I Don't Want To Be Loved

Chapter 94: You’re Beautiful

“Mrs. Cessley, I have one more question I’d like to ask of you.”

When Mrs. Cessley hurried her to sleep, Rihannan grabbed her arm and looked into her eyes.

She hesitated momentarily before parting her lips, “Do you happen to know the name Leticia?”

Mrs. Cessley tilted her head. “…I can’t remember well. What is her noble status?”

“I saw it in the book you gave me. Her last name is Olbach, and I understand that she’s the wife of Gaith Olbach.”

“I vaguely remember. If that’s the case, it’s most likely that he’s a distant relative of Count Clovis.”

“Count Clovis…”

“Yes. The former king’s first son.”

She knew the name fully well. Count Clovis was the former king’s eldest son. He lived a private life and hid in the shadows and was hardly ever seen in public gatherings. The former king’s small loyal supporters planned to place him on the throne and replace Igor.

“A few years ago, Gaith Olbach, the viscount, remarried. The person you’re asking for might be that woman. I’ve encountered his former wife once. She was around my age.”

“You’ve met the viscount’s former wife?”

“Yes. But it was long ago when I’ve just married my husband.”

“So that woman the viscount remarried is older?”

“Possibly. At first glance, the viscount had more wrinkles than I did and I’m well over forty. Who knows how much wrinkles that old man has now,” she said playfully. “But My Queen, why do you ask? I don’t believe Viscount Olbach is an influential noble in the court?”

Rihannan shook her head. “No, it’s nothing. I thought it was someone I knew, but it doesn’t seem like it.”

“Are you looking for someone, My Queen? We’ll send investigators should you have a need for them.”

Rihannan laughed quietly. “No. There’s no need. It’s getting late now. Let’s go to sleep, Mrs. Cessley.”

Mrs. Cessley gave a slight nod and left.

Rihannan jumped into the bed and rested. She had trouble sleeping. So many things had occurred.

Leticia’s name appearing in the thick book startled her and she mused over the bigger past. She thought she had overcome her past, but now she knows she did not. It was merely hidden under the mask she wore.

In this life, Igor had never met Leticia, yet, sometimes, she sees them together in her dreams.

She wondered when the nightmares of her past would stop haunting her.

Rihannan closed her eyes and hoped for a peaceful night.

***

Time passed ever so quickly and soon, it was the day of their wedding. Though the month was long, it was hardly enough time to prepare for the wedding, but somehow, all the preparations were flawless and perfect.

The invitations passed out was of success. Invitations for court gatherings, weddings, and the likes were a hit and run. Either the guest came or not. But for this occasion, the invitations sent out bore fruition. More figures attended than she remembered the day of her wedding in the past.

The scale of the wedding itself was much bigger. Igor’s influence across the kingdom truly spread far and wide.

In their past lifetime, their marriage was made under the influence of the Queen Mother, but in this lifetime, those that gathered came for Igor and his partner-to-be.

The neighboring kingdoms that watched over Arundell and Chrichton’s alliance over the last few decades, decided to join the scene and congratulate the king and his queen on their wedding day.

Days ago, Edirne, the capital, bustled up and down with many envoys and foreign guests.

Even the palace had seen endless carriages brimming with numerous gifts.

Rihannan was occupied with busyness. She tended to many things, even the temple where the royal ancestors rested. She and Igor were to go to the temple and pray separately then make their way to the main palace where the wedding ceremony would be held.

“Rihannan.”

When Rihannan finished her business at the temple, she waited at the Queen’s Palace. Meanwhile, Marquis Preibius came to visit her.

“Uncle!”

She ran in joy and quickly wrapped him in her embrace. Her flowing skirt dragged on the floor and the ladies-in-waiting executed their duty perfectly well and pulled it up.

Rihannan paid no mind to the people around her nor the crooked crown atop her head.

After a while, she let the marquis go and asked, “When did you come? Was it just now?”

“I came here last night. I meant to come here earlier, but the schedule had been delayed due to the heavy rain and wind. To think I almost missed your wedding.”

The marquis smiled gently.

“But Rihannan, you look so beautiful, like a goddess, like your mother.”