The Bloom of Violet

Lennox’s face twisted in frustration. He couldn’t understand. He clung to the situation, refusing to accept it.

“Is it because of Huey? Then bring him here. Let Huey stay with us in the palace!”

Huey was her young son. Yvonne wore a sad expression. She had always kissed his cheek with a faint smile. Tears welled up in Lennox’s eyes as he punched her. Yvonne didn’t resist, simply taking the blow. He couldn’t keep hitting her for long.

“No! I can’t forgive you!”

“Your Highness…”

“Yvonne is mine! She’s my nurse!”

Lennox burst into tears, clinging to her. Yvonne, who had been holding back her own tears, finally broke down and embraced him tightly. Lennox cried desperately, not wanting her to leave. Yvonne quietly comforted him, explaining that she wasn’t leaving for a distant land or foreign country but merely to care for her mother for a while. She assured him that she would return and be with him again soon.

“The noble prince doesn’t show his tears,” she said, gently brushing his cheeks with her slender hands. Lennox threw his arms around her neck. Her rich golden hair, almost silver, smelled faintly of roses. Lennox sobbed, burying his face in her chest, while Yvonne softly patted his back.

From that day onward, Yvonne left the palace. Lennox, as she had told him, slept alone and ate alone. It was a monotonous life. Huey, the prince’s peer, also left with his mother for their home in Saxon Kota. The palace seemed empty.

Although Lennox frequently saw his mother, they didn’t share a particularly close bond. While the queen doted on her only son, she didn’t know how to properly care for him. Ingrid loved Lennox dearly, but he was also a very difficult child.

“Thank you for accepting Mother’s decision.”

“I didn’t accept it.”

It had been more than a fortnight since Yvonne had left the palace. Fuming with anger, Lennox had not visited his mother’s chambers. Ingrid, unable to see her son suffering without doing something, approached him. With no way to resist his mother’s decision, Lennox had been merely going along with it. No matter how much he cried or protested, the king and queen would not change their minds.

So what else could he do? He had to carry out the duties Yvonne had spoken of and live with them. But…

“Lennox.”

“Mother always does things her own way. More than me! She always tells me to do whatever I want, but she’s more self-centered than I am!”

Lennox shouted angrily at his mother.

He missed Yvonne. He longed for her gentle breath and voice. His mother always told him she loved him, but she had never once held him. Lennox glared at his mother in frustration before storming out of the palace. Ingrid watched him, her expression filled with confusion, before clenching her fists.

Time passed. Yvonne returned to Rosbon three years later, one spring. Lennox was overjoyed to hear she was back, and he was excited throughout that week. That was just last week. But now…

“Fine. I’ll go find her. I’ll go and meet Yvonne.”

Lennox muttered as he stomped down the stairs. He quickly walked through the narrow passageway used by the lowest servants to avoid being seen.

The Alteur family villa was located in a suburb of Rosbon, not far from the city. It was about two hours from the palace. Lennox left the palace, determined to spend the night with Yvonne, thinking he would sleep beside her that evening.

“What? The prince has disappeared?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“What do you mean…?”

“Your Highness, the prince was very angry, and I went to report to Your Majesty…”

“Are you saying no one has seen the prince since then?”

The queen shouted sharply. Rishar’s expression was as cold as ever. Ingrid’s face twisted into a grimace, and she bit her lip. Lennox had disappeared… She felt as if she had been doused with cold water. It was hard to tell whether it was from anger or fear, but she was in a state of extreme agitation.

“However…”

The attendant hesitated. Ingrid gripped the glass cup tightly. The king, who had been watching her silently, finally spoke.

“Enough, Ingrid.”

“Your Majesty…”

“Calm down.”

“Is this something to be calm about?”

“Just because you don’t calm down, it doesn’t mean we’ll find out where the prince is.”

“So, Your Majesty is…?”

“We’ll contact Count Alteur,” the king replied calmly.

“Why Count Alteur…?”

“Didn’t you say you were angry because you couldn’t meet Yvonne?”

Richard muttered indifferently. Ingrid, who had been about to question why Yvonne was being brought up, fell silent. As if he had pierced through her thoughts, Richard narrowed his eyes. A sharp pain rose within her chest, as though her heart had been pricked by a dagger.

“Have her return to the queen’s chambers.”

“Yes.”

Richard turned away. Ingrid clenched her fist, struggling to swallow the feeling of humiliation.

“Your Majesty.”

Helena, who had been watching them from behind, slowly approached and placed a hand on Ingrid’s shoulder. Ingrid closed her eyes and rested her hand on top of Helena’s.

Tears threatened to spill. No one had insulted her. But Ingrid… she felt rejected at every turn. It had been that way ever since she married Richard. The king did not love her. It didn’t matter. She didn’t love him either. Still, she thought they could be a decent couple.

“Your Majesty…”

“…It’s alright.”

“Your Majesty is not to blame.”

“Even so, that doesn’t mean His Majesty has no fault.”

Ingrid opened her eyes. Her damp eyelashes fluttered as she looked at Helena. Yvonne was a good woman. She held no malice or greed. Yvonne had left the palace for Ingrid and Richard’s sake. She had left because there was no longer any place to hide from the king’s affections.

So, Ingrid should be grateful.

“Yvonne is not at fault.”

“Even so, it’s true that you were hurt by her, Your Majesty.”