The Prince Who Loved Me - Chapter 45

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 45

 

* * *

 

The vehicle that had exited The Gilded Mile soon entered the entrance of Windmere Palace.

 

Near the palace entrance, countless tourists were gathered together as usual.

 

Just then, a crowd taking photos in front of the gate made it difficult for the vehicle to enter.

 

A guard in blue uniform standing at the entrance shouted loudly toward the people.

 

“Make Way!”

 

The thunderous shout was so startling that even Bada in the car was surprised, and only then did people hurriedly move aside to the roadside.

 

After passing through the heavy iron gate, the car entered the driveway lined with plane trees.

 

Then a quiet scene unfolded, opposite to the noisy appearance outside the wall with tourists.

 

‘…Wow, it’s like stepping into another world.’

 

The vast garden and a fountain the size of a lake.

 

And beyond that, a magnificent cream-colored stone building standing majestically.

 

It was a landscape that seemed like a mix of Austria’s Schönbrunn Palace and France’s Versailles.

 

Soon the vehicle arrived at the entrance of the West Wing.

 

Getting out of the car, Bada followed the guidance of an aide who had been waiting and stepped inside the palace.

 

* * *

 

Passing through the door, a magnificent Grand Hall spread out before her eyes. Its splendor and scale were breathtaking.

 

Bada looked back and forth between the gold-decorated ceiling and the towering marble columns.

 

Everywhere she turned her gaze, there were precious artworks and furniture in abundance.

 

‘Compared to the palace, Windswood House was really modest. Even if it’s gold plating, the cost of the raw materials alone must be no joke. But how much do the maintenance costs run?’

 

The Queen’s aide guided Bada while adding various explanations.

 

“This West Wing is the residential space of His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen. Access is very restricted here, so the route is a bit complex, please understand.”

 

Following him through endless corridors and up spiral stairs, they finally arrived at the Queen’s Audience Chamber.

 

The aide explained the proper title and greeting method for addressing Her Majesty before opening the door.

 

“Your Majesty, this is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince’s fiancée.”

 

The moment the door opened, a heavy scent mixed with wood and patchouli struck her nose.

 

The interior of the audience chamber was dim, perhaps because velvet curtains were drawn over the windows.

 

When Bada raised her gaze, she saw a woman sitting at a table in the distance.

 

Though her form was blurred due to the backlighting, just from her impeccable posture alone, she could tell that person was Queen Beatrice.

 

Bada carefully moved her steps and approached the table.

 

And as Lea had taught her, she performed a curtsy (a greeting done by bending the knees).

 

“It is an honor to meet you, Your Majesty.”

 

“You’ve worked hard to come. You must have been flustered by the sudden invitation, but thank you for coming. Please sit.”

 

At the Queen’s words, a servant pulled out Bada’s chair for her.

 

Bada sat down and smiled toward the Queen sitting across the table.

 

Meanwhile, Queen Beatrice held a dog in her arms and scrutinized Bada with an enigmatic gaze.

 

“….”

 

The Queen in person was chillingly beautiful and elegant.

 

Gorgeous blonde hair and delicate features. And skin where wrinkles were hard to find. She was reminiscent of Grace Kelly (American actress and Princess of Monaco).

 

Moreover, her blue eyes that closely resembled Damien’s seemed as if they could enchant anyone.

 

The Jack Russell Terrier she held in her arms was also staring intently at Bada.

 

When their eyes met, the dog began showing its teeth and expressing hostility toward the intruder.

 

“Woof! Woof woof! Grrrr, woof!”

 

“Shh, Cavalier. Calm down.”

 

The dog barking roughly at Bada looked ready to leap from the Queen’s arms and bite Bada at any moment.

 

Seeing it wouldn’t work, the Queen handed the dog to a footman.

 

“Please remove him from here.”

 

“Yes, understood, Your Majesty.”

 

Even while being carried out the door in the footman’s arms, the dog continued barking. The small thing barked so fiercely that Bada’s heart trembled.

 

The Queen smiled slightly as if troubled.

 

“He has a habit of barking when he sees outsiders. I apologize on his behalf.”

 

“It’s fine, Your Majesty.”

 

Was it her imagination that the Queen seemed to emphasize the word ‘outsiders’?

