Chapter 171: Rihannan's Counterattack
Chapter 171: Rihannan's Counterattack
Rihannan smiled, thinking of the tea party that would be held in a few days. Unknown to Mrs. Cessley, she'd been properly preparing her mind for the upcoming tea party.
She grew tired of the situation of which her position kept changing depending on the affection she received from the king.
This needed to change.
Whatever happens so that she's able to spend the rest of her contracted time without complications, she needed to make sure the nobles understood that she was a queen to be feared, that her power was a given separating her relation to the king.
As planned, the tea party began.
The place the party was held was in a garden full of magnificent flowers blooming incandescently. The heaven-like sight was a rare thing for the nobles to see. They were normally not privy to view the garden. It was this reason alone why the garden was specifically chosen.
As expected, the court ladies' reactions were good.
"The garden is extremely beautiful, My Queen."
"You're right. The flower petals swaying in the wind makes it look like it's raining beautiful flowers."
The sunlight was warm and the green grass floor of the garden scattered with flower petals made the scenery look picturesque. As they drank tea merrily, breathing in the sweet scent of the flowers, the talks between the court ladies continued happily.
"Even the people of the other nations praise Arundell's palace gardens highly. It's quite famous. They speak of the difficulty to see beautiful gardens like this in their nations and even in Chrichton."
"Really? Is that true, My Queen?"
Hearing that, Rihannan laughed lightly.
"The people of Chrichton love planting trees more than making their flower garden pretty. However, I do agree that there is no other garden more beautiful than the one in Arundell."
"Oh my!"
The court ladies fanned themselves.
"Since Her Majesty did live in Chrichton for a while before coming here and to have you acknowledge it, then it must be true."
A clear and ringing laughter among the ladies rang out at once.
But as they did so, Marquess Pless who'd been studying Rihannan's face for a while suddenly made her move. Parting her lips, she said, "But My Queen, you look pale in the face. Do you have any worries as of late?"
Mrs. Cessley and Duchess Saphia's faces, who stood next to the queen's side, quickly hardened. They knew the marquess was someone who'd speak out her thoughts before thinking.
Rihannan slowly raised the tips of her lips and stared at Marquess Pless.
"Not really. I don't have any particular worries lately. I wonder why you speak as if I do, Marquess."
Hearing Rihannan's reply, Marquess Pless let out a low sigh.
"My Queen, there are rumors circulating that the relationship between you and the king has grown sour and distant. Have you not heard of it?"
"Marquess Pless, what are you talking about?"
In the end, Duchess Saphia was unable to hold back her rage.
Marquess Pless widened her large, round eyes as she rested her hand on her chest.
"Oh my, Duchess, please don't misunderstand. I'm only saying this because I'm worried about our queen. If there is any trouble brewing between her and the king, we should be the ones to help out, is that not right?"
"Marquess, how dare..."
As Rihannan raised her hand, Duchess Saphia quickly closed her mouth. She could only stare at the marquess quietly while biting her lips.
Rihannan looked at Marquess Pless with a soft smile on her face.
"So there are rumors like that floating around? Funny. My ears have been deafened due to the fact that I've only spent my days quietly inside the palace it seems. But you're quite kind, Marquess, to kindly tell me of this rumor because you seem so worried about me."