MWTB 09

CHAPTER 09

“Please lift your chin just a little. Yes, just like that.”

From early morning, Julia was placed in the hands of the maids, who fussed over her with massages, face packs, and all sorts of beauty treatments.

With five maids working on her for several hours—dressing her and styling her hair—she soon looked as splendidly dressed as though she were attending a grand ball.

Julia sat upright with the dignified posture befitting a queen as she received her beauty treatments, but because she had barely slept, her eyes gradually began to close without her realizing it.

“Your Majesty, did you perhaps stay up late last night?”

The personal maid, renowned for her skillful hands, asked discreetly while applying Julia’s makeup. Julia flinched and glanced at her, only to see the veteran maid whispering with a broad smile.

“The area beneath your eyes is a little dark. We all know that the two of you have such a wonderful relationship, but if you want your appearance to be absolutely perfect, you really must get a good night’s sleep.”

“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about. I was simply uncomfortable because I was sleeping somewhere unfamiliar.”

That’s not what happened!

Sensing the familiar misunderstanding, Julia hurriedly denied it, but the maids merely giggled among themselves, clearly delighted.

“You mustn’t do this on the day of your coming-of-age ceremony. Of course, Your Majesty is beautiful even without doing anything, but since all this adornment is giving you wings, you’ll look even more breathtaking. You understand what I mean, don’t you?”

“I understand…”

There was no point denying it any further when they would only come up with even more mischievous interpretations, so Julia simply gave up and obediently nodded. The maids exchanged glances, then smiled broadly as their enthusiasm seemed to increase even more.

Two hours later.

As the fresh sunlight sparkled across the clear blue sky, Julia finally finished getting ready.

Ba-bam—

In the middle of a lush forest, the sound of trumpets spread across the wide clearing as the procession of the king and queen arrived.

The ministers, noble ladies, young lords, and young ladies waiting beneath the splendid purple canopy representing the Semele royal family all rose and respectfully bowed.

“We greet the Great Sun of Semele!”

“We greet the Brilliant Glory of Semele!”

As the royal couple walked along the long purple carpet, dozens of people gradually straightened from the back forward.

Wearing a gentle smile, Julia walked alongside Endymion and sat beside him on the thrones placed in the most honored position.

Once the king and queen were seated, everyone returned to their own chairs. Then, as an elegant orchestra began to play, the nobles came forward in order of rank to offer their greetings.

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Queen. Congratulations on attaining adulthood.”

“Duke Tristan, welcome. How is your health?”

An elderly man with white hair stepped forward and bowed. He was the head of a family that had remained loyal to the royal family since the reign of the king before the previous king. Julia welcomed Duke Tristan, who was conversing with Endymion, with a warm smile.

“Thanks to your concern, I’m much better. Ha-ha, I have to stay alive until the grandson born last year gets married, after all. Ah, come to think of it, Your Majesty will soon…”

Oh no.

“Duke, did you receive the gift I sent to your estate?”

Just as the talkative duke was about to poke his nose into the subject, Julia instinctively interrupted and changed the topic. Fortunately, the elderly duke looked deeply moved by the gentle queen’s voice.

“Oh, Her Majesty the Queen personally remembered my fiftieth wedding anniversary! What a blessing this old man has received.”

“It was only a small gesture. I simply hope that Your Grace will remain healthy for many, many years and continue to serve His Majesty and the royal family faithfully.”

As Julia gently reassured him, Duke Tristan thankfully seemed deeply touched. After exchanging a few more words, he finally withdrew.

For someone who could easily talk for an hour once he got started, the fact that he finished much sooner than expected visibly caused the nobles waiting their turn to breathe sighs of relief. Amid the warm and cheerful atmosphere, Julia smiled with her eyes and enjoyed the festivities.

“You’re impressive. Sending that old man away in one shot.”

It was an amused voice.

Before the next noble approached, Endymion spoke quietly to Julia, slouching in his seat with a bored expression. Not even thirty minutes had passed since the greetings began, yet he already looked thoroughly tired of it.

In contrast, Julia sat perfectly straight, her expression unchanged as she whispered playfully,

“That’s the traditional role of a queen. So? Did I do well?”

“You’re too perfect for your own good, my queen.”

Endymion answered in a low voice, barely audible. Then, wearing an arrogant smile, he leaned back even farther.

Again.

It was an ordinary enough answer, but Julia suddenly felt strange and quickly lowered her head.

My queen.

She had already heard him call her that once yesterday, but somehow, it sounded particularly significant now. At the same time, she was reminded of the strange atmosphere from last night that she had tried so hard to forget.

Why did he say something like that to me?

Julia and Endymion had always exchanged gifts every year as an anniversary tradition. Their thirteenth wedding anniversary was approaching, and since they were also celebrating their coming-of-age ceremony together, there was nothing strange about him wanting to give her a special gift.

But what about that unfamiliar look in his eyes last night and the suffocating atmosphere? And then there were those bizarre things he had said—telling her that she could have the right to rule over the king, and even that he would give her his body, simply because he had told her to say whatever she wanted!

Ah.

She had even remembered him kissing the inside of her wrist.

Julia hurriedly pressed the inside of her wrist with her other hand.

Now that she was conscious of it, she found it difficult even to turn her head toward him. The spot where his lips had touched suddenly felt ticklish and hot again. Her husband, who had always felt as familiar as part of herself, suddenly seemed awkwardly unfamiliar.

Until now, Endymion had kissed the back of her hand several times whenever they attended balls. Other nobles did the same when paying their respects to the queen, so having one’s hand touched by someone’s lips was simply part of court etiquette.

But Endymion’s actions yesterday had been completely different.

What did it mean?

While gracefully receiving the greetings of the ministers who came forward one after another, Julia’s mind was elsewhere.

