Chapter 188 You Should Care About Him
She had wanted to say "shameless," but Selyma recalled Friedel's disappointed look, hesitated for a moment, and held back.
Queen Mother Smith listened helplessly, then sat beside Selyma and gently wiped her tears with a handkerchief. "Anne is such a good girl. Yes, she was married before, but that wasn't her fault. The Titan family oppressed her. Her husband Holden earned military honors on the southern battlefield, then used those honors to pressure Rolf into letting him marry Candy. A husband like that - Anne really had no reason to stay."
"Besides, what's wrong with going to the battlefield? Friedel is on the battlefield too. She's brave, kind, and upright. Friedel told me that Anne defended against enemy invasion on the eastern battlefield and protected an entire town of residents. Later she even tracked and infiltrated into the mountains, destroying an enemy camp. I don't even know how to praise her enough. Why would you speak badly of her?"
Selyma opened her mouth somewhat at a loss. She wanted to find reasons to argue back, but thinking it over, everything said was right. After a long while, Selyma could only manage to say, "But she's just a woman. How can she do these things?"
"What about being a woman? Would you only be willing to praise this if a man had done it instead?"
Queen Mother Smith patted Selyma's hand lightly. "In the past, Father, Mother, and I spoiled you, indulging you until you didn't know how to restrain yourself. But Selyma, what men can do, women can do too. You shouldn't confine women to estates or ballrooms."
"Anne did what I once wanted to do. If I had done it, would you also say I was degrading myself?"
Selyma quickly grasped Queen Mother Smith's hand. "No, when you do things, you surely have your own reasons, but Anne... that Anne person, I just don't like her!"
"Sister, you don't even know - I went to Virlet Manor, and that Anne, one of her attendants actually dared to lay hands on me, and Anne was rude to me too, completely ignoring my demands. You have to punish them for me!"
"And Friedel." Selyma lowered her head grievously. "He said he must marry Anne, and if I don't accept it, if I don't like Anne, then I shouldn't visit him at his territory anymore. What kind of talk is that? How can he say such things to his mother? Isn't he breaking my heart?"
Queen Mother Smith sighed. She knew that in Friedel's heart, Selyma was his mother, but also a knot in his heart. Because of past events, mother and son had developed a rift that was difficult to repair.
"Next time you see Friedel, show some concern for his situation too."
Selyma pouted unhappily. "I did ask! I asked him what he planned to do with his military honors, what kind of woman he liked for a wife, where he planned to keep his rewards, and he wouldn't tell me any of it."
Queen Mother Smith shook her head. "You should be asking if he was seriously injured on the battlefield, how his wounds are healing now, if his body is uncomfortable anywhere, whether he's been taking care of himself all these years away."
Selyma muttered, "He's such a grown man, he can handle these things himself. Why bother asking?"
"And you're happy that Friedel doesn't want to talk to you?"
Queen Mother Smith looked at Selyma. Her sister didn't lack love for Friedel, she just hadn't found the right approach, which is why the mother-son relationship kept getting worse.
"Since you say Friedel is so grown up, why worry about his marriage? Since Friedel likes her, just agree to it and get along well with Anne. Don't bully her."
Selyma looked at Queen Mother Smith in disbelief. Who was bullying whom here? Why was her sister always speaking up for others? This was so frustrating.
The two sisters sat together talking when an attendant rushed in to report that the King had arrived.
When Rolf entered and saw Selyma still wiping tears beside Queen Mother Smith, he frowned and had no intention of speaking to Selyma. "Mother, I have something to show you."
Queen Mother Smith understood Rolf's meaning and glanced at Selyma - their mother-son conversation wasn't suitable for her to hear. "Alright, stop crying. Go back and think carefully about what I said."
Even Selyma, slow as she was, knew Queen Mother Smith was asking her to leave. She snorted lightly. "Then I'll go first. Anyway, sister, remember what I said and help me talk to Friedel."
With that, she ignored Rolf and walked out.
Rolf knew Selyma's temperament and couldn't be bothered to argue. He took a letter from Conor beside him and handed it to Queen Mother Smith. She glanced at it and immediately frowned.
"Good thing I intercepted it. Otherwise, if this letter had actually been delivered to the Virlet family, who knows if Anne and Friedel's marriage could proceed smoothly."
Rolf sighed. The letter he gave Queen Mother Smith was the one Selyma had asked Karina to send to the Virlet family. Ever since Friedel returned saying Anne had accepted his proposal, Rolf had people monitor Atarat Manor. As expected, that domineering woman disagreed with the marriage and was trying every way to sabotage it.
The letter she sent was less an invitation for Anne to come to Atarat Manor and more insults and provocation. Even Rolf, reading it, felt his blood boil and wanted to punch Selyma, let alone Anne herself.
Queen Mother Smith was also furious. Though she knew Selyma didn't like to think things through, she never imagined she would openly provoke Anne in a letter, even using Duke Skoda's death and the Virlet family tragedy as ammunition. "I spoiled her. I'll find a way to talk to her again."
Rolf snorted lightly. He waved his hand, signaling Conor to take all the other attendants out, leaving only the royal mother and son. "Anyway, Friedel and Anne's marriage must proceed smoothly. If Selyma wants to come out and make trouble, I don't mind having someone lock her in Atarat Manor where she can't get out."
Queen Mother Smith, who would normally speak up for her sister, said nothing this time. Honestly, after reading that letter, she also felt that locking Selyma up might be the best option. Besides, the manor's environment was good, with enough attendants and guards, and Selyma's living conditions wouldn't suffer. Except for not being able to leave, it wouldn't be much different from usual.
"We'll see when the time comes."
Rolf knew that Queen Mother Smith's words were essentially consent. He chuckled and sat on the sofa nearby. "Then Friedel can get his wish after all."