Rihannan was aware of Igor’s disdain for the wedding, and she sincerely hoped he would be the one to dissolve their marriage. If, at that very moment, he were to declare that they should not consummate their union until true intimacy was shared between them, it would undoubtedly cause a commotion. However, it would grant her an escape from a marriage neither she nor Igor desired.
Naturally, she would forever bear the stigma of being the woman abandoned on her wedding day, never to marry again. Who would accept a bride cast aside by the King on their first night? Perhaps she would be forever excluded from society.
Yet, for Rihannan, that was a preferable fate.
It was far better than living with a man whose love was absent. She did not wish for a husband like her father. Rihannan would rather endure the whispers behind her back than spend every moment of her life knowing that her husband harbored no affection for her.
“Yes…” Rihannan managed to respond to Igor, tightly shutting her eyes. From the day the Queen was accused of disloyalty to the King, no one would want her presence as a Queen.
Rihannan anticipated Igor’s outburst of rage. She expected him to withdraw his hands from her body, to hastily dress himself, and to declare their marriage null and void since their union had yet to be consummated.
However, after a long silence, there was no response from Igor.
Rihannan cautiously lifted her head, only to be met with his cold, disdainful gaze, infused with a shade of purple.
“…I see.” He lowered his head, whispering quietly into her ear. “Then, my wife, although I do not desire it either, bear it, even if it displeases you. You cannot escape this now.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Igor bit her ear. Rihannan let out a piercing scream, which she stifled in her throat. Instead of rising from the bed to declare their marriage annulled, Igor clutched Rihannan’s body without hesitation.
There was no love in his actions, only a frigid detachment. Nevertheless, it was a mechanical act—a mechanical bond to prove that their bodies were united as one. He thrust himself into her, indifferent to the pain she felt. In and out, Igor delved deeper, seeking more sensation.
In this one-sided act, all Rihannan experienced was agony.
By the time he reached his climax, the witnesses discreetly departed the room, leaving Igor lying beside her, emitting a protracted sigh.
In time, only the rhythm of their breaths filled the silent space.
Rihannan was engulfed in a state of shock; she consoled herself, assuring her mind that this was an inevitable outcome… True love was a rare find. There were fortunate lovers, those bound by love since childhood, who married with love still aflame in their hearts. However, most aristocratic nobles wedded for political gain. It was natural for an obligatory union to lack affection between the parties involved.
Suddenly, Igor’s voice reverberated through the room while Rihannan, her eyes tightly shut, had resigned herself to the circumstances.
“Do not assume I will continue tolerating your ambivalence,” he spoke coldly with closed eyes.
That was the last conversation they shared.
Soon after, Igor drifted into sleep, while Rihannan remained wide awake throughout the night.
As dawn broke, the maids entered, taking away the bloodstained bedsheet, evidence of their official union. Now, there was no choice but to maintain the facade of their marriage.
Of course, there were other means of divorce, but they were not realistic options.
From that day forth, Rihannan secluded herself quietly with the King, and the rift between them and Hertia Cesca deepened over time.
Meanwhile, their loveless acts of passion persisted within the confines of the bedchamber. It would have been better if he avoided her presence altogether, but his eagerness to produce an heir prevailed.
This, too, was a matter of politics.
Igor’s maternal grandfather, the late King, had no legitimate male heir, and the kingdom was engulfed in a devastating succession crisis upon his demise. Igor likely sought to avert a similar fate.
He visited Rihannan frequently, spending nights together, yet over time, she failed to conceive. Courtly rumors began to circulate, suggesting that the Queen was infertile.
The weight of bearing the King a child burdened Rihannan, leaving her exhausted and consumed by despair.
Then, one day, he ceased his visits. Rather than revel in relief, grief welled up within Rihannan, for she was indeed abandoned by him.
One day, at the maids’ insistence, Rihannan settled herself in the garden, gazing upon the vibrant blossoms and the lush, emerald foliage. Birds and butterflies danced merrily amidst the flora, enlivening the scene with their playful melodies.
From behind, a mischievous tune reached her ears.
What she adores is a plump rabbit,
But the ultimate delight lies in its succulent flesh.
Yum, yum,
Pure bliss!
Startled, Rihannan leaped from her seat and spun around, discovering her cousin Dimitri. He regaled her with the song, evoking memories from their childhood.
