Chapter 127
Gilrod said to Siana the exact same words he had once said to her mother.
Ophelia watched as Siana’s expression grew paler with every word that came from her father’s mouth.
The fear was so clear that even someone who hadn’t spent much time with her could notice it. Yet Gilrod continued to speak with a smile, tightening the metaphorical noose around his daughter’s neck.
“So that’s why I brought him to Agrante. A perfect match to complement your flaws.”
“H-Huh, but marriage is far too soon. I, ah, I haven’t heard anything about it….”
“What difference would it make if you heard it in advance? With your father here, do you really need to worry about marriage?”
Listening to the exchange between father and daughter, Ophelia recalled that Mahanas had said something similar.
Not long after Haslen died, when a new marriage proposal had been brought to her, Mahanas spoke as if he had done her a great favor.
In truth, Idren was one of the few good things in her life, but Mahanas daring to speak in such a way was another matter entirely.
“Even so, you should have told me. I never imagined that I would be… married…”
“Do you truly intend to shame your father in front of Her Majesty the Queen? Even the royal family leaves marriage to the men of the household. Why do you insist on talking back like this?”
Ophelia frowned at her father dragging the royal family into a conversation that had nothing to do with them. At that moment, Salode, who had been sitting nearby, interjected.
“Lord Nebel, that is a rude remark.”
“Rude? Do you speak like that knowing how good a husband His Majesty is?”
“That aside, it is still rude. You speak carelessly about marriages from the higher ranks.”
And Salode added, as if for emphasis:
“How can you be so reckless?”
Gilrod’s face gradually flushed red at the pointed response, clearly paying back the words he had just spoken. Ophelia spoke before he could escalate the argument with a man who was practically her own child in age.
“Enough. Let’s end this conversation here.”
After all, the main purpose of this meeting was to inform Siana of the situation and stir her resentment toward her father. Both goals seemed to have been achieved.
Continuing to listen to each side argue any longer would probably give her a headache.
Ophelia spoke to the man whose sharp gaze never left her daughter.
“I think that should be enough for Lerk to understand your point. Perhaps it’s best to leave now.”
“As you say, Your Majesty. Siana, write the letter.”
Hearing that, Siana trembled slightly again, a clear sign of fear to anyone watching.
As the man stood to leave and was about to open the door, Ophelia turned to him.
“Oh, and there’s something you forgot.”
“Please tell me.”
“My marriage was quite fortunate. As you said, men like my husband are rare in this world.”
“…….”
“If you aren’t certain that the man you brought here is comparable to my husband, you should not speak of my marriage in such a way.”
After Gilrod left, Ophelia immediately dismissed Salode. Having him present while she needed to talk to Siana would only be distracting.
Finally alone with Siana, the girl broke down, releasing the tears she had been holding back. She struggled to catch her breath as she pleaded.
“I don’t want to get married… Please, help me…”
The sight reminded Ophelia of someone she had seen before. She looked down at the woman who only begged, just as she had back then. The situation was already complicated enough without Siana adding to her worries, and Ophelia felt a surge of irritation.
Yet she could not show it to Siana. What wrong had the girl done? The threats and benefits of the marriage were entirely Gilrod’s doing.
Compared to her father, Siana was trying to resolve the situation in a reasonable, cooperative way. Though her only method was to cling to Ophelia, it was all she could do.
And if one considers where her helplessness came from, the fault lay squarely with Gilrod—the man who had failed to properly educate his daughter.
That said, Ophelia could not simply give in to Siana’s pleas.
In the same calm manner as before, Ophelia addressed the girl who clung to her.
“I understand that you do not wish to marry.”
“T-Then…?”
“But in Agrante, a parent has the right to arrange their child’s marriage.”
This was not unique to Agrante. Even Ophelia herself had been betrothed by Mahanas and Dares without having a say.
Siana looked up at her with watery eyes.
“Then, what should I do?”
Ophelia, looking down at the helpless girl who reminded her of herself in the past, spoke.
“You must change the situation.”
Before the sun had set that day, an unexpected guest arrived at Agrante.
Ophelia looked at the new Lord Rohos sitting before her.
“What brings you here?”
The woman replied, looking slightly troubled.
“Your Majesty sent a letter.”
“And what did it say?”
“That… you asked to check if you are spending your time happily. As a servant, it is my duty to oversee your leisure, she said…”
“Quite an unfair request.”
“…I do not entirely agree, but I cannot deny the point.”
Ophelia chuckled at the absurdity, shaking her head.
“If you wish to leave, go ahead. I’ll tell my husband I sent you back.”
“That’s fine. Since I’ve come up, I’ll stay a little longer.”
Then there was nothing to stop her. It was also the right time to assess the situation in the south, and having Anika—who was friendly unlike the elder faction—stay in the capital would be advantageous for appearances.
“Very well, then I’ll ask a few things while you’re here. How are things in Reden these days?”
Though Salode submitted daily reports, Ophelia did not trust them enough to take them at face value.
With Staret dead, the trade routes should have reopened, but Reden was surrounded on three sides by the sea. The rebels were from the common class and likely could not control the ports entirely. This meant Mahanas would once again have access to capital.
It would only delay his downfall slightly, but a prolonged confrontation between Mahanas and the rebels would waste Reden’s resources.
“The black foam has cleared, and the routes are open again. Northern Agrante still dominates the grain market, so southern lords may target it, but those who were displaced from the north will likely look southward.”
“Even with the high shipping costs?”
“If the profit seems greater than market competition, they will gladly do so. I cannot say what Your Majesty intends, but it seems possible for the Reden royal family to import grain and distribute it domestically.”
“They don’t have the capital for that.”
Mahanas was being pressed to repay debts owed to Neteppel. He had no resources to feed Reden’s people himself. Having lived selfishly exploiting others all his life, the thought never crossed his mind.
Even if someone near him thought the people’s support mattered, they would not dare speak. Everyone had witnessed how Lakmata, who constantly advised Mahanas, had ended.
Anika’s expression darkened at Ophelia’s answer.
Unlike her father Taeran, Anika considered her vassals more carefully. Ophelia had learned this through conversations with Dahel.
Anika likely did not see Ophelia’s actions as justified. Didn’t she and Idren clash over similar issues before?
In the end, Idren yielded, not because he thought she was right, but because Ophelia understood that he did not weigh ethical considerations. His favor could overshadow his ethics.
But Anika was different. Ophelia set down her pen and asked the woman before her:
“Do you wonder why I treat my homeland so harshly?”
The queen instinctively realized this was a rare opportunity.
She knew little about the newly ascended queen. While the king’s calculated and cold nature was clear, the queen had stayed mostly in the palace, leaving no clues about her character.
Moreover, the queen was not one to talk much about herself. Despite meeting her a few times, Anika had never heard her speak about her own experiences.
“Ophelia is rational and intelligent. She speaks little, so she can be misunderstood, but she is kind-hearted.”
…Not exactly a trustworthy comment from a man blinded by newlywed infatuation.
Still, hearing the queen’s perspective could not hurt.
Among the southern lords, all who were close to her father had withdrawn, and even communication with the second prince of Egelbam had been cut. If she could befriend the queen, she could establish a new base of influence.
Additionally, if she gained the queen’s favor, the king would also be more lenient in seizing her. After considering this, Anika replied to the woman before her:
“I trust there is a proper reason, but if you tell me, I will listen carefully.”
