episode_0192

It was a strange, abrupt sound he had never heard before.

Joseph seemed equally unaware. At the nobles’ sudden remarks, he hesitated, unable to stop them.

However, everyone except Robert and Joseph knew of the “Iron Lady.”

They had all been surprised into loud exclamations.

“That person?”

“Yes! It must be her!”

What on earth was this about?

Why did the Deseo nobles recognize Tia, whom they had never even met?

Even more surprisingly, Tia greeted Rudy Piolo, who had recognized her first.

“It’s been a long time, Sir Piolo.”

“I’ve been searching for you for a long time. Where have you been, Mrs. Modaless?”

Robert’s face went blank.

Was this a play concocted by the nobles on the spot? Or was it a cruel trick to belittle Tia?

No. He had never heard of either.

Tia looked around. The faces of the nobles seemed familiar to her.

She looked around, accurately naming them one by one, nodding her head and greeting them.

Even those stubborn nobles warmly welcomed Tia and asked about her recent well-being.

Watching the girl naturally blend in among them,

Robert and Joseph were speechless.

Teacher Vincent let out a hollow laugh.

“The Iron Lady is Tia? Hahahaha…”

“Sir Carlos. What does ‘Iron Lady’ mean?”

“It’s a story I heard vaguely. Apparently, there was a woman who spearheaded this war from the beginning.”

The Deseo nobles were the ones who initiated the war.

The long-accumulated discontent with the king had finally erupted.

However, Robert, being ‘of the same nobility,’ knew something.

That nobles never moved easily.

They were too busy chasing after money, forgetting honor, and too busy preserving their own wealth. He thought they would have no courage left to start such a rebellion.

But one woman moved the hearts of these arrogant, rock-like nobles.

That person was… the Iron Lady.

“She suddenly appeared at the autumn banquet and advocated for purchasing the Rottenbahn iron mine’s mining rights to mass-produce weapons. Several major families invested enormous wealth in her, leading to the current outcome.”

It was the ‘Modaless Trading Company’ that purchased the iron mines and manufactured weapons.

That company, whose identity was unclear, existed for exactly one month.

This was because King Deseo, sensing the atmosphere of rebellion, immediately dissolved the company.

However, it was said that she had concealed her identity so thoroughly that when the Modaless Trading Company was raided, no one was apprehended.

The weapons already produced were distributed among various families, arming their private soldiers.

And so, the war began.

After the war, the nobles searched for the Iron Lady.

However, it was revealed that no ‘Modaless’ family existed, and the region she claimed as Modaless territory also did not exist.

From the very beginning, her existence itself had been an illusion.

A woman who suddenly appeared, awakened the nobles’ spirits,

And then, after bringing them victory, vanished just as suddenly.

Could there be such heroic achievements and deeds?

From their perspective, she could only be felt as an envoy of God.

“Are you saying… this war, it all stemmed from Tia?”

“Perhaps.”

The three knights looked at Tia, who was mingled among the nobles.

The sense of unease they had felt just moments ago was gone.

As if it were only natural.

Like the King of Deseo, leading the nobles of Deseo.

Tia was there.

“…It seems so.”

* * *

There was no opposition to the proposal to enthrone Tia as king.

No. To be precise, perhaps they couldn’t object.

Most of the influential families came forward to support Tia.

They had invested a lot of money in the Modaless Trading Company and were hoping for the greatest gains from this war.

Tia granted their wishes.

She promised to confiscate the wealth of the fallen nouveaux riches in the King’s name and distribute it according to each family’s contribution.

How a country girl could make such a bold promise to urban nobles was unknown.

Nevertheless, her decision was exceedingly rational.

“Since the legitimate successor of the royal family led this war to victory, do we need another lord?”

With powerful individuals asserting their intention to serve Tia as king with this logic, there was no one to raise an objection.

Thus, the Queen’s ascension was finally decided.

Of course, this process was not without its murmurs.

The discussion was about what to do with the Queen’s husband – Fosao.

Tia had the royal bloodline and thus the legitimacy to rule this country, but Fosao was merely a commoner.

To have to serve and live with such a lowly person in the sacred royal palace. It was a terrible thought for the nobles.

Moreover, no matter how handsomely he was dressed, his unattractive face and fat body, which utterly lacked royal dignity, often led them to turn away and spit.

