A Queen’s Unexpected Kindness

Emily’s words sent a tremor through Ophelia’s heart.

Halting, she turned her head, only to find Emily beaming beside her, her eyes seeming to speak volumes as they sparkled brilliantly under the sun.

The sight left Ophelia momentarily spellbound.

Bathed in sunlight, the girl wore clothes of a warm hue, her smile radiant, and the comforting touch of her arm created a sensation that threatened to ensnare Ophelia’s senses.

In her past life, she had never experienced anything quite like this, and she had been convinced she never would.

Yet, here she was, strolling hand-in-hand with a girl, bathed in the warm sunlight.

‘Becoming a girl truly makes my soul feel so much brighter… Perhaps I should just remain this way… No, no! What a ridiculous thought!’

‘No, I absolutely must accelerate the pace of this mission, or what if I genuinely don’t want to revert to being a boy? Wouldn’t I be tearing apart the very novel I cherished with my own hands? That simply won’t do.’

Shaking her head, Ophelia resumed her path towards the bedchamber of the king she had never once met.

“Well, well, isn’t that the Queen?” A flippant voice drifted from a distance.

Ophelia paused, watching as Eli, Hizeta, and Luca, the male protagonist, approached from afar.

‘The male protagonist!?’

‘Why is the male protagonist with these two villains!?’

Hizeta glared with animosity at Marta, who stood behind Ophelia, while Marta, a picture of icy beauty, met her gaze with chilling indifference.

Luca, much like the sagacious character he portrayed in the novel, concealed his expression beneath the shadow of his hat brim, leaving his thoughts inscrutable.

A flicker of panic stirred within Ophelia’s chest.

With both heroines standing beside her, Ophelia felt a distinct sense of unease.

Yet, recalling her own current female form, she reasoned that Luca would likely not instigate any conflict with her on that account.

“What brings the Queen here?” Eli asked, his expression overtly flippant.

Ophelia harbored no desire to engage with the trio.

In her past life, she would actively avoid acquaintances on the street, preferring to forgo greetings if she could.

Now, facing two villains and the male protagonist, she wished nothing more than for them to simply pretend she wasn’t there.

“The Queen has come to sort through the late King’s belongings,” Emily interjected, “because the person who should have taken responsibility for them failed to do so.”

Emily stepped forward, her gaze turning frigid as she addressed Eli.

“Hoho, if it isn’t the antiquated fiancée,” Eli scoffed, a smirk playing on his lips. “Still relying solely on your sharp tongue, I see.

It appears you haven’t learned your lesson yet.”

“However… it’s true, I couldn’t be bothered to sort through that old man’s effects.

But he *should* have left me a few things, though I don’t know what.

Fine, the old geezer’s been dead long enough; it’s high time his estate coughed up some gold.

Just remember to hand over whatever was left for me, Queen, hahahahahaha!”

Eli threw his head back and guffawed.

The late King’s bedchamber still housed numerous maids and a devoted butler, all of whom had remained, patiently awaiting the transfer of their duties.

Upon hearing Eli’s callous words, their gazes turned utterly desolate, brimming with profound sorrow.

Ophelia, however, remained oblivious to their sorrowful stares.

For the first time, she truly felt a pang of pity for the deceased King.

The novel had offered no description of the King, leaving Ophelia entirely ignorant of his character.

Yet, witnessing his son’s deplorable conduct, she couldn’t help but feel a profound sense of discomfort.

“Eli, that’s your father,” Ophelia blurted out, unable to contain herself. “Show some respect.”

‘Such utter disrespect, such unfilial behavior, was truly beyond the pale.’

“What nonsense are you spouting, Queen?” Eli sneered. “A living king is a father.

He’s dead now, nothing more than an old relic who left behind a mountain of troubles.”

A wicked grin twisted Eli’s features.

With that wicked grin, he advanced towards Ophelia.

Marta, however, stepped forward, and a sword materialized, its blade resting horizontally against Eli’s neck.

A flicker of fear darted across his eyes, but even pinned, he maintained an evil leer directed at Ophelia.

“Just like you, Queen,” he drawled, “you are only Queen while the throne remains vacant.

Once someone inherits it, a beauty such as yourself will merely become the next King’s plaything.”

He licked his lips suggestively.

“You…!” Ophelia’s blood pressure surged instantaneously.

Eli’s gaze, thick with profound and sordid desire, swept over Ophelia’s entire body as if a vile presence had attached itself to her.

The sensation left her utterly disgusted yet burning with a furious blush.

She was incensed by his lewd taunts but found herself at a loss for how to respond.

Eli whistled, then waved a dismissive hand as he turned to leave.

Hizeta shot a venomous glare at Marta before following, while Luca remained with his head bowed, his expression utterly unreadable.

Ophelia stamped her foot in frustration.

‘Damn it! Reviewing that exchange now, I realize I could have launched a barrage of retorts! How could I have only managed a pathetic “You…!”? So utterly shameful! I had a whole arsenal of words that could have utterly demolished him!’

“Your Majesty, your humble servant greets you.” An aged voice pulled Ophelia’s racing thoughts back to reality.

Ophelia turned, discovering the butler, accompanied by a host of male and female servants, kneeling on one knee.

Their eyes, brimming with a mixture of sorrow and fervent hope, were fixed upon her.

