The Immortal Queen Cannot Escape the Lies and Obsession of the Demon — Not That She Wants To - Chapter 06

“Lady Ariana, are you awake?”

“I could still sleep.”

She felt like she’d had an unpleasant dream upon waking.

Ariana pulled the covers back over herself, but Nala had been her maid since her period of illness. She was well acquainted with Ariana’s attempts to avoid causing trouble.

Nala shrugged her shoulders and interjected, “That’s not it.”

“A request for an audience came this afternoon. I’ve already declined most of them, but Lord Valerio and Lord Theodor would like your judgment.”

“Theo? Not the Marquis?”

Formally, she mentioned her fiancé Valerio first, but Ariana reacted to the latter, Theodor. Since this was within Nala’s expectations, she answered the question without concern.

“Yes. It seems he came to the royal capital with the Marquis.”

Theodor was the son of a Marquis and currently eleven years old. His territory was near Ariana’s convalescent residence, so they had known each other since he was born. Ariana cherished him like a younger brother, and Theodor adored her like an older sister.

While they had a simply close relationship, Theodor was more than that, he was a special presence.

“Permission granted. Valerio is likely combining it with yesterday’s report, so please see Theo first.”

“Then I shall proceed with the preparations here. It’s lunchtime, but how is your appetite?”

“…I have one.”

She was quite hungry. Since last night, she had only drunk water.

Because of the recent poisoning scare, Nala personally tasted all items brought to her room for poison before Ariana could eat.

After the meal, she prepared herself for the afternoon visitors.

A navy-blue dress with gold embroidery, minimal decoration. Her long, deep purple hair was carefully arranged. With makeup, her complexion looked better, and she was satisfied with her healthy appearance.

Suddenly, a bang sound came from the door.

“Your Majesty, the Marquis has arrived.”

A careless knock and a drawn-out call from beyond the door.

The maids looked exasperated at the utterly rude behavior. Ariana also felt the tension leave her shoulders at his usual voice.

When the door was opened, she immediately faced the owner of the voice, dressed in a knight’s uniform, waiting before the door.

“Fols, did you actually receive the Marquis?”

“Rest assured. The monocle chased me away, telling me to go fetch Your Majesty.”

“I’m relieved.”

Incidentally, “monocle” referred to the butler.

Fols stared at the chuckling Ariana with an un-knightly, listless expression, then turned on his heel.

“Well then, shall we go? Your Majesty.”

Originally, only those of high rank among the nobility were permitted to serve by the royal family’s side.

However, there are exceptions to everything. Especially the man walking ahead. He was the exception among exceptions.

Fols was a commoner.

He worked in a small village, defeating the occasional magical beast and turning wasteland into fields.

An average, slightly muscular build, short, tousled hair, and unimpressive eye color, a mundane earth tone. His features were regular but unmemorable, just one typical young farmer.

Having no connection to noble society, he one day came to the royal capital alone and volunteered to become a knight. That was easily granted, but—

“I came to become a knight for Your Majesty. I have no intention of being a low-ranking subordinate under weaklings.”

The knightly profession does not discriminate by status.

But the hierarchy is strict, and assignments consider one’s standing. Commoner knights are assigned to patrol duty inside and outside the royal capital.

Only a select few with both skill and noble connections can guard the royal family.

Some laughed, saying it was impossible for a commoner; others pitied him for not seeing reality; some burned with the desire to teach the lowborn their place; and others simply joined in.

Among them were commoners, nobles, and even captains.

————Fols defeated every single one of them.

“I’ve heard the story. What is your reason for volunteering to be my knight so fervently?”

Just three days after joining, the troublemaker Fols’s story reached Ariana’s ears.

Or rather, to prevent the worst-case scenario of the knight corps being nearly subdued by a single commoner after he defeated even the captain in a one-on-one duel, Ariana had no choice but to step in.

Even if it cost her something, he was a talent she didn’t want as an enemy. She wanted to secure him, even if it meant accepting bitter terms, before another country could poach him.

In response to the royal family Ariana’s side’s considerations, Fols answered nonchalantly.

“Reason? I fell in love with Your Majesty at first sight.”

“……Wh-what?”

Besides Ariana and Fols, knights, nobles, and even servants were present and the place erupted into chaos.

The granddaughter of the two lost heroes, and the commoner knight who appeared before her like a new star, demonstrated his strength, and declared his love.

The heroic tale of the brave hero and the holy princess, known to all.

Their encounter, as if tracing the continuation of the story, spread rapidly, and Fols’s existence became known not only among the nobility but also among the common folk.

And so, the story swelled until he was expected to be “the reincarnation of the hero, wasn’t he?”

“Your Majesty, could you not stare so intently? I’m on duty, you know.”

Presently. With various intentions intricately intertwined, he was appointed as the queen’s guard knight as he wished.

Though there were concerns about the unprecedented appointment, he quickly dispelled them by accumulating achievements in protecting Ariana. The number of times he prevented attacks and minimized casualties was countless.

If there was a problem, it was his attitude and his habit of hitting on her at every opportunity.

And all with a blank expression.

“I was just looking normally. Fols, you really like my eyes, don’t you?”

“Yes. The rest of you is beautiful too, and that fluffy dress suits you. But still, your eyes are especially beautiful.”

The royal bloodline has two colors in the iris.

Since the hero called them “Earth Eyes,” it became the common term.

Ariana’s eyes are orange in the center, with light blue rippling along the outer edge.

Fols said he fell in love at first sight with those “eyes” after seeing Ariana’s portrait that circulated after her coronation.

“So, why were you staring at me so intently? Ah, could it have been a reward for me?”

“No. I was lamenting that the rumors of you being the hero still haven’t been eradicated. I think about half of it is due to your misleading, insufficient explanations.”

“If it’s for Your Majesty, I can act the part.”

“That attitude is also a demerit.”

A mistaken impression can only be negative. Worried that it might cause trouble someday, Ariana often admonished him, but Fols always replied like this:

“I have no intention of marrying anyone neither Your Majesty nor anyone else. As an orphan with no family, your worries are unnecessary.”

Using the invincible trump card of having nothing to lose, Ariana could only sigh.

To be honest, as a ruler, having a subordinate like him who stakes his life and delivers results is extremely reassuring. And as his master, the less she has to pay him, the better.

(But even if I’m unfit as a queen, it should be alright to wish for him to find ordinary happiness.)

Though he himself isn’t interested, if she arranged a matchmaking, his way of thinking might surprisingly fall into place. Ariana had indulged in such romance novels during her sickbed.

Even if it were a marriage proposal brought by Queen Ariana, Fols would probably refuse if he disliked it. So, she seriously racked her brains, wondering if there was a good partner for him.

If Fols could gain a family through that, it would surely lead to his happiness.

(I alone am enough to be the sacrifice for this country.)

(————Or so she thinks.)

As if seeing through Ariana’s faintly smiling inner thoughts, Fols narrows his eyes.

For a moment, a translucent, deep green light, like murky water, flickers in those earth-colored eyes, but it goes unnoticed by anyone, hidden behind his blinking eyelids.

(What a fool this child is.)

Fols Rapentetta.

Seventeen years old, having come of age last year. An ordinary youth from the countryside. A commoner knight permitted to serve at the queen’s side solely through his sword skills, expected to be the reincarnation of the hero.

Such a person does not exist.

It is all a façade. A false identity prepared by Rai.