Chapter 51
Wakako couldn’t help but speak up, “Your Majesty, this…”
But the Queen didn’t give her a chance to speak. “Lady Kitagawa, I forgot to ask you earlier. Most girls marry at seventeen or eighteen, and even if it’s a bit later, they’re usually settled by twenty. Why haven’t you arranged a marriage yet?”
This question left her frozen in place.
Wakako lowered her head, “Your Majesty, I have no parents, so there’s no one to handle such matters for me.”
The Queen gave a soft “Oh.” “But don’t you have someone in mind?”
She seemed to be leading Wakako towards something. “If you already have someone in your heart, I can issue a decree to dissolve your engagement with Miki and let you be with them.”
Just a short while ago, breaking off the engagement was Wakako’s greatest desire.
But… how could she reveal her true feelings in front of the Queen? Wouldn’t that be openly admitting her relationship with the Saint? Even if she made up a story about loving someone else, she couldn’t think of a suitable person on the spot.
Moreover, Miki is now pregnant and has asked her to help keep it a secret…
If she agreed, it would be the perfect solution. She wouldn’t offend the Queen and could help Miki through this difficult situation.
But it would also mean that she and Miki were truly over.
Wakako knew this was the choice she made when she left the temple, and she knew it would be a difficult decision. But she never imagined that one day she would have to agree to marry someone else, right in front of Miki.
She was already a servant who had abandoned her master, and marriage would be an even greater betrayal.
Wakako would rather kill herself.
Her fingers involuntarily curled into fists. Despite her efforts to suppress it, a bitter resentment began to grow in her heart.
She had already given up so much… yet God still chose to torment her so cruelly.
At this moment, Wakako didn’t even have the courage to look up at Miki’s expression. She could only keep her head bowed.
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of Miki’s white robe, pure and immaculate, yet it felt like a sharp blade twisting in her heart, drawing endless blood.
Wakako managed to maintain her composure, but her lips trembled slightly, unable to form a response.
Seeing her hesitation, the Queen’s chilling smile deepened. “Lady Kitagawa? Could it be that you’re shy?”
“I…”
“She doesn’t have anyone in her heart.”
A soft voice broke the silence, devoid of any discernible emotion.
Just like the expression on Miki’s face, calm and gentle, her lips slightly pursed in a shallow smile that adhered perfectly to royal etiquette.
“Since the Queen Consort has brought it up, let’s choose a day and have the wedding,” she said. “Wakako, thank the Queen Consort.”
Her tone was as if nothing had changed.
The Queen Consort was momentarily stunned, seemingly surprised by Miki’s reaction. Then, she chuckled. “It’s said that the Saint and Lady Kitagawa share a deep bond, even knowing such personal matters as each other’s affections.”
Indeed, they knew each other all too well.
Every word was like an arrow piercing an unguarded heart.
She felt like a puppet, mechanically obeying the command to express her gratitude. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Miki rose gracefully. “As for the wedding officiant… since Wakako’s parents are not here, it’s only fitting that her former master takes the role.”
A hint of a smile played on her lips, tinged with mockery. “Does this please you, Your Majesty?”
Pleased?
No, this wasn’t how the Saint should react. Upon hearing the news of Wakako’s marriage, shouldn’t she be pale and devastated? Why could she smile and agree to officiate the wedding?
The Queen Consort stared intently at Miki, trying to find a crack in that perfect facade, but found none.
When their eyes met, something inexplicable occurred—like a force pulling her in, magnifying the malice she had buried deep inside. Suddenly, the Queen Consort reached out and grabbed the end of the Saint’s cloak, which had been lifted by the wind.
“You’re just pretending to be calm, aren’t you?” The Queen Consort blurted out, unable to control herself. “Aren’t you sad? Aren’t you heartbroken?”
She saw a flicker of surprise in Miki’s eyes. “What is the Queen Consort saying?”
It was as if adding fuel to a fire, and suddenly, the flames surged.
Consumed by anger, the Queen Consort yanked the cloak with all her might.
In her fury, she didn’t stop to consider—yes, the Saint was frail, but the Queen Consort herself was also a pampered Omega who lived in the palace and had never done a day of physical labor. How could she possibly have the strength to pull someone into the lake so easily?
Yet, Miki’s body was dragged into the small lake in the garden, swallowed by the water.
This lake was fed by the larger lake outside, and though it wasn’t deep, the ice had only recently melted. The water was frigid, enough to chill someone to the bone, perhaps even claiming half their life.
It all happened so suddenly. Wakako’s voice was cold as she said, “Your Majesty! How dare you…”
But there was no time for words. Her first instinct was to jump in and save Miki. The moment she entered the water, the bone-chilling cold made even her shiver. How much worse must it be for the delicate Saint?
She swam to Miki as quickly as possible, pulled the drowning woman into her arms, and carried her back to shore.
“Miki.” Wakako, ignoring her own soaked clothes, pinched Miki’s cheek with one hand and pressed on her abdomen with the other, trying to get her to expel the water she had swallowed. “Miki, can you hear me?”
The Saint’s face was pale, her eyes closed, and she didn’t respond.
Tsukiyo, who had run off to pick flowers, returned after hearing the commotion, witnessed the scene and her expression changed instantly. She hurried over and grabbed her mother’s arm. “Mother, what have you done?!”
Why would she push the Saint into the water for no reason?
She knew her mother disliked the Saint, and she herself didn’t have any particular fondness for her. But some things were better left unsaid. Why had her mother acted so openly, putting herself in such an awkward position?
As if waking from a dream, the Queen Consort finally realized what she had done. “I…”
What had happened? She despised the Saint, but as the Queen, she was above such petty, disgraceful actions. How could she have done something so reckless and low?