She recalled the days when they frolicked in the forests of Crichton, oblivious to the fact that it was a hunting expedition. Rihannan’s capable cousins had captured a small, white rabbit, and the sight had enthralled her. It was her first encounter with such a creature. However, as they reached the water’s edge, a scene of horror awaited her—a blazing fire consuming the helpless rabbit.
Tears welled up in Rihannan’s eyes, while her mischievous cousins continued to tease and mock her, all the while trying to console the young and innocent Rihannan.
“Dimi!” she exclaimed, her voice filled with both surprise and joy.
Dimitri Priebius, one of her cousins from Crichton, was known for his penchant for mischief. Even now, his smirk remained intact.
How wonderful it was to see him again during these troubled times.
Though Dimitri was not of royal blood, he still belonged to the noble lineage of Crichton. With the demise of one prince after another due to an epidemic, he had found himself unexpectedly thrust onto the royal throne as the crown prince of Crichton.
Naturally, he had come to visit Rihannan, and his position granted him every means to do so.
“Beautiful and noble Queen Rihannan, I can scarcely believe you still remember this humble song…” Dimitri began his comical and exaggerated act, only to be interrupted by Rihannan lunging into his arms, embracing him warmly.
Taken aback by the fervent reception from his cousin, which exceeded his expectations, Dimitri erupted into laughter. “Goodness, Rhia, did you miss me that much? Last time we met, you swore you’d never speak to me again!”
“Because you drew a beard on my beloved doll!”
“That was only to make sure you wouldn’t leave until all your dolls were repaired!”
“Why are you here now…? Have you forgotten about me all this time?”
Rihannan’s tears flowed freely in his embrace, as if she had been transported back to their blissful childhood days.
Though Dimitri had not been in the palace for long, he wore a bitter smile.
“Yes, I apologize, Rhia. I behaved poorly.”
He continued to comfort his cousin, recalling her perpetual tears and tender-hearted nature since their youth. Dimitri gently patted her slender back, just as he had done in their childhood, and pressed a kiss upon her cheek to ease her distress.
“It is difficult, isn’t it? If you keep crying like this, you’ll exhaust yourself. Stop crying, hm?”
After soothing Rihannan, Dimitri glanced upwards. On one side of the garden, the king and his attendants observed them with stern expressions.
Only then did Rihannan sense an odd atmosphere and withdrew her face from Dimitri’s chest. Her eyes met the cold, steel-like countenance of Igor, who had suddenly appeared without warning.
“Your Grace…” Rihannan uttered nervously, her heart pounding.
Igor approached her, his face adorned with an elegant and refined smile. He greeted Rihannan warmly, clasping her hand firmly.
Rihannan’s senses heightened, and she observed Igor’s every move with trepidation.
Dimitri offered his greetings to Igor first.
“Congratulations, Your Majesty. I happened to be at the palace regarding the Lexington matter, and I felt an urge to see how my cousin was faring. It has been quite some time since we last met! I did not expect our reunion to unfold like this.”
Lexington, a small state positioned between Arundell and Crichton, claimed independence, yet it was, in truth, under the control of both countries. A recent conflict had arisen, involving Arundell and Crichton, supposedly due to a commission undertaken by the King of Crichton.
Igor’s expression subtly changed upon hearing the state’s name.
“…It is indeed remarkable that news of the Lexington negotiations reached me only now.”
“Oh, the Queen has been overseeing them, and they are already…”
Dimitri swiftly realized his blunder and abruptly ceased speaking. Being an astute individual, he possessed a keen eye for situations. He swiftly discerned that the younger king had been excluded from this particular undertaking.
“Perhaps the Queen wished to spare His Majesty any needless concerns.”
“Do you believe so?”
“Yes. We all know that the Queen cares deeply for her son, His Majesty. She relinquished her throne for your sake.”
“Yes. I hold a profound sense of gratitude toward my mother. Everyone takes every opportunity to remind me of that fact.”
Their conversation carried an air of nobility and grace, yet beneath the surface lay a veil of strained tension that refused to break.
Rihannan realized that she had unwittingly given rise to another misunderstanding in Igor’s eyes. He had witnessed her encounter with the envoy from Crichton, someone unknown to him, further fueling his contempt for her.