Now that they were adults, did he mean that they should stop treating each other like childhood friends and start behaving more like grown adults?

Surely not.

If that were all he meant, why had he suddenly said and done such strange things?

Julia wasn’t stupid. She was perceptive and intelligent, and even before becoming queen, she had been praised as someone perfectly suited for the position.

…Could it be?

Julia smiled at the old duke who had just finished his greeting, then stole a glance at Endymion.

His tall frame, a little over 190 tashen, sat with his long legs crossed as he looked arrogantly down upon everyone below.

After hesitating for a moment, Julia finally opened her mouth, intending to test the waters out of sheer curiosity.

“I—”

“The Great Sun and Brilliant Glory of Semele, we greet you.”

The voices of a man and a woman overlapped from directly in front of them.

Julia, who had been too distracted by sneaking glances at Endymion to notice who was approaching, quickly turned her head.

Standing before her was a middle-aged man with dark brown hair and a young lady whose appearance strongly resembled his. The man bowed first.

“Duke Kennedy Soar pays his respects. Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Queen, congratulations on attaining adulthood.”

…‘Soar’?

Julia blinked, puzzled by the unfamiliar face.

“It’s been a long time, Duke Soar.”

Endymion greeted him in an ordinary tone. The man naturally smiled and offered a formal apology for not having visited in so long.

“Kiara Soar pays her respects. My heartfelt congratulations on both of your coming-of-age ceremonies.”

The young lady standing beside the man bowed gracefully with perfect posture. Her fresh light-green dress spread softly around her, complementing her brown hair and giving her a vibrant appearance.

Kiara…

It was a name Julia knew.

Julia pressed her lips tightly together to keep them from parting in surprise. She couldn’t help it if her eyes widened slightly.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Your Majesty. May God’s blessing be with you.”

The young lady straightened and spoke softly, meeting Julia’s gaze with olive-colored eyes. Julia quickly composed herself.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Soar.”

She’s the one.

“I wasn’t personally invited, but I received an invitation from Duchess Hyde and came here. This is my first royal hunting competition since I was a child, so I was curious… If my presence is inappropriate, I sincerely apologize, Your Majesty.”

“Of course not. I’m glad you came. I hope you have a wonderful time.”

So she must have received Iris’s invitation since Iris had said she was feeling unwell and wouldn’t be attending.

Despite the fact that she was suddenly paying an enormous amount of attention to the young lady, Julia greeted her with the calm and gentle demeanor of a queen. The young lady, who somehow seemed to carry a faintly melancholic air about her, smiled in response.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

A duke’s daughter with foreign royal blood in her veins.

Iris’s friend.

And…

“It’s been a long time, Your Majesty.”

Endymion’s former fiancée.

“Yes. It has been a long time.”

Endymion received the young lady’s greeting with the same bored expression.

Julia felt her attention drawn toward Kiara more strongly than ever before. Outwardly, however, she continued smiling brightly as though nothing was wrong.

The two exchanged a few more polite words in front of Duke Soar and Julia. By then, the ministers had finished offering their greetings, and it was time for the noble ladies, young lords, and young ladies invited as candidates for royal concubines to come forward.

Kiara Soar seemed to be the very first of the young ladies in line.

“I was unwell for quite some time and spent a long period recuperating abroad, so I’m afraid I haven’t been able to visit as often as I should have.”

“You seem healthy now. I hope you remain in good health from here on.”

While Julia engaged in a brief, polite conversation with Duke Soar, her attention remained focused on Endymion and Kiara’s conversation.

Kiara was now talking to Endymion about memories from when they were very young. Since they were stories from before Julia had married him, she found herself with no way to join the conversation, and the realization left her feeling strangely uncomfortable.

I wish she’d hurry up and leave.

As the conversation between Kiara and Endymion continued, Julia gradually grew restless, fidgeting with her fingertips. She almost wished the other young ladies would come forward to greet them instead.

…Why?

They were all young ladies, just the same as the others.

Julia blinked, startled by her own thoughts. Just then, the conversation beside her showed signs of coming to an end.

“Well then, I hope you enjoy your time here.”

“Your Majesty. Since we have met again after so long, I would like to offer you a glass of wine as a way of celebrating your coming-of-age ceremony.”

With a regretful look in her eyes, Kiara took a bottle from the basket she had brought and held it out.

Judging by the packaging bearing her family’s seal, it was an exceptionally fine wine that had been aged for at least seventy years. It was perfectly appropriate for the king’s status, and since it was traditional for pre-dinner drinks to be served to set the mood before the banquet began shortly afterward, the timing was almost suspiciously perfect.

“Would that be all right?”

What?

Doesn’t she know? Endymion can’t drink.

Julia glanced sideways at him, but Endymion showed no particular reaction. Normally, he would have rejected such an offer without hesitation, yet his strangely silent response made Julia pause.

…Why wasn’t he answering?

Could it be because it’s Kiara Soar?

Maybe she was overreacting. Perhaps he simply didn’t want to ruin the pleasant atmosphere.

But unlike before, when she had naturally stepped in, Julia wasn’t sure whether she should interfere this time. Her mind became tangled with uncertainty.

…

While she was lost in her own confused thoughts, Kiara smiled neatly and reached for the sealed stopper of the wine bottle. Her movement was confident, as though she had no doubt that her offer would be accepted.

Endymion stared at her for a moment and was just about to say something when—

“Unfortunately.”

Her words came faster than her thoughts.

Kiara and Duke Soar immediately turned their gazes toward Julia.

“I’ll drink it instead.”

“What?”

Kiara’s eyes widened in surprise. Feeling Endymion’s blue eyes fixed on her, Julia spoke elegantly.

“My husband is a lightweight when it comes to alcohol.”