ㅤChapter 10
ㅤTo express her gratitude to her husband, whom she had only met once, Ruby woke up early and prepared potato porridge and compote.
ㅤThe porridge contained easily digestible greens, and the compote was made with wild berries with a refreshing acidity. These were harvested from the detached palace’s kitchen garden and the forest. Instead of expensive sugar, they were stewed with sweet-tasting medicinal herbs.
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ㅤ”I’ve written a thank-you letter, so all that’s left is to take it. Have you heard anything about His Majesty’s condition since then?”
ㅤ”At least I haven’t heard that he’s getting better, so I think he’s still bedridden.”
ㅤ”It’s a good thing I chose a menu that’s easy to eat even if you don’t have an appetite. Let’s head over right away.”
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ㅤThey packed their belongings in a basket and left the detached palace.
ㅤHowever, when they arrived at the entrance of the castle, they were stopped by the knight guarding the gate.
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ㅤ”His Majesty Theodore will not meet with you, Ruby-sama. I cannot allow you to proceed beyond this point.”
ㅤ”Ruby-sama is a princess and his wife! What do you mean we can’t pass!?”
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ㅤEmma asked in a panic, and the knight’s expression hardened.
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ㅤ”Because those are His Majesty’s orders. He said you are free to spend your time at the detached palace, but you are not allowed to enter the castle. His Majesty does not recognize you as his wife.”
ㅤ”How rude! That’s ridiculous!”
ㅤ”It’s alright, Emma. You heard what the knight-sama said.”
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ㅤRuby soothed the exasperated Emma.
ㅤShe had heard that Theodore was once the Knight Commander. So she thought it was natural for his fellow knights to take his side and resent her, a fake.
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ㅤ”Could you please deliver this to His Majesty? I heard he was unwell, so I brought him some refreshments.”
ㅤ”……Your Highness is a Poison User. To offer something made by such a person to His Majesty……”
ㅤ”I have no choice but to ask you to trust me on this. Emma, could you show him by eating a little? It should be fine if you’ve already tasted it for poison.”
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ㅤShe presented the contents of the basket to the knight, and Emma showed him by taking a small amount of each into her mouth and swallowing.
ㅤNo adverse reaction occurred, proving its safety.
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ㅤ”Then, knight-sama, please. I pray for his speedy recovery.”
ㅤ”……Humph”
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ㅤThe gatekeeper knight snorted.
ㅤSince he had already received it, he couldn’t discard it on his own volition, so he decided to take it to Arnold, the Prime Minister and his closest aide.
ㅤAs he turned on his heel, a letter fluttered out of the basket.
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ㅤUnaware of this, the knight entered the castle and entrusted the basket to a fellow Royal Guard Knight, saying, “Deliver this to Arnold-sama. It’s food, so hurry.”