(Former) Wicked Queen Enjoys Her Leisure
“‘Kittens are mischievous, but’—”
Before I knew it, the words had slipped from my mouth.
Lord Runken’s face took on a mildly surprised expression.
“You remembered the wording… That handkerchief seemed to be something you treasured greatly. I thought that kitten must want to hurry back to you as well.”
“… The one who picked up the handkerchief…”
I murmured in a hoarse voice.
“… was you, wasn’t it?”
Lord Runken nodded in reply.
“I thought if you knew I was the one who found it, you might feel awkward, so I kept silent. Honestly, that handkerchief didn’t seem like something befitting a duke’s daughter. But you carried it with you, and you seemed to value it deeply… So, to avoid making things awkward between us later, I returned it anonymously.”
“—”
So it wasn’t His Majesty who had picked up the handkerchief.
More than the shock of realizing Brian had lied to me, the fact that it had been Lord Runken who found it left me speechless.
When I’d believed His Majesty was the one who found it, I’d felt happy. Because I had wanted to thank the person who had picked it up. I had been deeply grateful.
I knew well enough that the handkerchief wasn’t suitable for someone like me.
Even so, it had been precious. Dear to me.
And it had felt as if someone had understood and respected that feeling—so I had been very happy.
But now I realized His Majesty had only used that episode.
He must have simply nodded along to quickly raise my opinion of him.
Come to think of it, he never once mentioned the handkerchief again after that.
Not the embroidery, not the message card.
And looking back, a man as vain as he was would never have refrained from criticizing his fiancée for possessing such a thing.
I hadn’t noticed, and I’d gone on believing the one who found it was my benefactor… how foolish I’d been.
I gazed at the ring.
A swirl of emotions ran through me, and I had to keep my eyes wide open or else—tears would spill.
Was that mistaken love real at all?
It wasn’t because Brian had been the one to find the handkerchief that I’d liked him.
But still, it had been one of the triggers.
… Then, what are my feelings now?
“… Thank you. I like you.”
I said, staring at the three colors of the ring.
It came out in a nasal voice tinged with tears—Lord Runken looked startled.
“Lady Clementina?”
I lifted my head at his voice.
Blinking away the tears, I said to him:
“Lord Runken… No—Lord Luca.”
I decided—I would treasure him.
He had said he wanted to cherish me, so I would cherish him.
I wouldn’t treat his kindness lightly.
“From now on, I look forward to being with you. I know I have my faults, but—”
Before I could finish, Lord Runken—Luca—shook his head, cutting me off.
“I will make up for what you lack. And where I am weak, you will help me.”
“—”
“Let us become a couple who support one another… By the way, the gemstone onyx means ‘marital happiness.’”
His eyes still tinged red, Luca said this.
He was unusual to speak of gemstone meanings at a time like this.
But since I found that endearing, I was hardly one to judge.
“Yes, Luca. Let’s become husband and wife. I, too, will treasure—”
I spoke clearly.
I had to convey this.
“I want to treasure you.”
It might not have been the most straightforward way to say it, but it was my way.
Smiling wryly to myself at my own answer, I felt my shoulder gently drawn in—it was Luca.
“… Thank you.”
His brief reply was hoarse.
A gentle breeze blew, and I rested my forehead against his chest.
… Then—
Thump-thump-thump, a strangely rapid sound reached my ears.
(… My heartbeat?)
But no—I didn’t feel nervous enough for that.
Which meant—
I lifted my head, and perhaps realizing I’d heard it, Luca’s face flushed not just at the corners of his eyes but to his ears, and he looked away.
“… Even I get nervous, you know.”
“I hadn’t noticed…”
“I’m not the type whose face shows it easily.”
Maybe because I had changed how I addressed him, his formal tone loosened just slightly.
I felt happy, as if I’d glimpsed a little more of his true self.
Chuckling, I said to him:
“We have quite a lot to do, don’t we? Things will be busy once we return.”
Though my holiday was ten days, Luca’s was only two, so he would have to return to the castle the day after tomorrow.
It couldn’t be helped, with his coronation approaching, but I still felt a bit sorry for him.
He hugged me and said:
“When you’ve enjoyed your leisure, come back. …I’ll be waiting.”
I smiled and nodded at his words.
Seeing that seemed to put him at ease—he slowly leaned closer.
“—”
A short kiss landed on my forehead.
I blinked rapidly in surprise.
Luca tilted his head.
“Is something the matter?”
“No, um…”
I held my forehead.
(I thought for sure it would be on the lips…)
The moment I thought that, it felt almost as though I were wishing for it, and I fell silent.
In that brief pause, he must have realized what I was thinking.
He gave a small “ah” and said, as if it were nothing at all:
“That kiss—we’ll save it for the ceremony.”
His fingertip brushed my lips.
It was a gesture that hinted at a kiss.
And I—
---
“I never would have thought…”
Two days later.
Luca returned to the castle as planned.
Only I, two knight escorts, and three maids remained.
Once again, I found myself saying something I’d said before.
(I never would have thought…!!)
That Luca would touch me so gently.
That he would say such… such seductive lines…!
This was my second marriage, yet he treated me as if I were a pure, untouched lady.
My cheeks burned, and thinking of him made me restless.
I sighed.
Today, I strolled along Cat Road.
Mary, who had a hot towel ready, tilted her head at me.
“Lady Clementina?”
“… It’s nothing. I was just wondering… will Veronica never be able to leave that doll again?”
It seemed the jewelry Veronica had taken from the treasury had, fortunately, been found in her room.
As for the culprit herself—
What do you think about this chapter?
