Chapter 8
“How old did you say Prina was?”
“She comes of age this year.”
“Already? She resembles her mother very much.”
The king let out a faint sigh. There was something sorrowful about him as he reminisced a woman from his distant memories. That face, now hazy in his mind, seemed to return to him vividly when he saw Prina.
“No, she’s grown up much more beautiful than her mother ever was.”
Prina de White. She was the daughter of the former queen. After the previous queen died in childbirth and a new queen was brought in, though Prina was a princess, she became little more than an outcast.
Not only had she ‘devoured’ her mother in a difficult birth, even the courtiers considered Prina’s black hair inauspicious.
Officially, it was said she was sent away for her health and to ward off misfortune, but in truth, it was little different from abandonment.
Though a princess, she did the same chores as the other nuns at the monastery, and no one from the royal family ever came looking for her.
“…Yes. I have been too neglectful all this time. Leaving the princess alone in such a remote place…”
The king murmured, his face shadowed with regret. As he sighed, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes deepened.
His relationship with the new queen was not what it once had been. He was now too old to burn with passionate love.
Once those tumultuous feelings had faded, not even ashes remained. Only after waking from the enchantment of his greedy new queen did he finally begin to see what he’d lost. One of those things was Princess Prina, whom he had sent to the monastery so long ago.
“May I ask what you intend to do now?”
“I must bring her back. It’s late, but from now on, it’s right that I take care of her myself.”
The king’s resolve was firm. Hearing the answer he’d hoped for, the aide slowly nodded. He had expected this ever since the king had secretly traveled all the way out here, saying he would see the princess.
It seemed wise to start preparing to receive Prina.
“You’ve already sent word to the monastery, I trust?”
“Yes, as you ordered, I made sure everyone kept silent.”
By now, the Mother Superior would have quietly called for the princess. This matter would be handled with the utmost discretion, even in the silent monastery.
“Well done. What of the queen’s movements?”
“There’s been no unusual activity.”
“Good. Keep it that way.”
The king fixed his gaze on the window once again.
Now that he’d seen for himself how well she’d grown, it was time to bring her safely back into his arms.
* * *
At dusk, the queen stood before her mirror, preparing herself for dinner with the king.
“Tighter.”
At the queen’s order, the lady-in-waiting retied the ribbon at her waist even more snugly. No matter how tightly it was tied, the queen kept demanding it be done again. The lady-in-waiting’s hands grew busier.
Knock, knock—
The chamberlain entered. He approached the queen nervously, looking uneasy even before he spoke.
“Forgive me for disturbing you…”
“Speak without delay.”
“His Majesty says he will not be present in tonight’s dinner.”
For what must have been the umpteenth time. Even daily suppers had become something he now skipped routinely.
It had also been a long time since he’d visited her bedchamber. The last time she had gone to him herself, he had openly scoffed at her, asking if she was so desperate.
The queen slapped away the hands of her attendants with irritation. Waving them away, the maids, apparently used to this, quietly filed out. Soon, only the queen and the chamberlain remained.
“Did you find out where His Majesty went?”
“That is…”
The chamberlain hesitated, then replied.
“A monastery on the outskirts of the capital, Your Majesty.”
“Hah.”
The queen exhaled sharply, as if she had been holding her breath. Knowing what the monastery meant, she felt her throat tighten in frustration.
She tore off the ruby necklace that had been tightly wound around her neck and flung it to the floor in irritation. Then, she coldly ordered the chamberlain, who froze in shock.
Discussion
0 CommentsNo comments yet.