The Tyrant Queens Won't Stop Obsessing Over Me - Chapter 2
A carriage line stretching across the courtyard. In a territory where thirty or more servants were already the norm, adding thirty more was still a sight to behold. Nobles and castle staff alike had gathered, and the sheer volume was far from insignificant.
The carriages piling one after another in the stables made for quite the spectacle, and the number of horses tied up outside was nothing short of staggering.
Thinking about having to feed and water all of them from the royal palace alone left a sigh escaping him.
Especially the servants who had to carry water and feed, and even clean up after them.
*If only I could grant them a bonus right now...*
The workload was heavier than usual, and the responsibilities weighed on him even more.
Still, keeping the Queen at arm’s reach already drained his mind and spirit.
Albert set the budget and personal thoughts aside, then headed straight for the Finance Minister’s office.
He wanted to hear a more realistic assessment than Beatrix’s automatic approval.
“The King addressed me so rarely that I assumed something serious had happened,” Charlotte said with a polite smile, seated at her desk sipping tea.
The moment Albert appeared, she had tensed sharply. But once she realized it was nothing out of the ordinary, her shoulders relaxed.
She was certainly difficult to handle, yet not nearly as intimidating as the Queen herself.
*No…*
She couldn’t afford to be fully at ease.
Though she looked young and approachable, she was still the Finance Minister.
The King spent most of his day with the Queen.
At night, he could be just as wild and savage as any tyrant.
So revealing a hidden blade at the worst possible moment wasn’t impossible.
That was precisely why Charlotte treated Albert with such careful, measured respect.
“Giving the servants an extra reward to ease their fatigue and boost morale is an excellent idea,” she replied. “After all, one doesn’t need only a whip when dealing with people.”
“I’m grateful for your kind words. But what about the budget…?”
“It’s perfectly fine. The palace employs many hands, yet the treasury is overflowing, and we’re accumulating more wealth than ever. We won’t be stripping any resources from it.”
“How fortunate.”
Albert’s chest puffed with satisfaction as he smiled.
“But if the King had already made the decision, why come to me at all? You could have simply carried it out without consulting me.”
“As the King, I can’t simply do whatever I please. That would leave even ladies like you in difficulty.”
Charlotte stared, genuinely surprised. He truly was different from the idle nobles and castle staff who spent money without a second thought.
No, the nobles were probably just too accustomed to luxury to see any line.
What if they’d lived modestly until suddenly thrust into nobility like Albert?
The poison of excess would have sunk in deep.
And with Beatrix’s full support, the odds were even higher.
*It’s been less than a year… has he already fallen?*
Time changes people. One day Albert would naturally take luxury for granted.
But she could also sense there might be a chance he wouldn’t.
*After all, the Crown Prince didn’t choose the Queen simply because she’s… well-endowed.*
Just thinking of his night with the Queen made Charlotte’s cheeks flush.
She wanted to see for herself exactly how impressive that part of him was.
Mia had mentioned it often enough when they drank together.
*Oh no, I’m going crazy. I don’t want to die.*
Charlotte blinked rapidly, trying to clear her mind.
At her age, stress piled up and her urges were strong, but Albert… no. Absolutely not.
What’s wrong with me?
Albert tilted his head curiously, and Charlotte coughed hastily to cover it.
“Hmph! Anyway, I’ll handle the proposal the King suggested. Your permission isn’t even necessary for this.”
“Thank you. Then I’ll take my leave.”
He bowed politely and left.
Leaving so quickly might have looked rude, but sitting there longer would have changed nothing.
It was far better to finish the business and exit gracefully.
*
In the Royal Palace of the Eastern Kingdom.
To some it was a place of envy; to most noble daughters, it might as well have been a death row.
One misstep and your head could roll. Talking back was practically impossible.
Even returning after a short absence, the tension never left you.
*This time it’s a summons…*
Daisy Araam, the noble daughter who had once survived a previous summons and even earned praise, felt the same unease.
The memory of being accepted and praised by the King was pleasant, yet she would rather never set foot here again.
She didn’t want to face Beatrix’s face for the rest of her life if possible.
*But… that’s impossible.*
As the future heir to the title, she would have to meet the Queen sooner or later.
And often.
“Arrival, my lady.”
“Mm.”
At the announcement from the coachman, Daisy let out a short sigh and stepped down from the carriage.
The baggage she’d brought was carried by the servant who had accompanied her.
Even the palace was familiar, but one attendant to help with luggage was standard.
Like the other noble daughters.
“Oh, my lady. You’ve arrived early. The summons isn’t for several more days yet.”
Following the palace servant down the corridor toward the assigned room.
A noble daughter stepped forward and greeted her warmly.
Anna Scala.
The eldest daughter of the Scala family, established by a knightly noble.
Thanks to their shared background, they weren’t on bad terms and even interacted frequently.
“You’ve come early too?”
“Of course. As a knight, one must arrive before the Crown Prince summons one. Though arriving exactly on time isn’t exactly polite.”
Knights were supposed to be ready at a moment’s notice.
Charlotte found Anna’s logic amusing and smiled.
“I suppose so. I prefer to live as lazily as possible.”
