The Queen's Nanny
Virginia and Philip tilted their wine glasses as they talked. She was surprised that King Philip was so unlike a king. Having never met other monarchs, she had no way of knowing what their personalities were like, but he was nothing like the image of a king she had in her mind. He was not arrogant. He wasn’t overly kind, yet he never behaved in a way that violated etiquette. He never referred to himself as “we,” and above all, he poured his own wine. He didn’t indulge in the kind of exaggerated self-praise that even ordinary nobles or knights would spout. Instead, he spoke with the cheerful flair of a jester.
“……And that is how the Helvians stole vices like lies, disbelief, and forgetfulness from the devil’s wagon. That’s why the Helvians are liars, heathens, or complete idiots.”
“Are the Helvians truly such wicked people?”
“Of course they are, Dame Virginia. They would plunder even their own brother’s children. You cannot make any promises with them. Even the devil would pray to God when dealing with them.”
“Oh my. Now I feel sorry for the devil.”
She laughed pleasantly as she listened to the old Derim fables Philip told her. It was as if the rage she had felt only moments ago had been a lie. Once her mood had lightened and the alcohol began to take effect, she said to Philip,
“Your Majesty does not seem very kingly at all.”
“Hmm?”
He looked surprised. She was genuinely startled and nearly spilled her wine in her panic. She rose from her chair and bowed her head in apology.
“Forgive me, Your Majesty. I misspoke. I meant no offense……”
“I am a prisoner now, so it can’t be helped. It’s all right, Virginia. I understand what you meant. Since you are the nanny of my dearest friend, I would be glad if you felt comfortable with me, Dame Virginia.”
Philip spoke with a tilt of his glass. She kept bowing repeatedly until he showed signs of growing tired of her apologies before she finally raised her head. Once she had sat back down, Philip looked at her and said,
“You said I don’t seem like a king, but you don’t seem much like Richelle’s nanny either.”
“Pardon?”
Philip set down his glass and met Virginia’s eyes as he continued.
“Ricky is, in many ways, not very Zylan-like.”
“……”
Virginia was at a loss for words. Richelle was a tomboy who, by anyone’s standards, could not be called a noble lady of Zylan. Even as her nanny, Virginia could not defend her on that point. When her expression hardened, Philip smiled and said,
“I’m not trying to speak ill of Ricky. It’s just… well……”
He paused for a moment.
“She’s simply… a bit free-spirited.”
“It is shameful that I raised her to be so unladylike, Your Majesty.”
Virginia truly felt embarrassed about it. No matter how hard she tried, Richelle’s temperament never softened in the slightest. Seeing her blush and avert her gaze, Philip grew flustered. He quickly added,
“No, no. There’s no need to be ashamed. I was simply trying to talk about her.”
“Then I am relieved.”
“Did you know that Ricky talks about you quite often?”
“I doubt it was anything good.”
“Of course not. I’ve never praised my own nanny to others either.”
“So what exactly did my lady say about me?”
Philip answered her question with a mischievous grin.
“Whenever I offer Ricky advice, she always tells me that I’m annoying, that I meddle in everything, and that I follow her around scolding her like her nanny.”
“She really is impossible.”
Virginia couldn’t help but laugh at Philip’s words. She already knew full well that Richelle would never have said anything nice about her. Still, a small part of her had hoped that perhaps, to her closest friend, Richelle might have secretly confessed that she actually liked her nanny. She hadn’t truly expected it, but having the truth confirmed still stung. Even so, she was standing before the king of a nation, even if he was a prisoner. She had to smile.
“Still, don’t take it too much to heart. The only time Ricky complains about you is when I’ve given her the right advice.”
“Is that so?”
“Absolutely. Whenever Ricky throws a tantrum about you, I get a terrible headache, Dame. If I take your side, she tells me not to speak badly of you.”
“Surely you didn’t scold my lady on my behalf?”
When she asked with a laugh, Philip laughed along with her. He slowly shook his head and replied,
“Goodness. I have enough sense not to commit such rudeness.”
“And enough sense not to do anything that would get you beaten by my lady?”
“Hahaha! Exactly, Dame Virginia.”
She now felt she understood why she had thought Philip didn’t seem kingly. He wasn’t arrogant, and he was kind. Moreover, he was Richelle’s kind and closest friend. He wasn’t a perfectly likable figure, but he knew how to make an enjoyable story even more delightful, and he had a way of making even potentially uncomfortable topics pleasant to hear. He spoke nothing like a “noble.”
After laughing heartily with Philip, she looked at his face. Unlike his speech and mannerisms, his appearance clearly revealed his noble bloodline. His neatly trimmed beard and hair, tall stature, long limbs, and the sturdy frame and muscles visible beneath his simple trousers and shirt all spoke of his status. Though not perfectly noble, perhaps.
She quietly said to Philip,
“Your Majesty is truly kind.”
“Hmm?”
Unable to grasp her meaning, Philip looked puzzled. Virginia did not answer right away. Instead, she said something that was more than enough to fluster him.
“It would have been better if Your Majesty had taken our lady instead.”
“Pfft!”
Philip nearly choked on his wine at Virginia’s unexpected words.
Startled, he studied Virginia’s expression. Her face was slightly flushed and somewhat relaxed. She didn’t seem particularly concerned that he had coughed violently after inhaling his wine. She continued speaking.
“A man like Your Majesty would be far better than someone strange like Prince Marion. He may be tall, but he doesn’t seem very manly at all. Besides, he doesn’t appear to like our lady very much. He is not a man worthy of someone as beautiful as my lady.”
“Dame Virginia, Ricky and I are simply friends.”
“What does that matter? Do relationships between men and women always begin as husband and wife?”
