episode_0205

[Episode 201] – I Didn’t Lie

After the intense four days of debauchery had come to an end,

The officials who had eagerly awaited the opening of the tightly closed bedroom rushed in. Traumatized by the word “debauchery,” their faces wore expressions close to contemplation.

In particular, Bangsho, the Minister of Education, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs had priceless expressions.

As they stared at me sitting on the bed, questioning what had happened over the past four days, why we suddenly engaged in debauchery, almost on the verge of tears, I couldn’t help but feel a tinge of guilt seeing the officials scrutinizing me.

“No, what do you mean by sudden debauchery…! What else displeases you?!”

“N-no, it’s not like that. It’s not what you think…!”

“Then what is it?!”

Bangsho pounded his chest almost tearfully as he shouted. Following him, the Minister of Education and the Minister of Foreign Affairs were wiping tears with handkerchiefs. It was wrong of us not to explain the reason for the debauchery, but…

…how could I tell them the truth?

That we had only engaged in sex for four days and nights…

Naturally, I thought Titania would have some excuse prepared, but she mentioned she hadn’t thought of anything. How ridiculous it was when she said, “Why not tell the truth?”

I knew Titania had no intention of hiding our relationship, but should I really say this now? No, absolutely not. If I were to speak the truth in their current agitated state…

“…These old folks might drop dead from heart failure…”

As I rubbed my forehead and let out a deep sigh, Bangsho, still not calmed down, berated me loudly. Perhaps he was angry because of past memories. I felt sorry for what I had done to Bangsho.

“This time, both of you locked yourselves in the bedroom together…! If there’s something you don’t like, please speak up! It’s not good for our elderly hearts if you lock yourselves in without explanation…! Do you know how worried we were, thinking something like before might happen again…!”

“Oh, no, it’s really not what you think…”

“And why did you refuse meals again? Are you on a hunger strike? Without explaining the reason for the debauchery, if you go on a hunger strike, what are we supposed to do!”

…I just skipped meals because Titania wouldn’t let me leave the bed. It’s not some grand hunger strike or anything like that.

“L-look at this…! After four days, you’ve become so skinny…!”

“……”

Watching the officials crying and wailing while looking at my face buried in the bed, I glanced at Titania standing beside me with a look that asked how she planned to resolve this situation. Seriously, what am I going to do about this?

Even with my glaring eyes, Titania simply smiled, shrugged her shoulders, and seemed to smirk as if she wanted to boast about the events of the past four days.

…I’d rather die than endure this.

Letting out a heavy sigh, I gently patted the shoulders of the sobbing officials and began to explain the events of the past four days, revealing neither lies nor truths, just vague facts.

“Phew… Stop crying and get up. It’s really not what you think. Remember when you asked me last time for a favor.”

“A favor… What do you mean? About the successor…?”

“Y-yes! That! About… Titania’s successor… related to marriage… It was just a discussion about that. I was asked to persuade Titania about it. We just talked a bit about that.”

The mention of Titania’s marriage and successor caused the ministers’ eyes to widen in surprise. With the exception of Minister Bangsho, the eyes of the educational and foreign affairs ministers began to sparkle like those of a child expecting a gift.

“Could it be… that the reason you two haven’t left the bedroom for four days…”

“Well, yes… we did spend four days inside the room… persuading Titania…”

“Is that so?! Then, what have you decided?!”

Upon hearing the word “successor,” the foreign affairs minister, who had been kneeling on the floor, jumped up in astonishment. His expression was akin to a child receiving a Christmas present…

I felt a twinge of guilt.

“…Perhaps soon, we might have some good news to share…”

“Oh…!”

The foreign affairs minister was already counting on his fingers who the princes of other countries were. Fueled by passion to find a suitable match for Titania, he was ablaze with enthusiasm.

Unable to bear the sight of the fervent foreign affairs minister, I turned my head away and spoke. It was definitely not what the foreign affairs minister was thinking…

It wasn’t exactly a lie. It did seem like there might be some good news soon, and it would likely involve matters related to the successor.

The only difference was…

It would be about me, not Titania.

“Anyway… don’t tell the other ministers yet. Nothing is confirmed. Let’s discuss further and make a proper decision before revealing anything.”

“Oh… Understood. I will eagerly await the good news.”

“Well then… since we’ve heard the reasons for your seclusion… shall we take our leave now? I could use a break…”

I urged the ministers to leave quickly, touching my forehead and waving them out. As they left the room, a satisfied smile lingered on their lips.

Once the ministers were gone and the bedroom door closed, I let out a heavy sigh. At that moment, Titania, standing beside me, approached with a mischievous smile.

“Wouldn’t it have been better to just tell the truth? Everyone will find out soon anyway.”

Chuckling softly, Titania embraced me from behind, gently stroking my abdomen. Even though it would eventually come out, I couldn’t bring myself to say it. Besides…

“But nothing is certain yet.”

“I am certain.”

Pressing against my abdomen and brushing her lips against my neck, Titania exuded warmth as she exhaled softly. I sighed quietly at her persistence even after four days of such intimacy, feeling the heat emanating from her breath.

Afraid of getting swept up in the mood again, I turned my head and pinched Titania’s cheek, stretching it out. How should I handle this insatiable bundle of desire?

“I hope I can be certain too.”

