CHAPTER 399: WHEN THE QUEEN DECIDES TO PUNISH

In the end, Primrose and Edmund left the room, while Leofric stayed on Lorelle’s balcony. He wasn’t exactly welcome there, but he forced himself to stay anyway.

"I think that’s the most complicated relationship I’ve ever heard of," Primrose said once Edmund closed the door.

Both of them stood in the corridor, staring blankly at the wall ahead. Part of them were still processing what they had just heard, while another part couldn’t help but compare Leofric’s love life with their own.

"At least ... I only died once, right?" Primrose joked with a small laugh. "It’s not that bad."

"It’s still bad!" Edmund immediately snapped back. His tone was serious. "Death is still death, no matter how many times it happens. Once is already bad enough. Don’t ever say something like that again. I don’t like it."

Primrose bit her lip. She should’ve known better than to joke about her own death, but sometimes she just couldn’t help it. Maybe it was her way of coping. Turning her trauma into humor always felt strangely comforting, even if it wasn’t funny to anyone else.

"I’m sorry." She reached for his hand, patting it gently. "I won’t say that again, I promise."

Edmund sighed softly and lowered his gaze. "I’m sorry for yelling at you earlier."

[What if our child thinks I’m a bad father for raising my voice?] Edmund thought. [I’ve even killed so many people while my wife is pregnant!]

"Edmund," Primrose called softly before his thoughts could spiral any further. "You did what you did to protect us. Our child will know that you’ll be a good father, I’m sure of it."

Besides, if they were talking about sins, didn’t Primrose also lead many people to their deaths using her mind-control ability? Their child probably knew that even better, since they lived inside her body.

"Alright, come on, let’s get out of here." Primrose turned to him and asked, "Do you still have anything else to do?"

Edmund nodded. "I still need to go back to the training grounds. What about you?"

"I’m done for the day." Primrose smiled softly. "I already asked Sir Dorne to handle my work because I had a tea party with the ladies earlier, and honestly, it drained all my energy."

"So, you’re tired?" Edmund asked gently.

Primrose nodded without hesitation. "Yes, of cou—"

Before she could finish, Edmund suddenly scooped her up into his arms. He had done it so many times before that Primrose didn’t even flinch anymore. She just relaxed in his embrace, pretending not to notice the surprised looks from the people passing by.

"Mhm." Primrose giggled, resting her head against his shoulder. "You should kiss me now, and maybe let me tag along to the training grounds. I’m bored."

Of course, boredom wasn’t the only reason. Primrose also wanted to talk about the dirty things Arabella and the Duke of Cindralis had been doing.

Edmund looked down at her with a soft smile. "Then it’s settled. You’re coming with me," he said, tightening his hold just a little.

It was unusual for her husband to agree so quickly whenever she asked to follow him to the training grounds. Maybe Leofric and Lorelle’s complicated relationship had made him want to hold his own wife a little longer, just to remind himself that what they had was real, alive, and warm.

At the training grounds, Edmund helped Primrose settle into her usual lounge chair and asked a maid to bring her some tea and snacks.

Before heading back to his soldiers, he leaned down, gave her a deep kiss, and promised to come back to her every thirty minutes.

Actually, he didn’t really need to kiss her that often, especially since Primrose wasn’t even taking a nap today, but she didn’t mind it at all.

In fact, she found it endearing. Besides, each time he returned, she could tell him a little more about Arabella and what she had discovered.

"Sir Dorne is still investigating the number of goods produced by the farmers in Cindralis," Primrose said, sipping her tea as she gestured for Edmund to sit beside her. The sound of clashing swords echoed in the background as the soldiers sparred in pairs.

"But since we already know the truth," she continued, her tone calm but firm, "I want to ask, what kind of punishment will they receive? Their actions are serious. They’ve put the kingdom’s food security at risk."

Primrose suspected their wrongdoing was serious enough to have their heads fall beneath the guillotine. Beasts might have strong healing powers, but once their heads were cut off, even they wouldn’t survive.

Honestly, she didn’t really care if they ended up being sentenced to death. After all, Arabella had always been so bitter toward her, and at one point, even hoped that Edmund would treat his own wife cruelly.

In truth, Arabella wasn’t any different from those servants who used to secretly wish Primrose would be harassed by the werewolves.

Primrose could never understand it. Why was that always the first thing people imagined when they thought about a woman? Why did cruelty toward women seem so easy for them to accept?

"There are two possible punishments: they will either be exiled to the Forsaken North, or they will be executed," Edmund said. "Their crime is terrible, but death feels like the easy way out. People like them need to learn that they must answer for all the terrible things they’ve done."

Primrose tilted her head. "But wouldn’t they be able to run away if they’re only exiled?"

"They can’t," Edmund said. "You’re familiar with slave seals, and we actually use something similar here. Prisoners who are to be exiled will be marked with a special magic, and if they try to run before the magic is removed, they will die in a gruesome way."

So, it wasn’t a slave seal, but it was just as deadly.

"You’re the one who will cast the magic?" Primrose asked.

"Yes," Edmund replied. "I’ll be in charge of it."

Primrose tapped her cheek and thought for a moment before saying, "Instead of exiling them to the Forsaken North, why don’t you let them stay in Cindralis?"

Edmund raised an eyebrow. "Why? Do you want to forgive them?"

"No, of course not," Primrose said with a sweet smile. "You can force them to work the fields, among the people who were almost left without food because the Duke and Duchess wanted to indulge themselves."

Edmund watched her for a moment, then nodded slowly. "That’s ... more useful than killing them outright," he admitted. "If they work the fields, they’ll help fix what they broke, and the sight of those who once stole from the hungry bending over the same soil might be a better lesson than blood."

[My wife can be scary sometimes,] Edmund suddenly thought. [I didn’t even think of that before.]

In the past, Edmund’s way of solving problems had always been simple; kill the offenders or throw them somewhere dangerous and let fate handle the rest.

But Primrose was different. She didn’t just want to punish people; she wanted them to understand their sins, to feel the weight of what they’d done.

Her punishments weren’t just about pain, but they were about humiliation, about stripping away pride until nothing was left but regret.

Edmund had to admit his wife could be cruel in her own way. But did he dislike it?

No, not at all. In fact, he felt oddly relieved. The world was cruel, and kindness alone could never survive in it. So maybe it was a good thing that his wife wasn’t as gentle as she appeared to be.

She could smile sweetly while speaking of punishment, and yet, every word she spoke carried the weight of justice. Edmund couldn’t help but think that this balance—her warmth and her ruthlessness—was exactly what made her fit to be his mate.

"Besides that ... the Duchess was a bit rude to me," Primrose went on. "She didn’t say it out loud, but I could hear what she was thinking. She loves being the center of attention, so let’s give her exactly that."

There was truly no punishment more fitting for Arabella than being forced to work the fields, right in the middle of the commoners she used to look down on.

People would watch her every day until her sentence ended, which, for beasts, could take decades, and when it was finally over, she would still be banished from Noctvaris for good.

Most prisoners would rather die than face such humiliation. But to Primrose, death was far too easy. Living long enough to feel shame and regret was a real punishment.

"Then it’s settled," Edmund said. "The investigation into their wrongdoings will be carried out secretly, and we’ll bring the matter to court after the winter retreat."

In a way, Edmund was giving them a small mercy, allowing them to spend their final winter retreat surrounded by their wealth and comfort before everything was taken away.

After discussing that matter, Edmund finally returned to train the soldiers, while Solene suddenly approached Primrose.

"Your Majesty, I have good news," she whispered beside her ear. "Your present for His Majesty has finally arrived at the palace."