Rihannan couldn’t fathom the depth of Igor’s animosity towards Chrichton—perhaps it stemmed from his mother’s Chrichton heritage. But such matters held no significance to Rihannan any longer.
Each time Igor attempted to undermine Chrichton by bolstering Arundell’s naval might, the Queen vehemently opposed his actions. As long as the alliance with Chrichton remained intact, the Queen believed it imperative for Arundell to focus its efforts on restraining the burgeoning Toulouse Empire, nestled at the heart of the continent, while Chrichton thrived on its coastal shores.
Years ago, Arundell and Chrichton forged a coalition through a royal union, with the aim of thwarting Toulouse’s ascent to power.
Rihannan vividly remembered Igor’s angered voice, his outbursts concealed behind closed doors. He would ask, “Do you overlook these glaring issues because of your Chrichton blood?”
“Rihannan, the young King of Arundell is audacious,” Helena sighed.
Rihannan offered a bitter smile in response to Helena’s unexpected remark. She had not anticipated hearing his name from the princess.
“Rihannan, you’re eighteen, aren’t you? I wonder what led you to settle in Chrichton. Couldn’t you maintain a stable relationship with the Queen? Rihannan, have you ever met the young king?”
Rihannan swallowed hard. “We met once at the royal palace when I was young. We didn’t engage in any substantial conversation. I know very little about him. I apologize.”
“Hmm… I see,” Helena narrowed her eyes and stroked her chin. “To witness the Queen’s power dissipate so swiftly, Arundell’s young king must be truly remarkable. Competent, as well.”
Rihannan’s grip tightened around the teacup, her fingers trembling faintly. She bit her lip and replied, “That is indeed true…”
Six years ago, Rihannan and Igor’s future took an unexpected turn. She was no longer the Queen of Arundell and had chosen to seek solace in a peaceful existence in Chrichton. She found contentment there. Yet, she never anticipated the dramatic changes the future had in store. She had assumed Igor would take another woman as his queen while she lived out a quiet life in Chrichton.
But the unexpected unfolded.
Igor did not take a consort. Furthermore, he fiercely battled against his mother’s loyalists, swiftly seizing control of all affairs of state. Even now, he continued his struggle against those who had supported the late Queen.
As for the tax investigation that Igor had previously halted midway, he saw to its completion in this lifetime. Igor succeeded in severing ties with influential figures who opposed him, including those with allegiances to Chrichton.
Naturally, Chrichton viewed these actions as despicable.
Previously, Chrichton had shed its own blood to aid the late Queen in reclaiming her power. And now, their own blood was spilled due to her son’s disdain for Chrichton. This simmering conflict had quietly brewed over the years. However, out of consideration for their longstanding alliance, both sides had avoided direct military confrontations.
But months ago, an incident occurred. A Chrichton noble was beheaded in Edirne, the capital of Arundell. Arundell accused the noble of espionage.
Chrichton’s anger surged like an inferno, igniting a chain of unforeseen events.
The King of Chrichton dispatched his proudest warship to the coast of Arundell. Though the Chrichton King’s intent was to stage a protest rather than instigate war, had Arundell’s King expressed sincere regret for the incident, Chrichton would have stepped back.
However, such was not the case.
The King of Arundell opted for an all-out naval conflict rather than a land-based one.
This chain of events had not occurred in Rihannan’s previous life. It was new.
“But let us pay no heed to the naysayers. Their opinions hold no weight, Rihannan. A king who knows naught of the world shall soon realize the foolishness of engaging us at sea. When reality dawns upon him, he shall retreat in silence,” Helena remarked.
Rihannan offered a gentle smile in response to Helena’s concern. “Yes, princess. I am grateful for your concern.” Rihannan placed the teacup on the table and rose from her seat. “It has been quite some time. I must take my leave now.”
“Oh, Rhia… can’t you reside in the palace with me?” Helena pleaded. “Must you truly return home?”
Rihannan’s smile turned solemn. “I would love to stay with you, princess, but the palace feels stifling to me.”
Helena sighed. “Here we go again. I may be a princess, but I am still Helena at the end of the day. Rhia, why can’t you call me by my given name?”
“Because I bear the blood of Chrichton.”
With a farewell lingering in her heart, Rihannan departed the chamber and ventured into the depths of her memories.
Six years ago, upon arriving in Chrichton, Rihannan had swiftly become Helena’s loyal companion. The youngest of the royal brood, Helena was cherished by the House of Crichton. Many noble suitors had sought to win her affections, only to retreat in the face of her fiery temperament. Yet Rihannan, also of noble lineage and the same age as the princess, arrived like a knight in shining armor, becoming Helena’s true confidante.
