The Concubine Does Not Love the Emperor - Chapter 20

The Queen is calling for you,” came the announcement.

With just one word, Hassan gestured to the Rem sisters.

“He despises waiting the most. Enough! There’s no need for ornaments. We’re not here to pay our respects. Hurry up.”

With an arrogant expression, he swung his staff without mercy. The Rem sisters hastily prepared to go out. When they arrived at the place where the Queen was staying in the harem, a maid waiting outside the room welcomed Margaret.

“You can stay here, and you, come inside.”

As Margaret entered the room, the Queen gestured for her to wait and leisurely sipped her coffee. Despite Hassan’s admonition that they were late, the Queen kept Margaret standing there for quite some time.

“It’s been quite noisy lately.”

“With everyone gathering in the good weather, they talk about anything and everything. I heard it’s a daily occurrence in the harem.”

Margaret answered obediently, observing the Queen’s expression. She wondered if Queen had heard rumors or if she was the one spreading them.

“But it seems like it’s not good news.”

“News can be fabricated if you have a mouth, and if you have ears, you can listen to it. Would you prefer only cinnamon cookies with mixed spices?”

“Are you daring to retort to the Queen-mother?”

A maid immediately became indignant at Margaret’s natural yet audacious response, but the Queen raised his hand to stop her. The maid glared at Margaret before stepping back.

“Alright. There are still those in the harem who play with food.”

“Playing with food can lead to a frog getting hit by a thrown stone.”

The queen’s eyes narrowed with amusement. Margaret sat with her hands neatly folded, waiting for the Queen to speak. She maintained an extremely polite demeanor on the surface.

“Yes, occasionally frogs do die.”

“…”

“In my maiden days, whenever ominous rumors circulated, one or two people would mysteriously disappear.”

The queen chuckled lightly, her laughter somehow familiar. Her lips curled upward, but her eyes remained cold and imposing.

“They are not missed. It’s the precious gems that vanished with them. Yes, I can’t help but think it’s a bit of a waste. Rings, necklaces, and such are sinking into the straits.”

The atmosphere in the room shifted in an instant. The air seemed to thicken. Margaret was certain that the Queen was contemplating whether to spare or end her life.

Though her words were light and she laughed casually, the threat she posed was far greater than brandishing a knife. It was beyond the art of noble young ladies who concealed their true intentions. Margaret took a deep breath and collected her thoughts. She had a sinking feeling that one wrong move would leave her unable to walk out of there alive.

“The Queen-Mother likely possesses enough wealth to overflow, so what’s the big deal about a few things? If they had any value, others would have taken them before they sank to the bottom.”

“That’s right. If they had any value, those with eyes would have taken them in advance.”

Margaret closed her eyes thoughtfully. She needed to figure out what the queen wanted. This wasn’t a palace intrigue like in the dramas; it was a common massacre according to the hierarchy. She had undoubtedly killed concubines who didn’t follow her orders.

Challenging the Queen’s mood with unnecessary defiance would be suicide. Her death had to be more honorable and dignified. When she opened her eyes again, Margaret’s gaze was clear and innocent. Wearing a mask was not difficult.

“If they had any thoughts, they would have offered the most valuable things to the Queen-mother, so there’s no need to regret it.”

“Do you really think so?”

“If I were them, I would have done the same.”

The Queen smiled slyly as he looked at Margaret. Would she see through her clever strategy, or would she simply think her attitude had changed like the back of a hand?

Fortunately, it seemed to be the latter, as the Queen’s tone softened slightly.

“Indeed, I heard you have a fragile body.”

“I don’t have a weak body, but I often suffer from upset stomachs due to enjoying ice pastries in hot weather.”

“They say you enjoy eating meat and often go for walks with maids. When you’re unwell, it’s better to keep your belly warm and rest.”

It was a vague statement. If taken at face value, it meant that there were people ready to lend her their ears and eyes throughout the harem.

“On the other hand, if you think about it the other way around, it could also mean that you used them to spread rumors.”

She didn’t seem to be pressing her, and the Queen’s tone became gentler.

“I’m just concerned.”

“Why would I interpret the Queen-mother’s words any differently?”

“It seems you’re like a Northerner, no matter what your circumstances are. Regardless of the situation, you appear to be from the Devran family. If that’s the case, you should act accordingly to avoid raising any suspicions.”

Queen indirectly conveyed that his information extended even to the vicinity of Prince Mustafa.

“Even in the harem, baseless rumors are unacceptable. It’s better for rumors to be blown away by the wind before the Emperor even sets foot.”