166. Romantic Word Fail.

The next bright morning, soft sunlight streamed through the windows of Reina and Yosan's room, filling the space with a comforting warmth. Reina stood in front of Yosan, carefully adjusting the collar of his attire with meticulous attention. Clad in simple yet elegant black clothing, Yosan looked dashing and charismatic, ready for activities outside the palace.

His outfit complemented Reina's casual blue dress, adorned with gold accents on the cuffs and neckline, giving her an elegant yet practical appearance. Her golden hair, tied in a ponytail, added a refreshing touch to her look, making her effortlessly captivating.

"You look very beautiful today, Your Majesty," Yosan suddenly said, his tone teasing and accompanied by a small smile.

Reina glanced at him briefly, her expression calm but her eyes narrowing slightly. "So, are you saying I'm not beautiful on other days?" she asked, her voice calm but tinged with a cold undertone. Her hands, which had been tidying Yosan's collar, paused briefly before continuing to ensure the fabric was perfectly folded.

Yosan instantly felt a cold sweat trickling down his neck. He smiled nervously, trying to salvage the situation. "Of course, that's not what I meant, Your Majesty," he said quickly. "You're always beautiful, no matter the circumstances."

But whether from nervousness or overconfidence, he added something he should never have said. "Even... even when you're moaning beneath me during our intimate moments."

The words escaped his lips just like that, and the room's atmosphere shifted instantly. Reina froze, looking at Yosan with a piercing, icy gaze as if stabbing straight into his soul. Yosan's face paled, realizing the gravity of his mistake.

"What did you just say, Yosan?" Reina asked softly but with an undertone of sharp pressure. Her voice was gentle, yet its weight was enough to make Yosan's knees nearly buckle.

Raising his hands slightly, Yosan tried to calm the situation. "Eh, I meant... You're always beautiful in any situation, Your Majesty," he said quickly, though it was evident he knew there was no easy way out of this. "It was... just a compliment, nothing more," he added, desperately attempting to save himself.

Reina merely scoffed softly, then tugged at his collar slightly more firmly than necessary. "Next time, choose your words more carefully, Mr. Yosan. Or perhaps I should give you another lesson in etiquette," she said coldly, though her cheeks flushed faintly.

Yosan could only stand rigidly, not daring to respond. His face alone was enough to show how much he regretted every word he had just spoken.

"If you're done with your chatter, go call Lia. We need to leave soon," Reina ordered, her voice regaining its usual firmness. She turned away, continuing to check her preparations as if nothing had happened.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Yosan replied swiftly, nodding several times before heading toward the door. However, just as he was about to step out, he muttered under his breath, stomping his foot in frustration. "Is she on her period? I was just being honest."

Reina, who was still busy organizing her belongings, suddenly paused. "Yosan, I heard that. Call Lia immediately before I lose my patience," she said sharply without turning around.

Yosan froze momentarily, his face turning red from being caught. "Yes, Your Majesty!" he replied hastily, leaving the room much quicker this time, not daring to protest further.

When the door closed behind him, Reina let out a long sigh, rubbing her temples lightly. "That man... always knows how to test my patience," she murmured, though her lips curved into a faint smile she couldn't entirely suppress.

In the palace corridor, Reina, having finished her preparations, walked calmly. Two female attendants in casual attire followed behind her, carrying several small bags. They were part of the small entourage that would accompany her discreetly outside the palace.

Reina's steps suddenly halted as her eyes caught sight of Elexon. The man was dressed casually yet neatly, reflecting his natural charisma. In his arms, he carried his little daughter, who was smiling brightly. Beside him, Yosan stood with a broad smile, trying to engage Elexon in conversation, seemingly unaware of Reina's presence.

Reina's and Elexon's eyes met. Elexon's gaze was gentle and friendly, while Reina's eyes hinted at lingering annoyance, especially from her earlier interaction with Yosan. Nevertheless, she maintained her composure, unwilling to show her emotions openly.

"Good morning, Your Majesty," Elexon greeted politely, bowing his head briefly as a sign of respect.

Reina responded with a small nod and a brief smile. "Good morning," she replied curtly, her tone sounding indifferent. She continued her steps calmly, approaching them.

Yosan, noticing Reina's cold tone, felt slightly puzzled. The two usually spoke more amicably, but recently the atmosphere between them seemed different. He glanced at Elexon, who appeared to remain composed.

Before Yosan could think further about what was happening, Lia, who was in Elexon's arms, stretched out one hand toward Reina with a bright smile.

"Mommy! I have great news!" Lia exclaimed enthusiastically. "Grandpa said he's going to join us on our trip outside the palace!" she said innocently, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Lia's words made Reina and Elexon freeze in place. The two exchanged glances with the same surprised expression. Reina tried to maintain her graceful demeanor, but the displeasure was evident in her gaze.

"Lia, what do you mean?" Reina asked, attempting to keep her voice calm and authoritative, although there was a hint of suspicion in her tone.

"Grandpa said last night that he wanted to join when Lia invited him," Lia answered innocently, her face full of smiles, completely unaware of the tension brewing. "So, Lia thought it would be fun! Going out together with Mommy, Daddy, Grandpa, and Grandma all at once!"

Elexon furrowed his brow, trying to recall something. "But, Lia didn't say that Mommy was coming along too. Grandpa thought it would only be Lia, Daddy, Grandpa, and Grandma," he muttered softly, avoiding Reina's gaze.

"Huh? Really? Did Lia forget to mention it?" Lia placed her index finger on her chin, trying to remember. Her eyes widened as if she was concentrating hard to figure it out.

"Grandpa thinks so," Elexon replied briefly, looking uncertain.

Reina took a deep breath, her gaze now focused on her daughter. "Lia, you also didn't tell me that Grandpa would be coming," she said firmly but gently.

"Hm, in that case..." Lia looked back and forth between them. "Then what's the problem if Lia forgot to tell? At least now you all know, right? So let's go for a walk!" she said cheerfully.

Suddenly, another voice emerged from behind Reina. "Lia's right, Your Majesty. If everyone knows now, why make a fuss?"

Reina quickly turned to find Nils approaching in casual attire, followed by Beile and Harzel behind him. The three looked far from formal, wearing simple clothing suited for leisure.

"What are you all doing here? Why aren't you working?" Reina asked, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.

Nils shrugged nonchalantly, glancing briefly at Beile and Harzel before stepping closer. "We need a break too, Your Majesty. If you can go for a walk, why can't we?" he replied lightly, seemingly indifferent to Reina's sharp gaze.

Without waiting for a response, Nils grabbed Yosan's hand and pulled him away. "Come on, Yosan, let's go!" he said cheerfully, while Yosan could only follow along, unable to protest.

Reina watched Nils's retreating figure with a mix of disbelief and irritation. Her face betrayed a hint of frustration she struggled to conceal, especially since Yosan, her lover, was whisked away so casually. She let out a soft huff, then took a deep breath to calm herself.

"Never mind, let's just go," Reina muttered in a flat tone, though a hint of weariness could be detected. She walked forward gracefully, followed by her attendants.

Elexon, who had been observing the situation with a small smile, chuckled softly while holding Lia. "It seems today's outing will be more interesting than I expected," he said, half-jokingly.