The Queen Who Deserves To Be Tainted - Chapter 14.2

The events of her first night here were still vivid in her memory. With the maids potentially opening her bedroom door to assassins, it was no wonder she felt this way. Now, it would hardly be an exaggeration to say she prayed for her life every night before sleep.

Elfreda bit her lip, struggling to suppress her anger before continuing.

“It seems you haven’t heard any stories from the Emperor on your way here.”

“What kind of stories? He did tell me to ask you to behave.”

“So, it seems I’m the only one who needs to behave.”

“What?”

“When you return, tell the Emperor not to worry too much. In this situation, how can I expect to keep my head on my shoulders unless I lie flat on the ground as if I’m dead?”

“Are you mocking me?”

Elfreda didn’t respond further and turned away. Judging by Serena’s attitude, even kneeling and pleading wouldn’t change her mind. It seemed futile to expect a proper response to this situation.

Then.

“Ack!”

A painful cry escaped from Elfreda. Serena, who was unable to contain her anger, grabbed her hair and slammed her to the ground.

“Who do you think you are to lecture me!”

Recoiling from the impact of her shoulder against the side table, Elfreda collapsed to the floor. With a disheveled appearance, she looked bewilderedly at Serena. Apparently unsatisfied, she approached and slapped her across the face.

— Slap!

As Elfreda’s gaze naturally fell, she seemed pleased with herself.

“That’s more like it. You look best in this state.”

“….”

“To think your status changed because you wear that tiny crown? Have you lost your mind because they call you ‘the Queen’?”

Serena mocked Elfreda as she tapped her head disdainfully.

“This insignificant country could be wiped out by Makaeri tomorrow if we want to, Elfreda. Understand your place. Do you think you’re something because we need your offspring for a smoother takeover? Dare to think you can climb up, huh?”

More than her shoulder, Elfreda’s head still throbbed painfully. As she remained seated, she took a moment to steady her breathing before picking up the tiara that had fallen. She realized staying any longer wouldn’t be of any help.

Nevertheless, before leaving, there was something she had to do.

Elfreda dusted herself off and rose to approach Serena closely.

‘You are the queen of Machi. Your actions represent mine.’

The words he had said just days ago continuously echoed in her head. Even if it wasn’t a matter of life and death, returning as is would make it difficult to look him in the eye again. She couldn’t afford to add another reason to feel intimidated whenever she faced him.

“Why, haven’t you had enough…”

With a determined expression, Elfreda fiercely grasped Serena’s hair. A sharp scream erupted simultaneously.

“Ah!”

She then slapped her across the face.

— Slap!

Serena’s head turned weakly, and the maids, in shock, tried to restrain Elfreda. However, she resisted strongly.

“How dare you lay a hand on me!”

As her uncharacteristically firm demeanor made Serena’s maids hesitate and step back, Elfreda looked more stern than ever before. Serena, still not fully grasping the situation but visibly shocked, held her cheek and looked at her with widened eyes.

“You… You wretch!

“If I leave here alone in this state, what do you think everyone will think?”

Elfreda uttered with a face on the verge of crying but smiling.

“If you don’t want to pour oil on the fire by revealing my lineage in this situation, I hope you won’t whine about just being slapped once, Princess.”

Elfreda left the guest palace with a sharp retort.

She removed all the pins stuck in her already disheveled hair, letting it fall loose before slowly placing the tiara back on. The maids watched her in astonishment, though she paid them no mind and continued on her way.

The spot where her shoulder had been hit hurt, but fortunately, it didn’t seem like any bones were broken. Each time she caught the gazes of people glancing at her, she felt so embarrassed she wished she could disappear.

‘…But you did well, Elfreda. You handled it well.’

Since both had struck each other, they could at least use the excuse that it was a quarrel between sisters that led to this situation.

Of course, for a princess to engage in such behavior was not rational, though most would likely think that such barbarism was to be expected from someone of Makaeri’s lineage. Ironically, while she was smiling at the thought that being from the Makaeri tribe could sometimes be advantageous, Elfreda saw the last person she wanted to see from afar.

Her smile quickly faded.

“….”

It was Ejnar.