Chapter 58 - Hostage Queen Chapter 57 - Affectionate King Chapter 56 - Igor’s Wish Chapter 55 - He Cares For You Chapter 54 - Basil Chapter 53 - Garden Check (19) Chapter 52 - Maidenhood Gone (19) Chapter 51 - Taste of Wine (19) Chapter 50 - Tradition Annulled Chapter 49 - Yearning Kiss Chapter 48 - You’re Beautiful Chapter 47 - Dimi Over You Chapter 46 - I’m Sorry, Rihannan Chapter 45 - The Truth Chapter 44 - Anastasia’s Daughter Chapter 43 - I Owe It to Her Chapter 42 - Igor’s Clumsiest Best Chapter 41 - Queen’s Palace Chapter 40 - Human Nature Chapter 39 - Igor’s Debt Chapter 38 - The Medicine Chapter 37 - Women Love Flowers Chapter 36 - Public Disgrace Chapter 35 - A Wife Who Does Not Love Chapter 34 - He Liked Her, After All Chapter 33 - Are You Crying? Chapter 32 - You’re My Wife, I’ll Protect You Chapter 31 - Mother's Grave Chapter 30 - Rihannan and Arundell Chapter 29 - Your Majesty, Please Get Out Chapter 28 - Suicidal Impulse Chapter 27 - Igor’s Regret Chapter 26 - But Divorce Me a Year Later Chapter 25 - Long Time No See Chapter 24 - I’ll Kill You Myself Chapter 23 - I’ll Be Alright Chapter 22 - A Favor Chapter 21 - Danil Lyurik Chapter 20 - A Future Worse Chapter 19 - Suffer the Same Fate Chapter 18 - New Man Chapter 17 - The Dream Chapter 16 - There Was a Time... Chapter 15 - Young King Chapter 14 - Years Later Chapter 13 - If She Did Her Job Properly… Chapter 12 - Of Chrichton Blood Chapter 11 - I Don’t Want To Marry Chapter 10 - Life In Her Belly Chapter 9 - Dimitri Priebius Chapter 8 - The First and Last Chapter 7 - Feared Queen Chapter 6 - Send Them Out Chapter 5 - Wanting His Love Chapter 4 - Get Out Chapter 3 - Hertia Cesca Chapter 2 - Loveless Marriage Chapter 1 - Golden Bird’s Feather
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“Remember when I promised to protect you? Do you still believe in those words?”
Rihannan… I will always be here for you. You will never leave my thoughts, always a presence, even if not physically. I took you for granted… I didn’t realize it then, but you are the sky and the clouds, the gentle river and the singing birds… I don’t need your love. It’s not something I deserve. I don’t need you to love me. Just… let me be your protector, let me give you everything I have…
Igor gazed at her, his heart captured by her eyes. His heartbeat thumped slowly and heavily, words he wanted to utter getting caught in his throat, blocking the path of their escape.
Rihannan shook her head. “No. I believe your words were sincere.”
He had spoken those words in front of her mother’s grave, and she trusted him. Igor was many things, but a liar was not one of them.
“Do you think it’s possible to protect someone or something you’ve only known for a short while?” she inquired.
The desire to protect fades only when trust wanes.
“I have chosen to trust you. The next move is yours…” He fell silent, closing his mouth.
Rihannan looked at the hand resting on top of hers. He had made a one-sided vow to protect her. Was she willing to do the same? The moment she reciprocated, the future would change significantly.
After a brief moment of hesitation, she placed her hand on top of his and gave it a gentle squeeze.
Igor’s cheeks flushed a rosy red, clumsily bowing his head and pressing his lips against the back of her hand.
A strange sensation tingled where his lips met her skin, but she maintained a calm composure.
“From now on, we shall share nothing but the truth. I will not hide anything from you. If there are things you discover or questions you demand answers to, I will not hesitate to provide them,” he affirmed.
She nodded quickly in response to his words, waiting for him to release her hand. Yet, he did not let go.
“Igor…”
“May I ask you a question?” he inquired, his smile soft.
“Ask,” she replied cautiously, a hint of anxiety in her voice.
“Are there any other men in Chrichton better than me?”
Rihannan was rendered speechless, her gaze fixed on his face, a blank expression in her eyes. “Wh… what…?”
“Is there?”
Embarrassment tinted her cheeks, and she attempted to pull her hand away from his grasp, but he held on firmly. She realized that he would only release her once she provided an answer.
Rihannan bit her lip. “No. There is none.”
He immediately released her hand, a satisfied expression etched upon his face. She felt a twinge of disgust at the victorious smile he wore. She wanted to say that there were men better than him, but she couldn’t. Chrichton’s men had disappointed her.
