Rihannan’s eyes twitched, her shoulders trembling momentarily. Before her stood a tall, black-haired man, his expression devoid of emotion. He possessed an undeniable handsomeness, with a perfectly proportioned physique that attracted admiration from the courtly ladies.
They were intrigued by the enigmatic rumors surrounding the king’s physique, pondering the depths of his prowess in the bedroom. They sought answers from the queen, but she remained silent, unable to provide any insight.
The nights spent with Igor had left her in a state of suspense. There was often a hint of macabre in his gaze, as if he despised her touch. Many nights passed without them fulfilling their marital obligations.
After Leticia’s appearance at court, she had engaged in discussions with the ladies of the court, eager to uncover the secrets they longed to know. The answer they discovered? The king was passionate and vigorous in bed, surpassing the rumors that circulated. Since then, the courtly ladies looked down upon Rihannan with mocking eyes.
She was deemed the pitiable and foolish queen, who had never gained favor with the king and had lost her husband to her half-sister. Such was the assessment of the court.
“……”
As Rihannan’s gaze locked onto Igor, a tremor ran through her. His dark purple eyes scrutinized her, and in that instant, memories of the past flooded her mind like an unrelenting tide. From the little boy who had climbed trees for her, to their final moments with Leticia, she almost turned away, yearning to flee from Igor’s presence. It felt as if he would tear her apart with cruel words and drag her back into a wretched abyss.
“Lady… no, it should be Countess now,” Igor spoke first, while Rihannan remained frozen. His voice was low, and unexpectedly, a soft smile graced his features. “Long time no see.”
She was taken aback, her eyes flickering with surprise.
“It has indeed been a while. The last time we saw each other was when we were children.”
Yes… he had lost his memories of the past. He was referring to their childhood days.
Rihannan hastily curtsied, clasping her skirts together. “Your Majesty, I apologize. My earlier actions were somewhat rude, if not more. I am the daughter of Count Alessin, and as you say, it has indeed been quite some time since our last meeting.”
She was pleased with herself; she did not falter or reveal the deep fear and hatred harbored within her heart. Though she had made a few mistakes in the beginning, Rihannan reassured herself that their conversation had begun on relatively good terms.
“Please, have a seat. The servant will bring us a drink shortly.”
Igor gestured toward the round table situated in the middle of the room. Rihannan nodded and moved toward the table, while Igor pulled out a chair for her. Silently, she took her seat, unable to decline his burdensome act of kindness.
Once she was settled, Igor moved to the opposite side of the table and took his own seat.
Soon, Basil arrived with a tea set and began preparing tea for both Igor and Rihannan.
Rihannan kept her head lowered as much as possible, her silver eyebrows slightly furrowed. It was an attempt to conceal the turmoil within her heart and the torrent of emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. This encounter already felt like too much for her to bear.
“Now, let us engage in a pleasant conversation,” Igor said.
As Basil picked up the water kettle, Rihannan parted her lips, yet she kept her head lowered even after hearing the door close behind her.
“First of all, thank you very much for accepting my request, Your Majesty.”
“I am glad to see you well. It truly has been quite some time. I heard from Mother that you had journeyed to Chrichton. How have you been?”
“Yes, both my uncle and cousin are good-hearted individuals.”
The Marquis and Dimitri were the beacons of light in her life. It was only after she arrived in Chrichton that she realized the cruelty and abuse she had endured in her past. Leticia never allowed Rihannan to possess anything superior to her. If she did, Leticia would throw a tantrum or concoct a secret plan to steal away what should rightfully be Rihannan’s. And if she couldn’t have what Rihannan had…
Once, when Rihannan was a child and most young ladies would gather to form acquaintances, Leticia was unable to attend due to her illegitimate status. She wept and clung to her father upon discovering that Rihannan would attend while she could not, simply because of her status.
“Father, if I can’t go, then don’t let Rihannan go,” Leticia would say.
As a result, the Count immediately banned Rihannan from engaging in any outdoor activities. She spent the majority of her time confined within the mansion’s walls until her marriage brought her to the royal palace. The only individuals she interacted with were the Count, Leticia, hired teachers, and the servants and maids personally chosen by the Count—most of the previous servants had long departed.
Originally a gentle and carefree individual, the life of captivity had drained her of her innocence.
