Chapter 60 - Embracing Other Women Chapter 59 - Sincere Apology 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
However, as Mrs. Cessley departed the area, another group, which had been keeping a close watch on the queen, slowly made their way toward her.
Rihannan glanced at them and immediately recognized the young woman leading the group, causing her countenance to harden.
Seraphina.
Seraphina Rissel, in the past, had been one of the foremost gossipmongers who mocked and derided Rihannan behind her back and in secret. While she had been married at that time, for some peculiar reason, she now remained unmarried and without a noble partner in her present life.
“Greetings, Your Majesty. I am Seraphina Rissel, the eldest daughter of Duke Rissel, from the House of Rissel.”
In that moment, the air subtly shifted.
The nobles, who had been unable to get enough of the queen and had been talking fervently, suddenly fell silent, as if bound by an unspoken promise. Their eyes darted between Rihannan and Seraphina, trying to gauge the mood, waiting to see what would unfold.
Rihannan’s intuition signaled that something was amiss. She felt that crucial information was missing. She attempted to piece it together based on what Mrs. Cessley had told her, but nothing emerged.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Duchess,” Rihannan replied.
Upon the queen’s response, Seraphina’s lips curled into a sleek smile.
Rihannan knew from ample experience that this expression on Seraphina’s face preceded an all-out attack, but even though she anticipated the duchess’s imminent strike, she remained in the dark about the motive.
If only Mrs. Cessley were by her side, she would swiftly analyze the situation and offer assistance. But now, she found herself alone in a den of lions.
It had been meticulously orchestrated from the beginning. The group had bided their time, waiting for Mrs. Cessley’s departure, ensuring that no one would come to Rihannan’s aid.
“I had intended to greet you earlier, My Queen. However, Her Majesty’s overwhelming popularity made me fear that I would not have the chance to utter a single word.”
Rihannan detected a subtle sting in Seraphina’s rosy voice.
“You flatter me excessively. They approached me with the intention of providing company, thinking that I might feel lonely in this unfamiliar setting. They are genuinely kind and caring,” Rihannan replied with a thin smile.
Seraphina tilted her fan askew and locked her gaze with the queen’s icy blue eyes. “You are correct, My Queen. You returned to a place you hardly know and spent a month in an unfamiliar environment. Undoubtedly, you must have felt lonely.”
At that moment, Rihannan heard faint gasps from the surrounding nobles. Soon, a silence as desolate as the tundra enveloped the area.
It was her own choice not to remain in Chrichton until the day of her marriage and instead arrive in Arundell a month ahead, escorted by the army. However, few were aware of this particular detail. The nobility had formed the notion that their king had requested Chrichton to send a royal family member as a hostage, and thus their newly crowned queen had been forcibly returned to Arundell.
Although everyone had entertained this idea, no one had dared to voice it aloud, as they believed that the ill-treatment of the queen they once perceived had been completely eradicated upon witnessing the king’s genuine love and affection for his queen. Yet, here came Seraphina, reigniting the mistreatment they thought had ceased.
The primary point she aimed to convey was that, despite her closeness to the king, the fact remained that she was a hostage snatched away from a foreign kingdom.
“I am actually quite uninformed about the situation abroad, which compelled me to ask you that question, My Queen. If my comment seemed distasteful and off-putting, I beg for your forgiveness.”
Seraphina created an excuse of ignorance to escape culpability in case she had been in the wrong. And if Rihannan took offense to her words, Seraphina would simply claim she had no intention of offending the queen, shedding crocodile tears as she desperately pleaded innocence.
Rihannan carefully studied Seraphina Rissel and her entourage. These were daughters of noble families at a marriageable age. Their eyes emitted an emotional mix of rage and jealousy directed at her, unlike the noblewomen surrounding her.
But why were they angered and jealous?
The answer soon became evident.
They were angry and jealous because they had lost their chance to become queen.
Igor, a talented young man highly sought after as a marriage prospect among unmarried women, had become the subject of rumors that extended beyond Arundell. The daughters of the Arundell nobles could not accept that Rihannan had essentially seized their only opportunity.
Rihannan inwardly smiled. At least this aspect had not changed. When Igor’s political power had been stripped away by his mother in the past, many women competed for his love and affection, including Leticia.
Rihannan looked up and locked eyes with Seraphina.
The absence of a queen or princess created a significant gap in the social hierarchy. During such times, the highest-ranking noblewoman in society, Seraphina Rissel, was treated as the future queen. Even then, Seraphina toyed with the noblewomen’s emotions and spread all sorts of fabricated rumors throughout society.
Rihannan wondered if Seraphina had grand dreams and aspirations of becoming Igor’s lover and queen.
