Rihannan’s gaze turned downward, her heart brimming with a melancholic sadness whenever Igor called her name with a hint of a smile. He seldom addressed her by name, if ever…
“I want you to call me by my name as well, Rihannan. Igor. Call me that. Is that alright with you?”
Tears welled up in her eyes, nearly spilling over. His carefree smile brought her back to their first meeting, erasing the painful memories and leaving only the image of that boy in the garden. She wished for this feeling to last.
“Yes,” Rihannan bit her lip and replied.
“Rihannan, I know you are in a difficult position, and I cannot fathom your feelings, but I want to make it clear that I have no intention of treating you like a hostage. You are my wife. I will protect you from any danger. Please, do not be anxious.”
His voice carried a gentle tone.
Rihannan nodded, her head bowing slightly. It would have been wonderful if he had been like this in their past life, but she found contentment in the present. This was enough.
She had never harbored thoughts of seeking revenge when given a second chance at life. She had no capacity for vengeance and did not wish to repeat a life filled with hatred and pain. There was no purpose in causing Igor suffering when he had done nothing to her. And while she could have inflicted further troubles and misery upon her father and Leticia, casting them out was sufficient.
Living a second life consumed by thoughts of revenge held no meaning. It would only plunge her further into darkness. Rihannan did not desire such a life. Life was short; why waste it on sadness and despair?
And their relationship would come to an end within a year. She hoped that this life would treat her kindly, that they could coexist without hatred.
Then, when her body grew old and frail, she longed to find solace in nature… among the wildflowers.
This was the life she aspired to live—a life of peace and tranquility.
***
An hour later, the royal carriage departed from the mansion. From a distance, a red-haired woman observed their departure. More precisely, not long after their arrival, the woman had scurried away and concealed herself. It would bode ill for her if her presence were noticed.
Hidden within the dark forest, the woman witnessed two figures walking toward the carriage. They conversed with affectionate tones, resembling lovers. The man possessed a breathtaking and ethereal beauty. He was tall, his shoulders broad, and his silky black hair framed a face of perfect harmony. He was a man perfectly suited for her.
As her ecstatic eyes fixated on the man, her gaze then fell upon the silver-haired woman standing nearby. Suddenly, her expression twisted.
“Madam? Madam Leticia…”
Leticia turned around upon hearing the voice calling her from behind. It was the plump horseman, looking at her with nervousness.
“We must leave now. If it…”
“Alright, be quiet!”
The fidgeting horseman sealed his lips, and Leticia turned her head back, her glare fixed upon the royal carriage. A branch snapped in her grip.
“It’s all because of you…” Tears welled up in her eyes. “If it weren’t for you, I would… by now… I would…”
A sob escaped her lips. Her gaze overflowed with resentment and hatred.
She did not depart from the spot until the carriage completely vanished from view.
***
My wife does not love me.
That is the only thing I know.
“Your Majesty, where are you? Your Majesty, the Queen is searching for you.”
A servant was looking for me. I had no desire to be found, so I hid behind the towering pillars and remained silent. Troublesome and discomforting situations awaited me, and I was well aware.
“Your Highness! Oh… Your Highness! I know you are listening to me. Your Highness…”
Observing the servant’s movements, I slowly walked in the opposite direction and arrived at the deserted garden, where I lay down, seeking temporary respite. I hoped to avoid the persistent but determined servant.
I sighed and gazed up at the blue sky, staring intently at the blazing sun and drifting clouds. But as somber thoughts crowded my mind, I covered my eyes with my arms and bit my lip firmly.
“The throne was originally mine.”
Mother used to hold me close… I would sit on her lap while she whispered words I never fully understood. Each time she uttered those words, guilt overtook me for supposedly stealing her rightful place on the throne.
“So you must listen to me, Igor.”
I would obediently nod. Mother was next in line for the throne, but due to unfortunate circumstances, she was compelled to relinquish her claim to her cousin, the Duke of Lancas. I loved mother and sympathized with her pitiable situation.
I owed my life to my mother. I became king because of her. She sacrificed her desires, her purpose, her dreams so that I could live. I would have given her the world, anything she desired. I truly would have. Even long after I ascended to the throne, I had no intention of excluding her from politics. I would have shared the kingdom with the mother who made me king.
