CHAPTER 274: WHISPERS IN THE INNER PALACE

"She returned to her chambers," Micah answered calmly. "And I believe that invitation came only from you. Her Majesty did not accept it, did she?"

"Hmm." Siobhan frowned for a moment, then waved his hand carelessly. "Then tell her we’ll dine together this evening. It’s about time she spent more time with her future husband, don’t you think? The date is drawing near, after all. Ah, Isolde’s just shy, that’s what makes her so adorable."

His grin turned foolish and dreamy as he strutted out of the room.

Micah watched him leave and sighed deeply.

What a ridiculous man.

Siobhan didn’t seem to realize that Queen Isolde despised him the most.

It felt like Micah had been sighing since morning, one after another.

Siobhan could never be a suitable partner for Queen Isolde.

It’s true that his magical power was unusually strong but that was all.

His mind and his character were painfully lacking.

Because he had been born into privilege family and with decent looks and high status as the Queen’s cousin and because of that, the ambitious women often praised and flattered him.

It made him believe he was popular, even desirable.

But to stand beside the Queen and to rule the kingdom alongside her, he was far too weak in every way that mattered.

There were other talented men, some with good hearts and capable minds, yet none whose magic could truly match the Queen’s.

The gap between their powers was too great.

When such imbalance existed, conceiving children was difficult and worse, the weaker partner’s body and mind could wither under the strain of the stronger’s magic and their life shortened by years.

It was only because Siobhan was both powerful and thick skinned and too simple minded to feel fear that he could stand before Queen Isolde at all without collapsing.

Most men instinctively knelt before her presence.

That was how vast and overwhelming her magic truly was.

Micah looked out toward the open corridor and murmured to himself, almost in prayer, "Even if he’s from another land, there must be someone, someone in this world that was strong enough to stand as Queen Isolde’s equal."

...

"Oh my, is that lunch for Queen Isolde?"

Asna couldn’t help but call out when she saw one of the palace maids pushing a food cart along the covered corridor that led to the inner palace.

"Yes," the maid replied shortly, her tone quiet and polite.

"My, how unusual," Asna said with mild surprise. "Her Majesty usually takes her meals in the outer palace, doesn’t she?"

Then she remembered overhearing earlier that the Queen had also taken her lunch in her private chambers today.

When Asna glanced at the trays on the cart, she tilted her head curiously.

"That’s quite a lot of food. Does Her Majesty really eat that much? It looks enough for two or three people."

But the maid only gave a vague gentle smile and said nothing before continuing down the corridor.

Is the Queen entertaining a guest in the inner palace today?

Asna wondered.

She then turned around to leave while shaking her head but before she could take a step, a hand suddenly reached out from the side and pulled her behind a column.

"Ah!" she gasped softly feeling startled.

When she looked up, she saw it was one of her fellow attendants.

The woman pressed a finger to her lips, her expression sharp and warning.

"You’re still new here, Asna, so let me give you some advice, if you want to keep your job for long, never go poking your nose into what happens in the inner palace."

"What do you mean... poking my nose?" Asna asked, confused.

"That maid you were just talking to," her colleague whispered while lowering her voice. "She’s the daughter of Queen Isolde’s wet nurse. She’s been by Her Majesty’s side since childhood. She’s very loyal, trusted, and close as family. Her Majesty relies on her more than anyone else. She’s the only one allowed to enter certain private rooms that the rest of us can’t even approach. So you won’t get her to tell you anything."

Asna covered her mouth in shock. "Oh dear... I didn’t realize she was someone so important. I just spoke to her so casually..."

Her face went pale, but her older colleague patted her arm gently and whispered to comfort her.

"It’s fine. Phantylia is kind, she won’t hold it against you. Now, if it had been the head maid, you’d be getting a lecture by now. And if it were that nasty Caenis, well... you’d really be in trouble."

Then, while lowering her voice like someone about to share a secret, Asna’s colleague leaned closer with a mischievous grin.

"So? So? What did you hear? You must’ve noticed something strange about the inner palace, right?"

Asna stared at her colleague in disbelief, but she knew how women loved gossip and she was no exception.

She leaned in closer too and whispering back softly.

"Well... the amount of food. It looked way too much for just the Queen alone."

"I knew it!" the other woman hissed excitedly. "Last night, really late, someone from the wardrobe department said they were told to prepare men’s clothing."

"Oh? You seem to know a lot," Asna said, half curious, half impressed.

Her colleague smirked proudly. "Of course I do! News like that flies through the maids’ halls faster than wind. And this morning, Her Majesty came to her office much later than usual. Don’t you think that says it all?"

"You mean... Queen Isolde has a... a secret man?"

"There have been plenty of men who tried to woo her, but she never let a single one inside the inner palace. And now... finally!" She giggled while covering her mouth.

"Well, it’s not confirmed yet," Asna whispered, trying not to smile. "But even the Queen is still a woman after all... hehe."

Later that evening, Asna was assigned to deliver a slightly late dinner to the Chancellor’s office.