Chapter 27: Matters of the Heart, and a Royal Interruption

Alice began to cough, great gasping coughs erupting from her throat.

“To be so flustered by a mere sip of tea, it seems I’ll need to be stricter with your etiquette lessons,” the Duchess remarked with a sly grin.

‘You did that on purpose, didn’t you?’ Alice thought.

It took her a considerable moment to recover from the fierce fit of coughing.

“Your reaction suggests you already have some idea,” the Duchess said, her tone abruptly turning serious.

“I don’t need you to explain anything; a simple nod or a shake of your head will suffice.”

Alice remained silent for a long moment before finally nodding. There was little point in denying such a matter.

“So, what are your thoughts on this situation?” the Duchess inquired, a hint of amusement in her voice.

“I…” Alice pondered for a moment, deep in thought, then replied, “I am willing to take responsibility.”

“Given your upbringing and beliefs, that approach is certainly understandable,” the Duchess commented.

“This… isn’t right?” Alice sensed that, in the Duchess’s eyes, her solution wasn’t entirely correct.

“I didn’t say it was incorrect; merely that your perspective and mine differ,” the Duchess calmly replied.

“The Starfall Kingdom is a matriarchal society that reveres the Witch Cult. There, women hold the dominant position in society; only females can inherit the throne, the head of a household is typically the matriarch, and major families are primarily led by female clan elders.”

“Fifty years ago, in the old society, a woman could even have multiple husbands. The notion that a woman needs a man to take responsibility for her to preserve her purity and reputation is inconceivable to us.”

“Then what do you wish for me to do?” Alice asked directly.

“You don’t need to do anything. While our views differ, I can understand your thoughts. After all, when it comes to matters between men and women, objectively speaking, men do tend to benefit more.”

“I simply wish for you to understand that Her Majesty saved you in that manner for a legitimate reason rooted in morality, and it was also her own choice,” the Duchess said, her gaze fixed on Alice’s eyes.

“Your willingness to take responsibility is your own idea, but for Her Majesty, it is not a necessity. Whether you take responsibility or not, it will not cause her to lose her so-called moral purity or chastity.”

“Therefore, never assume that Her Majesty is obligated to humble herself before you because of this incident. That would be an act of arrogance.”

“I have never thought that way,” Alice answered truthfully.

“That is for the best,” the Duchess nodded.

“But if that’s what you believe, why did you arrange for me to sleep with Queen Isola? If it was just to tease her, isn’t that a bit excessive?” Alice questioned.

She could tell that the Duchess’s arrangement yesterday had been deliberate. In fact, the Duchess hadn’t even bothered to hide it.

“But Her Majesty herself agreed, didn’t she?” The Duchess suddenly smiled. “When I said Her Majesty didn’t need to humble herself before you, I was speaking objectively. However, if Her Majesty has her own intentions, that’s an entirely different matter.”

“What do you mean?” Alice didn’t understand.

“How do you think Her Majesty views you?” the Duchess asked.

“I’m nineteen and single; how could I possibly see through her?” Alice replied self-deprecatingly.

The Duchess suddenly became interested. “You’re single? Does that mean the person you arranged to meet at the Cathedral Academy isn’t your lover?”

This question momentarily stunned Alice before she finally responded, “No, they’re not.”

“Oh, ‘not yet,’ but there’s a chance, isn’t there?” The Duchess suddenly offered a knowing, meaningful smile.

“This… we’re getting off-topic!” Alice felt a touch of embarrassment.

She realized she had truly underestimated the discerning eye of this spy witch. With just a small reaction, the Duchess had already gleaned an understanding of her relationship with Jeanne.

“My apologies, my apologies. It’s an occupational hazard. My method as a spy often involves using romantic relationships as tools, so I always find myself wanting to study others’ love stories,” the Duchess chuckled, covering her mouth.

“I’m curious, then. With your experience, how do you think Queen Isola views me?” Alice decided to turn the tables, going on the offensive.

“From my perspective, Her Majesty certainly has a degree of fondness for you,” the Duchess replied without hesitation.

“You’re so certain?” Alice frowned skeptically.

“I know her well; her reactions are quite obvious. Moreover, she has good reason to develop feelings for you,” the Duchess said with a confident smile.

“Reasons? Do you mean because we once… so then…?” Alice trailed off, her words incomplete.

“Heh, do you truly believe that a woman will develop feelings for a man just because they’ve had a physical relationship? That’s merely a man’s wishful fantasy,” the Duchess scoffed, mercilessly ridiculing her guess.

“I thought as much,” Alice agreed with the sentiment. “Then is it because I saved her? But she saved me too; we’re even!”

“The reason I refer to is your shared experience of danger and how you supported each other through a difficult ordeal. I’ve researched relevant academic texts in the Great Library of the Witches: when a man and a woman face peril together, they are more likely to develop feelings for each other. When two people overcome adversity together, they are more prone to developing a sense of reliance.”

“The Witches’ texts record even such things?” Alice exclaimed, astonished.

“The essence of that wisdom is simply this: there are always things in this world you don’t yet know,” the Duchess said with a laugh.

“I’m serious. Do you truly believe Queen Isola thinks that way?” Alice remained skeptical.

“Oh, you must trust my judgment,” the Duchess insisted. “Have you never felt a stir in your heart for Her Majesty yourself?”

“To say I’ve never felt anything would be a lie…” Alice pondered. “But I’ve become a girl now.”

“Does gender truly matter?” the Duchess shrugged.

“Then do you wish for me to respond to her feelings?” Alice was startled.

“Not yet. Matters of the heart should be allowed to unfold naturally. Besides, Her Majesty is currently entirely focused on the restoration of her kingdom. For now, you only need to take the time to genuinely consider your own true feelings,” the Duchess smiled.

“Then why are you doing superfluous things?” Alice asked.

“I merely enjoy fanning the flames from the sidelines… ah, I mean, as a subject, one always wishes to aid and abet their sovereign,” the Duchess quickly corrected herself.

“You just want to have fun, without considering the consequences, don’t you?” Alice sighed.

“I do consider them, you know,” the Duchess said, her expression turning serious. “I am very interested in your and Her Majesty’s future. But if, for any reason, you exploit or trample upon Her Majesty’s feelings, then… I dislike speaking harshly to someone Her Majesty favors, but you should understand my meaning.”

“You can rest assured about that,” Alice replied.

“That’s good,” the Duchess’s expression relaxed, and she smiled once more. “This conversation, it must be kept a secret from Her Majesty.”

“Naturally,” Alice nodded.

“Excellent. Have another cup of tea, and then we shall prepare for our next lesson,” the Duchess began pouring tea.

Just then, Queen Isola’s cold voice suddenly echoed from outside the door:

“What matter requires secrecy from me?”

The Duchess’s hand, pouring the tea, suddenly trembled.