“There is a small island off Deseo’s central sea. It has an excellent castle, abundant food, and beautiful scenery, making it a famous resort. Even previous kings used to enjoy their holidays there. How about having the King Consort reside in the castle on that island?”

It was a polite suggestion to send Fosao to a secluded island.

“I don’t wish to.”

However, Tia, who generally acceded to the nobles’ demands, for some reason, did not back down on this matter.

“When I was at my most difficult… he was the only one who comforted and protected me. I believe I shouldn’t become arrogant just because I am now a queen.”

Tia said she couldn’t do that because she loved him more than anyone in the world and had promised to spend her life with him as family.

Furthermore, she pointed out that she had ascended the throne through a rebellion against the former king. If she, as queen, were to betray her husband, how would the world perceive it? The nobles had no choice but to remain silent.

“Before I am a queen, I am a woman. For a very long time, women have protected their homes and served their husbands. If I, as queen, set such an example, won’t all the people uphold the value of tradition?”

Saying this, she chose to keep the name ‘Modaless’ instead of ‘Lykene,’ her father’s old name and a great dynasty.

She declared that she was, first and foremost, Fosao’s wife.

Instead, she accepted a compromise: Tia would be the sole ‘Queen’ with full governing authority,

And Fosao would be appointed as ‘King Consort’ instead of king.

That was the first command she exercised as Queen.

Although the issue of the throne was settled one way or another, there were still many uneasy glances.

To be honest, the current period was very unfavorable for Tia.

Although the war had ended relatively peacefully, Deseo was still reeling from its aftermath.

Tia had to prove herself by how cleanly and smoothly she handled the post-war cleanup.

But what could that young queen do?

Most of the nobles naturally had no expectations of Tia.

Only those who salivated over the chance to gain benefits during this chaotic time whispered, ‘It turned out well.’

A puppet king.

Tia was exactly such a figure, an utterly suitable king to become a puppet.

Indeed, that was the atmosphere. The nobles did not ask for Tia’s opinion.

They merely aimed their knives at the large pancake that was ‘Deseo’ and discussed how to divide it.

However, that dream was shattered when ‘Royal Palace invitations’ arrived.

The invitations stated that a grand banquet was prepared to celebrate the nobles’ victory and requested their attendance.

It was a banquet hosted by the king herself. Since representatives could not be sent to such an event, the heads of the families had to attend in person.

“The country is in such disarray, yet she’s suddenly holding a banquet. She’s certainly a young queen.”

“Haha. It’s annoying, but let’s consider it a small investment of our time. At any rate, the Queen seems to be on our side. Isn’t it all for the best in the end?”

The nobles laughed, imagining the world that would soon be theirs.

Unaware that it was a grave misjudgment.

What they initially thought would be a one-day event, the ‘banquet,’ strangely extended for a day or two.

Eventually, even news of them disappeared.

Before long, everyone learned that the heads of the families had been confined in the royal palace.

“Father is imprisoned in the royal palace? What on earth does that mean?!”

“Because Her Majesty the Queen has them held and won’t let them go…”

At first, they truly enjoyed the banquet.

But when night fell, Tia gathered them in one room and asked for their help in resolving current issues.

It was called a request, but in fact, it was closer to a command.

She questioned them about politics and learned throughout the night.

When morning broke, they gathered again. After breakfast, lunch, and dinner, they gathered again, listening to various advice and resolving accumulated problems.

What to do with prisoners, whether there was compensation for fallen soldiers, how to reorganize the city, foreign policy issues, and so on.

The nobles realized that they could not leave the royal palace until all agenda items were resolved there and then.

Yet, they could not rebel. The Queen fulfilled all her promises. She didn’t threaten them; she merely made requests. And they themselves had agreed to those requests.

Moreover, with the Queen working so diligently while pregnant, it would be a loss of face for them as nobles to complain in front of her.

Their only option was to help as much as possible to escape quickly—that was the conclusion they reached.

Fortunately, Tia was a genius.

She had an exceptional talent, especially for comprehension.

Even if they only advised, ‘The former kings did it this way,’ Tia instantly grasped the intention and applied it to the current situation.

Teach one, learn ten. How could that cliché expression fit so perfectly?

They had clearly thought she was a novice. They thought she knew nothing and would follow their every command.

