Shadow Queen

Chapter 5

“Thank you for your condolences. I have no doubt that you also found peace by the side of the goddess Gaia. It’s just… it’s just hard for the rest of us to live with it.”

“You must’ve been close.”

“Yes, we were close like sisters. Still, I’m trying to bury it in my heart little by little. I’m really concerned about the person that I’m serving. He hasn’t accepted his only daughter’s death for over three months.”

Chesana nodded with sadness.

“That’s parents. If Elena were to go wrong, so would we.”

Baronet Frederick’s expression hardened at his wife’s words as if he didn’t even want to think about it. For parents, the pain of losing their children is incomparable to the pain of losing their organs.

“He cried out to those who had nothing in the world, and who had nothing to have. He said he would have no wish if he could meet her only once.”

“I’m afraid that’s…”

“I know it’s a wish that can never come true. It’s impossible to save the dead. I thought so too. I didn’t believe it when I heard from a merchant that he saw you on the other side of the continent.”

Liabrick’s eyes were fixed on Elena. It was the moment when the spinning story finally reached its essence.

“Miss Elena, will you be his daughter?”

“…….!”

Surprised by the shocking suggestion, Elena was speechless with her eyes wide open. It was the same with Chesana. There was no agitation, as it was only Baronet Frederick who heard in advance. Elena places her hand on her chest and asks back with a deep breath.

“I don’t know how to accept this…….”

“I know it’s sudden.”

Liabrick admitted frankly. Nevertheless, he also did not forget to let Elena’s skillful quality to drive her choices.

“I know that I’m proposing you this offer because I don’t want you to be a concubine and be unhappy.”

“Concubine…….”

Elena recited lowly. The expression naturally darkened with the heavy words.

“I’ve seen countless times how miserable the end of a mistress or concubine is. I don’t want Miss Elena to follow the same footsteps as them.”

“……”

Elena lowered her gaze with her lips shut. She also didn’t forget to show signs of conflict with complex expressions.

“Follow him.”

“Ho, Honey?”

Elena raised her head and stared at Baronet Frederick. The father’s expression already had a firm resolution for his daughter.

“I’ve seen that crest. A fallen noblemen like us is a noble family that cannot even be mentioned. It’s better than it is now, and nothing would be lacking.”

“Father.”

“Go. Go and live a new life, Elena.”

Chesana, who was embarrassed by the sudden development, also changed her mind about Baronet Frederick’s stance.

“Yes, dear. Do as your father pleases.”

“Mother.”

Chesana pretended to be calm, and clenched her teeth, worried that Elena wouldn’t go if she could see tears.

‘Mother, Father.’

Elena also bit her lips hard. She was heartbroken by the sincerity of the two who were telling her to leave because they couldn’t protect their child.

“…..I thought being a concubine wasn’t bad either. If we can’t change it anyway, let’s give it up, so we could barely make it.”

“Elena.”

The couple’s heart was broken once more by Elena’s careful indication. It was so pitiful and sad that they felt that the reason for her recent maturity was that she accepted the unchangeable reality.

“………I’ll go.”

There was hope in Elena’s eyes that she could escape this sick reality.

“How will I live if I become his daughter?”

“It’s a life that can’t be defined in a word. But I can tell you this for sure. The world will revolve around Miss Elena. You can achieve anything, you can have anything.”

“Anything?”

“Anything.”

Elena had a puzzled look on her face.

“You can wear a few high-end dresses a day, or you can wear precious jewelry every day from the North. And ball, tea time, banquets….. It’s a very different life than now, so it’s hard to live one by one. Let me assure you one thing. It’s more than you can imagine.”

Liabrick intentionally brought up the fantasies of young women at the time. It was based on the judgment that Elena, who had a poor childhood, would have always admired the life of aristocratic women.

“Beyond imagination…….”

The corners of Liabrick’s mouth went up in a line. The presence of a noble knight among the society’s young women was an ornament and an object of love that made them stand out more. The case with acclaimed knights who often came to the meeting, and emotional fights between the young ladies led to the knights’ duel, which led to a dispute over their superiority.

“I think I know what Miss Elena wants. You want to have a noble knight from the literature, The Song of Roland. Is that right?”

“Yes, it is.”