Rumors of the handsome and unmarried king from Arundell had spread throughout every street and corner of Chrichton. With Igor’s elevated status and striking appearance, only a few could compare to him. The Crown Prince was one of them, but he was a scoundrel and l**tful. Other noblemen had also fallen short of her expectations.
Except for one person.
“Of course, except for my cousin, Dimitri.”
His triumphant smile quickly vanished. He peered at her with narrowed eyes. “I’ve heard that name ever since we were children. You spoke of him admirably as well. It seems that remains unchanged even now.”
Rihannan’s eyes widened at his words. “Did I say that back then?”
“You praised him when we first met and on many occasions afterward.”
Rihannan marveled at Igor’s precise recollection of the past. She herself did not remember mentioning Dimitri’s name during their initial encounter. Perhaps it had slipped out naturally. She had frequent exchanges and encounters with Dimitri when her mother was alive.
“I didn’t realize I spoke about my cousin so often.”
“You even called out his name in your sleep.”
“What?”
Confusion engulfed Rihannan.
“When you fell asleep in the carriage, your head resting on my lap, you uttered his name.”
“Well, if I did… it’s because he is dear to me, and we share a close bond as cousins.”
“Do cousins usually rest their heads on each other’s laps in Chrichton? How deep is the relationship between cousins?” Igor questioned.
Rihannan was taken aback.
“I don’t know what’s going on in your head, but marriages between cousins are prohibited in Chrichton.”
“But not in Arundell. Cousin marriages are permitted here. It has been quite some time since you left Arundell, so perhaps you have forgotten.”
“What…?”
Rihannan was utterly bewildered.
I don’t know if it’s jealousy or not, she quickly denied, but the Queen’s words echoed in her mind.
No, it couldn’t be.
“I have a question for you too, Igor.”
He nodded, giving her permission to proceed.
“Her Majesty told me that whenever I visited the palace as a child, you would watch me from a distance. She said you wanted to escape, but that wasn’t true, was it?”
A momentary flicker of vulnerability crossed his face.
“As you know, I will never lie to you,” he responded, his gaze nervous as he let out a quiet sigh. “Heh. I didn’t expect a counterattack so soon, but yes, she was right.”
“…..Why?”
“I wanted to see you again.”
“Me? Why…?”
“I developed feelings for the girl who disrupted my tranquility in the garden. Even after discovering that you were my mother’s friend’s daughter and my mother’s goddaughter, my fondness for you could not be extinguished.”
And I only realized too late that I did care for you… and woefully inept at expressing it.
Rihannan was at a loss for words at his confession. She had believed that he despised her, that he loathed her, but his current words contradicted her beliefs.
“I see.”
Rihannan turned her head and leaned against the carriage, closing her eyes, signaling the end of the conversation. The truth she had learned was tinged with bitter sadness rather than happiness.
In the meantime, the carriage arrived at the Queen’s Palace.
The duchess, who had anxiously awaited their return, hastened to Rihannan’s side.
“My Queen!” she exclaimed, her breathing rapid upon seeing Rihannan clad in thin garments and a flowing robe. “Oh my, let us go inside…”
Rihannan glanced back at Igor as she entered the palace. He smiled and gestured for her to proceed. She nodded and turned away.
The ladies-in-waiting attended to her needs, washing her body, pouring warm tea, and ensuring her comfort.
The duchess poured tea into Rihannan’s cup and said, “It was getting late. When you did not return, I went to see His Majesty. I apologize if it startled you.”
“No, it’s alright. It was my mistake. I thought everything would be fine.”
“As soon as I informed His Majesty that you had gone to visit her, he grew furious, thinking that you were being held captive. He nearly turned the palace upside down.”
The duchess’s words were no exaggeration, as Rihannan had witnessed His Majesty’s reaction at the seasonal palace.
“My Queen, did you encounter any problems?”
Rihannan shook her head. “No. Igor and Her Majesty had some arguments, but nothing more than that. I doubt their relationship will improve anytime soon.”
“That is true,” the duchess acknowledged with a sigh.
“On the way back, I asked him about their situation. He mentioned that he was afraid of being with his mother, afraid of causing her harm. Did Her Majesty do anything to him?”
The duchess contemplated for a moment before shaking her head.
“No, certainly not. There were conflicts during the process of diminishing Her Majesty’s power, but it never escalated to the point of endangering her life. It concluded rather swiftly. We had prepared for a long time, so when the time came, Her Majesty did not have the chance to fight back. If anyone is deserving of resentment, it would be Her Majesty. She endured humiliation,” the duchess placed down her teacup and continued, “but let us not dwell on it too much, Queen. Parent-child relationships are not always harmonious. We can only hope that it will improve one day. You must be tired now. Come, let us rest. We can talk more in the morning.”
