Episode 8
Those who accepted bribes naturally became vulnerable to blackmail and, depending on the place and their interests, often couldn’t speak freely. But Beatrice was different.
Watching Beatrice like that, I began to think she would now be able to handle things well on her own.
I enjoyed seeing her so much that I even thought maybe I could quietly live in the Queen’s quarters, avoiding the king.
But something happened that changed my mind.
It was something that had been destined from the beginning.
Beatrice came to me with a dark expression.
Even after entering my office, she couldn’t speak for quite a while.
I tried to continue working while waiting for her to speak, but something felt off, so I looked at her.
“Beatrice?”
“Your Highness…”
“What’s the matter?”
I put down the pen I was using and asked her.
“Go ahead and tell me.”
“Well… His Majesty the King… said he will visit Your Highness’s chamber tonight.”
“No!”
I was so startled I jumped up and shouted.
Beatrice seemed even more shocked by my reaction.
“Your Highness…?”
She looked like she was trying to figure out what was going on.
My mind started spinning as I thought about how to get out of this situation.
With a hand to my forehead, I paced back and forth while Beatrice followed me around with a worried expression.
“Your Highness… If you need anything…”
“Bring me water. Cold water. Something to snap me out of this.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Beatrice dashed off as if relieved to have something she could do.
In the meantime, I tried desperately to think.
Why?
Why would he come to my room?
But if the king says he’s coming, there’s no way to stop him.
I was furious, yet no good ideas came to mind. No matter what I said, the king would ignore me and force himself into my room, trying to sleep with me.
He had shown a somewhat naïve side at times and had treated me well occasionally, but no matter what, I had absolutely no desire to sleep with a man I didn’t love.
I ended up screaming, and startled maids and knights burst into the room to check on me and then left, thinking something dangerous had happened inside.
“Maybe that would be better…”
At first, it was just a passing thought, but to avoid the king, it seemed like the only option.
Self-harm…
It was something I had never considered in my previous life, but to avoid sleeping with a man I didn’t want, there was no reason I couldn’t go that far.
Making up my mind was the hard part—after that, it wasn’t difficult.
Still, I couldn’t make it obvious that I had done it to myself, so I looked for a way to make it seem like an accident.
I glanced around and saw the flower vase on the desk. After taking a deep breath, I hit it with my arm.
The vase shattered as it fell, and I intended to claim the shards injured me accidentally.
But I didn’t even need to explain.
The first attempt was too perfect.
Blood pooled on the floor, enough to form a puddle.
If Beatrice hadn’t returned at that exact moment, I might have died there without any meaning.
“Your Highness!!”
Beatrice came in with the water, saw me collapsed on the floor, and screamed as she immediately called for the maids.
The maids rushed in, panicking as they realized what had happened.
“How… How did this happen…”
“Quickly, go fetch the doctor! Now!”
Meanwhile, Beatrice ripped her own dress and tried to bind my wound.
It was the dress I had gifted her.
I remembered how happy she had been wearing it, and as I lay there, thinking I might die so meaninglessly, the doctor came rushing in.
He quickly stopped the bleeding and treated the wound, saying I had narrowly avoided a disaster.
“A little deeper to the side, and the bleeding wouldn’t have stopped like this. Your Highness, how did this even happen…”
The doctor spoke as sweat poured down his face.
It seemed he feared for his own life too—if I had died, he might have been executed.
That’s when I realized how much trouble my actions had caused others.
Though my wounds would eventually heal, Beatrice might also suffer for not having taken proper care of me.
I was angry at myself for becoming complacent and not preparing a better solution.
“I’m all right, Beatrice. Please go tell His Majesty that I won’t be able to attend him tonight.”
When I said that, Beatrice, who had been crying non-stop, slowly changed her expression.
“Your Highness…”
As she softly called out to me, she seemed to realize the accident might not have been an accident.
Someone as sensitive as Beatrice likely knew I disliked the king, and the fact that this happened right after she told me about him visiting seemed too coincidental.
If Beatrice had figured it out, I had no intention of denying it.
I wanted someone to understand—and if that someone was Beatrice, all the better.
Beatrice stared at me with visible shock.
And then, she made a firm, resolute expression.
“I’ll go now, Your Highness.”
“Just tell him that I accidentally broke the vase and got cut by the shards. Tell him I got hurt in several places and won’t be able to serve him tonight. And that I’m very sorry. Deeply sorry.”
“Yes, Your Highness…”
Beatrice looked overwhelmed with guilt.
It seemed she was struggling with the realization that I would go to such lengths to avoid the king.
After she left, the doctor treated my wounds so they wouldn’t leave visible scars.
He assured me the wounds weren’t deep and would heal quickly.
“But how did this happen, Your Highness? You’re usually so careful and cautious…”
The doctor pleaded with me several times to be more careful in the future, as if begging for his life.
I told him I would never resort to this method again and apologized, and he, in turn, became even more flustered and apologetic.
“Your Highness, you have nothing to apologize for. I’m the one who failed to serve you properly.”
Since the conversation was going nowhere, I dismissed him.
Soon after, the king burst in with loud footsteps.
He must have rushed over so fast that his attendants couldn’t keep up.
“Hestia! What happened? How could this happen to you! What were your servants doing while you were injured? Hestia!”
His shouting made my head pound.
But I knew I had to wrap things up properly, so I put on my most pitiful face and began explaining.
I said it happened while I was reaching for some papers on the desk.
I emphasized that it was an accident, and that my maids had been out running errands I’d assigned.
I also told him the doctor was highly skilled and not to blame or punish him.
The king looked at me with visible frustration.
“Are you really all right, Hestia?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I’m terribly sorry for not being able to serve you tonight.”
“Don’t say such things. What matters is your health.”
It was a relief to hear.
I felt like a fire had been put out and let out a silent sigh of relief. The king, reassured I wasn’t seriously hurt, returned to his chambers.
From that moment, Beatrice refused to leave my side.
“Your Highness, you can tell me anything. Anything at all.”
She spoke with tearful eyes.
“I know, Beatrice. That’s why I feel so at ease with you. I rely on you a lot.”
“Your Highness…”
Beatrice finally broke down in loud sobs.
“Your Highness… Do you dislike the idea of sleeping with His Majesty?”
“…Let’s say I’m scared.”
Saying I hated it might cause more complications, so I decided to play the role of an inexperienced, naïve woman.
Beatrice looked at me strangely at first,
But then seemed to accept it.
“It makes sense. Even though you’re married, that can still be the case. My great-aunt felt the same way. So did my cousin.”
I felt guilty for deceiving Beatrice, but for now, I focused on resolving this situation.
“Your Highness, I’ll do everything I can to make sure His Majesty doesn’t come looking for you again.”
I hadn’t expected her to say something like that, but she seemed completely determined.
“What do you mean, Beatrice? What are you going to do?”
“If Your Highness wishes… should I attend His Majesty in your place?”
Tears rolled down her cheeks as she said it.