Rihannan possessed an authenticity that resonated with Helena, despite their strikingly different personalities. While Helena’s spirit burned with a passionate fire, Rihannan exuded gentleness and patience.
Together, they formed a seamless bond, completing each other like two interlocking puzzle pieces.
The princess had beseeched Rihannan to reside within the palace walls, but the mere thought of the grand abode stirred a nauseating sensation within her.
As Rihannan emerged from the princess’s abode, she meandered through the palace garden. The sun waned, allowing the chilly air to seep through the crevices of her garments. Rihannan paused her steps, seeking solace in the warmth she generated by rubbing her hands together, her mind retracing the conversation she had shared with the princess earlier.
The ongoing conflict between Arundell and Crichton raged upon the vast sea. Crichton should have the advantage, given the circumstances. While anomalies between her past and present existence perplexed her, Rihannan remained confident in Crichton’s impending triumph. The rapid rise of Arundell’s naval power, surpassing that of Crichton, appeared unfathomable.
Yet…
Curiosity gnawed at her.
Igor possessed a measure of optimism but was far from reckless. Rihannan understood the arduous path he had taken to seize power. Surely, he would have devised alternative methods, strategies that did not involve futile wars.
And she was curious.
Curious as to how he had managed to subdue the Queen’s forces and erode her authority—a task Igor had previously found exceedingly challenging.
Could it be that my presence was detrimental to him?
Rihannan’s silver lashes drooped, casting a shadow upon her contemplative gaze. Perhaps… perhaps her proximity to Igor had become toxic. Like fire and water, they were incompatible, destined to clash and self-destruct, scorching each other countless times over.
“This is for the best,” Rihannan whispered to herself. “Isn’t this what you wanted, Igor? Now you can pursue your desires unhindered.”
Igor was no longer the person she had once known, just as she was no longer the woman he had once loved.
And…
There was another significant difference in her current life—her father. He had departed this world, leaving behind a legacy of twisted cruelty. Rihannan had spent her days striving to appease his distorted desires, surrendering herself in a desperate bid for acceptance. Yet no matter what she did, her father’s love remained forever out of reach. He had clipped her wings, transforming her into a bird forever grounded.
A year ago, Jeffrey had sent her a letter—an obituary for the Count.
True to her promise six years prior, Rihannan had continued to provide the Count with a meager monthly stipend. But fate had a cruel twist in store. The minimum sum proved sufficient for the Count and Leticia to live a comfortable life. However, the Count succumbed to his vices, gambling away their funds and accruing insurmountable debts. When the creditors discovered the Count’s inability to repay what he owed, they sought Rihannan through Jeffrey, demanding their due. Yet, with Jeffrey’s deft negotiations, they were forced to abandon their pursuit.
Frustrated by their inability to extract the debt from Rihannan, they turned their wrath upon the Count, descending upon him like a tempest.
Unable to bear the weight of his debts, the Count reached his lowest ebb and ended his own life. One fateful morning, Leticia entered his room to find her father sprawled lifeless on the floor, a glass bottle of poison beside him.
That was the grim contents of the letter Rihannan had received.
The rest of the Count’s family, her paternal kin, hoped to retain his noble status even in death. They postponed his funeral, appealing to Rihannan to inter him beside her mother’s resting place.
Rihannan initially harbored reservations, but she swiftly made her decision. She believed her mother would welcome him, even in death, despite the unrequited love that had plagued their relationship.
And so, Rihannan acquiesced to their request.
Seeking information about Leticia’s whereabouts, Rihannan approached Jeffrey. He informed her that the Count’s relatives had forsaken Leticia, refusing to acknowledge her due to her illegitimate birth. The mysterious disappearance of Leticia remained a mystery.
Yet, Rihannan felt nothing.
Upon learning of her father’s demise, she remained impassive. She did not attend his funeral, nor did she make any effort to locate Leticia, whose whereabouts eluded her.
They shared a history, one that Rihannan could easily have overlooked. While the Count seethed with anger, resenting Rihannan for robbing his other daughter of a life of opulence, it was not Rihannan’s burden to bear.
She ought to have felt remorse, yet she did not comprehend how.
Her father and sister had plunged her into the abyss of darkness.
To Rihannan, they were unworthy of her sympathy. And now, the ties that once bound them were severed—her father was dead, and Leticia had vanished without a trace.
There was nothing left to connect her to them.