Chapter 58 - Hostage Queen Chapter 57 - Affectionate King Chapter 56 - Igor’s Wish Chapter 55 - He Cares For You Chapter 54 - Basil Chapter 53 - Garden Check (19) Chapter 52 - Maidenhood Gone (19) Chapter 51 - Taste of Wine (19) Chapter 50 - Tradition Annulled Chapter 49 - Yearning Kiss Chapter 48 - You’re Beautiful Chapter 47 - Dimi Over You Chapter 46 - I’m Sorry, Rihannan Chapter 45 - The Truth Chapter 44 - Anastasia’s Daughter Chapter 43 - I Owe It to Her Chapter 42 - Igor’s Clumsiest Best Chapter 41 - Queen’s Palace Chapter 40 - Human Nature Chapter 39 - Igor’s Debt Chapter 38 - The Medicine Chapter 37 - Women Love Flowers Chapter 36 - Public Disgrace Chapter 35 - A Wife Who Does Not Love Chapter 34 - He Liked Her, After All Chapter 33 - Are You Crying? Chapter 32 - You’re My Wife, I’ll Protect You Chapter 31 - Mother's Grave Chapter 30 - Rihannan and Arundell Chapter 29 - Your Majesty, Please Get Out Chapter 28 - Suicidal Impulse Chapter 27 - Igor’s Regret Chapter 26 - But Divorce Me a Year Later Chapter 25 - Long Time No See Chapter 24 - I’ll Kill You Myself Chapter 23 - I’ll Be Alright Chapter 22 - A Favor Chapter 21 - Danil Lyurik Chapter 20 - A Future Worse Chapter 19 - Suffer the Same Fate Chapter 18 - New Man Chapter 17 - The Dream Chapter 16 - There Was a Time... Chapter 15 - Young King Chapter 14 - Years Later Chapter 13 - If She Did Her Job Properly… Chapter 12 - Of Chrichton Blood Chapter 11 - I Don’t Want To Marry Chapter 10 - Life In Her Belly Chapter 9 - Dimitri Priebius Chapter 8 - The First and Last Chapter 7 - Feared Queen Chapter 6 - Send Them Out Chapter 5 - Wanting His Love Chapter 4 - Get Out Chapter 3 - Hertia Cesca Chapter 2 - Loveless Marriage Chapter 1 - Golden Bird’s Feather
Prev
Next
“Remember when I promised to protect you? Do you still believe in those words?”
Rihannan… I will always be here for you. You will never leave my thoughts, always a presence, even if not physically. I took you for granted… I didn’t realize it then, but you are the sky and the clouds, the gentle river and the singing birds… I don’t need your love. It’s not something I deserve. I don’t need you to love me. Just… let me be your protector, let me give you everything I have…
Igor gazed at her, his heart captured by her eyes. His heartbeat thumped slowly and heavily, words he wanted to utter getting caught in his throat, blocking the path of their escape.
Rihannan shook her head. “No. I believe your words were sincere.”
He had spoken those words in front of her mother’s grave, and she trusted him. Igor was many things, but a liar was not one of them.
“Do you think it’s possible to protect someone or something you’ve only known for a short while?” she inquired.
The desire to protect fades only when trust wanes.
“I have chosen to trust you. The next move is yours…” He fell silent, closing his mouth.
Rihannan looked at the hand resting on top of hers. He had made a one-sided vow to protect her. Was she willing to do the same? The moment she reciprocated, the future would change significantly.
After a brief moment of hesitation, she placed her hand on top of his and gave it a gentle squeeze.
Igor’s cheeks flushed a rosy red, clumsily bowing his head and pressing his lips against the back of her hand.
A strange sensation tingled where his lips met her skin, but she maintained a calm composure.
“From now on, we shall share nothing but the truth. I will not hide anything from you. If there are things you discover or questions you demand answers to, I will not hesitate to provide them,” he affirmed.
She nodded quickly in response to his words, waiting for him to release her hand. Yet, he did not let go.
“Igor…”
“May I ask you a question?” he inquired, his smile soft.
“Ask,” she replied cautiously, a hint of anxiety in her voice.
“Are there any other men in Chrichton better than me?”
Rihannan was rendered speechless, her gaze fixed on his face, a blank expression in her eyes. “Wh… what…?”
“Is there?”
Embarrassment tinted her cheeks, and she attempted to pull her hand away from his grasp, but he held on firmly. She realized that he would only release her once she provided an answer.
Rihannan bit her lip. “No. There is none.”
He immediately released her hand, a satisfied expression etched upon his face. She felt a twinge of disgust at the victorious smile he wore. She wanted to say that there were men better than him, but she couldn’t. Chrichton’s men had disappointed her.
