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The Countess, with a twinkle in her eye, turned her back toward the platform again. Whether intoxicated or expecting something, her somewhat unsettled complexion had Rowena tilting her head while the presenter unfolded the last card.
“The long-awaited final vote!”
After a few moments of heated silence, the presenter’s gaze fell on Rowena, who stood at the back of the room.
“Miss Philone, the companion of the Duke of Devonshire! Congratulations!”
“Wow!”
“Please come this way!”
With applause, people’s attention was focused on Rowena. Dozens of pairs of eyes landed on her all at once, and just as Rowena was about to awkwardly make her way to the platform.
“Your Majesty!”
Veronica, who had been glaring at Rowena while biting her nails, suddenly raised her voice.
“What? Your Majesty?”
“Where? Didn’t they say she wasn’t going to join us today?”
Instantly the noisy crowd quieted down. At that moment, one of the people who had been scurrying and rustling hurriedly dropped to his knees when he saw someone approaching.
“Your Majesty!”
The chatter died down and people bowed down one by one to the woman who came accompanied by two attendants. It was none other than the queen’s chief lady-in-waiting who had entered.
The Countess explained to Rowena, who was somewhat puzzled but followed the people and bowed down.
“She was wearing a dress with gold thread down the front, isn’t she? When the head lady-in-waiting of the royal castle wears such a dress, she appears in the place of the queen. In that case, it is only reasonable to be treated as such.”
“I see.”
“But it is strange. Why all of a sudden?”
The Countess nodded her head at the sudden situation, but a solemn voice came over the heads of those who were kneeling down.
“You may rise.”
With permission, people rose up. The head lady-in-waiting, taking the seat of the hostess, took out a tightly sealed letter.
“I am here to cast my vote for this special occasion on behalf of Her Majesty, who was unavoidably unable to attend due to her physical and mental instability.”
The queen’s vote was counted as 10 votes. The Countess, taking in a startled breath, looked at Rowena with eyes filled with concern.
“Her Majesty’s vote.”
People could not even take a breath properly and only swallowed dry gulps as they concentrated on the platform. The head lady-in-waiting, who had been enjoying the amusement of the crowd, glanced at Rowena and turned to smile as she looked at Veronica.
“Goes to Lady Taldon!”
In an instant, the results were overturned. At the same time, a hushed silence enveloped the spacious room.
In the silence, Rowena involuntarily turned toward Killian. Standing crooked with his arms crossed, seemingly unconcerned by the situation.
“Then, I shall take my leave.”
Having finished the purpose of her visit, the head lady-in-waiting, she stood to leave the place immediately. The presenter, who had been standing idly in the midst of the inversion, took a step behind her and announced.
“Th- The queen of tonight, Lady Taldon!”
“Congratulations, Lady Taldon!”
With thunderous applause, the highly spirited Veronica stepped up to the platform. Veronica, after giving a tiny bow to the crowd raised her head so high, it looks like wining against Rowena felt that good, she then continued and greeted the audience first.
“Thank you very much. I am very honored.”
“Congratulations. Please accept the crown.”
The presenter handed her a silver crown in the shape of a peculiar thorn. The applause grew louder when Veronica, who slightly bent her knees, wore the silver crown.
“So what is your first order of business, our queen for the night?”