'Blood is thicker than water'. An expression that dates back hundreds of years, originally associated with baptism. Now, it is used to state that familial ties are stronger than friendships.
But does that statement hold merit anymore? Even the tightest of families possess a black sheep, an outsider that goes against the norm. No amount of blind loyalty can keep everyone together.
Today, the black sheep of the Koenig family and her foreign wife have been invited to a challenge like none other. Inside the palace complex, a cosy but open building sits alongside a blooming orchard. Inside the building, the two most powerful people in the kingdom await. Their boy was invited as well, but sickness consumes this family like a curse…
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…
…
Today I meet with the two figureheads of the empire, the stunning silky-haired Queen, alongside the greying but fiercely intimidating king. Both could take my life in a moment’s notice, yet here we find ourselves all sharing the same feeling. Awkwardness.
To describe the atmosphere around this table as tense would be an understatement. Greetings and introductions were made, I even gave a little curtsey, but now we find ourselves at a stalemate.
“So then… my loving and dutiful daughter. I presume you’ve heard the news?”
Thankfully, King Archibald is able to get things moving. Although I’m unsure of the direction we head.
“They say a certain Princess has lost her wits and is sewing chaos within the capital. There’s even a rumour she stole the King’s seal to change a law of all things!”
“That I have, they say it’s all down to the irresponsible King for allowing his daughter free rein to harbour such illogical tastes.”
‘I… don’t have the mental capabilities for this situation!’
Dun dun! Both sides of this fight stare ferociously at each other. I want to help, but how can I? A happy wife equals a happy life... but an unhappy king will result in my execution.
…
We took one step forward, only to go back exactly to how we were. At least the Queen, who is now rubbing her head is willing to try something different.
“Please just excuse those two, they’ll get it out of their systems soon enough…”
Both father and daughter look to the Queen with faces of pure disgust... I really shouldn’t be here!
“So then, my daughter-in-law. Tell me about yourself! Do you have any interests or hobbies?”
This simple question takes me back even more! In the original novel, the King was surprisingly boring and tame, yet this woman was comparable to a hissing cat. She was extravagant, rude, abrupt, nasty, and could even be considered a stereotypical villainess with some of the evil deeds she committed.
But this woman won’t stop smiling and barely wears any jewellery! Something isn’t right…
[MIND'S EYE][First Name: Adelicia][Family Name: Rosalind][Affection: 25/100][Traits] [»][Gender: Female][Class: Royalty][Age: 45][Trait Rarity] [»][Stubborn] [Þ][Poisoner] [ℑ][Musician] [Þ]
Spoiler
[TIER][Legendary] [5*][Excellent] [4*][Great] [3*] [Good] [2*] [Average] [1*] [TYPE][Combat: †][Magical: ℑ][Passive: Þ] [collapse]
‘Her traits aren’t all negative and she’s far kinder than that maid already. But I’m not naïve to trust such a woman.’
During the novel’s plot, she even attempts to kill the Bastard using poison magic at some point. I don’t recall her ever using regular poison to kill an enemy, but her magic was known for causing excruciating pain.
[MIND'S EYE][First Name: Archibald][Family Name: Koenig][Affection: 5/100][Traits] [»][Gender: Male][Class: Royalty][Age: 69][Trait Rarity] [»][Paladin] [†][Pyromaniac] [ℑ][Dying] [Þ]
Spoiler
[TIER][Legendary] [5*][Excellent] [4*][Great] [3*] [Good] [2*] [Average] [1*] [TYPE][Combat: †][Magical: ℑ][Passive: Þ] [collapse]
As for the King, it's clear the Princess takes after him strength wise. Not sure what the Paladin trait does, but it's probably battle related. As for the Dying one, the closer he gets to death, the stronger it'll grow.
“I guess archery and reading count as hobbies, Your Majesty. Any interests… I guess I just want to feel useful.”
“Don’t we all, sweetie! If you ever feel bored, feel free to take some of my daughter’s books. Lord knows she spends too much time cooped up inside that study.”
“Running YOUR kingdom requires knowledge, and all those books provide said knowledge.”
“Hehe, are you being honest, Ashia? Can you tell me if ALL of those books are related to work? Even those you like to hide?”
…
‘Did Her Highness just blush!? I wanna read those books!’
The Queen manages to quieten her daughter for just a moment, only to be cut off by her a second later.
“Lady Frost! Seeing that those two still won’t talk to each other, how do you take your te—”
“Sweet with a fair amount of cream. But no, Mother. She won’t take anything served by you.”
