The Reason for Marriage

Reina and Sid arrived a little before Iveca was ready, so she asked them politely to wait for her. In her haste, Iveca carefully but noticeably packed a dagger inside the Judicial Affair Bureau uniform, which Reina spotted immediately. Iveca smiled, though through embarrassment.

“It’s not that I don’t trust you two… It’s just nice to have something like this. Call it assurance.”

“Yes, of course.” Reina replied coolly. She remembered that Iveca couldn’t throw this dagger when she was ambushed; when she tried to take it out, she got a knife right in her back for her effort. She recalled the situation for a moment, before noticing Iveca clearly had something she wanted to say.

“Oh, Reina, I was meaning to speak with you about something. There was a really strange happening during the ambush.”

“Yes?”

“After I was stabbed, someone grabbed me and supported me, but my vision was very blurry. Obviously, she looked unfamiliar, and her hair was pink… and I called your name without realizing it.”

Reina said nothing, so Iveca continued.

“She was as tall as you, and her eyes shone green. Do you know any investigation officer like that? Come to think of it, it’s like she saved me, but I couldn’t even say hello, given my condition.”

“There are many people in the Bureau of Investigation, you know,” Reina smiled and waved her hands, “I can’t memorize everyone. It’s not like there are just one or two people.”

As soon as Iveca tried to say something with her eyes sunken, the maid suddenly announced that they had a visitor. A guest this early in the morning? Iveca thought, opening her eyes in surprise. She told them to come in blankly. She swallowed her dry saliva as she was nervous at the unexpected visit. When the maid returned, she was flanked by two men.

“My Queen, I’m sorry for our visit being so early in the morning.”

Ewill Esselburn and Anriq Renka stood shoulder to shoulder in front of her. Iveca sighed and guided them to her table with trembling hands, and had her maid unload the tray. Ewill sat in front of her with a hardened face and coughed uncomfortably.

“If you can tell the Bureau of Investigation officers to go…”

“Not a chance, Count Esselburn.”

It was Sid who answered his words. His tone was so determined that Ewill didn’t push the issue further. Iveca looked back and forth at Sid and Ewill, then blinked her eyes and spoke.

“After the attack, I am not to be by myself.”

“I heard that the motive has been revealed. The Baron…”

“The Baron said it had nothing to do with the first attack.”

“Hardly.” Ewill sighed. “Now the Queen has made so many enemies that it is impossible to even track down who is behind it. At yesterday’s meeting, the talk about representation of the common people came out. My Queen, how far are you trying to go?”

Iveca circled the teacup lip with her finger without saying anything. Ewill looked for her twice and confronted her twice as if he was scolding her. After a moment of hesitation, she spoke up.

“It’s an inevitable trend. No matter how much you close your eyes, time goes by. Do you think Amethan will be safe facing the Republicanism that swept the continent?”

“Maybe it’s time for a change. But why should it be under the Esselburn name?” Ewill rolled his eyes and looked at her. “From a distance, it might be the right thing to do. We also know that this decision will receive great praise in future generations. But why do I have to sacrifice the name of Esselburn?”

Iveca lowered her eyes. It was Anriq who broke the silence.

“I’ve told you several times to stop, My Queen.”

Iveca stared at him. He used an honorific with her very rarely, and she knew that this time it was to make a point. She would not be fazed by it.

“Your Highness is using the Queen’s background to push his thoughts forward. Otherwise, why would you insist on presenting a ball in the name of the Queen? Surely that wasn’t your intention?”

Even Sid raised an eyebrow at the harsh remarks. It was ridiculous for a guard to openly discuss the King’s intentions. Reina and Sid exchanged glances, and Iveca lifted her eyes and looked straight at them, a new fire burning.

“I created it. Of course my name should be on it.”

“My Queen…” Anriq started, but Iveca cut him off.

“Why can’t I put my own name while I’ve been thinking about it every day, discussing it with legal staff, and referring to every single word? It’s the right thing to look at from afar, and the future generations might praise it, but why do you keep saying that my name is the actual problem?”

Reina opened her mouth slightly to Iveca’s sharp voice, which she had never heard since coming to the palace.

“It’s something that I can do better than His Highness,” Iveca continued, “to the extent that His Highness asked me directly.”

While her face seemed determined, like it would never yield, she could even hear her own resignation as if she had strangely let herself go. It was Anriq, not Ewil, who met her changed eyes.

