The Queen’s Unforeseen Protector

The sun felt warm.

Yet, Ophelia’s embrace was warmer still.

Marta yearned for this tenderness, but, deep down, she questioned if her current self truly deserved such warmth.

The Queen had been assassinated twice, each time teetering on the brink of death, and Marta could not forget the look Vina had given her after placing the sword sheath inside the Queen’s body—a stark, undeniable gaze of distrust.

“Surely you can keep a Queen with twelve lives alive now, you incompetent knight?” That look, Marta surmised, conveyed precisely this sentiment.

‘I once swore by the name of a knight to protect the Queen, yet I have proven myself utterly incapable—’

“Don’t worry too much, Marta. Even that formidable old butler couldn’t react in time.”

“It’s alright, really. It’s perfectly normal not to be able to react.”

Ophelia held Marta, offering solace, knowing the girl was prone to overthinking and quickly spiraling into despair.

[Marta’s Affection Value: 118]

Ophelia raised an eyebrow; after surpassing one hundred, this Affection Value seemed rather useless. ‘Doesn’t the system have some sort of system store to reward me for these excess points?’

[System store? What is that?]

‘Never mind, if it doesn’t exist, it doesn’t exist…’

****

A slight clamor drifted from outside.

Suddenly, the door swung open.

Vina, Emily, and Delores were the ones who entered; Emily, who had been cradling a pile of items, dropped everything she held upon seeing Ophelia.

“Queen…” she whispered, her voice tinged with disbelief.

“Emily, good morning,” Ophelia responded with a smile.

Delores offered a respectful curtsy, while Ophelia’s gaze settled upon Vina.

Vina was now impeccably clean.

She wore a pristine white dress that exuded an air of elegant capability, the long hemline only revealing her slender calves.

She walked directly toward them.

“Vina, good morning, you just came over—”

Ophelia had intended to tell Vina to make herself at home.

However, her words were cut short before she could finish.

Vina positioned herself between Ophelia and Marta.

Marta watched Vina, then, as if seized by lingering fear, instinctively retreated two steps.

Only then did Ophelia realize that in the eyes of Emily, Marta, and Delores alike, there was a mixture of terror and deference when they looked at Vina.

‘What’s going on? Wasn’t Vina just a mascot in the early stages? She was only supposed to gain power much later!’

Suddenly, Vina pressed Ophelia down onto the bed.

“Queen, you were far too reckless. I was perfectly capable of defending myself against that pathetic sword technique; there was no need for you to shield me with your body, though I do thank you for it.”

Displeasure.

Displeasure escalating into anger.

Vina’s lips were pursed into a pout.

This formidable aura sent shivers down Ophelia’s spine; despite Vina’s petite, girlish figure, her presence was overwhelmingly powerful, causing Ophelia to nod frantically like a pecking chicken.

“Look, I possess the Sword of Kings.”

With a flick of her wrist, a golden sword materialized in her hand.

“My self-preservation abilities are now exceptionally strong; I can even protect the Queen in return. Therefore, Queen, from now on, should anything happen, your life’s safety must always be your utmost priority—”

Vina’s eyes darkened suddenly.

‘Why did she suddenly fall silent?’

Ophelia cautiously raised her head, peering at the agitated Vina, only to witness dark mist gradually rising in Vina’s eyes, causing her expression to become somewhat gritting.

“How many times have I told you? Every single time, every single time you—”

‘Huh?’

Vina abruptly pounced, pinning Ophelia to the bed, then lay atop her, gazing intently down. Her golden hair cascaded, falling across Ophelia’s face, and her emerald eyes, which the book described as bright as sunbeams, now resembled deep, fathomless pools.

“Princess Vina, the Queen has only just recovered from her injuries; she might not be able to withstand such rough treatment,” Emily cautiously interjected from behind them.

Vina whirled around, startling Emily.

Maintaining her position above Ophelia, Vina traced Ophelia’s lips with an icy finger, then looked at Emily and suddenly smiled.

Ophelia was utterly bewildered.

‘Vina, are you going out of character (OOC)? Is this truly how you were depicted in the book?’

“Emily, have you never kissed the Queen before?”

Vina’s voice suddenly rose, becoming rather high-pitched.

Startled by the question, Emily’s face instantly flushed; her gaze darted nervously, meeting Delores’s bewildered stare, Marta’s scrutinizing look, Ophelia’s equally perplexed eyes, and Vina’s mocking gaze, causing her to stammer.

“I… I haven’t kissed the Queen, no? And I don’t harbor such thoughts!”

“Hmph,” Vina scoffed.

She suddenly leaned down, and Ophelia merely felt something soft press against her lips.

Her entire body instantly went limp; she couldn’t comprehend what was happening, only feeling as though she was being ceaselessly sought after, and could only feebly accommodate such demands.

It took her several seconds to grasp the situation.

For some reason, this sensation was somewhat pleasant; Ophelia transitioned from bewilderment to an instinctive response, while Vina’s eyes brimmed with deep, tumultuous emotion, which Ophelia could only try her best to consume.

