The Bloom of Violet

“Your Majesty!”

“I don’t understand what the connection is between you becoming my consort and my keeping Ann by my side.”

The king muttered as he pushed back the hair scattered on his forehead. He seemed tired and irritable. Charlotte bit her lip and pulled her chin in. The king, looking weary after a quick wash, glanced at her again.

“Charlotte.”

“….”

“My parents promised you the position of my queen. I intend to fulfill that promise. You were promised the title of queen from the womb, were you not?”

The king’s gaze was clear. Charlotte stared at him, her body stiff. He was colder than ever. She was used to being pushed away, but the feeling of being cut out like this was a first.

“Even if I weren’t the king, you would still be the woman to marry the heir among my sons. But I don’t understand how fulfilling that promise is related to winning my heart.”

Lennox was blunt. His brief response was emotionless and direct. Charlotte pressed her lips together. It wasn’t an unexpected answer. She blinked her eyes, which were starting to chill. The king was about to pass by her.

“…Ann too.”

“….”

“Did Ann say it was okay?”

The king turned back to her. Charlotte smiled slyly.

“Living as your mistress, Your Majesty.”

The corners of her lips trembled slightly. The fierce joy she felt was sharp, like thorns in a bramble. She couldn’t contain her mocking smile. Thinking of Ann, living an ignoble life as the king’s mistress, she almost laughed herself to death. Charlotte burst into laughter.

“I think it would be quite interesting.”

After laughing out loud, Charlotte whispered. Lennox stared at her with a deadly gaze.

“I do hope you keep Ann by your side. I want to see that woman trapped in my shadow, living as your shadow.”

Her cold, whispered words echoed in the room. Lennox stared at the woman, as if watching her self-destruct, before turning away. Charlotte glared at the spot where he had disappeared, clenching her fist.

Ann opened her eyes again the next day at noon. She looked at the familiar ceiling. It was her bedroom. She felt a sense of relief. If she had stayed in the king’s bedroom any longer, she wouldn’t have been able to endure it. Although, in truth, there was nothing she could have done.

Ann knew that the king’s affection could sometimes be violent. A man who didn’t consider her position didn’t consider anyone’s.

She thought about Charlotte. Whenever she woke up, the king had been in front of her. Sometimes holding both of her hands, sometimes carefully brushing aside her disheveled hair. At times, he had kissed her forehead or caressed her cheek.

The sticky affection that couldn’t be explained with the word “friend”… Now, she could no longer dismiss it as nothing. As the days passed, the king’s expressions of affection grew deeper.

‘I knew I shouldn’t have allowed it…’

Ann thought about when the king’s affection began to grow stronger. She didn’t need to think hard. It was that day. The day… she slept with the king.

‘It’s horrible.’

Ann bit her lip. She wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear. No matter how hard she tried to forget, the memory felt like an unforgivable sin that couldn’t be washed away.

He was the man who called the woman he slept with “a friend.” In truth, their entire relationship, bound by that name, had been nothing but futile affection…

Suddenly, the door clicked open. It seemed she hadn’t noticed Ann was awake. She turned her head to see who had entered. It was Ingrid.

“You’re awake.”

Her voice was calm. Ann tried to get up but stumbled.

“It’s fine. Lie back down.”

Ingrid gently pushed her back down, holding her shoulder. Ann looked at her with a pale face. The shadow cast on Ingrid’s composed face was faint but distinct. Ann chose her words carefully. What could she say to comfort her?

“Lennox has been very worried about you.”

“I’m sorry.”

“What do you have to apologize for?”

Ingrid shook her head. Ann couldn’t bring herself to look at her. She knew that Ingrid’s kindness wasn’t all there was to her.

Ingrid probably didn’t like that Ann had fainted. She must have found it distasteful that she had bound Lennox like that, making him hover around her helplessly.

“Before summer ends, you should visit Saforas once.”

“Pardon?”

“You won’t be able to handle the court gossipers.”

“But…”

“By the time you return, the preparations for the royal marriage will be nearing completion. The ceremony will be held by winter at the latest.”

