Chapter 22
What was her motivation?
Ejnar found Elfreda’s display of arrogance incomprehensible. It bordered on the absurd.
While he was well aware of Machi citizens recoiling from any interaction with those they deemed savages, he had never witnessed the reverse. Unless this was the sheer ego of a high-born Makaeri royal looking down upon the sovereign of a lesser realm like Machi, he couldn’t fathom the cause.
She possessed a unique talent for provoking his temper.
To test her, he shifted his weight, removing one supporting arm to leave her balance far more fragile than when he had held her securely.
Terror was etched across Elfreda’s features, yet she refused to reach for him. Instead, she pressed her vibrating, balled-up fists against her chest.
A new impulse struck Ejnar as he watched her struggle.
He felt a surge of curiosity regarding her resilience. He began walking toward the mattress with long, heavy steps, maintaining his grip just enough to drag her along. Even as the color drained from her skin, she only squeezed her hands tighter rather than clutching his shoulder for stability.
Ejnar watched her with a frigid, calculating gaze until they reached the edge of the bed. Finally, fueled by a sense of loathing, he let go of her entirely.
“Ah!”
She tumbled onto the blankets.
The plush surface ensured she wasn’t hurt, but her refusal to cling to him even as she fell ignited a fresh wave of rage within him. He felt the urge to storm out of the chambers immediately.
But as she landed, her gown shifted in a way that left her even more exposed. The same physical heat that had greeted him upon his arrival surged through him again. Abandoning his exit, he climbed over her and tore the poorly fitted garment from her body.
Driven by a cocktail of dark emotions, his movements grew rapid and devoid of mercy.
Historically, a woman serving as a king’s closest attendant was synonymous with being his lover. However, Illene was different; she was a companion chosen for her sharp mind. Ejnar kept her close for her intellect, never harboring carnal desires for her.
Though the public was skeptical of such a platonic bond at first, the passing years proved their relationship was strictly professional. Illene’s wit and perception were invaluable assets to the crown.
“Lady Hagen.”
“I am here, Sire.”
“Effective immediately, your duties are transferred to the Solar Palace.”
The order, given at dawn, caught Illene off guard, though she quickly deduced the underlying logic. She played the part of the uninformed subordinate, however.
“Do you wish for me to wait upon the Queen?”
“More accurately…”
Ejnar hesitated, choosing his words with care.
“I want you to keep watch.”
Illene offered a knowing, slight grin as she countered his logic.
“Is Marchioness Magnum not already performing that role?”
The Marchioness felt a hatred for the Makaeri people that rivaled the King’s own. The Solar Palace was already a fortress; Elfreda had no hope of plotting with her kin, and the Marchioness would have crushed any such attempt. She was the type of woman who would manufacture a scandal just to see the Queen deposed.
Ejnar fell silent for a moment before refining his instructions.
“Surveillance is not the sole objective of your reassignment.”
“What is the true purpose, then?”
“I have realized that Marchioness Magnum is being far less helpful to the Queen than is necessary.”
Illene gave a slow nod of understanding.
The harsh treatment the Queen endured at the hands of the Marchioness was common knowledge even within the central palace. The rumors Illene heard were often unsettling, yet the administration saw no reason to step in.
It was considered improper for a monarch to interfere with the established hierarchy of the ladies-in-waiting, and besides the Marchioness, there were no other noblewomen of appropriate rank willing to take the post.
No high-born lady viewed serving a barbarian Queen as a prestigious calling. Consequently, anyone in that role was unlikely to act in the Queen’s best interest.
“The Marchioness allows her prejudice against the Makaeri to cloud her duty. She is unfit to manage the Queen’s household.”
“Therefore, Lady Hagen, I require you to provide more practical assistance. The Queen’s domestic affairs are currently in total disarray.”
“Is that truly the only goal?”
“What are you implying?”
When Ejnar failed to catch her meaning, Illene’s lips curved into a subtle smile.
If the inner palace was failing, there was a simpler solution.
One could easily sideline the Queen and let Marchioness Magnum run everything. The Marchioness had effectively ruled that domain for years anyway; no one would have protested if she continued to do so while the foreign Queen was dismissed as inexperienced.
Yet, the King was insisting on upholding Elfreda’s status as a true sovereign. It was a remarkably lenient stance for a man whose family had been slaughtered by the Queen’s grandfather.
Ejnar was a monarch who prioritized the welfare of Machi, always guided by logic and cold reason.
Illene saw clearly that his behavior had shifted. She likely wasn’t the only one; the Marchioness surely sensed the change as well. Whether the King recognized his own inconsistency remained to be seen.
His stoic expression made him impossible to read.
Illene pushed further.
“I only mention it because the Queen has never actually requested your aid.”
“….”
“Strictly speaking, there is no political necessity to restore her influence.”
Ejnar wavered, knowing her assessment was accurate.
He recognized that these orders were out of character for him—a manifestation of his own obstinacy.
The night before, Elfreda had remained stubbornly silent about her hardships, never once asking for his intervention. Seeing her finally drift into an exhausted sleep after he had pushed her to her limits had sparked a question in his mind.
He wanted to see her reaction if he were the one to extend a hand first.
Would she remain cold and ungrateful, or would she swallow her pride and offer a hollow thank you?
If she remained arrogant, he could simply snatch the help away at the worst possible moment to watch her suffer—a rewarding game. If she showed humility, it would be a fleeting, entertaining distraction.
“We must maintain the appearance of respect for her rank, if only to satisfy the Makaeri,” he argued.
“A logical step for a political union, certainly,” she replied.
“Precisely. Besides, you can return here whenever you wish. Don’t be discouraged; I will recall you as soon as this matter is settled.”
“I assure you, Sire, I am not discouraged.”
“Your expression says otherwise.”
Ejnar looked at her, genuinely confused.
“Did you not find your time in my service enjoyable?”
“It was an honor. However…”
Illene’s smile deepened as she watched him.
He was still blind to his own motivations. Since this behavior was so foreign to his nature, it was only natural he didn’t recognize it. Even so, Illene found the development promising.
“I have actually been hoping for a chance to serve the Queen.”
“The Queen? For how long?”
“Since her arrival.”
“Why?”
“It may be bold of me to say, but I found her situation quite tragic.”
Like most in Machi, Illene had initially been wary of Elfreda’s arrival. Though she hadn’t suffered a personal loss at the hands of the Makaeri like Ejnar or the Marchioness, she still viewed the tribe as a barbaric nuisance.
However, the Queen had lived in total isolation since her wedding. Because Robert was the one assigned to watch her, Illene had nearly forgotten the woman existed.
Then, the news broke that the King had saved the barbarian Queen from a watery grave.
Upon finally meeting Elfreda in person, Illene had been stunned.
