Chapter 13 : The Cold Queen (Part 1)

With the meeting finally over and the plan to strike the rebels in place, I was alone in my room, lying on my bed…

"How much longer will it take to get rid of these pests?" I muttered in an annoyed tone. "The more I think about them, the more my cold blood boils. What is this nonsense about justice and righteousness? Why can't they see how lucky they are to be born in my kingdom and live under my rule? Yes, I kill people, but they are just peasants. They deserve to be treated as such!"

I turned onto my stomach, pressing my face into the pillow, and let out a deep breath. Then, a euphoric smile spread across my face as thoughts of Sitri once again filled my mind.

"Oh, dear Sitri, why can't these people be like you?"

I got up and walked toward the painting of my mother—the former queen of Fadnivas. The so-called defender of justice, lady of mercy, and all those other pointless titles… The woman I hated the most.

"Do you see, Mother? You always said I would never find love because of how I act. That without care, kindness, and all those useless things like sympathy, no one would ever love me. But you were wrong… so very wrong. I have finally found love. Yes, love. Someone who knows exactly what I am, who I am, and what I do—yet holds no hatred for me. Someone who understands me and even protected me… not that I needed it."

Oh, how I wish I could see my mother's shocked face. If only I hadn't killed her so soon for the throne.

And let me tell you, she went down quickly. Very quickly. All I had to do was strike when she was pregnant with my sibling. I pierced her body with ice shards, and just like that, she was gone. Of course, I had to get rid of a few of her loyalists too… along with my father and my other sister.

Couldn't take any chances...

"Though, there is one more thing—or rather, one more potential whore—I must deal with... Emilia. That woman is a threat to me. Sitri has been acting more friendly and affectionate toward her instead of me, even though they have only known each other for a little more than a day—the exact same amount of time I have known him..."

Falling in love with someone in a single day might sound ridiculous, but it is what it is. I have heard stories of people falling in love within minutes...

I never believed it.

Not until I had met him.

I thought love was nothing more than a tool—a weakness that people used to make themselves feel something. A way for them to cling to each other for their own benefit...

"Well... until the rebels are dead, I will keep her alive. After that, she dies first, then comes my dear Sitri..."

I then turned and walked to the table, where the cloth lay. There was the buttoned full-sleeve shirt he had worn today. It was a bit dirty and slightly wet since it was the same shirt he had on when he sparred with Yeshi.

I grabbed the shirt, brought it close to my nose, and took a deep breath.

"So good! He smells so good!" I said in a euphoric tone. A warm, tingling sensation spread through me, making me feel something deep in my special lady area.

I then put the shirt inside a large trunk, where I usually kept things that I liked. And this one—this was my most prized item.

"I need a bath. I don't want to smell bad just because I got a little carried away," I said, clapping my hands. Two maids immediately entered the room.

"Yes, Your Majesty, how may we be of service?" they asked, bowing deeply like the lowly peasants they were.

"Prepare water for my bath."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

They nodded and quickly left to fulfill my request.

"Good girls..."

With that done, I stepped out of my room for some fresh air—and to check on Sitri again. I had to make sure he wasn't getting too close to anyone else.

As I walked through the halls, every subject I passed bowed their heads in respect. Eventually, I reached the ground floor hallway, where my eyes landed on Sitri. He was in the central courtyard, swinging his flaming sword—the one I had instructed Yeshi to give him.

"Hiya!" He leaped into the air, swinging his sword in a flashy but impractical motion.

Pointless. That kind of move would only leave him open in real combat.

"So, how was that?" he asked Yeshi, who stood nearby, monitoring his movements.

"Sort of good, but the last move was unnecessary," Yeshi replied. "It would leave you open for an attack when you jump or spin. Don't ever try that again—unless you can spin fast enough to create a tornado, which is impossible in your case since, as you know, you don't have mana."

Sitri sighed. "Well, I was just trying something I saw somewhere," he muttered, sheathing his sword. Then, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a strange bar wrapped in an unfamiliar material.

He tore the wrapper off, revealing a dark-colored treat. "Here, have this," he said, breaking off a piece and handing it to Yeshi.

She took it, eyeing it curiously. "What's this?"

"It's chocolate," he explained. "Something that, unfortunately, doesn't exist in your country... actually, in this whole continent."

"So, this is the chocolate Hilbert told us about," Yeshi said, taking a bite. Her eyes widened with surprise and delight. "It's incredible! No wonder he said it tasted like food from the heavens."

"It's not that great," Sitri shrugged. "I don't eat it often—usually just when I'm traveling or giving it to someone as a gift. Mostly to women, since women love chocolate. That's why men give women chocolates on Valentine's Day."

"Valentine's Day?"

"Yeah, it's a so-called 'Day of Love,'" he said casually.

That single phrase sent a burning jealousy through my heart.

Why? Why her? Why not me?

My fingers tightened into a fist, and I placed my hand against a nearby pillar. Cracks spread across the stone.

"Day of Love, I see," Yeshi said as she finished the remaining chocolate. "Do you have any more of this?"

"Yes, I should have one more bar and a packet of cocoa seeds," Sitri replied.

"That's good to hear. And cocoa seeds?"

"They're the key ingredient used to make chocolate," he explained.

"Oh..." Yeshi nodded in understanding. Then, her eyes shifted toward me, and she quickly bowed. "Greetings, Your Majesty!"

Sitri turned to me. "Hey, Lynda. What are you doing here at this hour?"

I walked toward them with a calm expression. "Nothing, just getting some fresh air," I said. My gaze then landed on the chocolate in his hand. "And what is that?"

"Oh, this? It's chocolate."

"Ah, chocolate..." I murmured, taking a closer look. "So this is what it looks like."

"If you want one, I have another bar," he offered.

"Nah, no need. Just give me the one you're holding," I said.

"It's already been bitten, you know. You shouldn't eat things someone else has taken a bite of," he replied.

"You don't have to worry about that," I said, raising my hand in a "give me" gesture.

With a sigh, he handed it over.

"It's like an indirect kiss," I added with a smile as I took a bite.

It truly was delicious!

"Okay... anyways, I'm going to sleep. Gotta go!" he said before leaving, leaving me and Yeshi alone.

"So, Captain Yeshi, I hope the preparations will be perfectly done without any shortcomings tomorrow," I said.

This woman was a threat to me, just like Emilia—another whore I couldn't simply get rid of due to the current situation at hand.

"That's good to hear..." I said as I finished the remaining chocolate, keeping my expression neutral.

"Anyways, what do you think of Sitri so far?"

"Well, Your Majesty, it's rather hard to tell. I can't give a clear answer yet—I need to observe him a little more," Yeshi replied, giving me a bow.

"I see..."

"Though," she added, "he has quite the habit of flirting with girls. Not to mention, he openly admitted that he looks at women of all shapes and sizes like a chauvinist pig."

I really needed to do something about that habit of his, but I didn't want to hurt him before dealing with the rebellion. Maybe I should surround him with more men instead of women...

But wait—if I did that, would it make him start liking men instead?

Damn it, what should I do?

"Well, I'm going. You should get some rest for tomorrow," I said before turning away and heading back to my room, waiting for the maids to prepare my bath