The Wicked Queen Enjoys Her Leisure Time
“Here are the divorce papers. Please divorce me, Your Majesty.”
One day, Clementina, infamous as the wicked queen, handed her husband divorce papers. With a bright smile, she spoke.
“Just the other day, I had the pleasure of witnessing your true love… Thankfully, it opened my eyes. Therefore, I’ve decided to step down as queen.”
After all, they had flaunted it so blatantly. The shock even caused her to regain the memories of her previous life, and a love that had lasted a thousand years was instantly frozen solid.
Today marks her graduation from being the convenient woman.
From now on, she will simply enjoy her leisure.
Having made peace with everything, the wicked queen wrapped up her affairs and promptly left the castle.
This Isn’t What I Was Told
There was a knock at the door.
The person who entered was my husband and the young king of this country, Brian.
I paused from reviewing the documents and turned to face him.
“… Your Majesty, I’ve been expecting you.”
“What is it? I’m busy, you know?”
Yes, of course.
You’re so busy frolicking with your mistress, after all.
I didn’t bother reacting to his sarcasm. Instead, I gathered the documents I had in hand, neatly arranged them, and placed them lightly on the round table.
“I summoned you today because there’s something important we need to discuss.”
Though, you’re nearly twenty minutes late for our appointment, aren’t you?
Most of the kingdom's paperwork is handled and approved by me. Your only job is to stamp the royal seal on the documents I’ve already prepared.
(And then—)
And then, that’s right.
Our dear king, so busy keeping his mistress entertained, is hardly ever at the castle.
(… This isn’t what I was told!)
I spread out the documents in my hand so that he could see them.
“Here are the divorce papers. Please divorce me, Your Majesty.”
“… What?”
His expression was exactly like someone who had fallen from the clouds.
To that, I returned a bright, smiling face.
“I’ve already submitted them to the House of Lords. All that remains is your consent.”
“Wait. What nonsense are you up to now?”
“Nonsense, is it?”
I tilted my head.
My black hair, inherited from my mother, slipped over my shoulder.
The black hair His Majesty detested.
The same black hair his mistress mocked.
But to me, this hair symbolizes the Clausenitzer Ducal House and is something I treasure dearly.
(I should have given up the moment that mistress, Veronica, mocked me.)
Why did I endure it for so long—three years, to be exact? Because I am the daughter of House Clausenitzer. And I am the queen of the Kingdom of Leviathan.
Out of responsibility, I chose to endure.
I believed that was the best course of action.
I won’t dismiss my past efforts and patience as meaningless.
But even so, I can’t help but think I should have made this decision much sooner.
The me of now—who has regained memories and knowledge from my previous life, from another world entirely—certainly thinks so.
Realizing I wasn’t joking, His Majesty sat down on the sofa across from me, leaning forward to engage seriously.
“A royal couple divorcing? Unheard of. Are you trying to disgrace the Kingdom of Leviathan?”
“Don’t you think you bear some responsibility in this matter?”
There are two valid reasons for divorce acknowledged by the House of Lords.
This is common knowledge among the aristocracy.
The first is infertility. Nobles are expected to produce heirs, so a childless marriage qualifies for divorce.
The second is—
“A white marriage. Your Majesty, it has been three years since our wedding, yet our marriage remains unconsummated. You yourself declared you wished to remain faithful to your mistress. You intended for her child to be your heir. In that case, I believe I am unnecessary. Don’t you agree?”
“Why bring that up now…?”
His Majesty replied, exasperated and bewildered.
Yes, that’s what he told me the day after our wedding.
… The shock I felt hearing those words—I doubt you’ll ever understand.
After all, it completely contradicted everything I had been told beforehand.
I recounted those memories with a nostalgic tone.
“Wasn’t it you, Your Majesty, who said we would build a wonderful household together if we married?”
“… You mean to say you can’t love Veronica’s child?”
“Oh, please. That’s not what I’m saying at all.”
I scoffed through my nose.
What do you think about this chapter?