“That’s not the issue here, is it? Besides, both Ricky and I are rulers of our nations.”
Philip spoke desperately, but she paid him no mind. Instead, she seemed to interpret his words as yet another reason why he and Richelle should be together.
“Then wouldn’t that be even better? It would be the union of Zylan and Derim.”
“That is not what I meant. There are all sorts of complicated political matters between Ricky and me… Damn it, what am I even saying?”
“Do you think I know nothing of politics, Your Majesty?”
She spoke with a hint of pride.
“I may not look it, but I have helped our dear lady with her political studies many times.”
Philip wanted to tell her not to pretend to understand politics with only that much experience, but he held his tongue. She went on.
“Your Majesty spoke of politics, but while you both hold high status… hmm……”
She carefully chose her next words.
“You are a queen and a king! So it would be perfect! The maritime kingdom of Zylan and the continental kingdom of Derim. Through marriage, you cooperate, and your descendants inherit both crowns. A single kingdom uniting Zylan and Derim! Even if the Eastern Empire still stands, it would be a great nation no one would dare challenge!”
“Dame Virginia!”
He raised his voice.
“Dame Virginia, have you forgotten? Only a woman may wear the crown of the Zylan royal family. And in my country, Derim, a queen cannot ascend the throne unless there are no sons.”
The words had simply slipped out in an attempt to cut off her rambling political commentary. It was not a wise thing to say. He soon paid the price for his lack of wisdom.
“So you were thinking so seriously that you even considered the matter of heirs!”
“That is not what I meant at all.”
“Wasn’t it?”
She tilted her head with a puzzled expression. Virginia’s appearance was not unattractive, but the gesture was far too childish for her age and more than enough to fluster Philip. She was not merely tipsy. She was already drunk to the point where logical persuasion was impossible.
She spoke again.
“You aren’t worried the crown might split in two again, are you?”
“Of course not! That is not the problem……”
He began to wonder how he could possibly shut her mouth. The drunken middle-aged woman offered a brilliant solution. Her next words silenced Philip completely.
“What does it matter? Just turn the man into a woman.”
“……”
Philip was rendered speechless. He closed his mouth for the time being. Instead of speaking, he thought to himself, How? By what means?
He studied Virginia’s face. But her drunken, innocently childlike expression—one completely unfitting for her age—offered no meaningful clues. He could not guess how she had learned that fact, nor what her intention was in saying such a thing. His lips parted slowly. Just as he was about to deny it, Virginia spoke.
“Why do you look so surprised? I was only joking.”
At her words, Philip felt relieved. She had said it was only a joke. He replied,
“That was a rather harsh joke, Dame Virginia.”
“Hehe.”
She gave a small laugh and said,
“It must be a terrible thing for a man to become a woman, yes?”
“Of course. I have no desire to experience such a thing.”
“I thought as much.”
Virginia suddenly broke into a wide smile.
“So Your Majesty has heard it from my lady as well.”
“Did Ricky… did Richelle say something like that?”
“Yes. Honestly, I don’t know where she gets such wild imagination.”
Virginia wore a bittersweet smile. Only now did he feel he could somewhat understand the situation. She did not seem to fully believe Richelle’s words. But she appeared to harbor considerable suspicion. That was why she seemed so confused, and why, under the influence of alcohol, she seemed to be sending Philip a kind of distress signal. Everything was only “seemed.” Nothing was certain. Yet none of the guesses could be easily dismissed.
He asked cautiously,
“What is she doing right now?”
“My lady?”
At her question, Philip nodded. She spoke slowly.
“It concerns my lady’s honor. I cannot say.”
“Is it really a matter of honor? I am simply asking what she is doing.”
“Of course it is a matter of honor! If I told you, it would damage my lady’s reputation!”
Philip shook his head in disbelief. He could not understand why honor came into play when he was merely asking what she was doing, or why she was trying to bargain with it. He decided that continuing the conversation would be a waste of time and stood up.
“I am sorry, Dame Virginia, but you appear to be quite drunk. It would be best if you went inside and rested until you sober up.”
“What is it about our lady that displeases you so? Is our lady not beautiful?”
She asked with tearful eyes. Philip sighed and answered,
“Of course she is beautiful.”
Richelle was indeed beautiful. Had he not known her past, he too might have entertained such thoughts at least once. Perhaps he might have seriously considered marriage with her. The unified kingdom that would have resulted from such a union was certainly an enticing prospect. But Queen Richelle—Richard—was his friend. She was also the friend suffering because of his plan to “place a male king on Zylan’s throne.”
He spoke to Virginia again.
“But I will say it once more. Ricky is my friend. She can never be anything more.”
“I see.”
Virginia drained the last of the wine in her glass in one gulp and said,
“What a shame, Your Majesty. To throw away such a golden opportunity.”
Having said that, she finally succumbed completely to the alcohol. Philip, startled by her final words, tried to wake her, but she only mumbled in her sleep, “Poor… our lady……” and showed no sign of responding to him. In the end, he had no choice but to call over a passing servant and order that she be taken to her bedchamber.
Watching several maids give up on waking her and carry her together into the castle, he quietly muttered to himself.
“……Marriage? With Ricky?”
He recalled an emotion he had never experienced before. The twisted sensation that had risen in his chest when he had handed Richelle’s hand to Marion, when she had smiled at her new husband, came rushing back. He shook his head violently. Even though he was a prisoner, he was still a king, and a king must not be swayed by emotion. Moreover, the feeling that had seized him was not his true emotion.
He covered his burning face with his hands. Thinking to himself that the alcohol was hitting him unusually fast today, he walked back into Venterum Castle.