Chapter 2

Faced with my mother's lament over the lack of love from my father, I decided to tempt her like a devil.

"Mother, what do you like about His Majesty the King?"

"Eh?"

In response to my question, my mother, who had been looking coldly, blinked and stared at my face as if she didn't understand what was being said.

"Do you like his face? Well, he is of the royal family. Generations of marriages have also been based on beauty, so he is handsome... But, Mother, there are many people in the world who are more beautiful than His Majesty, you know?"

"Albert?"

"No, because what else does His Majesty have besides his looks?"

"Where...?"

"There's no sincerity towards you, is there? Ah, being kind is something that should be a given in a marriage. I've never received anything from His Majesty as a father, and since I don't often see him at ceremonies or hear from him, I honestly don't think of him as a parent."

Since the royal family doesn't raise their own children, it's not surprising that he's not involved in childcare. But then, what has he done as a parent?

Well, at least our hair color and faces are almost identical, so he must have provided the genes, right?

"Is that... so?"

"Yes. Even if it's a political marriage, mutual understanding is necessary. So, Mother, what do you like about His Majesty? What made you fall in love with him?"

In response to my question, my mother thought, thought, and thought deeply, and finally muttered.

"His face?"

Why is it a question? I shouldn't laugh, but I can't help it.

"Is it really just his looks? Mother, you're such a face person. But, Mother, as I said before, His Majesty is indeed handsome, but that's all. To put it bluntly, he's no different from a piece of art."

"Is being beautiful bad?"

"It's not bad, but it's not enough. If I say this, Mother might be hurt, but I think Mother's eye for men is... a bit disappointing."

"Is that... so?"

"Men have other good qualities, such as strength and wildness, and also a sense of inclusiveness."

"Inclusiveness?"

"His Majesty doesn't have that, does he? At least, I don't feel protected by him as a father."

Mother is the only concubine in this harem, and normally the management of the harem is done by the queen, but that's not the case here.

Moreover, this place is more like a concubine's palace.

The support for Mother and me doesn't come from His Majesty but from Mother's family, the Marquis household. Therefore, the only men allowed in the harem are His Majesty and the guards who come with us, but we have guards (men) for our personal security, a butler (an older man) who takes care of our daily needs, and a gardener (a man) who manages the garden of the palace where Mother lives, all of whom are arranged by the Marquis household.

"Mother, you can't be happy here."

"Why?!"

I stared intently at Mother's green eyes, which were suddenly disturbed.

"If His Majesty loved us, it wouldn't be like this..."

Mother's words faltered under my unwavering gaze.

"I have always loved His Majesty..."

Mother's eyes wavered, and tears welled up.

"I have always loved..."

"What has His Majesty given you in return for your love?"

"You."

"Yes, that's the only thing I can praise. I can be grateful that His Majesty gave me you."

"Albert..."

"But the one who gives Mother love is not His Majesty. Mother is loved, isn't she?"

"By you?"

"Me too, but from much earlier."

"From earlier?"

"From when Mother was a child, by the Marquis and his wife."

At my words, Mother let out a small gasp.

"Father... Mother..."

Tears began to fall from Mother's eyes again, and I spoke gently to console her.

"Father and Mother have always loved you. The Marquis is the one who provides a lot of support to Mother, who is a concubine in the harem."

"Father... I, I was loved and cherished by Father and Mother... When I decided to become His Majesty's concubine, Mother didn't want to let me go and didn't want to send me to the harem..."

"Of course, they wouldn't want to leave their beloved only daughter in such a cold place."

"But, I insisted on being by His Majesty's side."

"Even though they didn't want to let you go, they must have sent you here, understanding your desire to be by His Majesty's side."

"Did I make Mother sad?"

"No, Mother must have believed that His Majesty would love her beloved daughter."

Well, that's the reality.

"I want to go back... to Fulftball, to the beautiful Fulftball, where Father and Mother are."

Great! Got the confession! Just as I was about to give the order to contact the Marquis, the door was suddenly opened.

"Risette!! I've come to take you back!! Let's go back to Fulftball!!"

The Marquis, Mother's father and my grandfather, boldly entered the area where no men other than the king were allowed.

The elderly butler near the door bowed deeply.

You, huh? When did you contact the Marquis?

"Father..."

"Oh, Risette. What a state you're in. My dear daughter. Let's go back to Fulftball. Everyone is waiting for your return. Henrietta is urging me to bring you back every day."

"Mother?"

"Yes. She worries about you every day. Leave everything else to your father. Let's go back to our home where Henrietta is waiting. Yana! Take Risette back to our home right away!"

At Grandfather's command, the elderly lady, who is my wet nurse and Mother's maid, rushed over and quickly led the crying Mother away.

A concubine's return to her hometown should involve a lot of procedures and preparations.

But since no one, not just the king but also his close aides, ministers, and other high-ranking officials, has said anything or even checked on us, there shouldn't be any complaints if a concubine returns home without a word.

In fact, treating a concubine so poorly is like declaring war on her family, the Marquis household.

"Henzel, gather everything we've prepared."

"As you wish."

After giving instructions to the butler, Grandfather turned to me.

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