CHAPTER 273: THE QUEEN’S STRANGE MORNING

A damp wind blew through the corridor lined with evenly spaced red pillars, making the sleeves and hem of Micah’s brown robe flutter.

The cool breeze from the sea was usually welcome during this humid season, but today it carried too much moisture.

The sky above, seen from the corridor, looked heavy and gray, it felt like rain was coming soon.

He glanced at the red pillars that was painted to protect them from sea corrosion and thought it was about time they were repainted.

Soon, the maintenance department would probably send him the budget details and project plan.

Right on schedule, before the start of official duties, Micah knocked on the door of the office.

Usually, the Queen would already be inside, but there was no answer.

He looked toward the guard by the door with a questioning expression.

"The Queen hasn’t arrived yet this morning," the guard said politely.

The soldier wore a short hemp jacket and trousers, with a leather breastplate and shin guards over them and stood straight with his spear held firmly in hand.

Oh, that’s unusual. She’s later than I am.

Micah couldn’t help but think, maybe that’s why a storm is coming. A rather rude thought, but it slipped through his mind before he could stop it.

Queen Isolde who had taken the throne at seventeen worked so seriously that Micah sometimes worried if she had any other joys in life.

Many men had gathered around the beautiful young queen, but she had never given her heart to any of them.

Now, she had quietly passed through her twenties without choosing a husband.

When Micah entered the office, he began organizing the unfinished work and the documents that needed to be processed that day.

He had served as chancellor since the days of the previous king and queen and now he’s over sixty years old.

The late king who had been badly wounded by a sea monster had asked Micah to support Princess Isolde’s reign before his death.

The queen mother, too, had entrusted the same wish to him before she followed her husband to the grave.

Because of those promises, Micah had never found the right time to retire.

But he knew the time was coming, soon, he would have to hand over his duties to the younger generation.

The younger officials were growing capable and many tasks could already be left to them.

Yet, Queen Isolde herself had not yet settled her personal life.

The reason Micah stayed in his position for so long is not only because his promise to the late King and queen but also because he hope at least to see her find a worthy partner before he stepping down.

As he was writing at his desk, Queen Isolde finally entered the room.

She was much later than usual today.

Micah stood up from his seat to greet her while watching her carefully to see if perhaps the Queen was feeling unwell.

But as she nodded her head once and walked briskly toward her desk, her steps were firm and lively.

In fact, she seemed more energetic than usual.

Her face was bright, even slightly flushed, which is a clear sign that she’s in a good spirits.

That was rare for her.

The Queen was usually calm to the point of appearing cold and her face unreadable.

Micah couldn’t help but stare in mild surprise.

...

"...And that concludes the matter. What shall we do about it, Your Majesty?"

"...Ah! Oh—my apologies. Could you explain it once more?"

"..."

This was the fourth time.

He had already repeated the same explanation three times before.

"There’s no need to rush this, Your Majesty," Micah said gently. "We can go over it again later."

He would simply take care of it himself, he thought while suppressing a sigh.

What on earth had happened to the Queen?

Her mind was clearly elsewhere. Tl

Although her eyes were lowered to the papers before her, she wasn’t actually seeing them.

Her focus drifted constantly, her gaze wandering and her movements restless.

Micah had never seen Queen Isolde act like this before.

Her cheeks were tinged pink; she pressed a hand lightly against her chest and sighed softly.

To put it plainly, she looked like a lovestruck teenager.

Micah couldn’t help thinking of his granddaughter who is still twelve years old, but lately she also showing signs of girlish vanity and constantly getting flustered about something or other.

The Queen’s behavior now reminded him exactly of that.

No way... could it be that at her age, she was experiencing her first love?

He shook his head immediately, dismissing the thought as foolish. "I’m getting senile," he muttered under his breath.

But even so, there was no denying that the Queen was distracted, her focus scattered, her behavior far from normal.

The timing couldn’t have been worse.

The entire kingdom had worked for years to prepare for the grand project that was now finally about to be fulfilled.

This was the moment that demanded her full attention, not daydreams.

Micah wanted to shout from the depths of his heart: Get it together, Your Majesty!

...

It was unusual.

Queen Isolde who always took her meals in the office suddenly chose to return to her private chambers in the inner palace for lunch.

Micah was just about to rise from his chair to take his own break when a loud and quick footsteps echoed through the hall.

Without knocking, Siobhan barged in, his steps heavy and careless.

Queen Isolde’s cousin Siobhan waddled into the room, his round belly jiggling as his small eyes darted about searching every corner.

When his gaze landed on Micah, he spoke bluntly.

"Where’s Isolde? She’s usually here, isn’t she?"

Micah reminded him of proper manners with a quiet but firm tone.

"Even if you are her cousin, addressing Her Majesty by name alone is disrespectful. You should mind your language."

Quye puffed out his chest and smirked. "Isolde will be my wife soon enough. A husband can call his wife whatever he wants, can’t he? I told her we’d have lunch together today. Where is she?"