On the golden steps of the Dragon Hall, a hundred people bowed their heads, and the pressure once again mounted upon Ophelia.

She suddenly felt her footing waver.

A warm, comforting touch enveloped Ophelia’s hand.

Ophelia glanced back to find Emily, her eyes clear and steady, behind her.

Emily’s unspoken reassurance gradually calmed Ophelia’s nerves, her hand remaining clasped firmly around hers.

‘Deep breaths.’

“Please, rise, all of you.” Ophelia extended a hand to help the butler to his feet.

Yet, the butler remained kneeling on one knee, his body’s resolve making him impossible for Ophelia to lift.

“Your Majesty, you just spoke of sorting through the late King’s belongings… Is that truly your intention?”

The old man raised his head, his eyes surprisingly glistening with tears, brimming with a poignant hope.

Ophelia found herself unconsciously softening her tone.

“It is true,” she affirmed. “Please, rise.

The ground is cold.”

The butler finally rose, and behind him, the maids and male servants followed suit.

Every face glowed with a mixture of surprise and profound joy, a jubilation born from finally receiving something long-awaited.

“This is truly wonderful…” Instead of fully rising, the butler shifted from one knee to both, tears streaming down his aged face as he performed the knightly courtesy of kissing the back of Ophelia’s hand.

“To think that the children upon whom the late King showered his affection would forget his kindness, while Your Majesty, a Queen merely chosen by the late King and coerced into this palace to bear the nation’s burdens, is willing to attend to his belongings…”

“Your Majesty, allow me to thank you once more.

Your soul is truly as beautiful as your visage.

Should there be any task where this old servant can be of use in the future, please do not hesitate to command.

From this day forth, I pledge to be a sword in Your Majesty’s hand!”

Ophelia blushed, unaccustomed to such effusive praise.

In truth, her sole intention had been to leverage the pretense of sorting the late King’s belongings as an opportunity to discover and then cultivate Vina, the primary heroine.

It was entirely unexpected to find herself having performed an additional good deed.

A strange sense of contentment bloomed within her.

‘But you, old butler, are far too advanced in years to be a sword! Enjoying a peaceful retirement is the sensible path.

What use could I possibly have for an ordinary old man?’

“Thank you for your kind words, esteemed sir,” she said, a hint of cheerfulness in her voice. “I will certainly organize everything thoroughly!

You overstate my actions; this is merely my duty!” With a slight skip in her step, she helped the butler to his feet.

****

Some distance away from this scene.

Over a dozen nobles, who had been strolling, paused as they witnessed the unfolding scene.

“I… I can’t be seeing this correctly, can I?” one noble uttered, his mouth agape.

“Prince Eli is utterly deplorable,” another noble declared. “I believe we must seriously re-evaluate his fitness to rule.

As for the Queen, she is so benevolent; we should lift her many restrictions and allow her to assume temporary regency.”

“Let her govern purely for her kindness? What kind of logic is that?” the third noble challenged.

“You bloody idiot, look closely at that old man!” the second noble retorted, exasperated by his peer’s obtuseness. “And then recall what he just said!”

“W-what the… Isn’t that… Azer, the Sword of the Kingdom!?” the third noble exclaimed, having taken a closer look and now utterly shocked. “I heard he vanished after he grew old.

To think he’s now the late King’s butler!

No wonder those War Knights never seemed concerned about Azer’s disappearance!”

“So, gentlemen, consider this: our nation’s knightly orders are divided into Paladins and War Knights.

Marta serves as the eyes and ears of the Paladins within the palace walls, while old Sir Azer is a figure capable of representing the entirety of the War Knight faction.

This means the Queen now commands the loyalty of the entire knightly class.”

“Furthermore, the Queen’s previous endorsements on official documents garnered approval from a number of elder nobles.

This suggests that a new political faction could be emerging around her.

Gentlemen, sharpen your political instincts!”

“What’s more, the Queen is so benevolent. Think about it: whose family doesn’t have a few unruly scions? If we become her initial supporters, and one of our unruly youths causes trouble, we can appeal to the kind Queen.

They might not escape punishment entirely, but at least they won’t face the death penalty!”

The second noble grew increasingly animated.

“We must proceed with caution,” another noble interjected.

“The Queen’s series of actions inevitably raise suspicions of a performance.

If this is merely an act, her motives run dangerously deep, and we might be used as mere pawns should we support her.

In that case, we might as well continue to support Eli; at least we wouldn’t be carelessly exploited.”

“I hear there’s also a princess named Vina, who has been so targeted that she lives in the stables.

After the Queen sorts through the late King’s belongings, she will undoubtedly learn of this third princess’s existence.

Let us observe the Queen’s reaction then.”

“This Vina is utterly useless to those in power, so we can use this opportunity to see if the Queen is genuinely benevolent or merely putting on a show.

We can then decide our course of action. What do you say?”

The nobles nodded in agreement, reaching a consensus.

Meanwhile, Ophelia remained oblivious to their conversation.

She was still basking in the self-satisfaction of having performed a meaningful good deed, and now she prepared to enter the late King’s bedchamber.

This would provide her with the perfect opportunity to encounter and cultivate Vina, the primary heroine.

Before entering the bedchamber, she glanced at the sun.

‘Doing good deeds truly brings joy!

I never knew this when I was cooped up at home, but kindness is indeed a source of happiness!

I should do more good deeds in the future!’