"… I did not notice."
"So it would seem… I"m sorry, Elizabeth. Fifteen years ago, I didn"t notice I had driven you to the wall to that extent until you shouted at me. So to at least act according to your wishes, I took Helene, who had the same eye color as you, as my concubine, but…"
"… To be summoned as a concubine and not even embraced, I find Mistress Helene too pitiful."

Her situation is different from mine.
She made up her mind that she wanted to be embraced.
But Lord Johannes shook his head.

"I told her at the beginning that I wouldn"t embrace her. She fully understood that and became my concubine. In exchange, Helene wanted me to support her parents" home, and I granted her wish."
"…"

The order was slightly different, but the truth was as my daughter-in-law said.
I realized I was surprisingly relieved to hear it directly from Lord Johannes.

―― I am relieved to know Lord Johannes hasn"t embraced Mistress Helene?

Despite ignoring my husband for fifteen years?
Isn"t that too convenient for me?
However, the feeling of happiness welled up in my heart on its own.
Knowing that I still monopolize this person who"s remained beautiful despite the pa.s.sage of time, I almost spilled tears of joy.

"Your Majesty…"

When I quietly called out to him, he returned a disheartened voice.

"So you won"t call me by my name anymore, Elizabeth. Even though you called me Johannes in the past… Honestly, I can"t help but feel envious as my son and his fiancée call each other by their pet names."

Lord Johannes put more strength into his already tight hug.

"… It"s difficult to suddenly be like in the past."
"I understand. But, I"ve waited fifteen years. I don"t want to let you go anymore."
"Even if you tell me that…"

Even if I"m suddenly told that, I"m troubled.
My head is still in turmoil, I want a little more time to calm down and think.
Nevertheless, Lord Johannes strongly embraced me as if to say that he doesn"t want that.

"I love you, Elizabeth. All this time, only you. I can"t stand you treating me coldly anymore. I understand it was my fault. I"ll do anything to atone. I"ll do anything I can, so I beg you, don"t reject me."
"If I heard those words fifteen years ago, the future would have been different…"

I pushed Lord Johannes"s chest and escaped from his arms.
Something like loneliness pa.s.sed through my chest, but I"m sure it was just my imagination.
I faced Lord Johannes, and for the first time in fifteen years I looked him straight into eyes.

"… Lord Johannes, I don"t intend to only blame you. There were a lot of aspects I was imperfect in as well. I understand it now. However… after all, I would like a little more time."
"Elizabeth!"

As Lord Johannes raised a dejected voice, I smiled, albeit awkwardly.

"… For now, how about we have tea? Our daughter-in-law also said it. We are desperately lacking conversation… Lord Johannes, if you don"t mind, please tell me your story until now."

I said the words I had never said until now.
Hearing them, Lord Johannes opened his eyes wide and hurriedly nodded.

"Of, of course."
"Is that so. Then, please."

We sat together at the tea table prepared by my daughter-in-law.
Understanding the confectioneries and tea had been prepared for us, I naturally smiled.
… My son has chosen a good girl.
I really might have to praise him for that.
Although if my son heard it, he surely would be displeased.
Afterwards, we had a surprisingly peaceful tea party.

After leisurely talking with Lord Johannes, I went back to my room.
As I saw leaving Lord Johannes asked me to give him one more chance, but I couldn"t answer immediately.
Still, thinking of what happened until now, I think it"s a considerable compromise.
When I was about to open the door, a guarding soldier called out to me.

"Excuse me, Queen. I have been entrusted a letter from Princess Consort. She wished it be handed to you on your return."

From daughter-in-law?
While wondering what it is, I received the letter from the soldier.
Even though he said she personally entrusted it to him, I checked the back of the sealed letter.
On the back of the white envelope was my son"s symbolic flower. Only my son and my daughter-in-law who"ll become his wife can use this symbol. Relieved that it"s genuine, I thanked the soldier. I sat down on the sofa in my room and broke the seal.
Inside the sealed letter was writing paper and a few bags of powdered medicine.

For a moment I found it suspicious, but that kind-hearted daughter-in-law wouldn"t prepare something strange.
Anyway, first of all I read the letter.
Surprised by the contents of the letter penned in a flowy handwriting, I unconsciously reread it.
In the first half were words of concern for me and apologies. And in the second half, something wholly unexpected was written.

"Mother-in-law. I apologize for planning this without asking for Mother-in-law"s intention. However Mother-in-law, if I had not done this, I am sure you would not agree after hearing the story… And Mother-in-law, supposing, just supposing that you reconcile with His Majesty… and do not mind being embraced by His Majesty, if you like please use the enclosed medicine. It is not something suspicious. It"s a stamina recovery medicine made by my friend, the Medicine Witch. I do not have much use for it now, but in the past,  it helped me a lot. I believe it will bring a considerable relief when your body is tired. It is fine if you do not use. You can just keep it as a charm instead."
"…"

I s.h.i.+fted my attention to the enclosed packages with the medicine made by the Medicine Witch.
In the next part of the latter she wrote that she had already obtained permission from the witch and the details of how to use the medicine. The Medicinal Witch - I"ve only heard the rumors, naturally I"ve never seen her.
However, I could somehow accept that daughter-in-law having a friendly relations.h.i.+p with her.
Surely, she negotiated it herself for my sake. My daughter-in-law is such a child.
Once again with Lord Johannes――. It"s far beyond the current me, however I am happy about my daughter-in-law"s feelings.

"… Thank you, Lidi."

I"ll cherish them as a charm. While thinking that, I again looked over the last part of the letter.
What was written there went even further beyond my expectations.

"… And, I apologize. I told Freed the truth about what happened fifteen years ago that I had heard from you, Mother-in-law. He said it was difficult right away, but he still would accept the truth. Therefore Mother-in-law, please face Freed properly as well. No matter how unjustly he was hated, he is alright now."
"Lidi…"

I muttered my daughter-in-law"s name.
I never would have imagined she"d tell my son even that. But what surprised me the most was that my son accepted it.
Looking at my son"s att.i.tude until now, I understood. My son completely hated me.
I understood that and thought it was natural.
Nevertheless, that son of mine is trying to understand and accept me?
It would"ve been hopeless had I done it. No matter how many times I would apologize, surely my son wouldn"t listen. I understand it"s because my daughter-in-law put her heart into it that my son accepted it.

"Really, she helped me with everything…"

At first, I wanted to protect her from my son"s evil clutches.
And yet, my new daughter-in-law was stronger than I"d imagined, and on the contrary she splendidly lifted me from the very bottom with her own hands.

"Really, my son has found a good child…"

I feel like I understand the reason my son is infatuated with my daughter-in-law.
And, I"m sure both I and my husband now cherish our daughter-in-law more than ever before.
My daughter-in-law, who"d run around for our sake even though we are only her parents-in-law, was so dear that I softly held the white letter to my chest.

Editor: Valeria