.png)
"What did you
say?!"
Patricia shouted sharply.
The greenhouse manager, startled, bowed his head even lower.
"Who gave permission
to hold a tea party in my greenhouse?"
"But Your Majesty, the
Red King granted the authorization."
"Did I?"
"It wasn’t given
directly by you, but rather sent by Her Highness, the Silver Queen."
Patricia's expression
faltered. She remembered the incident clearly; it had only been a few days ago.
"That’s right. But I
was told the Silver Queen would be using it herself."
"Initially, Her
Highness the Silver Queen was listed as the host, but this morning, she
transferred her privileges."
Patricia clenched her
teeth.
"Fine. Bring me the
list of attendees once the event is over."
"Yes, Your
Majesty."
After the greenhouse
manager left, Patricia began throwing everything within reach—sofa cushions,
vases on the table, anything she could grab. Her face flushed with rage.
"In my greenhouse, of
all places!"
There was a reason Patricia
was overreacting. As the royal hostess, she had reigned as the queen of the
social scene. She had as much talent as she had ambition. She was always the
perfect party host.
Since becoming the Crimson
Queen, she had overseen all gatherings and banquets held within the palace.
Today, a blemish appeared on her perfect record. And it wasn’t just any
place—it was the greenhouse.
Even the emperor needed the
Red King's permission to use the greenhouse. Patricia cherished the greenhouse
as a symbol of her power. Now, the Iron King's fiancée hosting a tea party
there made her grind her teeth in frustration.
It wasn’t just about the
single use of the greenhouse. One had to consider the underlying implications.
The gossiping nobles would assign meaning to even trivial events. They would
speculate on the possibility that Violet might inherit Patricia's right to use
the greenhouse.
"Is this truly what
you intend, Princess?"
While Patricia trembled
with rage, Sienna arrived at the greenhouse with Beth.
Violet came out to greet
them at the entrance, clasping her hands together with a broad smile.
"Your Highness, thank
you for coming. And thank you for allowing us to use such a perfect and
beautiful place."
Sienna smiled as she
noticed the wooden pendant hanging around Violet's neck. It seemed Kuhn had
ultimately failed to retrieve it. The seemingly gentlewoman had a quiet
stubbornness about her.
"Please, come in,
Countess."
"Thank you for the
invitation."
"Are there more guests
to come?"
"Everyone has arrived.
They are waiting inside for Your Highness."
"It seems I’m
late."
"Not at all. You’ve
arrived precisely on time, Your Highness. The others came early; it wouldn’t do
to keep you waiting."
They entered the
greenhouse. It was spacious. Patricia had hosted large parties there annually.
Every noblewoman coveted an invitation. Now, fewer than ten people were
occupying a greenhouse large enough to hold hundreds, a rare luxury.
The attendees greeted
Sienna as she appeared. Though familiar faces surrounded her, there was one
unfamiliar figure among them. A beautiful woman with exotic features. Her
attire, a dress styled like those of the empire’s nobility, seemed out of
place. With her dark hair and complexion, it was easy to guess where she was
from.
"Your Highness, this
lady came with me," introduced the Countess of Merses.
"She is the daughter
of the king of the Federation of Peroh. A princess. She came with the
delegation. Fatima, please greet Her Highness, the Silver Queen."
"I’ve heard much about
you, Your Highness. It is an honor to meet you in person."
Fatima spoke the imperial
language without any awkwardness.
"Welcome. You’re quite
proficient in our language."
"I learned from a
tutor from the Empire."
Fatima’s appearance, while
not fitting the typical imperial aesthetic, possessed a unique charm. Her eyes
were fierce, and her lips, curving upward and drawn inward, were sensuous. She
was both strong and feminine.
"Countess of Merses,
what connection brings you and the princess from the Federation together?"
"I hosted several
members of the delegation at my estate."
"So soon? Impressive.
The social skills of the Count’s family must be a well-guarded secret. It seems
there isn’t anyone you can’t make friends with."
"Oh, you flatter me.
There are those we can’t quite conquer."
"Who might that
be?"
"Right in front of
me."
"Me?"
"I’ve sent you
countless invitations, Your Highness. You never once replied."
"Is that so?"
Sienna chuckled lightly.
The countess's expression was slightly flushed. She had never had such an
extended conversation with the princess. Even for a socially adept woman like
the Countess of Merses, Sienna was an impenetrable wall.
She had hesitated before
deciding to attend today, but now she was glad she came. Every attendee was a
person of significant interest.
"And the marquis over
there is also difficult to get close to. He doesn’t attend social gatherings at
all."
The Countess pointed
towards Marquis Rad. He was conversing with the Iron King and Count Merses.
Though Count Merses was a handsome man with a good build, he seemed
overshadowed by the two men beside him.
While the countess was
gazing at the two handsome men in delight, other women also turned their
attention to them, causing the conversation to die down.
That day, when Kuhn had
secretly entered the bedroom and was caught by Beth, Sienna had told him:
"Do not come into my
bedroom anymore. And from tomorrow, stop coming to the palace."
