I Don’t Want to Be Loved (Web Novel)
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Chapter 167: The Worried Rihannan

After the Queen Mother had lost her position, power, and authority, most turned their backs on her, ignoring her name and existence. It was a natural occurrence when one thought about it. After all, who would pay attention to a royalty who had lost all her powers?

However, here was Rihannan—an outlier— who took care of her after returning from Arundell. She was not someone who would easily disregard the care someone gave her.

When someone is put in a difficult situation, one will only see the true value of a person who once had a relationship with the other party. Mrs. Cessley knew that Rihannan was the kind of person who saw the goodness in others.

“I’m sure the Queen Mother would be happy to receive a gift from you, My Queen. How about you make one for His Majesty too after you finish sewing that one? He’ll love it as well.” Mrs. Cessley smiled, sneakily asking a question in the heat of the moment.

Rihannan smiled awkwardly. “I wonder. I don’t think men would like presents like these in particular…”

She would leave once their contract ends, too. Was there a need to bother him with a present?

Mrs. Cessley started at Rihannan for a moment. Her lips parted after a second bout of thought suddenly popped into her mind.

“Actually, there was something Basil had told me in the past if I remember it well. He said that His Majesty has something inside the drawer of his work table in the study. He’d sometimes take it out and look at it solemnly when alone. Basil thinks the object is related to you, My Queen. Have you ever given him a present of some sort in the past?”

“No, I haven’t given him one that I can think of…”

“…Is that so? Then I wonder what it could be,” Mrs. Cessley tilted her in confusion, immediately changing the subject thereafter, “But it matters not. Anyways, you know that His Majesty’s in aching pain recently?”

Rihannan looked at Mrs. Cessley, eyes wide and surprised.

“Did he hurt himself? How? What kind of pain is he in?”

Seeing Rihannan’s worries expression, Mrs. Cessley gave a sly hidden smile.

“It’s nothing serious, but a bad case of cold. The big oaf Basil was worried sick because His Majesty kept working and working till he passed out. He ended up catching a cold.”

Rihannan quickly erased the surprised look on her face and lowered her eyes.

“…I’m sure he knows well to properly take care of his cold,” Rihannan said.

“Of course. He would,” Mrs. Cessley flapped her fan and smiled.

Rihannan had lost this battle of wits. Mrs. Cessley could figure out what she was thinking even after pretending nonchalance.

That night, she awoke in the middle of her sleep. Rihannan saw a faint light leaking through the gap of the door that led to the study room.

She looked up at the clock. It was 3 AM. Rihannan bit her lip, worried that he’d still be working at this time of the hour.

Rihannan stepped off the bed and put a shawl on top of her pajamas. She leaned her ear against the door, but it was futile. She couldn’t hear any sound.

Opening the door carefully to look inside, she saw Igor sleeping with his face lying on the table supported by his arms. Around him were numerous documents scattered around messily.

These days, Basil didn’t need to go around searching for him to sign documents that needed to be worked on. Igor had been busy telling him to bring work even when there was none.

Rihannan walked up to him quietly. His face that was visible below his hair looked haggard and worn.

Mrs. Cessley’s words of Igor in pain was true.

Rihannan worriedly put the back of her hand on his cheek. Noticing the high temperature radiating from his skin, Rihannan’s worries increased.

Igor was a sensitive person to touch that he’d wake up quickly from Rihannan’s touch, but he slept heavily.

She didn’t feel well seeing his weakness, more so than usual. Their happy memories over the past month came flooding back to her mind and all she wanted was to hug him…