Idren entered the room late in the evening. Having just woken up from a nap and sitting on the bed, Ophelia was able to notice his visit immediately.

“Ophelia.”

As soon as he entered and their eyes met, the man immediately smiled. It was the instinctive attitude of someone who wanted to avoid conflict.

Ophelia blinked her heavy eyelids as she looked at him. Her mind had been quite foggy lately due to the medication she was taking.

It was true that taking the medicine prescribed by the doctor from Egelbamot allowed her to sleep deeply without dreaming, but it had the side effect of making her sleepy at all times.

The man sat on the bed with a gentle motion and stroked her forehead. It was an action that seemed more fitting for lovers, but Ophelia didn’t point that out.

Now she didn’t know how to deal with Idren. His reaction was so different from what she had expected.

Even though he must know that everything becomes troublesome when he’s with her, Idren wasn’t trying to end this relationship.

“I know I have no right to say this. But the annulment of the marriage… couldn’t you give me one more chance?”

When he said those words, there was clear desperation on the man’s face.

It was unclear where the misunderstanding had started, but Ophelia couldn’t bring herself to correct it. If she did, his earnestness would likely turn into despair.

Although she knew she was neglecting the problem, Ophelia didn’t want to see him in despair.

She was also too tired to try to persuade him further.

Of course, she would have to detach Idren someday. But before engaging in a struggle that would be uncomfortable for both of them, Ophelia wanted to cool her head, even if just for a moment.

Perhaps Idren would get tired of it on his own. She had such an expectation.

“…I can’t do anything. I don’t want to ruin anything again.”

That was exactly the thought behind those words.

Indeed, since saying those words, Ophelia hadn’t touched anything. She had shut herself in her room like someone with her eyes and ears blocked.

Idren seemed to be quite busy because of her. The man who used to try to see her face at least once a day somehow, now wasn’t seen at all. Ophelia knew this but still didn’t leave her room.

Perhaps people outside would see her as incompetent and irresponsible. She had heard such opinions in her previous life too.

Back then, Ophelia wasn’t affected by those opinions. Even if she wasn’t close to the people of Edegrun, she had other acquaintances around her. Merchants moved at her word, and even Leden and Mahanas moved exactly as she thought. She had many places to prove herself outside of Edegrun.

But now Ophelia knew the truth. The achievements she had made in the past were not due to her abilities. The reason she didn’t suffer any disadvantages even when her reputation fell was because Idren had pulled strings behind the scenes, and the reason Egelbamot merchants and Leden’s economy moved as she wished was because Nethepel was by her side.

Everything she thought she had accomplished on her own was like that.

So was there any meaning in trying anything?

Ophelia stared blankly ahead, revisiting the thoughts that had been constantly in her mind recently. It was then that Idren, who was arranging her hair beside her, asked.

“Are you sleepy?”

“…No.”

She had already spent more than half of the day sleeping. The fogginess in her head was more due to the effects of the medicine rather than actually being sleepy.

With her reason sagging like soaked cotton, Ophelia wondered why Idren had come. Had he come to see her face? He was the only person who wanted to see her without any ulterior motives.

But considering how busy he must be lately, it didn’t seem likely. Actions based on preference rather than necessity required some leisure, after all.

She didn’t know. Giving up on further speculation, Ophelia asked.

“Why did you come?”

And then she realized that her voice was terribly cracked. It seemed to be because she had been asleep all this time.

I must look quite pathetic. Such a thought suddenly occurred to her. It was a reasonable thought, as her appearance, which had been somewhat presentable before, would not look good now, unkempt and drooping.

If this situation continued, it wouldn’t take long for Idren to face reality. Ophelia speculated as she waited for his answer.

Idren, who had tucked her remaining hair behind her ear, said.

“If I say I just wanted to see your face, would that sound too glib?”

That was clearly an effort to lighten the mood, but Ophelia didn’t play along. She retorted in her still ragged voice.

“You’re busy these days, aren’t you?”

“That’s right.”

