“She’s gone.”
“Gone?” Cheston grasped his throbbing head as he opened his eyes. Aaron’s words left him puzzled.
“She has nowhere to go. Seems like the informant is hiding something.”
“I’ll go check.”
“No need. The informant won’t give up any information, and we can’t reveal our identity. Leave it be.”
Cheston gazed at the garden of the pavilion. The woman who had caught his attention from their first meeting, who rarely left her house, was now missing?
It was indeed strange. However, he couldn’t act hastily as Aaron’s involvement might escalate the situation.
‘Really troubling.’
He rubbed his forehead in frustration.
“What about the whereabouts of the herb?”
“We’re looking into it. It might even be possible to cultivate it.”
“Then we won’t need the lady anymore.”
If they could obtain the Bellonia herb, there was no need to keep in touch with her. But why did she keep lingering in his mind?
“By the way, the steward at the Orleans manor was dismissed. A new one has been hired by Whitney Orleans.”
“Interesting.”
Cheston’s curiosity about Whitney’s future actions grew. But even that was now irrelevant. He would see her at the debutante ball if needed.
Seeing the lavish dress, Whitney finally realized she was really going to the palace. The informant had sent a steward to the Orleans manor.
‘So, I’ll hear from the Orleans manor every week. The day after tomorrow then.’
The news of her going to the palace would spread in social circles. There might be talk that the star of the debutante ball had been decided.
Perhaps this was also influenced by her aunt. Maybe the queen was seeking something through the Rubenius family.
Whitney eagerly wanted to go to the palace, to meet Prince Cheston. Her sole reason for going was to meet him.
She took a public carriage, as she couldn’t use the Rubenius family’s. Though she didn’t have pleasant memories of the palace, meeting the queen might reveal her intentions.
‘The royal banquet and Carl’s incident, surely the queen has been plotting since before.’
If she pushed her own son to such extremes, she must have been desperate. What had happened to make the queen so impatient?
Throughout the journey, Whitney gazed out of the carriage window, wondering if she might encounter Prince Carl.
Standing in front of the Royal Palace of the Leowen Kingdom, Whitney cautiously stepped out of the carriage. She had pondered the whole way how to face the queen, but was unsure how to look natural.
‘Just be natural.’
She followed the guide into the castle, heading towards the Diamond Palace bestowed to the queen by the king.
Inside, she found a garden filled with blooming red roses. Despite the overpowering scent, Whitney composed herself. Deep inside, the garden was much more lavish than anything she had seen before, very different from the palace courtyards she remembered.
But one similarity remained – the palace looked lonely.
The jewel-encrusted fountain sparkled in the sunlight, and fish swam in the water that looked like a lake. Life was abundant everywhere, yet the palace remained merely extravagant.
Whitney carefully walked towards the queen, looking straight ahead.
A servant stood behind the table, holding a large parasol. The queen, with her elegant demeanor, sipped her tea while watching Whitney approach.
“Welcome, Whitney Orleans.”
“Thank you for inviting me, Your Majesty.”
Whitney gracefully curtsied. Her greeting was elegant and captivating, thanks to her etiquette teacher.
‘Hmm. The Lady of Rubenius seems to have taken a fine young lady under her wing.’
Adelaide’s red eyes sparkled as she greeted Whitney. Sitting opposite the queen, Whitney clasped her hands and slightly lowered her gaze.
The queen’s face was quite different from the malicious one she had shown beside the king. How could she forget the queen’s face when she was being coerced into confessing?
The chilling gaze and cold aura were still vividly remembered, making her fingertips tremble.
“Don’t feel too burdened. It’s just a casual tea. Sometimes it’s hard to even have a simple tea with someone.”
“No, I am honored to have tea with Your Majesty in the palace.”
Whitney took her seat. Adelaide’s eyes slowly scanned her. Whitney tried to stay calm, smiling as she conversed with the queen.
“I heard you’re having your debutante ball soon. I look forward to it. You have an older sister, right? Not a direct descendant of the Orleans, it seems. I noticed a few shortcomings, perhaps habits from living in the provinces?”
“Is that so? I grew up with her, so it’s hard for me to notice.”
She hadn’t expected anyone to criticize Melissa harshly, assuming even the queen would favor her.
‘From the queen’s perspective, Melissa might not be appealing.’
Whitney, too, had been deprived of her rightful position by Melissa. Seeing the queen now, it seemed unlikely Melissa would achieve her desired role as a princess.