But before she could say anything, she saw Wakako, drenched from head to toe, carrying the unconscious Saint out of the garden, leaving a trail of water droplets among the flowers.
***
Although the Saint was rescued shortly after falling into the lake, she remained unconscious throughout the night, burning with a high fever.
The doctor had examined her and said that under normal circumstances, this wouldn’t be a big deal. Unfortunately, Miki had been frail since birth, particularly vulnerable to cold. Though she wasn’t in the water long, the chill had seeped into her body.
This was a scandal. To protect the royal family’s reputation, the truth was kept hidden, and it was announced that the Saint had fallen ill.
In over a decade of marriage, the Queen had never raised her voice at the Queen Consort, but this was the first time she rebuked her sharply:
“As the Queen Consort, you should be compassionate and benevolent, yet you harbor a grudge towards the Saint because of the trial and even pushed her into the water… Such narrow-mindedness is unbefitting of a Queen Consort!”
At this point, there was nothing more to be said; it was too late. The Queen Consort, as if her soul had left her, wandered aimlessly in her own chambers, not stepping out even once.
She couldn’t understand how things had spiraled out of control. Initially, she had only wanted to say a few words to put the Saint in her place… The Saint, after all, was a revered figure, while the Queen Consort herself was merely from a minor noble family. Even though she had become the Queen Consort, how could she have ever dared to lay a hand on the Saint?
Even Tsukiyo, who usually disliked the Saint, had to admit that this situation couldn’t be blamed on her.
If she, the Crown Princess, had to choose, she would also choose to put herself in danger rather than let the people bear the consequences of war. Her mother had simply lost her reason and lashed out due to her excessive concern for her daughter.
The royal family valued propriety. As her daughter, Tsukiyo had to apologize for the Queen Consort’s actions.
She carefully wrote a letter of apology and arrived at the Saint’s residence before dawn, intending to have someone deliver it. However, she saw a figure standing outside, perhaps having been there all night.
“Master?” Tsukiyo called out. “Why aren’t you going in?”
Tonight, or rather, this morning, snow had fallen again in Mios. The snowflakes landed on the black shawl and quickly melted into tiny droplets of water.
It was only when Tsukiyo called out that Wakako realized her body had long since gone numb from the cold.
With the Saint unwell, Wakako couldn’t sleep, so she had chosen to stand outside the courtyard, instructing Senryu to inform her when the Saint woke up.
Wakako forced a smile. “I’m an Alpha. It would be proper for me to enter the Saint’s room.”
Logically, this made sense, but Tsukiyo couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. When did these two start avoiding each other…
But Tsukiyo was still young and not yet perceptive enough to notice the subtleties in certain changes, so she didn’t press the issue.
It was fortunate that Tsukiyo had arrived when she did, for not long after, Senryu hurried out from the courtyard. “Lady Wakako… Lady Tsukiyo, the Saint has finally awakened.”
There was a faint worry in her expression. “The medicine has been prepared and kept warm, but the Saint refuses to drink it because it’s bitter. I don’t know what to do.”
What? Tsukiyo frowned. “She won’t take her medicine?” How childish for the Saint.
But Wakako wasn’t surprised. She murmured, “Yes… she’s always disliked bitter things.”
Back at the Saionji Household, even mildly bitter pills had to be taken with sugar for Miki to swallow them. Despite her usually composed demeanor, she would always throw a fit when it came to taking medicine.
After becoming close with Wakako, Miki became even more demanding, refusing to take medicine unless Wakako held it in her mouth and fed it to her bit by bit.
At the time, Wakako felt uncomfortable and shy. “Why do you always want me to feed you? It’s so dirty.”
Miki would always reply with a smile, “It’s not dirty.”
Then, she would point a finger at Wakako’s lips. “Can’t you taste it? It’s sweet here.”
Those eyes, full of unspoken words, would make Wakako’s heart race, and despite knowing it was a trap, she would willingly fall into it, bound tightly by it.
In truth, Miki was right. No matter how bitter the medicine, the moment it touched the Saint’s lips, it turned into honey without Wakako even realizing it.
Now, Senryu’s anxious expression caught Wakako’s eye. “If the Saint doesn’t take her medicine, her fever won’t break, and her body won’t be able to withstand it. Lady Wakako, if you have a way, perhaps you should go in and see her?”
As she spoke, Senryu lowered her gaze.
“The doctor said that the Saint’s illness is also due to the emotional burden she’s been carrying. That’s why she collapsed so suddenly this time. Lately, she’s often been sitting by the window alone, melancholic, as if waiting for someone… I think she’s waiting for you.”
In Wakako’s mind, she could see Miki’s tear-filled eyes. She knew she had no choice.
Even if she knew it was a trap, she would jump in without hesitation.
“I’ll go,” Wakako replied succinctly. “Senryu, please see the Crown Princess out.”
Outside the courtyard, Tsukiyo watched her master’s retreating figure in disbelief, unable to comprehend why she would agree to such an unreasonable request.
“The Saint is a grown woman. Does she need someone to coax her into taking medicine? Besides, Master is a mercenary—this is a complete waste of her talents!”
Such childish behavior might be understandable for a three-year-old, but the Saint was in her twenties!
Senryu, being a few years older than Tsukiyo, understood that the relationship between Wakako and Miki was not something that could be explained in a few words. Therefore, she didn’t reply, only smiling as she said, “Princess, the snow is heavy. Let me escort you back.”
Tsukiyo pursed her lips. “Fine.”
She hadn’t forgotten her original purpose. Taking a letter from her sleeve, she handed it over. “Please deliver this to the Saint later and tell her that I wrote it.”
Senryu accepted the letter, though she thought to herself that it would likely be some time before the Saint would actually receive it.
Because, for the time being, her services wouldn’t be needed in the small courtyard.