It seems it sounded like sweet talk. The man muttered and confessed the truth.

“Actually, the wife of the Lord of Rohos has come to the capital.”

“…Anika’s mother?”

“Yes.”

And after a moment of silence, Idren continued.

“She said she wants to meet you.”

At those words, her stomach turned cold. It was a natural phenomenon, knowing her own guilt.

Ophelia spoke with a voice that trembled without her realizing it.

“If she said so, I should meet her.”

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to. Everyone knows you’re not feeling well, if you want to refuse…”

Ophelia cut him off before the man could say something unfair.

“No, I can’t.”

That was just an excuse Idren had used to make people understand her absence. She couldn’t avoid Anika’s mother for such a reason.

Turning to look at him, Ophelia asked.

“When did she say she wanted to meet?”

“…She asked to let her know when it’s convenient for you.”

“Then I’ll meet her today.”

And Ophelia turned her body to get out of bed. It was then that Idren held her back.

“Isn’t today too soon? You can think about it a bit more before deciding.”

“Think about it more before deciding? Don’t you know why Anika’s mother came to Edegrun?”

Her voice came out accusingly without her realizing it. Seeing the man blink with a surprised face, Ophelia rubbed her face. She didn’t mean to blame Idren. What fault did he have, after all?

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get angry.”

“No, it’s alright. I spoke carelessly.”

And Idren released the hand that was holding her. That docile apology made her feel choked up again.

Why am I acting like this?

Watching the man who apologized without fault and then checked her mood again, Ophelia bit her lower lip.

It made no sense to feel stifled being with Idren. He was the only person who respected and cared for her.

But why.

Where did I go wrong? Such a question arose, but there was no readily available answer. There were no properly built pieces to begin with.

Swallowing her bewilderment, Ophelia barely managed to organize the situation.

“I need to prepare to meet the wife of the Lord of Rohos, so you should go back now.”

Anika’s mother resembled her daughter greatly. If she had been a little less gaunt, one would have thought this is exactly how Anika would look when she aged.

“I pay my respects to Your Majesty the Queen.”

After telling the woman who bowed to her as soon as she entered the reception room that she could raise her head, Ophelia said what she ought to say.

“…I’m truly sorry about what happened to the Lord of Rohos.”

In truth, Ophelia didn’t know if she should comfort the other person in this way. Even if others didn’t know, she knew why Anika had died.

And yet, for her, who was practically the cause, to express regret…

She felt nauseated by her own hypocrisy. Ophelia took a deep breath to manage her expression. She couldn’t show agitation in front of a mother who had lost her daughter yet still showed respect to her.

Ophelia asked the woman who couldn’t erase the devastation from her face.

“I heard you wanted to meet me, may I ask the reason?”

“If it’s not disrespectful, I would like to make a request.”

“You can speak comfortably. If it’s something I can help with, I won’t hesitate.”

Although she was in quite a mess, she still held the position of Queen of Aglante. She might be criticized for claiming rights without fulfilling her duties properly, but that level of criticism was something she naturally had to endure.

The woman, who had been biting her dry lips, spoke in a trembling voice.

“Could you promise to fully resolve the injustice done to my daughter?”

Ophelia slightly furrowed her brow at the unexpected words.

Idren had said he would take responsibility for investigating Anika’s death.

Knowing that he would do a better job than she could, she had agreed to that situation.

But the words of the wife of the Lord of Rohos sounded just like those of someone whose case hadn’t been properly resolved.

“I understood that an investigator had already been dispatched regarding the death of the Lord of Rohos, am I mistaken?”

Then the woman hesitated for a moment before revealing a part that she didn’t know.

It was true that an investigator had been dispatched from the royal family.

The problem was what had come along with that investigator.

The money that came under the pretext of condolence was too large an amount to be just for condolence. It was enough to be interpreted in a different meaning.

“I dare not doubt the king’s intentions.”

And the woman bowed her head deeply.

“But I am merely a mother, and I cannot put my anxious heart at ease.”