CHAPTER 35………….
. Mistresses Should Help Each Other
Robbie felt both gratitude and embarrassment toward Lea, who had prepared breakfast for him and even set out his riding clothes, though he had sulked, skipped dinner, and fallen asleep.
After a long ride, he decided to go apologize to her and was heading to the West Palace residence when he spotted Lea entering the greenhouse.
Thinking it would be fun to sneak up and surprise her, he slipped off his cloak and threw it over her.
“Lea, you came to see me?”
He hugged her tightly from behind as she struggled. Then, as if by magic, her movements suddenly froze.
Leaning forward, he rested his chin gently on her shoulder.
“I’m too embarrassed to say this face-to-face, so I’ll say it like this. I’m sorry for getting angry yesterday. It was my fault.”
He rubbed his cheek against the face hidden under the cloak. Then he suddenly realized something was strange.
“Was she always this tall?”
Puzzled, Robbie carefully pulled off the cloak—only to find a woman who looked nothing like Lea, except for her long platinum-blonde hair: Princess Shine, who glared at him suspiciously.
“Wh-who are you?”
Robbie stammered in shock. He had thought it was Lea and played a prank, but the face revealed under the cloak belonged to a complete stranger.
With her fierce upturned eyes, vivid red lips, and brazenly emphasized bustline, she couldn’t be further from graceful Lea. Robbie cursed himself for mistaking her. Yet, to his dismay, his gaze kept being drawn to her lips and chest, as if bewitched.
Trying to cover his embarrassment, he demanded even more sternly:
“I asked who you are.”
“I am Princess Shine, head of the Malau Kingdom’s delegation. And you, who dared to be so rude—who might you be?”
With a sly smile tugging at one corner of her lips, Shine answered as though she could see right through him.
Robbie quickly stepped back, ashamed of where his eyes had strayed.
“I am Robbie Stone, eldest son of Count Stone of the Great Haren Empire. I mistook you for someone else and offended you. Please forgive my rudeness.”
When Robbie offered a proper apology, Shine’s scowl softened. She knew well whom he had mistaken her for—after all, she had intentionally dressed in the style Queen Lea favored.
“And what business does the young count of Haren have in this greenhouse?”
“Ah, by Queen Lea’s invitation, I’ve been staying in the West Palace guest quarters for the past few days.”
“Is that so? I didn’t realize someone so distinguished was residing here. Did you also come to Pritan Castle to present tribute?”
“Absolutely not!”
Robbie flared up, deeply offended.
“The Great Haren Empire offering tribute to a mere kingdom? Impossible. It seems Princess of Malau is ignorant of international affairs.”
“No need to get so worked up. If not, then why are you here in the West Palace if you’re not part of a delegation?”
Her careless tone only annoyed Robbie further.
“I am here as the Queen’s personal guest. And for the record, the Great Haren Empire will never pay tribute to the Pritan Kingdom.”
“A personal guest of the Queen while the King is away… I see. Then it seems you and I are in a similar position.”
Robbie was baffled.
“Similar? What do you mean?”
“First, I’ll be the King of Pritan’s mistress. But soon, I’ll take the Queen’s place.”
Shine said it bluntly, without a hint of shame. Robbie’s eyes widened.
“In fact, the King and I already spent the night together at Malau Castle. So the chances are high. And you?”
Shine poked his chest playfully with her finger. Robbie flinched.
“Since Queen Lea secretly summoned you from Haren, she must hold you dear. Why not seize the chance to take the King’s place—her husband’s place—instead of remaining a hidden guest?”
Robbie wanted to shout at her for speaking nonsense, but strangely, no words came out. His lips parted, yet nothing emerged.
Watching him, Shine smiled knowingly.
“Mistresses should help each other. If you cooperate with me, I’ll cooperate with you. Think about it.”
After throwing out such outrageous words, Shine turned on her heel and left the greenhouse without waiting for an answer.
Mistress? Mistress!? I’m not Lea’s mistress!!!
Robbie shook with humiliation, but before he could deny it, the brazen woman was gone.
Back in her West Palace chamber, Shine immediately stripped off the dress she had been wearing.
“What’s the matter, Princess?”
Her knight, Julmon, startled at her sudden disrobing, but she paid it no mind.
“You said you were dressing like Queen Lea to suit King Miklok’s tastes. Are you tired of it already?”
“It was all pointless.”
“What?”
She selected one of her own bold, flamboyant dresses from the wardrobe and smiled with satisfaction at her reflection.