I loved my mother.
But…
When I fell gravely ill, teetering on the precipice between life and death, I learned something I wished I never had. I wished to remain ignorant… perhaps things would be different then. In the midst of a nightmarish state, I awakened in the dead of night with an urge to see mother. In that room, I saw the silhouette of mother and her confidant, Prince Rosan. It was improper of me to eavesdrop on their conversation…
“I need to have Igor married as soon as possible.”
“Your Majesty? Isn’t he too young for marriage? Why this sudden…”
“Did you not see? My son nearly perished from illness. What do you think will happen to the throne after his death?”
“…It will fall into the hands of the late king’s heirs.”
I was certain Prince Rosan referred to the progeny of the late Duke of Lancas. Yes… should something happen to me… the throne would end up in their possession.
“That’s why Igor must marry as soon as possible and bear a child. They are watching me. You must be prepared in case things take a turn, or else our power will slip through our fingers.”
My eyes widened at the sudden realization that I was nothing more than a tool, a means to an end for my mother. I was not her beloved child, but an object that could be discarded at her convenience.
And from that moment onward, I began to avoid her. The boy who always listened, who was always filial, always obedient, existed no more. I would skip the lessons she arranged… anything to distance myself from her and anything associated with her. I wanted nothing to do with her.
I rebelled. I became a troublesome boy. People attributed it to adolescence… but deep inside, I became fixated on causing her distress… my own mother… I felt betrayed.
Why couldn’t we have a proper relationship? Was it because she was a princess? Because her rightful throne was unjustly taken? Or was it because I became king instead of her? If I did not possess this royal title and she were not of noble blood, could we have lived a happy life?
As I lay in the grass, I pondered these matters. Too late did I realize that a solitary tear fell. I wiped it away with my sleeves.
My life held no worth. I was a puppet, a tool bound to my mother’s whims. My fate lay in her hands. I would marry a woman I did not love, bear a child I did not desire, and exist as a lifeless puppet.
Such was my fate.
Rihannan’s gaze turned downward, her heart brimming with a melancholic sadness whenever Igor called her name with a hint of a smile. He seldom addressed her by name, if ever…
“I want you to call me by my name as well, Rihannan. Igor. Call me that. Is that alright with you?”
Tears welled up in her eyes, nearly spilling over. His carefree smile brought her back to their first meeting, erasing the painful memories and leaving only the image of that boy in the garden. She wished for this feeling to last.
“Yes,” Rihannan bit her lip and replied.
“Rihannan, I know you are in a difficult position, and I cannot fathom your feelings, but I want to make it clear that I have no intention of treating you like a hostage. You are my wife. I will protect you from any danger. Please, do not be anxious.”
His voice carried a gentle tone.
Rihannan nodded, her head bowing slightly. It would have been wonderful if he had been like this in their past life, but she found contentment in the present. This was enough.
She had never harbored thoughts of seeking revenge when given a second chance at life. She had no capacity for vengeance and did not wish to repeat a life filled with hatred and pain. There was no purpose in causing Igor suffering when he had done nothing to her. And while she could have inflicted further troubles and misery upon her father and Leticia, casting them out was sufficient.
Living a second life consumed by thoughts of revenge held no meaning. It would only plunge her further into darkness. Rihannan did not desire such a life. Life was short; why waste it on sadness and despair?
And their relationship would come to an end within a year. She hoped that this life would treat her kindly, that they could coexist without hatred.
Then, when her body grew old and frail, she longed to find solace in nature… among the wildflowers.
This was the life she aspired to live—a life of peace and tranquility.
***
An hour later, the royal carriage departed from the mansion. From a distance, a red-haired woman observed their departure. More precisely, not long after their arrival, the woman had scurried away and concealed herself. It would bode ill for her if her presence were noticed.
Hidden within the dark forest, the woman witnessed two figures walking toward the carriage. They conversed with affectionate tones, resembling lovers. The man possessed a breathtaking and ethereal beauty. He was tall, his shoulders broad, and his silky black hair framed a face of perfect harmony. He was a man perfectly suited for her.