We arrive here for tea, but I’m being denied the tea part!. It’s not like I can complain; this was one of the key points listed inside the marriage contract. Food and drink are to be controlled by the Princess and only served by the maid Anna.
“Come on, Ashia, I’ll drink the entire pot myself if you don’t trust me. I’ve gone to great lengths to make her feel comfortable, just look at the little amount of jewellery I’m wearing today! You honestly think I’d poison her?”
“No, today would be far too brazen. You’d most likely do it over decades... slowly and surely. Eventually, it would look like an illness.”
Hold up, was the Princess hinting at her mother killing her father!? Is that why the king has the Illness trait? Because of poison?
But the Queen appears completely unaffected by her taunting.
“Hehe, I’ll pretend you didn't say that since I’m in a good mood, Ashia. I fail to understand why you think I’d be so unwelcoming. Your bride is perfect.”
‘Perfect? The mother-in-law said I’m perfect? What? I think the executable inside my brain stopped working.’
“You’ve picked someone capable of bringing gold into this kingdom and has no connections to the corrupted nobles. She appears unambitious, and better yet, she’s adorable! Her criminal record is easy enough to cover up; she looks at you with eyes of affection. What reason would I have to poison her!?”
…
I’m not the only one who seems surprised by this turn of events; even the Princess looks baffled. Maybe I do instinctively gaze at the Princess for longer than I should; it's all Frost's fault. She clearly has a thing for good-looking women.
“*Sigh*… please just tell me why you summoned us?”
“Other than to greet our newest daughter-in-law and see how she’s faring? Living in that ghastly palace must’ve been difficult, no? Our daughter hasn’t been neglecting you too much, I hope?”
The King returns only to say something I need to correct immediately.
“Actually, Your Majesty, it’s been kind of pleasan—”
“That was uncalled for, and you know it… King Archibold the Third.”
Cut off by my own wife, the atmosphere around this table erupts when she calls her father by title. So much so, he leaps off the chair, only to accidentally spill the teapot everywhere.
“You don’t even call me father anymore! I give you all that you desire, the limitless power, wealth the size of an ocean, everything in this kingdom is yours! Yet I’d find more warmth from a chunk of ice rather than my own daughter.”
“There is one thing you can’t provide… but I digress. King Archibald, it’s your forgiving nature that will bring this kingdom down.”
The King already lost his composure; now he's finally at the point of no return. He’s had enough.
“I-I-I… balderdash! Please forgive my behaviour, Miss Frost. Never make the mistake of having children. I must now attend to other ventures…”
And just like that, the father storms off while both the mother and daughter facepalm. But unfortunately, this meeting still isn’t over.
“Ashia, will you at least allow her to eat here? I dread to think how little freedom you give her in your palace.”
Again, I wish to correct one of her parents, but this time I stop myself.
I’m beginning to believe this is on purpose, that the Princess wants her reputation to be really bad even with her parents. We may be in "love", but having her appear like a controlling lover is possible as well. That’s how it might seem to others, but this life is great for me. Unless I'm needed, I get to laze about doing nothing! And that dowry basically acts as my wage! When boredom is your biggest issue, what's not to like?
“Has Anna personally seen to the food herself? And has she gone through the usual routine?”
“As a matter of fact, I sent a notice earlier requesting her assistance regarding food. I know about your extensive paranoia, my dear and troubled daughter.”
“*Sigh*… then there’s no problem. I knew today would go like this.”
The Princess almost seems beaten by her mother’s win; that smug face shows everything. However, I’m conflicted. Will eating what’s about to arrive be considered a betrayal?
At least that’s how I feel until the food is brought out by Anna herself. I’m desperate for a taste, but I still don’t want the Princess to be sad about it…
“Heh, I’ll get the wrong idea if you look at me how a puppy might, Frost.”
‘And here comes the teasing Princess, at least she's happier now. If she’s now making jokes, I’ll just eat a slice, or maybe five…’
“Sorry you had to witness that. My father and I have disagreed on politics for decades. He grows soft and remorseful with age, while I prefer to take care of snakes before they can slither.”
After dealing with that awkward lunch and now being as fat as a pig, both of us pass through this palace’s orchard to head back to the carriage. All the palaces are close in distance, the sheer size of them makes carriage travel necessary.
However, I’m continuing to have conflicting thoughts. It’s obvious my wife is annoyed, and I want to help… but she looks kinda cute when stressed. It also doesn’t help that I’m shaking and have a headache. I’ve consumed too much sugar...
