「What did you say!?」
To summarize what I got out of the maid, she said it was a forced entry and that a knight was raiding my room. Not only me, but also Noah-sama and Raul look stunned.
The maid, who had just calmed down at the unintentional outburst, began to get upset again, but I hurriedly quieted her down and urged her to continue.
The maid and the knight of the Kingsguard said that although they called it a forced search, it wasn’t a formal procedure such as disclosing a notice, but rather they reached it when no one was around. The head maid noticed this and went to stop him, but she was unable to stop the knight who had entered the investigation and was told to call me.
「Who in what unit is conducting this coercive investigation?」
No, I think I know the answer without asking.
「About that…」
I could only think, “I knew it,” as the knight of the Kingsguard turned his awkward gaze on Raul. Raul’s disappointed expression made me wonder why he could make such a face.
「It must be a knight from the 4th Unit then.」
I ask as if to confirm. I thought he would answer that the knight of the Kingsguard was in charge, but he was also vague in his answer.
「It is… it is a knight, but…」
「Speak clearly!」
I’ll give the knight who is too slovenly a forceful tone.
「Yes, it was Darryl Brace!」
「Eh!?」
Darryl Brace, you mean, that violent man!?
「Darryl Brace… Isn’t he under house arrest, as I recall?」
「That is what I have been told, madam.」
Why is Darryl Brace, who is supposed to be under indefinite house arrest, in my private room at the Queen’s Palace? And even if it’s a genuine raid, it’s not a raid when the owner of the room is not present.
「…That can’t be…!」
Next to me, Raul also muttered quietly. He did not know about it either?
「…Hey, you didn’t mean to ambush me here to buy time for this, did you?」
No way, hey, you’re not that rotten, are you? I asked, but Raul shook his head as if it might come off. I still looked at Raul quizzically.
「It’s not my call. Trust me!」
「Trust you, who are you to say that…?」
The voice in my heart, which I had not intended to put into words, just leaked out. I was so glad to hear Noah-sama’s voice of agreement, as if he were talking to himself,「Good grief.」I answered in my mind this time.
「…urk, anyway, I don’t know. I never even heard of him doing this!」
Raul stared at Noah-sama, but denied any involvement. The way he addressed himself had changed from『I*』to『I**』and he was showing his true colors, but was that the extent of his dismay?
「Well, either way is fine…. Anyway, I’m going to my office. Sir Colden, please come with me.」
Either way, if Brace is involved, Raul needs to be there. He is Brace’s boss, so he needs to take the reins. I mean, if you had taken the reins of your men from the beginning, this would not have happened.
「Can I ask you to take me with you? I think my position could help you.」
I nodded my head without saying whether or not I was grateful for Noah-sama’s words. No matter how I look at it, this is a troublesome matter. Noah-sama’s existence as a secretary would definitely help me.
「I appreciate it.」
「If it’s good enough for you.」
What a good person—!! He is too good a person to go out of his way to get into the trouble that is about to happen.
I was impressed inwardly for a moment, and he was looking like he was gritting his teeth, you worthless person. You’ve been staring at Noah-sama too much since a while ago! You’ve had enough of this foolishness! No matter how bad the rumors are, you were the one at fault in the first place. That’s what people call resentment, you idiot!
I want to tell him, but this is not the time and place to do so, so I will be patient.
「Now, please go to your private room, ma’am. I am going to report this to the Commander of the Order.」
「Understood. He knew about this, doesn’t he, Ryniel-sama?」
The presence of Ryniel-sama is essential to the events at the Queen’s Palace. Just to be sure.
「Of course. I think he should have arrived at the private chambers of the maidservant by now.」
Very well, then.
I nodded, and as soon as the knight turned on his heel and strode away, I headed for my private room with Noah-sama and this useless man in tow.
※※※
And time overlaps with the present.
「This is…」
“I was so devastated,” said Noah-sama, moaning at the devastation. I can’t even speak.
「You’re here, Marsha-dono.」
Ryniel-sama, who had arrived earlier, noticed me and approached me. Ryniel-sama raised one eyebrow at the presence of Noah-sama next to me and asked me with his eyes.
「Oh, this is Noah Regtart-sama. He came with me because he was worried about me. You see, this is the clerk from back then.」
「Ahh, uhm…」
Ryniel-sama bows to Noah-sama as if he is satisfied, and Noah-sama simply responds in return. Now is not the time for casual self-introductions. I thought to myself, “The way they were saying, 『See you later,』men who can do that is different.”
「Ryniel-sama, what happened here?」
「Simply put, he’s trespassing.」
We know that. He ransacked my private office without my permission and called it an investigation. That’s not what I’m asking.
Brace, who had trespassed, was seized by the knights of the second squad, who turned his vindictive glares on me.
「No, not that…how did he get to the Queen’s Palace?」
I am angry that my room was ransacked, but what is most problematic is that a knight of the 4th Unit, and under house arrest, was allowed to enter the Queen’s Palace.
The Queen’s Palace is, of course, the palace of Myra-sama, Queen of the Gran Kingdom. There should be no intruder in that palace. It is supposed to be a place with strict security. It’s unthinkable that we could be infiltrated so easily just because he was a knight.
This is the fault of the 2nd Unit who’s in charge of the Queen’s Palace security, and the fault of its captain, Ryniel-sama.
Ryniel-sama let out a small sigh as he said,
