Chapter 154 "Don't even think about having your cake and eating it too..."
I felt like I'd only slept for a short while when I was woken up by Mamboya's low voice: "Time to get up!"
I rolled over and ignored him.
He whispered softly in my ear again, "We need to go take the train for our inspection."
I remember now, during the first five days of the "honeymoon," the "bride" must accompany the "groom" on a tour.
And so, I was forced to get up early, quickly wash up, and bundle myself up in thick clothes before boarding the carriage with Manberia to the train station.
Many people came to see him off, mostly high-ranking officials and dignitaries. I wanted to see if Bernard was among them, but I couldn't find him.
Manberia seemed to read my mind and said slowly, "Bernot returned to the East the night before our wedding."
Why did he go back?
"Honey, don't even think about having your cake and eating it too, you'll drown."
"I was just asking." I turned my face away from him.
“He can’t stay away from the East for long; his position is now precarious.”
Why were his father and stepmother so cruel?
"They are both parents and children, and political enemies, locked in a life-or-death struggle."
I was speechless for a long time, and he touched my face in a comforting way. I simply sat on the other side of the carriage, and he grinned at me.
As you board the train, the whistle blows and the train slowly starts moving. It moves very fast, but the speed slows down when passing through villages, towns, royal cities, and tribes. The entrances to villages, towns, the royal city train station, and the tribes are all crowded with well-dressed village chiefs, town mayors, city lords, leaders, and other people who look to be of high status.
When passing through villages and towns, the train wouldn't stop; Mamboa would simply pull me to the window and wave to them. When passing through royal cities, Mamboa and I would get off the train, chat amiably with the city lords and nobles, and then enter the city to rest, surrounded by them. Sometimes we would rest for half a day, sometimes we would stay overnight. We passed through three royal cities in total, which should be the more important ones in the North. Mamboa would have secret conversations with their city lords and important nobles, while I was led to a magnificent living room to rest or eat tea and snacks amidst the flattery of noblewomen.
When passing through tribes, we would stop. Manboa would talk with their chief in the most luxurious tent, while I would chat with the chief's wife in another beautiful and comfortable tent.
We will stay in the tribe for a few hours and have a meal, but we will not stay overnight.
Four large tribes remained, all of which were being actively courted by Manboa. These tribes were still independent in the North, making their submission a difficult task.
“According to the peace agreement signed more than a hundred years ago, all tribes in the North enjoy independence, except for those that voluntarily submit to the monarchy,” Mamboa told me. “What I want to do now is to persuade the major tribes to submit to us.”
“You’re not the king here, aren’t you afraid of doing all the work for someone else?” I returned the words he had once said to me, that I was doing all the work for Beatrice.
He looked at me intently, his usual playful demeanor gone, and said in a very low voice, "How do you know I'm definitely going to be a stepping stone?"
I was stunned.
Five days passed quickly, and we boarded the train back home. I was mesmerized by the snowflakes falling outside the window and the breathtaking snow scenery.
“After we return, how about you take charge of all the palace affairs? The original head of the household will only be your deputy.” Manberia’s words struck me like a thunderbolt.
"Me? In charge of the entire internal affairs?" I couldn't believe it.
"Yes, I heard you were the chief financial officer in the Western Kingdom's capital, so you must have no problem handling internal affairs."
"You're willing to entrust such an important position to me?"
Why can't you bear to part with it?
Manberia's amber eyes flashed with an eerie light. "If you do well, I can entrust another royal city to you to manage."
"Why?" He's not afraid of being gossiped about when a "wife" who has just entered the family is given such an important position.
"Because I believe in your abilities."
Even after returning to the palace, I couldn't believe it was true. I had originally intended to ponder this matter further, but I was distracted by another astonishing event.
I was taken directly to a secluded palace by Manberia and taken to the top floor by a physical "elevator." As soon as I stepped into the corridor, a gloomy, deathly aura enveloped me. I shivered a couple of times, and Manberia hugged me tighter. "We'll leave soon, don't be afraid."
The windows in the corridor were tall, stained-glass windows, letting in only dim light, even at midday. There was a strange smell in the air; it was clearly incense, but it smelled unpleasant, giving one a vague sense of melancholy.
The interplay of light and fragrance inexplicably created a tomb-like eeriness—yes, a tomb. This place suddenly came to mind.
The loneliness, coldness, and eeriness of the tomb are exactly the same as the feeling here.
Pushing open the door to the only room, a strong, unpleasant smell hits you. The corners and ceiling are covered in dust, the crystal chandelier is covered in a thick layer of dust, the table is messy and filthy, the carpet is dirty and grimy, and on a narrow wooden bed in the corner, a white-haired old man, whose face is obscured and who appears to be half-dead, lies half-lying.
“Father,” Mamboya said in a startling way, “I’ve brought my second wife to see you today to complete the final ceremony of our wedding.”
The white-haired old man completely ignored him, remaining in the same position on the bed, not moving at all.
Manberia, however, didn't seem to care at all. Smiling, she took my hand and led me forward, saying, "Come on, take a look. You'll be very satisfied."
I was so shocked that my expression froze, and I almost couldn't walk. If it weren't for Manboya holding me back...
