I've Suffered for Five Years, Now It's Your Turn. ~The Crown Princess Has No Intention of Forgiving~ - Episode 2

That night,
Erik stared at the government documents, sighed, and left my side.

“The progress of the administrative work is slow. How many times do I have to tell you? … Is it because you don’t have parenting experience that even your ability to manage state affairs is lacking?”

I couldn’t say anything again today.
I clenched my fist in frustration, feeling my dignity wounded.
In the end, I had to continue the government work until the next morning.
It was to distract myself from my feelings of powerlessness, humiliation, and the damage to my self-esteem.

“Phew…”

The work was finally completed, and I tried to take a short nap.
If I delayed the work any further, I would be scolded again, but I needed at least some sleep.

“Filia-san. May I come in?”

As I sat down on my bed, someone entered my room without knocking, even though it was still early morning.

“Camilla-sama…”

Camilla-sama, Erik’s mother and the current Queen.
She gave instructions to the head maid she brought with her, and the maid placed a water bucket in front of me with a splash.

“Erik said that because of you, the administrative work has been delayed. As a responsibility for causing trouble to my beloved child, you will clean the palace.”

“What… I…”

“Don’t talk back. This is for Erik’s sake. …Take it.”

Following Camilla-sama’s orders, the head maid threw a dirty rag at me.
As the rag fell to the floor, Camilla-sama and the head maid giggled quietly.

“A crown princess who can’t bear children has to contribute in this way. She can’t be of any use to the country, can she?”

“Do it properly, won’t you? In any case, you have no choice but to accept it, right?”

I’ve kept the fact that I can’t have children a secret, but Erik has already told a few of his close people.

Camilla-sama is one of them.

“Ah, I thought my dear son had an incompetent wife… but it’s all about how she’s used, I see.”

“Do it properly. Don’t trouble my son any further. Understand?”

Is this all I can do—just endure?
A woman who can’t bear children is marked as unfit in the royal family.
Therefore, I have no choice but to accept this situation, which I can’t reveal to anyone.
But… but…

“I can’t endure this anymore…”

I stared at the rag that had fallen on the floor, feeling a deep sense of regret, and bit my lip.
There’s still something I can’t endure.
After finishing the cleaning, I went down to the dining hall and was stunned.

“Why are you here again today?”

“Good morning, Filia-san.”

Someone else was sitting at the table where I should have been.
With her glossy voice, she tossed her rare blue hair and smiled as she looked at me.

“Filia, greet her. Rosaline came to visit.”

“Erik, what’s going on?”

She was Rosaline Telmond.
A lady from the Telmond Duke family, and one of the most powerful noblewomen in this Harvin kingdom.
But that doesn’t mean she has the right to sit at the crown prince’s table without my permission.

“Are you here again, Rosaline?”

The reason I asked angrily was that Rosaline still clings to Erik, my husband.
What is she thinking?
Doesn’t she have any sense of dignity as a duke’s daughter?

“I just wanted to see Erik. I’m sorry if I’m intruding.”

“As a duke’s daughter, it would be better if you refrained from actions that lack dignity. I believe there are discussions about your engagement, Rosaline.”

“…I’m sorry.”

At my words, Rosaline began to cry large tears.
Immediately, Erik reached out to comfort her, gently stroking her head.

“Filia! Rosaline is like a sister to me. We’ve been together since we were young. I want to cherish her.”

“But, meeting her every day creates unnecessary misunderstandings.”

“There are things you can and cannot say, even to someone you love. What’s the problem with spending time with her like a sister?”

Ah, not again.
Once again, Erik is close to Rosaline, claiming she’s like family!
It’s a childish excuse, but as a royal, he should refrain from actions that can cause misunderstandings…

“I’m sorry, Rosaline. Filia said something awful.”
“It’s alright. Filia-san must be frustrated, right? It’s been several years since we married, and you haven’t gotten pregnant yet. It’s understandable to feel anxious and upset.”

She doesn’t know anything, but her oblivious words hurt my dignity.
Erik smiled without denying her and patted Rosaline’s head.

“Let’s go, Rosaline. I’ll take you to your house today.”

After that exchange, Erik gave me a glance.

“Filia, don’t be so angry. I love you, so I want you to get along with Rosaline too.”

“Go ahead. Is that clear?”

With a light pat on my shoulder, Erik left, not even looking at me.
Is this what it means to be a couple? Is this what it means to be the Crown Princess?
Because I can’t bear children, I suppose it can’t be helped.
Even though I continue to suppress the pain in my heart… I might have reached my limit.
It was on that day that everything began to change.

“Filia-sama, may I have a moment?”

“Who is it?”

“It’s an envoy from the Kingdom of Sylvan. Is this a good time…?”

An envoy from my homeland, the Kingdom of Sylvan?
Hearing this, I opened the door to the princess’s room and saw a knight clad in armor from my homeland, his face hidden behind a helm.

“I apologize for the sudden visit. I had other business as well…”

“No, it’s no problem at all.”

“…You don’t look well. Are you alright?”

Unexpected concern.
Even though he is a knight, he should not be allowing personal feelings to interfere in his duties to the royal family.
Yet, even a knight whose face I couldn’t see seemed to worry about me, perhaps because I had become so worn out.

“I-I’m fine. More importantly, what’s the matter?”

“…Lord Erik was looking for you. He urgently wants you to come.”

Erik is looking for me?
He, who always has his requests relayed through the guards, why is he suddenly calling for me?

“Understood. I’ll go.”

At this hour, Erik would likely be having tea with Queen Camilla.
What could it be, I wondered, as I began walking.

“…Please, know the truth.”

“Eh?”

I heard the voice and turned around, but the knight was gone.
He said something… but was it my imagination?
Either way, if Erik is calling for me, I have to go…

“But, he wouldn’t normally call for me.”

After all, it’s the time for Erik and Queen Camilla’s tea together, just the two of them.
They would make sure to be left alone, not even allowing servants to approach.
Amidst these doubts, I arrived in front of the tearoom where the two of them should have been…

“It’s been a long time since we had tea alone, Erik… And as I said, didn’t I tell you?”

“Yes, I’m glad I followed Mother’s advice.”

I could hear voices from inside the room.
However, it didn’t seem like they were calling for me… but eavesdropping is not good, so I should knock first—

“Falsely claiming that Filia cannot have children. A good result.”

“Yes. As Mother said, it was the right decision.”

What?
At those words, a surge of anger suddenly swirled up in my chest.