Author: rolypoly

Amelda woke up in a room heavy with the scent of sleep.

 

She had smoked it because it was supposed to relieve headaches and help her sleep deeply, but somehow it didn’t seem to be working that well anymore. 

 

She sighed deeply, pressing her throbbing forehead, with even her breaths feeling like sharp pains piercing into her body.

 

Was it because of the dream?

 

「Amelda is really cute. Oh, I always wanted a younger sister like this.」

 

「Happy birthday! Ah, I’m a bit embarrassed since the gift is something I used, but I chose a jewelry piece that I think will suit you well. How is it?」

 

It was another dream about her again.

 

Strangely enough, there were many people who influenced Amelda’s life.

 

Her strict father, her brother who resembled him, and the man she loved at least physically.

 

But the person who visited her dreams the most often and persistently was Eleanor.

 

The woman who was the first and last love of her husband, who was now called the late king.

 

How much must he have loved her, for her husband to show not even a small bit of interest in the young and beautiful Amelda, who had entered as a concubine?

 

He only visited her to the extent that it wouldn’t damage the reputation of the Lennox family, and didn’t try to have a relationship with her beyond that. 

 

Of course, as husband and wife, they eventually did develop a deep relationship. 

 

However, that happened one night when he was deeply drunk, and Amelda was wearing Eleanor’s perfume.

 

That night, her husband called Eleanor’s name several times. In a voice filled with unpleasantly deep affection.

 

When that night, which was like hell even though she had asked for it herself, had passed.

 

Amelda went straight to Eleanor.

 

What would she have thought when she saw the concubine who had come back covered in traces of her beloved husband? 

 

If it had been the usual Amelda, she would have boasted, saying, “Look at this! You’re not the only one receiving my husband’s love.”

 

But for some reason, that day, she just burst into tears.

 

Eleanor hugged Amelda for a long time.

 

With a warmth that wasn’t a single lie.

 

Was this why the king loved her?

 

In those warm embraces, Amelda found the real reason to hate Eleanor.

 

This was a personality she would never have.

 

She coveted this sweetness that melted anyone, and was deeply jealous.

 

After that, Amelda thought even harder about what to say to pierce Eleanor’s tender heart. 

 

「Love is not needed in the royal family. My child will become the next heir. That makes me a more precious woman than you.」 

 

「Oh my! That’s a good idea. If it’s Amelda’s child, they’ll surely be beautiful and smart, right?」 

 

The problem was that the naive Eleanor didn’t realize at all that the words were meant to hurt her.  

 

She was hopelessly dull.

 

「I’d like a girl. I think Amelda’s daughter would make a strong and beautiful king.」

 

「….」

 

「Just imagining cute Amelda holding a little girl…! Oh, really! What do you want to name her? What do you like? Oh, please let me think about it with you?」

 

At this point, she thought she was just openly mocking me, but Eleanor must have been sincere. 

 

Three days later, she came to Amelda and said this.

 

「I’ve been thinking about it for a long time, but I think our daughter’s name should be Eugenie.」

 

「…Why do you call my daughter ‘our daughter’?」

 

「Yes? Well… because she’s our daughter?」 

 

Eleanor pointed back and forth between herself and Amelda and laughed bashfully.

 

It’s astonishing. 

 

「Forget it. It’s not something you need to concern yourself with. When the child is born, it will be me sitting in the seat of authority.」  

 

「I don’t care about the position. I just want to be by Amelda’s side when she gives birth. As…your sister. 」

 

Eleanor, who always talked nonsense confidently, sometimes blushed and stuttered.

 

That was when she used the words “older sister” or “younger sister” quite seriously.

 

It seems that she really wanted a younger sister.

 

It’s hard to understand why she projects such pointless desires onto someone as unrelated as Amelda.

 

「I’m serious, Amelda..」

 

「…」

 

「I know that Amelda feels embarrassed about my origins. But I… Amelda is so beautiful. I always want to tell you that.」 

 

There is nothing more important in this world than a sincere heart, right? She laughed like an idiot again.

 

…Truth. 

 

Amelda, who was in the scent of sleep, suddenly got up. 

 

Her light dizziness from mild anemia worsened, and she grasped the glass in her hand, throwing it aimlessly. 

 

Clank!

 

The glass hit something and shattered.

 

The maid’s breathing could also be heard, as she swallowed her screams in fear.

 

What a foolish woman.

 

She was truly a pitiful woman.

 

Why did she love the truth so much?

 

That’s why…

 

「No, Amelda! If you continue to lie, you will be the one who will be unhappy. If you tell His Majesty the truth, He will surely accept it. I will also listen to you. Yes?」

 

She had no choice but to kill her, who tried to reveal the truth.

 

She had never regretted it. After all, wasn’t it someone she had hated to the death?

 

Above all, if she hadn’t done so, it would have been Amelda and her child who would die.

 

“Y, Your Highness.”

 

The maid who had been watching her closely approached her.

 

“The attendant said that the prisoners you mentioned earlier have been prepared.” 

 

“…I understand.”

 

Amelda staggered as she got out of bed. She raised her hand to refuse the maid who quickly tried to support her.

 

“I can stand alone.”

 

The maid quickly removed her nightgown and brought the washing water. Other maids swiftly gathered the clothing and accessories for her.

 

With each touch and drop of their diligent hands, the troubled human suffering from insomnia, nightmares, and headaches was transformed into an elegant queen, called the Red Rose of the Royal Family.

