Moonlight Ball - Chapter 152

Duchess Lisal of Lesena Palace wondered if the entire royal court had gone mad.

“What about the Harans River?”

Are you out of your mind, my lady?

Dressed in a corset that felt like a dog’s embrace and a dress that pleased her heart after a long time, Lisal stood there, firmly believing in the truth that one must suffer to become beautiful. She engraved in her soul the notion that there were no pretty and comfortable shoes in this world, and she turned to Lady Rose in a dumbfounded manner. She was so taken aback that her words failed her.

“Yes, Your Highness. The Harans River is poisonous.”

“…Oh.”

Ruthena, what on earth am I hearing right now?

Lisal nervously picked up and unfolded her fan. The fan she had acquired from the Orient was exorbitantly expensive, but it was no issue for her. After all, she had become wealthy by cutting her husband’s throat.

Well, if that man had continued to please her, she might have considered alternative methods.

She had no tolerance for any man who dared to touch any woman simply because he claimed to be the king. Lisal held a strict principle that whether she had a lover or a husband, it must be a one-on-one relationship, and if the other party deviated from that, she exacted vengeance. Her husband’s generally respected her way of thinking. Well, it was not so much respect as it was adoration and obsession. The first husband pitifully parted ways, while the second husband, instead of separating from her, opted to perish together, driven by his overflowing affection for her. The only one among her three husbands who violated her principles was the third, and as everyone knows, he paid the price with his life and a ruined kingdom.

Nevertheless, Lisal was now a wealthy woman and would likely remain so until her dying breath. Her hobby was war, and her expertise was conquest.

That must be why the domestic situation seemed so grim. What was so special about this Harans River?

Surprisingly, rumors about the toxicity of the Harans River spread almost like established facts. No matter whom she spoke with, they would inevitably mention the Harans River. Lisal had grown completely tired of it. And besides…

“My Queen, you never eat any vegetables.”

What nonsense is this flattery?

During the meal, Lisal naturally found herself seated next to Sidrain. The King’s side. In other words, Lisal and the Queen sat side by side, with Sidrain between them. As a result, she could clearly hear the conversations exchanged between the two, and they were utterly absurd.

Mumble, mumble. Sidrain’s tongue seemed as though it would wear out. How did our king end up like this? Lisal was astounded, but Sidrain paid no attention to her cousin’s cold gaze.

“Well, I can eat.”

“No, if you don’t want to eat, don’t. What’s the point of eating if my queen doesn’t want to?”

“But it’s not good for your health.”

The queen sullenly picked up a tiny blade of grass and ate it. It was so small that it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it a mere gesture of politeness. Yet Sidrain was thoroughly satisfied and smiled contently. The Queen eating vegetables made her deliriously proud. Lisal felt a shiver run down her spine.

How did these two end up with such an understanding?

The last thing Lisal remembered was the two of them hurling insults at each other. Sidrain told Rosemary, “If you can’t fulfill your duties as a queen, you might as well die,” and Rosemary retorted, “You better be careful with your food starting tonight.” It was just a part of their daily lives. But how did it end up like this?

“Your Majesty, could you please tell us how you managed to capture the maws?”

A certain lady threw a blatantly provocative question. If it had been the old Sidrain, she would have pretended not to understand. She was quite the beauty who resembled Sidrain’s taste, and as long as their tastes aligned, Sidrain had never refused any woman who approached her.

“In pieces.”

Sidrain curtly replied and turned her gaze back to the Queen. She spoke again, her tone sweet and different from before.

“By the way, there was an intriguing maw among them recently. It had three horns.”

It was usual for new species of maws to emerge while existing ones disappeared. Lisal found none of it fascinating. And she didn’t expect Rosemary to enjoy hearing such stories either, but her expectations were proven wrong.

“Oh, really? I’ve never heard of a maw with three horns before!”

It was not a mere polite response from the queen to the man. She genuinely marveled at the revelation, her blue eyes sparkling as if it were a gem concealed by some Eastern ruler.

Wait, did I just compare Rosemary’s eyes to a jewel?

Lisal shuddered from head to toe, feeling an exasperated groan escape her lips.

How did I end up witnessing all of this?

The inexplicable events continued as the dinner concluded and transitioned into a party. Everyone praised the Queen. Those who had insulted Rosemary just last year were now chanting praises, addressing her as “our revered Queen.” Lisal felt as though she was standing there, experiencing a dream. But if this were a dream, what kind of dream would it be? A nightmare? A pleasant dream?

The first dance was always shared by the King and Queen.

It was a dance of lovers. That was the only way to describe it. The queen burst into laughter in the king’s arms. She spun and twirled, occasionally moving toward the Earl of Portwall or the Viscount of Mutharion. However, she quickly returned to the king.

When they clasped hands and moved to face each other, they were true lovers. Even Lisal, standing at a distance, could sense it vividly. But how was that possible? Sidrain and Rosemary? It would have been better if the world had ended sooner!