The Reason for Marriage

Daniel’s face, which had been smiling at her warmly all the time, stiffened. Iveca maintained her cool and asked, faking innocence, “Your Majesty, can you call me by that name?”

“Ah.” Danie’s expression hardened, and Iveca waited for his answer without saying a word. Daniel had no idea that she was aware of Eve Jean’s existence.

Would he be able to simply separate the name of the person he had in mind from herself? She asked a rather provocative question, and her heart ached at the disapproving silence that lingered between them.

“I’m sorry,” Daniel began, slicing the bitter quietness. “Iveca is just Iveca. I don’t want to call you by a nickname that someone gave to you.”

After all, was “Eve” only meant for that girl? There was even a slight anger in his eyes as he looked at her. Iveca looked away from him.

“Ha, indeed.” She tried desperately to conceal the hurt and bitterness in her voice. She wanted to forget what had just happened. “Eve.. it’s a common name. There are so many people who admire Queen Evena.”

Daniel didn’t answer, he merely grabbed her hand and intertwined it with his. Iveca felt an odd aura coming from him at this moment, so she couldn’t get him to talk about ‘Eve’ anymore.

“I’m going to tell her. Even just a small part.”

Beside him, Iveca repeated Reina’s words in her mind.

“I can’t take it to see her having such a hard time.”

Reina would tell her something. As she pondered on Sid and Reina’s conversation, it didn’t seem like she was in a situation where her bureau was looking for a chance to get rid of her, as she initially thought. But she could only make out bits and pieces from their hushed conversation.

“The magic power is actually disappearing. Even the ancient magic will be released after 30 years…  I was thinking of waiting until 30 years later. There were so many things I wanted to stay…”

Thirty years later, the release of ancient magic meant that her memory, which had disappeared, would then return. However, although it was said that it would be 30 years, it could take 40 years or longer. It was too much of a time to wait blindly; she wanted to relieve her frustration as soon as possible. It wasn’t even a variable that she could consider.

***

“Queen.”

The next morning, Reina and Sid appeared as usual in front of Iveca, who was dressed in a neat Judicial Affair Bureau uniform.

“Would you like to go to work?”

Reina’s eyes were swollen as she tried to speak her words casually.

“You came early.” Iveca also greeted them with a dry tone. “Let’s go have a cup of tea. Sit down please.”

Sid and Reina sat in front of her with clumsy footsteps. She had just arrived this morning and brewed fresh tea leaves, but she knew it wouldn’t taste very good anyway. Sid and Reina did not speak anymore after taking a sip as a courtesy.

“We are indeed commoners.” Reina chuckled dryly and said embarrassedly, “Coffee is better.”

Iveca also took a sip to match them, but she didn’t want to drink more because it didn’t taste better than plain water. Iveca didn’t give much answer to the desperate excuse, but muttered in an unenergetic voice as if she had lost all enthusiasm in the world, “I’m sorry I looked unpleasant yesterday.”

“No,” Sid answered immediately, but Iveca lowered her eyes and spoke to them in a low voice.

“I’m so depressed and sensitive these days. I’m not as excited as I am. As you all know anyway, Essselburn, His Majesty, and the Bureau of Investigation are only thinking of using me or abandoning me.”

“Queen, what are you talking about?” asked Reina.

“But still… I can’t say anything to Esselburn, His Majesty, or the Bureau of Investigation. It’s one-sided for me, and I’m desperate.” Iveca sniffled, glancing at Sid and Reina’s expressions.

After overhearing their conversation yesterday, where they said they were too concerned about Iveca hurting herself, Iveca decided that gaining sympathy was her best strategy to bring out some of the truth from Reina.

Her calculation was proven correct, as Reina sighed and answered. “Honestly, I do not know the feelings of His Majesty or Count Esselburn, Queen. But maybe what the Queen thinks is right,” she paused, “but not for the Bureau of Investigation.”

Sid remained silent, and Reina continued her speech without hesitation.

“At first, I tried to hide it but… I will just tell you everything.”

Iveca looked at Reina quietly.

“Instead, please believe me. I’m saying this with the intention of being punished quite harshly. The promotion to manager position may be several years away. Sid, if you want to succeed, go now.”

In an attempt to lighten the gloomy atmosphere, Reina cracked a joke, but even the humor didn’t reach her.