The scene unfolding before my eyes was nothing short of disastrous.
Could I have predicted this morning that the resting place that Myra-sama had given to me as her private room in the Queen’s Palace, and that I had spent so many years building to make it comfortable for her, would be reduced to a horrific state?
「……What happened here…」
Scattered clothes and a few pieces of jewelry, favorite books and tapestries are scattered on the floor and are a shadow of their former selves. The contents of the luxury cosmetics, which were just given to me and I have only just begun to use, are in tatters. It’s clear that they’re no longer available. I am astonished at the situation.
「This is, not…」
As if speaking for my heart, someone said.
■■■■
Time goes back a bit.
We, the Queen’s Entourage, had finished our visit to the orphanage in an orderly fashion and returned to the Royal Palace in the evening.
While Myra-sama was relaxing at the Queen’s Palace for a while before dinner, I reported to His Majesty about the visit to the orphanage, and also quickly finished telling Douglas-sama about the Carrie matter.
I wondered if he had something on his mind. It’s a secret that I wished he always had such a serious face as I watched Douglas-sama struggling with his thoughts.
And now, I am on my way back to the Queen’s Palace.
「Lady-in-waiting! Marshallie Gracis-dono!」
I turned around when I heard my name called and couldn’t help but smile at the person who was ahead of me.
「Oh, the secretary…」
「Yes, that’s right. I’m glad you remember…!」
I smile and light bow to the secretary, who exhales with relief.
How could I forget this man? After all, he was the one who sided with me and condemned Raul in the public eye. He was the person who has played a leading role, if not a perfect role, in eliminating the bad reputation that I had been known to have. I can’t thank him enough.
「Of course. Thank you very much for your help on that occasion. You even sent me your sympathy… Thank you very much for your concern.」
Yes, this benefactor went out of his way to send me a bouquet of flowers when I was lying in bed with an injury. I don’t even know him, he’s just a clerk and I’m a suspect. What a good person!!
「No. It would have been better if I had the ability to prevent that outburst… I apologize for my inadequacy.」
「Not at all. There is no need for the secretary to feel that way. I am truly and sincerely grateful. Please accept my sincere gratitude.」
No one would think that in Brace’s position as a knight, he would violate a woman, even if she is a suspect. Not only the secretary, but even Raul, the knight captain, couldn’t move, so I don’t think there’s anything to be so worried about. Ah, but he’s a good person, so I guess I do care.
「You’re very kind, Ma'am.」
No, no, you are definitely the kind one!
「Please call me Marsha.」
I told him so with a smirk on my face.
「Oops, my apologies. I’m Noah Regtart. Noah will do.」
He took my hand and dropped a kiss on it. It wasn’t like he was doing anything strange to me, but I wondered if this was the result of not being treated like a woman for so many years.
「Thank you very much for your kindness. Now, if you don’t mind my saying so, I will call you Noah-sama.」
I wear the mask of a lady who is accustomed to treating women without showing the slightest sign of such upset.
「Is Marsha-dono on her way back to the Queen’s Palace now? If you don’t mind, may I have the honor of sending you there?」
「Well, of course. I am very happy.」
I think my mask is a moderate one. For someone who is not used to using it, I think it functions well.
The smiling response seemed to be the right one, and Noah-sama smiled with satisfaction. He then moved to stand next to me and began to walk, which came very naturally.
「I have a question…」
「Well, please ask anything you like.」
Is that it, or is it about the matter that was heard? Or is it about Raul? Ah, he’s a gentle man, so maybe it was my injuries. Anyway, I’ll answer as many questions as I can. Of course, it is within the bounds of common sense, but since you are my benefactor, I will make a little concession!
What was thrown at my cheerful reply was unexpected.
「I know it’s impolite, but that’s what I was wondering.」
He pointed to a ring on the ring finger of my left hand, the opposite hand from the one he had just kissed down. It is a ring made of white clover. The sender, as you can imagine, is little gentleman Liam-kun. It’s the one I have been wearing to show off to Douglas-sama all the way down to the water when he sees an opening to keep it from shriveling up until now.
「You mean this? Fufufu, it’s a gift from a lovely person.」
Needless to say, when Liam-kun presented me with the flower ring, it was the most wonderful and melting experience.
「…urk… ehem. That’s quite a meaningful place…」
「It’s the ring finger of my left hand, isn’t it, fufu.」
When I say a ring to be fitted there, the one that comes to everyone’s mind would be a wedding ring. But why are you at a loss for words, Noah-sama? I wondered inwardly if I looked that weird, and proceeded with the conversation.
「You received a very touching proposal.」
From Liam-kun!! Kyah, he’s too lovely～!!!
「……… Don’t tell me, but… is it from that man…?」
「That man…?」
Who is that man? I racked my brain to think of any other man who might have proposed to me, but I couldn’t think of anyone. Even though I am on the verge of breaking up with my fiancé, there is no way that I would ask him to propose. Then, there is only one person I can think of.
「Ahh! You mean about Raul? No, it’s not from him, okay!?」
The mask of a lady came off unintentionally because of so much, so I hurriedly put it back on and made my case.
「I don’t like him, Noah-sama. Please don’t startle me. How can that be? That man proposing to me? That’s impossible! This flower ring is a gift from the little gentleman who I visited the orphanage to comfort the orphans.」
When I refer to Raul as that man, I’m not wearing a mask. But you get my point.
In other words, it is part of a child’s play and not a serious courtship. In my opinion, I don’t mind if they are serious, but there is indeed no 17 year age difference. If a man is older than me, there is nothing wrong with that, but if I am older than him, well… If not, the age difference is as big as a parent and child.
「No, no, Excuse me for this. As I said, I didn’t think it was there either, but it made too much sense and I couldn’t control my curiosity… my apologies.」
「Please don’t apologize. I’m too happy about the gift from a child, and the fact that you couldn’t take off the ring is what made me misunderstand you.」
To be precise, it wasn’t that I couldn’t remove it, but that I had to re-fit it.
