The World Turned Upside Down
“Good morning, Marie.”
“Good morning…. Alberto-sama….”
“Please don’t use honorifics. You are my master.”
How could there be a boss who respectfully bows to a maid who comes to work?
My life has changed forever.
Reynaldo and Alberto found out that I’m Rosemary’s reincarnation and that I have memories of the past.
Since then, the cold-hearted Duke has been indulgent with me, and the reliable Knight Commander, kneels to me, a person of lower status.
“My Lord. Please let me pledge my allegiance to you once again.”
I couldn’t stop my face from blushing at the sight of the Knight Commander’s loyalty, which looked much cooler than the knightly games Rosemary had made him play as a child.
“McClain-sama, please treat me as usual!”
“I would like you not to call me McClain. Please, call me Alberto like you used to.”
As a result, McClain-sama, or Alberto, whom I had become accustomed to calling, began to treat me in a completely different manner than before.
However, the hierarchical relationship remains the same.
My previous life was my previous life, and in this life, I’m just a maid.
When I repeatedly told them this, they seemed to be very unconvinced, but somehow they understood.
“Sister, no, Miss Marie. I’m very happy to meet you again, but please don’t let this be the end of our joy. I would like you to arrange an appointment to meet again next time.”
Am I mistaken in thinking that this sounds like a threat that I can’t escape him?
Reluctantly, I promised to meet him at the same place on my next day off and left the cafe for the time being.
The next day, I was questioned by Niki extensively because Alberto’s attitude was so different.
“Hey, did something happen on your day off?”
Far from being happy at the fact that I was friendly with Alberto, Niki asks with a look of horror.
At first, when Niki overheard that Alberto and I had gone out together, she asked about it happily, and then Alberto came over to me.
“Good morning, Miss Marie. I see that what happened yesterday wasn’t a dream.”
On the day I was greeted by his charming smile, I accused him of speaking in a way that could be misunderstood.
Then, like a scolded puppy, he apologized and headed for the office with his tail tucked in between his legs.
Niki’s question came from that.
I couldn’t say anything, so I had to muddle through and gnawed on the fact that I needed to give Alberto a lecture later.
I knocked on the door of the office, ready to serve tea as usual to my former childhood friend and squire, a knight who is now much older than I am.
Until now, I had been waiting for the voice that used to say, “Come in,” but what came was the sound of the door opening on its own.
“I thought it was about time.”
It is an unexpected greeting from the boss.
I held back my agitation and just said, “Excuse me,” and entered the office.
“Please be aware. I’m not Rosemary anymore. You are my master now!”
I told him while strongly thrusting out his favorite citrus tea.
At first, Alberto was hesitant, saying, “I can’t let my master brew tea for me,” but I endlessly remind him of his position, as I’m doing now, and is allowed to do the work of a lady-in-waiting.
“I understand. Marie is my maid.”
Alberto replies happily.
“Then, please don’t talk to me in honorifics in the morning or come to open the door.”
“I can’t do that. You are the one to whom I have pledged my loyalty.”
What you said earlier is the exact opposite.
Tired of Alberto’s push-and-pull exchange, I ignored him and prepared a pot with more tea.
When Rosemary was alive, Alberto was a budding knight.
After demonstrating enough ability to be entrusted with a unit in the Knights’ Corps, he was prepared to become an escort knight for Rosemary, who would become Queen.
As a young man, he and Rosemary only saw each other occasionally at the royal palace, but when they met, Alberto always declared his unchanging loyalty.
“I will do my best today to be of service to you.”
Because I am only capable of swordsmanship.
I was proud of Alberto, who had become much more fearless and knightly.
Although I had hoped to become a queen unashamed of him, I ended up not being able to do so.
“Marie-sama….”
I glare at him.
Alberto coughs.
“When did Marie start remembering things from before?”
“It was about six months ago. I had always had some kind of understanding of things in my life that I wasn’t supposed to know, but only recently have I remembered that they were Rosemary’s memories.”
I can never tell him or my brother that it was a rope that triggered it.
They would be absolutely heartbroken if I told them.
“I’m glad you remember. It’s good to see you again like this.”
I feel embarrassed by his smile as he expresses his joy by placing his hand on his chest, and I look away.
“That being said, I’m not Rosemary herself. Because I am Marie.”
“I know. Likewise, I’m not the same Alberto you used to know. We are both alike.”
Certainly, Alberto was not this outspoken when I was Rosemary.
He was awkward, but he still had the skill to hold on to his swordsmanship.
Now an adult man in his mid-thirties, he is a completely different person from what I remember.
“Unfortunately, I’ve only grown older in this way, but I am proud to say that my abilities are even greater than they were back then. You can rest assured that I will protect you.”
Protect me from what?
“Alberto’s position is too high to protect a maid who is a mere Baron’s daughter.”
“It doesn’t matter what your status is.”
My hand is scooped up and he speaks the oath of a knight that they used to play around with.
The warmth of his lips lingers faintly in the palm of my hand.
“Because my allegiance is still with you.”
Alberto’s behavior had long since gone beyond tolerance.
I ended up not getting any work done.
“Come to think of it, the prince hasn’t been around lately.”
It’s been several days since my identity as Rosemary was found out, and tomorrow will finally be my day off.
I remembered that Prince Risel, who used to show up at least one day between my work schedule and my vacation, had not visited.
In the first place, I had gone to consult with Reynaldo about what to do with the prince, but no solution had been found yet, right?
“No need to worry about that.”
Alberto laughed, as if his normally expressionless face was a lie.
“I’ve already taken the necessary action with Lord Reynaldo to resolve the matter. Marie needn’t worry about it.”
When?
Alberto’s words, which held nothing but bad premonitions, made me feel uneasy.
But my knight just laughs and doesn’t answer.
I decided to give up on getting an answer from my former childhood friend.
