Chapter 70 - Volume 3 (1/2)

It’s the early morning after the day I met Klanven and was appointed as his helper.

I get into the first carriage in the morning, heading to the royal palace where I part for a while with that man as I’m guided by a woman, said to be the head maidservant, to the room where I’ll spend my daily life for approximately a month from now on. We walk for a short time in the Red Rose Court where royalty live, a place that I normally could never have stepped foot into. Left and right are ordinary doors; caught in the middle of them, a door which is much more gorgeous than the others comes into sight.

The maidservant stops in front of one of the ordinary doors, unlocking it.

「It’s here. All the preparations are in place.」

「Thank you.」

「His Highness Klanven, who you will be looking after, will stay in the room beside yours. When His Highness calls you, the bell provided in your room will ring, so please be aware.」

「Yes. I understand.」

When I reply, the head maidservant bows once before leaving. Watching her go, I enter the room I’ve been given. With simple furniture arranged inside, it really is a room for servants.

‘I feel much more calm in this room than in a room that’s too extravagant.’ Thinking that, I walk to the window, forcefully opening the curtains. Surprised by the force, the birds outside fly away, chirping sweetly.

「…..The weather’s so nice.」

The sun shines tenderly, and the sky is filled with blue that spreads everywhere high up. But in contrast to the weather, my mental state is cloudy and dull. I manage to swallow down a sigh that’s about to slip out. Then, leaving the window, I look down at the maidservant clothes provided for me, neatly folded on the bed.

Right after yesterday, my duties as Klanven’s helper begin, even as I’m unable to prepare my heart properly. How can I be optimistic and smile at this?

This is something I chose by myself. I don’t have any right to complain after so long, that would be far too whimsical and selfish of me. But even so, I feel so depressed I can’t bear it.

「Will I be okay?」

I’m anxious in a lot of ways. But although it’s true that I was half-bullied into this, in the end I was the one who took on this duty. I can’t keep saying ‘I’m anxious, I’m anxious.’ I have to switch these feelings and carry out my duties right away.

‘Come on,’ I motivate myself, taking off the dress I’m wearing. Instead of that, I put on the maid clothes, a dress that just reaches my ankles in a subdued deep purple color. The size is perfect as if it’s been exactly measured. I put on the pure white apron, sitting down in front of the dresser furnished in the room. I undo my usual hairstyle, putting my hair completely in a bun, and then putting on a cap the same white as the apron – it’s complete.

「It’s like this, isn’t it.」

I stand up, checking myself from top to bottom in the full-body mirror kept in the corner of the room. Yep, if you just consider my appearance, I look like nothing but a maidservant.

‘It suits me more than I thought it would……’ Or, rather, does this actually suit me more than my usual dress? It’s rather tricky, I’m not sure if I should be delighted or upset.

I don’t want to say this but this maidservant dress is, to put it simply, a ‘classical maid outfit’ right from the start. I’ll repeat once more: It’s a maid outfit. And on top of that, a classical maid outfit. I didn’t think anything of it when I saw other people wearing it, but now that I’m wearing it myself, I can’t help but feel some extremely complicated feelings like ‘What the heck is this cosplay?’ No doubt that’s the 『past』 『me』’s feelings. I did say 『it suits me』 by myself, but now that I think about it, that’s more than just a little painful for me since I’m a complete old lady mentally, no matter my physical age……. No, I shouldn’t say any more.

Right now, there’s more important things.

「…….What do I do about these?」

I look down at both my hands and tilt my head, ‘hmm.’ On my right hand is the magical jewel bracelet. On my left hand’s ring finger is a very simple, thin silver ring with not a jewel or anything on it. Both of these were given to me by that man.

The bracelet is still fine. I can hide it under my sleeve; even if someone sees it, the blooming lotus flower in the magical jewel shows that this is an official item from the Black Lotus Court territory.

The problem is the ring. After the incident with the curse some months ago, he asked me 「Is there anything you want?」 so I requested matching rings for us. Recently, a sharp-sighted noble daughter friend of mine saw it; by the time I realized it, embarrassing rumors like 「If a married couple or a pair of lovers wear matching rings on their left ring fingers, their love will last for eternity」 had spread over the capital, and then the entire country. Judging from what I’ve heard, thanks to that the country’s precious metals stores are all smiles, making easy money. It unexpectedly played a role in improving the country’s economy, but for me, I just can’t get rid of these embarrassing feelings.

