The Queen Who Deserves To Be Tainted - Chapter 46.2

“Do you even know what I went through there? I apologized to that worthless woman, Elfreda!”

“Good work.”

“Father, this kind of praise doesn’t soothe my wounded heart!”

Her father’s calm appearance only infuriated Serina more, and she stormed about in frustration.

“Why can’t we just march into Machi and crush them? With Makaeri’s power, it would be easy! They’re nothing, those disgusting insects…”

“Enough!”

The Emperor, who was already frustrated with opposition factions questioning his competence, had been dealing with their constant criticism about sending a second expedition to Machi. Unable to bear it any longer, he raised his voice in frustration.

Serina stopped in shock, looking at him with wide eyes.

“No matter how powerful Makaeri is, you can’t stay on your high horse forever. True conquest is made from the ground, beneath the horse. Do you think the tribes united by the late Emperor have completely bent to us? Not at all! They’re pretending to bow while they’re scheming to take the imperial palace!”

“Father…”

“Are you really saying we should go on a campaign like this? Do you not understand that for Makaeri to thrive, we need to strengthen our own foundations, not expand outward?”

The Emperor’s words weren’t wrong, but they felt like a reminder that she might face more humiliation like this in the future.

Her neck felt cold at the thought.

Yet, she couldn’t express her emotions openly. As she sulked, she heard the Emperor’s sharp order.

“There’s a much easier way to defeat the enemy. There’s nothing stupider than taking the long route. You’re going as the ambassador for the King’s birthday celebrations in Machi. Go there and push Elfreda even harder. Tell her to hurry up and produce an heir.”

“When did you arrive at the banquet?”

Elfreda’s slightly uneasy voice brought Serina back to reality. Without realizing it, her expression had hardened, but she quickly brightened it up, forcing a more cheerful demeanor.

“Just now. But I saw everything I needed to.”

Elfreda looked at her as if confused, and then her expression froze.

“They say the pair look quite affectionate… but why is there still no news of a pregnancy?”

“It’s been less than half a year since we got married. Don’t be so impatient.”

“You need to get pregnant, Elfreda. If you get older, it’ll only get harder to conceive, won’t it?”

Anyway, since the Emperor didn’t seem to have any intention of directly invading Machi, as he said, it was best to pave the easier path. To make sure that this small, ignorant nation kneels before Makaeri as soon as possible.

Serina, who had been complaining unsatisfyingly, pressed on, and then suddenly gasped and covered her mouth.

“Ah, could there be something we’ve missed?”

“Huh? What do you mean…?”

“What if the King is impotent?”

Elfreda almost stopped in her tracks in shock. Serina casually pulled her along and responded nonchalantly.

“No, why not? There’s a saying about seedless watermelon, isn’t there?”

Ignoring her wide-eyed gaze, Serina continued seriously.

“Well, what if that’s the case? I hadn’t thought of that.”

“It’s not like that.”

Elfreda responded absurdly, but as Serina’s words sank in, she couldn’t help but worry. But no, he was far too energetic, and…

As Elfreda, who had been seriously pondering, suddenly found the thought ridiculous, she let it go. After all, his fertility wasn’t important to Makaeri. For Elfreda, who was being used by Makaeri, it would actually be better if Ejnar was impotent.

“Are you a doctor? How would you know?”

“…Well, anyway, it’s not that.”

“So, is your husband just weak?”

Elfreda’s face had now become completely dumbfounded. The things coming out of the young princess’s mouth were increasingly absurd. No matter how sexually open Makaeri might be, this was too much…

Seeing her in such a state, Serina chuckled lightly and, as if it didn’t matter at all, gave her a light tap.

“Anyway, I brought something that might help you. There’s no one here who’ll help you like this, right?”

Serina crossed her arms and pulled something out of her pocket, slipping it into her dress pocket. When Elfreda put her hand into her dress pocket in confusion, she felt the smooth surface of a round glass object.

“What’s this?”