"I was wrong today.
But banning me from entering is too harsh."
"It’s not a ban. But
if we meet like this, Lord Rouk also has to be present. I don’t want to see him
every day."
"That is a very
persuasive reason."
Kuhn seemed satisfied with
Sienna’s response. And from the next day, he stopped coming. After several days
of drinking tea alone, she felt both relieved and a bit empty.
At first, she worried that
Kuhn might act too familiarly in front of others, as he did when they were
alone. But now she wasn’t worried anymore. In public, he kept an appropriate
distance. His behavior was so proper that Sienna sometimes felt strangely
unsettled.
‘I almost wish he would do
something to make me dislike him.’
Her feelings kept
gravitating towards him. Fearing she might fall for him completely, Sienna
consciously resisted. She worried a day might come when she wouldn’t be able to
resist anymore.
She turned her head and
then paused. Fatima's expression, which briefly caught her eye, was intriguing.
Fatima was openly watching the men, unconcerned about those around her.
‘She’s definitely not an
imperial. Imperial noblewomen don’t look at people like that.’
There was an almost strange
yearning in Fatima's gaze. Who was she looking at?
It wasn’t likely the
Countess’s husband, who had accompanied her today, nor the Iron King, since his
fiancée Violet was present. That left only one person.
‘...Kuhn?’
Then, Sienna recalled a
conversation from her dream:
"I happened to hear
you had a lover."
Her eyes wavered.
"A woman born and
raised in the desert."
Sienna's expression froze.
She slowly turned her gaze from Fatima to Kuhn.
That was all the
information she had gleaned from her dream. But sometimes intuition was a strange
thing.
‘It’s this woman.’
She felt certain.
‘Are they destined to
become lovers in the future? Or are they already interested in each other?’
Could today’s event be the
catalyst for their relationship?
Sienna suddenly wanted to
know more about Fatima. What was her personality like? How did she express
herself in conversation? What were her values? Her intellectual capabilities?
Curiosity usually brought
pleasure. It made one want to explore and discover, and finding out brought
joy. But this was the first time she felt no joy in her curiosity. She wanted
to both thoroughly uncover everything about Fatima and also avoid her entirely.
"Princess
Fatima."
Fatima turned her head in
surprise and then smiled.
"You can just call me
by my name, Your Highness."
"Is there anything
troubling you? I’m sure the countess isn’t someone who would make her guests
uncomfortable, but it must be a foreign environment for you."
"I am receiving the
countess’s generous hospitality. The culture here is different from where I was
born and raised, which I find fascinating. Each day is a joy, Your
Highness."
Fatima’s dark brown eyes
sparkled.
"Your imperial
language is very natural. One might believe you were born and raised in the
Empire."
"You flatter me, Your
Highness. In fact, I’ve had intensive lessons with the countess over the past
few days. While I have no issues with everyday conversations, I’m still clumsy
with manners and etiquette. If I make a mistake, please be forgiving, Your
Highness."
The more they spoke, the more
Sienna noticed that Fatima’s accent was slightly awkward. However, it only
added to her charm.
"The culture is
different? How so?"
"Everything is
different. Even the social hierarchy is not the same. When I’m introduced as
the daughter of a king, everyone calls me a princess. But we don’t have the
status of a princess. I was the daughter of a warlord who later became a
king."
"You’ll likely develop
a structure over time. Now that you have a country, you’ll need a proper
system."
"Oh, I see. You’re
right, Your Highness. Then, is it acceptable to introduce myself as a
princess?"
"No one would have an
issue with it."
Fatima was different from
the imperial noblewomen. She didn’t adhere to excessive formalities and
conversed comfortably while maintaining eye contact with Sienna.
By imperial noble
standards, she was a bit rude, but Sienna found that speaking with someone who
wasn’t intimidated by her was quite refreshing.
"Is the status of a
warlord similar to that of a duke in the Empire?"
On the day of the sacred
tree branch ceremony, she had heard that Kun was treated as a warlord in the
Federation.
"A warlord is a
leader. It’s not a position one inherits from their father; it’s a position one
must earn through the tribe's approval. Only a warlord can become a king, so I
suppose it’s more akin to being royalty."
"Then Marquis Raad
could become a king?"
"Yes."
A blush appeared on
Fatima's cheeks. Sienna could sense her strong affection for Kuhn.
"He has the
qualifications. The fact that he’s a foreigner is a hurdle… but if he were to
take a desert woman as his wife, no one would oppose his claim to the
throne."
Sienna’s mood darkened. Her
chest felt heavy like a stone was weighing it down.
"Are you having an
interesting conversation?"
Dian's voice interrupted.
The three men approached
the women.
"Why does the
conversation stop when we come over?"
"Shouldn’t the three
gentlemen continue their men’s talk a bit longer?"
The Countess of Merses
teased slightly.
"Oh, I’m sorry."
Dian gave an awkward smile.
