"Your Highness! Your Highness!"
Irene turned when she heard a familiar voice calling from behind her.
Sally was hurrying toward her, and the moment she reached Irene, a look of surprise appeared on her face.
"How are you all alone like this?"
Sally then turned toward the members of the royal family, who had already begun making their way inside the palace. Her eyes eventually landed on Lucas.
She narrowed her eyes in annoyance.
"Look at that. He actually left you behind after pretending this whole time that he cared about you?"
Irene turned toward her sharply.
"Sally."
Sally flinched slightly.
"What?"
"Didn't I tell you not to speak about him like that again? Especially inside the palace."
Sally covered her mouth with her hand before lowering her head slightly.
"I'm sorry... I couldn't help myself."
She looked ahead again, unable to stop herself from complaining.
"But this really is strange. They didn't even wait to receive you, and now they're walking inside as if you don't even exist."
She paused for a moment before adding in an even more displeased tone,
"I know they aren't exactly friendly toward you, but they should at least show you some respect. The family was supposed to wait until you arrived too."
Irene continued walking calmly, her eyes still fixed on the family as they gradually disappeared into the palace.
"Perhaps they thought I hadn't arrived yet."
Sally immediately protested.
"Impossible!"
She pointed toward the carriages.
"Your carriage was certainly slower than the others, but it wasn't that far behind them."
Irene did not answer.
She continued watching until the last member of the family disappeared behind the palace doors.
And at that moment...
Lucas stopped.
He raised his head and looked back.
Irene was still standing where she was.
Their eyes met.
For several seconds, neither of them moved.
Then Lucas walked toward her with steady steps, clear surprise on his face.
As soon as he approached, he asked with a hint of confusion,
"How did you get here so quickly?"
His expression changed slightly, as though he suddenly remembered something.
That idiot driver. I told him to slow down so the carriage wouldn't shake too much. Did he misunderstand my instructions? Do I need to hit him over the head to make him understand?
Irene felt that familiar sensation she always experienced whenever Lucas's murderous instincts surfaced.
His heavy, unmistakable aura seemed to surround her once again.
She looked at him with faint amusement.
"What are you thinking about now?"
Lucas lifted his eyes to her.
"I was the one who asked the driver to speed up a little. I wanted to arrive with the rest of you."
Before Lucas could respond, a calm voice came from behind him.
"Ah... there you are."
Irene stopped speaking and turned around.
Queen Elizabeth was approaching them.
She gave Irene a calm, somewhat distant smile before speaking.
"Welcome back, Irene."
She took a step closer.
"How are you feeling now? We were all worried about you after the accident."
A hint of gratitude appeared in Irene's smile.
"I'm fine, Your Majesty. And thank you for worrying about me."
Her words were sincere.
But before she could say anything else, a voice came from the other side.
"Really? You certainly don't look like someone who survived a collapse."
Irene turned toward the voice.
Anita stood a short distance away, her arms crossed over her chest.
Her gaze toward Irene was unmistakably cold, carrying a hatred she did not even bother to hide.
She continued,
"Nothing is broken, is it?"
Then she glanced at Lucas's injured hand.
"Looks like my brother was the one who got hurt in that accident."
Silence fell for a moment.
Irene noticed the tone in her voice, but she had no desire to get into an argument with her.
So she simply smiled calmly.
"It's good to see you again, Princess."
Then she looked at Lucas's injured hand.
"And yes, I'm fine because His Highness saved me and protected me. For that, I will remain grateful to him for the rest of my life."
The corner of Anita's mouth lifted mockingly.
"For the rest of your life?"
She let out a quiet laugh.
"You certainly take this gratitude thing seriously. Should I applaud you?"
Irene's expression did not change, but Lucas finally spoke.
"That's enough."
Anita turned toward him.
Before she could say anything, Elizabeth spoke in a firmer voice.
"Anita, enough."
She looked directly at her, her eyes burning with anger.
"Your brother is exhausted. This is not the time for this behavior."
Anita's expression tightened with anger, but she did not argue.
She gave Irene one last look before turning and walking away.