Facing Elena’s expectant eyes, Liabrick smiled graciously.

“The appointing of a noble knight to defend the Lady is the right of Miss Elena.”

“Re, Really?”

Elena’s eyes widened. She looked surprised and delighted as if she didn’t know she would do such a favor. At the same time, she gripped the hem of her skirt under the table.

‘You’ll see, how your promise of appointing me a knight will hold you back.’

She doesn’t think Liabrick will keep this promise. Nevertheless, the reason for receiving such a definite answer is for the sake of the future. Just to have a justification.

“Really. The best knight in the family will be honored to serve Miss Elena.”

“I’m so happy that I’m speechless.”

Elena looked overwhelmed with joy. There was a snobbish smile in Liabrick’s eyes, but Elena had no intention of hiding the joy of this moment. It was Elena’s wish to bring them down.

“But what happens to my parents after I leave? I’m worried that the Lord will hurt them……”

Elena’s concern was justified by common sense. There was a high possibility that the Lord, who suffered a break-up proposal and lost his self-esteem, would get even.

“If you’re hurt because of me…… I can’t leave.”

The expression of Baronet Fredrick, who was listening quietly, suddenly hardened.

“It’s a good worry. My father will take care of the rest.”

“We’re fine. Just mind your own business.”

Elena ignored both of their words. With only eyes on Liabrick, she hoped she would come up with a solution in one way or another. Liabrick smiled as if not to worry.

“We’ve already set up a separate place for you to live in.”

“Really? Ha, I’m finally relieved.”

Elena was relieved, stroking her chest. Although she was acting, she must have been seen as a daughter of filial piety. Perhaps happy to see that, Liabrick took out a high-end silk pouch that looked heavy in her arms and handed it over to her. Chesana was surprised when she opened the pocket she had been handed.

“Isn’t, Isn’t these gold coins?”

“We’ll serve you without shortage, but I’m giving you this for the sake of Miss Elena, who’s worried about you two. Think of it as a little bit of sincerity and put it away.”

Liabrick smiled. It was a smile that appealed to the family as if she cared for them.

Elena, who was puzzled, bowed lightly and thanked her for her consideration. She also didn’t forget to express her gratitude with a smile. However, the mouth smiled but the eyes didn’t. Liabrick is a woman who pretends to care for her family and puts a knife in her back the moment she turns her back.

“No, we don’t deserve this. Please take it back.”

“I can’t take this. No, I’m not going to take it.”

The couple waved their hands with a serious look.

“Why don’t you take it for Miss Elena?”

“Please.”

When Elena begged with earnest eyes, Baronet Frederick reluctantly accepted it.

“……I’ll take it.”

Only then did Elena feel relieved. It will be a great seed money for her parents who will leave the country.

Once the conversation ended to some extent, Liabrick took out a pocket watch from her sleeve and checked it.

“It’s time to leave.”

“You’re leaving? Now?”

Liabrick calmly answered Elena’s embarrassed reply.

“The Lord will move when dawn comes. Now that you’ve accepted the marriage, there’s no reason to drag on. We have to leave tonight. That’s the only way we can cross the border and avoid them tracking us.”

“It’s too sudden.”

The moment I faced Leabrick, I had a vague hunch that I might have to leave today. Yes, knowing with your head and accepting with your heart were two different problems. Would it be heartbreaking for parents to let their children go without having time to prepare?

“Can’t we spend a day with our daughter? At least until dawn…….”

Chesana also pleaded with desperation that she wasn’t ready to say goodbye.

“Wife.”

“I know, I know……but I’m not sure I can send her off.”

‘Mother.’

The moment she heard it, Elena became emotional. After returning, she expected this day to come one day. So she wanted to spend a lot of time with her family so that she wouldn’t have any regrets. She had a nice and happy time, helping prepare a meal, going for a walk, and drinking tea. She thought everything would be okay, but she thought wrong. She couldn’t get away because there were lingering feelings.

“I’m sorry, madame. We have to leave tonight.”

Liabrick refused in a single stroke, giving no room for a word. She made excuses that it would be difficult if the Lord moved, but in reality, the Great Duke’s situation was worse than expected. In the meantime, Veronica’s reputation was plummeting due to groundless rumors. The rush of time gave Liabrick no room to look at Elena’s situation.