 

Moreover, the Queen’s chair was positioned on a slightly elevated platform, so she felt an intimidating sense that the Queen was looking down on her.

 

An uncomfortable silence followed.

 

‘Lea said to keep words to a minimum and never ask questions first. What should I do.’

 

The Queen, who had been staring at her intently, slowly opened her mouth.

 

“Would you like some tea?”

 

“Yes, of course. Thank you, Your Majesty.”

 

The Queen personally lifted the teapot and poured black tea into Bada’s teacup.

 

The black tea in the white porcelain teacup was particularly red.

 

“Damien announced his engagement without any notice, so we were also caught off guard. It seemed proper to meet you now, so I called you urgently like this, please understand.”

 

“I’m sorry for not greeting you in advance before the article came out.”

 

“Well then, let me hear your story.”

 

Beatrice questioned Bada about her background.

 

What work she had done. What her family relationships were like. How she came to meet Damien.

 

These were reasonable questions that a prospective mother-in-law might be curious about.

 

She listened intently to Bada’s words and occasionally nodded.

 

She had worried that the Queen might burst into anger like King Richard.

 

But with her very polite and gentle attitude, Bada gradually relaxed.

 

After a long conversation, the Queen gestured toward a tray containing dessert.

 

“Have you had lunch? You must be hungry, so please have some food.”

 

On the plate placed on the table, there was just a single piece of scone.

 

“Yes, thank you.”

 

Bada smiled and picked up a knife to cut the scone in half.

 

Then the Queen laughed as if troubled and said.

 

“Scones aren’t cut with a knife, dear. You break them in half with your hands.”

 

Feeling embarrassed, Bada hurriedly put down the knife.

 

“…I’m sorry.”

 

“There’s nothing to be sorry about.”

 

The Queen demonstrated by breaking the scone in half and spreading cream with a butter knife while saying.

 

“In Bernhardt, we use the Devon method of applying clotted cream first and then putting jam on top, so remember that.”

 

“…Yes.”

 

Though the Queen spoke in an elegant tone, it somehow seemed like she was judging and scoring each of Bada’s actions.

 

It felt like the scone was stuck in her throat. Bada stirred her sugared teacup with a spoon to drink some tea.

 

As she lifted the teacup to her mouth, the Queen let out another quiet chuckle.

 

Bada wondered what mistake she had made again and stopped her action to stare at the Queen.

 

“When stirring tea, try not to let the spoon hit the teacup. You’re not playing a glass harp, are you? And when lifting the teacup, you should hold the handle with your thumb and index finger and lightly support it with your middle finger. You look like you’re pulling a gun’s trigger.”

 

“…Ah.”

 

Her body stiffened at the strangely sharp tone.

 

Her cheeks burned with the feeling of being made a fool who couldn’t even properly hold a teacup in front of the Queen.

 

Soon a heavy silence hung between the two.

 

It was Beatrice who broke the quiet. She stared at Bada and asked.

 

“Do you love Damien?”

 

“Yes, I love him.”

 

At the Queen’s question, Bada answered without a second’s hesitation. Even she was surprised by the strong conviction that poured from her own voice.

 

The Queen seemed to feel this too, as her pupils subtly widened.

 

Bada wore a self-deprecating smile as she lowered her gaze with a respectful attitude.

 

After uttering the words that she loved him, a corner of her heart grew heavy.

 

‘Even if all of this might be fake to Damien, my feelings are sincere.’

 

The Queen, who had been silent for a moment, continued speaking.

 

“I see. I read your interview article this morning and could feel the sincerity.”

 

“….”

 

“I too, before being Queen, wish for Damien’s happiness as his mother. But that child is not an ordinary human—he’s a being who symbolizes the monarchy. Have you ever thought about what the monarchy is?”

 

Bada opened her mouth to speak, but it seemed it wasn’t a question, as Beatrice continued.

 

“Tradition and pride. Or perhaps an old-fashioned, outdated antique that goes against the spirit of the times.”

 

“….”

 

“Unfortunately, many people these days think it’s the latter. The monarchy is a very fragile organism. To borrow the words you used in your interview, it’s no different from an endangered species. Like an old ship that can easily capsize on even small reefs.”

 

“….”

 

“If you were the captain steering that ship, what do you think you would do?”

 

Seeing the Queen looking at her silently, this time it was truly a question.

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