Rihannan was aware of Igor’s disdain for the wedding, and she sincerely hoped he would be the one to dissolve their marriage. If, at that very moment, he were to declare that they should not consummate their union until true intimacy was shared between them, it would undoubtedly cause a commotion. However, it would grant her an escape from a marriage neither she nor Igor desired.
Naturally, she would forever bear the stigma of being the woman abandoned on her wedding day, never to marry again. Who would accept a bride cast aside by the King on their first night? Perhaps she would be forever excluded from society.
Yet, for Rihannan, that was a preferable fate.
It was far better than living with a man whose love was absent. She did not wish for a husband like her father. Rihannan would rather endure the whispers behind her back than spend every moment of her life knowing that her husband harbored no affection for her.
“Yes…” Rihannan managed to respond to Igor, tightly shutting her eyes. From the day the Queen was accused of disloyalty to the King, no one would want her presence as a Queen.
Rihannan anticipated Igor’s outburst of rage. She expected him to withdraw his hands from her body, to hastily dress himself, and to declare their marriage null and void since their union had yet to be consummated.
However, after a long silence, there was no response from Igor.
Rihannan cautiously lifted her head, only to be met with his cold, disdainful gaze, infused with a shade of purple.
“…I see.” He lowered his head, whispering quietly into her ear. “Then, my wife, although I do not desire it either, bear it, even if it displeases you. You cannot escape this now.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Igor bit her ear. Rihannan let out a piercing scream, which she stifled in her throat. Instead of rising from the bed to declare their marriage annulled, Igor clutched Rihannan’s body without hesitation.
There was no love in his actions, only a frigid detachment. Nevertheless, it was a mechanical act—a mechanical bond to prove that their bodies were united as one. He thrust himself into her, indifferent to the pain she felt. In and out, Igor delved deeper, seeking more sensation.
In this one-sided act, all Rihannan experienced was agony.
By the time he reached his climax, the witnesses discreetly departed the room, leaving Igor lying beside her, emitting a protracted sigh.
In time, only the rhythm of their breaths filled the silent space.
Rihannan was engulfed in a state of shock; she consoled herself, assuring her mind that this was an inevitable outcome… True love was a rare find. There were fortunate lovers, those bound by love since childhood, who married with love still aflame in their hearts. However, most aristocratic nobles wedded for political gain. It was natural for an obligatory union to lack affection between the parties involved.
Suddenly, Igor’s voice reverberated through the room while Rihannan, her eyes tightly shut, had resigned herself to the circumstances.
“Do not assume I will continue tolerating your ambivalence,” he spoke coldly with closed eyes.
That was the last conversation they shared.
Soon after, Igor drifted into sleep, while Rihannan remained wide awake throughout the night.
As dawn broke, the maids entered, taking away the bloodstained bedsheet, evidence of their official union. Now, there was no choice but to maintain the facade of their marriage.
Of course, there were other means of divorce, but they were not realistic options.
From that day forth, Rihannan secluded herself quietly with the King, and the rift between them and Hertia Cesca deepened over time.
Meanwhile, their loveless acts of passion persisted within the confines of the bedchamber. It would have been better if he avoided her presence altogether, but his eagerness to produce an heir prevailed.
This, too, was a matter of politics.
Igor’s maternal grandfather, the late King, had no legitimate male heir, and the kingdom was engulfed in a devastating succession crisis upon his demise. Igor likely sought to avert a similar fate.
He visited Rihannan frequently, spending nights together, yet over time, she failed to conceive. Courtly rumors began to circulate, suggesting that the Queen was infertile.
The weight of bearing the King a child burdened Rihannan, leaving her exhausted and consumed by despair.
Then, one day, he ceased his visits. Rather than revel in relief, grief welled up within Rihannan, for she was indeed abandoned by him.
One day, at the maids’ insistence, Rihannan settled herself in the garden, gazing upon the vibrant blossoms and the lush, emerald foliage. Birds and butterflies danced merrily amidst the flora, enlivening the scene with their playful melodies.
From behind, a mischievous tune reached her ears.
What she adores is a plump rabbit,
But the ultimate delight lies in its succulent flesh.
Yum, yum,
Pure bliss!
Startled, Rihannan leaped from her seat and spun around, discovering her cousin Dimitri. He regaled her with the song, evoking memories from their childhood.
