“Lady. Aren’t you bored?”

“Your Highness Cheston. It seems it will take longer. The nobles’ discontent will pile up, and I’m worried that their view of Your Highness might not improve.”

He smiled with his eyes and tidied Whitney’s hair. Even now, the glances at Cheston were sharper than before. It would only get worse with each passing day.

The food and rest provided by the palace satisfied the nobles, but it wouldn’t be good to keep them in a limited space with the anxiety of possibly being suspected as culprits.

As if noticing Whitney’s anxiety, Cheston suddenly pushed a macaron into her mouth. Caught off guard, she ate it, and sweetness filled her mouth.

“It will end soon.”

At those words, Whitney blinked while chewing the macaron.

End soon? Did he make a deal with Her Majesty the Queen earlier?

If things didn’t go well with the Queen, the fastest way would be for Melissa to retract her testimony. They had already spoken before meeting him, but she seemed determined to stick to her story. Since there was a conspiracy with Her Majesty the Queen, Melissa wouldn’t stubbornly resist without thinking.

Aunt said she would talk to her separately, but not knowing what good card she had obtained, Whitney couldn’t hastily tell him.

Whitney, pretending to be anxious, grabbed his collar and asked.

“You seemed to be talking with Her Majesty the Queen, did something happen?”

“Well, I can’t say nothing happened.”

“…Pardon?”

She asked with wide eyes due to her anxious heart, but he didn’t answer and just smiled with his eyes. Then he brushed off the macaron crumbs on Whitney’s lips.

“Shall I tell you an interesting story?”

“…Is it about Your Highness?”

“It’s about Her Majesty the Queen, but I wonder if you’re not interested.”

If it’s about Her Majesty the Queen, could it be related to the Kingdom of Karul?

Whitney grabbed Cheston’s collar as he tried to turn his head. He grinned and said,

“I found a new weakness of the Queen.”

“A weakness? If it’s Her Majesty the Queen’s weakness, is it about His Highness Karl?”

“Elder brother is known to everyone, so it’s a useless weakness. The Queen has been up to quite an interesting affair behind the scenes. Should we call this a counterattack?”

…A counterattack?

Does that mean the Queen also has another man? It was something I had never thought about. Didn’t she desire the King’s love?

I thought that’s why she tormented Lady Elenia and was desperate to kill her. Until now, the Queen’s actions were simply because she stood in the way of her son’s future. It would have scratched her pride too, but…

“She had men she was playing with. The Queen who hated mistresses so much had her own lovers. Not just one, but several. Father doesn’t seem to know yet, but this matter will be overlooked.”

“…I see.”

Whitney was confused. She wondered what love really was, if there was any proper love in the palace. She felt like she would be disgusted with everything.

Before she could finish her complicated thoughts, a guide appeared.

“His Majesty the King has summoned everyone to gather.”

The scattered nobles entered the ballroom one by one. The King’s expression was subtle, not suggesting that the culprit had been identified.

“New testimony has come forward. The knight who was with Karl has confessed the truth.”

“…I knew about the cave where His Highness Karl was, and went to check, but he unfortunately slipped. I was scared and ran away, and realizing that running away is not befitting of a knight, I am speaking up to take responsibility.”

The knight knelt and begged for forgiveness. Abandoning even his knightly pride, he shed tears saying he fled in fear of not being able to protect the prince.

“Great Your Majesty. My daughter has also admitted that she saw wrong since she was unwell from the morning. It seems she mistook the knight’s brown hair for blonde in the sunlight. I humbly beg for your forgiveness. I also apologize to His Highness Cheston for involving him in this unsavory incident.”

Cecilia bowed her head. Melissa was said to have fainted from shock upon learning the truth and was being examined by a physician.

‘It seems Melissa couldn’t be persuaded, but things worked out with mother…’

Whitney’s eyes moved quickly. Judging by the Queen’s expression, it didn’t seem like she had stepped in. Then it meant aunt’s card had worked, but she was curious why she hadn’t been told.

Eventually, Karl appeared, and Princess Violet was standing beside him. She looked calm, as if she had foreseen this situation.

