RATHER THAN LOSING YOUR NATION AND BEING CHASED OUT AS A FALLEN QUEEN,
WOULDN'T IT BE BETTER TO BECOME THE EMPIRE'S EMPRESS?
THE EMPIRE'S EMPRESS, HUH?
THAT SOUNDS FAMILIAR.
WHETHER IT WAS HIS DEMAND THAT I REVEAL THE PALACE'S SECRET PASSAGES...
...OR HIS SUGGESTION THAT I SEDUCE WALTER AND WIN HIM OVER,
I WILL MAKE YOU THE EMPIRE'S EMPRESS.
THAT COVETED TITLE HAD ALWAYS COME AT THE EXPENSE OF MY COUNTRY.
I KNOW OF YOUR MAJESTY'S PAST.
I HEARD YOU FLED NORTH WITH YOUR MOTHER TO ESCAPE PERSECUTION FROM THE ROYAL FAMILY.
GIVEN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES,
I IMAGINE YOU FEEL LITTLE ATTACHMENT TO PHARNAS.
AND HISTORICALLY SPEAKING,
FEMALE RULERS WITH WEAK CLAIMS TO THE THRONE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TARGETS FOR REBELLION.
EVEN IF YOU MANAGE YOUR INTERNAL AFFAIRS WELL,
IF DAUPHINE DECLARES WAR,
YOUR KINGDOM'S COLLAPSE WILL ONLY BE A MATTER OF TIME.
YOU THINK I CAN'T STOP IT?
EVEN IF THE COMMANDER CAN HOLD DAUPHINE OFF,
I DOUBT HE CAN STOP THE EMPIRE.
HEARD EVERYTHING
AND SO, BACK TO MY ORIGINAL PROPOSAL, I--
WAIT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO TRY THIS. YOU MAY CONTINUE NOW.
CHAMPAGNE? I THOUGHT SHE SAID SHE DISLIKED ROMANTIC GESTURES.
I WISH TO UNITE THE CONTINENT WITH YOU, YOUR MAJESTY.
I HOPE YOU WILL ACCEPT MY PROPOSAL.
A PROPOSAL, HUH?
I HAVE NO INTEREST IN A LOVELESS MARRIAGE.
TRY BECOMING A LITTLE MORE CHARMING AND COME BACK ANOTHER TIME.
HER MAJESTY...
...ALWAYS MANAGES TO ACT IN WAYS I NEVER EXPECT.
WHAT AN IMPUDENT WOMAN.
I FIND MYSELF WONDERING IF I SHOULD SIMPLY SNAP THAT SLENDER NECK OF HERS...
BUT I'M CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT GIVES HER THE AUDACITY TO BEHAVE THIS WAY.
YOU DESIRE A LOVING MARRIAGE?
YOU'RE MORE OF A ROMANTIC THAN I EXPECTED.
LIFE IS SHORT. I CAN'T JUST KEEP ANYONE BY MY SIDE.
BUT IF YOU REJECT MY OFFER, YOU WILL REGRET IT.
WHEN TRYING TO WIN SOMEONE'S FAVOR UPON FIRST MEETING THEM, PRAISE ALONE IS RARELY ENOUGH.
BY ALL MEANS, DO AS YOU PLEASE.
YOU'LL SOON LEARN WHAT KIND OF STRENGTH PHARNAS TRULY POSSESSES.
YOUR MAJESTY, I STILL HAVE MORE TO--
WALTER!
I'VE GIVEN YOU MY ANSWER, PRINCE ALEJANDRO.
Episode 41
MY BODY REMEMBERS THE PAIN HE INFLICTED...
...BEFORE MY MIND DOES.
I'M SO ANNOYED.
I SPENT EVERY DAY WAITING FOR MY CHANCE AT REVENGE,
BUT THE MOMENT I STOOD BEFORE HIM, MY BODY FROZE.
I SHOULD'VE HIT BACK HARDER.
INSTEAD, I STUMBLED OVER MY WORDS AND STRUGGLED TO KEEP IT TOGETHER.
HAA...
WALTER, WOULD YOU UNTIE MY HAIR FOR ME?
IT'S BEEN PINNED UP ALL DAY, AND MY HEAD HURTS.
I'LL SUMMON AN ATTENDANT.
JUST DO IT YOURSELF, WALTER.
I THINK MY HAIR GOT CAUGHT IN ONE OF THE PINS. IT'S TOO TIGHT.
HAVE YOU CONSIDERED APPOINTING A PERSONAL ATTENDANT?
IF IT'S JUST FOR MY HAIR,
THE CHAMBERLAIN IS MORE THAN CAPABLE.
UPHET, THAT OLD MAN, DOES A SURPRISINGLY GOOD JOB BRAIDING HAIR.
ONE OF UPHET'S CREATIONS
UM...
DON'T YOU KNOW HOW OLD SIR UPHET IS?
I DO, BUT 67 ISN'T THAT OLD.
HE SAID IT REMINDS HIM OF BRAIDING HIS GRANDDAUGHTER'S HAIR, SO HE ENJOYS IT.
ABOUT WHAT THE CROWN PRINCE SAID EARLIER...
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
WILL IT BE POSSIBLE FOR US TO STOP BOTH DAUPHINE AND THE EMPIRE?
In Dawn of Vengeance Chapter 41, Prince Alejandro kicks off the central conflict by offering to make her Empress of the Empire instead of a fallen queen. Reminding him of the palace's secret passages and his suggestion to seduce Walter, the queen rejects the loveless marriage and trusts in the strength of Pharnas. Afterwards, she questions the freezing and anger she felt and talks with Walter.