Maybe a slight joke will help. The Princess is only twenty-five after all.
“That makes sense… but decades? You two were arguing about politics when you were a wee child?”
“Heh, I mean years. I have neither the time nor patience to play loving daughter anymore, especially when this world is at a knife’s edge.”
On that, I can’t help but nod. We’ve still got some time to go, but this world is overdue for some anarchy.
“I get that. Your mother seems nice to me, at least.”
“Yes… "nice". I suppose even a stubborn mule can be kind to someone they deem insignificant. She isn’t to be trusted, Frost.”
In some ways, I suppose it makes sense that the Queen of low birth would like me. But viewing me as unambitious and insignificant? If it’s her daughter’s safety she fears for, then having a partner to hide in the background would be perfect, right? I don't agree with it, but I understand if that's her intent.
“Regardless of all that, is there anything I can do to make this adjustment period easier? I can’t provide any extra servants though… the palace remains quiet for a reason.”
Look at Her Highness feeling guilty over her parents' words! Even if it feels like she’s withholding big bits of information, I’m still content. I’m doing the same, I’d rather her not know I’m possessing a different person.
“I have a question more than a request… why is my schedule so lax? There isn’t a single mention of etiquette training or anything dismal like that.”
I’m not asking for lessons; I’m asking because this genuinely makes me feel like a pawn. If I can find any extra ways of being useful, then that should increase my chance of survival for these three years, right? This novel tends to get bloody fast.
“You want to experience something like that?”
“Not really, it’s just your reputation, I guess. You wouldn’t want people looking down on you because of me, right?”
The Princess actually chuckles a little, then lightly grabs both of my shoulders.
“Heh, it’s cute you worry, but you needn’t. Our palace is as much yours as it is mine. Even if you were to walk around stark naked, no one has any right to tell you to stop. I could even make the entire palace lose their clothes as well if you feel self-conscious.”
That… doesn’t help me in the slightest! I guess it makes sense if her overall goal is to go down as the batshit crazy Princess, but to make a nude-themed palace?
‘The original Frost would like that… penises would have to be covered though.’
“Eh… let’s leave the public indecency in the past. You have given me something to ask for.”
“Ask away.”
“Clothes. Or to be specific, practical clothes. What I’ve been provided isn’t practical.”
Considering I once was a dude, wearing feminine clothes doesn't bother me at all. However, if my days are to be nice and lazy, then I’d rather have something to lounge around in. Besides, have you tried to shoot a bow wearing a skirt? I purposely didn’t bring much, so the clothes I’m wearing have been provided by the palace.
For some reason, this line of questioning turns the Princess’s brief smile into something uncomfortable again.
“That… may be troublesome to resolve.”
“What? Why?”
“Because that requires convincing Anna, and nobody wins a battle against Anna. Her sense of duty will counteract any argument, so it’s best to just embrace the uncomfortableness.”
The head maid Anna. We haven’t spoken all that much, even though she’s been personally assigned to me. All food and drink goes through her; she helps me clean as well as dress me. Apparently, she also holds the key to what I wear.
“Couldn’t you just order her to stand down? Or discipline her if she refuses?”
“Heh, I could, but everyone has their quirks. With Anna, I wouldn’t want to do anything that might displace the trust between us.”
Giving me her full attention, she locks eyes with me and I can tell she's deathly serious here. It’s almost as if her blood runs cold when she stares at me like this, the Princess at her most serious.
“Life inside this palace, trust is the one thing you cannot make mistakes with. If you’re to put faith in one person, choose her.”
“Over yourself?”
“Especially over myself. Lies and deceit flow through every crack in this kingdom; every road leads to a river of blood. Even if you were to stand upon a mountain of corpses, she’d be there to clean up the mess…”
[King & Queen]
Spoiler
“She’s so adorable! You think it would be too forward to become her adoptive mother? She and her father arrived alone from the north… it’s likely she’s never experienced the loving embrace of a mother.”
After enjoying a splendid lunch, the Queen can’t contain her excitement while the King just sits there trying to figure out what just happened.
“This is how you act when someone new is brought into the family? I’ll have to keep that in mind.”
Immediately, the Queen’s smile turns into a frown from her husband’s subtle dig. Whatever or whoever is the reason, she won’t stand for it.
“Please don’t test my patience, dearest. You know I won’t think twice about sacrificing that boy if I have to…”
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