Chapter One: The Queen's Burden
Why does the queen's opinion hold such sway over the people? That was a question that often plagued my thoughts. I understood her position as the queen, but it baffled me how her decisions could dictate what others wore or how they conducted themselves. For instance, the queen had the authority to arrange marriages for the nobles at court and even dictate the seasonal fashion trends for both men and women. These responsibilities seemed unnecessary and burdensome to me.
What irked me the most was how the queen would often delegate her duties to her adviser, and sometimes even to me. As her only daughter, she would use the excuse that I needed to learn and grow, but deep down, I knew she was simply avoiding the work herself. The queen's schedule was always packed, leaving little time for her to fulfill her royal obligations.
Ever since the untimely death of my father, the king, the queen had transformed into a cunning and free-spirited individual. Unfortunately, I found myself entangled in her plans to eliminate my father.
"I don't particularly care about father, but killing him? That's a bit..." I hesitated as my mother presented her twisted idea.
"Oh, don't be so sentimental. That's not how I raised you. My dear daughter, you must learn to seize every opportunity that comes your way. I want to rule alone, without pretending to love that overweight king," she said with a hint of disdain in her voice.
That overweight king was my father. To be honest, I didn't harbor any hatred toward him. He was perhaps the only person who had ever loved me unconditionally. Nevertheless, his life or death held no significance for me. Nothing would change either way.
Sighing, I reluctantly nodded in agreement with my mother's plan. Arguing with her would only invite her melodramatic behavior, and that was something I desperately wanted to avoid.
"Mother, I have a banquet to attend tonight. I need to get ready," I said, rising from my seat.
"What banquet?" she asked, furrowing her eyebrows in confusion.
"The one Baroness Sagona invited you to. You asked me to go in your place since you're busy," I replied, concealing my true intentions.
"Oh, right! But I thought tonight was the night we were supposed to..." She trailed off, a realization dawning upon her.
"You'll have to take care of it yourself," I said, regretting the words as soon as they left my lips. Mother's glare sent a shiver down my spine, but I refused to show my fear. It was best to maintain a calm façade in her presence.
"We agreed that you would be the one to poison him! In case one of us gets caught, you'll be the scapegoat, allowing me to continue my reign as the queen. If they discover my involvement, we'll both suffer a grim fate. But if you do it, at least your sacrifice will have some meaning, right?" she snapped, her frustration evident.
Suppressing the urge to roll my eyes, I replied, "Mother, nobody will catch you. Just poison his wine or something, and it will be done."
"Do not evade the question, Siren. Do you understand your role in this?" she demanded, her voice dripping with menace.
I met her enraged gaze impassively before finally nodding my head. There was nothing more to be said. This woman was truly mad, and I was the unfortunate soul burdened with her secrets. It wasn't just my mother who troubled me; there were other problems lurking beneath the surface.
The banquet that evening was nothing more than a charade. Forced smiles, hollow laughter, and insincere bows permeated the room. Just as my mother desired, I acted aloof and superior in the presence of other noblewomen. As for the men, I deliberately avoided them. While my mother had instructed me to be flirtatious, I couldn't bring myself to engage in such repulsive behavior. Despite my willingness to kill my own father, I still possessed a modicum of morality. I wasn't completely devoid of decency.
People were tiresome. It was easier to act superior to them than to allow them to belittle me. I was certain they would do so at the first opportunity. This mindset made it easier for me to don an arrogant persona.
But flirting? Captivating the attention of men? Please, spare me. Even in the midst of plotting my father's demise, I had some boundaries. I wasn't entirely irredeemable. However, if it were up to me, I wouldn't have killed my father. Unfortunately, it was my mother's decision, not mine.
I considered warning my father about the impending danger, but the potential consequences held me back. If he didn't believe me and my mother found out, both of us would be doomed. I couldn't risk it.
"Princess Siren, you seem lost in thought tonight. Are you feeling tired?" Baroness Sagona asked, interrupting my contemplation. Her timing was fitting, as my thoughts had veered toward darker paths.
"I'm fine, Lady Sagona," I replied. I had intended to exude arrogance, but not outright rudeness. There were limits, even to the act I was forced to perform.
She smiled uneasily. "I'm glad to hear that. I thought you might be... bored... with the banquet."
Boredom was a mild term for what I was experiencing.
"The banquet is adequate... though if I were in your position, Lady Sagona, I would have chosen a more exquisite gown," I remarked, feigning disapproval. In reality, her dress was beautiful, but my mother had taught me to uphold her standards. I was expected to criticize anything that fell below those standards. While she never referred to it as arrogance, it was evident what kind of attitude she wanted me to portray. I didn't believe my own lies like many others did.
The women in our social circles didn't hate me—at least not seventy percent of them. The remaining thirty percent despised me silently. But even the majority who didn't dislike me didn't genuinely like me either. They merely sought my attention, attempting to fit the standards set by my mother.
Laughter emanated from a group of young ladies and gentlemen across the room, catching my interest. Baroness Sagona stood beside me in silence. If I couldn't find enjoyment in this banquet, it seemed only fair for an arrogant princess to disrupt the merriment of others, right?
Leaving the baroness behind, I ventured toward the group of young individuals, secretly hoping to find genuine laughter amidst their company rather than at their expense.
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