Rihannan smiled faintly. If that was the reason, then it was a problem she could handle. She already knew what kind of person Seraphina was.
“In fact, I have requested His Majesty to take me with him when he returns to Arundell,” Rihannan replied.
“You made the request first, Your Majesty?”
“Yes,” Rihannan nodded. “I yearned to visit my late mother as soon as possible. I never had the opportunity to see her while I lived abroad…”
As she expressed her melancholic reasoning, the noblewomen immediately displayed sympathy and compassion.
“Ah… Your Majesty, it must have been… truly painful…”
“Since I lost my mother at a tender age and was sent to Chrichton right away, the thought of seeing her again…”
The tale of a child losing their mother at a young age always elicited sympathy from kind-hearted souls, especially from mature noblewomen. They made attempts to assuage Rihannan’s sorrow.
Rihannan offered a small smile.
“Thank you. I appreciate your condolences. Fortunately, His Majesty was aware of my longing and arranged a visit to my ancestral domain on the way to Edirne. I was grateful to stand by his side and pay my solemn respects to my late mother.”
“How considerate!”
“Yes, indeed. His thoughtfulness toward your emotions is truly endearing.”
The oppressive atmosphere dissipated, replaced by a cheerful and joyous ambiance. Conversations revolved around the king’s profound care for the queen and expressions of sympathy for Rihannan’s deceased mother.
Seraphina, whose sole intention had been to insult the queen, now
found herself as the subject of sympathy from the nobility due to her fabricated tale of tragic sorrow. Her face grew increasingly rigid as the nobility comforted Rihannan and extended their hearts to their queen. She bit her lip in anger as a thought took shape in her cunning mind, and a smug smile immediately graced her lips.
“Your Majesty, is it not a fact that both your parents are buried in the same place?” Seraphina inquired.
Rihannan nodded. “Yes, after my father passed away, they were laid to rest together. I offer them my heartfelt greetings and intend to do so with every visit.”
Seraphina’s lips curled slightly. “Then why do you speak only of your mother and not your father? Ah, I think I know why. After Her Majesty’s mother passed away, you drove your own father out of his own home, didn’t you?”
Her voice dripped with triumphant satisfaction.
It was unprecedented and unheard of for a child to expel their own parents. Those who valued tradition, honor, and duty would surely accuse the queen of deplorable behavior. Had she not promptly traveled to Chrichton and remained in Arundell, Seraphina was certain she would face backlash and criticism.
“I was truly taken aback upon learning this. To think such things could occur… I’m sure you had your reasons, Your Majesty, but for someone like me… I dare not even imagine doing such a thing.”
At her crude remark, a wave of silence washed over the ballroom. Even those in the far corners could sense the uneasy air emanating from the queen’s location and clamped their lips shut.
Rihannan noticed that everyone’s gaze was fixed upon her. She looked at Seraphina and offered a warm smile. “Duchess, you share an incredibly intriguing tale. Pray, do continue.”
Her response caught everyone off guard. Rather than becoming angered or fl**tered, she responded with a soft and warm smile.
Seraphina grew more aggressive.
“What do you mean? An intriguing tale? Are you unable to comprehend my words, Your Majesty? Is it not morally wrong for one to drive out their own parents? And you were just a child. To treat your own father in such a manner is sacrilegious! Unprecedented and-“
“Seraphina!”
A booming voice halted Seraphina’s vulgar comment in its tracks. It was her father, Duke Rissel. His face was pale, and he quickly rushed toward his daughter, gripping her arm firmly.
“What vulgar things are you saying to the Queen?!”
“What is it, Father? I am only speaking the truth,” Seraphina replied, bewildered by her father’s sudden intervention.
Duke Rissel lowered his voice and whispered, “Are you intentionally mocking both the king and queen…?!”
His daughter swiftly realized the gravity of her mistake. The king’s situation mirrored that of the queen’s. Like Rihannan, he too had banished his mother from the palace. The words she had spoken to openly criticize the queen’s actions indirectly condemned and chastised the king as well.
Seraphina’s face turned pale.
“F-Father… I didn’t mean…”
“Silence!”
Duke Rissel sternly silenced his daughter’s attempt to defend herself. He turned to face Rihannan and bowed deeply. Cold drops of sweat adorned his receding hairline.
“Your Majesty the Queen, I beseech you to forgive us. My immature daughter spoke without thinking. I implore you to show us mercy.”
He cast a sideways glance at the king, who remained in the corner, seemingly unaware of the unfolding situation. If he could appease the queen’s anger… perhaps the issue could be contained.
He quickly bowed his head.
“My Queen, please be gracious and pardon my daughter’s impudent and audacious behavior toward you. I assure you, I will take her home and administer a just punishment.”
