Chapter 275: Episode 275.

Human Realm:

The afternoon was quiet.

Mabel sat near the window, with one leg crossed over the other, and a painting book resting on her lap.

She hadn’t turned a page in several minutes.

Her attention was elsewhere.

Outside, the garden stretched across the back of the estate. The flowers were beginning to bloom again, and the gardeners had spent most of the morning trimming the hedges and clearing the paths.

Mabel watched one of them bend to collect a fallen branch. Then she looked away.

She still could not understand why her father and Ashmere sent her here. Fitzgerald seems to have no plan of betrayal. Even if he does, what would it benefit him?

She had been so taken by the idea of becoming queen that she hadn’t paused to reflect.

Her fingers moved over the edge of the book.

Fitz had been away for most of the morning.

He had left shortly after breakfast, telling her he had matters to attend to. He hadn’t explained further, and Mabel hadn’t asked.

She had learned that asking too many questions could sometimes make a man suspicious.

It was better to let him believe she was comfortable with whatever he chose to tell her.

Besides, there were other ways to find things out.

A soft knock came at the door.

Mabel looked up. "Come in."

The door opened, and a maid stepped inside.

"Your guest, my lady."

Mabel’s brows lifted. "My guest?"

"Her Majesty, Queen Charlotte."

For a moment, Mabel said nothing. Then she closed the book. "Of course. Show her in."

The maid curtsied and stepped aside.

Mabel rose from her chair, smoothing the front of her dress. She adjusted a strand of hair near her cheek before turning toward the entrance, with her chin high in the air.

Queen Charlotte appeared a moment later.

She wore a pale blue dress, its waist sitting carefully beneath her growing stomach. Her hair had been arranged simply, with a few loose strands framing her face, and flowers woven into her slim braids.

She carried a small bouquet of flowers. Forget-me-nots.

Mabel recognised them immediately.

Charlotte smiled when she saw her. "Good afternoon, Mabel."

Mabel lowered her head politely. "Your Majesty."

"Oh, please." Charlotte gave a small laugh. "You don’t have to be so formal with me."

Mabel smiled. She straightened her head. "I wouldn’t want to be disrespectful."

Charlotte approached her. "You could never offend me by not being polite."

Mabel’s smile remained. "Then I shall try not to disappoint you."

Charlotte laughed softly. She held out the flowers. "I brought you something."

Mabel looked at the bouquet. "Flowers?"

"Forget-me-nots. I picked them from the garden this morning."

Mabel accepted them. They were small, delicate flowers, their blue petals gathered around tiny yellow centres.

She looked at them for a moment.

"These are beautiful." She lied through her teeth.

"I thought you might like them."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. That was very thoughtful of you."

Charlotte smiled. "I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I chose something simple."

Mabel brought the flowers closer. "They’re lovely."

"There’s a little patch of them near the old fountain. I found them growing beside the roses."

Mabel glanced at her. She blinked once, surprised. "You picked them yourself?"

"Yes."

Charlotte seemed pleased by the question.

"I had some free time, and the weather was pleasant. I thought it would be nice to spend a little time outside."

Mabel looked at the flowers again. "Then I appreciate them even more."

She walked toward a small table and placed the bouquet inside an empty glass vase.

Charlotte watched her. "You have a lovely room." She commented, looking around thoughtfully.

"Thank you."

"Does Fitz come here often?"

Mabel turned. "When he has the time."

Charlotte nodded. Her warm smile remained. "He’s been very busy lately."

"He has."

"Sometimes I wonder how he manages to keep up with everything in the country, and still spend time with the kids."

Mabel smiled faintly. "He’s very capable."

Charlotte laughed. "That he is."

She glanced around the room. "May I sit?"

"Of course."

Mabel gestured toward the sofa.

Charlotte lowered herself carefully.

Mabel waited until she was comfortable before taking the seat opposite her. "Would you like something to drink?"

"Water would be lovely."

Mabel turned toward the maid standing near the door. "Please bring Her Majesty some water."

The maid curtsied and left.

Charlotte looked at Mabel again. "How are you settling in?"

"Very well."

"Are you comfortable here?"

"Everyone has been kind."

"That’s good."

Charlotte adjusted a fold of her dress. "I was worried you might feel lonely."

Mabel tilted her head. "Why would you think that?"

"Well, Fitz is often occupied with his responsibilities. And being somewhere unfamiliar can be difficult."

Mabel smiled. "You’re very considerate."

Charlotte gave a small shrug. "I remember what it was like when I first came here."

Mabel watched her. "Was it difficult?"

"At first."

Charlotte looked toward the window. "I didn’t know anyone. Everything was new, and I wasn’t always sure where I belonged."

Mabel’s expression softened.

Charlotte smiled. "But I found my place eventually."

Mabel nodded.

The maid returned with a glass of water.

She placed it on the table before Charlotte and left quietly. Charlotte thanked her.

Mabel waited until the door closed. "May I ask you something?"

Charlotte looked at her. "Of course."

"Do you ever miss your family?"

Charlotte’s expression changed.

It was a small change, but Mabel noticed it.

"My family?"

"Yes." Mabel folded her hands in her lap. "I imagine being away from the people you grew up with must be difficult."

Charlotte smiled. "Sometimes."

She lifted the glass and took a small sip. "My family is not particularly large, but I miss the familiarity of home."

Mabel nodded sympathetically.

Charlotte looked at her."Do you have a large family, Mabel?"

Mabel’s fingers shifted slightly.

Most people were curious about her background here. It was natural. She had arrived with little explanation, and Fitz had offered even less.

But Charlotte wasn’t asking like someone investigating her. She seemed genuinely interested.

Mabel smiled. "I do have people."

Charlotte waited.

Mabel lowered her gaze briefly, qnd lied smoothly for her own intrest. "We aren’t particularly close anymore."

"Oh." Charlotte’s face softened. "I’m sorry."

Mabel shook her head. "It’s quite all right." She gave a small laugh. "Families can be complicated, can’t they?"

Charlotte leaned back.

"Sometimes we spend so much time trying to understand the people we love that we forget they are just as complicated as we are."

Mabel looked at her. "That’s true." She paused. "I suppose I learned to depend on myself quite early."

Charlotte’s expression became sympathetic. "That must have been difficult."

Mabel smiled. "It taught me a great deal."

She lowered her eyes. "I don’t think I would be the person I am today without those experiences."