CHAPTER 311: THE QUEEN’S SURPRISE (III)

Primrose twitched the corner of her eyes, realizing it seemed like everyone in the palace already knew about her dramatic quarrels with Edmund.

She wouldn’t even be surprised if people outside the palace eventually learned about it too and twisted the whole thing into some ugly gossip.

"I didn’t come here to jump into the lake, don’t worry." Primrose forced a small smile, trying to brush it off. "I just came to see my husband. Is he in the training building?"

Callen glanced toward the training building, which for some reason sounded unusually quiet, as though there wasn’t a single soldier training inside.

"Oh, His Majesty just left the training building a little while ago." Callen turned back to her, smiling politely. "But I think he’ll be back soon."

[His Majesty told me he’d let Sir Leofric train me,] Callen thought, his eyes flickering nervously. [So he’s probably gone to the dungeon right now to see him.]

His chest tightened, and he gripped the sword in his hand a little harder. [I should be happy. I should be grateful. Sir Leofric is a legend, and I finally have the chance to learn from him ...]

[But what is this feeling? Why won’t my hands stop trembling?! I’m so scared ... Oh God, I’m so scared!]

Callen really did look a little pale, almost as if he were about to face a monster. But Primrose chose not to mention it because pointing it out would only make him more nervous.

"Then, can I wait for him there?" Primrose asked with a bright smile as she took a basket from Marielle’s hands. "I brought some lunch for the soldiers! You can have some too!"

Callen blinked, clearly surprised. This was the first time anyone had ever brought him lunch while he was training.

[Is this what it feels like to have a wife?] Callen nearly cried inside. [Mother was right! I really should find a wife soon!]

Primrose let out a small sigh, her lips twitching. He should probably think about how to make his future wife happy first before dreaming she’ll bring him lunch every day.

"That’s very kind of you, Your Majesty," Callen said quickly. Then he leaned closer, lowering his voice to a whisper. "But ... I don’t think they’ll be able to eat lunch today. They made His Majesty really mad earlier."

Primrose tilted her head, puzzled. "My husband got mad at them? Why?"

She had seen her husband look annoyed and merciless when dealing with scum who tried to hurt her, but she didn’t expect him to get angry while training his soldiers.

Callen let out a small hiss, scratching the back of his neck. "It’s just ... these new recruits are kind of crybabies." He shook his head with a helpless expression. "This is already their second month of training, yet their progress is still painfully slow."

[I heard most of these new soldiers grew up in the city,] Callen thought with a soft sigh. [They’ve been spoiled for too long, so it’s no wonder they struggle here. Still ... I suppose they’re just unlucky to have joined right when winter is about to set in.]

Primrose pressed her lips together, trying not to laugh. The idea of spoiled city boys whining through training almost sounded like the setup to a comedy play. Still, seeing how seriously Callen spoke about it, she managed to keep a straight face.

Sometimes, Primrose felt there was a clear gap in the beast world, between those who grew up in tribal villages and those who were raised in the cities.

The beasts in the tribal villages still held tightly to their traditions, like values of strength, endurance, and loyalty were at the very core of their upbringing. From a young age, they were taught to fight, to hunt, and to respect the hierarchy of their packs. Hardship was a part of life, and because of that, they grew strong.

But the beasts who were raised in the cities were different. They lived surrounded by comfort, convenience, and entertainment. Many of them had never faced hunger, danger, or true loss. To them, the idea of discipline and sacrifice often felt foreign, even unnecessary.

Primrose sighed softly. No wonder the new recruits struggled. They weren’t weak by choice, but they were simply unprepared for the kind of life the military demanded.

Besides, wasn’t it her husband’s intention to level the lives of beasts in the cities? He, along with the other leaders, needed to realize that they would face more and more generations like this in the future.

Well, she couldn’t really blame him either because older generations often had trouble understanding the youngsters. But still ... wasn’t Callen about the same age as her? Why was he already talking like one of those grumpy elders?

"They just need a little more time to adapt," Primrose said gently, then added with a smile, "And maybe ... some lunch."

She then walked toward the training building, asking Callen to help her open the door. "Come on, they must be really starving."

"B-but His Majesty ordered them not to eat anything until he gives permission," Callen said nervously.

Primrose waved her hand with a carefree smile. "That’s only if he finds out. We’ll just do it quietly."

Callen was about to argue again, but in the end, it was Solene who stepped forward and opened the door for Primrose.

Primrose turned to her with a bright smile. "Thank you."

Solene only sighed softly, shaking her head as if to say this is a bad idea, but she followed her queen inside anyway.

The air in the training building was filled with the smell of sweat and damp wood. Dozens of young recruits looked up the moment the door creaked open. Their eyes widened when they saw the queen herself walk in, a basket of food in her arms.

The young soldiers lined up in perfect rows, standing so rigidly they looked more like statues than living men. Not one of them even dared to breathe too loudly.

"Good afternoon!" Primrose called out brightly, waving her hand with enthusiasm. She raised the basket high above her head with a playful smile. "I brought you all some lunch!"