Rihannan couldn’t fathom the depth of Igor’s animosity towards Chrichton—perhaps it stemmed from his mother’s Chrichton heritage. But such matters held no significance to Rihannan any longer.
Each time Igor attempted to undermine Chrichton by bolstering Arundell’s naval might, the Queen vehemently opposed his actions. As long as the alliance with Chrichton remained intact, the Queen believed it imperative for Arundell to focus its efforts on restraining the burgeoning Toulouse Empire, nestled at the heart of the continent, while Chrichton thrived on its coastal shores.
Years ago, Arundell and Chrichton forged a coalition through a royal union, with the aim of thwarting Toulouse’s ascent to power.
Rihannan vividly remembered Igor’s angered voice, his outbursts concealed behind closed doors. He would ask, “Do you overlook these glaring issues because of your Chrichton blood?”
“Rihannan, the young King of Arundell is audacious,” Helena sighed.
Rihannan offered a bitter smile in response to Helena’s unexpected remark. She had not anticipated hearing his name from the princess.
“Rihannan, you’re eighteen, aren’t you? I wonder what led you to settle in Chrichton. Couldn’t you maintain a stable relationship with the Queen? Rihannan, have you ever met the young king?”
Rihannan swallowed hard. “We met once at the royal palace when I was young. We didn’t engage in any substantial conversation. I know very little about him. I apologize.”
“Hmm… I see,” Helena narrowed her eyes and stroked her chin. “To witness the Queen’s power dissipate so swiftly, Arundell’s young king must be truly remarkable. Competent, as well.”
Rihannan’s grip tightened around the teacup, her fingers trembling faintly. She bit her lip and replied, “That is indeed true…”
Six years ago, Rihannan and Igor’s future took an unexpected turn. She was no longer the Queen of Arundell and had chosen to seek solace in a peaceful existence in Chrichton. She found contentment there. Yet, she never anticipated the dramatic changes the future had in store. She had assumed Igor would take another woman as his queen while she lived out a quiet life in Chrichton.
But the unexpected unfolded.
Igor did not take a consort. Furthermore, he fiercely battled against his mother’s loyalists, swiftly seizing control of all affairs of state. Even now, he continued his struggle against those who had supported the late Queen.
As for the tax investigation that Igor had previously halted midway, he saw to its completion in this lifetime. Igor succeeded in severing ties with influential figures who opposed him, including those with allegiances to Chrichton.
Naturally, Chrichton viewed these actions as despicable.
Previously, Chrichton had shed its own blood to aid the late Queen in reclaiming her power. And now, their own blood was spilled due to her son’s disdain for Chrichton. This simmering conflict had quietly brewed over the years. However, out of consideration for their longstanding alliance, both sides had avoided direct military confrontations.
But months ago, an incident occurred. A Chrichton noble was beheaded in Edirne, the capital of Arundell. Arundell accused the noble of espionage.
Chrichton’s anger surged like an inferno, igniting a chain of unforeseen events.
The King of Chrichton dispatched his proudest warship to the coast of Arundell. Though the Chrichton King’s intent was to stage a protest rather than instigate war, had Arundell’s King expressed sincere regret for the incident, Chrichton would have stepped back.
However, such was not the case.
The King of Arundell opted for an all-out naval conflict rather than a land-based one.
This chain of events had not occurred in Rihannan’s previous life. It was new.
“But let us pay no heed to the naysayers. Their opinions hold no weight, Rihannan. A king who knows naught of the world shall soon realize the foolishness of engaging us at sea. When reality dawns upon him, he shall retreat in silence,” Helena remarked.
Rihannan offered a gentle smile in response to Helena’s concern. “Yes, princess. I am grateful for your concern.” Rihannan placed the teacup on the table and rose from her seat. “It has been quite some time. I must take my leave now.”
“Oh, Rhia… can’t you reside in the palace with me?” Helena pleaded. “Must you truly return home?”
Rihannan’s smile turned solemn. “I would love to stay with you, princess, but the palace feels stifling to me.”
Helena sighed. “Here we go again. I may be a princess, but I am still Helena at the end of the day. Rhia, why can’t you call me by my given name?”
“Because I bear the blood of Chrichton.”
With a farewell lingering in her heart, Rihannan departed the chamber and ventured into the depths of her memories.
Six years ago, upon arriving in Chrichton, Rihannan had swiftly become Helena’s loyal companion. The youngest of the royal brood, Helena was cherished by the House of Crichton. Many noble suitors had sought to win her affections, only to retreat in the face of her fiery temperament. Yet Rihannan, also of noble lineage and the same age as the princess, arrived like a knight in shining armor, becoming Helena’s true confidante.