Irene watched her for a moment before turning her attention back to Elizabeth.
Elizabeth spoke coldly.
"Irene, you should go and rest now. We've prepared a feast tonight to celebrate everyone's safe return."
She then added,
"Get some rest so you can join us this evening."
Irene nodded.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
She bowed respectfully.
"If you'll excuse me."
She then turned and left with Sally.
Elizabeth watched her until she was out of sight.
Once Irene had disappeared from view, she turned toward Lucas.
"Lucas."
He raised his eyes to her.
"Your father will be returning from the royal palace soon. He has asked to see you during dinner and afterward."
She paused before continuing.
"So it would be best if you attended dinner as well."
Lucas sighed.
"I have a great deal of work piled up. I need to finish it."
Elizabeth approached him and gently took his hand.
"You can put your work aside for just one day."
Lucas looked at her in silence.
She continued softly,
"Of all times, you cannot refuse your father this time, no matter what happens."
Then she added,
"I've prepared a private room for you to rest in for now."
Lucas frowned.
"A private room? I can rest in my own room."
But Elizabeth's expression suddenly changed.
Her calm smile disappeared, replaced by a hint of tension.
"It would be better for you to rest there."
Lucas stopped.
He watched her face for several moments.
There was something strange about her.
Something he could not understand.
Suddenly, he remembered Louis's words.
Something is happening in the palace.
His gaze sharpened.
"What is going on?"
Elizabeth did not answer.
He took a step toward her.
"Why do I feel like everyone is hiding something from me?"
Silence settled between them.
Elizabeth looked at him, unable to find the right words.
Lucas's voice grew more intense.
"What is this thing everyone is hiding from me?"
Elizabeth lowered her eyes for a moment.
Then she turned toward the head servant.
"Take him to his room."
The head servant immediately bowed.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Elizabeth turned back to Lucas.
"Go and rest now."
Lucas remained standing there for several moments, staring at her as though waiting for an explanation.
But Elizabeth said nothing more.
She turned and walked away.
After taking several steps, she closed her eyes for a moment.
She was trying with all her strength to keep her tears from falling.
My son...
He still knows nothing.
And all I can do is stand here and watch the calm before the storm.
---
That night, Sally stood behind Irene, slowly brushing her hair.
It was strange.
Usually, Sally moved quickly while talking nonstop. But now, the only sound in the room was the brush gliding through Irene's hair.
Irene noticed after a few moments.
"Sally... are you all right?"
Sally flinched slightly, as though she had not expected the question.
"Ah... yes, I'm fine. I'm almost finished."
Irene frowned in confusion.
Her voice was hesitant, and her behavior was anything but normal.
As Sally tried to secure one of the ornaments in Irene's hair, it slipped from her hand and fell to the floor.
"Ah!"
She quickly bent down.
"I'm sorry... I'm really sorry."
But before Sally could pick it up, Irene rose from her seat and took her hand.
She looked at her with concern.
"Are you sick?"
Sally shook her head quickly.
"No! I'm really fine. Don't worry about me. I'll finish now."
Irene continued looking at her for several moments.
Then she slowly returned to her seat.
She lifted her eyes toward the mirror and watched Sally's reflection.
She looked extremely nervous.
As though she were trying to hide something.
But Irene could not figure out what it was.
After a few moments, Sally suddenly said,
"I'm done!"
She smiled as she looked at Irene's hair.
"You look beautiful."
Irene stood in front of the mirror and admired her reflection for a moment.
Then she turned toward Sally.
"Thank you, Sally."
She smiled at her.
"If you're tired, you can go and rest now."
Sally nodded quickly.
"Thank you! Enjoy your meal, and make sure you eat plenty."
Irene smiled faintly.
"All right."
Then she left the room.
The moment the door closed behind her, Sally collapsed onto the floor.
She covered her face with both hands and began breathing heavily.
"Oh, God..."
She raised her head toward the door.
"What am I supposed to do? Please, God... help me."
For the first time, Sally had hidden something from Irene.
Something neither of them had ever imagined she would hide one day.
To be continued...