The Bird in the Cage Takes Flight to the Sky
I finally finished my work as the duke’s maid.
After washing my tired body in the bathroom, which was thankfully available, and changing into my nightgown, I dived onto the bed that had been prepared for me.
As Reynaldo said, a mansion with few people has a lot of work.
Or maybe this is normal.
I couldn’t tell because the royal castle was overflowing with maidservants, but they may in fact be this busy.
Just as I was dozing off with a moderate sense of fatigue, there is a knock at the door.
I get up from the bed and call out to the person.
“May I have a word?”
The voice belonged to Reynaldo.
I got out of bed and hurried to the door.
When I opened it, Reynaldo, dressed in jet-black clothes, was standing there.
“Come in.”
I led him through the door into the room, but Reynaldo was a little surprised and smiled wryly.
“Should I be pleased or saddened by your lack of caution?”
“Even if you insist on having me be cautious….”
“However much I used to be your brother, I’m a stranger now, aren’t I?”
Having said that, Reynaldo entered the room without hesitation.
I tried to prepare some tea, but Reynaldo stopped me.
“I’ll get going after a short talk.”
His soft gentle tone made me feel somewhat relieved as I listened.
At work, Reynaldo’s tone of voice was as cold as his nickname.
He would do his work indifferently and treat me with the minimum amount of respect necessary. It was the same for me, who supported him as his attendant.
While I appreciated his attitude of not letting his personal feelings get in the way, I was feeling somewhat lonely.
However, as time went by, I thought it was a good thing that he lost the respectful tone he used to have to speak to Rosemary. For my part, I felt very comfortable with the way he speaks now, as it would certainly be strange if a third party were to see it.
“You’ve gotten used to your job.”
“It’s very fulfilling.”
“Lieber was pleased. He said that I brought a good maid with me.”
I’m sure he’s also happy that Reynaldo brought along a prospective wife.
I gave him a dry laugh.
“As for what’s to come…”
Returning to the main topic, I looked at Reynaldo. However, he noticed that I was still standing and gently placed his hand on my waist, guiding me to sit back on the bed.
He was still standing, so this time I guided him to sit next to me.
Sitting next to each other in bed was something I used to do when I was a little girl to tuck him in when he couldn’t sleep.
Unlike those days when we were holding each other’s little hands, we are now looking up at each other.
“I can’t go into details, but I think things will get a bit chaotic in the capital. I plan to take advantage of the turmoil and put the issue of the Crown Prince’s fiancée to rest.”
“Can you do that?”
“I don’t have the power to do it by myself. But it’s possible.”
I was surprised at how easily Reynaldo said that.
How much manpower does he think it takes to move an entire country?
“Originally, various talks about the Crown Prince’s fiancée and other matters were being discussed with the other lords. It’s just that it has been accelerated.”
“What exactly is going to happen?”
“Unfortunately, I can’t tell you that yet.”
“…. Is there anything I can do to help?”
I know there is nothing I can do.
But I was frustrated that I could not provide any assistance.
“There is. Something only Marie can do.”
Jade-colored eyes caught mine.
His hand gently grabbed mine and held it.
And then he hugged me.
“Don’t ever disappear from me again.”
Reynaldo whispered to me as if in prayer.
I silently hugged him back.
A few days later, Reynaldo headed to the royal capital alone.
I saw him off as he left the estate on his horse and returned to work.
As I went about my work as usual, I remained vaguely uneasy.
I wondered if this was really the right thing to do.
A feeling of discomfort rose up inside of me.
I looked up and saw birds flapping their wings comfortably in the sky.
Inside the fortified mansion, I gazed at the birds.
I felt as if I were in a birdcage here.
While cleaning Reynaldo’s office as usual, I noticed a book on the bookshelf.
“How nostalgic…!”
The tale of the faithful knight and the princess, depicted in a picture book.
The beloved picture book that Rosemary cherished was placed there.
I involuntarily reach out for the picture book, which stands out among all the difficult technical books around me.
I flip through the old book. Perhaps Reynaldo brought it from the Hubert’s mansion?
I continue reading with a sense of nostalgia. Although I had loved reading the book so much, the contents felt new to me because I had only a vague recollection of them.
The story was a straightforward tale that little girls would have liked.
A king who does bad things and a captive princess.
A knight then rescues the princess from the king and pledges his loyalty to her.
After that, the princess, protected by the knight, will get together with the prince and makes the country happy.
Rosemary was not interested in the prince at all and wondered why the princess did not marry the loyal knight.
If you think about it again, this picture book was also once a story based on a civil war that took place in the country.
The story spoke of an event where a knight purged the king who engaged in corrupt governance. The knight called upon the prince, who was a relative, to the capital city in order to establish a new king. It is said that a political marriage was arranged between the prince and the princess, who was the king’s only blood relative, for the purpose of ensuring the succession to the throne.
At that time.
The sense of discomfort I had inside me cleared away in an instant.
At the same time, I hurried out of the room.
A conflicting feeling of disbelief and a sense of certainty battles within me.
Unable to stay put, I run to the stable.
“Ah, it’s no good.”
I can’t ride a horse.
But I can’t change anything from this far away.
It’s frustrating. I have to get to Reynaldo as soon as possible.
I must stop him.
Otherwise, he will purge the king like in the story.
With such a feeling, I couldn’t restrain my overwhelming emotions and vigorously mounted the horse.
The horse is startled and raises its leg high.
I clung to it desperately.
I can’t ride a horse.
But Rosemary?
Among the teachings she received as a noblewoman, as a lady, and as a future queen, was horseback riding.
“Please, Rosemary…!”
To help your brother.
I struggled to remember how to ride a horse.
I stroked the horse’s mane, tugging the reins.
It’s okay, I can make it.
Thankfully, the road is paved for immigrants.
It was a risky gamble, but I knew I would regret it if I didn’t move now.
The horse suddenly runs.
I pulled the reins closer to my hand, vowing to never let go.
