The Queen Who Deserves To Be Tainted - Chapter 8.1

After a few days of rest, a hectic schedule rushed back like a wave.

Elfreda felt like she was going to vomit as she memorized the terms used in the court and calculated the royal budget to the point where her head turned gray until the King’s face became naturally blurry due to exhaustion.

As she gradually forgot him, Elfreda found solace.

“Today, we will study the history from the previous Kings to the current King.”

Unexpectedly, she encountered him again in history class.

As she flipped through the book with a tired face, she suddenly paused. There was a face that resembled someone she knew. Next to it was a portrait of a beautiful woman, and below that, it seemed like someone’s image was inserted.

She tried not to look closely at the face below, but the history teacher began reciting the history of the previous Kings.

Suppressing her unease, Elfreda focused on the teacher’s story.

“…So, King Olaf III, who was a great ruler with excellent strategy and remarkable military leadership, unfortunately, passed away at the age of 31. He unexpectedly lost his life while attending the coronation ceremony in the Giver Kingdom due to an unforeseen storm.”

The teacher explained with a gloomy voice.

“At that time, his queen accompanied him, and as a result, only one young prince remained in the royal family. With the young prince’s age of only three, lord Philip ascended to the throne, becoming King Philip II.”

As the teacher continued explaining King Philip II’s reign, her expression gradually paled. It was because of the name that was inevitably going to appear at the end.

“…With remarkable strategic advantages and great determination, King Philip II managed to protect the kingdom even from the hooves of the savage Makaeri Empire, an empire formed solely by force and uniting many tribes. However, an unexpected situation arose five years ago when King Philip went on an expedition to the troubled Giver Kingdom…”

“….”

“…And he fell in battle alongside his son, Prince Anders.”

At this point, the teacher’s voice clearly slowed down and stiffened.

Elfreda, who had reddened eyes without realizing it, felt like she was being scrutinized by the history teacher’s gaze as her breath seemed to catch.

“In the end, Olaf III’s only son ascended the throne, and he is now the current King.”

There seemed to be no way to avoid it now.

Elfreda finally, with trembling eyes, looked at the man’s picture that she had tried so hard not to see. A dignified and elegant face met her gaze. Even though it was just a painting, it felt like it was capturing her entire body.

Her heart began to beat rapidly.

— Ejnar Machi

Elfreda, who learned his name for the first time, whispered it softly without making a sound. The soft rolling of her tongue tasted bitter. The history teacher, who stared at her with a gaze that was far from friendly, spoke.

“Shall we continue with the description of the current King’s reign?”

* * *

Time passed quickly, and finally, her wedding day arrived.

Perhaps due to the exhausting schedule that had felt like a war or maybe because she had no particular expectations for this marriage, Elfreda prepared for the wedding with a calm attitude that was uncharacteristic of the bride.

Her expression looked more like that of a woman going into the monastery than a wedding.

“Alright, all is finished.”

Wearing a delicate white lace veil on her head and an elegant and modest pure white dress, Elfreda looked beautiful enough in everyone’s eyes.

The maids who were dressing her acknowledged this fact inside, but no one dared to praise her openly. Complimenting a savage woman like her would hurt their pride, after all. Instead, they offered different words.

“It must be lonely when no one came from your homeland.”

Despite the content, it was a mocking tone.

Elfreda maintained a composed silence. She had heard the news that an embassy had been sent from Makaeri to celebrate her wedding. However, even if the embassy had arrived, it would not have elicited any particular enthusiasm from her.

The wedding took place at St. Diane’s Cathedral near the royal palace. As Elfreda rode in a carriage, she did not feel the reality of her wedding until the moment she waited in the bride’s waiting room.

Finally, it was time for her to enter, and Elfreda walked into the venue with an expressionless face.

“I present Elfreda Makaeri, the Princess of Makaeri.”