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Chapter 422. Mesmerized (1)
Translator: Aura / Editor: HB168
As soon as I turned around in embarrassment, I saw Heinley doubled over with laughter. His hands were on his stomach and his body was shaking.
If Heinley doesn’t stop laughing right now, he’ll have to face the consequences. I glared at him fiercely, but Heinley couldn’t even straighten up to look at me.
“Was my performance so bad?”
When I asked Grand Duke Kapmen, he averted his gaze.
‘I see. It was bad.’
Mastas folded her arms and offered her honest opinion.
“Your Majesty, not all commoners talk like rascals.”
“Oh, yes
 I know.”
Of course I knew. I have met commoners in the audience hall every day and listened to their stories, so how could I not be familiar with the way commoners speak? Even if they tried to speak more formally than they normally would when they were before me, I knew that the manner of speaking I imitated wasn’t the norm for all the commoners.
“I thought that I would look like a noble at first glance if I spoke as usual, as Grand Duke Kapmen said. So I used the most different manner of speaking I could think of.”
My ladies-in-waiting nodded with understanding. No one remarked any further on why I had spoken like a rascal.
However, there was a naughty eagle that was still laughing uproariously.
I walked over to him and froze the grass beneath him. Heinley was still doubled over, so he wouldn’t notice my anger unless I did this.
As I expected, Heinley stopped laughing and he straightened his back and asked with a serious expression.
“By the way, My Queen. What was it that you said? Did you ask Grand Duke Kapmen to accompany you to a pleasant place?”
“No, I was just pretending to be a rough commoner.”
“Why?”
He had mocked me just now, so I wanted to make him suffer with curiosity.
However, if I really wanted to pose as a commoner to learn how to master my magic, I needed Heinley to agree to my plan to meet with Grand Duke Kapmen’s friend.
When I explained the situation, Heinley’s expression became strained with concern.
“Is there no other alternative?”
“The only mages with ice-related abilities that I know of are associated with the Eastern Empire.”
Mages tend to hide their ability as much as possible since they can use their magic as a secret weapon to defend themselves.
“Since I now have this power, I must learn to use it properly
”
As I spoke, I was struck by Heinley’s expression.
“Are you worried?”
Perhaps he feared another surprise attack? Although I would pose as a commoner, I could still take guards with me, but Heinley might be worried anyway.
“No, It’s not that.”
Heinley shook his head.
“I’m not worried because the guards will escort you. Besides, it’s someone associated with Grand Duke Kapmen, so I can rest easy.”
Heinley paused and smiled at Grand Duke Kapmen. He seemed to trust him fully. Ever since he saved me, Heinley’s perception of Grand Duke Kapmen seemed to have improved dramatically.
“So?”
“I think anyone would notice if you pose as a commoner, My Queen.”
Is my acting that bad?
When I frowned, Heinley wrapped his arms around my waist,
“How about we do this, My Queen—”
“Your Majesty, Your Majesty!”
Heinley couldn’t finish his suggestion because a knight approached him in a hurry. The knight had an urgent expression on his face. He stopped in front of us breathlessly, so he spoke between gasps,
“He has arrived. The Emperor of the Eastern Empire is here.”
The pleasant and serene atmosphere changed in an instant.
Countess Jubel let the chess piece she was holding fall to the ground. Mastas bit her lips and clasped her hands. Grand Duke Kapmen’s eyes flicked back and forth as he listened to everyone’s thoughts.
Heinley’s smile had disappeared completely, he pursed his lips and became serious. But soon, an indifferent smile appeared on his face.
“Since our guest has arrived, we must welcome him.”
Then his gaze turned to me. As if he wanted me to accompany him.
However
 I could tell that his smile wasn’t calm and indifferent. Heinley was only pretending. I could tell that inside he felt quite the opposite.
“I don’t feel well right now. I need to rest.”
So I decided to lie.
“I think I overexerted myself with the magic practice.”
I rubbed my neck and also my wrists. Although I was clearly feigning exhaustion, no one would question it.
“It’s alright, My Queen. I’ll take care of it.”
Especially not Heinley.
***
When I entered the drawing room, my ladies-in-waiting asked anxiously.
“Your Majesty, do you really not feel well?”
“Did you overdo the use of magic?”
“Should we call the palace doctor?”
I was sure everyone knew that I only pretended to feel sick so as not to meet Sovieshu. Still, my ladies-in-waiting worried anyway.
“I’m fine.”
They relaxed a little when I waved my hand to signal that I was fine, and sat down on the couch.
“Can you get me a glass of warm milk?”
It was a lie that I felt sick from overexertion, but I really was mentally exhausted.
I managed to avoid him this time, but I couldn’t avoid Sovieshu for two weeks.
If I avoided him, I would not only be rude to the Emperor of the Eastern Empire, but it would also be ungrateful since Sovieshu sent Evely with no hesitation when I was in a coma. Now he would even lend a group of mages to us. I would have to thank him personally.
I wondered about Sovieshu’s health. When he became injured, Evely was here, which delayed his treatment with her healing magic. But if he was able to come all this way under the pretext of his recuperation, it seems unlikely that he was seriously injured.
What worried me the most was Heinley. As much as I told him that he was my husband and the only man I loved, Heinley was sad.
After thinking for a while, I decided to prepare a special present for Heinley.
“Miss Rose, can you get an easel, canvas and painting supplies?”
“Huh? You want to paint?”
I had already given Heinley a work of art as a gift. But on that occasion, it had only been a sketch because I only wanted to illustrate his ‘special dance’. As a result, Heinley thoroughly mocked me.
This time, I’ll try to erase the impression he had of my artistic talents with this painting, which I’ll send him as a gift.
After a while, Rose returned with the paint and brushes, and a servant brought an easel and a chair.
As I sat down in front of the easel and picked up a brush, Laura pulled up a small chair and sat down next to me.
“What do you plan to paint?”
Mastas and Rose also came over and stood behind me. They all wanted to see.
“I think His Majesty Heinley has a lot on his mind, so I want to ease his anxiety with a painting.”
“Incredible. Sounds fantastic just from hearing the concept.”
“That is so thoughtful of Your Majesty!”
“Do you have an idea of what to do?”
“Of course. The title will be ‘I Will Love You Until Death Separates Us.”
“Wonderful!”
“How romantic!”
“How passionate!”
The voices of my ladies-in-waiting were full of excitement. As I listened to their compliments, I painted a grave and then two intertwined rings.
After I painted the background, I shifted the easel so that everyone could appreciate the result. Rose and Countess Jubel applauded at how beautiful it was.
“It’s like the title Your Majesty thought of.”
“Emperor Heinley will feel better when he sees it.”
I made it simple because I didn’t have much time, so the compliments from my ladies-in-waiting were a little over the top.
But that made me happy.
“Without a frame it won’t look like a painting made with love. Heinley loves jewels, so it would be nice if the frame was covered in jewels.”
“Let’s choose it together, Your Majesty.”
“Yes, let’s go.”
***
Navier went into another room to select the frame with Countess Jubel and Rose.
Mastas and Laura stayed behind. Once they were alone, Mastas pointed at the painting and asked
“As you know, Laura, I don’t know much about art. Am I the only one who interprets the meaning of the painting as ‘I’ll kill you’?”
Laura checked that they were alone before shaking her head.
“That isn’t my interpretation, but painting scares me a little too.”
“Why did she paint a grave so realistically? Is art supposed to be like that?”
“I don’t know either. Maybe it’s something only the Empress and the Emperor understand. It must be something private between them.”