The Villainess is my fiance: But she is gentle towards me-Chapter 211 -: You are the most beautiful part in my life and also the most painful - of it.
The queen was wearing a blue dress, and her hair was loose as it fell over her waist. She gave Marinate a kind smile as she spoke.
"You studied with Charlotte, right?" she asked calmly.
She had heard about this girl before.
Marinate was the daughter of the emperor of the Arya Empire. At Akron Academy, she and Charlotte had shared a quiet rivalry.
Charlotte once told her about Marinate.
She said this girl would always try to stand in her way.
She even tried to take the position of student council president.
Even after losing the election, she continued to scheme against her.
Evelyn knew her daughter well. Charlotte was many things, but clever plotting was not one of them.
When it came to schemes, she was almost foolish.
Because of that, Evelyn had even advised Charlotte on how to deal with people like Marinate.
"Yes, I have," Marinate answered respectfully, smiling lightly.
Evelyn nodded and smiled back. "Did you meet Charlotte after graduation?" she asked.
Marinate shook her head. "No, I didn’t. I was busy with work related to foreign affairs, so I couldn’t meet anyone," she replied in a calm and respectful tone.
Evelyn nodded again. She looked at Marinate with a deeper gaze this time. Her smile remained, but her thoughts moved quietly.
’Is she still infatuated with him?’ the thought appeared in her mind.
Marinate noticed the silence but kept her posture straight.
Her hands rested calmly in front of her. Her expression did not change, but her eyes lowered slightly, as if she was careful not to reveal anything.
Evelyn observed this and said nothing more, but her interest only grew.
From what she remembered, just after Vivian got admission into the academy, Charlotte had returned to the royal palace.
She was very angry at that time. She said that someone had dared to look at what was rightfully hers.
When Evelyn asked what had happened, Charlotte explained that a girl was trying to take Vivian away from her.
At that time, Evelyn did not think much of it. Such things were common among teenagers.
So she simply advised Charlotte on how to win his heart and keep him close.
However, today, after seeing Marinate standing here, Evelyn suddenly remembered.
She was the same girl Charlotte had been angry about.
She remembered that after a few months since then, Charlotte stopped mentioning her name.
When Evelyn asked about it, Charlotte said nothing. There was only a strange look of pity in her eyes.
Charlotte was not good at scheming, and Evelyn knew that. She was also curious by nature.
So, under the excuse of giving advice, she slowly made Charlotte speak about what had really happened.
Charlotte told her that Vivian had rejected Marinate. No matter how much Marinate pleaded, he said he could not love anyone other than Charlotte.
As a mother, Evelyn felt relieved. Her future son-in-law loved her daughter deeply, and that gave her comfort.
But now, seeing Marinate with her own eyes, she could not help but feel a little pity.
Marinate was still in her prime, yet she dressed modestly. Evelyn had also heard that Marinate rejected every marriage proposal that came her way.
That made Evelyn’s gaze linger on her a little longer.
Some feelings, it seemed, never truly faded.
After a while, Evelyn gave a short nod.
"I see," she said, her voice soft but firm.
"Foreign affairs are a heavy burden for someone so young. You must be very capable to handle such work for the Arya Empire."
Marinate lowered her head slightly. "You are too kind, Your Majesty. I only wish to serve my father and my people properly."
Evelyn took a few steps closer. The blue silk of her dress brushed softly against the floor.
"And what about your personal life?" she asked. "Back at the academy, there were many rumors. Charlotte once mentioned a certain young man you were both... interested in."
Marinate’s smile did not disappear, but her fingers moved slightly before she stilled them.
She knew exactly who the Queen meant.
Back at Akron Academy, their rivalry had not truly been about the student council. It had always been about him.
"Is he the reason you have not married yet?" Evelyn asked directly.
Her tone was calm. There was no anger in it. She was simply testing the girl standing before her.
Marinate took a slow breath and met Evelyn’s gaze.
"Some feelings are hard to forget, Your Majesty," she said honestly.
"But as I mentioned before, my work keeps me busy. I no longer have time to hold on to old dreams."
Evelyn listened, but she did not believe her words completely.
In Marinate’s eyes, she saw a quiet stubbornness. It was the same stubborn look Charlotte had once described when she spoke of an "obstacle."
"Well," Evelyn said as she turned toward the window, looking outside, "some things are beyond our reach for a reason."
She paused for a moment before adding, "I hope your stay here will be peaceful, Marinate."
Marinate bowed her head slightly again.
"I hope so as well, Your Majesty."
But as she straightened, the silence between them felt heavier than before.
Evelyn gave Marinate one last look. She did feel some pity for the girl, but that was all. For her, her daughter’s happiness came before everything else.
Marinate was kind, and she loved that man with a stubborn heart, but it was not Evelyn’s concern. All she wanted was for her daughter to be happy with him.
She knew her words were sharp, and saying such things here might be rude.
Still, after seeing Marinate in person, Evelyn felt uneasy.
This girl’s feelings had grown too deep. It seemed impossible for her to choose anyone else over that man.
And what if, in the future, he became drawn to her?
Seeing Marinate’s devotion and quiet love, Evelyn knew it was not impossible. That was why she believed it was better to draw a clear line now.
"It is good to be devoted," Evelyn said softly. "But the world is much larger than a classroom. Some feelings are better erased than fought for."
She did not wait for an answer.
Evelyn turned away. Her long blue dress flowed behind her as she walked away.
Marinate was left standing alone, surrounded by silence.
She watched the Queen’s back as she walked away. A bitter smile slowly appeared on Marinate’s lips.
"You don’t need to worry, Your Majesty..." she muttered softly.
"I can never be Charlotte."
A sudden pain rose in her chest, and with it came the urge to cry.
Her face was smiling, but her heart was not. She understood clearly what the Queen wanted to say through that conversation.
Do not look at him.
Do not desire him.
More than anyone else, Marinate wished she could follow that wish.
After more than seven years of quiet suffering, she only wanted to forget him and begin a new life. Yet no matter how hard she tried, it felt impossible.
She did not know why, but whenever she closed her eyes, his face would appear. It made it hard for her to focus on anything else.
The nights were the worst.
When she lay down to sleep, thoughts of him filled her mind. And when she finally fell asleep, he followed her even into her dreams.
She dreamed that he had chosen her.
That he had proposed.
That they had married while they were young.
In her dreams, they had children who looked like both of them. They laughed, grew old together, and lived a quiet life side by side.
It was painful.
She did not know what to call these feelings anymore.
Was it a blessing, that she could feel such deep love?
Or was it a curse meant to follow her forever?
She did not know.
But if she could... even if she could have just a few days by his side... she felt she could face the rest of her life without regret.
Marinate let out another bitter smile as she slowly walked toward the main hall, where the nobles had already gathered.
Soon, the nobles who wished to speak with her began to gather.
One by one, they approached Marinate, offering polite words and forced smiles.
Before she realized it, she was surrounded by influential nobles from every side.
She responded calmly, her posture perfect, her smile gentle. To anyone watching, she looked composed and unshaken.
But inside her heart, the ache had not faded.
After a while, Count Harencross appeared on the highest platform in the hall. He raised his hands and clapped loudly.
The sound echoed through the hall.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he said, his voice clear and strong, "thank you all for attending this joyous event."
At his words, all conversations stopped. The nobles fell silent, turning their attention toward him.
Marinate also lifted her gaze to the platform. Her smile remained in place.
Yet deep within her heart, a single thought refused to leave.
’You are the most beautiful part in my life,’ she whispered, ’and also the most painful Chapter of it.’