Rumors of the handsome and unmarried king from Arundell had spread throughout every street and corner of Chrichton. With Igor’s elevated status and striking appearance, only a few could compare to him. The Crown Prince was one of them, but he was a scoundrel and l**tful. Other noblemen had also fallen short of her expectations.
Except for one person.
“Of course, except for my cousin, Dimitri.”
His triumphant smile quickly vanished. He peered at her with narrowed eyes. “I’ve heard that name ever since we were children. You spoke of him admirably as well. It seems that remains unchanged even now.”
Rihannan’s eyes widened at his words. “Did I say that back then?”
“You praised him when we first met and on many occasions afterward.”
Rihannan marveled at Igor’s precise recollection of the past. She herself did not remember mentioning Dimitri’s name during their initial encounter. Perhaps it had slipped out naturally. She had frequent exchanges and encounters with Dimitri when her mother was alive.
“I didn’t realize I spoke about my cousin so often.”
“You even called out his name in your sleep.”
“What?”
Confusion engulfed Rihannan.
“When you fell asleep in the carriage, your head resting on my lap, you uttered his name.”
“Well, if I did… it’s because he is dear to me, and we share a close bond as cousins.”
“Do cousins usually rest their heads on each other’s laps in Chrichton? How deep is the relationship between cousins?” Igor questioned.
Rihannan was taken aback.
“I don’t know what’s going on in your head, but marriages between cousins are prohibited in Chrichton.”
“But not in Arundell. Cousin marriages are permitted here. It has been quite some time since you left Arundell, so perhaps you have forgotten.”
“What…?”
Rihannan was utterly bewildered.
I don’t know if it’s jealousy or not, she quickly denied, but the Queen’s words echoed in her mind.
No, it couldn’t be.
“I have a question for you too, Igor.”
He nodded, giving her permission to proceed.
“Her Majesty told me that whenever I visited the palace as a child, you would watch me from a distance. She said you wanted to escape, but that wasn’t true, was it?”
A momentary flicker of vulnerability crossed his face.
“As you know, I will never lie to you,” he responded, his gaze nervous as he let out a quiet sigh. “Heh. I didn’t expect a counterattack so soon, but yes, she was right.”
“…..Why?”
“I wanted to see you again.”
“Me? Why…?”
“I developed feelings for the girl who disrupted my tranquility in the garden. Even after discovering that you were my mother’s friend’s daughter and my mother’s goddaughter, my fondness for you could not be extinguished.”
And I only realized too late that I did care for you… and woefully inept at expressing it.
Rihannan was at a loss for words at his confession. She had believed that he despised her, that he loathed her, but his current words contradicted her beliefs.
“I see.”
Rihannan turned her head and leaned against the carriage, closing her eyes, signaling the end of the conversation. The truth she had learned was tinged with bitter sadness rather than happiness.
In the meantime, the carriage arrived at the Queen’s Palace.
The duchess, who had anxiously awaited their return, hastened to Rihannan’s side.
“My Queen!” she exclaimed, her breathing rapid upon seeing Rihannan clad in thin garments and a flowing robe. “Oh my, let us go inside…”
Rihannan glanced back at Igor as she entered the palace. He smiled and gestured for her to proceed. She nodded and turned away.
The ladies-in-waiting attended to her needs, washing her body, pouring warm tea, and ensuring her comfort.
The duchess poured tea into Rihannan’s cup and said, “It was getting late. When you did not return, I went to see His Majesty. I apologize if it startled you.”
“No, it’s alright. It was my mistake. I thought everything would be fine.”
“As soon as I informed His Majesty that you had gone to visit her, he grew furious, thinking that you were being held captive. He nearly turned the palace upside down.”
The duchess’s words were no exaggeration, as Rihannan had witnessed His Majesty’s reaction at the seasonal palace.
“My Queen, did you encounter any problems?”
Rihannan shook her head. “No. Igor and Her Majesty had some arguments, but nothing more than that. I doubt their relationship will improve anytime soon.”
“That is true,” the duchess acknowledged with a sigh.
“On the way back, I asked him about their situation. He mentioned that he was afraid of being with his mother, afraid of causing her harm. Did Her Majesty do anything to him?”
The duchess contemplated for a moment before shaking her head.
“No, certainly not. There were conflicts during the process of diminishing Her Majesty’s power, but it never escalated to the point of endangering her life. It concluded rather swiftly. We had prepared for a long time, so when the time came, Her Majesty did not have the chance to fight back. If anyone is deserving of resentment, it would be Her Majesty. She endured humiliation,” the duchess placed down her teacup and continued, “but let us not dwell on it too much, Queen. Parent-child relationships are not always harmonious. We can only hope that it will improve one day. You must be tired now. Come, let us rest. We can talk more in the morning.”