Chapter 60 - Embracing Other Women Chapter 59 - Sincere Apology 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
However, as Mrs. Cessley departed the area, another group, which had been keeping a close watch on the queen, slowly made their way toward her.
Rihannan glanced at them and immediately recognized the young woman leading the group, causing her countenance to harden.
Seraphina.
Seraphina Rissel, in the past, had been one of the foremost gossipmongers who mocked and derided Rihannan behind her back and in secret. While she had been married at that time, for some peculiar reason, she now remained unmarried and without a noble partner in her present life.
“Greetings, Your Majesty. I am Seraphina Rissel, the eldest daughter of Duke Rissel, from the House of Rissel.”
In that moment, the air subtly shifted.
The nobles, who had been unable to get enough of the queen and had been talking fervently, suddenly fell silent, as if bound by an unspoken promise. Their eyes darted between Rihannan and Seraphina, trying to gauge the mood, waiting to see what would unfold.
Rihannan’s intuition signaled that something was amiss. She felt that crucial information was missing. She attempted to piece it together based on what Mrs. Cessley had told her, but nothing emerged.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Duchess,” Rihannan replied.
Upon the queen’s response, Seraphina’s lips curled into a sleek smile.
Rihannan knew from ample experience that this expression on Seraphina’s face preceded an all-out attack, but even though she anticipated the duchess’s imminent strike, she remained in the dark about the motive.
If only Mrs. Cessley were by her side, she would swiftly analyze the situation and offer assistance. But now, she found herself alone in a den of lions.
It had been meticulously orchestrated from the beginning. The group had bided their time, waiting for Mrs. Cessley’s departure, ensuring that no one would come to Rihannan’s aid.
“I had intended to greet you earlier, My Queen. However, Her Majesty’s overwhelming popularity made me fear that I would not have the chance to utter a single word.”
Rihannan detected a subtle sting in Seraphina’s rosy voice.
“You flatter me excessively. They approached me with the intention of providing company, thinking that I might feel lonely in this unfamiliar setting. They are genuinely kind and caring,” Rihannan replied with a thin smile.
Seraphina tilted her fan askew and locked her gaze with the queen’s icy blue eyes. “You are correct, My Queen. You returned to a place you hardly know and spent a month in an unfamiliar environment. Undoubtedly, you must have felt lonely.”
At that moment, Rihannan heard faint gasps from the surrounding nobles. Soon, a silence as desolate as the tundra enveloped the area.
It was her own choice not to remain in Chrichton until the day of her marriage and instead arrive in Arundell a month ahead, escorted by the army. However, few were aware of this particular detail. The nobility had formed the notion that their king had requested Chrichton to send a royal family member as a hostage, and thus their newly crowned queen had been forcibly returned to Arundell.
Although everyone had entertained this idea, no one had dared to voice it aloud, as they believed that the ill-treatment of the queen they once perceived had been completely eradicated upon witnessing the king’s genuine love and affection for his queen. Yet, here came Seraphina, reigniting the mistreatment they thought had ceased.
The primary point she aimed to convey was that, despite her closeness to the king, the fact remained that she was a hostage snatched away from a foreign kingdom.
“I am actually quite uninformed about the situation abroad, which compelled me to ask you that question, My Queen. If my comment seemed distasteful and off-putting, I beg for your forgiveness.”
Seraphina created an excuse of ignorance to escape culpability in case she had been in the wrong. And if Rihannan took offense to her words, Seraphina would simply claim she had no intention of offending the queen, shedding crocodile tears as she desperately pleaded innocence.
Rihannan carefully studied Seraphina Rissel and her entourage. These were daughters of noble families at a marriageable age. Their eyes emitted an emotional mix of rage and jealousy directed at her, unlike the noblewomen surrounding her.
But why were they angered and jealous?
The answer soon became evident.
They were angry and jealous because they had lost their chance to become queen.
Igor, a talented young man highly sought after as a marriage prospect among unmarried women, had become the subject of rumors that extended beyond Arundell. The daughters of the Arundell nobles could not accept that Rihannan had essentially seized their only opportunity.
Rihannan inwardly smiled. At least this aspect had not changed. When Igor’s political power had been stripped away by his mother in the past, many women competed for his love and affection, including Leticia.
Rihannan looked up and locked eyes with Seraphina.
The absence of a queen or princess created a significant gap in the social hierarchy. During such times, the highest-ranking noblewoman in society, Seraphina Rissel, was treated as the future queen. Even then, Seraphina toyed with the noblewomen’s emotions and spread all sorts of fabricated rumors throughout society.
Rihannan wondered if Seraphina had grand dreams and aspirations of becoming Igor’s lover and queen.
