The Duchess, Mrs. Cesley, gave Alicia a proper answer right away and said, “She’s resting in peace. Queen, after you left for Chricton, Her Majesty retired from politics not long after. A few years ago, she moved to Burke Castle. Her Majesty thought the palace too… messy. So, it is as the king said. You need not worry too much about her, My Queen.”

“…It sounds like King Ivan drove her out.”

The Duchess stopped for a moment – Alicia too.

The Duchess, who looked around the age of forty, was a woman of mature and gentle beauty, but she did not look glum by any means. Her dark gray...