CH 11

Did he say Prince Risel?

I couldn’t believe my ears when McClain-sama said that.

Why is the prince now on the land owned by such a knight?

(Ah, but if you look closely, he looks like King Gray.)

In particular, his blue eyes, the symbol of royalty, were lit with a shimmering light like sapphires.

His long, slightly reddish hair was tied into a single bun. His hair color seemed to be similar to his mother’s.

“Alberto. Sorry for the sudden visit. Could you hide me?”

The hand holding the hat was squeezed tightly.

When I saw the confused blue eyes appealing to me, I saw how a mother would see her child.

A desire to protect him grew in me as well. ……!

“………… Please come this way. Lady Edigma, can you get me a cup of tea?”

After a loud sigh, McClain-sama escorted Prince Risel to his office.

I hastened my feet to prepare the tea as I was told.

I poured tea into a cup while deftly preparing the pot and tea leaves I had fetched.

I told the butler, “This is for McClain-sama’s guest,” He even prepared cookies for me.

I didn’t tell them who the guest was, but it seemed that the butler in the waiting room knew who it was.

In other words, Prince Risel is a regular visitor.

“You must be the new maid.”

Prince Risel approached me.

I hurriedly corrected my posture and bowed deeply.

“My name is Marie Edigma. I apologize for the rude remark I made earlier.”

“No, I think that I was suspicious too. Nevertheless, you responded politely. Thank you very much.”

I was a little …… surprised, no, astonished, by the civility of Prince Risel’s statement.

(You’re doing great.)

At the very least, he is far more decent than Prince Gray, with whom I had a relationship before I died.

He does not look down on others, regardless of his position, and makes a good impression simply by his attitude of not lacking in courtesy.

“So, what brought the prince here? Hadn’t the military commander repeatedly told you not to leave the castle?”

“That’s why; staying in such a crammed castle would be suffocating.”

He appeared irritated by the way he drank his tea in one gulp.

(It’s not unreasonable, given the number of maids vying to be his fiancée…)

It’s like saying, ‘Go get eaten by hyenas.’

“If that’s the case, why don’t you just decide on a fiancée?”

McClain-sama pointed out without taking his eyes off the papers on the desk in his office.

“I don’t want lord McClain, who is still single, to tell me.”

The prince bit into a cookie and placed it in his mouth.

“Would you like one as well?”

He took another cookie and offered it to me, but I declined politely.

“I’m sorry.”

“You’re so serious.”

He laughed innocently.

Oh, what a people-pleaser.

Queen Tia’s charm appears to have been well inherited.

I’m hoping it doesn’t take a wrong turn.

“It’s not that I haven’t thought about my fiancée,” he said. “It’s just that I don’t want to end up like my father and mother, so I want to think about it carefully.”

“I agree. I don’t want to waste more of the government’s money.”

I was astonished to hear McClain-sama speak out of turn against the prince and his parents, but it appeared to be a regular conversation, and they carried on without a problem.

“I agree; discussing the birth of a younger brother or sister now would only add to the confusion.”

“That is why we are taking strong measures to have the prince marry as soon as possible.”

What McClain-sama is referring to is probably the current fiasco over the appointment of the maids.

“Do you want me to make the same mistake as my father?”

From the attitude of Prince Risel, I realized that he knew that Queen Tia was a lady-in-waiting.

It also remained in Rosemary’s memory. 

The day Tia first appeared in front of Rosemary.

The mouth that bowed to me when I was Rosemary was smiling in a manner uncharacteristic of a lady-in-waiting.

There was contempt in her modest gaze.

When he realized the danger, King Gray had already fallen.

Would things have turned out differently if we had acted sooner?

What an interesting thought.

“I don’t want to be like my father.”

I don’t want to make my maid my favorite fiancée, as my father did. I think that’s what he was trying to say.

I also have some doubts about it. 

“Prince Risel, may I speak up with all due respect?”

It may be impolite, but I thought it would be in the prince’s best interest to advise him as a former party (former fiancée of King Gray), so I await his words.

I will shut my mouth if he does not permit me to speak.

The prince did not appear offended by my audacity but instead turned to look at me.

McClain-sama, on the other hand, appeared more surprised.

“I don’t mind.”

“Thank you.”

After expressing my gratitude, I looked at the prince again.

“When Prince Risel says that your father made a mistake, does he mean he had an intimate relationship with a woman in a lady-in-waiting’s position?”

I beg to differ.

If it was King Gray’s action, then it was a mistake.

“Or are you referring to being engaged to a woman but have befriended another?”

“…… Are you saying you’re different?” 

“Yes.”

King Gray, the mistake of her former fiance.

That is.

“I thought it was a mistake to act without considering the consequences of my actions, even though I was a member of the royal family.”

Rosemary had told him many times.

‘Prince Gray. Please reconsider. If you want to be with Lady Tia, listen to me.’

‘Shut up! You just want to tear Tia and me apart!’

‘No, I will do no such thing. I will not do that, so please listen to me.’

With one of his actions, the monarchy would be in disarray.

His father’s position would deteriorate, and Count Danzes, a conservative, would become more vocal.

In addition, the relationship with the neutralists would deteriorate. The engagement breakup would shake the balance that had been kept even, with the Marquis de Hubert now speaking out strongly.

If this is the case, it must be resolved amicably.

‘If I keep acting like this, my father will be furious. Please allow me to arrange for Count Danzes and my father to meet.’

‘Don’t be ridiculous! You can’t bring the Marquis de Hubert. He could take Tia down on the spot.’

‘Please, my prince. Please have mercy on house Hubert! ‘

If the regime is shaken, the consequences for the territories it controls will be severe.

Prince Gray evasively brushed Rosemary’s hand away and paced down the corridor.

‘Prince Gray! Please ……!’

Rosemary’s heartbreaking cry was not heard even after she died.

“I am sure that the wise Prince Risel will have no problem. For the sake of our people, please select a suitable fiancée.”

I smiled, believing he would not make the same mistake as King Gray.

I wanted to believe in Prince Risel, though it would be like entrusting a wish that I didn’t receive at the time of Rosemary.

“……………………”

The prince looked at me in a stupor.

“Um, Prince ……?”

Did I speak too rudely?

I began to feel uneasy because I did not receive any response.

Maybe I was being too intrusive after all.

“I said rude things. I’m sorry……”

“Lady Marie Edigma.”

I looked up in relief when I heard the prince’s voice.

The prince was looking at me with his bright red face.

His sapphire eyes sparkled disproportionately on his blushing face.

“That…Can I call you Marie?”

From his scorching gaze.

From the face that arouses the desire for protection.

Apparently, I made the wrong statement.