“After all the trouble I’ve put you through? I’m sure it will be certain.”

As she removed her hand from my cheek and lightly kissed the back of my hand, Titania smiled with her eyes squinted. Her confidence made me feel embarrassed for my own lack thereof.

Honestly, I still had some doubts about whether women could conceive together. Was the past four days just a dramatic scenario? I couldn’t shake off that thought.

While I didn’t oppose having a child with Titania, common sense doesn’t easily crumble. Despite wanting to believe, the ingrained notion that ‘women can’t have children together’ led to unavoidable doubts.

Perhaps only when my stomach swells like a mountain, feeling bloated, will I be convinced.

Truly, thinking that Titania’s child is inside me.

*

After the four-day retreat, I returned to my ordinary daily life.

Helping Titania with her work, reading books when time allowed, getting annoyed by the ministers’ nagging, occasionally indulging Titania’s desires. It was truly an ordinary routine, no different from usual.

Not too busy, not too dull either. As time passed and the memories of the four-day retreat began to fade away, a change scheduled in my mundane life finally arrived.

“…Mother, have you been eating too much lately?”

“Huh?”

Just as I was about to put the cake into my mouth, Titania looked at me with a slightly worried expression. Eating too much lately? I’ve been eating just like usual…

“Why are you suddenly saying that? I haven’t eaten that much.”

“Are you not aware that this is already your third slice?”

“Is that so…?”

Humph. Chewing the cake slowly and swallowing, Titania frowned slightly, then took the cake placed in front of me. I gestured for her to give it back, but it was futile.

“What are you trying to do? Can’t you return it quickly?”

“You’ve eaten too much today. What if you gain weight and your dress doesn’t fit? Do you want to see the seamstress crying again?”

“No, how much did I eat…”

“You’ve been having more than three snacks a day recently. Every day of the week.”

Sucking on the remaining cream on the fork, I recalled the past week when I had indeed been eating a lot of snacks. Memories of devouring fruits that I usually didn’t even touch after finishing the cake…

“You didn’t eat this much before. If you keep eating like this after your meals, you’ll surely gain weight. No, you must have already gained some.”

“But…”

No matter how much I eat, why do I still feel hungry…?

Due to the nightly battles draining my energy, I thought my body needed more nutrients. Was that not the case? I wanted to blame her and say, “It’s all your fault!” but I held my tongue for now.

“…Anyway, what can you do if you’re always hungry no matter how much you eat? It’s not about eating until you’re stuffed. Give me back the cake.”

“Do you still feel hungry? You just finished your meal and ate all three cakes. Are you still hungry?”

With a hint of mischief in her expression, Titania’s face gradually turned serious as she asked me with genuine concern. Just after finishing my meal, I didn’t feel full at all.

As I thought about it, my expression stiffened, and laughter failed to emerge. Why is this happening? Even if I ate this much, I should feel full. It was strange that I felt hungrier instead.

“A little…? Not very hungry… just a bit…?”

“Should I call the doctor?”

“Y-yes…?”

The light atmosphere from moments ago quickly turned heavy. Upon reflection, my condition was indeed not normal. Titania immediately called the doctor, who hurried over and examined me.

Initially, upon hearing about my condition, the doctor chuckled, saying, “You don’t need to worry.” However, as the diagnosis progressed, the doctor’s expression grew increasingly grave, eventually turning completely serious.

Tilting her head in apparent disbelief, she wiped the cold sweat off her forehead and muttered to herself, “This can’t be happening…?” The sound of her muttering made me almost genuinely cry along with her.

The doctor’s incomprehensible muttering after diagnosing my body was terrifying. I almost shed tears, thinking that even the most skilled doctor in the palace might not know what serious illness had befallen me.

“Um, Your Majesty…I truly hope this question isn’t impertinent, but…”

“W-what is it…?”

“Um, have you…recently engaged in intimate relations with a man…?”

“…What?”

As I looked at the physician with a bewildered expression, he vigorously shook his hands and head, as if desperately wanting to clarify his question, seemingly indicating he wanted to live longer.

“I-I know it’s incredibly impolite, but as a doctor, I have no choice but to ask. No matter how I think about it, the only way to explain Your Majesty’s condition is through that, or rather, through…an appointment…”

“…An appointment?”

It was only now that I seemed to understand why the physician couldn’t comprehend.

The Queen. Moreover, the former Queen who had passed away long ago, the wife of the late King. It had been over a decade since the King’s passing, and suddenly, she was pregnant.

Surely, various thoughts must have crossed the physician’s mind as he diagnosed my appointment.

‘Who on earth is the father of this child? Was there a man around the former Queen? Did she conceive when she left the palace? No, too much time has passed for that. That possibility is unlikely.’

‘Then who could it be? There were no male figures around the former Queen. An affair with the palace knights? If such a thing had happened, rumors would have surely spread throughout the entire royal court. What on earth…’

Ultimately, giving up on his thoughts, the physician delivered his diagnosis to me.

“Y-Your Majesty, an appointment…to, um, congratulate you…?”

Forcing the most awkward smile in the world.

Turning my head towards Titania, I did the same, looking at her. While the physician and I exchanged awkward smiles, Titania simply smiled as if she had anticipated this situation.

…An appointment? Me?

…Really?