The Queen Who Deserves To Be Tainted - Chapter 21.1

“His Majesty the King is on his way to the Solar Palace.”

Late at night, Elfreda, who was sitting at her desk with a somber expression, was startled by the unexpected news. Since receiving an apology from Serina in the audience chamber, he hadn’t visited her even once.

Caught up in the issues with the tea party, Elfreda had momentarily forgotten about him. She quickly adjusted her dress, preparing to welcome Ejnar.

Soon, unfamiliar footsteps grew closer. She forced the worry from her face.

‘…Does he know about the failed tea party?’

She wondered if he was coming to blame her incompetence. Elfreda felt anxious. It wasn’t the fear of being scolded that bothered her. But rather hating her for concerning him with such matters.

Elfreda promised not to show her distress during their meeting.

“I greet the shining sun of Machi.”

As she greeted him formally and lifted her head, Ejnar stood there with an unknown expression. Elfreda smiled awkwardly and broke the silence first.

“…How have you been?”

“Are you complaining that I haven’t visited in a long time?”

“Not at all.”

She almost added that she, too, had been so busy with her work that she hadn’t had time to think of him but quickly stopped herself. Instead, she spoke worriedly.

“You look tired. Are you sleeping well?”

“Perhaps you should worry about your own face first.”

“Yes?”

“Don’t you look in the mirror? It seems your face gets thinner by the day.”

Then, he approached her with a displeased look.

Startled, Elfreda tensed up slightly. Suddenly, he was right in front of her, examining her face closely. Elfreda watched him nervously as if she had something to hide.

Ejnar didn’t stop at just examining her face. Suddenly, he raised his hand and gently touched her cheek. As his long fingers made contact, she flinched like a sensitive plant. Wherever his fingers touched, it felt scorchingly hot.

“Can’t sleep either?”

Or was it ticklish? She felt a tightening sensation in her lower stomach. It was a strangely embarrassing feeling that made her shyly avoid his gaze. Ejnar, unwilling to let her look away, grasped her chin and made her face him.

Elfreda’s surprised eyes widened slightly.

“Ah…”

“It seems more like you than me.”

Ejnar asked with one eyebrow slightly furrowed.

“Do you have any worries lately?”

Elfreda slowly moved her stiff lips as if she felt like she was being interrogated. His sharp gaze seemed to pierce through her. She was unable to move and just looked at him, struggling to voice a lie.

“…Not at all.”

“And yet, you look like this?”

“Just… I’m worried about Marchioness Magnum’s illness.”

Elfreda hastily found an excuse to add.

“She has been on leave for three days now. It seems severe, and I’m concerned.”

“Is that so? It must be disrupting the palace’s works.”

Elfreda felt as if she was being interrogated, although the words were surely not meant that way. It was just that she was feeling guilty…

She smiled awkwardly and lied again.

“The other maids are helping out well.”

“So,”

Ejnar concluded.

“There’s no issue you’re feeling troubled about.”

“I…”

She was still unable to tell what he was thinking from his expression, Elfreda muttered with a faint smile.

“I’ll do better, so you don’t need to worry about the palace.”

“….”

Ah.

After the silence, she thought she could finally read his expression a bit.

He seemed displeased. However, it was still unclear. She couldn’t understand what about her response had displeased him. She thought her reply had been perfectly exemplary for a queen, but she was suddenly gripped by an ominous feeling that she might have been mistaken.

“Right.”

Ejnar said as he pulled the corner of his mouth.