TWCT 05

Chapter 05

 Queen of the Starling Kingdom (3)

“Good morning, Your Majesty the Queen. May I open the curtains?”

Just as I woke up at the perfect timing, there was a knock at the door, and a maid entered while speaking.

When I looked around, I saw a beautiful woman standing near the bed, wearing a maid uniform and having green hair with yellow highlights.

From her refined posture, I immediately judged that she must be a noble lady.

She was likely the daughter of King Feliks’s wet nurse.

Only noblewomen could serve as royal wet nurses, so her daughter would also be a noble.

“Yesterday, His Majesty explained that he would assign me the daughter of his wet nurse. He said she is a very capable maid and would serve me exclusively. Are you her?”

“Yes. I am Milena, sister of the head of House Klassen, and I have been appointed as Your Majesty’s personal maid. I will serve you with all my heart.”

Milena said this and performed a perfect maid’s bow.

“Oh my, that’s a relief. I thought I had studied this country, but I’m sure there are still many things I don’t know. I would be happy if you could teach me.”

When I said this with a smile, Milena blinked in confusion—though, of course, as someone praised by King Feliks himself as an excellent maid, she did not show it openly.

“Milena?”

I called her name as if asking a question, and she blinked again.

I tilted my head, wondering what was confusing her, and she cautiously spoke.

“Forgive me. Since Your Majesty comes from the greatest nation on the continent, I never expected to receive such kind words from someone like me. Nor did I expect you to call my name.”

I widened my eyes in surprise.

“Milena, no matter where I was born, I am now a member of the Starling Kingdom just like you. So I would be happy if you treated me as a fellow citizen of the same country.”

Milena, the highly capable maid personally chosen by King Feliks, opened her eyes wide in visible shock.

“…Your Majesty, I am merely a servant. Such generous words are far too much for me.”

“But you are my personal maid, aren’t you? Then you are not just any servant—you are my precious, special maid.”

I said this with a smile, and Milena lowered her head as if overwhelmed.

“May I ask what time His Majesty takes breakfast?”

As I changed into my morning attire, I asked Milena, remembering Feliks’s words from last night—that we would have breakfast together.

Last night, after treating me with great care, Feliks had said, “I still have work to finish,” and returned to his room.

Of course, I understood that this was simply a polite excuse to withdraw.

During my education in matters of marriage, I had been told as an additional lesson that most royals do not sleep in the same bed even with their spouses.

It made me a little lonely, but I strongly believed I must not interfere with Feliks’s established way of life.

After all, I came here to make him happy—not to force him into discomfort or sacrifice.

And despite that small loneliness, I was already more than satisfied with what he gave me.

When leaving, Feliks had said something indulgent to me:

“Rupia, now that you are my wife, you must call me Feliks. Stop speaking so formally. And let me truly feel that you are my queen.”

I had only ever met him in dreams.

Just seeing him there had been enough to make me happy.

But now, I could look at him, be looked at, speak with him, and share time with him.

And he even gave me kind words.

“…I am truly blessed.”

As Milena combed my hair, I whispered it, and she smiled in agreement.

That morning’s breakfast was a traditional menu from my homeland, the Diablo Kingdom.

Seeing familiar dishes, I looked at Feliks in surprise—and he smiled like a child who had successfully pulled off a prank.

“Surprised? For our first breakfast, I thought we should honor the kingdom that raised you, so I prepared food from your homeland.”

He said it so simply, but the ingredients and cooking methods were completely different from those of this country.

This was not something that could be prepared on a whim—it must have required careful preparation.

My cheeks turned red with happiness, but I did not look down. Instead, I met his gaze directly.

“Feliks… thank you very much.”

He had spared no effort to prepare my country’s food for me.

So I believed it was only proper to express my gratitude sincerely.

And, casually, I called him by his name instead of his royal title.

Feliks noticed it and nodded approvingly, as if praising me.

“You’re welcome. Your feelings are very easy to understand—that’s good. Being thanked so directly feels pleasant.”

With that, breakfast began.

“Did you sleep well last night?”

Rather than eating in silence, Feliks continued to speak with me.

“Yes, the bed and bedding were very comfortable, so I slept soundly… I slept well.”

Every time I slipped into overly formal speech, Feliks would silently look at me, encouraging me to correct myself.

But his gaze was so gentle that I blushed each time I met it.

“That’s good. I heard your health is not particularly strong. Even before the wedding, you had arrived in our country several days early, but you were too unwell to meet me until the ceremony day. After traveling such a long distance, and after experiencing so much last night, you must be more exhausted than you realize. You may think I am being overprotective, but please rest in your room today. If possible, I would even like you to take a nap.”

At his implication, my face turned red again, and I muttered defensively.

“How improper would it be for a queen to be so lazy on her first day?”

“If you were only queen for a single day, I would make you work hard. But you are my queen for life. I cannot allow you to overexert yourself.”

Once again, Feliks spoke gently, then signaled the attendants.

They rearranged his dessert in front of me.

“I heard fruit jelly is your favorite. Please have mine as well. For someone who loves sweets like me to offer you my dessert should make it clear how much I respect you. So please rest today… for my sake.”

His voice carried a soft warmth.

…Truly, what a gentle husband he is.

I thought once again, as I looked at his peaceful smile—

I am the happiest person in the world.