“This is why lineage is important. You’re the only daughter of the Orleans Duke, right? Try this cake I had made, it’s delicious.”
Whitney nodded. The queen sipped her tea, looking satisfied, as Whitney tried a piece of Victorian cake.
‘Wow, it’s delicious!’
The buttercream’s flavor and the dense yet fluffy cake delighted her. Whitney wiped her mouth with a napkin and smiled.
“Thank you for your kind words. I will do my best not to disappoint Your Majesty.”
“That’s what I expect.”
The queen watched Whitney with a content smile. Just as the queen seemed about to say something, a maid approached her.
“Your Majesty.”
Whitney inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. The uncomfortable moment was finally ending.
“Oh dear, I have an important engagement soon. I wanted to introduce you to someone, but I guess it will have to wait.”
“That’s alright. I would be happy to accept if you invite me again.”
Whitney stood up, curtsied, and left the room cautiously.
She kept looking around on her way out, although the chance of encountering Cheston in the queen’s palace was slim. Still, she eagerly scanned her surroundings.
“The garden is really beautiful, isn’t it?”
“Yes. It seems Your Majesty has exquisite taste. I’ve never seen such a beautiful garden before.”
“It’s a garden cherished by Her Majesty.”
Whitney nodded, looking around. She had hoped to run into Cheston, but as expected, she did not meet him.
Suddenly, a woman resembling Prince Cheston passed by her. The queen’s maid bowed slightly in greeting.
‘Could that be Prince Cheston’s mother?’
Whitney turned her head, taking in the woman’s appearance. The woman’s blue eyes shimmered.
“Don’t be curious. Her Majesty the Queen wouldn’t like it.”
With the maid’s words, Whitney was certain. Elenia, Prince Cheston’s mother. It seemed the queen’s schedule involved spending time with her.
‘But… this scent.’
Whitney’s head turned back towards Elenia.
Suddenly, her eyes widened. She felt she knew who was using the Ribenia scent.
That’s when she realized how she could change Prince Cheston’s mind. He wouldn’t want to lose his only mother.
‘I need to quickly cultivate the herb when I return.’
Beleronia was difficult to grow and slow to mature. Whitney felt anxious. She might need to always have an antidote ready for the next time she met Prince Cheston.
Could it be? Was the Queen administering Ribenia to Elenia?
Whitney clenched her fist. What thoughts might be going through Cheston’s mind as he awaited the debutante ball?
She couldn’t even begin to imagine. Even as Whitney boarded the carriage, she hoped Cheston might appear.
If he did, she would have spoken to him first.
“May I take a walk in the garden before leaving? I can head straight to the carriage down this path, so please don’t worry about me.”
“Then I hope to see you again. Farewell, Lady Orleans.”
With the maid’s farewell, Whitney nodded lightly and strolled through the garden. As she walked towards the carriage, someone suddenly grabbed her hand.
Cold Male Lead Became My Clingy Husband (Female-Dominant)
Feng Bai Su transmigrated into a matriarchal novel, becoming the sister of the female protagonist and the Seventh Princess of the Feng Ling Kingdom.
After working herself to death in her previous life, finally reincarnating as a princess, she only wanted to be a lazy fish who could eat, sleep, and play.
Until she met the male protagonist from the book, Wei Jing Mo, and he took a liking to her!
Wei Jing Mo is the top young man in Feng Ling City, talented in both appearance and ability, from a prestigious family, with a cold and otherworldly appearance, a figure like the bright moon in the hearts of noble ladies. It was thought that only the most powerful and talented noble lady in Feng Ling City would be worthy of such a brilliant young man. Who knew that this young gentleman would secretly admire the infamous Seventh Princess?
Short scene 1:
Feng Bai Su looked at the young man crying like a pear blossom in the rain before her, and couldn’t help but doubt her life.
Wasn’t the male lead described as a cold and otherworldly figure in the book?
Then who was this poor little thing crying with swollen red eyes and tear-stained face?
Short scene 2:
Wei Jing Mo stared intently at Feng Bai Su who was about to go out, wanting to say, “Be careful on the road.”
Before he could speak, Feng Bai Su suddenly bent down and bit his cheek.
Her peach blossom eyes were full of disdain: “Tsk! You’re so clingy!”
Wei Jing Mo: “…”
A talented fox spirit female lead with a flirtatious appearance but actually abstinent VS A cold-looking but actually naive and clingy little jealous male lead