“Oh dear. With such a toned body and yet you call yourself lazy? How amusing.”
Anna’s sharp eyes swept over Daisy’s frame, taking in every curve the wide dress couldn’t hide.
Daisy was still flustered when Anna relaxed her gaze and laughed.
“Never mind. Let’s chat instead. It’s been ages since we last met.”
“Only a month ago?”
“A month feels like an eternity. Come, let’s go.”
Anna grabbed Daisy’s hand and led her toward the door.
A resigned look settled on Daisy’s face as she entered.
The servant carrying her luggage had already vanished, and was busy unpacking in the room.
“…?”
As she stepped inside, Anna let out a small gasp.
She looked shocked.
Daisy scanned the room and understood why.
The smallest noble daughter was walking down the corridor in the distance.
“She’s very young. Which family does she belong to?”
“Come in.”
This time Daisy took Anna’s hand and hurried her inside.
The servant had finished packing and bowed before leaving the room.
They shared a room, yet she still had to give Anna space.
Daisy’s face had been stiff.
“Do you know who that is?”
Anna had noticed the change in expression and asked in a low voice.
“I’ve never seen her before, but I have a good idea.”
“Who was it?”
“My guess… it might be the Miller daughter.”
“Miller?”
Miller.
One of the three major ducal houses in the East.
To Beatrix, they were all just minor nobles, but not to the nobles themselves.
Especially those of lower rank.
Anna tilted her head in confusion.
“That’s odd. This is supposed to be a gathering of noble daughters, yet it looks more like a gathering of heirs. Shouldn’t Karl Miller be here? The Miller successor is that young man right now.”
“Have you heard the rumors? Karl Miller drowned in the sea last night.”
Many didn’t know because it had been whispered, but it was widely discussed among nobles.
Anna wasn’t the type to ignore gossip.
“Dead?”
Anna’s eyes widened.
The news was shocking.
“Apparently he was drinking heavily on the ship and fell overboard.”
“No one saw it?”
“He went alone to an isolated spot. Still…”
“Probably not true.”
A noble daughter, especially the heir, managing things so carelessly?
That was simply impossible.
Inside the palace maybe, but on a ship in the dark sea at night?
However,
“Later it’ll be some half-baked excuse. The one who killed him was probably… his family.”
If a noble daughter died, there would have been chaos.
Yet it had been quiet.
Suspicion was inevitable.
Daisy nodded quietly.
“I suppose so. So that young lady must be quite sharp.”
“Meaning I should be extra careful.”
“Yes. Stirring up trouble only hurts you.”
Daisy and Anna both nodded in agreement.
“Well, shall we talk about other things? Not just this?”
The two noble daughters ended their tense conversation and, as if nothing had happened, began chatting cheerfully.
The sword forged by a dwarf artisan, or the fact that the Eastern kingdom still hadn’t mastered forging techniques.
Mostly talk of swords and soldiers, but to them it was the most enjoyable diversion.
Time flew by, and the time for Beatrix’s examination finally arrived.
All the noble daughters over thirty gathered in one room for a simple test.
It looked exactly like a school classroom.
Yet every single one of them sat with pale faces.
The reading comprehension was low-level, something a child could handle. Simple calculations. Basic reading and writing were all that was required.
The intent was painfully obvious.
Who is the man doing odd jobs in this text?
What is 125 + 127?
All the same.
The noble daughters who had already taken the test several times exited with relaxed expressions.
The ones visiting for the first time today left with light hearts.
But *now the real test begins.*
Including Daisy, all the noble daughters left the room with grim faces.
One by one, they would face the Queen in private interviews.
After all, spending time alone with the Queen was already an extreme test of nerves.
Being alone with the tyrant was on another level.
Some daughters had even fainted from sheer pressure.
One day. Two days.
The interviews were held only at night, and they had to endure relentless tension until the sun rose.
It was one of Beatrix’s tests.
To see whether they could control their hearts under stress and pressure.
Daisy knew this, so she breathed deeply and tried to calm herself.
She couldn’t afford to show any wrong posture while waiting.
“My lady. His Highness has summoned you.”
Knock.
Knock.
After several nights, it was finally Daisy’s turn.
“Yes. I’ll be right there.”
In the dark night, Daisy straightened her clothes under the mana-stone light.
Thanks to the servant helping, not a single wrinkle remained.
Swallow.
Daisy swallowed dryly as she followed the maid down the hall.
Knock.
The servant knocked carefully on the study door.
“Your Highness, I have brought her.”
“Enter.”
The moment Beatrix’s voice came from inside, the maid opened the door.
*Finally.*
She wouldn’t die from it. Probably.
But it was close.
One mistake and she could have died.
*Let’s go.*
As she stepped forward, her eyes widened.
A thin white gown.
That was normal.
It was night, and she might have been too lazy to dress properly.
But—
The underwear she was wearing could not be understood.
A black bra made of thin fabric, barely covering the areolas with strings.
Black panties that barely covered her private area, the strings digging into her hips.
Too small. Too small.
Yet strangely well-matched, to the point of making the observer dizzy.
*Why?*
While one noble daughter was confused.
Beatrix spoke in a languid voice.