Chapter 009: New Queen

The next morning when Esther had woken up from sleep, Anne was right beside her bed with a trolley with a small white basin filled with water and a clean cloth on it. Anne's face looked very gloomy.

"What's the matter with you, Anne?" asked Esther who got up from her bed and began to dip her hands in the small basin that Anne had brought just now.

"No! Nothing, Your Majesty," answered Anne, stuttering.

Esther stopped what she was doing just now and looked into Anne's eyes seriously. "Stop pretending Anne. I know there's something you're hiding from me. Say it fast!"

Anne lowered her head. "This morning I heard that His Majesty the King announced to everyone that Her Majesty Consort Averia will take the place of Queen Caroline."

Esther took a deep breath. "It actually happened exactly as I thought it would."

"Are they going to have a new Queen's coronation party?" Esther asked.

"Yes, they will have the coronation party. The invitation letter also arrived this morning," replied Anne.

Esther looked at Arthur who was sleeping on his bed and rubbed the boy's head gently.

"This kid is so poor. I feel like I'm in the mirror when I see this kid. Don't you think we both have the same condition."

Anne looked sad when Esther spoke like that. "Princess Esther..."

"It's just that there are two differences between the two of us. First, I was not as lucky as him because I could see the face of my mother who died while giving birth to me. Second, my father never once glanced at another woman after my mother died, much different from his father," said Esther with a bitter smile.

"Princess Esther, don't you wish to return to the Empire? After all, Queen Caroline has died and Lady Beatrice has also been found. Isn't there any reason for you to stay here? Then His Majesty the Emperor and empress especially the Grand Duke would be worried. Even yesterday I got a letter from the Crown Prince that the Grand Duke who had just returned from conquest ransacked the palace because he couldn't find his daughter at his residence," said Anne who reported everything she knew.

Esther laughed awkwardly after hearing something she never knew from Anne. "I will stay here. Caroline has given me a big enough responsibility and of course as a person she trusts I must complete that responsibility.

"Besides, if I return to the empire now, what can I do there? Living alone in a luxurious residence as the second most respected woman after the empress, but having to live a lonely and empty day without any of my family? I only get to see father once a year because the uncle constantly orders father in his military affairs," Esther added.

"Apparently you are very mature now, Princess," said Anne with a small smile.

"You mean I've been very childish all along," Esther joked.

"Yes, you are right," replied Anne.

"You're being too honest! Then please prepare breakfast for Arthur and me. Don't forget to wake the child from his sleep after I finish bathing!"

"Very well, Your Majesty." Anne came out of the room with Esther to help her take a shower.

After Anne and Esther came out of the room, Arthur woke up from his sleep. In fact, he hadn't slept at all, he couldn't even sleep at all. So of course he overheard all the conversations between Anne and Esther. Now he was trying to digest the conversation between the two women even though he didn't understand it at all. In the end he gave up and decided to forget what he had just heard because it was considered unimportant.

After she finished cleaning herself, Esther waited for Arthur at the dining table so they could have breakfast together. A few minutes later Arthur came. He sat right next to Esther.

"How did you sleep last night, Tiny? Did you sleep well?" Esther asked, smiling warmly at Arthur.

"I slept quite well, madam. I am very grateful that you have been so kind enough to let me sleep with you," Arthur replied politely.

The waiters came with various kinds of food. They put the food on the table.

"Eat a lot and you'll grow up healthy, Tiny," said Esther.

"All right, madam." Arthur began to take the food that was already on the table.

Esther didn't touch her food at all. She just kept looking at Arthur's face. Because she continued to be stared at like that, Arthur was annoyed. "Don't you want to eat, madam? Why do you keep staring at me?"

"I want to tell you something that we're going to a party tonight," said Esther, not wanting to be presumptuous.

Arthur feigned confusion. "Huh? What party?"

"His Majesty the King is holding a party for the coronation of the new Queen. As you know that everyone must attend including you and me. Later I will send my servant to take the rest of your clothes at the Rose palace."

Arthur just nodded his head as a sign that he understood.

After breakfast, they both got ready to attend Averia's coronation party as a new queen. Arthur wore his formal attire as a crown prince with a red sash wrapped around his shoulders. In contrast to Esther, who deliberately wore a black long-sleeved dress and did not forget the maroon cloth that covered her shoulders and back. In addition, Esther also deliberately let down her hair.

Whereas in the Nightingale Kingdom there is a dress code that must be obeyed by the people, nobles, to the royal family. For married women they are required to wear a polite long sleeved dress and the hair is rolled up. In addition, if a party is held, the guest must wear bright, not dark colored clothes.

Now Esther had really broken the dress code. Everyone in the party room had their eyes fixed on him. They started whispering to each other and criticizing Esther.

There was even a woman who dared to rebuke him. "Your Majesty Beatrice, aren't you very rude to wear black at this happy occasion."

"This event is very happy indeed, but I still can't feel happy because of Queen Caroline's death. I will continue to wear black dresses for the rest of my life as a form of condolences for me. So I hope you don't say much about me," replied Esther coldly.

Now people's attention turned to Arthur.

"Looks like Prince Arthur will step down from the position of crown prince after Her Highness Averia ascends the throne to become Queen."

"Is this the beginning of the collapse of the Campbell family?"

Esther took Arthur's hand and began to grumble. "You bastard! I actually looked like this on purpose so they wouldn't talk about Tiny. But they still talk about her. What a troublesome noble."

Arthur who heard Esther's grumbling couldn't help but smile. Only this time there was someone who paid attention to him.

"After all, the late Queen Caroline was nothing. How could she leave Prince Arthur to the holy Saintess," said someone that Esther and Arthur's ears could clearly hear.

Holy Saintess was Esther's designation in the Nightingale kingdom. The title was not a compliment like those who considered Esther a kind and helpful woman. But the title Saintess is their insult to Esther because until now Esther and King Lucius II have not completed their marriage at all by having a hot first night. That means Esther is just like a pure and virgin Saintess.