The Queen Who Deserves To Be Tainted - Chapter 32.2
He hadn’t expected her to turn her head, and it surprised him. It gave him that fluttering feeling, catching him off guard. He tried to refocus on the front, but before he realized it, his gaze subtly shifted back to her. Meanwhile, the professor continued passionately leading the ceremony.
“Now, we will have speeches from His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen, who will grace this occasion. To commemorate today’s opening ceremony, both will speak in ancient Machi.”
As a round of applause erupted, Ejnar stood up with Elfreda. Walking together toward the podium, Ejnar glanced at her. Her clearly tense expression unsettled him. He could already imagine how that nervous face might soon contort.
After taking a short breath, he stood at the podium with Elfreda by his side. Since he was to speak first, Robert approached and handed him a crisp speech. All he had to do was read it.
Ejnar picked it up without hesitation.
“Ah…!”
In that moment, a startled sound came from beside him. Elfreda rushed over with a shocked expression.
“Your Majesty, you’re bleeding…!”
Ejnar’s finger was bleeding where it had been cut by the sharp edge of the crisp paper. Thick droplets of blood, unable to hold their weight, fell onto the speech, staining the page.
Elfreda quickly pulled out a handkerchief and grasped his finger tightly.
“Are you alright?”
As she wrapped the handkerchief around his bleeding finger, Ejnar looked up and saw her wide, glistening eyes filled with shock. His heart tightened for a moment.
His gaze shifted down to his injured finger.
It felt strange to see her holding it so tightly. Wasn’t she the one who had worked so hard to avoid touching him? And yet, this was…
“I’ll call for the doctor.”
“No need to fuss.”
He responded with a voice that momentarily choked in his throat before he slowly turned his head to face the astonished audience.
Smiling brightly, he casually parted his lips.
“Commemorating this historic occasion with my own blood is quite meaningful, isn’t it?”
A small chuckle rippled through the crowd. With Ejnar’s response lightening the mood, he glanced back at Elfreda, who still looked worried, and sighed as if resigned.
“However, since the speech is now a mess, may I borrow the Queen’s speech?”
“…Excuse me?”
“Marchioness Magnum.”
Ejnar shifted his gaze to Marchioness Magnum, who was standing a bit away, staring at him with a stiff expression. Their eyes met.
“Bring me the Queen’s speech. I’ll have to take it for a moment.”
“…No, Your Majesty. That isn’t necessary.”
The Marchioness replied in a tone that seemed deliberately calm.
“Your new speech has been prepared as a backup. I’ll go fetch that.”
“I think it might be fun to read a different speech.”
“Your Majesty…”
Just then, someone unexpectedly interjected.
“There’s no need to go that far.”
“….”
“I want to read my own.”
Elfreda spoke with a determined yet wet gaze. It was then that Ejnar finally understood her resolve and smiled.
‘Ah.’
It seemed she was far too earnest about this. Ejnar wiped his eyes, feeling both exasperated and amused.
“Is that so? Then.”
His voice grew more languid.
“Bring the new speech, Marchioness Magnum.”
As the new speech was on its way to Ejnar, Elfreda and Ejnar’s eyes met for a brief moment. Elfreda looked as if she might cry at any moment.
“….”
Feigning ignorance, Ejnar continued to gaze at her. Her eyes held a hundred emotions without her saying a single word.
“….”
Yet among all those feelings, one stood out so clearly that it made his heart churn.
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