Julia, who broke such a significant marriage and became the crown princess, was a shiny trophy, not a perfect wife. This was because she had the honor of being the most favored child of God, but she didn’t have a powerful family to strengthen her husband.
Fortunately, Endimion’s father used to say that Semele is overwhelmingly strong, so it doesn’t matter if his daughter-in-law’s relatives were weak. He liked the quiet and innocent Julia and whenever he met a foreign king, he boasted of her until his mouth dried, saying that he had acquired the child God loves as his daughter-in-law.
The same was true of Miladi, who at the time had become the Crown Queen after the first Queen’s passing.
She had been an ordinary concubine, but became a Queen after giving birth to Endimion. And so, Julia was not condemned for being a princess from a powerless kingdom. She had no power to give onto the wings to the crown prince, but she wasn’t abused by the average mother-in-law.
Rather, Miladi embraced Julia, a seven-year-old who squirmed and stole short glances at her. She praised and scolded her refreshingly and raised her like her own daughter. Thanks to her, Julia now maintains her bright and innocent personality, and grew from a pretty, happy girl into a woman.
However, there was another reason for Julia, who grew up with no shortcomings, to be regarded as a trophy. It was an ambiguous situation.
This reason wasn’t her father-in-law, mother-in-law, nor her husband.
“Are you here Julia?”
“Yes, mother-in-law. How have you been?”
Julia laughed as she entered the beautiful Secret Garden of the Grand Duchess that is full of flowers.
Miladi, who was smelling the rose she had just picked, beckoned Julia and sat down at the table first. Julia nodded her head, and walked over gracefully and sat in the chair opposite to Miladi.
“As you can see, I’m doing well. I called you over to talk cause I’m bored living this well. I invited the almighty majesty too, but he said he couldn’t come because he’s busy. What a son! He doesn’t have a speck of cuteness.”
“Ahaha.”
Miladi teasingly laughed lightly in a soft voice. Julia lightly burst into laughter, aware of their nice in-law relationship.
Even while middle-aged, Julia’s mother-in-law was always pleasant. The two politely chattered about current events, while polished attendants dressed in stylish black uniforms brought out dishes and filled the table.
“Have a great time. My Queen, Your Majesty the Grand Duchess.”
“Come eat, I hired a new chef and he’s pretty good.”
“Yes, mother.”
Julia laughed without thinking and lifted a glass of water first. Then she saw Miladi tapping the buttocks of the young head butler who had greeted them, and almost spit out water.
“Cough!”
“Oh, are you okay, baby?”
The head butler, who had been smiling deeply as at Milladi, quickly brought a handkerchief in shock. Milladi took over and handed it to Julia, and sent him back. Then she looked at Julia wiping her lips as though it was fun, and asked,
“Why, are you surprised?”
“Oh, no. Just a little.”
“What do you mean ‘no’, your eyes are round like a rabbit!”
Milladi laughed and began to eat. Julia, whose pupils were shaking, followed suit.
“Hey, it’s because you don’t know, you’ll understand when you’re my age. I don’t have a husband and I have nothing to do. I would have remarried if I were a normal lady. But since I’m the former queen, I can’t remarry and I can’t travel. So I’ve got to have some fun in life like this. I am having quite an enjoyable time, picking out boys that match my taste and living with them like a flower garden.”
“Oh, this was your taste.”
Julia smiled awkwardly, hiding her shaky eyes.
No wonder, the young servants who were serving were all muscular. Their faces were fine, but their lines were well-defined and they boosted thick beards that shined as if they had applied butter.
Come to think of it, she heard that the competition was always fierce when the dutchess picked her servants. Many coveted the position for, if selected, they would receive plenty of adoration from the Grand Duchess.
There are a lot of volunteers and, since last year, it is said that beauty was also included in the selection criteria…