Queen of Revenge - Chapter 95

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 95
The royal structure of Kalande was remarkably peculiar even among its neighboring countries.
Kalande had never been a nation with strong royal authority. Thus, the King consolidated his power through marriages with various nobles.
The King kept numerous concubines beneath his legitimate Queen.
Each concubine was the daughter of a great noble house. Through these matrimonial bonds, the King of Kalande succeeded in gathering nobles from every region to the capital.
Yet where there is light, darkness follows. The concubine system became the catalyst that plunged Kalande into an endless cycle of factional politics.
After generations passed, Kalande had become a nation where factions held greater sway than royal authority.
The current King was little more than a puppet, and the royal family possessed multiple sons with claims to succession. It was a structure where bloodshed seemed inevitable.
Yet even accounting for such circumstances, the Queen’s attitude was excessive.
Was it wrong to obey the royal command and come to the capital? Should I have defied the order of my own volition?
Iolet tilted her head as though she understood nothing.
“That’s a curious thing to say. I understand that the title granted to Kairon was the First Prince’s decision. The Second Prince told me as much.”
At the blatant mention of her son and his greatest rival, Dietrich, the Queen’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
“I wish to receive you, Princess, as an honored guest. Should you respect the order and harmony of this place during your stay, I shall reciprocate with appropriate courtesy. Unnecessary misunderstandings and pointless discord serve neither of us well.”
“Why would unnecessary misunderstandings arise? I have come as an ambassador of Elovis, and I have neither the intention nor desire to cause inconvenience. The same applies to Kairon.”
Iolet added with a light smile.
“Of course, I am well aware that many in Kalande have need of him, but there is little I can do about that matter.”
“…Yes. I trust you will conduct yourself wisely.”
The Queen resumed her walk as though nothing had transpired.
The Queen guided Iolet to the Separate Palace.
“We have prepared everything to ensure your comfort. Should you encounter any difficulties, please speak freely. One never knows what the future may hold, regardless of one’s youth.”
“Yes, thank you for your consideration.”
“Your Guard Knight will arrive once his body search is complete. The young girl you brought as a maidservant shall be brought in by day’s end.”
Lucian would not be coming, she meant.
The Queen, having made her graceful farewell, turned and departed.
The moment the Queen’s dress disappeared beyond the doorway, Iolet let out a hollow laugh.
“She doesn’t even bother to hide her displeasure?”
I was startled by how overtly hostile she was. Simultaneously, I understood. I knew who stood behind the forces that had targeted me throughout this journey.
She had made it so obvious there was no way I could miss it.
Cecilia, the Queen of Kalande.
That woman had conspired with Catherine.
‘I should have known Catherine wouldn’t be so reckless on her own.’
But the Queen’s conspiracy with Catherine would be unexpected by her son, the First Prince. Had the First Prince shared her sentiments, he would never have granted Kairon a title in the first place.
This meant someone else had persuaded the First Prince to summon Kairon.
I paced the chamber, turning the matter over in my mind.
‘The First Prince’s strategist was certainly someone named Ulrich.’
Prince Leonhilt, Queen Cecilia, and strategist Ulrich.
The structure of the First Prince’s faction was becoming clear.
‘This is a three-headed serpent indeed.’
A small smile played at my lips as my hand swept across the table.
* * *
Prince Leonhilt returned from the hunt as evening fell and immediately made his way to the Queen’s Palace.
“I heard that Kairon has entered the palace. It was rather inconsiderate of you not to inform me beforehand, Mother.”
“Did the Prince inform me before summoning that man?”
The Queen’s mood was foul. It had been this way ever since Leonhilt declared he would grant Kairon a title.
He understood her displeasure well enough.
Cecilia, the King of Kalande’s first wife and Queen, was the only daughter of the Grand Duchy—a family wielding immense power in Kalande.
Though merely one of the King’s wives, she was unmistakably the Queen, not some concubine.
She harbored ambitions of manipulating her foolish husband and placing her brilliant son at the forefront to rule Kalande.
Even as the King took concubines, then more concubines, she remained the sole legitimate wife.
Then the King fell in love.
With a maidservant—one Cecilia herself had raised.
And that maidservant bore him a son.
From the moment that boy was conceived until he was cast out to the border fifteen years later, Leonhilt knew well the countless trials his mother had endured.