She recalled the days when they frolicked in the forests of Crichton, oblivious to the fact that it was a hunting expedition. Rihannan’s capable cousins had captured a small, white rabbit, and the sight had enthralled her. It was her first encounter with such a creature. However, as they reached the water’s edge, a scene of horror awaited her—a blazing fire consuming the helpless rabbit.
Tears welled up in Rihannan’s eyes, while her mischievous cousins continued to tease and mock her, all the while trying to console the young and innocent Rihannan.
“Dimi!” she exclaimed, her voice filled with both surprise and joy.
Dimitri Priebius, one of her cousins from Crichton, was known for his penchant for mischief. Even now, his smirk remained intact.
How wonderful it was to see him again during these troubled times.
Though Dimitri was not of royal blood, he still belonged to the noble lineage of Crichton. With the demise of one prince after another due to an epidemic, he had found himself unexpectedly thrust onto the royal throne as the crown prince of Crichton.
Naturally, he had come to visit Rihannan, and his position granted him every means to do so.
“Beautiful and noble Queen Rihannan, I can scarcely believe you still remember this humble song…” Dimitri began his comical and exaggerated act, only to be interrupted by Rihannan lunging into his arms, embracing him warmly.
Taken aback by the fervent reception from his cousin, which exceeded his expectations, Dimitri erupted into laughter. “Goodness, Rhia, did you miss me that much? Last time we met, you swore you’d never speak to me again!”
“Because you drew a beard on my beloved doll!”
“That was only to make sure you wouldn’t leave until all your dolls were repaired!”
“Why are you here now…? Have you forgotten about me all this time?”
Rihannan’s tears flowed freely in his embrace, as if she had been transported back to their blissful childhood days.
Though Dimitri had not been in the palace for long, he wore a bitter smile.
“Yes, I apologize, Rhia. I behaved poorly.”
He continued to comfort his cousin, recalling her perpetual tears and tender-hearted nature since their youth. Dimitri gently patted her slender back, just as he had done in their childhood, and pressed a kiss upon her cheek to ease her distress.
“It is difficult, isn’t it? If you keep crying like this, you’ll exhaust yourself. Stop crying, hm?”
After soothing Rihannan, Dimitri glanced upwards. On one side of the garden, the king and his attendants observed them with stern expressions.
Only then did Rihannan sense an odd atmosphere and withdrew her face from Dimitri’s chest. Her eyes met the cold, steel-like countenance of Igor, who had suddenly appeared without warning.
“Your Grace…” Rihannan uttered nervously, her heart pounding.
Igor approached her, his face adorned with an elegant and refined smile. He greeted Rihannan warmly, clasping her hand firmly.
Rihannan’s senses heightened, and she observed Igor’s every move with trepidation.
Dimitri offered his greetings to Igor first.
“Congratulations, Your Majesty. I happened to be at the palace regarding the Lexington matter, and I felt an urge to see how my cousin was faring. It has been quite some time since we last met! I did not expect our reunion to unfold like this.”
Lexington, a small state positioned between Arundell and Crichton, claimed independence, yet it was, in truth, under the control of both countries. A recent conflict had arisen, involving Arundell and Crichton, supposedly due to a commission undertaken by the King of Crichton.
Igor’s expression subtly changed upon hearing the state’s name.
“…It is indeed remarkable that news of the Lexington negotiations reached me only now.”
“Oh, the Queen has been overseeing them, and they are already…”
Dimitri swiftly realized his blunder and abruptly ceased speaking. Being an astute individual, he possessed a keen eye for situations. He swiftly discerned that the younger king had been excluded from this particular undertaking.
“Perhaps the Queen wished to spare His Majesty any needless concerns.”
“Do you believe so?”
“Yes. We all know that the Queen cares deeply for her son, His Majesty. She relinquished her throne for your sake.”
“Yes. I hold a profound sense of gratitude toward my mother. Everyone takes every opportunity to remind me of that fact.”
Their conversation carried an air of nobility and grace, yet beneath the surface lay a veil of strained tension that refused to break.
Rihannan realized that she had unwittingly given rise to another misunderstanding in Igor’s eyes. He had witnessed her encounter with the envoy from Crichton, someone unknown to him, further fueling his contempt for her.
