Chapter 5
“Shall I call for the Duke?”
The maid quickly asked upon understanding Isabella’s words. Isabella took a deep breath and nodded.
“Yes. Bring him as quickly as you can.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The maid bowed politely with both hands folded and turned to leave the bedroom. Just as she was about to step outside, a voice was heard from beyond the door.
—”Your Majesty, the former Queen, the Duke of Theoclen requests an audience.”
“My father? Perfect timing. Bring him in at once.”
Isabella stood up with delight. At the same time, the maid scurried to the door. As soon as she opened it, a tall, burly nobleman stepped inside. He was Duke Theorban Theoclen, Isabella’s father.
“I greet Her Majesty the former Queen.”
The Duke gave a respectful bow to his daughter. Isabella returned the gesture with a slight nod and quickly spoke.
“Welcome, Father. I was just about to send someone to call for you.”
“Ah, were you now?”
The Duke looked momentarily puzzled, then smiled as he took a seat. Isabella also sat back down and pressed her lips together. A maid came over and arranged tea and refreshments on the table, then stepped back a few paces.
“You may leave.”
As soon as the maid retreated, Isabella waved her hand. The maid quickly exited the bedroom. Once they were alone, the Duke picked up the teacup before him.
“…Why the long face?”
His tone had relaxed. Naturally—there was no one around to watch or listen.
“You visited the Grand Duke again, didn’t you? Let me guess—you were treated coldly and sent away again.”
“I was not sent away! Who said that!”
“Hmm… so maybe not sent away, but you admit you were treated coldly?”
The Duke chuckled as he looked at his daughter. Isabella bristled and was about to protest again when his golden eyes darkened, like deep still water.
“Even after all that, why does it still have to be the Grand Duke?”
“…”
“Do you believe that in time, Haven Gunthers will come to care for you? That if he ascends the throne, he’ll treat you like his wife? Even after being ignored like this, are you still harboring such foolish hopes? You’re being naive, Isabella.”
His tone was calm, but his words brimmed with anger. He was clearly furious that his daughter continued to cling to a man who had no interest in her. Isabella bit her lip hard, unable to respond.
Her suppressed frustration surged again, and tears welled in her eyes. When the Duke saw her reddening eyes, he clicked his tongue and continued.
“There are plenty of men in the royal family. Do you know how many of them long for you to choose them?”
He scolded her with a click of his tongue. Unable to hold back, Isabella raised her voice.
“Don’t say that! I didn’t kill Revius just to marry one of those pathetic nobodies—!”
“Shh! Quiet, would you!”
The Duke abruptly raised his voice, cutting her off. He jumped to his feet and walked to the bedroom door. Isabella clamped her mouth shut and waited in silence until her father checked the hallway and returned.
“How could you be so careless! What if someone had heard what you just said?”
Confirming that no one was around, he returned and sharply rebuked her. This time, Isabella had no retort. He was right—what she had just let slip should never be spoken aloud.
Revius Gunthers.
Her husband. The former king.
His death had to remain a tragic accident—nothing more.
“…I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say that. I just let my frustration get the better of me.”
She finally spoke in a regretful tone after a long silence. The Duke narrowed his eyes at her.
“What did the Grand Duke do this time?”
“The same as always. But today, that girl, Flitta, got in the way too.”
Isabella blamed Haven’s indifference on his young daughter, Flitta.
The child pretended to be sick and clung to him, so naturally, as her father, Haven paid more attention to his daughter than to her.
She selfishly placed the blame on Flitta, not even considering that she had trespassed into the Grand Duke’s house uninvited.
She also ignored the fact that Flitta hadn’t “clung” to her at all but had actually cowered in fear, hiding behind her nanny’s skirts.
“I should never have brought that girl back then. Haven wouldn’t even remember her anyway. I should’ve just killed that woman and her child together—it would’ve been cleaner…”
She sighed as she muttered her regret. The Duke put down his teacup and firmly shook his head.