Living in the royal palace presented its own challenges. The late Queen, the only person who had been on Rihannan’s side, secretly hoped that she would comply with her words and commands as well. Rihannan avoided the Queen’s persistent requests, not wanting to be entangled in the web of political intrigues. All she desired was peace. However, she knew such a hope was too much to ask for. Eventually, she succumbed to the Queen’s wishes. The Queen would be overjoyed. When Igor discovered the truth, the Queen would claim that it was Rihannan’s will. The Queen’s intentions aligned with Rihannan’s, and she could not deny it in front of him, for the Queen had already spoken it into existence. Then, he would wear a look of disappointment or anger before turning away from her in disgust.
At the time, Rihannan believed that her difficulty in engaging in normal conversations or developing genuine relationships stemmed from her own lack of confidence and foolishness. However, that was not the case. When she arrived in Chrichton, she experienced love and protection from her uncle and Dimitri for the first time, which surprised her. Her life of captivity within the mansion had hindered her growth…
What she had endured as a child and into her adulthood was abuse…
“They truly love and care for me. They are like family to me.”
At her statement, Rihannan felt a surge of irritation. She could have lived a peaceful life with her loved ones in Chrichton, but that had been shattered by the marriage proposal. If the Igor of the past was the man she feared, then the present Igor angered her.
Rihannan took a soft breath and slowly raised her head, meeting Igor’s gaze. “I requested this meeting with you because I have something to ask of you.” She remained calm, her nerves steady. She did not tremble when her eyes met his deep purple gaze. Good. She possessed the courage to speak her mind. “That is…”
“If you are asking me to step down from the marriage proposal, I cannot. I cannot allow that,” Igor abruptly interjected.
“No, it is not that. In fact, what I was going to ask is the opposite.”
Only then did confusion flicker in Igor’s eyes.
“The opposite…?”
“I earnestly ask that you choose me for marriage, not the princess.”
Igor silently stared at Rihannan. His expression became rigid—he simply looked at her and said nothing. As his gaze gradually changed, Rihannan realized that the teacup in his hand was tilting slightly. She noticed the hot tea was on the verge of spilling onto his thighs. She opened her mouth to speak, but he hurriedly placed the teacup back on the table and said, “So, let me confirm. What I heard is correct? You want me to choose you for marriage instead of the princess? Is that right?”
Rihannan interpreted his words as a sign of displeasure. Quickly, she responded, “I know that it may be impolite and audacious of me to ask, but I am not making this request without offering anything in return. I can provide you with far greater benefits if you choose me.”
Igor furrowed his brow. “Greater benefits…?”
Rihannan’s eyes twitched, her shoulders trembling momentarily. Before her stood a tall, black-haired man, his expression devoid of emotion. He possessed an undeniable handsomeness, with a perfectly proportioned physique that attracted admiration from the courtly ladies.
They were intrigued by the enigmatic rumors surrounding the king’s physique, pondering the depths of his prowess in the bedroom. They sought answers from the queen, but she remained silent, unable to provide any insight.
The nights spent with Igor had left her in a state of suspense. There was often a hint of macabre in his gaze, as if he despised her touch. Many nights passed without them fulfilling their marital obligations.
After Leticia’s appearance at court, she had engaged in discussions with the ladies of the court, eager to uncover the secrets they longed to know. The answer they discovered? The king was passionate and vigorous in bed, surpassing the rumors that circulated. Since then, the courtly ladies looked down upon Rihannan with mocking eyes.
She was deemed the pitiable and foolish queen, who had never gained favor with the king and had lost her husband to her half-sister. Such was the assessment of the court.
“……”
As Rihannan’s gaze locked onto Igor, a tremor ran through her. His dark purple eyes scrutinized her, and in that instant, memories of the past flooded her mind like an unrelenting tide. From the little boy who had climbed trees for her, to their final moments with Leticia, she almost turned away, yearning to flee from Igor’s presence. It felt as if he would tear her apart with cruel words and drag her back into a wretched abyss.
“Lady… no, it should be Countess now,” Igor spoke first, while Rihannan remained frozen. His voice was low, and unexpectedly, a soft smile graced his features. “Long time no see.”
She was taken aback, her eyes flickering with surprise.
“It has indeed been a while. The last time we saw each other was when we were children.”
Yes… he had lost his memories of the past. He was referring to their childhood days.
Rihannan hastily curtsied, clasping her skirts together. “Your Majesty, I apologize. My earlier actions were somewhat rude, if not more. I am the daughter of Count Alessin, and as you say, it has indeed been quite some time since our last meeting.”
She was pleased with herself; she did not falter or reveal the deep fear and hatred harbored within her heart. Though she had made a few mistakes in the beginning, Rihannan reassured herself that their conversation had begun on relatively good terms.
“Please, have a seat. The servant will bring us a drink shortly.”
