’ when—

“Your Majesty, the thing is…”

Gella shyly whispered, almost proudly, “It seems I’m expecting. That’s why my face looks like this.”

“What? Really?”

Miesa’s jaw dropped, and she looked down at Gella’s belly.

“But your belly looks fine.”

“Only I know for now, Your Majesty. Oh my, it’s confusing since there are two of you. I mean…”

Gella, even more embarrassed, whispered in Miesa’s ear, “Even His Majesty doesn’t know yet. It’s still too early to be sure.”

“I see…”

The fact that Gella was pregnant meant her position as queen would be more secure, but what truly brightened Miesa’s mood was the joy on Gella’s face.

“I don’t even know how to congratulate you. What can I do for you?”

“Oh, there’s no need to do anything. I already have everything.”

Miesa squinted, slowly scanning the maids around Gella, prepared to dismiss anyone she deemed unworthy.