“You know that wasn’t possible. Members of the royal household were present that day—especially Marquis Forken. How could we have dealt with it under his watchful eye? He may be with us now due to your status as queen, but back then, his loyalty lay fully with the royal family.”
Warren Marquis Forken. His loyalty to the royal family could only be described as fanatical. He placed the royal house above even his own family and displayed obsessive devotion to royal bloodlines.
How could they have touched Haven’s child in front of such a man? Even if half of her blood came from a lowly commoner, that didn’t matter to Forken. All he cared about was the other half—the royal blood.
Killing Haven’s child in front of someone like that had been impossible. As for the mother, perhaps—though even that hadn’t been necessary.
Just threatening her child had made the woman turn pale and tremble with fear.
Recalling those events, the Duke calmly warned Isabella again.
“At any rate, you must always be careful, Isabella. Don’t ever mention the former king again—not even by accident. In fact, it’s as if it never happened. Just remember: it was a tragic accident. That’s all.”
“Yes.”
Isabella obediently replied. The Duke clicked his tongue again as he looked at his daughter.
“She should have been satisfied with becoming queen.”
He had heard through his wife that Isabella was in love with Haven, but hadn’t taken it seriously. He had always known his daughter’s ambition surpassed that of most people. That’s why he thought the queen’s seat would be enough for her. She hadn’t objected when he ordered her to become queen.
But who could’ve imagined it?
That her ambition and greed would surpass even his expectations.
That she wouldn’t be satisfied with being queen—she wanted the man she loved, too.
It had been fortunate that he discovered her plan to stage Revius’s death as an accident. If his impulsive and careless daughter had gone through with it herself, she surely would’ve left evidence behind.
Thankfully, he had stepped in and made it a “perfect” accident. And to this day, no one had suspected a thing. Not even the Grand Duke—Revius’s own younger brother.
“Still, this isn’t a bad situation. It might even be an opportunity.”
He thought of Haven Gunthers—smarter and stronger than his late brother. Even as Isabella became queen, the Duke had always been wary of Haven. He was too much like a king—perhaps more than the actual king had been.
“So maybe it’s better to make him an ally.”
If Haven ascended the throne and Isabella became queen once more by law… If she could somehow win his heart, it would be the perfect outcome.
The Duke concluded his thoughts and nodded.
“Either way, I’ll try pressing the Grand Duke again. The 6th anniversary of the former king’s death is coming up. That might be a good time to bring up marriage. I’ll see if Forken can be nudged as well.”
“Really? Please do, Father.”
Isabella’s eyes sparkled with joy. She had no concern whatsoever for her late husband’s upcoming memorial.
Squeak, squeak, squeak.
Rose turned in surprise at the sound of a mouse. She spotted a little mouse running off with a piece of bread.
“Ah…”
It must have taken the black bread she had left on the bed. It had been so hard she had soaked it in water to soften it—only to have it stolen.
“…Guess I’ll just go hungry.”
Despite losing her breakfast—and lunch—Rose murmured with a faint smile. As long as something else could eat and be full, that was enough.
To fill her empty stomach, she drank some water and stepped out of her room. Because of the rain, the hallway smelled musty and foul.
The inn where she was staying was in such terrible condition that calling it an “inn” felt like a stretch.
But for someone without much money, it was suitable—no, it was more than enough.
As Rose descended the stairs, she heard the innkeeper’s voice from the first floor. She paused midway down the steps, looking troubled.
Over the past few days, she hadn’t ordered meals at the inn. Instead, she bought hard black bread and ate it with water. From the innkeeper’s perspective, it was understandable that he found her annoying. After all, food sales—on top of the lodging fee—were his main source of income.
But Rose simply couldn’t afford to eat full meals every day. So despite the innkeeper’s glares, she had no choice but to continue buying and bringing back cheap bread.
She hesitated for a moment, then sighed and prepared to descend again.
Just then, the voice of a staff member talking with the innkeeper rang out more clearly.