Watching Tia gradually reveal the demeanor of a monarch with each passing day, the nobles were said to have turned pale.

The nobles were confined for about five days.

During that time, all matters were concluded. It was an unprecedented speed of work.

When they were released, it was expected that many complaints would arise from various quarters.

However, the heads of families instead remained silent, refraining from any mention.

Because they had seen with their own eyes

Just how terrifying a ruler they had brought to that throne with their own hands.

Could it be that royal blood cannot be deceived?

Or does the position make the person?

By the time they finally questioned this, Tia already possessed the majesty of a king.

“The coronation schedule has been finalized. I request Your Majesty’s approval.”

“…Understood.”

Robert took the letter Joseph handed him.

The coronation.

A ceremony where the king places the crown on their own head, witnessed by nobles and common folk.

Once the coronation was held, ‘Tia Modaless’ would be proclaimed to the world as ‘Queen Tia.’

Thudding footsteps.

The lonely knight walked alone down the long corridor.

Portraits of past kings hung in golden frames on the walls. All of them were men.

As if walking through the history of Deseo, at the end of his silent walk,

Lay the King’s Bedchamber.

No, it should now be called the ‘Queen’s Bedchamber.’

As Robert approached the bedchamber, a servant blocked the corridor.

“You cannot be received at this time.”

It seemed there was an earlier visitor.

Robert had no choice but to stand there and wait.

After a short while,

With a clack—.

The bedchamber suddenly opened, and someone came out.

He thought it was Tia, but the bulky figure that emerged immediately negated his guess.

“Hehehe.”

It was Fosao.

He dragged his gaudy coat, which did not suit him at all, along the floor as he waddled down the corridor.

“Heeheehee…”

Then he bit into the bright red apple he held in his hand.

He crunched loudly, juice spilling from his mouth, as he passed Robert.

“…”

The lonely knight could do nothing.

What had transpired in the Queen’s bedchamber moments before?

He had neither the right to ask nor the means to find out.

Looking at the firmly closed bedchamber door at the end of the corridor, blocked by the servant,

He could only imagine that the two had shared a good time.

How did things turn out this way?

Everything.

Everything had changed.

In the past, he had told Tia to wait until dinner.

But now, he was waiting here to be called by Tia.

The two, a knight and a commoner, who had found it difficult to grow close,

Had now become a Queen and a knight, growing distant once more.

He squeezed the letter in his hand tightly.

If, on that day, at that time,

He hadn’t made Tia wait, but had gone to fetch her himself…

…Would the outcome have been different?

“You may enter now.”

The servant who had been blocking his path finally stepped aside.

Thudding footsteps.

Robert resumed his stiff walk.

He stood before the firmly closed reception room door, straightened his attire,

Cleared his throat loudly once, and spoke in a loyal voice.

“Your Majesty the Queen. Knight Robert has arrived.”

“Come in.”

Clack.

He opened the door and entered the room.

In the tall, slightly dim room,

The Queen sat demurely, her back to the sunlit window.

Robert’s eyes wavered.

Beautiful.

Though it was not official working hours and she was dressed simply,

She was truly beautiful in the Queen’s attire.

However, staring at the Queen’s face for too long was disrespectful.

Realizing his mistake, Robert quickly bowed his head and knelt.

“The retainers have set the dates for the coronation. This letter contains five proposals. Please choose a day you find suitable and proclaim it, Your Majesty.”

“I just need to choose one?”

“That is correct.”

“Alright. Hmm—this time seems good. May 15th. It’s the Day of Consecration.”

“Yes. We will prepare accordingly for that date.”

Tia’s decision was made in an instant.

Likewise, Robert’s duty was also complete. Having received the Queen’s answer, all that remained was to inform the nobles.

As he knelt, waiting for Tia to dismiss him,

“Sir Robert.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Robert-nim. Please rise from your seat.”

Surprised by the sudden change in address, Robert awkwardly stood up.

Robert-nim.

That was… the address Tia had used for him when she was a commoner.

The Queen pointed to the seat opposite hers and quietly asked,

“Can we sit together for a moment and talk?”

And the moment he saw her mischievous smile,

The scene from that time vaguely came to mind.

Riding horses to their hearts’ content, sitting on a rock and eating hardtack,

The field they had gazed upon together.