“Because it’s dangerous. I understand your desire to follow the will, but if you ever considered the incongruity of his attitude towards the Queen…”

Iveca snapped back again. “At first, I started because I wanted to be recognized by His Highness. Anriq, I do not deny you. He cheered me on saying that I could do it, told me that I was good at it, and supported all my thoughts. I want to look good, I want to be with him forever, and I want to be recognized all the time, so I work harder.”

Reina’s eyes sank at her calm tone that was not like the usual Iveca.

“But now it’s my job that I don’t even want to quit. I had developed my own beliefs to the point that I was afraid that His Highness might tell me to stop. It’s good to have a law clause to lean on when the administrative officer feels alone. It’s not for him. It’s for me.”

Ewill touched his forehead at her words.

“How do you compare that administrative office to me, who’s been living in the same house with the Queen for almost 18 years…”

“It’s not only because of you. But because of me being alone for those eighteen years.”

“Pardon?”

“It’s painful to be alone, Father. Not like you would know.”

“I think I’ve treated you the same way as the other sisters.”

Iveca slammed her teacup down with such force that Ewill jumped in his chair. Standing up brusquely, she stared down at him and he seemed to shrink back.

“I’m sorry, it’s almost time for me to go to work.”

It was obvious to say that she wanted them to leave. Anriq jumped up and stood in front of her. Sid quickly tried to restrain him, but Iveca shook her head and motioned for him to speak.

“But what have you done to your father, who now tries to embrace you, my Queen? I’m saying this out of concern.”

But Iveca didn’t seem willing to care about his words. She snapped back at Anriq in a sharp tone.

“Are you worried about me when you curse my husband and stop me from doing what I want to do?”

“As for His Highness, I do not speak any nonsense. You know it too.” Anriq stared at her and immediately spoke informally. Even Ewill looked at him in surprise. “Why are you pretending not to know? Why do you cover your eyes and cover your ears? You are not stupid; you are smarter than everyone else.”

“Stop it.” Iveca’s voice trembled.

“What on earth is the reason why His Highness treats you so well? Don’t you think that he likes you? Think for yourself. The only conclusion is that it is because his interests are intertwined.”

Iveca’s eyes flared again. “It’s very disrespectful, Anriq, to speak to me in that way. I’m warning you. Let’s stop here.”

Sid stood between Iveca and Anriq. Anriq took a deep breath and grabbed her wrist, shoving his words down as if frustrated. His desperation that she would never see him again unless he was here with Ewill seemed to be clouding his sanity.

“I know because I’ve watched him the closest. Your Highness would not like a suspicious child who can’t even make eye contact with people due to lack of affection like you. Please don’t get used to it and wake up!”

Iveca stared at him and turned her head. She felt exhausted to confirm that she knew enough in front of so many people.

Anriq must have been talking about her with Eve Jean in mind. Do the Investigation officers like Sid and Reina know Eve Jean, too? That she had some sort of relationship with Daniel?

Then how funny would she have been in their eyes so far? Whenever Daniel came out to meet her, she ran out like a dog welcoming its owner, and she didn’t sleep until late, saying she would wait for Daniel. Regardless of what other people thought behind the scenes, it felt like the packaging she wanted to keep pretty, had been unraveled.

Right now, she wasn’t confident enough to look into the eyes of Reina, Sid, and Ewill. She touched the table with trembling hands.

“Get out.”

Anriq started to speak, but Sid squared up to him. Before Anriq could say anything, Iveca spoke again.

“It’s an order. Get out.”

Anriq sighed. “Let’s go.”

Sid forced Anriq to leave. Ewill hesitated, then he took a deep breath and followed them.

Only Reina and Iveca remained in the spacious palace. A heavy silence passed. The morning sun was too bright, and a bird chirped somewhere clearly. Reina smiled awkwardly at Iveca, who was lowering her eyes down, and spoke to her.

“Good job, my Queen. I was relieved to see you speak straight in front of others. You can insist on doing what you want to do.”

Iveca, who thought she would smile at Reina or open her heart sullenly because it was hard for her, said nothing. Reina took a few steps closer and stood in front of her, forcing her voice to become brighter.

“To me, the Queen today looked a lot better than the one I saw for the first time. So, please relax.”

“It’s not like I feel offended.”

“Pardon?”

Reina was surprised when Iveca spoke informally. You told me with a wary look to speak informally at first, but you said you were more comfortable with honorifics?

“I’m just a little tired. I’m sick and tired of it.”

“A, about what?”

“I know everything but pretend not to know. It’s starting to weigh very heavily on me indeed.”