Moonlight Ball - Chapter 165

Margaret sat in a dimly lit room. Though it was daytime, she had drawn all the curtains in the room. Mirrors were removed, and every reflective surface that could show her face was hidden. She couldn’t bear to see herself. How could all the glimmering things, the reflections, and the smooth and radiant elements belong to her? How could this be her? A pitiful old woman? She is only twenty-six now! Even if she were to live a hundred years, she wouldn’t age like this. She should be more beautiful, more dignified, she should not be aging like this! Amidst the darkness and the hell within Margaret’s heart, within the walls of her room, in the darkness, among the rustling sounds and the footsteps of maids, even within the warmth of the food she had to eat to stay alive, she was barely breathing.

But who was the possessor of that overwhelming beauty, really?

Margaret burst into laughter, a hearty laugh that stretched her mouth wide open and widened her eyes, even flaring her nostrils. Her slender body shook back and forth.

“I thought my life would be fulfilled as long as that woman paid attention to me. I did all sorts of things for that, I stooped so low just to catch her gaze once. To challenge the arrogant woman’s gaze, but who was she?”

Iris? That wretched woman?

The fact that she became queen, that she took everything from me, that a lowly commoner like her could do such a thing?

“How could something like this even happen?”

Nothing makes sense.

Since the moment that woman was born, nothing has made sense. How could such a woman be born within our household? She was no different from a parasite. She clung to my father, clung to our household, and was born. Born when she shouldn’t have been, something inhuman.

And did she cling again? This time even to the queen’s position?

She’s not even human. She’s nothing more than an insect.

And this insect has brought me to this point.

“Just, merely…”

An insect like this.

“It’s unforgivable.”

Absolutely.

If we consider the hatred towards Iris, then Margaret would undoubtedly secure the top spot in In Letaire. And if we take the love for Iris into account, then Sidrain would be the clear winner. But when it comes to who desires Iris the most, opinions will be divided.

And so it was, while it’s a good thing that Iris’s magic distortion stabilized in a positive direction, the fact that she was Iris was now known to the entire world. No, half of the world knew. There are no secrets in this world. Even the unprecedented incident of the princess of Martop being within the queen’s body. It’s not something that can be hidden by sealing lips.

Naturally, Martop stood up.

“Iris becoming a part of the queen’s body is indeed astonishing, but that’s something worth researching—truly worth it. However, that’s not the problem!”

Esmeralda Lind, 71 years old, is the head of Martop’s Department of Life Studies.

“Iris’s magic hasn’t diminished; it has even grown stronger, and she’s in the queen’s body? She’s a magician of Martop!”

Despite her seventy-one years of age, she appeared no older than forty, a woman possessing dazzling beauty. Her sparkling nails caught the light like chandeliers, shining brilliantly.

“We all know, do not we? Despite Iris’s problems, that child is being considered as the next owner of Martop; but having the owner of Martop taken away by the royal family, and worse, as some kind of mascot? Unthinkable.”

Her strong defiance was met with an even louder voice.

“Eat dirt, you so-called queen!”

Lostalid Da Lossa. 68 years old. Martop’s second-in-command. Except for Iris, he was the most powerful magician in Martop. Head of the Department of Offensive Magic. Hailing not from In Letaire but from the royal lineage of Da Letaire, he had pressed down on In Letaire Martop, adding ‘Da’ to his name. Just this one aspect spoke volumes—regardless of what others thought or said, he believed he was right and pushed forward aggressively.

“Iris is absolutely out of the question! Absolutely! Our Precious One can never be like her!”

Lostalid’s shout drew everyone’s attention to him. Even though they all simultaneously thought, “So Iris dislikes you,” no one said a word.

And so it was. Iris and this man were polar opposites. This man liked Iris. He cherished her to the extent that he would remain annoyed by the fact that he didn’t discover Iris first. Despite not being her disciple, and even being a rival’s protégé, he was fervently eager to teach her something extra. However, Iris despised this man. She hated him so much that whenever he approached, she would vanish without fail.

It was a natural story. To the girl who would swoon even if a door was broken down, who would scream ‘our Precious One,’ pull her in for a kiss, puff up her cheeks, and draw others’ attention by calling her a rival’s protégé in a thunderous voice, how could Iris possibly like this professor? Iris loathed this professor so much that she would break out in hives whenever he was near.

However, this man still loved Iris. Just as there are those who despise prodigies, there are those who love them, and this man was no exception.

“But wouldn’t it be quite challenging if her body belongs to Queen Rosemary, and moreover, she has a child?”

Krynd Minsel. 49 years old. Female. Head of the Department of Defensive Magic. Among Martop’s elders, she was one of the youngest, a prominent figure even among the abundance of prodigies in Martop. She had also overseen the palace’s defensive magic system.

The fierce glares from the other three turned towards her as Krynd spoke. What did you just say? Give up on Iris? Our Iris, you mean?!

“It’s about facing reality. She is the first-born of the king and queen, and she will become the successor. Her body belongs to Queen Rosemary, and moreover, Iris, though it might be distasteful, has not accepted her highness’s love, has she? She’s basically married, so how could she be with Martop?”

“Tell the brat to take it as she pleases.”

Elaine Rosi. Martop’s owner. Head of the Department of Applied Magic.

“Iris is out of the question.”

Upon seeing Iris with a child, Elaine briefly considered giving her up. But she quickly changed her mind. Iris is a prodigy. Why should someone like Iris be a queen? She’s just the palace’s mascot. What on earth is Queen Rosemary even doing?

“But.”

“Tell the brat to take it as she pleases!” What kind of absurdity is this?!

It was when Krynd scrunched her eyebrows uncomfortably that Esmeralda raised her hand in front of Krynd.

“What are you saying?”