The Reason I Made Her My Queen - Chapter 9

“Your Majesty, there is something I must bring to your attention.”

The day after the Fabra Kingdom lodged a protest with the Carnia Kingdom, the royal harem was in an uproar.

“What happened?”

“Well…” The hesitant attendant was urged to continue. “Chief Maid Elvira has taken her own life.”

“Suicide?”

“An unfounded rumor that Your Majesty would punish Lady Elvira has been spreading through the harem. It appears the chief maid committed suicide in protest. Her suicide note also stated, ‘Lady Elvira is undoubtedly a princess of the Carnia Kingdom.'”

“What about the maids who came with the queen consort?”

“They are being quiet. The chief maid’s death must have shocked them deeply. They are staying quietly with Lady Elvira.”

“What is the Carnia Kingdom’s response?”

“We informed them through diplomatic channels. They were in a state of extreme panic. They likely fear that Lady Elvira might be harmed like the chief maid was.”

“Good grief. Despite their own disrespectful treatment of Princess Petronila, they fear becoming victims themselves. This is the very definition of shamelessness.”

Just because they are like that, do they think this country would also neglect its princess?

I wish they wouldn’t lump us together.

“Your Majesty.”

“What is it?”

The attendant spoke with difficulty. “Regarding that chief maid, it seems she was often harsh toward Lady Petronila.”

“Oh?”

I didn’t know that.

I hadn’t returned to the harem since the first night, so I had no way of knowing.

“Apparently she was strict by nature, but the other maids testify she was particularly severe with Lady Petronila. Also, the chief maid was apparently a close aide to the Carnia Queen Consort.”

“A close aide to the queen consort?”

That’s the first I’ve heard of it.

“The chief maid and the queen consort were apparently old friends. It seems that connection led to her becoming a close aide. She accompanied Lady Elvira as chief maid when she married into the Fabra Kingdom. She must have been highly trusted. That might be why she was so harsh toward Lady Petronila.”

I see.

But the chief maid wasn’t the only one who treated Petronila lightly.

The remaining maids are likely testifying against the chief maid to protect themselves.

They don’t know if they can return to their homeland.

They’re probably acting that way anticipating the worst.

The Carnia Kingdom’s lack of common sense became glaringly apparent.

The fact that Princess Petronila’s public funds had been embezzled was discovered.

The reason it came to light was because the Fabra Kingdom filed a lawsuit.

A matter between nations.

Naturally, third countries became involved.

From an outside perspective, the series of abnormal actions were deemed sufficient to warrant punishment of the Carnia Kingdom by the majority of observers.

Originally, the embezzlement of public funds allocated for the princess was committed by her personal servants, but further investigation revealed diversion of funds.

Other royalty had been freely using Princess Petronila’s public funds without permission.

Therefore, the amount available for Princess Petronila’s use was extremely minimal.

It was judged to be completely inadequate for a princess of a nation.

Her dresses and jewelry were also of poor quality, not reflecting their proper value.

It was utterly malicious.

Were those swarming around her lacking in intelligence?

They declared, “We’ve done nothing wrong.”

That might work within the Carnia Kingdom, but it doesn’t fly with other nations.

“Princess Petronila appears to have suffered abuse for many years. Many palace servants participated in it, we hear. Ah, and that’s not all. The majority of nobles regarded Princess Petronila as far beneath them. The common people also mocked the princess as ‘defective,’ ‘the inferior-born princess,’ and ‘ordinary with no redeeming qualities.'”

“…”

“We also met Princess Petronila to verify the facts, and she was remarkably intelligent. That such a person could be called ‘defective’ is impossible. We learned she studied primarily by reading books in the palace library. After her mother, the consort, passed away, her tutors stopped coming, so she had to study on her own. The princess’s efforts are truly moving. My, it’s nothing ordinary. After all, she excelled beyond her siblings who had proper tutors. One wonders which side truly lacks cultivation.”

The Carnia representatives grimaced at the third-country envoy’s cheerful remarks.

They hadn’t known.

They had even embezzled the princess’s education funds.

The reason it had never been an issue before was because they regarded Princess Petronila as “someone who could be treated any way without consequence.”

But third countries confronted them with the fact that this perception was mistaken.

“Does the Carnia Kingdom have some peculiar taste for disparaging its own princess? Or perhaps a custom of hurling abuse and mistreating ‘the legendary royal with rainbow-colored eyes’?”

“Th-that’s not…”

The Carnia diplomats stammered.

“Then why? There must be a clear reason?”

“…”

They couldn’t answer.

There was no clear reason.

Just the vague justification that everyone was doing it.

Even when pointed out, they couldn’t find words to respond.

“Our country will support the Fabra Kingdom. It is clear under international law that the Carnia side is at fault.”

“…”

“Additionally, we will reconsider diplomatic relations with your nation. Of course, we will also suspend trade, so please understand. Ah, no need to worry. We have already obtained agreement from the merchants trading with your country. Well then, we shall take our leave.”

Having said only that, the third-country envoy promptly departed.

This incident triggered a chain reaction, exposing the Carnia Kingdom’s cruel actions one after another.

The Carnia Kingdom was in complete chaos.

Having never imagined that their common sense was considered outrageous in other nations, and firmly believing “we are not wrong,” the shock was immeasurable.

Within a few months, the Carnia Kingdom would have diplomatic relations severed by numerous countries, starting with the Fabra Kingdom.

It was all a result of their own making.

As a side note, the bilateral alliance between the Fabra and Carnia Kingdoms was revoked, and the young king and queen consort’s marriage was annulled.

To reiterate, the royal marriage was treated as “never having happened from the beginning.” However, this didn’t mean the Carnia Kingdom, which had committed fraud, was forgiven. They ended up having to pay substantial reparations to the Fabra Kingdom.