The Queen Who Deserves To Be Tainted - Chapter 2.1

Four months ago, in the Makaeri Palace.

“Elfreda, you should go to Machi and become the queen.”

Elfreda was dumbfounded by the words that came out of nowhere. The first thing that was said to the visitor, who had come with an excited heart to the sudden summons, was not the usual greeting.

The Empress asked gently to Elfreda, who still looked dazed.

“Do you know where Machi is?”

She had heard of it. It was an island that took over a week to reach by ship, even from the capital’s newest port, and unusually for a neighboring country to Makaeri, it was not their vassal.

In other words, it meant that Makaeri had already attempted to invade and failed.

The fact that an irreparable deep chasm had formed between the two countries was something that no one in this world was unaware of. However, above all, as an illegitimate daughter, she was not eligible to be the princess that should enter this peace marriage.

“That place, I heard it’s where Princess Serena is supposed to go…”

Seeing the Empress’s expression quickly turned harsh when her own daughter was mentioned, Elfreda quickly lowered her head. It was rash of her to mutter without thinking.

As she blamed herself inside, she could hear the Empress’s stern voice.

“As you know, Serena’s coming-of-age ceremony is next spring. I want her to have it under my wing, but the Emperor is rushing this marriage.”

Then, the Empress, with a rather affectionate look, smiled at her and gently stroked her head.

“You are a rightful princess of the empire, too. There shouldn’t be any problem. No one will find it strange with you going in place of my daughter.”

My daughter.

Despite the affectionate attitude, the words reflected her true feelings. Elfreda’s expression was saddened at the words that distinctly distinguished Serena from herself.

At one time, until eighteen years ago, she was also the Empress’s daughter.

Born as an illegitimate child, she was left abandoned after her mother died shortly after giving birth. The Empress, who had been unable to conceive, adopted Elfreda. However, not even a year later, as if it were a lie, the Empress became pregnant, and she was naturally abandoned after the birth of the Empress’s biological daughter.

Not only by the Empress, but everyone in the Makaeri Palace despised her and treated her with contempt.

For the next seventeen years, Elfreda constantly sought some affection and attention from the Empress. Nonetheless, the Empress treated her coldly, as if the time spent treating her like a daughter for only a year was a mere illusion.

After her biological daughter was born, Elfreda seemed to be nothing more than a flaw in her husband’s past.
As time went by, the Empress only grew to despise her more and more.

“Moreover, considering the age difference between you and the King of Machi, it’s right for you to go.”

“…They probably won’t like me there.”

Elfreda cautiously spoke with a wary look.

“Machi probably wouldn’t want the Queen to be an illegitimate child.”

“The Emperor will take care of that. You don’t need to worry. Just keep your mouth shut, and there won’t be any problems.”

The voice seemed to lower slightly as if irritated by the retort. Elfreda instinctively lowered her head.

“…I apologize. I overstepped.”

“Good that you know.”

The Empress smiled at Elfreda with a dignified expression.

“When you go to Machi, you must behave properly. After all, you’ll be representing Makaeri. How dare the Makaeri name be dragged down by those pitiful creatures when they only know how to be pitiful?”

“I will do my best to ensure that doesn’t happen.”

“Yes, it must be so.”

Only then did the Empress’s expression finally change to satisfaction.

“Well then, you may leave. I have an important engagement.”

Elfreda was about to silently lower her head and leave the parlor when someone burst into the room and forcefully pushed her aside. Even though her delicate body staggered as she was shoved, the person who pushed her didn’t even look back and ran straight to the Empress.

The Empress, upon seeing the sudden guest, rose from her seat with a bright face, seemingly unconcerned about Elfreda.

Soon, a cheerful voice came.

“Mother!”

“Our Serena, what if you fall running like that?”

“Hey, it’s okay. I won’t fall. I was a little late, right?”

“No, no. You’re not late at all. You’ve come at the perfect time.”

“I brought some delicious snacks to have with Mother during teatime. They’re freshly baked by the head chef.”