18. Is the Queen up to no good again?
Ever since that night when I was pinned down by the queen, nearly forced into a situation with Louise, falling into her sweet trap, I managed to push her away, sensing her unusual behavior through the script. She smiled and said, “I did it on purpose,” but in reality, it was just to cover her nervousness. In the following days, she became considerably more serious.
Not only did she stop appearing as a disruptive third wheel while Kephiel and I were enjoying ourselves at Glamorgan Castle, deliberately breaking us apart to create opportunities for her to be alone with me, but even when she had to inform me about the situation at Glamorgan Castle and the handling of Glamorgan II, she wore a sarcastic demeanor, almost as if we had returned to the moment I first exposed the queen’s disguise.
Perhaps this isn’t so bad? I thought, but soon I realized: the queen was not like other scheming girls; she hadn’t forgotten her identity as the queen of the Great Yeng Empire before approaching me.
And my clear rejection that night, for some reason, indeed brought dangerous consequences.
A few days later, in the residence shared with Kephiel.
Just as Kephiel and I were discussing where to “check in” next at Glamorgan Castle, the queen, who hadn’t intruded as a royal third wheel for several days, appeared.
【Louise IV has ulterior motives, she found Oqulid!】
【Click】
With the appearance of the script and the sound of the door creaking, the queen entered with the elven maid who had previously served her.
“Sorry to interrupt~ Oqulid, and Kephiel~”
The queen greeted me with her usual cheerful smile, her innocent demeanor suggesting she bore no psychological scars from the “failed seduction” of that previous night. But I knew all too well: how could the queen’s smile be taken at face value? The line in the script about “ulterior motives” was a clear warning.
And the next moment, the emergence of a new script made me even more restless! Because I dared not miss a single word of its content!
【The elven maid harbors hostility towards Kephiel!】
It was the elven maid who had recently begun serving the queen, and her feelings towards Kephiel…
I immediately stood up to block Kephiel, but it was futile. The moment Kephiel was busy greeting the queen, I clearly saw the white-haired maid looking at Kephiel with a “hungry” gaze, like a beast spotting its desired prey!
The queen’s abnormality, combined with this mysterious maid’s intentions towards Kephiel, instantly filled me with a sense of foreboding! But I had no time to think further, for the queen would not grant me the time to “foresee”! An ally who knows too much about their own power can also become the most troublesome enemy!
“Oqulid, what are you daydreaming about?”
The queen’s words forced me to respond, “Sigh… It’s been several days since the seaside incident, and you’re still fixated on our swimsuits? If that’s the case, why not just tell me the answer to the question ‘whose swimsuit is more suitable’ from back then?”
“Princess Wang! Don’t tease him…”
Ke Fei’er was completely oblivious to the Queen’s unusual behavior today. After all… the Queen’s disguise was so perfect that I had only seen her deeper intentions in the script!
Could it be the same as before: because she couldn’t entice me, the Queen was angry and had some malicious scheme against me? But this time, strangely, the Queen’s death script had not appeared. Moreover… could it be that, at this point, the Queen still had ulterior motives towards me like before?
So what exactly was she…
I didn’t have time to think further, as the Queen took action the next moment.
“Miss Ludwig, could you step out for a moment? I want to have a little private chat with them~”
She first dismissed the hostile fairy maid who held animosity towards Ke Fei’er, and then, once the door closed, she instantly donned a look of regret, letting out a deep sigh in front of me and Ke Fei’er.
“Ke Fei’er, Ou Qi Li De, these past few days have been quite enjoyable, but Ke Fei’er, I really can’t neglect state affairs, so… how about I arrange for us to head back home soon?”
【Louis IV hopes Ou Qi Li De and Ke Fei’er return to the capital of the Great Ying Empire!】
The script appeared, but this was merely a tactic and did not explain the Queen’s purpose for doing so! Naturally, Ke Fei’er wouldn’t realize the oddity in this. Most likely thinking that wherever I was, she should be too, Ke Fei’er looked at me first, silently seeking my opinion.
With Ke Fei’er present, and having had no opportunity to meet the Queen alone recently, even if I questioned the Queen about her recent oddities, given the Queen’s malicious character, she would surely cover it up with a dazzling idol-like attitude.
Moreover, I was still asking the Queen to investigate clues about the “fairy,” leaving me with no other choice at this moment.
“Sure, Your Majesty, we’ve had enough fun anyway.” I nodded, watching the Queen mischievously add a line for me.
“You’ve had enough of the swimsuits too?”
“Not at all! Anyway, we have no problem.”
For some reason, the Queen, having received my response, did not seem pleased but rather appeared to be “relieved,” her expression brightening up.
“Great! I’ll go make arrangements right away. You absolutely mustn’t change your mind later~ After all, we need to prepare a lot before we leave~”
With a naive and lively attitude, she was essentially threatening me with “no backing out,” and then she happily left.
“Well then, I won’t disturb you two in enjoying the last moments of your vacation~ Stay safe~”
“Princess Wang!”
“Hahaha~”
Ke Fei’er, blushing and pretending to chase after her, caused the Queen to giggle with a tinkling laugh as she skipped out of the room. Flustered, Ke Fei’er slammed the door shut, still blushing from the earlier words, and then glanced at me with a hint of loneliness.
“Well, it seems we can’t continue playing, Ou Qi Li De. But it’s okay, um… that is… I can wear swimsuits anytime… so don’t be so silent, are you actually unwilling?”
Not at all, Ke Fei’er.
In my silence, I didn’t even have the leisure to consider the enticing implications of Ke Fei’er’s words about “wearing swimsuits anytime.” After all, just as the Queen had made her decision to leave, a more pressing script hit me all at once.
【Ou Qi Li De dies!】
Following the blunt death script was something I couldn’t tolerate… the danger that Ke Fei’er faced!
【Ke Fei’er fails to capture the fairy!】
【Ke Fei’er is injured!】
Not only was the main storyline obstructed, but Ke Fei’er herself was also hurt. I had some clues about this script, but…
Could it really be that the queen is so angry at my refusal that she secretly harbors such thoughts?
In the past, I would have certainly thought it was the queen’s mischief, but this time I hesitated; after all, the queen’s behavior was truly strange.
But regardless, I had to make a corresponding counterattack.
“Ke Fei’er.”
“!”
“Don’t be so nervous.” I reassured Ke Fei’er, who was still muttering about “how the swimsuit is” and “whatnot.” Although I was really looking forward to it, now was not the time to consider “how to appreciate Ke Fei’er in a swimsuit.”
“Listen to me, on the day we leave, could you perhaps… do as I say next?”