Love Me Just Once - Chapter 53

Netepel had argued that her marriage was wrong, even bringing up Haslen. Although she usually paid some attention to her friend’s opinions, this was so excessive that it caused antipathy.

Moreover, it was questionable whether he had come to Reden during the same period in the past. If Netepel had really come to Reden, he could have contacted her sufficiently.

But Netepel had not given any news. When they were young, Mahanas was said to dislike their involvement, but that wasn’t quite the case after Netepel became an adult and was recognized as a prince.

There was no one else to discuss the unresolved questions with. Tilting her head slightly, Ophelia looked down at the servant presenting a small box and a sealed envelope at the bottom of the dais.

Since those without permission could not ascend the dais where the throne was placed, the servant behind her received them instead.

As there were other things to do besides opening Netepel’s letter now, Ophelia ordered the servant to put them away separately.

She spoke to the man who was still bowing at the waist.

“Go and tell your master I received them well.”

Netepel’s servant seemed confused that she didn’t immediately examine the gifts and letter, but withdrew nonetheless. After the servant disappeared, Ophelia called the knight standing behind her.

“Hazel.”

And Ophelia hesitated for a moment. They weren’t particularly close, so she thought it might be right to call him Chesa.

But the knight with sunset-like hair had already approached her side. Ophelia spoke to the knight who seemed to be smiling even when she was still.

“Go tell the daughter of Gilrod to come here.”

Hazel responded brightly to her words and descended the dais. Ophelia watched as the knight approached a brown-haired woman in the distance with long strides.

Idren bowed his head towards her and asked.

“Have you already become close enough with Hazel to call him by name?”

“…We’re not close, he just introduced himself to me by name.”

Then Idren grumbled about something else he didn’t like. I should have introduced myself by name too.

“Why?”

“Then you would have called me by name.”

“I do call you sometimes.”

“Only when you’re angry, don’t you?”

So Ophelia tried to recall. Did I really only call this man by name at such times?

Come to think of it, when she was in a good mood, she seemed to use “you” more often than his name.

But the same was true for him as well. Ophelia retorted to the man looking down at her with eyes that seemed to expect something.

“You rarely call me by name either.”

“How can you say that when I use your name so often?”

And Idren spoke before she could say anything. Ophelia. The round pronunciation brushed past the tips of her ears. It was a nice voice without anything grating.

Knowing he wasn’t really calling her, Ophelia just listened and let it pass. Then Idren continued to call her name. Ophelia. Ophelia.

“Why do you keep calling me?”

It was clearly a fit of temper, but the man chuckled softly. Ophelia saw a boyish smile lift the other’s chin. Like summer greenery…

“Because you won’t call my name.”

…Is he really acting childish when I say he’s boyish?

Frowning, Ophelia turned her head to grant the wish of the man who seemed unusually excited today. It was then that Hazel spoke from behind her.

“Your Majesty, I have brought the person you mentioned.”

At those words, Ophelia looked to the side. The knight was standing beside her, having ascended the dais at some point without her noticing.

Clearing her throat softly from needless embarrassment, Ophelia looked down at the bottom of the dais. A woman who looked nothing like her father was bowing her head and trembling.

“Come up onto the dais.”

“Th-thank you.”

Ophelia frowned at the stammering, unbecoming of someone born and raised in a good family.

Before the woman came completely close to her, Idren said in a low voice.

“Gilrod is watching this way.”

“I know.”

Whatever she said and did to the daughter of the House of Nebel would all reach her father’s ears anyway. Though she may not have much experience in politics, she knew that much.

There was no way a man who didn’t get along well with Idren would have sent his daughter to her with good intentions.

However, what caught her interest was that the daughter did not seem to have a good relationship with her father.

Ophelia knew that she was as generous to those oppressed by them as she was hateful towards Mahanas and those who resembled him. It was tolerance deeply ingrained in her bones thanks to her elder brother who had given her diverse experiences.

So she could afford to show the kindness of asking the other’s name. Ophelia spoke to the woman who still couldn’t lift her head.

“Raise your head.”

Then the woman stammered again. Th-thank you. Waving her hand slightly at the one trying to mind every little courtesy, Ophelia examined the other’s face.

The first thing that caught her eye was the light green eyes. Seeing the flushed cheeks below them, Ophelia was certain she looked nothing like her father.

“What is your name?”

“S-Siana Nebel.”

And Siana thought she just wanted to die right then and there.

To stammer even at such an important moment.

It was clear she would be beaten by her father on the way back. Siana clearly remembered what her father, Gilrod, had berated in the carriage on the way to the castle.

“If you show that terrible speech habit of yours in the banquet hall this time, I will surely tear out your tongue.”

Although her father had made such threats several times before, Siana thought he might really do it this time. Because his mood had been low since yesterday.

When the fourth prince at the border took the throne through rebellion, her father was the one who most fiercely opposed his ascension.

Her father, who was meticulous about who might hear elsewhere, only revealed his ambitions comfortably in front of his only daughter, so Siana knew what he was thinking when he did so.

“If the royal descendant in Brinwell sits on the throne, our family can play the role of in-laws.”

After saying that, her father always added:

“We’ve lived wielding so much power, we can’t lose that power just because some young punk committed a bit of impiety.”

But that “we” did not include her. Siana knew that fact painfully.

Her father, who had been leisurely waiting the day before expecting the ship from Brinwell to arrive at the port, walked around the house in a very angry state when the ship didn’t arrive until the end of the wedding ceremony.

“…That green boy must have done something.”

If she caught her father’s eye at such times, she would surely be struck, so Siana tried to quietly hide somewhere no one was.

But she was one step too late.

“It was a bit annoying to just send the ruby… I should send this girl along with it.”

Grabbing her elbow as she tried to go up the stairs, the man said so. Siana let out a small scream at the pain pressing on her bone, but the rough grip did not loosen.

Thus she was prepared as a congratulatory gift to be sent to the new queen.

Decorated like a gift and loaded into the carriage, Siana carefully asked her father who sat down in front of her, breathing heavily.

“B-but will Her Majesty the Queen accept me?”

In the previous generation it might have been different, but her father was on very bad terms with the royal family of this generation. The young king did not forget those who insulted him before he solidified his throne.

So how could the queen that such a king brought in look favorably upon her?

Then her father looked down at her with cold eyes, then slapped the back of her head. Siana’s eyes widened at the stinging pain that made a loud sound and bowed her head forward.

Cold words fell upon her bowed head.

“Stupid girl, who would accept the likes of you? Your role is to be driven out by the queen.”

The maid riding with them fixed her disheveled hair as if used to it. With her head bowed to hold back tears, Siana listened to her father’s continued words.

“A queen who just entered the castle is unlikely to do anything to displease her husband’s eyes. When she finds out you’re the daughter of House Nebel, she won’t keep you by her side.”

And her father added in a vile voice.

“A queen who doesn’t accept a wedding gift, it would be interesting to see such a flaw found in the royal family. When you’re driven out, you must insist that the queen insulted you no matter what. Understand?”

Siana couldn’t tell her father, who asked so sternly, that insulting royalty would be severely punished.

So this is the moment. Unknowingly squeezing her eyes shut, Siana waited for the new queen to dismiss her.

Though she heard nothing when she was presented along with the ruby, the queen must have thought it over and decided she couldn’t keep her by her side.

After being cast out, she would go around testifying as her father ordered. She was already afraid of being put in front of people.

It was then that unexpected words were heard.

“May I keep Siana in the castle?”