If one were to ask whether the Queen was beautiful, the answer would be a resounding yes.
The woman standing in the center of the courtyard possessed silver-white hair that shimmered like a cluster of brilliant stars in the night sky, and eyes of an icy blue that evoked images of glaciers.
Her features were as flawless as if they had been carved by the hands of a god. Even the heavy, solemn royal gown she wore could not hide a devilish figure—one capable of driving other women to the brink of madness with envy.
While she possessed a frigid aura that seemed to push others thousands of miles away, her face was adorned with enchanting, wild ice-blue eyeshadow and lipstick.
Her presence was a study in polar opposites. These qualities seemed contradictory, yet they complemented each other perfectly, granting her an otherworldly charm and an overwhelming sense of presence.
No matter how one looked at her, the Queen was a cold and elegant beauty with a hint of seductive charm. She was a different kind of “ice beauty” compared to the calm, rational, and cold-blooded noble daughter, Artina.
The problem lay in the fact that both Artina and Edwina claimed she and Kane were very similar.
‘How exactly are we similar? Kane doesn’t have such obvious contradictions, does he?’
‘Wait, is this the “Tragic Prince” character of this parallel world? Why does it feel like a completely different person?’
Although the original character design was also “warm on the outside, cold on the inside,” he at least bothered to put on an act of courtesy and politeness.
How come the gender-swapped version didn’t bother to pretend at all? She looked entirely like someone who screamed, “Do not approach me.”
To be honest, seeing her aloof and arrogant appearance, Kane was afraid she might throw him into a dungeon and execute him as a fraud without a second word.
“…!”
Unfortunately, the three of them were quite conspicuous. Before Kane could even think about turning back, Corellia, who had been looking down at the flowers in the courtyard, discovered them. Her body visibly stiffened for a moment upon seeing him.
However, it was only a brief flash—so fast that one would miss it if they weren’t watching closely.
The Queen quickly regained her composure. She stared at Kane’s face with those cold eyes that seemed to have frozen all emotion.
“…Please, Master Kane.”
As a member of the court nobility, Artina first bowed toward Corellia in the courtyard. Then, she reached out her hand to invite Kane forward to meet the Queen.
Although there was a clear hierarchy in the room, Artina’s attitude toward Kane did not diminish just because Corellia was present. She still treated him with the deference one would show a monarch.
At this point, Kane had no choice but to prepare for the worst and continue following Artina. Princess Edwina followed closely behind him.
A moment later, the three of them stood before Corellia. Her gaze had not left Kane since they entered.
“…”
“…”
On the marble floor of the courtyard, Kane and Corellia stared at each other in silence.
Kane actually wanted to speak, but he truly didn’t know how to start. He could only continue to observe Corellia, who was supposed to be his counterpart.
Corellia was quite tall for a woman. Combined with her high heels, her height was very close to Kane’s.
Moreover, while he couldn’t see it from the side earlier, standing in front of her revealed that the inner layer of her white hair had a streak of ice-blue dye. It seemed Edwina truly admired and respected the Queen; otherwise, there would be no need to mimic her makeup so closely.
While Kane was observing Corellia, the Ice Queen was also unreservedly staring at his face with those emotionless, frigid eyes, as if she were trying to pierce right through him.
“…What? Do you have nothing to say to the version of yourself that took a different path?”
After a brief silence, it was the Queen who spoke first. Her words were filled with a bone-chilling coldness. No matter how melodious her voice was, the frost contained within it could not be hidden.
“…My apologies. I simply didn’t know how to begin. I’ve already heard about you from Artina and the others, but even so, you are more like a ruler than I imagined. Perhaps you are even more majestic than the late King, much like the founding monarch of Leonas.”
For some reason, even though the Queen gave off a terrifying vibe, Kane gradually calmed down. The shock he felt when he first saw her had vanished.
Instead, a polite but distant smile naturally appeared on his face.
“…You should save those words. Self-flattery is nothing to be proud of. I wouldn’t want my friend and daughter to think I am a narcissist.”
Others might not have known, but Corellia was well aware that the man before her was merely being polite.
She didn’t feel the slightest bit of pleasure or annoyance because of it. Maintaining her icy, kingdom-toppling beauty, she flatly let Kane know her stance.
As she finished, she glanced at Artina and Edwina, who stood behind Kane.
Under the Queen’s gaze, Artina stood her ground with a solemn expression, acting like a guard for the two of them, completely unaffected.
Edwina, however, clearly looked away. She lowered her head guiltily, as if she didn’t dare look her adoptive mother in the eye.
Even if she didn’t actually think Corellia was a narcissist, under the powerful pressure of the Queen, she always felt like she couldn’t hold her head up or meet her mother’s gaze.
Kane observed the reactions of both women, gaining a deeper understanding of their personalities.
“…So, who exactly are you? Although I feel as if I am looking into a mirror, I am certain that you and I are not entirely the same. State your name, stranger. Depending on your answer, I may have to erase your existence right here.”
Corellia had no intention of scolding or comforting her daughter. she simply withdrew her cold gaze and looked back at Kane, questioning his identity with a majestic voice that allowed for no doubt.
That look in her eyes was no joke. If Kane were truly an impostor, she would definitely execute him on the spot.
However, the issue was that Kane really was the “Tragic Prince.” There was no reason for him to yield to the Queen’s intimidation.
Therefore, he dropped his polite and artificial smile, meeting the Queen’s frost-covered gaze directly.
“…Kane K. Leonas, Prince of Leonas from another world. The eldest son of His Majesty King Delta K. Leonas IV.”
Kane stated his identity with dignity. He wasn’t a subordinate “answering” a query, but an equal performing an “introduction.”
He maintained a serious and solemn attitude in front of Corellia. No matter who saw him, they wouldn’t doubt he was telling the truth, even if his words sounded like a fantasy.
“…Is that so? I am Corellia K. Leonas, the Queen of the Kingdom of Leonas in this world. Welcome to my kingdom, the other me.”
Kane’s persuasive demeanor naturally convinced the Queen.
Corellia accepted the bizarre truth that the man before her was another version of herself. With a cold expression, she brushed her silver hair with its ice-blue streaks and opened her captivating blue lips, welcoming Kane to her world in a cold voice devoid of emotion.
At this point, Kane at least didn’t have to worry about his living situation.
Since Corellia, the Queen of the Kingdom, had acknowledged him, his basic quality of life was guaranteed.
As for why Kane could remain so calm in the face of such a detached and arrogant Queen?
Well, it was because no matter how aloof or dignified the Queen was, wasn’t she still just a character from a galgame?
So what if she was gender-swapped? Does a gender-swapped version not have eighteen-plus CGs?
Since she was bound to have a shy and weak side, there was no need to worry about her being a heartless person.
Kane, who was currently dazed by the Queen’s stunning face, had not yet realized one very important thing: in a galgame, a character being shy and weak is not mutually exclusive with them being cold and ruthless. They can absolutely coexist.
In the near future, Kane would experience this firsthand and regret his initial carelessness.