The Queen Who Deserves To Be Tainted - Chapter 45.1
Unlike the chaotic thoughts in his head, Ejnar’s gaze fixed on her with a calm, almost indifferent expression.
Elfreda, hesitating, finally spoke with a long, thoughtful look on her face.
“Well… I thought it might be nice if we went to the banquet together. It was Marchioness Magnum’s suggestion.”
Although it felt a bit awkward for her to go to Ejnar first, it was the first time the Marchioness had made such a suggestion.
There was nothing wrong with her reasoning either.
Perhaps it was a result of recent events involving the loss of her limbs, but the Marchioness had been surprisingly cooperative with her lately. And more importantly, there seemed to be no major issues, so she gathered the courage to bring it up.
“Since many foreign ambassadors will be attending, it might be better if we go together, if that’s alright with you.”
Ejnar gazed at Elfreda intently as she spoke cautiously, worried about offending him.
Even if he pushed the deaths of the late king and Anders to the past, this woman, behind her kind facade, was clearly a Makaeri spy plotting to swallow up Machi.
As he recalled this, his calm composure was maintained, but a surge of anger quickly followed.
‘Why do you, with that seemingly innocent face, mock me, the one who lost his entire family to your grandfather? If you had openly tried to seduce me, I would’ve played along more than enough to satisfy you.’
To counter this spite…
“Sure.”
It would only be fair if I toyed with you in return.
A crooked smile formed on his lips as that thought crossed his mind.
“Let’s go together.”
As usual, Elfreda took his kindness at face value, and her face blossomed into a bright, white smile as radiant as the midday sun. Ejnar smiled emptily, pulling her waist toward him. The tiny, slender waist that seemed so delicate in his grasp sparked an urge to crush it in his hands.
“Ah…”
It was easier to act kind than to make a child cry. Ejnar, staring silently at Elfreda, who flinched from the sudden contact, asked,
“Did you deliberately wear white?”
“Ah…”
Elfreda hesitated, then nodded.
Ah, how fitting. She was a queen, after all.
“I thought I should be wearing white for the king’s sake… Is that alright?”
“If I said it wasn’t alright, would you change?”
Ejnar watched with interest as her gaze wavered, then laughed.
“I’m just joking… You look great.”
The last words were slightly delayed, but Elfreda, caught by the compliment, didn’t find it odd.
Watching her eyes flutter even more, Ejnar stifled a quiet laugh in his mind.
Wasn’t this just as Marchioness Magnum had said? The evidence was so clear, it was hard to believe he hadn’t noticed sooner.
* * *
“The King and Queen are entering.”
When the king and queen entered the banquet hall together, everyone gathered began to stir. While there had been rumors that their relationship seemed like that of any other married couple, they had just chalked it up to the rumors of the night’s events.
However, appearing confidently with the Queen by his side at such an important event, with foreign diplomats present, could only mean one thing. The King’s feelings toward the Queen weren’t simple.
As people’s curious gazes burned into her, she felt an unconscious urge to shrink back.
“Straighten your shoulders.”
At that moment, Ejnar leaned in and whispered in Elfreda’s ear. His soft voice, almost like the prickling of fine hair, made her hold her breath instinctively.
“Did you forget? You’re the Queen of Machinow.”
As he told her to maintain her dignity, Elfreda straightened her back and lifted her chin, trying her best to look regal. With her more noble appearance, Ejnar felt a sense of satisfaction as they walked together through the banquet hall.
“Your Majesty, I congratulate you on your birthday. May the glory of Machi accompany you for many years to come.”
“Thank you.”
Amidst the repetition of such conversations, very few people spoke to her. The nobles seemed uncomfortable with her, and, given that today was Ejnar’s day, Elfreda was content to remain mostly unnoticed.
“Oh my, Your Majesty the Queen.”
For the first time, a familiar voice called out to her. Turning, she saw Rachela in a stunning pink dress, smiling warmly.
“Princess Rachela.”
“You look truly beautiful, Your Majesty.”
“You look lovely too, Princess.”
“Thank you, but I’m nowhere near as beautiful as the Queen.”
Rachela smiled bashfully, then turned her gaze to Ejnar, offering him her congratulations.
“Your Majesty, I congratulate you on your birthday.”
“Thank you, Princess.”
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