I Don't Want To Be Loved

Chapter 134: Mrs. Cessley’s Nagging

“They say that if one keeps their pent up frustrations inside, it’ll only make one terribly desperate to relieve it later on. I think this saying matches that foolish king, don’t you think so? I’m wondering how he was able to push down his desires for so long. Hm… maybe he’d been…” Mrs. Cessley cleared her throat. “Anyway, I think I’ll need to have a stern talk with His Majesty. The other parts are fine, but why does he need to rip apart your poor lips like this?”

Rihannan pulled her hand out of the water and swept it across her lip for a moment. She remembered Igor licking her lips gently while apologizing. A blazing red blush immediately tinged her cheeks.

“I don’t think we’ll be able to hide this with makeup. Perhaps we can make it work with a deep red lipstick? Though it’s not like we have official meetings you’ll need to attend, but if you walk around like this, I don’t doubt that the servants will surely start a rumor… um… Your Majesty? Are you listening to me?”

Rihannan jumped, hurriedly pulling her hand away from her lips and bobbing her head up and down vigorously.

Mrs. Cessley shook her head and sighed exasperatedly all while looking annoyed.

“Looking at your expression, My Queen, I can tell that it’s not only that foolish king enjoying himself. So you were flying in the clouds too. Goodness…”

Thankfully, that was the last of the duchess’ nagging.

Rihannan was relieved.

After finishing her bath, she dressed up with the help of the duchess and began her day’s schedule in earnest.

“My Queen, about the big event… it’ll be one month from now. It’s the annual Kiritte game held on the hunting grounds near the place where the leading nobility will be attending.”

Just as Kiritte was a popular pastime hobby in Chrichton, it is the same in Arundell. However, there exists a difference between the two in terms of rules.

“Would you like to participate in the game, Your Majesty, or would you prefer to spectate?”

Rihannan didn’t know much about Kiritte in the past, so she merely sat on the sidelines and watched the match in solemnity. It was a lonely experience as the noblewomen near her age enjoyed themselves in the immerseful game while she sat from afar watching the matches alone.

She didn’t want to sit out this time.

“I’ll participate,” Rihannan replied.

“Do you know how to play Kiritte?”

Rihannan smiled. “Yes. I learned from my cousins in Chrichton.”

Mrs. Cessley nodded. “I understand. Then I’ll prepare the schedule accordingly so you’ll be able to participate in the game personally. There’s also an official invitation letter from Duchess  Saphia inviting you to her domain to celebrate her birthday. What would you like to do?”

Duchess Saphia was the noblewoman Rihannan conversed with the most during the banquet held yesterday night.

Rihannan hadn’t developed any negative thoughts of her in the past, and public opinions of her from the nobility were generally favorable.

Rihannan thought the same.

As she pondered whether to accept the duchess’ sincere invitation, Mrs. Cessley interrupted her thoughts and said, “My Queen, I don’t think she’d be a bad person for you to form a relationship with as your first friend in Arundell as queen.”

Rihannan nodded.

Mrs. Cessley came to the same conclusion as her.

There was a difference in the level of authority executed when a queen invites a noble compared to a noble inviting a queen to visit their domain.

The first was an order and the latter meant that the noble intended to establish a close relationship with the queen.

And on top of that, this was her first time visiting noble. Rihannan will need to be cautious about her decisions.