[IHTTMBW] Chapter 55
"When the two of them are asleep, they look like angels.”
“Truly.”
“But... isn’t it a bit worrying? Prince Euphil is getting older, too.”
“Right? Princess Myrthi is already engaged, after all.”
The gossip spread quickly. Walking just ahead, Allenan overheard the handmaidens’ conversation and allowed himself a bitter smile. It was true. Although he was Myrthi’s fiancé, the one she leaned on most was Prince Euphil. Yet, wasn’t that just the way family was?
Still, whispers had continued to circulate through the palace, fueled solely by the fact that they were half-siblings.
It was a clear day. On days like this, Allenan often thought of Myrthi's radiant smile—a gentle smile like the moon, yet as clear as sunlight.
Smiling at the thought, Allenan soon noticed Queen Fioren of Crothasone looking at him with a soft smile.
“What’s on your mind, Prince?”
“Oh, Aunt.”
“Let me guess... you were thinking about Myrthi, weren’t you?”
Allenan’s cheeks flushed red. He felt a ticklish embarrassment at how accurately she had guessed. The Queen, who often regarded him with a cool gaze, softened her expression with a gentle smile.
“Truly, how blessed the Queen must be to be loved so dearly. And to be so beautiful as well.”
“You’re very beautiful too, Aunt.”
“Ah, but what use is it? I have no children to soothe my heart.”
Allenan scratched his head, lost for words. The Queen smiled gracefully and continued her stroll. The two of them were walking together, though Allenan was aware that this stroll was partly meant to keep an eye on him and assess the situation. It was to be expected from a member of Crothasone’s royal family, so he gave no outward reaction.
But there was something more urgent occupying his thoughts. The Queen was now moving toward the group of handmaidens, who were chattering animatedly. If she heard them, it could provoke further criticism toward Myrthi, something Allenan dearly wished to avoid. In a rush, he called out to distract her.
“Aunt...!”
“What? That Euphil?”
Just then, the voices of the handmaidens grew louder, enough for anyone passing by to overhear. Allenan pressed his palm to his forehead, exasperated. The Queen’s eyebrows arched, and she stepped closer to them.
“What did Prince Euphil do?”
“Ah, Your Majesty!”
“Go on, tell me. What did he do to make you react this way?”
“Well, um...”
The handmaidens, naturally on Myrthi’s side, were hesitant to speak, wishing to shield the smiling princess they adored. But, given that the Queen was the one asking, silence wasn’t an option.
Allenan gently tugged on the Queen’s arm, trying to divert her attention. Preventing any trouble for Myrthi was more urgent than overhearing whatever gossip was going around about her and Euphil.
“Aunt, look over there! Aren’t the flowers just beautiful?”
“Prince Allenan, we can admire the flowers later. Right now, I find these young ladies’ words far more intriguing.”
Allenan’s face showed his discomfort, and the handmaidens, now looking almost tearful, glanced back at him. The Queen’s eyebrow arched even higher.
“Out with it!”
“W-Well, it’s just...”
Finally, reluctantly, one of the handmaidens began speaking. She explained that since they were children, Princess Myrthi and Prince Euphil often shared a nap time, a habit that had continued even to this day. What astonished her most was that the typically cold Euphil would give Princess Myrthi a goodnight kiss on her forehead.
“Is that true?”
“Y-Yes…”
“How far has this rumour spread?”
“Well, um…”
“Speak up!”
“M-Many of the handmaidens know about it!”
If many handmaidens knew, then the rumour had indeed spread widely. The Queen’s face hardened with a chilling anger.
“No matter if they’re siblings, how disgraceful for the royal family...!”
The Queen’s words made Allenan’s face stiffen.
“Aunt.”
At that moment, the Queen seemed to realise that she had just called them “a disgrace to the royal family” in front of Allenan. She softened her expression and said, “Forgive me, I got a bit carried away. Prince, why don’t we end our walk here? I have some business to attend to.”
Allenan bit his lower lip, for he knew exactly what the Queen’s “business” entailed. True to his suspicions, the Queen headed straight for the King’s chambers.
“Your Majesty!” she called as she entered, her tone sharp.
“What brings you here, my Queen?” The King looked up from his wine glass, a faint smirk on his face. He recognized the look of indignation in her eyes—she always wore that expression when politics were involved, especially when something displeased her.
“It’s about Princess Myrthi.”
“Princess Myrthi... Yes, what is it?”
“You’re aware that Princess Myrthi already has a fiancé?”
“Who wouldn’t know that?”
The Queen nodded and tried to maintain an inviting expression, softening her voice as she carefully concealed her true intentions. The last thing she wanted was for this icy king to disregard her completely. She steeled herself as her face hardened despite herself.
