Chapter 154: [Bonus - ] A Talk With The Queen (II)
"Ah... that! So you’ve heard about it. I suspect Lady James spread the news upon learning of your arrival at the palace," the queen replied. "She must have felt insecure with your presence. That woman can indeed be a nuisance at times," she added, her voice tinged with a hint of annoyance.
Anna’s brows furrowed, a mix of confusion and curiosity swirling within her.
"I’m sorry, Your Majesty... but I don’t quite understand," she admitted. Confusion etched on her face as she made the statement.
"You must have assumed that I have a close relationship with Lady James since she serves as my chief lady-in-waiting, correct? Well... the reality is quite different," the queen explained, her voice carrying a note of intrigue.
Anna’s eyes widened slightly, her curiosity piqued. "You’re not?" she questioned, her voice barely a whisper.
The queen nodded, her expression serious.
"There’s a saying that goes, ’Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer.’ The truth is, neither His Majesty nor I hold favour towards Lady James. However, due to her family’s influence and power, we must keep a close watch on her to ensure she does not act against us, especially when the marriage talk didn’t fall through," the queen revealed. "I pretend that she gains my full trust to ensure she is close to me."
The revelation caught Anna off guard, leaving her pleasantly surprised. She had never anticipated that the queen possessed such strategic acumen.
"As for the engagement you mentioned... I believe Kyren would be the best person to provide you with the answer since he holds the key to why it did not come to fruition. But I can assure you, the Grand Duke of Gerhard has never placed a ring on any lady’s finger other than yours," Queen Emelda added reassuringly.
Anna swallowed nervously, the statement from the queen completely altering her perspective.
"Your Majesty... please forgive me for asking this, but how do you have so much faith in Kyren’s feelings for me? And your acceptance of me... knowing who I am and where I come from, shouldn’t it bother you?" she inquired with a mix of curiosity and vulnerability. "After all, we only met yesterday."