Igor gestured toward the round table situated in the middle of the room. Rihannan nodded and moved toward the table, while Igor pulled out a chair for her. Silently, she took her seat, unable to decline his burdensome act of kindness.
Once she was settled, Igor moved to the opposite side of the table and took his own seat.
Soon, Basil arrived with a tea set and began preparing tea for both Igor and Rihannan.
Rihannan kept her head lowered as much as possible, her silver eyebrows slightly furrowed. It was an attempt to conceal the turmoil within her heart and the torrent of emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. This encounter already felt like too much for her to bear.
“Now, let us engage in a pleasant conversation,” Igor said.
As Basil picked up the water kettle, Rihannan parted her lips, yet she kept her head lowered even after hearing the door close behind her.
“First of all, thank you very much for accepting my request, Your Majesty.”
“I am glad to see you well. It truly has been quite some time. I heard from Mother that you had journeyed to Chrichton. How have you been?”
“Yes, both my uncle and cousin are good-hearted individuals.”
The Marquis and Dimitri were the beacons of light in her life. It was only after she arrived in Chrichton that she realized the cruelty and abuse she had endured in her past. Leticia never allowed Rihannan to possess anything superior to her. If she did, Leticia would throw a tantrum or concoct a secret plan to steal away what should rightfully be Rihannan’s. And if she couldn’t have what Rihannan had…
Once, when Rihannan was a child and most young ladies would gather to form acquaintances, Leticia was unable to attend due to her illegitimate status. She wept and clung to her father upon discovering that Rihannan would attend while she could not, simply because of her status.
“Father, if I can’t go, then don’t let Rihannan go,” Leticia would say.
As a result, the Count immediately banned Rihannan from engaging in any outdoor activities. She spent the majority of her time confined within the mansion’s walls until her marriage brought her to the royal palace. The only individuals she interacted with were the Count, Leticia, hired teachers, and the servants and maids personally chosen by the Count—most of the previous servants had long departed.
Originally a gentle and carefree individual, the life of captivity had drained her of her innocence.
Living in the royal palace presented its own challenges. The late Queen, the only person who had been on Rihannan’s side, secretly hoped that she would comply with her words and commands as well. Rihannan avoided the Queen’s persistent requests, not wanting to be entangled in the web of political intrigues. All she desired was peace. However, she knew such a hope was too much to ask for. Eventually, she succumbed to the Queen’s wishes. The Queen would be overjoyed. When Igor discovered the truth, the Queen would claim that it was Rihannan’s will. The Queen’s intentions aligned with Rihannan’s, and she could not deny it in front of him, for the Queen had already spoken it into existence. Then, he would wear a look of disappointment or anger before turning away from her in disgust.
At the time, Rihannan believed that her difficulty in engaging in normal conversations or developing genuine relationships stemmed from her own lack of confidence and foolishness. However, that was not the case. When she arrived in Chrichton, she experienced love and protection from her uncle and Dimitri for the first time, which surprised her. Her life of captivity within the mansion had hindered her growth…
What she had endured as a child and into her adulthood was abuse…
“They truly love and care for me. They are like family to me.”
At her statement, Rihannan felt a surge of irritation. She could have lived a peaceful life with her loved ones in Chrichton, but that had been shattered by the marriage proposal. If the Igor of the past was the man she feared, then the present Igor angered her.
Rihannan took a soft breath and slowly raised her head, meeting Igor’s gaze. “I requested this meeting with you because I have something to ask of you.” She remained calm, her nerves steady. She did not tremble when her eyes met his deep purple gaze. Good. She possessed the courage to speak her mind. “That is…”
“If you are asking me to step down from the marriage proposal, I cannot. I cannot allow that,” Igor abruptly interjected.
“No, it is not that. In fact, what I was going to ask is the opposite.”
Only then did confusion flicker in Igor’s eyes.
“The opposite…?”
“I earnestly ask that you choose me for marriage, not the princess.”
Igor silently stared at Rihannan. His expression became rigid—he simply looked at her and said nothing. As his gaze gradually changed, Rihannan realized that the teacup in his hand was tilting slightly. She noticed the hot tea was on the verge of spilling onto his thighs. She opened her mouth to speak, but he hurriedly placed the teacup back on the table and said, “So, let me confirm. What I heard is correct? You want me to choose you for marriage instead of the princess? Is that right?”
Rihannan interpreted his words as a sign of displeasure. Quickly, she responded, “I know that it may be impolite and audacious of me to ask, but I am not making this request without offering anything in return. I can provide you with far greater benefits if you choose me.”
Igor furrowed his brow. “Greater benefits…?”