Rihannan smiled faintly. If that was the reason, then it was a problem she could handle. She already knew what kind of person Seraphina was.
“In fact, I have requested His Majesty to take me with him when he returns to Arundell,” Rihannan replied.
“You made the request first, Your Majesty?”
“Yes,” Rihannan nodded. “I yearned to visit my late mother as soon as possible. I never had the opportunity to see her while I lived abroad…”
As she expressed her melancholic reasoning, the noblewomen immediately displayed sympathy and compassion.
“Ah… Your Majesty, it must have been… truly painful…”
“Since I lost my mother at a tender age and was sent to Chrichton right away, the thought of seeing her again…”
The tale of a child losing their mother at a young age always elicited sympathy from kind-hearted souls, especially from mature noblewomen. They made attempts to assuage Rihannan’s sorrow.
Rihannan offered a small smile.
“Thank you. I appreciate your condolences. Fortunately, His Majesty was aware of my longing and arranged a visit to my ancestral domain on the way to Edirne. I was grateful to stand by his side and pay my solemn respects to my late mother.”
“How considerate!”
“Yes, indeed. His thoughtfulness toward your emotions is truly endearing.”
The oppressive atmosphere dissipated, replaced by a cheerful and joyous ambiance. Conversations revolved around the king’s profound care for the queen and expressions of sympathy for Rihannan’s deceased mother.
Seraphina, whose sole intention had been to insult the queen, now
found herself as the subject of sympathy from the nobility due to her fabricated tale of tragic sorrow. Her face grew increasingly rigid as the nobility comforted Rihannan and extended their hearts to their queen. She bit her lip in anger as a thought took shape in her cunning mind, and a smug smile immediately graced her lips.
“Your Majesty, is it not a fact that both your parents are buried in the same place?” Seraphina inquired.
Rihannan nodded. “Yes, after my father passed away, they were laid to rest together. I offer them my heartfelt greetings and intend to do so with every visit.”
Seraphina’s lips curled slightly. “Then why do you speak only of your mother and not your father? Ah, I think I know why. After Her Majesty’s mother passed away, you drove your own father out of his own home, didn’t you?”
Her voice dripped with triumphant satisfaction.
It was unprecedented and unheard of for a child to expel their own parents. Those who valued tradition, honor, and duty would surely accuse the queen of deplorable behavior. Had she not promptly traveled to Chrichton and remained in Arundell, Seraphina was certain she would face backlash and criticism.
“I was truly taken aback upon learning this. To think such things could occur… I’m sure you had your reasons, Your Majesty, but for someone like me… I dare not even imagine doing such a thing.”
At her crude remark, a wave of silence washed over the ballroom. Even those in the far corners could sense the uneasy air emanating from the queen’s location and clamped their lips shut.
Rihannan noticed that everyone’s gaze was fixed upon her. She looked at Seraphina and offered a warm smile. “Duchess, you share an incredibly intriguing tale. Pray, do continue.”
Her response caught everyone off guard. Rather than becoming angered or fl**tered, she responded with a soft and warm smile.
Seraphina grew more aggressive.
“What do you mean? An intriguing tale? Are you unable to comprehend my words, Your Majesty? Is it not morally wrong for one to drive out their own parents? And you were just a child. To treat your own father in such a manner is sacrilegious! Unprecedented and-“
“Seraphina!”
A booming voice halted Seraphina’s vulgar comment in its tracks. It was her father, Duke Rissel. His face was pale, and he quickly rushed toward his daughter, gripping her arm firmly.
“What vulgar things are you saying to the Queen?!”
“What is it, Father? I am only speaking the truth,” Seraphina replied, bewildered by her father’s sudden intervention.
Duke Rissel lowered his voice and whispered, “Are you intentionally mocking both the king and queen…?!”
His daughter swiftly realized the gravity of her mistake. The king’s situation mirrored that of the queen’s. Like Rihannan, he too had banished his mother from the palace. The words she had spoken to openly criticize the queen’s actions indirectly condemned and chastised the king as well.
Seraphina’s face turned pale.
“F-Father… I didn’t mean…”
“Silence!”
Duke Rissel sternly silenced his daughter’s attempt to defend herself. He turned to face Rihannan and bowed deeply. Cold drops of sweat adorned his receding hairline.
“Your Majesty the Queen, I beseech you to forgive us. My immature daughter spoke without thinking. I implore you to show us mercy.”
He cast a sideways glance at the king, who remained in the corner, seemingly unaware of the unfolding situation. If he could appease the queen’s anger… perhaps the issue could be contained.
He quickly bowed his head.
“My Queen, please be gracious and pardon my daughter’s impudent and audacious behavior toward you. I assure you, I will take her home and administer a just punishment.”
