Chapter 014: A False Rumor
The clear sky and the wind made Esther's body shiver cold even though she was wearing a long sleeved dress now. Now she was sitting leisurely on the green grass of her garden while supporting Arthur's head, which was on her thigh.
Esther don't know what the cause was when she was sitting there, suddenly Arthur, who had just arrived, fell asleep on Esther's lap. Actually, Esther didn't think it was a big problem either, it was just that she felt a little weird about the boy's behavior.
Esther looked up at the blue sky as she gently stroked Arthur's head. "What's the matter with you, Tiny? How spoiled you are for me."
"This is a form of my love for mother," Arthur replied as he played with Esther's hair, which Esther had deliberately let loose.
Esther pretended to laugh and then her expression returned to its normal level. "Stop lying and bullshit like that, Tiny. I just found out that you and your dad are exactly the same because you both like bullshit."
"Me and the king are very different. So don't compare me to someone like that," replied Arthur coldly.
"Okay, I won't compare you with him again. Then can you tell me why you're being so spoiled with me now, Prince Arthur," Esther said in formal language.
Arthur's laughter immediately exploded when he heard Esther speak in a formal language that sounded very stiff to his ears. "Why are you using formal language instead?"
Esther looked irritated because Arthur had not answered the question that had been asked before. "Can't you just answer my question right away?"
"Okay. I just feel sorry for you because of what happened a few days ago. Besides that, I also haven't had the chance to say my apology to you. I'm sorry, mother. Because of me, Madam Lindsley cursed you," Arthur said quietly.
Esther couldn't help but smile at Arthur's words. It felt like something was melting in her heart right now. A feeling she had never felt at all while in the Maurice Empire. Maybe that feeling can be called touching.
"It doesn't matter to me. Besides, I know you must have hit Prince Leon because he was already so upset and couldn't hold back his emotions. That's normal. I just want you to not hit them back with violence next time. I think it's better to use force." sense to avenge them," advised Esther.
"Back when I was little, my cousin used to insult me a lot because I didn't have a mother. He also used to abuse me a lot," Esther added.
Arthur seemed very interested in Esther's story. "Really? Then what did you do then?"
"I slandered him right in front of his mother and father so that his mother was very angry at that time. I was quite satisfied at that time. Because of that incident until now he did not dare to insult and harm me again," said Esther with a small smile when reminiscing about her childhood.
"Seems like mother's childhood was very fun." Esther didn't reply to Arthur's words. She just stared at Arthur's face who was in her lap.
"Why are you looking at me like that mother?" asked Arthur, looking confused. Esther suddenly laughed, making Arthur's brow furrow in confusion.
"Somehow, it's a bit strange for me that you call me mother. After all, my age and yours are only five years apart."
Arthur laughed along with Esther. "You're right too."
Their calm was immediately broken when an aide to King Lucius II came to meet them in the garden. The aide bowed half of his body to the two of them.
"What is wrong with the king's famous aide who is busy coming to my humble palace?" Esther asked sarcastically.
"I was ordered by His Majesty the King to take you to the King's palace," said the aide politely.
"What business did he call me?" Esther asked bluntly. "I'm sorry, Your Majesty. But I also don't know. I was only told to summon you to the King's palace," replied the Adjutant.
"Okay. Before that, I'll get ready first," said Esther.
The aide nodded his head. "I will be waiting for you outside your palace."
After the aide left, Esther immediately got up and left Arthur in the garden. She immediately asked Helena to help him change clothes and get ready. Half an hour had passed, Esther rushed out of her palace to meet the aide. The two of them walked together towards the king's palace.
Esther, whose brown wig she deliberately wore and a long-sleeved black dress that was very closed. If at first people would think that the King summoned Esther to the palace to consummate their marriage, then their thoughts would immediately change when they saw the clothes that Esther was wearing. Her clothes were even more closed and gloomy than usual.
Esther entered the King's palace in a hurry. She wanted to immediately ask the purpose of King Lucius II summoning him and immediately returned to her palace to sleep. After walking for a few minutes, they finally arrived at the door of the king's study. Esther immediately pushed the door hard with no regard for etiquette or manners.
"May I know why you called me here?"
The King's aide who came with Esther was surprised to see Esther who seemed very disrespectful. King Lucius II just smiled. At first he wanted to make small talk with Esther. However, he knew that she would definitely not like it. Like it or not, he has to talk to the point.
"I wish to borrow your peerless wisdom and intelligence," said King Lucius II.
"What do you mean?" Esther asked, raising her right eyebrow.
"I'm a little confused in managing the state budget deficit. I once heard from Caroline that you are very skilled in economics," replied King Lucius II casually.
"Really? Even though you're already a king, why are you so bad at asking a lowly concubine like me for help," said Esther, who deliberately underestimated King Lucius II.
King Lucius II kept a smile on his face. "You're right. I really suck. So please help me. Please."
Esther took a deep breath as she massaged her temples with her right hand. She did want to refuse to help King Lucius II. But she also felt sorry for the man who sbe considered like her own brother was having trouble. Like it or not, she was forced to help her resolve matters related to the kingdom's economy.
So many, that Esther had to spend the night in the King's palace. The next day she returned to her palace in a weak condition. It seemed that ever since becoming a concubine in the Nightingale Kingdom, she had rarely used her brain to think and settle the internal affairs of the empire. Her return was greeted by Helena and Arthur.
"Helena, please prepare warm water for me. I want to immediately soak there and calm my nerves!" Esther's orders.
Helena immediately left Arthur and Esther to prepare warm water. Arthur looked at Esther with a look that was very difficult to describe in words.
"I think I'll have a new sibling born to you, mother," Arthur said.
Esther immediately nudged Arthur's forehead quite hard. "Stop bullshit! I'm at His Majesty's palace to help him resolve the economic crisis in this kingdom. Damn it! That person is really troublesome."
"Really? Nothing happened as I think now?" asked Arthur whose face looked very happy for some reason.
"Of course not." Esther gripped Arthur's shoulders quite firmly. "The point is when you become king, try not to bother other people. Don't be like your father!"
"Okay," Arthur replied happily.
That same day rumors about Concubine Beatrice spending a hot night with King Lucius II started circulating around the palace.