The Reason I Made Her My Queen - Chapter 12

“Your Majesty, an envoy from your homeland has arrived.”

“I see…”

“What shall we do?”

“Send them away.”

Now of all times…

What would I even do if I returned home?

My marriage to the King of Carnia had been arranged since childhood.

It was meant to strengthen the ties between our neighboring nations.

I never resented this predetermined union.

All my sisters entered political marriages.

They married for the sake of our country.

I was no exception.

I didn’t meet my future husband until I entered the Kingdom of Carnia for our wedding ceremony.

To be honest, I was exasperated when, immediately after our marriage, the harem became overflowing with concubines.

‘There are too many concubines. Couldn’t you reduce their numbers somewhat?’

‘That’s not possible. A king can never have too many heirs.’

‘…’

I understood this country’s position.

After all, my own father had concubines too.

But was it disrespectful to still think there were too many?

Regardless, I was deeply hurt when my husband told me, “I wish you would have more awareness of your role as queen.”

The concubines’ glittering, ambition-filled gazes.

Their countless attempts to undermine the queen.

It was utterly exhausting.

I wished someone would do something about these insolent women!

Desperately! Even when I tried to admonish the concubines who caused nothing but trouble, my husband would say, “There’s no need to concern yourself with them.”

I couldn’t remain calm, and no matter what I said, it was like the wind blowing against willow branches – having no effect.

Watching the concubines bear children one after another filled me with resentment and jealousy… and anxiety.

I was born a princess and became a queen.

Open jealousy would be unbecoming.

I knew this, yet my heart was in turmoil, and I gradually grew exhausted.

It was during this time

that I learned my personal maid was pregnant.

‘What!? You’re saying she’s carrying His Majesty’s child!? How!?’

‘My deepest apologies. This blunder is my responsibility.’

The head maid said something else too, but I was so shocked by the maid’s pregnancy that I don’t remember well.

Several years into my marriage,

I couldn’t even get pregnant, let alone bear a child.

To be surpassed even by a maid…

I felt a fierce anger and humiliation I hadn’t experienced with the concubines.

It was the ultimate disgrace.

‘It was only once! Isn’t it suspicious that she got pregnant from that!?’

‘Your Majesty, nevertheless, the maid is pregnant.’

‘That’s exactly why it’s suspicious!’

‘The maid’s first was Your Majesty. The head maid has confirmed this. We’ve received no reports of the maid taking a lover since. This child is Your Majesty’s.’

‘But still…’

It was only that one time.

My husband doubted whether the child in her womb was truly his.

His doubts were cleared when the maid gave birth to a princess with “rainbow-colored eyes,” but looking back now, if her eyes had been a different color, would His Majesty have acknowledged the child as his own? I can’t help but think so.

Because she bore a princess with special eye color, the maid was kept in the harem and forcibly granted the status of concubine.

It had merely been a whim.

His Majesty seemed to have no particular feelings about it and showed no interest in the born princess.

“That must have been what went wrong.”

There was no one to protect the mother and child who had effectively been abandoned by His Majesty.

The special princess became special in the worst possible way.

My vision was clouded with anger and hatred.

All the more because I had trusted the maid.

It was heartbreaking.

My maid shouldn’t have betrayed me like that.

She was a serious, kind-hearted maid.

Even though I knew that…

It was obvious what would happen to a princess whom everyone around considered a “nuisance” to both the king and queen.

And yet…

“I’m guilty too. I cannot return to my homeland.”

If I returned, my homeland would be criticized next.

Knowing that, I couldn’t possibly go back.

“I’m sorry…”

I didn’t even know who I was apologizing to.

Even so, I couldn’t help but say it.