RLQ - Chapter 10
Chapter 10: Her Thoughts
Heinrich stood in the corridor for a while.
He knew without thinking where the Queen's fury came from. Heinrich knew where he had erred; he was used to doing things as before, first analyzing the drawbacks of various matters with the Queen, and then proposing solutions. They were once the closest teacher and student, and there was no need for so many reservations in their conversations.
But now, the Queen was no longer willing to listen.
She could grant this trust, and she could also withdraw it without hesitation.
"Mr. Heinrich."
A familiar voice sounded, and Heinrich looked up to see Madam Kelly standing before him, watching him. Her tone was distant, not hiding her aversion in the slightest, as she handed him a dispatch tube.
"This is from Her Majesty."
The bronze dispatch tube was cold. Heinrich gripped it tightly, and at that moment, even he didn't know what he was truly thinking... Adele was once his most outstanding student, except for one subject. He had once hoped she could be as cunning and ruthless as a "Heinrich."
This was originally the subject they thought would be the easiest. Instead, it became the biggest failure.
Having witnessed countless impurities, Adele became increasingly just and strict.
This characteristic became particularly prominent after she became Queen. She was not stingy in rewarding those who had been kind to her, but she would not allow them to gain power without limit. However, the latter was what the Heinrich family wanted—they didn't want a just monarch, they only wanted to control the Empire themselves.
The coldness from the bronze dispatch tube spread from his palm throughout his body. Heinrich couldn't tell if the Queen's anger just now was to remove him from Dalton's surveillance, or... or...
He didn't want to think about it anymore.
"She was always astonishingly excellent in every subject," Heinrich heard his voice echo hollowly. He took out another letter and handed it to Madam Kelly, "Give this to her."
Without waiting for Madam Kelly to say anything more, Heinrich quickened his pace and hurried away.
"You seem particularly opposed to me accepting John VI's proposal."
Adele leaned back in her chair, exhausted. She still maintained a calm expression, but the hand resting by the chair was clenched tightly, the veins exceptionally clear beneath her translucent skin, her knuckles terrifyingly pale.
Dalton watched her.
Perhaps often, weariness would greatly diminish a beauty's charm, but this was absolutely not the case with Adele. Sunlight filtered through the room's rose window, falling upon the Queen. Tiny dust motes in the air danced like golden powder, and the fatigue between her brows transformed into the sorrow of a goddess carved by a goldsmith's chisel.
Even on the night of the mutiny, Dalton had never seen her reveal such an expression.
Perhaps she had, but it was hidden beneath darkness and a cloak.
Dalton realized that Heinrich had indeed once been very important to her.
He had also heard some things about Adele and Heinrich. Adele had once been banished from the court by her father, and during several years of exile, the only person accompanying her was the young heir of the two-headed snake family. Many speculated privately about the Queen's feelings for Heinrich.
Did she see him as a brother, a father, or something more... a lover?
Why didn't that arrow just now pierce directly into that fellow's skull?
Dalton found it hard to control his aversion to Heinrich, which contained both his existing dislike for nobles and a newly added element—a man's jealousy towards another man.
"And what is your reason for opposing it?" Adele raised her face to look at him. Perhaps due to fatigue, her voice was so low it was almost inaudible.
Dalton didn't answer immediately.
There were many reasons, such as John VI being a complete and utter follower of the Old God Sect, such as the Yage Kingdom's ambition towards the Roland Empire, such as... such as the instant surge of anger when he heard she might marry another man. It was that anger that prompted him to tear up that letter without hesitation.
"Dalton, tell me."
"You wouldn't want to marry a stinking pig, would you?" Dalton shrugged, not hiding his disgust for the King of Yage. "Better to trust a demon's promise than his contract. I'd bet that while those fools in the National Assembly are figuring out how to satisfy him, he's thinking about how to devour you and Roland."
Adele didn't speak, watching him for a moment. A brief smile flickered across her face.
Dalton caught it and couldn't help but feel his mood strangely improve.
"Well said." Her voice returned to its normal steady tone. "However, as Heinrich said, if I refuse his proposal, Roland won't just face a terrible king, but a fleet. Do you have any way to deal with it?"
"The Mo'er Mercenaries just arrived at the port and haven't left yet," Dalton said. "If we return ten cannons to them and pay them a certain fee, they will help us fight the enemy."
"What are the chances of winning?" Adele asked. "Although I don't understand military matters, I hope you can tell me the truth. You know, sometimes a well-intentioned lie can be more fatal than a cruel truth."