“Turns out Queen Lea is much more daring and sly than I expected.”
“Why do you say that?”
“The moment her husband left the castle, she secretly brought in a lover from her homeland.”
“Impossible!”
Julmon thought Shine was blinded by jealousy, inventing ridiculous stories. The noble, dignified queen he had seen could not possibly be hiding a lover.
“You’re surprised, right? I can’t stand women who act all pure while scheming behind the scenes. Better to be like me and do it openly.”
“Where did you even hear that?”
“I just met the man in the greenhouse. From Haren. He mistook me for Queen Lea. The two of them were clearly planning a secret tryst.”
Julmon’s jaw dropped.
“Unbelievable…”
“Miklok must not know yet. Otherwise, would he tolerate it? Which is why there’s no need for me to imitate that woman any longer.”
Julmon wisely held his tongue about the fact that even Shine’s imitation dress had been far too revealing.
Meanwhile, I was buried in piles of paperwork in my office from early morning onward.
The deadline for settling expenses from the hastily arranged welcome banquet was pressing.
Food and drink had been the largest cost, but floral decorations, performers, and emergency labor for the kitchen and hall also added up.
Wait… what’s this?
As I reviewed the invoices, I spotted irregularities.
When the royal chef Modabi collapsed, I had personally gone to the kitchen and seen boxes of frozen fruits and vegetables. Yet the invoice from the supplier listed only fresh produce, which was far more expensive.
“Milly, tell the kitchen to rewrite detailed reports of the banquet menus and ingredients used for each meal.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“And ask the steward to confirm exactly how many performers were hired for the entertainment. The labor costs for the children’s magic show are far too high.”
“Yes!”
“…This florist’s bill also looks suspicious…”
I noticed Milly had gone pale. I chuckled softly.
“All right, take care of these first.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Fearing more orders, Milly quickly hurried out.
I massaged my stiff shoulders and decided to rest briefly.
Just then, a knock sounded and the door opened. A bright little figure bounced inside.
“Your Majesty the Queen!”
“Violet!!”
I swept Violet into my arms as she came running.
“My apologies, Your Majesty. Violet, why do you forget all your manners only in front of the Queen?”
The Duchess of Zenon blushed as she scolded her niece. Violet just stuck out her tongue cheekily, and I kissed her on the cheek, unable to resist her charm.
“It’s fine, Duchess. I was exhausted, but seeing Lady Violet has revived me.”
“You must be overburdened.”
She looked at me with pity. I shrugged and rose, calling Adele to bring refreshments for them.
“Thanks to the Duke’s guidance, things are going smoothly. Though, some suppliers have dared to submit fraudulent bills.”
“How insolent.”
The Duchess frowned.
“I suppose the merchants are testing me?”
I winked, and she nodded in agreement.
“It’s the first event hosted by the new Queen. They want to see how you’ll respond. If you go easy now, they’ll bleed the palace dry at every event.”
As the unwanted daughter of Marquis Uzkall, I had never wasted a single coin in my life. No way I’d allow that here.
“And if fraud is confirmed, how will you deal with them?”
“If it’s a mistake, a warning will suffice. But if it’s intentional, they’ll be banned from supplying the palace for ten years.”
“Ten years?”
The Duchess was startled, then chuckled.
“I was going to make it twenty, but I’m being lenient.”
I sipped my tea, and she laughed with satisfaction.
“The Pritan royal family has gained quite the formidable mistress of the house. A blessing indeed.”
She smiled warmly, then lowered her voice.
“Your Majesty… I hear a certain ‘shameless cat’ is residing here in the castle.”
I burst out laughing at the normally dignified Duchess calling Princess Shine a “shameless cat.”
“My husband already told me. But why let her stay instead of expelling her immediately?”
“Because Malau offered thermal magic stones as tribute. A thousand tons.”
“Oh!”
From her reaction, I realized the Duke hadn’t told his wife the details.
“Two thousand more tons will follow. I couldn’t just drive her out.”
“Even so, remarkable that you can endure her presence.”
The Duchess praised my patience. I, too, couldn’t resist confessing with a blush:
“To be honest, I’m curious.”
“Curious about what?”
“What expression Miklok makes when he looks at her.”
“Heavens, Your Majesty!”
When I answered shyly, the Duchess burst into laughter.
Embarrassing though it was, I truly wanted to see with my own eyes whether Mik could remain utterly unmoved before such a seductive woman.
