Volume 3 Chapter 9 Part 2 (1/2)
Volume 3 Chapter 9 Part 2
Translator: Kurehashi Aiko Editor: Queenie
Klanven’s expression was always so warm and gentle, so it was weird for him to suddenly show something other than that. His eyes opened wide when I touch the ring on my finger again and smile at him.
「I know that my case is different, that my experience is not the same as your mother’s when she was younger. The days I have spent with you as your caretaker and Edi as your bodyguard, I can’t say that I enjoyed them greatly, but at the same time I can’t say I disliked them either. Let me say that clearly right now.」
The days I have spent together with that man are the same. They’re comprised of only joyous things. There were times when I was sad and angry. After all, his character was not the easiest one to handle, fitted for outbursts of anger and awkwardness because of all the knowledge and wisdom he managed to accumulate throughout the years. Living together with such a man was not easy, having to suffer his humors and sarcastic remarks all the time, but also showed me just how helpless he would have been without me being there for him. Still, I wouldn’t trade those days for anything else in this world.
For a moment there, Klanven stares at me with a vague kind of expression. Then, his features warm up again and he smiles.
「…… I give up.」
He leans towards me with his usual smile back on.
「Your Highness?」
「It’s nothing. More importantly, could you pour me another cup of tea? With milk and honey, if you please.」
He passes me his cup and I pour the tea into it, adding milk and honey as requested. I put it back on the saucer and stir the mixture with a silver spoon. I then present it back to Klanven.
「By the way.」
「Yes?」
Klanven smiles at me while holding the cup in his hand. It wasn’t the bitter smile that he flashed me before, but his usual smile full of warmth and gentleness.
「Some people at the Temple were telling me that you weren’t fit to be my caretaker, and that I should just send you away.」
「!!!」
I was about to drop the teapot with hot tea still inside of it. Klanven looked at me curiously.
「Thankfully I managed to use my authority to shut their mouths and end the matter right there. But this was proposed to me not only because of the rumors about us having some sort of illicit relationship, but there were some other complaints as well.」
「Eh? Other complaints? That’s the first I’ve heard about it.」
I had no idea that the rumors were so widespread that they managed to reach Klanven. They must have spread like wildfire because the festival was drawing near…… Huh, no, wait just a second.
「…… Maybe the one who spread that rumor is the same person that tried to poison your food? And in light of your words just now, wouldn’t it be probable that the assailant is most likely a member of the priesthood? We never really considered such possibility.」
「Hee, I see. It is true that some of the priests out there are truly obsessed with status and material goods, and it’s not all that improbable that some of them would be annoyed by the fact that my caretaker is a young and beautiful woman. They would certainly want me to give up on you. And I do believe some of them may be adamant on making it happen that I send you away.」
Even though he said something like that, his expression was still as gentle as ever.
「Umm, Your Highness? I understand that the ones who try to kill you are probably the same ones that want you to send me away, but how does that even connect?」
「Also, we have no solid evidence to back us up, so not even your testimony alone is going to get us anywhere.」
「I-I see.」
Certainly, it’s just as Klanven says. My position is only but a caretaker, one of the many that there are. Klanven laughed gently, and I was frustrated that there was no kind of witty remark I could make here.
「Oh well, guess I’m too impatient to wait until the end of the festival to get this over with, so we might as well get this done.」
Klanven didn’t say anything anymore, just sipped on his tea. I also couldn’t say anything to that. The breakfast ended on such a silent note.
***
「Filmina, do you have a moment?」
「Well, if it isn’t the Princess. What are you doing here?」
While I was walking through the corridors of the Red Rose Court to prepare the meal for Klanven, I was approached by the Princess. Her long silver hair combed neatly, she appeared before me alone, without any of her usual escort following her.
I haven’t seen her much since I was appointed as Klanven’s caretaker, but I can see that in that time she’s become even prettier. Right now she was shining just like a precious jewel. The Princess extended her hand and closed it around mine and started walking somewhere.
「Princess?」
「I went to my Uncle’s place to meet you, but you weren’t there. Uncle gave me his permission to borrow you for a while, so could you please accompany me for a little bit?」
「Sure, I don’t mind, but……」
I really wanted to say that I can’t, because Klanven’s meal would be delayed by a considerable amount of time, but the Princess didn’t seem to care about it in the slightest as she just pulled me with her. So I had no choice but to follow her.
Then, after being dragged around by the Princess for quite some time, we arrived at a door leading into a certain room. There was nothing unusual about it, just your typical, normal door. The Princess opened the door and entered the room, and since she was still holding my hand, I entered the room as well.
The room was brightly lit and well decorated, but aside from that, it looked almost exactly like the room I was currently staying at.
「This may take us a while, so why don’t we sit here? Please, Filmina, have a seat over there.」
The Princess lets go of my hand and urges me to sit down on the nearby sofa.
「I really wanted to have this conversation with you sooner, but my responsibilities for the festival preparations kept me quite busy, you see. Sorry for taking you away so suddenly like that.」