The Queen Who Deserves To Be Tainted - Chapter 14.1

Before Marchioness Magnum came to wake her, Elfreda had already opened her eyes. Still groggy, she blinked blankly for a moment before realizing she had fallen asleep in bed with him the night before.

She quickly came to her senses and looked over to the other side of the bed, only to find it empty. Her eyebrows drooped in disappointment. She cautiously felt the other side of the bed, which had long since gone cold. Elfreda’s heart sank further.

‘When did he leave?’

After all, he was busy, and when she asked him to rest a bit last night, it was only for a brief moment. She remembered him staying almost until she fell asleep. However, she had quickly moved on from the topic of Serena and almost immediately fell asleep afterward.

Elfreda found some comfort in the fact that she hadn’t been fully awake to see him leave and got out of bed just as Marchioness Magnum was entering.

“Good morning, Marchioness Magnum.”

While she greeted the Marchioness warmly, the return was a cold gaze. The Marchioness’s mood seemed even worse than yesterday, and the other handmaids felt the same. Elfreda suspected their displeasure was related to Ejnar’s visit the night before.

Indeed, from the day Ejnar stopped visiting Elfreda’s bedroom, the maids’ moods noticeably improved.

Additionally, whispers of ‘I knew it wouldn’t last’ were heard in the background.

Elfreda wasn’t too upset about it. Considering his busy schedule, she was grateful he had visited her two nights in a row. And even if she did feel sad, her position made it difficult to show it. How could she, known as the enemy’s granddaughter, shamelessly go to him first?

The only thing she could do was to fulfill her duties day by day. Being an abhorrent existence to Ejnar, the only way she could be of help was just that.

As soon as she had that thought, a crisis emerged.

* * *

“A Makaeri soldier has killed a citizen of Machi.”

It was the day before Serena was due to return home.

Elfreda, who was attending to her duties, dropped her pen upon hearing the news from Marchioness Magnum. Turning her head in shock, she was met with Marchioness Magnum’s gaze as cold as the voice delivering the news.

The chilly voice added.

“Not just one, but three.”

Elfreda asked, feeling a sudden headache.

“Where is the Princess now?”

“She’s currently in the guest palace.”

Elfreda stood up immediately. Throughout her journey to the guest palace, the Emperor of Makaeri’s warning echoed in her head.

‘Do not act in a way that could serve as a pretext for war…’

Right now, Serena had clearly given a pretext for war. Elfreda arrived at the guest palace feeling despondent.

“Is Princess Serena inside?”

The maid at the guest palace did not hide her perception of Elfreda and Serena as barbarians, which was evident from their dismissive glance. Silence seemed to be their answer, so Elfreda entered without waiting for an answer.

Inside, Serena, looking just as displeased, was burying herself into a plush sofa made of fur. Elfreda felt her anger rising at the sight but managed to suppress it before calmly confronting her.

“What on earth is this all about?”

“It was a deserved retaliation.”

Serena retorted sharply.

“They dared to insult the great Makaeri!”

She explained that she had encountered many hostile stares while exploring the city over the past few days. Though irritated, she did not want to cause a problem. Especially since the robust Makaeri soldiers escorting her ensured that people only glared without daring to speak.

However, today, a few passersby who failed to recognize Serena insulted Makaeri loudly, and one of Makaeri’s soldiers, who were unable to tolerate it, threatened to kill them.

The onlookers, intimidated by the soldiers’ ferocity, did not dare intervene.

With Serena’s tacit consent, the assault continued. Leading to this unfortunate incident.

Like many from Makaeri, Serena, as a princess, had immense pride in her country. It was remarkable that she had restrained herself until now, but this was crossing a line. Elfreda pointed out the severity of the situation, feeling a throbbing headache.

“No matter what was said, killing is an excessive response.”

“So, you’re saying I should have just stood there and tolerated it?”

Serena looked visibly agitated, got up abruptly and strode towards Elfreda.

“Are you suggesting I should’ve endured whatever lowlife treatment like you?”

Serena’s face turned red with anger. Her expression screamed of injustice, as though she had done nothing wrong.

Witnessing this, Elfreda felt as if her breath was being choked out of her.