Ingrid muttered casually. Her tone was firm, as if she wouldn’t entertain any objections. If Ann argued any further, she would appear like an impudent girl. Ann knew Ingrid’s temperament. Though Ingrid appeared kind, she was, in reality, an endlessly cold person.

Countess Herbon had once promised to be a good protector to her as a child. She had said she would raise her with love, just like her late mother had. So, while Ingrid couldn’t be a mother, she could form a bond through love.

Ann had never fully believed those words. She had already experienced the harshness of life, making it impossible to place her trust in adult promises. Nevertheless, Ingrid’s maids had always tried their best to be upright protectors.

But Ingrid was different. Ingrid…

“I’ll do as you suggest.”

“Well thought out.”

Ingrid gazed at Ann, who did not oppose her. Ann had never once defied her. Still, there were times when Ingrid couldn’t bear Ann. If only Lennox hadn’t been involved… If only Lennox hadn’t overwhelmed her with his overflowing love, Ingrid might have seen Ann as a lovely child.

There was no reason to hate her. But didn’t Yvonne also feel the same? Without malice, Yvonne had still wounded Ingrid, tainting her and simultaneously hurting her. How was Ingrid to handle this? How could she avoid hating anyone?

Despite her thoughts, Ingrid saw no solution. Lennox no longer listened to her. He had always ignored her words, but after coming of age, he had never once obeyed her. So, there was only one option left.

“Have you met Countess Ilba?”

“Countess Ilba…?”

“You must have met her.”

“Yes. I haven’t seen her for long, but I met her at Lord Alpheus’s wedding last fall.”

Ann recalled the middle-aged woman she had seen last year. She was of modest height with a cheerful personality. Ann thought she understood why Ingrid was mentioning her. Instead of biting her lip, Ann clenched her fist.

“While you’re in Belvirund, attend the gatherings that the countess hosts. She has an unmarried young daughter, and if you spend time with her, you’ll meet suitable young men.”

Belvirund was the royal villa in Saforas. It was the place where Ann had spent every summer with Lennox. Ingrid was now trying to send her there alone. It seemed she intended to push forward with the royal marriage while Ann was away from the palace.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I’ll also keep an eye out for a suitable husband for you.”

“Thank you.”

“Helena and Sophia have been so diligent in finding you a suitable match, you don’t know.”

“I know, Your Majesty. I’m very grateful. If I had had better conditions, I could have gone to a good family without causing further worries…”

“That’s not true. You’re a good girl. It’s just…”

Ingrid turned her gaze away, as if choosing her words carefully. Ann felt a sudden tension. Ingrid was adept at delivering hurtful words in a calm, matter-of-fact manner. It was a trait common among noblewomen who had spent many years at court. Ann felt a pang of sadness knowing that she had become one of those people to Ingrid.

She had known that the small affection Ingrid had shown her as a child wasn’t sincere, but Ingrid was still the one who had fed and raised her.

“I’m sorry.”

Ann turned to look at her. Ingrid’s face, which hadn’t changed much since Ann first saw her, looked somber. It appeared worn, like a rusty hinge. Her otherwise neat face seemed weary. Ann’s heart ached, feeling as though she was the cause of that weariness.

“I never meant to hurt you.”

“…”

“The truth is, I do dislike you. But…”

“I understand, Your Majesty. Please, don’t worry about it.”

“Ann.”

“I hope you meet a good person in Saforas. Someone worthy to introduce to His Majesty. This winter, I’ll return with a family of my own to present before you.”

Ann smiled, a fragile smile that seemed as though it could crumble at any moment, pale as moonlight. Ingrid did not respond, instead looking down. A weighty guilt pressed on her chest. But there was no other way, was there? If she didn’t do this…

“Yes, Ann. I hope you meet someone good and have a happy family. You can do it.”

Ingrid forced a smile. The bitterness churned in her stomach, but she didn’t show it. Ingrid raised her hand and gently stroked Ann’s pale face. Ann smiled faintly.