A Royal Outing and an Unexpected Punishment

“Very well, whatever the punishment, I am prepared to accept it. May I ask what it entails?”

Marta’s face was alight with an air of righteous integrity.

‘Despite becoming a Fallen Knight, her knightly bearing remained undiminished. Why would someone like Marta ever become a Fallen Knight? Was it some kind of cosmic joke, a need for stark contrast?’

“Why, it’s—”

Ophelia deliberately drew out the last syllable, building suspense. She stole a glance at Marta’s reaction, finding the knight’s gaze fixed intently upon her.

“It’s a punishment that forbids you from doing any official duties today! Instead, you’ll spend the entire day accompanying me outside!”

Ophelia had originally been under house arrest.

But now that she was regent, she enjoyed the same privileges as the king, thus gaining the freedom to leave the palace.

Her lingering questions from yesterday had been a source of quiet vexation. The subtle sensation of being isolated—’though she was within the situation, she felt like an outsider, a stranger to this world.’ ‘Despite being surrounded by people, an inexplicable loneliness clung to her.’

With her house arrest lifted, she simply wanted to go out for a stroll.

“This?”

Marta had clearly not anticipated such a thing, and she stood frozen in place.

‘How could this possibly be a punishment? Your Majesty, I was truly looking forward to something more! Something like being your dog, perhaps, and wearing a collar. To merely accompany you outside?’

“Indeed. Winter is giving way to spring, which is almost upon us. They say a single breeze has already painted the riverbanks green, and many nobles and royalty are enjoying spring outings there!”

“I’ve been confined within the palace walls all this time; I haven’t truly seen a spring in this world…”

“So, I wish to see it for myself.”

Ophelia said with a smile, her gaze fixed on the world outside her window.

This was the honest truth. She had longed to explore this world for a very long time, but had always been confined to the palace. Now that she finally had the freedom to leave, how could she not seize the opportunity to see it?

Marta froze once more.

She wanted to speak, but no words would come. She watched the queen, who gazed wistfully at the sunlight beyond the window. In Ophelia’s eyes, a blend of melancholy and anticipation shimmered.

“Your subordinate is willing to accompany you, my liege! But how can this be considered a punishment, my sovereign? Please, devise another one! Otherwise, my conscience will not rest easy!”

“Perhaps, something like placing a collar upon your subordinate…”

Ophelia turned back to face her.

‘What in the world was this person saying? A collar? That would be far too humiliating!’

“No, that’s far too…”

“Your subordinate already has a collar prepared.”

‘Huh? Wait, what?’

“And then, if Your Majesty would be so kind as to insult your subordinate with a few scathing words, using eyes that scorn like refuse, to humble my incompetence and presumption, I beg of you!”

‘???’

‘I seem to recall reading in a book somewhere that this is a desire to achieve peace of mind through a form of self-abasement?’

‘Oh, actually, I don’t really mind that much! But I probably shouldn’t say that out loud, right?’

“Alright, alright then!”

Ophelia didn’t truly want to do such a thing. However, she reasoned that granting Marta peace of mind was also a way to assert control over her subordinate. Thus, she proceeded to place the collar around Marta’s neck.

‘Right, grab the chain on the collar, and then… a look of disdain?’

‘Uh… what exactly does a disdainful look entail…?’

‘A little colder in the eyes? And a touch of revulsion?’

‘Next, the verbal abuse.’

‘What kind of words should I use for the insults? Let me think. A long time ago, when I was playing King’s Glory (TL Note: A popular Chinese multiplayer online battle arena game, similar to League of Legends or Mobile Legends: Bang Bang.), I got into an argument with a teammate. Their insults were so foul that I turned on my mic and cursed them right back. And then, that person went silent.’

‘My words must have been incredibly humiliating then, which is why that person shut up! Afterward, my teammates started silently protecting me! It must have been because my own insults were also exceptionally harsh!’

‘So, I’ll use those very words!’

“You imbecile! You utter fool! You can’t even handle something this simple? You’re nothing but a useless blockhead!”

Marta immediately lowered her head.

She remained silent.

