Shandri is taking her break in the garden. The peaceful environment and freshness of the flower scent are calming her nerves. However, like a dark cloud on a bright sunny day, it came without notice.
"Ah, your majesty, you are here," Elena happily approaches her.
"Isn't it obvious?" Shandri answered indifferently.
"I-I see. Can I join you?"
"Suit yourself."
"You see I received tea leaves as a gift from his majesty. He said it is rare tea leaves and it is his favorite. I wanted to share it with you, your majesty."
"I didn't know that the princess is shameless." Shandri puts down her teacup.
"P-pardon?"
"And now she is deaf."
Elene clenches her hand on her dress.
"The princess is bragging about the tea leaves she received from another woman's husband, in front of his wife? How audacious!" she glared sharply.
"A-are you that afraid that the king makes me her new queen?" she boldly claimed.
Shandri without hesitation splashed the tea in her cup on the princess.
"AHHH! Ahhh!" the princess screamed.
"Don't overreact princess. The tea is not that hot anymore. It is already lukewarm."
Hearing the queen's words, she realized that it is not that hot. She clenched her dress feeling embarrassed.
"You take a bath with lukewarm water, so why are you reacting like your skin is peeling?" Shandri said calmly while sitting elegantly.
The two ladies in waiting and Nicia giggled holding back their laugh.
Elena is standing in front of Shandri. Beside the table where her snacks are prepared. Shandri put down the teacup on the table. Shandri stands up and closed the distance between the princess and her.
"Don't worry princess. I'm not that black-hearted woman who will pour boiling tea on a person even though they are impudent. Unlike someone who is masking her nefarious as a delicate flower. You saw me from a distance and you still approached me. Knowing the complications I have for you. Now, you dare to brag about a gift you received from my husband in front of me."
"I didn't mean that, your majesty. I just wanted to share the tea with you," she utterly meekly.
"You are provoking me to harass you. You wanted my attention, I gave it to you, and you just act timidly? How boring."
"I-I don't understand, your majesty." She feigns ignorance.
"You don't understand?" she smirked. "What I'm saying is... are you even qualified to replace me?" she said haughtily.
Elena holds back her anger.
Shandri left the garden and walk back to the palace. While walking Shandri secretly glances at the window on the second floor of the palace she passed by. She sees Nathan standing near the window and watching over her.
Elena accidentally glances at the window and sees Nathan watching.
(I am sure if he saw the queen harassing me he will hate her for sure.)
Elena chased the queen and stop in front of her.
(Why don't you show him how you harassed me all this time?)
Nathan saw Shandri walking in the garden. Later Elena chased her and stop in front of her. The distance is enough for him to notice that Elena's front dress seems drenched and stained.
"What are you d..." Shandri stops in the middle of her sentence when Elena cut her off.
"His majesty is looking. Are you worried now?" Elena provokes her.
“And so?” Shandri replied without care.
“What?”
“You think I will behave just because he is watching? I guess you have mistaken me.”
“Huh?”
Without hesitation, Shandri slaps her so hard that she almost lost her balance. Even though she expected to be harassed. Nevertheless, she did not expect it to be that hard. Elena pulled herself back to her senses and started to shed tears.
(You will regret this!) glaring at her.
“Don’t look at me as if I did you wrong. You want me to act this way, right? I’m just granting your wish.”
Elena gritted her teeth. She wants to go all out but then remembers Nathan’s presence. She starts to sob.
“Hic… y-your majesty. W-what did I d-do wrong, hic!” she wept.
(Ah, you are going that way, I see. Well, as if I am bothered being the villainess.)
"You dare to interrupt me when I am talking."
Shandri pushes her enough to make her fall to the ground.
"Don't ever block my way again, princess. Didn't you know that no one should block the queen's path?" Shandri tittered.
Elena is glancing up at her. Can feel her temper is ut to break seeing Shandri’s face chortling at her before leaving her alone.
Night came and someone knocked on the queen's office. It swing open and Serg entered inside.
"Greetings to you, your majesty the queen."
"What is it Serg?"
"His majesty wanted to have dinner with you privately in his room, your majesty."
"I see. Tell him I'll be there a bit."
"Yes."
Serg left the room. Shandri looks at the clock and the sky outside the window.
"I see it is already dinner time," she mumbled.
Shandri checks herself if she is presentable. Afterward, she went to the king's room where she sees the table in his waiting room that is adjacent to his bedroom. Filled with food and a bottle of wine.
"Good evening, your majesty," Shandri greeted.
"Nathan..."
"Pardon?"
"You usually called me Nathan."
"There is an etiquette we should follow."
"But you called me by my name when we talked in the garden."
"Nathan, you are ruining this marriage."
"Hah! Unbelievable!" Shandri looked amused. "You are now protecting another woman in front of your wife? I am not here as the queen but as your legal wife, Nathan."
(You called that calling your name huh…) Shandri thought as if it is an ironic thing.
"Shandri..." he begged as if like a child begging for candy.
Shandri sighed. "So what is this all about, Nathan?"
Nathan brightens up and drags the chair for her.
"I just wanted to have time alone with you."
"So suddenly?" she responded curiously then sit on the chair.
Nathan walked across the table and sat on the chair.
"I just realized that ever since I didn't make time for you, Shandri."
"After all this time, you just realized now?" she uttered as if it is nothing.
"Haa~ you always have a say in everything huh," he sighed with a smile.
"Isn't that a compliment?"
"Let's eat..." Nathan smiled.