Dalton hesitated for a moment. "There's a chance of winning, but we can't engage them in a naval battle. We must let them land."
"What do we have in our port then?" Adele asked, then quickly answered herself. "Wool, red wine, cloth... This is currently the most prosperous place in Roland. The drought isn't over yet. If the port is destroyed by war, what will we use to maintain the army and keep the government running? Furthermore, Dalton, as a follower of the New God Sect, you should understand better than I do what the port means to us."
"We need allies," Dalton said, a hint of gloom crossing his face. "You have another option."
The Queen looked at him.
As the words left his mouth, Dalton almost immediately felt a hint of regret. He quickly suppressed that regret and avoided the Queen's gaze.
"Roland isn't the only enemy of the Yage Kingdom. Our neighbor, the Rute Empire, established the New God Sect as its state religion two years ago, and John VI has been trying to attack it," Dalton said quickly. "The Emperor of the Rute Empire is younger than John VI, only twenty-four this year, and he's not yet married... An alliance with the Rute Empire would give us a powerful ally. John VI's fleet would have to turn back to defend his own country before reaching the strait."
"That sounds pretty good." Adele nodded calmly, her expression unchanged. "What does he look like?"
"...Very handsome."
"More handsome than you?"
"...No."
Dalton answered through clenched teeth. After he answered, the atmosphere in the room became stagnant.
"When did the Rute Empire's ambassador arrive?"
"Three days ago."
"Why didn't you tell me then?" Adele's gaze fell on Dalton's face. Dalton felt like she was searching for something. "Or perhaps, you invited me hunting today just to talk about this? You want to persuade me to marry the Emperor of the Rute Empire? Is that right?"
Dalton silently stared at the letter he had torn up on the table.
Why didn't he say it three days ago?
Because at that time, he had to use great effort to restrain the impulse to draw his gun and empty its bullets into the face of that arrogant Rute Empire ambassador. He repeatedly told himself that a marriage alliance between the Queen and a New God Empire would be more beneficial for consolidating the New God Sect's position and could even further impact the National Assembly.
Because of this, he didn't tell those fools who thought Adele was already the Rute Queen to get lost.
But for three whole days, he simply didn't want to mention this matter to the Queen.
Until... until that damned Heinrich brought this even worse news today.
"Please come here for a moment, Mr. Dalton," Adele said softly.
Dalton walked to her side. She raised her hand, grabbed his collar, and pulled him towards her. Those magnificent eyes gazed at him for a long time. Dalton could clearly see his own reflection in them... She could conquer everyone with such a gaze, a gaze that seemed to be filled with deep love.
As this thought flashed through his mind, the Queen raised her hand and pressed a finger to his lips.
Her fingertip carried a warmth familiar to him. As it pressed with some force against his lips, he instinctively recalled that kiss in the statue colonnade, filled with blood and struggle.
—Don't accept his proposal.
The words felt like they were about to burst out.
Slap.
Another sharp sound.
Adele withdrew her hand, her fingertips pale from the force, and abruptly pushed him back. This slap was heavier than the one that day. A bright red handprint instantly appeared on Dalton's pale, handsome cheek—it was clear its owner had used her full strength.
"You can arrange the ceremony to receive the Rute Empire's envoy," the Queen said, sitting with her back to the light. "You can also begin arranging the marriage negotiations."
Dalton wasn't sure if he saw a hint of moisture flicker in her eyes. He took a step forward.
"Dalton," Adele said, "Now you get out too."
Madam Kelly pushed open the door and walked to the Queen's side.
Adele leaned back in her chair, thinking about something, her expression utterly calm, without the slightest trace of fatigue, sadness, or anger. Hearing Madam Kelly enter, she looked up and smiled. "Please bring me the map, my dear."
Madam Kelly not only brought her the map but also a basin of hot water. She dipped a soft, white cloth in the water and gently wiped the Queen's left hand—Adele had slapped Dalton a bit too hard, and her palm was now red.
"Why aren't you crying this time, Kelly?" Adele joked, receiving a reproachful look from Kelly.
"Are you really planning to marry the Rute Emperor?" Madam Kelly hesitated for a moment before voicing her doubt. This question was somewhat overstepping her position.
But after so many years together, her relationship with the Queen was far more than just mistress and servant.
The Queen was the princess she had watched grow up, her mistress, her faith. And she was an inseparable part of the Queen's life, like family.
"Just an alliance," Adele said casually, unfolding the secret letter Heinrich had given Madam Kelly. "Marriage negotiations will take at least two years. By the time the contract is officially signed, the matter should have already been resolved."
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