Capítulo 18: Chapter 018: Unconscious Psychological Changes
The scorching sun at Nightingale was so severe that it could burn the skin of anyone who was there. In contrast to the climate in Maurice, which is dominantly cold. Esther, who had lived in the Nightingale Kingdom for five years, still couldn't get used to the heat of the kingdom. She still can't adapt perfectly there.
For the past four years, Esther had lived a pretty decent life at Nightingale with Arthur. For the past four years, she has also tried to be patient with all kinds of obstacles and problems that arise in her life. Insults, insults, violence, all of that has been felt by Esther while she was there.
Honestly, she had no problem experiencing it. For him, the most important thing is that she can raise Arthur properly so that she can complete the heavy responsibility that the former queen left on him. She didn't care about himself at all anymore, all she could think about was the obligation she had to do to Arthur.
Because she was used to such arbitrary treatment, Esther, who was also still in her previous growth period, began to experience psychological changes. Her attitude had changed a lot and was different from her attitude four years ago. Even if there were people from Maurice who had known her since childhood, they would absolutely not recognize the current Esther.
The woman was deeply immersed in her role as Beatrice. Her personality as Esther had long since disappeared from her. Courage, confidence, and enthusiasm, all of that has disappeared from him.
Even when Averia grabbed her hair, Esther just kept quiet and didn't fight back. Different from before. Maybe if she had been grabbed like that before, she would have immediately fought back. This made Averia a queen and the other concubines like to oppress and trample on Esther's pride, especially when in public. Esther's psyche had been completely destroyed while there.
As usual, Anne and Helena took turns trying to persuade Esther to return to the Empire. Of course, the persuasion was immediately met with a subtle refusal by Esther. Both Helena and Anne could no longer see their beloved master, who they even considered as their own family, being treated like that.
Esther's drastic change in nature made them completely unaccustomed. Esther, who used to have a brave and spirited soul, rude, childish, likes to criticize people, has turned into a gentle, mature, and timid mother figure. You could even say that her attitude is too mature and very inversely proportional to her age.
Even so, Esther could be said to have taken care of and raised Arthur very, very well. Even her upbringing is very far from the education of the queen and other concubines who are older than him. Under Esther's upbringing, Arthur had now grown into a handsome ten-year-old boy who was very healthy, handsome, and intelligent. His intelligence and etiquette have made the nobles very amazed and can't wait to wait for the Nightingale Kingdom in his reign.
The boy was also very devoted to Esther. He really loved Esther. Other people who saw her might only think of herself as loving Esther as a precious mother figure who had replaced her biological mother to raise her. Yet in his heart, Arthur loved Esther not at all for that reason. You could even say that Arthur didn't love Esther but LOVED her.
Of course, for the sake of mutual comfort, Arthur hid his feelings which could be considered forbidden. Loving someone who was his father's concubine was wrong. He was also very knowledgeable about it. However, he could never erase that feeling from his heart. Maybe he will continue to hide those feelings forever.
All he wanted now was to live happily ever after in peace and quiet with Esther. He didn't want to see Esther tortured like that again. Seeing the helpless Esther while being tortured by the queen and the other concubines. Unfortunately, the goddess of luck didn't want to side with him right now.
On a hot sunny day in a calm atmosphere at Marigold Palace, which incidentally was Esther's official palace when she first set foot in Nightingale Palace, suddenly the soldiers of the palace knights surrounded her. Several royal knights entered the Marigold palace with Queen Averia.
The knights impudently restrained Anne, Helena, and Esther. Then several other knights began to search for the contents of Marigold's palace.
"What are you doing in my palace, Her Majesty the Queen?" Esther asked.
Queen Averia smiled slyly. "I heard from my maid that she saw one of your maids steal one of my favorite jewels. That's why I'm here to take it back."
"But my maid didn't take any of your belongings, Her Majesty the Queen," Esther defended.
"We'll see each other later. If my belongings are found here, I will punish your two maids to the fullest," said the Queen.
Moments later, a maid of the queen found a gold jewellery hidden under Anne's bed. Esther was very surprised to see this. Because she knew very well that there was no way Anne could do that. Anne is not the type of person who is greedy to steal other people's property. After all, Anne's possessions and jewelery while at Maurice could be said to be more than that of Queen Averia.
"Drag the two maids out. I will punish them myself," ordered Queen Averia.
Esther immediately tried to escape from the knights who were holding her back and ran towards the queen. She fell to her knees and began to plead with Averia.
"Your Majesty the Queen, please don't punish my two servants. They are both like my own family. After all, they didn't steal your jewelry at all. I was the one who ordered them to do this," said Esther, who admitted that she had never she did to protect Anne and Helena.
Queen Averia smiled in satisfaction. He managed to lure Esher. "All right, then. Guards, take Beatrice out!"
Anne and Helena kept begging Queen Averia not to punish Esther. Of course the request was completely ignored by the queen.
Esther was brought to the front of the king's palace. There the queen began to whip Esther's legs hard. In just a few lashes Esther's legs turned red. Everyone started to gather and look at that. They thought it was a fun thing to watch.
Under the scorching heat of the sun, Esther was continuously whipped vigorously by Averia, causing her weak body to faint and fall on the ground. Seeing this, instead of making Averia feel sorry for and stopping the lashing, she instead threw a bucket of water on Esther who was lying unconscious.
Esther immediately woke up when she was splashed like that. Now all of her gown were soaking wet, causing the wound from the whipping just now to sting. When Queen Averia was about to whip Esther again, the Queen Mother and Prince Arthur came together and approached them.
"What are you doing now Averia?" said the queen mother.
Averia's face turned pale. "I'm just punishing Concubine Beatrice for stealing my jewellery."
"Aren't you overreacting? After all, you have a lot of jewelry. As a queen, you should have a big heart. Never mind, stop your actions," said the queen mother firmly.
Queen Averia bowed half of her body to the queen mother and immediately left the place. The people who had been watching also immediately left from there. Seeing that the people had left, the Queen Mother and Prince Arthur immediately helped Esther to get up.
About three years ago Esther met the queen mother. The Queen Mother loved Esther as much as her own child. The woman also knew Esther's true identity. Therefore, she always protects Esther because she himself knows that Lucius II, his biological son will never be able to protect Esther.
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