(From Demetrius''s Perspective)


    "Sleep for a while," I said as I undressed her and ced her on the bed. I wrapped her in the nket.


    "But..."


    "But?"


    "I have to go to have tea with Evelyn in the afternoon," she said.


    "Really? It''s not an obligation, Blue! You don''t have to force yourself to do it," I said.


    "But nobledies do this. I mean, I heard it''s disrespectful to reject certain people''s invitations," she muttered.


    "I don''t fucking care if it''s disrespectful or not! Just do what you want to. You are the queen, after all. If you want me to, I will send a letter to Evelyn."


    "Then can you tell her yourself? I mean, sending a letter is a bit... when she is right in the pce."


    "... Alright," I sighed. "I will let her know myself. Then will you sleep now?"


    "Hmm..."


    "Not ''hmm''. Tell me clearly."


    "I will..."


    "Good. You need to sleep some. I will get the doctorter to check your body," I said.


    "I still don''t understand what the point of undressing me is..."


    "In this way, you can rest better. You can move better and freely. That dress looks like it''s hard to move in it."


    "It is a bit... But I could at least wear a nightgown or something..."


    "No need. It''s just me who wille in and perhaps your maid. So, you can rest asfortably as possible."


    "Okay..."


    She sighed and closed her eyes. I kissed her on the forehead and stood up. I closed the curtains so she could rest peacefully. Her cat meowed at me. She was in her bed that was ced right beside the window.


    "Dem..."


    "Yes?"


    "Why was there blood on your face? Why were you angry? Can I know?"


    "... I killed someone."


    "... Who?"


    "My uncle," I replied.


    "Uncle Vector...," she mumbled. "What did he do?"


    "Hemitted a sin. I can''t forgive him in any way," I said. "Is it okay if I tell you all about itter? I have something to do now. I promise I will tell you after Ie back."


    "Uhm... Okay."


    I looked down at the cat once and turned away. The moment I opened the door a bit, she called my name gently.


    "Dem, it was my first time seeing you smoking. I don''t know why, but I felt strange. It''s not like I am against it since it''s your choice. But I was a bit scared for some reason," she mumbled. "Am I weird for getting scared seeing my husband smoking?"


    I wanted to say that she was not scared because she saw me smoking. Rather, she was scared because I was angry. I knew very well that she was frightened whenever she saw me angry. Was it because I looked scary when I was angry? Even I knew this. In the mirror, I looked like a demon.


    I wondered if I was the same in her eyes.


    "Sleep, darling. I will wake you up when Ie back," I said and went out without wasting any more time. If she had something else to say, I did not want to hear that. I was afraid that the next thing she was going to say would be the fact that I looked like a demon. It was fine if anyone else said that. But I did not want to hear it from her.


    She had lunch with Mother today. Even if it was Mother who fed her aphrodisiac, she would never do it at a time like this where she would be the first suspect.


    I went to meet the maids who served them. I did not ask them anything, rather walked around in a way they would not see me. Since they did not get my scent, it was quite easy.


    "Her Highness, the Queen eats very little, doesn''t she? I wonder if it''s to maintain her figure."


    "I heard Her Highness is sick. The cook says so as well. He has been trying so hard to please Her Highness."


    "Is it because Her Highness thinks the food is not good enough?"


    I nced once to see the maid''s face who said it so I could fire her. My wife was not eating little because she did not like the food. She always praised the cook and sent him letters often just to show gratitude. I had never seen anyone as humble as her. Though I never really understood the importance of being humble, I respected her opinions and behavior.


    She did not eat much which I suspected was because she did not have the habit. From what I had heard, she never got enough food and most of the time, she had to eat leftovers. Right now, she was the Queen and she got the best food possible. She could have anything she wanted. But she could not let go of her past habit. She was improving for sure, but it was a slow process.


    I was d that she was trying to let the past go. It was impossible to let it gopletely, but at the very least, she was trying.


    "No, that can''t be! Her Highness is very humble. She always treats everyone greatly. She is a lot better than the previous queen. Remember, the previous queen used to throw things at the maids. My mother was her maid.


    The previous queen pped my mother just because she was angry."


    It was not a surprise. Mother used to do that. It was true that now she was like a new person, but I always had a suspicion that she did not change; rather she was only using her brain more to manipte those around her.


    "It''s true... But shhh, don''t talk loudly like this. Anyone can hear you. It will be dangerous for you to live if someone hears you. Anyway, has Her Highness, the Queen finished her warm honey water?"


    "Yes. Her Highness finished it right after her lunch."


    "That''s good. Her throat hurts after all. I hope she gets better soon."


    ''Honey water? But her throat doesn''t hurt. Or she would have told me. I ask her every single time I see her, to make sure she is alright.''


    So, she had honey water for some reason after lunch. If it was her who ordered it, then there was no way Mother could put aphrodisiac in that drink unless she told someone else to do it. But this time, I felt like it was not Mother who did it. Perhaps someone else was trying to make it look like it was Mother.


    "But I don''t understand why Sally brought Her Highness''s drink rather than the cook. He was supposed to make it, right?"


    "I did not ask her anything since she is the previous queen''s maid. But it was weird."


    "It doesn''t matter, I guess. Her Highness and the previous queen have a great rtionship after all."


    I did not wait there anymore and stormed towards Mother''s room. Was I wrong to think that it might not be her?


    When I reached near her room, I found out that she was not in there. I did not get her scent there. So, I tried to concentrate and as soon as I got her scent, I headed that way.


    She was in the garden, taking a stroll. "Mother," I called.


    "Demetrius... Have youe to take a stroll as well?"


    "No," I said. "I havee to talk to you. Send your maids away."


    "... Alright," she nodded. "You all can go away. It seems my sweet child wants to chat with his mother."


    ''Sweet child? My ass!''


    "Should we talk over a cup of tea?" she asked, smiling.


    "No," I smiled bitterly. "None of us wants to have some broken cups right now, right? My wife told me not to hurt myself and go near sharp objects unnecessarily."


    Mother looked ufortable but maintained her smile. It was shocking to think how much practice she needed to be this good at faking a smile. It almost looked natural.


    "Let me get to the point. What did you mix in Blue''s drink?"


    "Mix in her drink? What drink? She didn''t drink wine."


    "I am not talking about wine. She drank warm honey water after lunch because her throat was hurting. What did you mix in it? No, precisely saying, what did you tell your maid to mix in it?"


    "My maid?"


    "Yes, do I have to help you recall her name as well now? Well then, her name is Sally. Do you remember something now?"


    "Why would I ask Sally to mix something to Blue''s drink? Blue is my lovely daughter-inw. I love her just as much as I love my daughter. Why would I do something like that?"


    ''That''s the problem. You love her as much as you love your daughter. But you don''t love your daughter at all.''