Chapter 10
The smallest greenhouse in the Euphorian Palace.
The voluptuously blooming pink roses resembled their owner.
It seemed as if, from somewhere in the flowerbed, she would lift her head at any moment and flash a radiant smile.
“Vivian, what brings you here?”
Instead, Vivian was greeted by a man with a face identical to hers, like a mirror image.
Tritan Lumodeau Euphorian.
He was the King of the Kingdom of Euphorian and Vivian’s twin brother.
His black attire, clashing with the greenhouse.
His gloomy expression, matching the weather, even reminded her of mourning clothes, dampening Vivian’s mood.
“Tritan, what are *you* doing here, looking so pathetic?”
“None of your business.”
It was laughable. To hear a reply fit for a teenage boy coming from the mouth of a king.
Well, then she should respond in kind. Like a proper twin.
“Why don’t you just pluck all the roses and decorate the castle walls with them? So all the people will know that His Noble Majesty the King is mourning the insolent traitor.”
“Vivian, have you said quite enou—”
“Ah, my mistake. You probably hung them on the walls and then threw them into the fields as food for the beasts, so should you follow the animals’ rear ends? Or perhaps look for the flock of crows?”
Was she raising vipers in her mouth? At her sharp words, Tritan’s face reddened.
Among Edwin’s three children, Vivian had always been particularly sharp-tongued. So much so that since childhood, no one could match her in a war of words.
Tritan would fight back without backing down, but Lacey, as the eldest daughter who was taught to set an example, ended up being the punching bag.
To receive such discourtesy even after death.
“Must you speak that way on our sister’s birthday?”
“Get a grip. Stop protecting the very enemy who killed Father, even now.”
“Do you truly believe our sister killed Father?”
“She was caught red-handed; what does my opinion matter? Denying reality should have its limits!”
Vivian was sick of these arguments.
How long did they plan to cling to the dead?
“And have you no pride? Even though relations with the Jernenhaft Empire have soured because of that traitor, you still intend to protect her?”
“If you’re so concerned about diplomacy, then focus on your bridal lessons. Like a proper Princess of Euphorian. That is an order from your King.”
“Wha……?”
Vivian was left speechless, her eyes wide.
To think he had to rely on the power of his authority to silence Vivian for the first time. How pathetic.
But Tritan couldn’t bear the insult to his deceased sister. Especially not the cold words from family.
“Just state your business.”
He caught a glimpse of her hand, clenched tightly, matching the color of her blue dress, but Tritan looked away.
“……I have a matter requiring His Majesty the King’s approval.”
“The new state seal will be ready in a few days. We’ll talk then.”
With those words, Tritan turned away. The moment he left the greenhouse, rain poured from the sky. Like forcibly held-back tears, it was warm and lukewarm.
“On days like these, our sister always used to suffer from a fever…….”
My sister, who would groan in pain but only ever showed me a smile.
At least she won’t have to force herself and overexert herself anymore.
* * *
I suffered from a fever for three straight days.
It was caused by the grueling labor, followed by the story I heard from Blake.
“Uhm, Princess Lacey’s body was hung on the castle walls.”
And in my dream, I was hung on the castle walls and pecked by crows’ beaks. Even though I knew it was a dream, it hurt so much.
If I was going to have such a dream anyway, I wish Tritan’s face had appeared in it too.
“Prince Tritan… no, the King was composed beyond his years. Frankly, it was unexpected.”
*I* was the one who was unexpected. I thought he’d be flustered, having suddenly inherited the throne.
It seems the heir lessons he diligently received since childhood paid off.
“Sister, just wait a little. I will definitely get you out of that tower.”
For Tritan’s sake, if nothing else, I must clear my name.
And then…….
“I’m going to live a new life.”
At someone’s declaration, I found myself wringing out the laundry as if it were a dry rag.
“Damn this laundry room, I’ll show you and get out of here!”
The sound of beating a soap-soaked blanket with a laundry bat brought me sharply back to my senses. Gradually, the surrounding conversations began to reach my ears.
“You think the Head Maid will send you somewhere other than the laundry room?”
“Right? Why’d you have to cause trouble and end up here?”
“……Thanks for bringing me back to reality, you annoyances.”
Even though they cackled and chattered, no one pointed it out. Because it was Louis’s group, effectively the bosses of the laundry room.
Even if their mouths were busy, their hands monstrously sped through the laundry, so one could only encourage them.
“Cheer up. It’s payday; are you just going to sit around with a long face?”
Thinking about it, Sonia had been excited since morning too.
She said once she got her pay, she’d go down to the village to shop.
Speaking of which, pay…….
Would it contribute even a little to my travel funds?
