That became more obvious every time my steps wobbled.
Even though I had to limp, I still tried to keep my back straight. It was as if that mocking smile didn't exist. Just a little contempt like that, I'm so used to it. Just being careful not to let my body collapse, I knelt down and completed the ritual.
“Glory of the Cross Light Stone, please bow to Her Majesty the Queen.”
Cornelia has been silently looking at me since just now. There was a long silence. When my knees were almost weak from pain, her blue eyes suddenly showed coldness.
“…The glory of the Cross Light Stone.”
This meant she allowed me to stand up.
But the problem is, having been kneeling for so long, standing up is not easy. I had to struggle for quite a while to be able to stand.
“Tsk.”
The Queen's mumbling sound rang out. Immediately, someone ran over and took my hand.
“Your Imperial Majesty.”
Familiar person. It was Delfina - the child who was almost wronged this morning.
"Thank."
As I spoke, Delfina's eyes widened in surprise, then she bowed her head immediately.
“Please follow me.”
Before I could say anything, Countess Elvira – the Queen's closest retainer – gave an order. The Queen had left before.
The tea party table is placed in the Queen's glass greenhouse. The crystal glass walls depict brilliant geometric patterns, reflecting light splendidly.
Flowers of all colors, never before seen, make eyes sparkle under the light. Squirrels, colorful birds, and even small monkeys were all busy moving about.
Cornelia sat at a table next to the fountain. On her shoulder, a beautiful parrot is playing.
She was engrossed in stuffing cookies into the parrot's beak and caressing it, not paying attention to me approaching.
Without the Queen's permission, I cannot sit in front. Just standing alone, glancing at the beautiful scenery around the greenhouse.
The silence lasted for a long time, until a maid pulling a service cart entered.
"What are you doing? Sit down."
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
I finally sat down. Steaming red tea was poured into the cup, beautiful color, sweet fragrance. Definitely a premium type imported from the Western Continent.
I didn't dare put it in my mouth, I just stared.
“Um, how is life in the Royal Palace? Is it comfortable?”
The queen asked frankly, her eyes still glued to the parrot's wing feathers.
I swallowed my saliva, my heart as tense as a string. Hands sweat, grasp and release several times.
Cornelia's eyes looked straight at me, making my heart tremble.
But I came here for a reason. Trying to remind myself, I gathered my courage.
“Your Majesty, there is something I must say.”
"What?"
“Regarding His Majesty the Prince.”
“Say it.”
Cornelia answered in a clearer, happier voice than expected, making me less nervous. I gradually presented what I had witnessed.
"There is someone who wants to harm His Majesty the Prince. Maybe a servant, or a guard. They tied him up with chains, gagged him, and his whole body was covered in injuries."
I reported every horrifying detail to the Queen. She let go of the parrot's neck, lifted it into the air, and signaled the maid to bring a silver tray with cigarettes. She inhaled deeply, then exhaled slowly, the acrid smoke wrapping around her nose. I couldn't help it, coughed a few times.
"Really."
The Queen raised her lips and placed the cigarette on the silver tray.
“So what, and what else?”
"…Yes?"
She straightened her back, leaning on the chair.
“Can't you hear clearly?”
I don't understand. This answer is too surprising. I hesitated, not knowing what to say.
“But… but…”
I bit my lower lip lightly. Was any request from the Queen a mistake from the beginning?
Cornelia continued, as if reading my silence:
“You have to consider people as people to treat them right.”
She muttered. I have to ask again:
“Yes?”
“What are the conditions for being human, what do you think?”
“….”
Suddenly, the parrot on her shoulder shouted loudly: "Human!"
Cornelia smiled faintly, her eyes lit up:
"Yes, you have to be human to be called human. Have you seen how the First Prince behaves?"
“….”
She pressed her fingernails on the table:
“People must walk on two legs.”
The parrot descended and walked step by step on her finger, looking for food.
“Must know how to use tools.”
It nodded, opened the string of the food bag with its beak, and pecked a few pieces of dried fruit.
“Must know how to speak human language.”
She moved her fingernails, and the parrot imitated: "What a beautiful hat," "Good afternoon,." fluently and clearly.
“Ah…”
“Understand the difference between the Prince and this parrot?”
“….”
She grabbed the parrot with her hand, causing it to struggle, scream loudly, and flap its wings.
“See, no part of this parrot is better than the Prince.”
I looked at the scene and felt like I was suffocating.
“I can control it with this hand.”
The Queen's blue eyes were cold, making me take a deep breath.
She released her hand. The parrot breathed a sigh of relief, scratched its wings, then gently jumped onto her shoulder.
“What about the Prince?”
“But…”
"For wild animals that cannot be controlled, there must be a whip to teach them. Isn't it natural?"
She continued, like teaching a horse.
"So who can handle the Prince? Teaching wild animals with a whip is inevitable."
“The prince is human!”
I got angry and stood up. The table shook slightly, the tea wave shook.
“What?”
Cornelia asked back with a serious face. I was shocked to realize that I had been disrespectful. A chill ran down my spine.
But she didn't mention it. Just coughed a burst of laughter, then inhaled the cigarette smoke, exhaling slowly.
"You have a talent for making people laugh. Best joke I've heard this year."
“….”
I bowed my head, clutching the hem of my dress.
“…As your majesty said.”
“Um?”
“His Majesty the Prince… is different from others.”
Before meeting him, I didn't believe in curses. But seeing it directly, it truly fits the word "curse." He lost his reason, reacted to human blood, and became aggressive. The left hand is deformed, the eyes look like a predator. Can he return to normal?
I bit my lower lip, reminding myself of Cesar's gentle smile and gentle eyes.
“But it's definitely someone…”
“You are so devoted to your husband.”
Cornelia rolled her eyes and put out her cigarette.
“Sure, for you, a person without support must keep her husband no matter how foolish she is.”
"Yes?"
I was startled and raised my head. She still just smirked.
There was a long silence, mixed with strange bird sounds and the sound of water flowing from the fountain. Small creatures stuck their heads out among the green leaves, looking at me.
The Queen sat alone in a beautiful, elegant garden. Her beauty, as pure as an innocent girl, seemed oblivious to the impurity of the world.
Everything was so unreal, so bright that I almost didn't recognize the poisonous words from those red lips.