Well, certainly that rumor is the equivalent of wedding rings in the 『past』 world, so it’s certainly not wrong but – it’s still embarrassing. Every time I look at my ring or at that man’s ring, these extremely embarrassing feelings attack me. But I’d be lying if I said it didn’t make me happy.

Staring fixedly down at the ring, ‘hmm,’ I nod. At least this much ornaments should be allowed. It won’t turn into a problem since it’s just an ordinary silver ring that doesn’t even have any sort of magic unlike the bracelet. I can just remove it if it gets pointed out. ‘But I’ll keep it on until then.’ Deciding that, I lightly slap my cheeks with my hands as I get all fired up.

Well now, these are all my preparations. Now all that’s left is to wait for that man. He’s probably been given the room on the opposite side of Klanven’s, but he was taken away to another place when we arrived at the castle.

It seems he’s been taken to the Blue Iris Court, but I still feel like he’s late. It’s really unthinkable that he, a man, would take more time to get dressed than me, a woman. Just what is going on?

Bored, I aimlessly wander around the room. As I’m doing so, I find a lovely golden bell hung beside the shelves. So this is the bell the head maidservant was talking about. ‘I hope this doesn’t ring……’ I do pray for that, but it’s going to be a month at any rate so I can’t even say that. It’s no use even if I grumble and complain. It’s my opinion that you have to carry out your duties once you’ve taken them on.

It’s just a month at most. I have to work hard so I can happily take my bookmark back.

Nodding at my reflection in the bell, I grab the doorknob. If that man doesn’t come, then I’ll go meet him myself. There won’t be any problem if I go to meet him now since I heard I’ll be officially announced as Klanven’s helper and introduce myself to him again, when I’m together with that man.

Then I leave the room, starting to walk towards the Blue Iris Court where that man probably is. Leaving the Red Rose Court, I walk through the corridors connecting court to court. Perhaps it’s because it’s early in the morning, the castle is more deserted than usual, and there are barely any people walking. It’s silent as if everyone is still asleep. ‘It’s nice to see the palace like this once in a while too.’ As I think that, a shadow suddenly falls in front of me.

「……Um?」

Standing in front of me is an unfamiliar young man. I’m not in my regular dress now, but in maidservant clothes. There shouldn’t be any reason to stop me from walking like this. I blink in surprise, looking up at the man to see a broad smile on his above average face.

Well, 『above average』 might be an impolite way to put it. But since I’m used to people with unparalleled, outstanding beauty, with that man at the top of the list, my judgment is going to be harsh no matter what. So please forgive me.

「Do you need something?」

The young man deepens his smile at my question, peering into my face. His sense of personal space is rather small. Just what is going on? I’d like to get to the actual problem here. Seemingly having no idea of my thoughts, he starts chattering away.

「No, I just thought I hadn’t seen you before. Are you a newcomer?」

「Yes. I was just assigned today.」

「Oh, is that so? Just assigned today, you probably don’t know left from right in this place, do you? It’s still early, so why don’t I show you around the palace?」

「Huh? No, that’s…….」

I can’t hide my bewilderment at the unexpected words. Is this actually the so-called playboy? I feel like saying ‘No way.’ It’d be best not to hang out with this old lady past her prime. Is this young man so used to playing around like this?

This might be the effect of the maidservant uniform. The incredible maid outfit – this isn’t the time to be saying these things.

「I’m very sorry. I’m in a hurry.」

「Well, you don’t have to say that, huh?」

I bow and try to pass beside him, but his hand grabs my right wrist. I’m dumbfounded at that overly-familiar gesture. Even if I try to pull my hand away, he doesn’t let loosen his grip even slightly, still smiling.

Should I just stomp on his foot and escape? It’s just then when it happens, as I’m about to take my last resort. A white gloved hand grabs the wrist of the young man who’s grabbed my hand.

Neither me nor the young man can hide our surprise at the new person that appeared out of nowhere. Mouth agape, I look there to see a person step in between me and the young man, clad in knight clothes with a magnificent sword hung by his waist. The knights of the Blue Iris Court are the only ones who can wear those clothes, a vivid blue as the base color.