CH 8

Chapter 8: Beginning of substitute life 2

Ivan appeared from the front door, his expressionless face turned into a frown as soon as he met Ernesta’s gaze.

As expected, Mikolash immediately gathered around Ivan’s side, the thing Ernesta couldn’t even touch, leaving her extremely disappointed.

“What is it, Queen?”

She braced herself for scolding, but he asked for her purpose surprisingly normally, which caught her off guard.

However, the matter was about the injury he suffered to protect the secret. She couldn’t talk about it in front of Johan.

“N-No… I just came to check on you. I’m sorry if I interrupted your work. Excuse me.”

Although she couldn’t tell because he’s wearing gloves, she noticed that Ivan was holding a book in his injured left hand, so there shouldn’t have been a problem.

Ernesta gave up on asking and was about to leave the room, but she was stopped just as she was about to step through the door. She turned back to the room once again.

“Yes, Your Majesty. What can I do for you?”

“You don’t have to push yourself too hard. Live as you please.”

Those words could be taken either as sympathy or rejection.

Ernesta really didn’t understand this person.

Judging by his attitude since they met, it is more likely to be the latter, but that is precisely why Ernesta wants to know the reason for his cold responses.

“Thank you for your concern. However, I would like to do my best despite being inexperienced.”

Living as she pleases is easy. However, that would only lead to a breakdown in their relationship as a couple.

Building a good relationship between them may seem like a difficult task, given the current state of rejection, but she will do what she can.

“Starting tomorrow, I will work. I want to learn many things. If there is anything I’m lacking in, please tell me. I look forward to working with you.”

She boldly looked at him and Johan, wanting to tell them what she had in mind. Her heart was pounding with fear of their possible objections, but Ernesta successfully concealed her agitation and ended up showing them a smile.

❂❂❂

After the queen left the room, Ivan remained with a bewildered look on his face as his gaze drifted to the empty air.

All of the things he had just heard and seen were so unexpected that it took some time to process. Johan may have felt the same way, but he swiftly regained composure and turned to his lord, speaking first.

“Your Majesty, did you overhear my conversation with the queen?”

Ivan was caught off guard, but he only narrowed his eyes and nodded in affirmation.

While it was bad of him to do so, he couldn’t move from his spot once he heard their conversation while attempting to open the door.

“Humans fear and avoid the werewolf tribe. Though it may not seem like it.”

Ermengard is, of course, being well reasoned. They need to build a good relationship, or else the alliance may break down and lead to war.

It was truly admirable to see such courage and sense of responsibility worthy of respect.

However, the fear and anxiety that could be glimpsed in her words and actions couldn’t be hidden completely.

“There’s no need to go as far as acting. I have no intention of breaking the alliance by using the princess’s behavior as an excuse in the first place.”

The effort of his vassals, led by Johan, which he himself also undertook, resulted in the alliance being achieved after eight years of hard work. There is no way he could disregard their efforts.

Guiding the country in a positive direction. That alone is enough for Ivan.

❂❂❂

Ernesta was walking back to her room with a dejected expression. It had been three days since she arrived here, but she still couldn’t get along with anyone.

Two maids were chatting at the end of the corridor. They had a very casual exchange between werewolves, but they immediately stiffened up as soon as Ernesta came into view.

As expected, the maids and their strained expressions left promptly once they noticed the queen’s presence.

Why is that? Even though she’s a princess from another country, there should be a limit to being treated like a lump.

Realizing that she had stopped walking for a moment, Ernesta resumed her pace. Before she knew it, she arrived at her room and opened the door with a dark feeling.

There was someone inside when Ernesta arrived.

Dasha had her back turned, seemingly working on something. Following the country’s tradition of having only a writing desk and no other tables, various candies and tea were laid out on the carpet.

“Dasha, did you make tea?”

“Eek! Oh, your majesty!”

Dasha shook visibly, causing the teapot in her hand to slip and make a loud noise.

Ernesta breathed a sigh of relief upon reflexively checking that nothing had broken, but the girl’s face turned paper white at her own mistake.

“I, I’m terribly sorry! How can I apologize for such a rude mistake?”

Ernesta couldn’t hide her confusion in front of the pitifully trembling Dasha. Is making mistakes in front of royalty such a daunting thing?

She didn’t know, but she couldn’t just act composed as the queen while the girl before her turned pale.

“Don’t worry about it, everyone makes mistakes sometimes. Are you hurt?”

“Your Majesty…”

Trying to speak gently to reassure her, Ernesta was surprised when Dasha looked up with a face of disbelief.

Ernesta was curious about her reaction and decided to ask her honestly.

“Why are you so scared? I want to be friends with you, so I wish we could interact more comfortably.”

“Eh…?!”

Dasha seemed to be an honest person, expressing her surprise so clearly. Ernesta didn’t intend to say anything strange.

“Your Majesty, are you not afraid of us…?”

“Afraid?”

Confused by the question that came back at her, Ernesta tilted her head while unable to understand its intention. Dasha seemed resigned to her ineptness as the host and continued hesitantly.

“Humans fear and avoid the werewolf tribe. I…it makes me sad to know that I’m feared.”

Ernesta finally understood.

Apparently, the gap between the werewolf tribe and humans was bigger than she thought.

In Bral, the feeling of awe towards werewolf clans is deeply ingrained, and most people who don’t live near the border like Ernesta have never even met them. Just because they formed an alliance doesn’t mean they can instantly become friends.

Even if you understood the reality, it is sad to be looked at with one-sided fear. Dasha spoke very honestly about this common feeling.

“It’s kind of scary to be nervous and afraid when people are scared of you. Dasha is a kind girl.”

They have power.

Extraordinary physical abilities when in human form.

The flexibility of a beast when in wolf form.

Strength when in werewolf form.

With that fact, they could look down on and persecute humans, but this girl did not do so.

“I’m glad there’s a child like you. Going to an unknown country was still a little scary.”

Until now, Ernesta didn’t really realize that there was a poor relationship between the two countries. Due to her lack of prejudice, she couldn’t understand it, no matter how much Engeberg tried to warn her.

Surely there will be encounters with various ways of thinking even in this short period, not just people like Dasha.

Still, she wanted to do at least what she could to make sure these two countries could get along well.

“I will do my best too. So, please take care of me, Dasha.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Likewise, please take care of me!”

Dasha’s face lit up and she quickly bowed her head. It was a completely different expression from before, and Ernesta was happy to see her relaxed smile.

“Hey Dasha, let’s have tea together.”

“If it’s okay with you, I will gladly accept!”

Dasha nodded happily and resumed preparing the tea.

Feeling comforted by her genuine expression, Ernesta was able to rest for a short while.