The Queen Who Deserves To Be Tainted - Chapter 22.1

Why, indeed?

Ejnar couldn’t understand why Elfreda was acting so haughtily. It was laughable.

He had heard of Machi people refusing even the slightest contact with the barbarians but never the reverse. If it wasn’t for the pride of a great Makaeri princess looking down on a king from a smaller kingdom like Machi, what could it be?

This woman had a knack for irritating him in many ways.

He made her position unstable by removing one of his supporting hands, making her position more precarious than when he was holding her with both hands.

Elfreda looked terrified, yet she kept her trembling hands tightly clenched and placed them over her heart.

Seeing this, Ejnar was struck with an idea.

He was curious to see how far she could maintain her composure as he widened his stride towards the bed while maintaining his hold. As Elfreda’s face turned pale, she tightened the grip of her clenched fist instead of reaching out to grasp his shoulder.

Ejnar coldly observed her maintain the same posture until they reached the bed, and finally, out of contempt, he released his remaining hand.

“Kyak!”

Elfreda fell onto the bed.

Although the soft bed prevented any injury, Ejnar was infuriated by her attitude of not trying to hold on to him even in that moment. He could have left in anger right then.

However, as she fell, her dress slipped even more disastrously, and Ejnar felt a familiar tension below his waist as when he first entered the room. Eventually, he climbed onto the bed and completely pulled off the inelegantly draped dress.

His actions became much quicker and more ruthless by his intensified emotions.

* * *

In the past, a king’s handmaiden typically meant a mistress. Still, Illene was a handmaiden whom the king kept by his side for her intelligence. He valued her presence without any sexual intentions.

Initially, people doubted the sincerity of these words, but over the years, the consistently straightforward relationship between the two made them undeniable. Moreover, Illene was indeed quick-witted and intelligent, helping the king in many respects.

“Lady Hagen.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“From today, you will work at the Solar Palace.”

When Ejnar issued this command early in the morning, Ilenne was slightly surprised but quickly grasped his intention. However, she feigned ignorance and asked.

“Am I to serve the Queen?”

“To be exact…”

Ejnar paused for a moment before he clarified.

“To observe.”

Ilenne responded with a peculiar smile and pointed out.

“But isn’t Marchioness Magnum already watching the Queen?”

Marchioness Magnum harbored as much resentment towards Makaeri as Ejnar himself. The Solar Palace was not a place where Elfreda could conspire with the enemy, and even if she tried, the Marchioness would not allow it. She was a woman intent on magnifying even trivial issues to oust the Queen.

After hearing Ilenne’s observation, Ejnar momentarily closed his mouth, then corrected himself.

“I mean, sending you isn’t primarily for surveillance.”

“Then…?”

“It seems Marchioness Magnum is being less cooperative with the Queen than I thought.”

Ilenne nodded in agreement.

The Marchioness’ overbearing treatment of the Queen was well-known even in the central palace. The stories Ilenne occasionally heard were discomforting, but the central palace saw no reason or justification to intervene.

It was not seen as appropriate for the King to meddle in the traditionally maintained position of chief handmaid, which Marchioness Magnum held, especially since there was no suitable noblewoman other than her for the role.

No one considered the position of the barbarian Queen’s chief handmaid an honorable one. Indeed, whoever held the position was unlikely to be of any help to the Queen.

“Marchioness Magnum’s hatred for Makaeri is excessive. She is not suitable to serve the Queen.”