Loving The Mad King

The Devastating Gossip

Amy looked straight ahead and had a very serious expression.

"Maybe… that's because we really miss His Majesty the King, who was cheerful, always smiling and friendly to everyone," she said as she imagined the figure of little Rion. He always ran in the palace corridors cheerfully.

Then she remembered the adult Rion who always smiled when Queen Rose was still alive.

The death of Queen Ahana, his mother, turned Rion into a quiet and very cold person. Rion was like a block of ice, but then Rose came to melt the ice. Rion became a warm man after Rose came. However, it didn't last long.

Being trapped in a conspiracy made by several people, Rion lost Rose. After Rose's death, Rion was no longer like ice but he was like a zombie, there was no life in his eyes. He was alive only because he was still breathing.

"Over the years, we saw the king suffer a lot, so we are very happy when we heard he wanted to remarry. It means life is slowly returning to him. Knowing that makes us very happy, and we can't wait to see the king's warm figure again, just like when Queen Rose was still alive."

Martha smiled when she heard that.

"Yeah, you're right. Odette Celestial, she looks very much like her mother, I'm sure she can restore life to the king," she said as she remembered Celestial.

"To be honest, I was very surprised when I saw Odette. King Roland said Celestial and his daughter were killed by the underlings of the dark wizard, Gerald. I'm really curious what really happened to Odette and Celestial, and where they have been all this time," she added.

"I think Athreya has been hiding them all this time. Come on, we have a lot of work," Amy said as she ended the conversation. She then invited her friend to return to their work.

***

Meanwhile, at the health center, Odette, who had been well cared for throughout the night, was feeling much better. Although she could not be said to have fully recovered from her fever.

Anwen suggested that Odette stayed one more day for treatment, but Odette insisted on going home. Anwen finally couldn't help but comply with Odette's wish.

Anwen led Odette out of the room. On the way to the exit of the building, Anwen glanced repeatedly at Odette. She wondered in her mind what really happened to Odette. Her attitude was not like usual.

"Um… Miss Odi, did I do something wrong? Are you mad at me?" She finally spoke up after they had walked for quite a while without saying anything.

Anwen's question left Odette slightly stunned.

"Why did you ask that?" she asked in a slightly hoarse voice.

"I feel like you are a little cold to me. Since last night, you hardly ever spoke to me. That's why I asked," Anwen replied.

Odette was silent. Due to constantly thinking about what happened to her at the Baster Inn, she had neglected Anwen. Honestly, at this point, she really wanted to be alone.

"No. It's not like that," she muttered.

"Then what is it?"

Odette was silent, and Anwen watched.

"Are you in trouble?" Anwen tried to probe.

Before Odette could say anything, their attention was drawn to three women sitting at their three o'clock. The three women recognized Odette as the woman who scolded the king yesterday morning at the Baster Inn.

They said things that were not much different from what Jacob had said yesterday. Namely, Odette was an escort that the king paid to spend one night with him. She was just a b***h who wanted to be queen by acting as if she had been r***d by the king when she was serving the king voluntarily because she had been paid.

Odette's body trembled when she heard the malicious accusations the three women directed at her. Now she was going through the same thing her mother went through, being called a w***e.

"W-what did they say?" Anwen, who heard it felt surprised and confused.

She turned to look at Odette questioningly. She was trying to get clarification about what those women said.

"Miss Ody..." she called softly. Anwen felt worried when she saw Odette's face become very pale and her hands felt very cold.

Anwen didn't know what had happened, and she was very confused, but she really didn't want the three women to continue to speak ill of Odette. Her purple eyes stared intently at the trash-mouthed women who were also staring at them.

The three women fell silent and glanced at each other. One of them remembered her figure as Princess Anwen, the little sister of the king. Anwen wanted to go over to them, but she stopped when Odette held her hand.

"I want to go home, Anwen," said Odette flatly.

Anwen actually objected a bit, but after she saw Odette's sad face, she finally nodded. They continued their journey which had been delayed.

Along the way, in the carriage, neither of them made a sound. Odette was devastated to hear the women's conversation earlier. Anwen was confused about what had actually happened between her brother and Odette. Even so, she didn't dare to ask Odette, because she considered the woman's condition.

It wasn't long before they finally arrived at the Lilium Residence. After they arrived at the door, Odette thanked Anwen. She said that Anwen had better go home now.

Anwen refused and said that she couldn't possibly leave Odette alone in such a sick condition as she was now.

"Thanks for worrying about me, but I'm fine, and I can take care of myself."

"But Miss Ody…"

"Please, Anwen. I want to be alone right now."

Anwen stared intently at Odette. Five seconds later, she finally decided to comply. Anwen couldn't help but nod in agreement.

"Okay, I'll go home," she said and hugged Odette. "Please take good care of yourself, Miss Ody," she added, then let go of her hug.

"Thank you," Odette smiled faintly in return for Anwen's smile. She remained standing in place. Odette watched the carriage leave the residential area. Only after the carriage disappeared around the corner did she enter the house.

Anwen, who was in the carriage recalled the conversation of the three women at the health center. She couldn't believe what they were saying about Odette acting as a r**e victim.

Did....

Did that mean her brother… had done that to Odette?

Anwen bit the tip of her index finger at the thought of the possibility.

She tried to jog her memories to search for answers. She started from her brother's gloomy expression yesterday morning, then Odette's demeanor which turned a bit cold. Finally, the conversation of the three women at the medical center, along with Odette's reaction. She looked very devastated when she heard their gossip.

As she combined these memories, Anwen concluded that something had indeed happened between her brother and Odette.

But was it true that her brother did that to Odette by force?

If she didn't know Odette, then Anwen would feel happy because her brother would finally have a child, so she didn't have to get married. Anwen wouldn't care how her brother did that, as long as there was a nephew resulting from the event.

In order for her to make sure Rion would sleep with a woman, Anwen even made a special aphrodisiac potion. That was how badly she wanted to avoid her own arranged marriage.

However, now, as she thought of her brother doing that to Odette forcefully, then remembered Odette's sad face, Anwen felt anger towards her brother. Moreover, she knew about Odette's past with her mother. 

Gosh... poor Miss Ody.