Sleeping Beauty Wants The Throne
39. Pressed

"You're coming early, Crystal Lady."

Luz showed off a smile despite the force. Obviously in the invitation letter he wrote at two o'clock, but when Luz arrived at the main pavilion located in the North building of the palace, the, no other lady has come except Queen Monetta herself who has sat in her seat of greatness.

Ah, the queen invited too soon. This woman just wants to play around or wants to talk to Luz with four eyes?

"I came on the schedule that you wrote in the invitation, Your Majesty," Luz replied and saluted.

The woman who was still beautiful in her old age seemed to laugh gracefully. "It's not wrong that the Crown Prince chose you. The girl he loved turned out to be quite smart and good at sorting out polite words."

"It is an honor for me," continued Luz who —jujur— opposite to his heart.

"Please sit down."

The rectangular table which was roughly enough to accommodate dozens of people was arranged nicely in the middle of the pavilion which on the right and left sides was filled with pretty aesthetically pleasing dry leaves. The shelves that hold dry cakes such as cookies and croissants plus the cup provided look harmonious made of porcelain patterned gold. Luz tightened his coat, the autumn wind was sometimes not friendly enough with the Odyssey's body which was easily cold.

"I let the leaves there because of the beautiful color" said the Queen who understood Luz's gaze, displaying curiosity. "The leaves on the tree are all falling out, aren't they."

Luz nodded. "It's mid-autumn" he continued, observing the almost weathered dry twigs on top of the tree. "It's getting cold because it's about to get winter." He shifted his gaze. "During not meeting. By the way how are you, Your Majesty?"

"Lately I can't do a job that is too focussing a lot of energy anymore, my back hurts a lot," he replied and then chuckled softly. "Luckily I have Evandre, he's a son who loves his mother very much. He bought me a private hot spring pool on the southern mountain."

The queen threw a friendly smile, "Whoever becomes his wife one day, will surely be very lucky."

"Good day, Your Majesty."

The two women looked towards the entrance. Coinciding with that, Evandre who just happened to be talked about suddenly came to greet and approached his mother. He pecked at the back of the Queen's hand and looked over.

"And, Crystal Lady," he said politely and then threw a gentle smile.

Luz answered him with a polite nod. "Good day too, Your Highness."

"It just so happens that you're here, Crown Prince. There are some things I want to talk to you guys about."

Under the table, Luz's grip on her dress tightened to the point of tangling fibers on the surface. Luz was not stupid, he knew for sure that the Queen and the Crown Prince had deliberately designed this scene in order to suppress himself who dared to sever relations with the Crown Prince unilaterally.

Correct guess. Evandre and the Queen are both crafty people. Luz must be careful. Wrong a little, his words could have devoured himself.

Evandre took a seat right beside Luz until the woman silently glared. But Luz could do nothing, he took a quick glance and looked back at the queen.

"I heard you guys have a special relationship."

"Tid—"

"Where do you know, we haven't even announced anything yet" Evandre said.

"But Your Majesty ...."

"Mother, stop. Crystal Lady is embarrassed if we keep talking about this," Evandre said, laughing. "If you want to have an event, I don't have a problem. I leave everything to you, don't I, Crystal?"

"That's who I'm waiting for." The queen smiled faintly. "Your engagement party will be designed as beautifully as possible and will not disappoint. Everyone will remember him until you're old together."

"Sorry to interrupt, Your Majesty. I don't think I can get engaged let alone get married in the near future" Luz said. He again said, "I just ran a business in Brighton and it has not developed at all. It would be very disappointing if the results were nil while the Grand Duke of Brighton had already provided a place."

"That's the thing I don't like about you, Lady." The queen took out her pure silver cup then sipped its contents slowly, "We nobles. And nobility is not destined to work. Especially you women, is not it in the Krama system lesson already explained that the task of women only need to preen and enjoy leisure time like now? Why are you making life difficult for yourself?"

Inwardly, Luz muttered. Colossal parents like you are what people don't like!

"Even male nobles do not need to work. Didn't you get money from the proceeds of the people's land rent tax every month, to where Marquis Thompsville was until his daughter was left to work?" elak the queen with her shrewdness. "I'm not young anymore, Crystal Lady. I want an heir for my son Evandre."

But in this world, I'm not getting married.

"If the Crown Prince already has a son, then I can rest easy to secure the next transitional throne."

Quietly Luz snorted in annoyance. Queen Monetta easily ordered this - it exceeded her own biological father. Think this Luz is a child-making machine?!

But Luz understood enough. The existence of sons became an obligation for the nobility especially the royal family if they wanted to maintain the throne in the name of their family. If there were no sons, the throne could have fallen to the Grand Duke as the second heir.

"You're Crystal Lady, aren't you?" continued again. "Be an example to other nobles. Given that there have been many queens of the de Cera family of quality, honestly only you have ever offered for the next queen's seat to the exclusion of the daughter of my close relatives. Isn't that a great honor for the de Cera family itself?"

"Sorry, Your Majesty. I didn't mean to fight you. As you say, I am now the Crystal Lady and I have the right to decide what is good for myself including getting married." Luz smiled faintly and watched the yellowing sky, "It's almost afternoon. I have an appointment with Lord de Cera in a moment, so excuse me. Thank you for your special banquet, Your Majesty and Your Highness."

Luz lifted the end of her dress then bowed respectfully. "Excuse me."

After the door was closed, Evandre leaned tiredly on the back of the chair with a sigh. "I told you, didn't I, mother. Persuading him is not as easy as we think."

"Ten years as queen, only this time there are people who dare to refuse my request," said Queen Monetta growled but it was covered with an expression as calm as the lake water. "This time he survived, but not with the next."

"What does your mother mean?"

"He can refuse my request today." The queen turned her head, "But what if your marriage orders come down on the King's decree?"

Evandre. "Are you sure?"

"A man who dares to go against the King's decree will be hanged and the mother believes the Crystal Lady will not be willing to sacrifice her life just because of the business she exalts" the queen sighed and smiled, "Like it or not, we must get the Crystal Lady so that the support of the de Cera clan will be stronger towards your descendants."

In order to strengthen her position, Queen Monetta is willing to do anything including trap Lady Odyssey. His son-in-law.