“Once I eliminate Dietrich, naturally Kairon will be cast out again. Until then, he is merely a tool to be used. Please do not be so angry.”
“Merely a tool? Since when do tools return like war heroes, accompanied by the Princess of Elovis?”
The Queen mocked her son with refined disdain.
“She is indeed as reckless as I heard. They say she was confined for ten years, yet her spirit seems entirely undiminished.”
“You heard about the Princess from someone? From whom?”
“The Prince need not concern himself with such matters.”
A sigh escaped him.
Leonhilt felt a headache coming on.
He respected and admired his mother more than anyone in the world, yet sometimes her self-righteousness was unbearable.
“Touching the Princess of Elovis is dangerous, Mother. Target Kairon instead.”
“Do you truly not understand, Prince? The Princess is Kairon’s weakness.”
The Queen tapped the table with evident frustration.
She remembered Kairon’s reaction when she had taken the Princess from the Audience Hall.
His pupils trembling with anxiety, his lips quivering as though he wished to speak, his hands flinching. Even as a boy, Kairon had never shown such a reaction.
“The Princess is an excellent bait to lure Kairon and bring him down. And since Elovis has stated they will not hold the Princess accountable for her safety, what better bait could there be?”
“What are you saying? Should something truly happen to the Princess, do you wish to invite criticism from Elovis? She may be the Second Princess, but she is still a princess. Moreover, her maternal family is the Levia Royal Family, is it not? That Princess is also the King of Levia’s niece.”
“The Princess has had no contact with the Levia Kingdom for quite some time, Prince. I have already confirmed this. And whatever befalls the Princess in Kalande, Elovis will not take issue with it.”
A week prior, a letter had arrived in Kalande, sent secretly from Elovis. As Queen, she had no reason to refuse the proposal it contained.
[We request preemptive measures to ensure that Princess Iolet exercises no influence over your kingdom’s royal family, nobility, merchant companies, or military strongholds.
Elovis will raise no separate objections to any measures taken in this process and will respect Kalande’s judgment and methods.
Furthermore, regarding this matter, Elovis is prepared to take corresponding measures against Commander Winterbark.]
In essence, it was an unofficial alliance proposal: Elovis would move against Kairon, and Kalande was asked to move against Princess Iolet.
Leonhilt attempted to persuade his mother.
“But we need Kairon to deal with Dietrich, Mother.”
“If Kairon falls from power, Dietrich’s influence will naturally diminish as well. There is no need to keep that man around.”
Yet Leonhilt’s strategist had proposed the exact opposite: use Kairon to eliminate Dietrich, then removing Kairon would be easier and faster.
But…
“Why concern ourselves with order, Prince? I need only remove what offends my eyes at this very moment.”
Leonhilt could not bring himself to defy his mother.
The Decart Grand Duchy, the Queen’s maternal family, formed the core of Leonhilt’s faction. His mother’s influence accounted for seventy percent of his current position.
“Surely you don’t intend to harm the Princess? We cannot predict when Elovis might change its stance.”
“Suppressing momentum comes first. Reckless though she may be, this is a foreign palace where she has no connections. With her husband absent and no one seeking her out, confined within these walls and subjected to subtle pressure and threats, could even the most headstrong woman endure?”
Leonhilt exhaled deeply. If his mother was set on this course, he had no choice but to alter his plans.
“…I shall respect your wishes, Mother. Only, please ensure that bloodshed does not stain the palace halls.”
“I am not so careless as that, Prince.”
Leonhilt finally nodded. He would need to inform his strategist of the changed plans.
His next audience with Ulrich was scheduled for two days hence.
* * *
The next day, a letter from Commander Winterbark arrived at the Queen’s Palace.
Cecilia burned it without reading.
As though she had anticipated this, two more letters arrived in quick succession before noon. He seemed desperately anxious.
Cecilia let out a scornful laugh.
‘The Princess is in my hands. By now, Kairon must surely understand that I can dispose of that child whenever I please.’
She had left his nineteen-year-old wife in the very heart of enemy territory, and his heart must be tearing itself apart.
Savoring this rare moment of satisfaction, Cecilia threw open the windows of the drawing room. But something strange was happening below.
“My goodness, truly? Such a thing happened in Elovis, Iolet?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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