"It wasn’t anything
special. Count Merses has some excellent wine..."
Count Merses suddenly
cleared his throat loudly. The countess's eyes narrowed into a glare.
"Wine? Darling, did
you buy wine again without telling me?"
"No, it’s just that it
was a limited edition…"
"How much did it cost
this time?!"
The count’s darting eyes
wandered in the air. Dian caught a fleeting glance of resentment in the count’s
eyes.
"I didn’t realize it
was a sensitive topic. My apologies."
"Your Highness, I will
repay this favor one day."
The count murmured
gloomily, glancing alternately at Dian and Violet.
"Why are you looking
at my fiancée?"
"Oh, it’s
nothing."
"I felt a suspicious
intention just now."
"You’re being
oversensitive, Your Highness."
"Violet, no matter
what the count says about me in the future, don’t believe it."
Violet smiled innocently.
"Yes, I won’t jump to
conclusions. The Countess of Merses has offered to be my advisor."
"…"
Dian’s odd expression
elicited laughter from those around them.
The atmosphere was
cheerful. However, Sienna found it hard to join in fully.
Fortunately, those around
her were used to her stoic demeanor, so she didn’t have to force a smile. No
one tried to guess her mood based on her expression alone.
‘There’s already something
between the two of them that I don’t know.’
Kuhn had made a name for
himself in the desert. Fatima was the daughter of the king of the Federation.
Today couldn’t be their first meeting.
Sienna kept glancing at
Fatima. The most talkative, Countess of Merses, naturally led the conversation,
with Fatima readily agreeing and joining in.
‘Are all desert women like
this?’
Fatima was a brave young
lady. Although the people and environment were unfamiliar, she didn’t seem
intimidated. Whenever an unknown topic arose, she didn’t hesitate to ask what
it was. And occasionally, she looked at Marquis Rad with a longing gaze.
It made Sienna feel uneasy.
She wanted to tell Fatima not to look at him like that.
‘I have no right to
interfere.’
Sienna couldn’t logically
explain her feelings, which made them all the more unpleasant.
Fatima, unaware of Sienna’s
glances, was entirely captivated by someone else.
Despite trying to be
discreet, she found herself staring at Marquis Rad without realizing it. Even
the Countess of Merses had to gently nudge her arm to bring her back to her
senses.
But Fatima didn’t feel
embarrassed. In the desert, a woman's active display of affection was not
considered a flaw.
‘He is the only one.’
Months ago, Fatima and her
attendants were crossing the desert when they were attacked by a horde of
desert monsters. They were in a dire situation, facing almost certain death.
Fortunately, warriors from Kaligo, along with mercenaries, arrived in time to
rescue them.
On that day, Fatima not only
had her life saved but also lost her heart to an exotic-looking man with
jet-black hair. The terrifying sight of him hunting the monsters was more
beautiful than the desert sunset. From that day on, she suffered from a deep
yearning for him.
‘Only he can truly unify
the desert.’
Fatima was intelligent and
ambitious. Yet she wasn’t recognized simply because she was a woman. Her
foolish brothers became warlords merely because they were men.
Though the Federation was
formed by uniting the three strongest tribes of the desert, that was not all.
The desert was home to countless scattered tribes. To rule over all of them
would be the true unification of the desert.
The strength of the desert
was formidable. Only the strong, who fought monsters, survived. They were all
warriors. If the desert could become one, Fatima believed its power would rival
that of the Empire.
She aspired to become the
ruler of the desert. If she were to be a pawn in a political marriage, she
intended to choose a man who could help fulfill her ambitions.
‘If it’s him, Father will
surely approve.’
Among the desert tribes,
there was no distinction between sons and sons-in-law, as long as they were
capable.
Despite her obvious stares,
Marquis Raad never once met her gaze. As she continued to watch him intently,
Fatima noticed that he often glanced at someone else.
‘The Silver Queen?’
His gaze lingered unusually
long on the Silver Queen whenever he looked at her. Fatima had heard that
Marquis Raad was unmarried and did not have a specific partner. She felt
uneasy.
‘Men are always swayed by
beauty.’
She was quite proud of her
own looks. However, she didn’t think she could compete with the Silver Queen.
When she first saw Princess
Sienna, she thought the rumors about her were understated. She was perfect. The
princess embodied the pinnacle of beauty that a person could possess. Her skin
was so fair it was almost translucent, her stature tall, and her every move
exuded grace and dignity. All of which were things Fatima could never possess.
Feeling anxious, Fatima bit
her lips.
‘Is it just Kuhn's
one-sided feelings?’
An unexpected obstacle had
appeared.
‘Wait, wasn’t the Silver
Queen engaged?’
"...what do you think,
Fatima?"
The Countess of Merses
sought her agreement.
Lost in thought, Fatima
hadn’t caught the conversation. She pretended to have been listening closely
and nodded naturally.
"Yes, I agree."
.png)
.png&description=TGW Chapter 14 Part 5){kind=link}
0 Comments