Moonlight Ball - Chapter 167

After a sharp conflict, a trial awaits, whether now or in the future. That’s how it went; just as Sidrain had foreseen, the trial of the century was about to unfold. The favorable side, of course, belonged to the nobles of the royal court. Having diligently prepared under the ambiguous orders of the Count of Portwell, they had come to understand the essence of those cryptic words.

Iris Elaine.

The incident where the Princess of Martop possessed the body of the Queen. The most contentious issue in the possibility of the century’s trial between Martop and the royal court, arguing for ownership over the Queen, was about to be revealed.

“Has Your Majesty the Queen indeed made up her mind?”

It was Iris Elaine’s own will.

“I wonder if any woman in the world could easily choose between her father and her husband, especially in front of everyone.”

At Sidrain’s words, the lawyers bowed their heads.

It wasn’t the wrong statement, but still, since she even had a child, shouldn’t it be on the husband’s side?

The lawyers all thought at once. She was pregnant with the only heir to the throne. In any case, there wouldn’t really be a choice. Yet the king didn’t seem to think that way. She was part of the royal family. The moment she entered the Queen’s body, she became so. Her will didn’t matter. There was a reason everyone said that form overwhelms content.

Of course, Sidrain was well aware of what the lawyers were saying. He also knew Iris quite well. Anyone who understood how much she differed in her way of thinking from others would most likely be someone like Elaine Rossi, who raised her.

It wasn’t about appearances. To become a winner in life, one needed to be perceptive, and Sidrain wasn’t a man who would be described as lacking in that regard. He was feeling a strong intuition rising from deep within. Things wouldn’t go as everyone expected, and it was certain that Iris would make some kind of move. It was very clear, or rather, almost more like a prophecy than mere intuition.

Iris was currently struggling to comprehend the situation.

“A trial, you say?” She tried to understand for a moment. “What is the trial about?”

Dressed in an elaborate gown, her hair elegantly styled, and adorned with luxurious accessories, she seemed more like a goddess than a mere mortal. Every time she blinked, it felt like something other than a person was moving within her. But ironically, the person inside was utterly bewildered. What was this trial about?

“It’s about who Her Highness is,” Elena En Sethang replied with a graceful smile. “You could just ask me.”

But how could she determine that in a trial?

Iris couldn’t grasp it. Even if they defined her in the trial, she was still herself. There were things that could and couldn’t be determined in a trial. How could others, especially through grammatical gender, determine who she was?

“Of course, Your Highness would undoubtedly say Iris Elaine.”

Iris hesitated for a moment. Either way, she had been deceiving people all this time. She had her reasons, but the guilt of deceiving people hadn’t faded. Iris couldn’t say anything and remained silent.

“Of course, Your Highness is Iris Elaine. However, please look at Your Highness’s face.” Elena brought a mirror and held it in front of Iris. It was a firm yet composed attitude. And yet, it didn’t lose its politeness, which was a noblewoman’s trait.

The woman in the mirror has hair as golden as honey and an otherworldly beauty that doesn’t seem human. When Iris blinks, she blinks too. Iris had witnessed people being captivated by this face. She understood it. Occasionally, when she looked in the mirror, she wondered how this woman had been born with such a face and how she had lived her life in such a way. She had only met the person once, but her rough arrogance still remained vividly in her memory. How did such a face carry such emotions? She would have been loved just by keeping her mouth shut. She could have lived with just receiving love, but why had she been pushed into such a harsh place? Rebelled against her husband and plotted… And nothing had gone well. Now that many people knew she was dead, nobody talked about the funeral.

Well.

Iris sighed sorrowfully in her mind. No one would talk about her funeral, either. Does anyone even know where her dead body is?

“Can Your Highness say that this face belongs to Iris Elaine?” Looking at this face

Iris felt intense resistance in an instant. This face wasn’t hers. It wasn’t Iris Elaine’s. This face… this face…

Only then did Iris realize she had only partially recognized that her face, body, and form had changed! Because she couldn’t see herself, she was only half-aware of the change! She knew it intellectually, but there was a vast difference between seeing with her eyes and knowing with her mind.

“Truly, is the lady in the mirror Iris Elaine, Your Highness?”

“I, I am, I…”

The woman in the mirror was looking straight at Iris. Despite the wavering uncertainty, her blue eyes seemed to hold all the blue of the world, and her hair was a golden color as if touched by the hand of a deity. Iris lowered her head. This woman wasn’t her.

As Elena looked at the woman in the mirror, she whispered in Iris’s ear.

“This lady is Queen Rosemary, Your Highness.”

She’s dead.

Iris wanted to say that, but she couldn’t. Really? Is she really dead? The woman in the mirror asked. Is she dead? Iris had told herself to ask who she was, but was it really that simple? If everyone denied it, how could she live as Iris Elaine?

Iris trembled. Only then did she understand what this trial was about. She understood what Elena was saying. They weren’t curious about who Iris was.

Iris Elaine’s existence had become a battlefield.

And now they are disputing who the conqueror is. Who cares about the ruins on the battlefield in times of war? The one who always captures attention is the victor, and there is only one.

“Your Highness, the beautiful and wise Queen, I am but your humble servant.”

Who is the beautiful one? Who is the wise one? Who is Elena supporting?

Iris gazed at Elena, who was retreating and bowing with a disgusted expression. She wanted to say something, but her words stuck in her throat. She couldn’t figure out what to say. You are currently trampling over me. You are denying my existence. Should she say that? No, Elena wasn’t denying her existence. She wasn’t denying; she was believing. In an entirely new existence. And that existence would undoubtedly be someone who didn’t exist. Shivering, Iris stepped back.

“Please, leave.”