The white-haired old man's eyes were still fixed on the ceiling covered with cobwebs.
Manberia smiled and said, “I’m so glad I married the goddess I met when I was seven. I’ve always told you and Mother about her, but you never believed me.”
The white-haired old man still ignored him.
Only then did I see the white-haired old man's face clearly. Although his face was weathered and covered with wrinkles that did not match his age, his handsome features and sharp eyes were still faintly visible. He was indeed the philandering scumbag who had used marriage by any means necessary in my illusion back then.
Manberia frowned at him, but then smiled and shrugged. "Alright, the last ritual is complete. My goddess can finally get some rest."
She hugged me tightly, saying, "Let's go."
As I stepped out of the room, I couldn't help but turn back, only to meet the white-haired old man's gaze, which gave me a sudden jolt of fear.
Those eyes were filled with resentment, hatred, and malice, brimming with the resentment of the deepest hell.
I was so startled that I immediately looked away and followed Manberia onto the "elevator" without turning my head.
The year-end celebrations were not yet over, and the night of their return was filled with an all-night ball. Noblemen and women danced, embraced, and jumped around wildly on the dance floor, the entire banquet hall filled with joyous music. After midnight, they indulged in even more unrestrained revelry, dancing and kissing as they went. Many of them were not husband and wife or lovers, yet they kissed and caressed each other passionately, laughing uproariously.
This is the unspoken rule of desire within the upper-class aristocratic circle. There is always a certain point or time when people break free from the constraints of daily life, unleash their hidden desires, and indulge in unbridled debauchery and revelry.
I couldn't bear to watch any longer and prepared to go back to my room. As I approached the banquet hall entrance, the doors opened automatically from both sides. Manberia, dressed in a magnificent robe, pushed a wheelchair in. Sitting in the wheelchair was a young boy in a golden robe, watching the dancing and reveling nobles with excited eyes.
"Look who's here! You all better come over here and pay your respects!" Manberia shouted.
The music suddenly stopped, and the nobles cried out in surprise, rushing over and all kneeling on one knee. "Greetings to Your Majesty!" "Please forgive us, Your Majesty!" "We are late in paying our respects!"
I also knelt down like them, glancing over from time to time. Actually, from the very beginning, I had guessed the identity of this boy from the golden crown on his head, but I didn't know how to react for a moment.
The boy was clearly uninterested in the nobles' apologies and was eager to go to the dance floor. He didn't even pay much attention when Manberia introduced me to him.
"Alright, Mrs. Lana, have a good time tonight!" the boy said, gesturing for a beautiful lady to push his wheelchair, which glided onto the dance floor. "Where's the music? Where's the music? Play it!" the boy shouted.
The cheerful music started again, and the nobles cheered and screamed, some even whistling. The boys also shouted loudly, "We're going to have a blast tonight!"
The nobles cheered again, their shouts almost piercing the ceiling.
“He is the youngest son of the youngest son of the former king of the North and his second queen, and the only one who survived with the bloodline to inherit the throne.” Mamboa walked up to me and said, “He fell seriously ill when he was five years old, and after he recovered, he was paralyzed in both legs. Perhaps that is why he survived. His brothers and sisters are all dead.”
"The youngest son of the youngest son." I pondered this title, finding it somewhat awkward to pronounce.
"Yes, he is the grandson of the former king."
“You’ve been controlling him all along…” I said slowly.
“That’s not how it is,” Mamboya chuckled. “He trusts me completely and is willing to entrust me with managing everything. I’m better than some of his scheming uncles.”
"That's good." I wasn't interested in their internal strife.
The carnival dances went on for several nights in a row. I didn't attend every time, but I was still feeling tired because even attending occasionally required changing clothes, putting on makeup, and doing my hair, which was quite a hassle. That night, I decided not to attend, but then I heard that Princess Yanni was coming. "So you'd better attend," Mamboya coaxed me. "She specifically mentioned in the post that she hopes to see you."
"Okay," I had no choice but to agree.
The ball was even more lively on the night Princess Yanni arrived, with some nobles who had never attended before showing up, having heard that the Queen of the Southern Territory would also be there.
This is the first time I have ever actually seen the Queen of the South. The last time I saw her was many years ago, and because she was standing against the light, I couldn't see her face at all. This is the first time I have ever seen her in person.
She stood under the sparkling crystal chandelier, her face exquisite, her skin fair and delicate, her long dark brown hair radiating a soft luster, and her fishtail evening gown accentuating her curvaceous figure, making her even more sexy.
Her voice was as soft and alluring as I remembered, "This must be Prince Manboa's new wife, she certainly has an extraordinary air about her."
I was both amused and exasperated. When did I become so extraordinary? Back in the Southern Territory, this queen wouldn't even glance at me. If I truly had extraordinary bearing, I would have been noticed long ago.
Wearing a beautiful crimson dress and adorned with jewels from head to toe, Yani covered her mouth and giggled: "Mother, you must have a bad memory. Isn't she my maid from my dowry? How come you don't recognize her?"
Faced with this blatant sarcasm, the nobles exchanged bewildered glances. Although they all knew my background, it was rather disrespectful to expose me like this.
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Author's Note: Have you all read my old posts? Feel free to discuss them!
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