“Your Majesty. As this incident occurred by mistake, I hope no heavy punishment will be given. I am also healthy like this, so please be lenient and not impose severe penalties.”

“What does the Queen think?”

“I think everyone will understand if we continue the joyous banquet. Prince Karl is also healthy, so continuing the banquet would be a small consideration for those in attendance.”

“If the Queen says so, I will strip the knight of his position and expel him from the palace. We don’t need a knight who fails to properly protect his master and runs away. Melissa Orlean has caused a disturbance with false testimony, so she will be banned from social activities for a while after this banquet ends.”

Cecilia’s face turned pale. Banning activities during the social season was tantamount to blocking Melissa’s marriage prospects. She desperately knelt and pleaded.

“Y-Your Majesty! Please reconsider that. I will teach her well.”

“I understand Lady Orlean’s thoughts, but that would be difficult. This incident was too big to just let go. Cheston almost faced punishment for attempting to kill his own family, so we can’t just overlook it.”

“Your Majesty. How about just banning her from attending palace banquets? It’s too harsh for a young lady. I will call for her often and teach her, so please allow it.”

“If the Queen says so, I’ll leave it to you. It is your son’s matter after all.”

“…It’s also Your Majesty’s son’s matter.”

The King patted the Queen’s shoulder and laughed.

Music echoed in the ballroom once again, and the King bestowed gifts to appease the nobles. As the tightly closed castle gates opened, people smiled again and enjoyed the festival.

Cheston slightly lifted the curtain with his finger and looked outside. Fortunately, there were no people around.

“I heard the story. I can’t face you every time.”

Elenia said, unable to lift her head. Cheston sat down and held Elenia’s hand.

“No. Please don’t say that. I’m glad you seem to be feeling better. You should be careful for a while.”

“…Did something happen?”

“Nothing much, but I thought you should know. This social season is likely to be quite noisy.”

“If I had more power, you wouldn’t have suffered like this.”

He shook his head. There were times when he resented his mother, but now he was rather grateful. Thanks to her, he realized more clearly than anyone else what kind of place this was.

“More importantly, is the princess alright? From what I heard from Her Majesty the Queen’s ladies-in-waiting, it seems she’s fallen out of favor…”

“She’s fine. She’s stronger than you think and will endure whatever happens. And she’s also someone mother doesn’t need to worry about.”

“She’s your fiancée.”

“Please don’t get too attached. I’m saying this for mother’s sake.”

For his mother, who had her first open conversation at the palace, the princess’s existence would have a big impact. In fact, she was the one who informed about the deteriorating health due to Libenia. So she would have approached her even more differently.

‘If you get hurt, you’ll close your door again.’

Cheston couldn’t tell his mother that she was someone who would stay only for a while. If she changes her mind, the duration of her stay might be extended, so it’s not too late to talk about the contract later.

“You know too, mother. What my evil bride’s position means.”

Many couldn’t endure and ran away. They left his side to survive. He thought it was natural, so he never resented them. It was a relationship formed without any feelings in the first place, formed by his father’s greed.

The contract with Whitney was something he wanted himself, but if asked if his feelings are the same as then, he wouldn’t be able to firmly shake his head.

“Yes… It would be better for the princess to leave the palace before she becomes endangered too. Unlike others, I care about her and don’t want her to face any danger.”

“One thing, mother. Don’t let the Queen catch on to those feelings. She will mercilessly crush whatever we want whenever she can.”

“I wish I could be expelled from the palace instead.”

“That won’t happen. You don’t have the confidence to turn your back on His Majesty the King, do you?”

“…”

If she had at least tried to resent and escape, he might have stood against them with his mother. Despite saying those words, his mother still loved the King. While Cheston thought it was a terribly persistent love, he was also envious in a way.

How could love for someone be so blind, not thinking about anything else? Could one become so helpless, throwing away everything including their child and their own situation?

“I’m sorry… I…”

“I know. Mother always said love is always great, so I was even more curious.”

But now he seemed to understand a little. Because nonsensical emotions had welled up when he saw Whitney trying to run away.

Even though he knew it was no different from what his father was doing to his mother now.