‘Oh, did I scold her too fiercely? Was my aggression too potent? Oh no, I used to be quite active on the internet, so this level of aggression might be too much for Marta to handle…’

Marta’s heart, however, had suddenly begun to pound wildly.

‘What kind of sensation was this? When the queen pulled on the collar and hurled insults with such gentle yet clearly strained words, a surge of electricity had suddenly burst forth from her very core.’

‘Ahhh…’

‘Could this truly be considered a punishment?’

“Ma-Marta, did I perhaps speak too harshly? I-I’m sorry.”

The queen, flustered, apologized again.

“Not at all, my liege! Your subordinate is merely reflecting on their mistakes! This intensity… mhm, it’s just right.”

“Please allow your subordinate to accompany you on your spring outing!”

Ophelia let out a slow breath.

‘It seems my aggressive tendencies are indeed quite strong; I’ll have to be more mindful in the future.’

Just as she was about to remove Marta’s collar, Marta frantically shook her head to stop her, claiming that she needed to feel shame as a form of self-punishment. Ophelia, surprisingly, believed her without question.

As they prepared to depart, the system’s voice suddenly echoed in Ophelia’s mind.

[Oh? I sense a magical fluctuation?]

‘Hm? Magical fluctuations?’

[It’s rather faint, though. This fluctuation… it shouldn’t be anything to worry about, right?]

‘Today, Vina and Hizeta both went to train their magic. Perhaps that’s what it is?’

[That must be it. My apologies, Host, please continue your daily activities. I must have been overly sensitive.]

In the shadows of the room, a wisp of golden hair could be seen. After Ophelia and Marta had left, that golden wisp also departed.

****

This was Ophelia’s first time leaving the royal palace.

Beyond the palace walls lay the kingdom’s capital city, a place that appeared remarkably prosperous. It was not only bustling but also imbued with a distinct medieval European charm. Pedestrians bustled about, clad in trench coats and tailcoats, sporting top hats, and carrying walking sticks. Unlit gas lamps lined the streets, and passersby could be seen doffing their hats in deference to her carriage.

Newspapers, gas lamps, carriages, gentlemen and ladies, vagrants, and European-style houses, all coexisted with mages characteristic of a sword-and-sorcery world, dressed in wizard robes and dark attire. It was as if time and space had been blended and interwoven, composing a unique melody of another world.

The carriage creaked onward, until it reached a place where the city’s colors abruptly gave way to verdant, pastoral scenery. There, by a small river, a group of haughty nobles had elegantly arranged tables and were chatting over tea and refreshments.

Ophelia alighted from the carriage.

The surroundings instantly fell silent.

Many nobles turned to stare in astonishment, dropping the items in their hands without even realizing it. Though they should have approached the carriage to offer their respects, they all remained utterly transfixed.

Marta quickly rushed forward and draped a veil over Ophelia’s head.

‘Ah, right, I forgot about that,’ Ophelia thought with a wry smile.

Only then did the nobles remember to approach and bow. However, many of them stared intently at Ophelia’s face, making her feel quite overwhelmed.

“Enough! Cease bothering the Queen, all of you, withdraw!”

Marta stepped forward, a hint of helplessness in her voice.

A collar still adorned her neck, causing many nobles to glance suspiciously at the collar, then back at Ophelia.

‘Wuwu, I didn’t ask for this…’

Yet, these minor annoyances were quickly forgotten by Ophelia.

The grass was soft, and the breeze, gentle.

It carried the fresh, sweet scent unique to open fields.

For the first time, Ophelia tasted what it meant to be free.

She took off her shoes and carried them in her hand. Her fair, tender feet stepped onto the grass. Several nobles in the distance, who had been observing them, suddenly flushed crimson and bowed deeply upon seeing Ophelia’s bare feet.

‘Why are they bowing?’

‘Never mind,’ Ophelia thought, feeling her body grow light. Her lungs filled with crisp, fresh air. She began to run barefoot across the grass, where gurgling water washed over her toes.

‘Ugh, running is a bit troublesome; my chest feels heavy.’

She took a couple of steps, when she suddenly spotted a girl with black hair and violet eyes standing before her, hands on her hips. The sight startled her.

“Your Majesty, why didn’t you call for me when you came out to play?”