“What in the world are you doing, Princess Vina!”

Emily, fuming, rushed forward and abruptly pulled Vina away.

In the air, an invisible thread, like a snapped lotus root, lingered between them.

Ophelia gasped for air, collapsing onto the bed, utterly devoid of strength, like a flower ravaged by a storm.

“You even used your tongue!” Emily appeared both furious and flustered; she longed to vent her frustration but knew not how, her impeccable upbringing preventing her from resorting to foul language, leaving her only to stamp her foot in exasperation.

“Don’t be so anxious. This time, I’ve claimed the Queen’s first kiss.”

For some inscrutable reason, Vina’s expression shifted, becoming both delighted and mocking.

She first touched her own lips.

“The Queen’s lips are quite moist.”

Emily’s face burned crimson.

Behind them, Marta’s gaze also became vacant.

Vina’s eyes weren’t fixed solely on Emily, but simultaneously regarded Marta.

“Oh, by the way, Emily, Marta, do you two know? Look at the Queen now, she’s already collapsed onto the bed, but actually—”

She made a lewd gesture.

“I could also demonstrate for you both how to make the Queen soar with pleasure, going at it a dozen times, her eyes glazed over, begging me for more. I know the Queen’s body better than anyone.”

“That sight is equally beautiful.”

Both women were stunned into silence.

Ophelia, hearing this, was equally dumbfounded. ‘Are all the princes and princesses in your family a little unhinged? And wasn’t Vina supposed to be so cute in the early chapters?’

‘She had even been forcibly kissed…’

‘How could this be? It felt as though she were a mere plaything.’

A sudden memory of the malevolent question posed by the light orb flashed through her mind. ‘Could it be that the light orb assumed she had chosen…? No, that can’t be…’

“Um, shouldn’t we be discussing official matters now?”

A cautious voice broke the silence.

Delores, typically the embodiment of a strong, capable woman, now appeared remarkably timid, the unfolding events having profoundly shaken her.

“Ah, yes, I forgot we still had an outsider here.”

Vina’s mocking expression vanished, her demeanor shifting instantly; she stood there, her eyes utterly devoid of emotion.

“It’s quite simple. Tomorrow, we shall use my very existence to question Eli. His bullying of his own blood relative is a capital offense, so he cannot possibly admit to it.”

“He will likely try to blame Hizeta, but by then, he will be in the wrong and lack any real leverage. That’s when you step forward and demand that, since Vina is still young, Eli is incompetent, and Hizeta is a criminal, the Queen should assume regency.”

“It’s as simple as that.”

Delores nodded blankly.

“Don’t worry,” Vina waved a dismissive hand. “Jean-Paul’s faction of old ministers will agree, and the numerous councilors from Emily’s family will follow suit. After all, Emily is still one of their own, and they would naturally be pleased to see the Queen in power. This means two-thirds of the councilors and ministers will consent, assuring the Queen’s regency.”

A storm raged within Ophelia’s heart.

‘Good heavens, wasn’t this Luca’s tactic in the book?’ She stared at Vina in disbelief, only to find Vina staring back at her.

Her face flushed, Ophelia averted her gaze.

‘But why should I become regent?! I… I’m not good at governing… and I have social anxiety…’

“You may leave, Delores. Your interests and reforms will be successfully realized.” Vina waved her hand again, as if shooing away an insect.

Delores glanced at the four people remaining in the room, excluding herself.

“What will you all do after I leave?” she couldn’t help but ask.

“You’re asking too many questions, Delores; it’s none of your concern.” Vina’s eyes turned hostile, her aura shifting once more.

“Yes, I shall withdraw then.” Delores shivered, quickly closing the door and departing.

****

The good news: the kingdom had gained a monarch capable of ruling all.

The bad news: this monarch’s tastes were quite… extravagant, leaving Delores stunned by the revelation of sapphic romance.

Observing the way Vina looked at the Queen, it was clear she regarded Ophelia as her personal plaything, and Delores found it somewhat absurd. ‘Can such things truly happen between two women?’

‘Never mind, it’s none of my business. Though it has shattered my worldview, I should probably just ignore it.’

After Delores left, silence descended upon the room, and Ophelia cautiously watched Vina.

“Vina, I can’t—”

“I know, Queen. You have social anxiety and aren’t adept at governing.” Vina turned to face her.

She cupped one of Ophelia’s hands and placed it against her own face, leaning in close, her emerald eyes now brimming with tender affection.

“Maintain your innocence and kindness; simply be a beautiful figurehead, Queen. You don’t need to do anything at all; just leave everything to me.”

Light and shadow mingled in her eyes, a look that was both a sigh and an entreaty.

“Just leave everything to me.”

Ophelia remained somewhat dazed, but Vina suddenly lifted her head, glanced towards the door, and giggled.

“The troublesome person is gone!”

Then, to Marta’s and Emily’s astonishment, Vina, who had just exuded such an intense aura, suddenly threw herself into Ophelia’s arms, clinging to her like a pouting child.

“Ophelia~”

Ophelia suspected she had read a counterfeit book.