My Charlotte Hates Me

Chapter 74: Too Much to Do

A few days later, I met with His Majesty King Arundel over tea.

"...How much has everything gone as you predicted, Lady Castile?" King Arundel asked.

"I would not say everything...but has your heart lightened over the truth, Your Majesty?" I asked.

I had collaborated with His Majesty in order to corner Queen Gaelle in front of a large audience. If she had poisoned or sent assassins privately, we would have had a more difficult time bringing her to court, especially if the main victim was merely a Baron's daughter.

I knew that the Queen's main goal was not just murdering the Prince's lover but also ruining Arielle's reputation in the worst way possible. Of course, Arielle had suffered greatly from having her engagement one-sidedly broken up with and was deemed a useless woman. However, even more people sympathized her for having dealt with such a rotten man as her ex-fiancé. Arielle also went back to her Duchy where it would be difficult to send assassins or spies, so she would have to deal with Arielle outside of their Duchy.

That is when I suggested that the idea to attack Arielle's honor at the Royal Banquet by relating it to King Arundel's spy and Queen Gaelle's Maid of Honor. She would tell her suggestions to Queen Gaelle and report back on Queen Gaelle's every action.

For whatever reason, King Arundel put on a very somber facial expression.

"Her Majesty had many chances to give up her plans for revenge against Duchess Maddox's family, yet she decided to choose violence walk on fire," I said.

"I must thank you for everything you have done for me, Lady Castile. If it were not for your help, I do not think I would have been able to solve the true culprit behind Amalie's death or save her daughter from harm," King Arundel said.

"...Why did you help Arielle? Was it because she was the daughter of your former lover?" I asked.

"Maybe...if it were not for me, those two...no everyone connected to me would not have to suffer so much. If only I was much stronger back then, maybe...things would have ended differently, but there is no such thing as a convenient ability as going back to the past and changing it," King Arundel said.

"...There is no such convenient ability...without sacrifices," I said.

After my short meeting with the King, I met with the Queen who had been imprisoned within a tower meant for Nobles. When I greeted her after revealing myself from my long robes, she had embraced me as if I was her long lost daughter.

"You came to see me...Goodness! Why is it that even my own son is not so filial towards his own mother?" Queen Gaelle asked.

"...It appears that he has chosen his own lover over his own mother," I said as I pat her back.

She is not aware that the Prince lost all of his titles and power. He is currently under house arrest and is guarded 24/7 in his room.

"What an ungrateful son," Queen Gaelle complained. "I assure you that things will be different once you become his wife."

She has not abandoned that idea yet?

I sat her down.

"...Lady Maddox has further gained the sympathy of the court. It may be a matter of time before His Majesty forces the Prince back into an engagement with Lady Maddox to help recover his damaged image," I said.

If King Arundel edicts an Imperial Order, even Arielle cannot deny a direct order from the King.

"The Prince is the only son the King has. He cannot abandon him...but to use that woman again after I had so painstakingly introduced him to that Baron girl?" Queen Gaelle asked. "That girl is only good at seducing and stealing men from other women."

I knew it...The strong backing came from someone higher-up like the Queen. No wonder she went acting around as she pleased, or she was a complete idiot not thinking about anything other than seducing men.

"I am surprised that Your Majesty was able to procure such a strange specimen. Where did you find her?" I asked.

"I found her wandering the countryside of Nariel and took notice of her when I saw men fighting over her in the streets. She has a particular charm in making men around her go crazy for her. That is why I thought that the Prince would take a liking to her. At first, he refused the thought of meeting anyone other than his fiancée. Such an upright character...he resembled his father too much. That is why I made that girl a Noble, dressed her up nicely, and repeatedly set up meetings between the Prince and her. Just when I thought it was no use, she did not disappoint me at all. She was able to sway the Prince and even make him act arrogantly towards that woman," Queen Gaelle said with an elated smile. "It was delightful to hear rumors about Lady Maddox's mistreatment."

"...Lady Maddox is quite capable if she was able to even turn those rumors into her favor. His Majesty is hoping to lessen the rumors about the Prince's behavior by trying to save their relationship. If anything, he would not want the Duke to stop supporting the Royal Family," I said.

"Right! She is capable just like her mother Amalie. It is so unpleasant how she turned out just like her mother," Queen Gaelle said as she began biting her thumbnail anxiously.

"...She will be an obstacle in the future. What do you suppose Your Majesty will do about her?" I asked.

"His Majesty is being far too relentless. With my power as it is now, I won't be able to stop it from happening, nor can the Prince refuse a direct order. There will be no way to avoid a marriage if His Majesty orders it this time," Queen Gaelle said.

"...Was their engagement originally not ordered by His Majesty?" I asked in surprise.

"It was a promise between those three! Even if they were close during their Academy days, it is strange to set up their child with their former lover's child! I gave birth to that child, yet I was not even allowed in the decision making. What's worse is that little girl resembles Amalie so much...from her hair...to that pretty face. It is like she made a doll replica of herself and gave that thing a beating heart!" Queen Gaelle said hysterically as she grabbed my arms and dug her nails into my skin.

I made sure to not even show a bit of discomfort on my face.

"It will be difficult to change His Majesty's order once he acts on it," I said.

"You are right," Queen Gaelle said as she calmed down and thought carefully about her next move. "We should act first! Before the decree is set, we have to find a way to stop this engagement from happening yet again!"

It would not happen even if you or the whole world wished for it...

"I agree...Let me get in contact with your remaining collaborators. We will work together in order to bring down Lady Maddox. She won't be able to see the light after we are done with her," I said evilly.

Queen Gaelle quickly wrote the names of her remaining collaborators onto a sheet and handed it to me.

"These are the last of the families I currently control," Queen Gaelle said.

Hm...more than I thought.

"...I will get in contact with them as soon as possible. Please do not fret, Your Majesty. I will get you out of here as soon as possible," I said.

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