 

Finally, she adorned herself with a small piece of jewelry and sent all the maids away.

 

Now, she would deal with the death row inmate.

 

She chose to carry out the executions herself, leaving no room for doubt or suspicion.

 

Where on earth did the rumor come from?

 

Prince Valentine had a twin sister.

 

Very few people knew that she had given birth to twins, and most of them she had dealt with them herself.

 

Only one person didn’t die in connection with the matter. 

 

Her young daughter.

 

Why did she save the child?

 

Because ‘that man’ had made a condition for granting her request? She doesn’t know…

 

‘The king’s seed doesn’t produce twins.’

 

So the fact that she gave birth to twins at once ultimately proved Amelda’s ‘rejection.’ 

 

So the child should have died. No matter what the man had asked for.

 

But, ironically, she gave the child the unsophisticated name ‘Eugenie’ and sent her out of the palace with the man.

 

Amelda thought of the ordinary girl ‘Eugenie,’ who must be living as a commoner.

 

The thought of her noble-born daughter, ‘Eugenie,’ wearing shabby clothes and eating coarse bread gave her a somewhat strange feeling.

 

Anyway, that child…wouldn’t be caught up in any unnecessary conflicts. 

 

Like most commoners on the streets, she would live a miserable life and die.

 

Amelda hoped that the child would continue to live such a miserable life.

 

‘Anyway, if she ever appears before me, I will have no choice but to kill her, right?’

 

She knew herself well. She probably wouldn’t hesitate much to kill her. 

 

“I… want to live.”

 

Even if it means personally killing the child born from her own womb.

 

The ‘truth’ that Eleanor had talked about so importantly was ultimately just something the survivors drew as they pleased.

 

So, Amelda will be the one to survive until the very end.

 

So that she could gain eternal honor. 

 

Until all the lies were stuffed into truth.

 

* * * 

 

While receiving the doctor’s examination, Clarisse was startled by the loud noise in front of her room. 

 

“How long are you going to hang around here! If you have something to say, come in. If not, go away and do some digging!” 

 

Noah’s voice was filled with deep irritation. What could it be? For a moment, she was puzzled.

 

Clarisse soon listened to the doctor’s story.

 

“You should be fine now, but don’t run around suddenly or walk for a long time. After a long treatment, you need to gradually increase the amount of exercise.” 

 

“Yes, I will.”

 

“Well then, I’ll be going now. Please contact me if you have any discomfort.”

 

“Thank you for your kind words.”

 

As the doctor packed his bag and left the room, Clarisse was finally able to see who was standing beyond the open door. 

 

It was Valentine.

 

As soon as his eyes met Clarisse’s, he quickly hid against the wall.

 

But this was short-lived, and soon he was grabbed by Noah’s arm and taken to her room(?). 

 

“It hurts! Don’t pull!”

 

“Don’t complain about being brought here when you should be thankful!”

 

“Ugh!”

 

He couldn’t refute Noah’s rebuke.

 

Clarisse slowly got up from the bed.

 

Then Noah and Valentine flinched at the same time.

 

“S, sit down.”

 

“You, you! Why did the patient just stand up like that!”

 

Clarisse crossed her arms and glared at them discontentedly.

 

“…I’m already better, you know?”

 

Both of them had been keeping their distance from Clarisse recently, so it was a bit strange that they were suddenly worried.

 

“Even if you seem to be all better, you might not be all better.”

 

“Alright, sit down. Huh? Is there anything you’d like me to bring you?”

 

They made a big fuss and forced Clarisse back onto the bed. Then they sighed at the same time.

 

Clarisse thought about scolding them for their judgments and worries, but she decided against it.

 

In the meantime, Noah mercilessly hit Valentine’s side with his arm, probably urging him to do something quickly.

 

“…?”

 

As Clarisse looked on curiously, Valentine held out the flowers with a sad expression.

 

“I, I’m sorry.”

 

Why is he suddenly apologizing?

 

Clarisse was curious, and for the time being, she accepted the flower he gave her. 

 

“That…I.” 

 

He barely managed to continue speaking, moving his hands without stopping as if he didn’t know where to put them.

 

“I went to request cooperation from the Wizards… and ended up telling this guy.” 

 

“Ah.”

 

Clarisse understood those vague words perfectly.

 

She had already wondered how Noah knew her secret, but it seemed that Valentine was the culprit.

 

“I thought I should apologize, but I felt too embarrassed… I’m truly sorry, Clarisse.” 

 

He couldn’t even look at Clarisse anymore.

 

“Prince.”

 

“Uh, mhm?”

 

“Actually, that was a bit too much. I had asked you not to tell him.”

 

“That’s…right. But I didn’t take your secret lightly.” 

 

“But thank you for apologizing.”

 

Clarisse now turned to Noah.

 

“And…Noah too.”

 

To be honest, her relationship with him had been strangely shaky up until now.

 

As proof, when their eyes met, he flinched and turned his head away.

 

“I’m sorry I… couldn’t say that directly.”

 

Noah quickly shook his head.

 

“And since we’re here together, I have something to tell you both.”

 

Author's Thoughts

Hello everyone,

Thank you for your support so far. Unfortunately, I have to announce that I will be dropping this novel as the official translation will be released through Tapas. The advance chapters will be released as scheduled, but there will be no new chapters after Chapter 170. I hope you will support the official translation as well. Thank you.

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