The Queen Who Deserves To Be Tainted - Chapter 54.2

There was something strange about the fact that Illene hadn’t returned yet. The man who noticed her concern and quickly tried to sort things out.

“I didn’t mean something might happen… but it’s not ideal to wander alone in a place like this. If you’re okay with it, we could go together. I can handle protecting both of you.”

Elfreda hesitated for a moment, but his suggestion made sense. It would be much safer to go together than look for her alone.

Just as Elfreda was about to take his hand that he extended, a familiar voice interrupted.

“Wait.”

Before her hand could reach the man, Elfreda turned in surprise. A familiar man was walking toward her. He grabbed her hand and spoke in a voice lower than usual.

“I’ve been looking for you.”

“Ah…”

Elfreda froze in shock. The blonde man furrowed his brow and stepped in.

“Who are you to be grabbing someone else’s hand like that?”

“And who are you to be reaching out to another man’s woman?”

“Another man’s woman?”

“She’s…. my wife.”

The blonde man looked at Elfreda with a questioning expression. She nodded, and the blonde man turned to Ejnar with an incredulous look.

“I’ve never seen anyone act like this at a masquerade before.”

“Even at a masquerade, it’s not right to stand by while a family nearly falls apart. Someone should intervene.”

No, what does he mean by ‘fall apart’…?

Both the blonde man and Elfreda stared at Ejnar in disbelief, but he continued without a care.

“Usually, things start with holding hands, right?”

“Ple, please stop. He was just trying to help me.”

Elfreda’s defense caught Ejnar off guard, and his expression quickly hardened. He asked in a displeased tone.

Ejnar’s expression quickly hardened as he realized that Elfreda was defending the man. He asked with an irritated voice.

“What does that man think he can help you with?”

“Ille, my friend disappeared, and…”

“Ah, your friend?”

Ejnar quickly understood, and said with a knowing smile.

“I know where they are. Let’s go together.”

“Really? Have you two met already?”

“Yes. Come on, let’s go.”

With a kind smile, Ejnar gently draped his arm over Elfreda’s shoulder and led her in the opposite direction. He didn’t forget to cast one last sharp glare at the blonde man.

Elfreda followed him willingly to the balcony at the edge of the ballroom, where it was just the two of them. She looked around with an innocent expression and asked him.

“Where’s Illene?”

“….”

Watching Elfreda search only for Illene made Ejnar feel strangely uncomfortable. She met her husband at the masquerade, yet the only thing on her mind now was where Illene was?

Doesn’t she care about what he had been doing here, who he had met? Does she trust him that much, or does she just not care?

“Why do you look like that?”

Elfreda asked, noticing Ejnar staring at her in silence. Ejnar awkwardly smiled, wondering if it was a good thing or a bad thing that his expression was hidden behind the mask.

“No, it’s nothing. Lady Haegan is with someone else right now.”

“Someone else? Who?”

“Hmm, that’s a secret. It’s a masquerade, after all.”

As Elfreda’s expression became confused, Ejnar quickly moved the conversation along.

“Anyway, you don’t need to worry. Lady Haegan knows that we met.”

“Well, that’s a relief… But how did you recognize me?”

“Didn’t the Queen recognize me?”

“Well…”

Even though he had lowered his voice a little, there was no mistaking that it was him. There weren’t many men in the ballroom with such a good physique.

His golden hair was unforgettable, and his dark green eyes, even with half his face covered by a mask, made it impossible not to recognize him.

But mentioning all of that felt embarrassing, so Elfreda only gave the first reason.

“Your voice gave it away.”

“Sharp observation.”

“Then, how did Your Majesty recognize me?”

Ejnar paused for a moment before speaking.

“…the Queen’s voice gave it away.”