Chapter 102
Faced with those unwavering, chilling eyes, Nicoletta flinched and scrambled backward.
“Ask the priestess. Find out what kind of brutal punishment was given to the priestess who put glass powder in the offering. The king shows no mercy. Neither do I.”
Because in this land, that’s how things are.
Having said that much, Siren turned away without hesitation.
There was no need for the courtesy of saying the tea had been enjoyable. Because it hadn’t been.
“Haha, now this is entertaining. I never thought that gentle princess would turn into such an impressive queen. Take care on your way back.”
Bispar, laughing so hard he clutched his stomach, called out a farewell.
It had been a short tea time, but what had transpired within it was far from insignificant.
One step. Then another.
As Siren walked away from Hies’s residence, a realization struck her.
Ah, I’ve changed.
It was a small change.
She lifted the head she had always kept lowered.
Straightened the back she had always kept bent.
That was all. Yet, she had changed.
And Siren liked this version of herself.
‘Even if I were to reveal my true identity before countless people… yes. It wouldn’t matter.’
That wouldn’t change the fact that this was her place now.
As her thoughts stretched endlessly onward, Siren returned to her cherished bedchamber.
There, she found Pamilla, Chris, and Jin.
People who now felt like family.
The next day passed without much incident.
Aside from Bispar stopping by to laugh about how Nicoletta’s face had been a sight to behold.
Larisa, too, had kept everything she’d heard that day to herself, allowing Siren to spend a peaceful day.
“My dream isn’t actually to inherit and maintain my parents’ merchant guild. I want to use it as a foundation to build an even greater one of my own.”
“That’s impressive.”
“That’s why, if I were to marry, I’d want a man who could help me. Someone who understands that I’ll be busy, because he’ll be busy too. Living a sweet, affectionate life together sounds nice, but more than that, I want a true partner to walk forward with.”
Perhaps because her trust in Larisa had deepened,
Siren found herself having all sorts of conversations with her.
Conversations are more detailed than the ones they’d had before.
“Oh, by the way, have you met them yet? The sons.”
“Yes. I started with the youngest first. I prefer younger men, you see.”
“How was he?”
“I liked him. Honestly… he’s quite large, but his expression is gentle. He also believes that a husband should listen to his wife.”
Larisa looked genuinely pleased.
She seemed to enjoy being in a position of choosing, rather than being chosen.
And if she was happy, then there was nothing to worry about.
Siren silently wished Larisa a bright future.
“Will Your Majesty be staying in Wilkeron? Or in the south? I suppose it depends on where the capital will be.”
“I’ll likely stay in the south, at least for now. I need to bring rain to the region.”
Rather than unleashing it indiscriminately, she would need to manage Raksha at steady intervals.
According to Jin, the coastal areas were abundant with Water Raksha… If she remained here, she could likely restore the land to lush greenery within ten years.
Just like in the dream she had seen—a land with clear springs, thriving forests, and towering trees.
“When I return, I’ll send traveling merchants here. I’ve been observing how the people in this land live… I even questioned a few slaves. It was miserable.”
“It is.”
“There’s a black market, but it only deals in low-quality goods. Suspicious items, at best. If I bring in my own merchants, the lives of the people here will improve.”
Larisa’s eyes gleamed as she spoke.
She looked so beautiful at that moment that Siren gazed at her for a long time.
Ah, when was it again?
That time when I was captivated by the beauty of the light within humans.
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