Arkan, who had been frowning with his gaze lowered, rested his cheeks on his clenched fists.

His protruding lips and face mixed with discontent and gloom.

It was an expression he could only show in front of Pellerhar since he was young.

No one in Betor Palace, not even the late king and queen who were Arkan’s parents, would know that he could make such an expression.

Arkan, who had been silent for a while, rolled his eyes and said,

“I don’t know either. Your words sound like catching clouds too.”

Pellerhar, who had been watching him with a smile as if to see how he would respond, burst into laughter.

“This is why you become prickly after just one marital fight.”

“What are you talking about?”

Pellerhar leaned his body sideways and chuckled with an expression of utter amusement.

“Think about it. You’ve become the best-selling property at the price you wanted, so why are you dissatisfied with everything? Whether the princess gets angry at you or not, whether she pushes you away or not, as long as she’s tied down as the queen of Betor, why would you be irritated by every little thing? It’s because she’s not accepting you. You’ve already fallen for the princess and want to get close to her, but since she shows no signs of that, it’s understandable that your pride is hurt and you’re angry.”

Arkan, who had removed his hand from his chin, opened his mouth wide.

After a moment of silence, he widened his eyes as if Pellerhar had just thrown the tea he was drinking on him.

“What are you saying? Fallen for whom?”

Arkan’s raised voice was about to echo through the corridor beyond the open door.

Realizing this belatedly, he closed his mouth again, but it was too late. Pellerhar looked at Arkan with an amused expression, slightly lowering his chin.

“Why, don’t you want to admit it?”

“There’s nothing to admit or not admit, what does liking or disliking have to do with it? Who’s fallen for whom? This is ridiculous.”

“If it’s not true, then it’s not, why react so sensitively? I wonder if someone outside fainted.”

After saying that, Pellerhar pretended to stretch his body as if he was really going to look outside.

Arkan felt like punching him out of annoyance, but he was conscious of the fact that he had just complained about Erdene’s use of violence.

But holding it in made his insides boil.

Pellerhar said,

“Don’t be stubborn and think carefully about what I said. If you have no feelings for the princess beyond being a hostage for the alliance, why would you be hurt by whatever she says or does? Right? You could just leave her alone whether she’s frustrated or not, and if she crosses the line, you could just suppress her with a royal decree, couldn’t you?”

Arkan’s expression frowned again. But this time, the atmosphere was different.

Until now, it was just like throwing a tantrum like a sleepy child, but this time, he was really angry, with his eyes turning cold.

“Watch your words. I didn’t bring a hostage. And what do you mean by suppressing with a royal decree? Are you saying I should imprison her?”

Pellerhar said,

“See? Your eyes change completely, and you still say you haven’t fallen for her?”

“Fallen or not, it’s not even the right word, but that’s not the issue. I simply can’t allow such behavior myself.”

Pellerhar clicked his tongue quietly enough that Arkan couldn’t hear.

Arkan could be flexible and glib at times, but there were times when he was completely stubborn and wouldn’t listen to reason, and this was exactly one of those times.

It was because of his duty as a human, no. His duty as a king.

That duty, like an illusion without substance, the pressure to become a ‘perfect monarch’ was something Arkan always carried. He just didn’t realize it himself.

It was something only Pellerhar, who was closer to him than anyone but grew up in a completely different environment, could understand.

‘What a troublesome guy.’

Waving his hand, Pellerhar said,

“Okay, let’s say I misspoke just now. But there’s no need to worry alone like this. The other person is human. Not a wall or a statue. So go talk to her. You’re good at that, aren’t you?”

“If only she would listen.”

Though grumbling quietly, Arkan suddenly seemed to lose his energy.

As Erdene’s face, angry like a fierce storm or a sharpened blade, flashed before his eyes, he felt frustrated.

But the next moment, her face with long black hair let down, bowing her upper body in the soft light, came to mind, making his head spin.

‘Why do I keep thinking about her?’

Another line creased his handsome brow.

‘Who would fall for such a violent thug!’

A long sigh escaped from Arkan’s mouth as he sprawled his body carelessly.

When Sophia saw Lady Weekes, who had followed Erdene to the Queen’s Palace, she blinked as if wondering what this was about.

