Esadora looks at Diana. She stares for quite a few seconds , the ladies behind her not giving a crumb of respect to the "Queen".

Esadora takes a step forward.

Daintly bows as she holds up her skirt.

"Greetings your majesty."

Any form of greeting from this woman felt like an insult to Diana. People rarely showed her respect. she was just a war trophy not their queen who was respected.

Diana just stared at the woman without saying anything, slowly backing away with the basket of freshly dried blankets in hand.

"You don't need to do that lady Esadora."

Countess Alice spoke up, hiding her mean smile behind the fan she was holding to her face.

The other ladies just chuckled in response as if Diana was not worth the effort of greeting.

Esadora looked at lady Alice.

"But she is our queen."

"Have you not been taught etiquette Lady Alice?"

A red blush of embarrassment covered Alice's face. She haphazardly managed to bow and mutter a greeting to Diana, followed by all other ladies behind Esadora, not exactly because they wanted to pay their respects to the queen but to not lose favour of Lady Esadora.

The other ladies stood straight after their fake show of respect but lady Esadora glared at them.

"The queen didn't give permission to raise your heads yet."

She said and looked at Diana, who was visibly baffled. Since when did people require her permission to look at her? This was something she wasn't used to, wasn't felt in a long time.

The other ladies quickly held down their heads again, sweating bullets.

Esadora looked into Diana's eyes as if she was carefully analysis her. Her gaze felt so unbeknownst to Diana, she was only used to scrutinizing gazes here.

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"Y-you may raise....your heads."

Diana Muttered out, holding her basket close to her chest. She didn't speak words a queen speaks here in Itredour ever since she came.

The gazes of these women felt suffocating on her timid soul.

She turned around and started to walk away.

What was that? She thought to herself. One doesn't usually get lost and end up all the way over to the abandoned villa where Diana lived plus Esadora didn't look like she was bad with directions at all.

And don't even think about her thoughts on how she was the first one to bow to Diana out of etiquette and respect.

There wasn't a ounce of hate in Esadora's gaze. It almost seemed like she felt Diana was no competition for the affection of the king.

Not that Diana wanted his affection anyways.

In a few days Esadora was the imperial image of love, beauty, any good word one can utter about a woman was said about Esadora.

The word of mouth was that king Greis found true love in Esadora after being forced to marry the gloomy princess after war.

She lived in the palace meant for the Queen, she had the support of nobility, she hosted balls, tea parties and masquerade balls in the single year she became a concubine.

Diana was never the part of these luxurious gatherings.

She could hear muffled music from the gardens which reach her desolate villa, the light from the garden lamps from night parties.

The world seems so fine without her.

What does it matter if she's the queen or not. Nobody wants her, nobody needs, she was a nuisance

Such an important title to be wasted on someone like me. she thought.

She was too hallowed out to even hate her tormenter, the one who stole all the love. She was just numb.

A Husk.

A day later Diana was in her unkempt garden with overgrown shrubs and weeds everywhere, not a single valuable flower in sight. The broken fountain without a drop of water.

There is no life in the abandoned villa behind the palace where Diana lives.

She heard rustling. Bunnies? Diana thought.

She went towards the broken fountain, looking down at the ground to spot any rabbits. But she saw...a green fabric from a dress? She raised her head to see the person who the dress was donned on by.

Esadora.

Diana's eyes widened. What is she doing here???. She took a step back almost instinctively, gulping as if she's expecting verbal abuse from her and preparing for it.

Esadora quickly gets up and bows gracefully as always, her crimson hair draping on her shoulders elegantly.

"Your majesty, good evening."

She greeted. Her voice sounding a bit worn off since the last greeting she gave Diana.

Your majesty. The words Diana is still not used to being called.

"G-good evening, Lady Esadora."

Diana managed to mutter out still wondering why is the most treasured woman in the kingdom is doing in her grungy garden. But she didn't dare ask. Diana's natural instinct was to be guarded up.

Esadora looked at Diana.

"I'm sorry for invading your private space, your majesty."

"I just needed to get a ... quiet moment for myself."

She explained to diana as if wanting her understanding.

"Oh".

Diana simply said. She didn't yet realise Esadora was explaining herself for not wanting to look bad infront of diana. Diana was so used to being trampled afterall.

"I'm sorry. I'll leave now."

Diana said and turned back to leave.

Not wanting to disturb Esadora's quiet moment to herself.

"Wait-"

Esadora quickly said as she took a step further towards Diana.

"Why haven't you replied to any of my invitations?"

Esadora asked.

Diana stood there for a moment, baffled for a moment. What did she just say? . Never in her life Diana imagined after coming to this kingdom that she'd be remembered enough to be sent those.

Was this to mock her? But Esadora's tone sounded genuine.

"You sent me invitations?"