Now Esther was sitting in the mirror room of the Queen Dowager's Palace with the Queen Dowager. She was told by the woman to rest for a while after the bad incident just now. The queen mother's personal maid came with a cup of tea for Esther so she could calm herself.
"Are you calmer now, Princess Esther?" asked the queen mother as she gently stroked Esther's hand.
Esther took a deep breath before giving the Queen Mother an answer. "I'm fine."
The atmosphere became quiet again. In between the silence, Anne came with a small basin filled with warm water with a piece of cloth in the shape of a white square. Anne got to her knees and started to treat Esther's calf, which was already badly injured. Esther grimaced for a moment as the white cloth soaked with warm water in the small basin touched her wounds.
"Aakh..." Esther groaned, feeling the pain in her wound.
"Duchess Heather, let my lady-in-waiting treat the princess. You can sit with us here," said the Queen Mother.
Anne, who was still focused on the wound on Esther's calf, replied, "No need, Your Majesty The Queen Dowager."
"Gosh! Please don't call me by that title. Even though you used to only call me by my name. Why are you now calling me by that name," the Queen Dowager whined.
In fact, the Queen Dowager was much younger than Anne. That was why she felt a little uncomfortable when Anne called him that.
"After all, I have to respect someone who has a higher position than me in this kingdom," replied Anne coldly.
"To hell with the issue of position here. Regardless of that, I am still the son of a Count in the Maurice empire whereas you are the Duchess and the great hero of Maurice," said the Queen Dowager
Anne stopped what she was doing and turned to the queen's mother. "If you want me to be normal with me regardless of your high position. Treat the princess well."
"Of course. That's a sure thing!" cried the Queen dowager so suddenly that it took Esther by surprise.
"I don't want to be hated by the people of my own birthplace. I will definitely do the imperial crown princess Maurice very well," said the Queen Mother confidently.
"Though it's a little difficult," the Queen Mother whispered.
"You mean?" asked Anne.
"You know what? My position here is only as the Queen Mother. You could say I don't have much power to take care of the King's Harem.
The obligation to take care of the King's Harem belongs only to the Queen. So it might be a little difficult to help Princess Esther" she explained.
"This is why I always don't like visiting other kingdoms besides the kingdoms that are under the auspices of the Maurice empire," complained Anne while ruffling her hair in frustration.
"Princess, how about we go back to the Maurice Empire right away? I really can't stand it because I have to pretend to be weak like this. Pretending to be weak is the most annoying thing ever," said Anne while looking at Esther who was taking a sip the tea that was served.
"Anne. No matter how many times you ask me a question like that, my answer will always be the same. You understand right?" Esther replied gently.
"But you are being tortured like this, princess. Just think for yourself how can the queen of a weak kingdom like this who only relies on her disgusting body and face to tempt the king to harm you, who is the daughter of the late empress and the strongest Grand Duke across the continent," said Anne, who looked frustrated.
"I wouldn't mind it if he only humiliated you. But she also whipped, poisoned, and abused you. That is unforgivable. If anyone in our empire did something similar to you like that, then it is certain that the person will die in very tragic conditions," continued Anne, who was not tired.
"What?" cried the great Empress Dowager, who looked surprised.
"What's the matter, Your Majesty the Queen Dowager?" Esther asked softly and gracefully.
"Is it true that Averia ever did the things that Duchess Heather mentioned?" asked the Queen Dowager who wanted to be sure.
Esther nodded her head slowly with a smile and then replied, "Yes, that's right. After killing Caroline, the previous queen, she is now targeting me. Her only goal is to want Arthur to step down from his position as crown prince so that his own son can take his place."
"Oh my! How could he do such an inhuman thing? You guys take it easy, I'll talk to Lucius later," said the Queen Dowager, who seemed disappointed to hear her daughter-in-law's true nature.
Esther placed her cup on the table roughly enough to make a sound. Esther looked into the Queen Dowager eyes coldly and smiled. The hair on the Queen Dowager's neck immediately stood up in fear seeing the expression on Esther's face like that. It looks like Esther's fierce side still hasn't completely disappeared from within her.
"Lucius is well aware of that, Your Majesty." Esther covered her ears and then covered her eyes with her hands to demonstrate something. "He just pretended not to see and didn't hear anything related to me or his own son. What an immoral father."
The Queen Dowager was silent for a moment. "Later I will ask him to pay more attention to the two of you properly and properly."
Esther got up from her chair and left the place. "As you wish, Your Majesty."
Esther and Anne immediately returned to Marigold's palace. Along the way, many maids and knights whispered to each other when they saw Esther. Today is a very tiring day. After walking for a long time, they finally arrived at Marigold's palace. Arthur immediately hugged Esther tightly when he saw that she had returned.
"What's wrong, Tiny?" Esther asked, smiling at Arthur.
"No. I just want to hug and be with mom."
"But, mother is very tired and wants to sleep," said Esther while stroking Arthur's head gently.
"Then let's sleep together," Arthur said innocently.
Esther was made to smile with the child's innocence. "Okay, Tiny."
Esther and Arthur immediately walked together towards Esther's room. They both lay down on the soft bed. Arthur still hugged Esther tightly even in that position. Silence. There was no sound or talk between them as soon as they entered the room.
In the silence, Esther heard the sound of Isak crying. Esther who had closed her eyes immediately blinked and turned to Arthur. There she saw Arthur who was crying.
"What's the matter with you, Tiny? Why are you crying?" asked Esther looking confused and worried.
"I know that mother was tortured because of me. They will definitely continue to torture mother until the position of the crown prince falls in their hands. After all, what is the importance of the position of the crown prince? I'd rather lose the position of crown prince than lose you mother," Arthur said accompanied by sobs.
Esther cried too when she saw Arthur crying like that for the first time. It felt like her heart was sliced at the same time. "Stop crying, Tiny. It's not your fault."
"Do I have to be a king, mother? I feel that if I become a king in the future, I will lose you forever," Arthur said as he looked into Esther's eyes.
"Didn't I say before that I never expected you to be king. I only wanted your happiness."
Silent for a moment as if he was thinking. After much thought he finally spoke. He stopped crying and showed Esther a small smile on his face.
"Looks like I'll still try to maintain my position as the crown prince."
According to Arthur, if only he could become a king in the future. Then at least Esther would have a more beautiful life than now. At the very least, he would continue to strive to become king in the future no matter what.