Chapter 41

I wrote this in a hurry because I was so worried. Basically, everything is peaceful, so please don't worry.

While clinging to the corner of the corridor with Lord Percival, my trembling gradually subsided.

A concubine—In this country, the king and the crown prince have the right to designate concubines within the royal family.

However, this right is conditional: there must be a principal wife, and she must not have shown signs of bearing a child. Additionally, the family of the concubine must be given significant favor. The crown prince does not yet have a principal wife. Furthermore, the right to designate a concubine does not mean it must be accepted. Refusal does not result in any punishment for the family.

I finally understood that I had been mocked, but I wondered if it was right to respond to the royal family's command with such an attitude. I also wondered how to thank Lord Percival for helping me, and why he was here in the first place. My head was full, and I couldn't find the words. I was in a mental shutdown today.

"Um... why?"

"I heard that Mother and Mimosa were at the palace, and I wanted to see your face, even if just for a moment. And... I'm sorry for scaring you. Prince Frey is my childhood friend."

As I was told he would escort me to the carriage, I placed my hand on Lord Percival's arm and walked slowly while listening to him.

"Prince Frey has had more restrictions than freedom since he was a child, due to the queen's temperament and the study of imperial science. The queen... is now the ruler of the women's society, but the prince has no authority yet. His words in meetings are not always accepted, and without a principal wife, he cannot freely choose women. It's a common scandal."

"...And, even though Lord Percival is a childhood friend, is there some kind of relationship?"

Lord Percival wore a subtle, ambiguous smile and looked into the distance.

"The way our family is built is as I explained when we first met. As the son of the head of the royal guard and the same age as the prince, we had a lot of interaction. I was quite fat, and at that time, the prince was more... pampered and looked down on me. But now, I got married first, didn't I? To a very lovely woman like you."

Prince Frey exuded intelligence and strength, but being the same age as Lord Percival and having seen him grow up, he must have been upset that I married Lord Percival first?

"Could it be that Prince Frey is jealous of me, not Lord Percival?"

"Probably. Despite that, he is still a smart and perceptive person. He didn't expect you to be so excessively scared, so he quickly retracted his actions. He'll probably get a scolding from the queen later."

Lord Percival laughed jokingly, saying it was because I would tell on him, and he escorted me to the carriage. He explained the situation to my mother-in-law, and it seemed Lord Percival would return after training.

In the carriage on the way back, my mother-in-law apologized to me.

"I'm sorry... I didn't expect you to meet Prince Frey. He's a troublesome person... He has always been infatuated with Percy. Mimosa, from now on, I'll always be with you when you come to the palace. I won't let you be alone, I know you were scared."

Comforted by my mother-in-law, I finally shed a few tears. I was scared, but Lord Percival was there for me.

Still, I wondered if it was right for him to tease me just because he liked Lord Percival. Maybe he thought I didn't understand the concubine system well enough because I was a former recluse from a viscount's family.

I started to feel a bit angry. After the incident with Casablanca, I felt like I was gradually learning how to get angry.

I didn't like being on the receiving end of such power plays just because he thought I had taken Lord Percival from him.

When I thought about where this feeling of dislike came from, it was simple—I liked Lord Percival. It was possessiveness.

"Mother-in-law, I need your advice..."

"Of course, dear. What are you planning? Don't worry, the queen knows best about the prince's issues, so I can help as long as it's not considered disrespectful."

"Then, at the next tea party..."

My strategy meeting with my mother-in-law continued even after we returned to the mansion.

The prince called me a delicate flower, but I am Mimosa. A nodding flower, and a weed.

I need to show him that I'm not just delicate.

Partly because I was scared, I was also a bit stubborn.