As her ecstatic eyes fixated on the man, her gaze then fell upon the silver-haired woman standing nearby. Suddenly, her expression twisted.
“Madam? Madam Leticia…”
Leticia turned around upon hearing the voice calling her from behind. It was the plump horseman, looking at her with nervousness.
“We must leave now. If it…”
“Alright, be quiet!”
The fidgeting horseman sealed his lips, and Leticia turned her head back, her glare fixed upon the royal carriage. A branch snapped in her grip.
“It’s all because of you…” Tears welled up in her eyes. “If it weren’t for you, I would… by now… I would…”
A sob escaped her lips. Her gaze overflowed with resentment and hatred.
She did not depart from the spot until the carriage completely vanished from view.
***
My wife does not love me.
That is the only thing I know.
“Your Majesty, where are you? Your Majesty, the Queen is searching for you.”
A servant was looking for me. I had no desire to be found, so I hid behind the towering pillars and remained silent. Troublesome and discomforting situations awaited me, and I was well aware.
“Your Highness! Oh… Your Highness! I know you are listening to me. Your Highness…”
Observing the servant’s movements, I slowly walked in the opposite direction and arrived at the deserted garden, where I lay down, seeking temporary respite. I hoped to avoid the persistent but determined servant.
I sighed and gazed up at the blue sky, staring intently at the blazing sun and drifting clouds. But as somber thoughts crowded my mind, I covered my eyes with my arms and bit my lip firmly.
“The throne was originally mine.”
Mother used to hold me close… I would sit on her lap while she whispered words I never fully understood. Each time she uttered those words, guilt overtook me for supposedly stealing her rightful place on the throne.
“So you must listen to me, Igor.”
I would obediently nod. Mother was next in line for the throne, but due to unfortunate circumstances, she was compelled to relinquish her claim to her cousin, the Duke of Lancas. I loved mother and sympathized with her pitiable situation.
I owed my life to my mother. I became king because of her. She sacrificed her desires, her purpose, her dreams so that I could live. I would have given her the world, anything she desired. I truly would have. Even long after I ascended to the throne, I had no intention of excluding her from politics. I would have shared the kingdom with the mother who made me king.
I loved my mother.
But…
When I fell gravely ill, teetering on the precipice between life and death, I learned something I wished I never had. I wished to remain ignorant… perhaps things would be different then. In the midst of a nightmarish state, I awakened in the dead of night with an urge to see mother. In that room, I saw the silhouette of mother and her confidant, Prince Rosan. It was improper of me to eavesdrop on their conversation…
“I need to have Igor married as soon as possible.”
“Your Majesty? Isn’t he too young for marriage? Why this sudden…”
“Did you not see? My son nearly perished from illness. What do you think will happen to the throne after his death?”
“…It will fall into the hands of the late king’s heirs.”
I was certain Prince Rosan referred to the progeny of the late Duke of Lancas. Yes… should something happen to me… the throne would end up in their possession.
“That’s why Igor must marry as soon as possible and bear a child. They are watching me. You must be prepared in case things take a turn, or else our power will slip through our fingers.”
My eyes widened at the sudden realization that I was nothing more than a tool, a means to an end for my mother. I was not her beloved child, but an object that could be discarded at her convenience.
And from that moment onward, I began to avoid her. The boy who always listened, who was always filial, always obedient, existed no more. I would skip the lessons she arranged… anything to distance myself from her and anything associated with her. I wanted nothing to do with her.
I rebelled. I became a troublesome boy. People attributed it to adolescence… but deep inside, I became fixated on causing her distress… my own mother… I felt betrayed.
Why couldn’t we have a proper relationship? Was it because she was a princess? Because her rightful throne was unjustly taken? Or was it because I became king instead of her? If I did not possess this royal title and she were not of noble blood, could we have lived a happy life?
As I lay in the grass, I pondered these matters. Too late did I realize that a solitary tear fell. I wiped it away with my sleeves.
My life held no worth. I was a puppet, a tool bound to my mother’s whims. My fate lay in her hands. I would marry a woman I did not love, bear a child I did not desire, and exist as a lifeless puppet.
Such was my fate.
