The Queen Who Deserves To Be Tainted - Chapter 6.1

“…Greetings, Your Majesty.”

Elfreda concluded her greeting with a formal tone. Ejnar released her, who had a bewildered face. He didn’t put her down that hard, but her swaying body, due to the recoil, was delicately precarious.

Tsk, Ejnar clicked his tongue once, caught her again and steadied her on the ground.

“You’re not even a piece of paper*, and yet you stagger.”
[ T/N: 종잇장 lit is a piece of paper, but he meant to say that she was very skinny. ]

The metaphor wasn’t an exaggeration.

The body of the woman he had held in the pond that day was as light as a mannequin. Somehow, today seemed lighter than before. They say she was devoting herself to the queen classes and even skipping meals.

He gave her a narrow glance. Undoubtedly, she seemed to have more sunken cheeks than when he first saw her.

“Where are you going?”

Elfreda swallowed and answered.

“I’m going to Tem’s Palace.”

“With that body?”

He immediately scoffed.

“You’re not just going to fall like a dried leaf on the way?”

“….”

“Don’t be stubborn. Go back to where you originally were.”

She knew that the ‘original place’ was the room she had just left. However, it sounded like returning to her homeland of Makaeri, which made her heart ache even more. Elfreda’s eyes, unbeknownst to her, welled up with tears.

Ejnar felt a sense of awkwardness at her reaction.

“Princess, you’re noble. Should I speak more kindly and politely?”

It wasn’t really the problem, though it seemed like a misunderstanding. Elfreda quickly shook her head. However, he continued teasing her.

“Do I have to carry you again this time?”

“N, no.”

Elfreda replied without even looking directly into his eyes.

“I can go alone. It just seems like I would be a nuisance…”

“You seem to be having some misunderstanding.”

He pointed out with a wry smile.

“Going there with your body would be more of a nuisance. Someone would have to move you again.”

“…Ah.”

At his words, she recalled what Ilene had said.

“The King personally brought the Princess.”

At first, she was confused about whether he personally brought her to save her or simply ordered someone to do it. Still, she clearly mentioned ‘personally’ carrying her. From the garden to here, it was too far for him to walk, but there were other palaces nearby.

No… Looking at it differently, it still didn’t make sense why he personally brought her.

Only now did the confusion dawn on Elfreda. The fact that he twice saved the granddaughter of his enemy seemed to be a political issue, but it was truly strange that he didn’t use someone else’s help.

“Thank you for that day.”

Nevertheless, expressing gratitude was the first priority.

As she spoke, Ejnar’s gaze on her became more intense. Elfreda felt like she was sinking into a rising puddle, but she managed to keep her voice calm and continued.

“I apologize for being a nuisance in various ways.”

For the events of last night, the first night here… her heart trembled coldly as she realized that she had become the bride of the man whose family her grandfather had killed.

“Well.”

Ejnar murmured in a monotone voice.

“It’s something that happened while trying to avoid a person you don’t want to see.”

“…Yes?”

“If there’s a reason, then so be it.”

Elfreda, who had become somewhat stunned, hastily denied,

“It’s not like that….”

However, at that moment, her eyes met with Ejnar’s. Those deep, dark green eyes seemed to be questioning if it really wasn’t. Elfreda involuntarily swallowed dryly. Strictly speaking, it wasn’t wrong, but expressing that it was unpleasant.