Shandri starts to slice a piece of meat from her plate and munched it into her mouth. Her face shows how delicious the food is.
"Hm! It is delicious!"
Nathan smiled by looking at her.
"I'm glad you like it."
Shandri just smiled at him and eat happily.
After clean eating, the table is cleaned by servants. Only left two glasses and a bottle of wine. The couple is just sitting there having their wine.
"Shandri..."
Shandri looked at him. "What is it?"
"I like you..."
Shanddrankpes as if the wine she drunk will flow out from her mouth hanging open.
"I-I know that it is out of nowhere but..." Nathan scratched at the back of his neck. He looked at Shandri but she instilled.
"Shandri?" waving his hand in front of her. "Shandri!"
"I like you..."
"I like you..."
"I like you..."
"I like you..."
"I like you..."
"I like you..."
Nathan’s words echoed in her mind and ears. Shandri could hear her goals and dream-shattering piece by piece every time the word is repeated in her mind. The words that Nathan said was like a nightmare that swirled around her thought.
"AAAHHHH!" she suddenly screamed. As if, she sees a ghost.
Nathan who is sitting across from her startled and almost fell from the chair.
(What the hell is happening?) Nathan thought looking confused. "S-shandri a-are you okay?" he asked worriedly seeing Shandri’s terrified expression.
(No, let's calm down first,) Shandri convinced herself. She calms down and pulls herself together. Sitting straight back, stomach in, chest out and chin up. She drank the wine elegaS-sharef nothing is happening.
"S-shandri?"
"Ahem... so what did you say, Nathan?"
"I L-like you..." Nathan said hesitantly afraid that she will scream again.
(Damn! I did not go deaf. He did say it. But…) Shandri stared into his eyes. (I can see he is not sincere about it but he is embarrassed and awkward. He mustn't like me for me to exit this story alive.)
"You can't fool me, Nathan."
"What do you mean?"
"I know you just say that because you are thinking that it might change my mind about the divorce."
Nathan flinches and trembles to cover his mouth.
"Pfft!"
"And now you are laughing..." she commented.
"Hahaha!" He laughs aloud. "I am s-sorry... Hahaha, it's just this is hilarious..." Nathan said between his laugh.
"Calm down, your majesty. You might choke up."
"Ahem... hahaha... hmmm..." Nathan calmed himself down. "Why is it majesty again?"
Shandri just looked at him. Nathan shakes his head while smiling.
"I already doubt areas would work on you. The two years that we had been, are enough for me to know your personality. Even though we aren't always spending time together."
"So why?" Shandri is skeptical.
"Serg is shocked and worried, hearing about the divorce. He couldn't accept the thought and neither could I accept it."
"You can't let me go because you need the support I could give you and my capabilities right?"
"Yes, you are a capable person so that is why we couldn't just let you go like that," Nathan admitted shamelessly.
"You are interested in her right?"
"She is just..."
"Just what? Pitiful? Adorable? Charming?" Shandri took a sip from her glass. "All the above?"
"..."
"Eventually, you will divorce me, Nathan. You will fall for her."
"Why are you so sure?"
"Girl's intuition?" Shandri smiled playfully.
"Girl's intuition huh..." his lips curved into a smile. "You are good at predicting." took a sip from his glass. "It's quite scary when your intuition is about leaving me and this palace."
"Is that so..." she smirked.
"Can't we compromise about this, Shandri?"
"Imagine the princess is interested in another man, but she couldn't let go of any of you. So, you decided to let go. Then she asks if you could compromise."
Nathan is stunned and could not say anything.
"See? That is my answer."
Nathan sighed and smiled at her leaning on the chair.
"No matter what I say you always counter it huh..." Nathan chuckled. "This is the first time that we had such a conversation and time together."
"Yes. I agree."
"It is not a bad thing."
Shandri looked at him. "Yes, it isn't a bad thing..." she smiles.
Their conversation continued and had a fun night until they decided to go to bed. Shandri stands up and walks to the door. Nathan followed and open the door for her.
"Let me send you to your room."
"Thank you but no thanks."
"Then how about the divorce?" Nathan asked for clarification.
Shandri steps outside and starts walking away. She stops and looks behind her where Nathan is standing at the door.
"I am looking forward to it," she winked while smiling and left.
*****
The day for envoys to arrive has already come. The palace is so busy preparing and checking if there is anything, they missed. Afterward, the envoy arrives, and Shandri together with Nathan welcomes the envoy.
"Father!" Elena dashed toward the king of Theodricus and hugged him as soon as he steps out of the carriage.
"Oh, my daughter! I miss you!" the king hugged back.
"Welcome to Delfholt, your majesty," Nathan welcomed the king.
"It is our pleasure, your majesty," Shandri seconded.
"Hmm! Thank you for taking care of my daughter and welcoming us," the king of Theodricus answered gratefully.
"Then shall we get inside?" Nathan suggested.
"Of course," the king agreed.
All of them enter together the palace. Since the envoy came from a long distance, they let them rest first. A banquet is held at night for welcoming the envoys. Nobles attended the banquet as well as the envoys.
Guests are gathering around on the corner approaching their peers for conversation. At that, time no one noticed what happened until suddenly a few of the nobles sees something in some part of the hall.
Shandri is standing and looking down at Elena who is on the floor looking pitiful.
"Y-your majesty, I didn't mean to pour it into your dress," she said timidly.
The guest is starting to murmur and whisper to each other.
"What is happening?"
"It seems the princess accidentally pour the wine on her majesty's dress."
"Did her majesty push her?"
"Haa~" Shandri sighed.