Compared to the Euphorian Royal Family’s maid salary, it was something I didn’t dare hope for.
Still, I felt a little anticipation.
Was it because it was the first money I’d ever earned with my own hands?
The laundry room finished work a little earlier than usual. The sight of the servants lined up in front of the Head Maid’s office was spectacular.
I waited for my turn, watching people receive their vouchers for daily necessities and the pay envelope before leaving.
But then.
“Is there no salary?”
The Head Maid shook her head. In the ledger, under the salary column, it was marked ‘None.’
Even if I signed a lifetime contract, how could there be no salary?
“You, perhaps you were brought here because you owe a debt to the Family Head?”
“Debt……?”
“Yes, something like a debt for sparing your life.”
What in the world is this all about?
“Otherwise, why would they bring a foreigner like you with no outstanding skills? Or is your contract special? What were the contract terms?”
“That is…….”
If I knew that, I wouldn’t have had to ask to see the lifetime contract!
“I, I can’t say. There’s a non-disclosure clause.”
My eyes darted around as I lied. For all I knew, it might actually be in the contract.
“I see. Are you finished here? You may leave now.”
The Head Maid pushed me out the door with a suspicious look.
Slam!
Chasing someone out like they were a peddler……
“……Bear with it. Just bear it.”
The important thing now is to find a way to move.
Anyway, the method of becoming Ash Canis’s dance teacher is out of the question.
Even if I received my full pay, it would likely be an impossible amount to hire a guide and a mercenary guard.
“Then the only thing left……”
Is to rely on the Ta’Wera Merchant Group.
Of course, I know it’s a shameless request, but I’m in no position to be choosy.
I headed straight for the <Anarose> room in the west castle.
“Lacey, did something happen? Why didn’t you come the day before yesterday?”
Facing Blake, who greeted me like a big puppy, I found myself unable to speak.
“Haha, I was a little busy. Sorry for not contacting you.”
“No, no. Don’t apologize. You came like this anyway.”
To open the door wide without any suspicion… It felt like needles were stabbing my conscience, right in the pit of my stomach.
“Did you manage to fool the soldiers?”
“Of course.”
I held up the large laundry basket.
Three nights ago. Blake had kindly not only escorted me back to my quarters but also devised a plan for entering and leaving the west castle.
We agreed to lie, saying we had been instructed to collect the laundry in the evening.
Thanks to Blake giving the soldiers a heads-up beforehand, the operation was a success.
“Wow, what is all this?”
The living room was completely different from three days ago.
Instead of cluttered luggage, delicate landscape paintings were set up here and there.
“I’m expanding the business into the art field, so I’m collecting works.”
Most of the decorations in Canis Castle were statues or metal sculptures.
Seeing paintings that gave off the smell of paint felt refreshing after so long.
“Oh, really? That’s why it’s all such excellent paintings, I see.”
When I expressed delight, Blake rubbed the bridge of his nose with his finger.
“R, really? I don’t really know if they’re excellent or not. I heard the only way to develop an eye is to keep looking at them, so I took them out…….”
I recalled the days I spent frequenting salons with the Queen.
“Does Your Highness the Princess understand the elegant style of this painting?”
How hard I studied to avoid embarrassment.
Thinking about the nosebleed-inducing effort of those days, I feel like I might get anemia even now.
“You look listless.”
Before I knew it, Blake had bent down to my eye level.
“Your complexion is bad too. Are you hurt somewhere?”
His face showed genuine concern. I covered my stomach with my hand and spoke.
“Uhm, actually, I’m hungry.”
“What about dinner?”
“Were you not waiting for me, Mr. Blake? So I came straight here as soon as my work was done.”
That way, I could hear as much news about the Kingdom of Euphorian as possible.
“You came…… because I was waiting?”
Huh? Why are you covering your face?
I think I saw the tips of his ears, not fully covered, turning red.
Ah. Maybe I mis saw because of his hair color.
“Then let’s have dinner together.”
“Uhm, I appreciate the thought, but……”
I had brushed past a maid pushing a wagon with empty dishes out in the hallway. A maid who had come from Blake’s room.
This guy, he must have already eaten dinner.
“As you know, I’m a maid. I can’t share a table with a guest……”
“Wait a moment! I’ll go tell them outside!”
Blake ran out of the room without even hearing me out.
I followed him, but he was already nowhere to be seen in the corridor.
“Sigh, I don’t know anymore.”
I roughly set the laundry basket down on the floor and wandered around the living room. I figured I’d carefully appreciate the landscape paintings while waiting.
Then I noticed the bedroom. Through the slightly ajar door, a spacious bed stood imposingly.
I tried to close the door to protect Blake’s privacy, but…
“Huh?”
I noticed someone lying on the bed.