Rihannan possessed an authenticity that resonated with Helena, despite their strikingly different personalities. While Helena’s spirit burned with a passionate fire, Rihannan exuded gentleness and patience.
Together, they formed a seamless bond, completing each other like two interlocking puzzle pieces.
The princess had beseeched Rihannan to reside within the palace walls, but the mere thought of the grand abode stirred a nauseating sensation within her.
As Rihannan emerged from the princess’s abode, she meandered through the palace garden. The sun waned, allowing the chilly air to seep through the crevices of her garments. Rihannan paused her steps, seeking solace in the warmth she generated by rubbing her hands together, her mind retracing the conversation she had shared with the princess earlier.
The ongoing conflict between Arundell and Crichton raged upon the vast sea. Crichton should have the advantage, given the circumstances. While anomalies between her past and present existence perplexed her, Rihannan remained confident in Crichton’s impending triumph. The rapid rise of Arundell’s naval power, surpassing that of Crichton, appeared unfathomable.
Yet…
Curiosity gnawed at her.
Igor possessed a measure of optimism but was far from reckless. Rihannan understood the arduous path he had taken to seize power. Surely, he would have devised alternative methods, strategies that did not involve futile wars.
And she was curious.
Curious as to how he had managed to subdue the Queen’s forces and erode her authority—a task Igor had previously found exceedingly challenging.
Could it be that my presence was detrimental to him?
Rihannan’s silver lashes drooped, casting a shadow upon her contemplative gaze. Perhaps… perhaps her proximity to Igor had become toxic. Like fire and water, they were incompatible, destined to clash and self-destruct, scorching each other countless times over.
“This is for the best,” Rihannan whispered to herself. “Isn’t this what you wanted, Igor? Now you can pursue your desires unhindered.”
Igor was no longer the person she had once known, just as she was no longer the woman he had once loved.
And…
There was another significant difference in her current life—her father. He had departed this world, leaving behind a legacy of twisted cruelty. Rihannan had spent her days striving to appease his distorted desires, surrendering herself in a desperate bid for acceptance. Yet no matter what she did, her father’s love remained forever out of reach. He had clipped her wings, transforming her into a bird forever grounded.
A year ago, Jeffrey had sent her a letter—an obituary for the Count.
True to her promise six years prior, Rihannan had continued to provide the Count with a meager monthly stipend. But fate had a cruel twist in store. The minimum sum proved sufficient for the Count and Leticia to live a comfortable life. However, the Count succumbed to his vices, gambling away their funds and accruing insurmountable debts. When the creditors discovered the Count’s inability to repay what he owed, they sought Rihannan through Jeffrey, demanding their due. Yet, with Jeffrey’s deft negotiations, they were forced to abandon their pursuit.
Frustrated by their inability to extract the debt from Rihannan, they turned their wrath upon the Count, descending upon him like a tempest.
Unable to bear the weight of his debts, the Count reached his lowest ebb and ended his own life. One fateful morning, Leticia entered his room to find her father sprawled lifeless on the floor, a glass bottle of poison beside him.
That was the grim contents of the letter Rihannan had received.
The rest of the Count’s family, her paternal kin, hoped to retain his noble status even in death. They postponed his funeral, appealing to Rihannan to inter him beside her mother’s resting place.
Rihannan initially harbored reservations, but she swiftly made her decision. She believed her mother would welcome him, even in death, despite the unrequited love that had plagued their relationship.
And so, Rihannan acquiesced to their request.
Seeking information about Leticia’s whereabouts, Rihannan approached Jeffrey. He informed her that the Count’s relatives had forsaken Leticia, refusing to acknowledge her due to her illegitimate birth. The mysterious disappearance of Leticia remained a mystery.
Yet, Rihannan felt nothing.
Upon learning of her father’s demise, she remained impassive. She did not attend his funeral, nor did she make any effort to locate Leticia, whose whereabouts eluded her.
They shared a history, one that Rihannan could easily have overlooked. While the Count seethed with anger, resenting Rihannan for robbing his other daughter of a life of opulence, it was not Rihannan’s burden to bear.
She ought to have felt remorse, yet she did not comprehend how.
Her father and sister had plunged her into the abyss of darkness.
To Rihannan, they were unworthy of her sympathy. And now, the ties that once bound them were severed—her father was dead, and Leticia had vanished without a trace.
There was nothing left to connect her to them.