Erdene waved her hand lightly as if even speaking was bothersome, and almost tore off her hair ornaments that had become tangled from fighting, running around, and losing her temper.

“I’m hungry. What about dinner?”

“It will be ready soon, Your Highness.”

“Alright.”

Erdene handed her accessories to the maid and disappeared into the living room.

Sophia told her to help Erdene change clothes and then turned her gaze to the baroness.

“What brings you here?”

Lady Weekes, Maura, took a deep breath in a small voice.

“Don’t even ask, Sophia. There was quite a commotion.”

“A commotion?”

Maura explained everything from what happened in the corridor to how she came here, one by one.

She was usually not a good speaker, but perhaps because she was calming down and suddenly excited again, her words were disorganized and she often stuttered.

Sophia carefully picked out only the essential parts from that rambling story.

It would have been difficult if it wasn’t for her, who was patient and quick-witted.

“…That’s how it turned out. When Her Highness was fuming, it was so scary that my heart was pounding. But I couldn’t just stand by and watch that, could I?”

Maura repeated what she had said before. Sophia nodded and blinked.

“Telma can be a bit frivolous at times. But to act as if trying to push her own mistake onto Her Highness in front of others, that can’t be left alone.”

“That’s what I’m saying. Would I have done that normally? She’s young enough to be my daughter, but her actions were so despicable.”

“It’s fortunate that you were there, Lady Weekes.”

A worried look appeared on Maura’s round face.

“If the people who were there spread the word, it could become another flaw of Her Highness. I don’t know what to do. I said I would speak wherever I go, but honestly, I don’t think anyone will listen to me.”

She suddenly looked dejected and lowered her gaze.

She seemed suddenly embarrassed by the realization that her influence in social circles was not that great.

Although King Arkan trusted her husband and gave him an important position, and paid attention to Maura, the baroness, in various ways, the haughty nobles of Betor were not inclined to treat such a gentle person like her very well.

Sophia gently patted the baroness’s arm.

It was an affectionate gesture, like a daughter treating her mother, or a close relative.

“Don’t worry too much. I’ll try to clear up the misunderstanding as much as I can.”

“I feel relieved hearing you say that, Sophia.”

Then, she suddenly blushed and looked around as if checking her surroundings, and said,

“Um, and I also mentioned this to Her Highness… about the argument with His Majesty. It’s true that newlyweds often quarrel, but Her Highness doesn’t have a docile personality, and at times like this, shouldn’t the two of them meet face to face?”

Sophia stared blankly at Maura for a moment, just as Erdene had done.

Although she was intelligent, she was still unmarried, and like most young ladies of her age, she didn’t have a fiancé or a lover, so she couldn’t immediately understand Maura’s intention.

“By face to face, do you mean dinner? Or…”

“No, that’s not it. When sleeping… well, it would be better not to sleep alone, that’s what I mean.”

“Ah.”

Sophia nodded as if she finally understood. She had grasped Maura’s intention.

“Do you think that’s a good idea, Lady Weekes?”

In response to Sophia’s question, Maura clenched her plump fingers into a fist, showing it. It was her way of expressing her strong will.

“Of course. Sophia, you’re still unmarried, but I’ve been married to my husband for 24 years. This is how married couples resolve their issues.”

“Hmm… I understand. I’ll try to prepare for it then.”

“I’m so glad you’re here, Sophia. Someone like me, goodness. I wouldn’t even be able to speak properly in front of Her Highness. My heart would be trembling.”

Sophia gave a bitter smile.

“She’s not such a scary person.”

“I know. But why… you know. Wouldn’t anyone’s mouth clamp shut out of fear when seeing a lion? It’s like that.”

After saying that, Maura said she should be going now and hurriedly left the Queen’s Palace.

When Sophia, who had seen her off, returned inside, Erdene was already in the middle of her meal.

“What about your meal?”

“I finished a light meal just earlier, Your Highness. Please don’t mind me and enjoy your meal. If you need anything, I’ll have a servant bring it.”

“No, this is enough.”

Erdene said in a voice mixed with a sigh as she tore a soft piece of bread.

She was moving her hand expressionlessly as if she had no appetite at all.

Sophia said,

“How about taking a scented bath after you finish your meal, Your Highness?”