I Broke Up With The Country - Chapter 5

For several days, countless people came and went around me. Maids, servants, famous doctors, and even the king himself all said it was a miracle that I had awakened.

People assumed that my amnesia was due to the illness, which allowed me to easily grasp the situation around me.

Now, it was the year 842 of the Kingdom Era, over 150 years since the time I originally lived in.

Elendril was under the rule of the 20th King, Alexander II. The queen had passed away a long time ago, and the only direct royal bloodline was the king’s only daughter, Princess Estelle.

And Princess Estelle was already… I am sixteen years old.

I sat on the bed, staring blankly at my reflection in the mirror.

Bright blonde hair shining like the moon, olive-colored eyes, neatly shaped eyebrows, delicate features, and smooth, white skin.

It was nothing like the old queen I had been.

I thought that if I were reborn, I’d be a baby when I opened my eyes, but what happened?

I alternated between touching the mirror and my cheek. I couldn’t believe this beautiful face was truly mine.

As I sat there staring at the mirror, the bedroom door suddenly opened.

“Estelle.”

Estelle, Estelle Elizabeth Marie Ellen.

It was the name I had gotten used to over the past few days. And the person who had come to see me was Alexander II, the ruler of this country, and my father in this life.

I instinctively stood up from my seat and bowed to the king.

“Your Majesty.”

“There is no need to get up, sit down.”

At Alexander’s urgent gesture, I couldn’t kneel or offer a formal bow and instead awkwardly sat back down on the bed.

“How is your health?”

Alexander asked with a worried voice. I responded as politely as possible, keeping my gaze lowered.

“I’m fine, Your Majesty. Thank you for your concern.”

“Estelle…”

Suddenly, I heard Alexander’s trembling voice close to my ear. When I looked up, his face was colored with anxiety and confusion.

Had I made a mistake?

I clenched my hands nervously and reviewed my actions. Then suddenly, Alexander knelt on one knee and looked into my eyes.

I was startled and gasped.

The king of Elendril, the father of the princess, the ruler who could make anyone, noble or commoner, tremble with fear, was kneeling before me!

“Your Majesty…”

Just as I was about to spring up from my seat, Alexander’s hand touched my cheek.

I froze in place, startled. His fingers were warm. The unfamiliar and awkward warmth sent shivers all over my body.

Then, a voice, excessively affectionate, reached my ears.

“Are you angry?”

Angry? Me? At you?

I couldn’t understand the intent behind the question. It wasn’t a question that could even be valid. Who would dare to be angry at the king of this country?

Desperately, I shook my hands and denied his words.

“No, Your Majesty. That can’t be!”

“Really?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Why would I be angry? Absolutely not.”

So please, get up!

I fidgeted and leaned toward him. My body automatically slid down from the bed. I could see the king’s brown eyes right in front of me.

Eyes that I had never seen in my previous life, eyes that embraced me tenderly.

“Be careful, Estelle. You might get hurt.”

Alexander gently lifted me up and carefully seated me back on the bed. His hands were strong yet soft, and his touch was tender.

“It’s fine if you’re not angry. For now, make sure to eat well and prioritize your health above all else. If you need anything, just let me know.”

I nodded, feeling dazed.

“Thank you… Your Majesty.”

As soon as I finished speaking, Alexander’s forehead creased slightly. When I looked up in surprise, he sighed deeply as if the ground had fallen away.

“I must go now. Rest well.”

With one last warm smile, Alexander turned and left. I wasn’t sure what to say, so I just bent my knees and offered a bow to his departing figure.

As soon as the door closed, I instinctively reviewed the situation from a moment ago.

The king had asked if I was angry. Then he knelt in front of me and sighed just before leaving the room.

I must have done something wrong.

What did I mess up?

I carefully retraced my words and actions. No matter how I thought about it, I hadn’t done anything wrong by common standards. I greeted him properly and responded to his words with respect.

So, I needed to understand what might have made him react sensitively…

‘Your Majesty.’

Suddenly, that simple title popped into my mind.

That was it. Clearly, every time I said ‘Your Majesty,’ his eyes had wavered.

So, it means that the king, whom I had just spent time with, found it disappointing that I addressed him with a title he must hear hundreds of times a day.

…Why?

I had addressed the king as ‘Your Majesty’ until his death in my previous life. All royalty were subjects before they were the king’s children, and moreover, I was a lowly illegitimate child.

Of course, in this life, I am not an illegitimate child but a legitimate daughter. But even so, Alexander is still my lord before being my father.

Yet, being called ‘Your Majesty’ disappointed him?

I couldn’t understand the psychology behind it.

Did he suddenly develop paternal feelings because his daughter almost died? Or does he want to indulge in a fleeting fantasy of a tender father-daughter relationship?

Perhaps he will go back and later be furious about this…

“Princess Your Majesty.”

Suddenly, a voice from outside the door touched my ears.

When I didn’t respond to the call because I was lost in thought, someone called me again.

“Princess Your Majesty?”

Only then did I snap out of my daze and reflexively open my mouth.

“Oh. What’s the matter?”

My voice came out as if speaking in a dream, with a hazy tone.

The sudden change in surroundings, the unknown people, and the king’s inexplicable attitude made everything feel unreal. It was as if I was still in a dream.

Get a grip. This can’t be a dream. This is definitely not a dream. You need to snap out of it and gather information. Nothing will change if you just sit here.

I shook my head vigorously and scolded myself.

“Marchioness Lamian has arrived.”

It was a pointless action.

There were far too many things, both in this life and the last, that could have jolted me back to reality.

A cold sensation spread from the top of my head. It felt like being doused with cold water, which snapped me to attention.

Marchioness Lamiang.

It was a name I thought I’d never hear in this life.

All other thoughts vanished instantly, and only thoughts about Marchioness Lamian flashed through my mind, tossing it about.

“…Who?”

Someone outside the door spoke again, this time with a hint of irritation.

“Marchioness Lamian, Your Highness.”

Marchioness… Marchioness… Marchioness’s wife?