🐾🐱🐾
THE thirty minutes of free time Sir Dion had given her was almost up. Amy left a good-luck message for her brother and left his waiting room.
Scott led the way, and they hurried back to the building with the first-aid room. The area was just as heavily guarded as when they had left. Just as they were about to turn their second corner, a knight guard stood in their way, stopping them.
“His Majesty will be passing through here shortly. Please wait there,” he announced.
“I’m very sorry, Lady Amy, but we’ll have to wait here for a moment,” Scott said.
“That’s all right, I understand.”
Fortunately or unfortunately, their timing had coincided with the arrival of His Majesty the King. They took a step back to make way, as they were instructed. Just then, all the commotion in the corridor completely vanished. Amy could feel threads of tension stretch tightly across her skin.
All the guard knights, including Scott, stood at attention, and even Amy tried to keep her back perfectly straight as she bent forward in a slight bow. You were supposed to kneel when you were officially in the presence of the king, but in such a narrow corridor, obstructing the path would just be a nuisance.
The posture Amy took seemed to satisfy both Scott and the civil official leading the king’s party, and she wasn’t rebuked.
At long last, Amy heard the sounds of footsteps and clothes rustling in the deathly silent corridor. A civil official led the way, followed by the king’s exclusive guard knight. A long line followed behind him, which included the king, the queen, and their attending servants and maids.
Amy kept her head down and could only see their feet as they passed by her, but she was surprised to find she could guess who was passing by just by their shoes and the hem of their clothes.
Whoa, the king’s attending servant’s shoes are so shiny—there’s not a spot on them! The navy-blue taffeta skirt must be a maid… Whoa! This one must be Her Majesty! Huh…?
Amy had been trying to distract herself while keeping her breathing as quiet as possible. But just then, shoes decorated with jewels came to a stop right in front of her.
The leather shoes looked soft and came to a slender point at the toes. They turned right toward Amy and were suddenly hidden by the swishing hem of a dress.
The queen was standing right in front of her.
“You—lift your head.”
M-Me?!
The beautiful voice had been loud and clear, but at the same time, it was a voice that could not be denied.
As a cold sweat broke out over her back, Amy timidly raised her head.
And there stood the queen.
The eyes behind her nonchalantly opened folding fan were zeroed in on Amy.
Wh-What?! What did I do?! Was I supposed to have knelt after all?! Is she going to call me an insolent trollop or—huh?
She never imagined she would ever be addressed by the queen.
Sensing that the king had turned back and was looking at her too, Amy felt even more blood drain from her face. She had no idea if the queen sensed her inner panic, but the queen’s eyes smiled a fraction.
“I’d heard there was a girl studying under Sir Dion as a healing magician. That would be you, yes?”
Is it okay to answer her directly?
When she glanced nervously to her side, she saw Scott was anxiously signaling at her with his eyes, so she steeled her mind and steadied her breath.
“Yes. My name is Amy Northland.”
Amy’s voice miraculously did not tremble.
“I see.”
The queen passed her fan over to the maid standing beside her and suddenly started to take off her gloves.
What?
Then, the queen took a ring off her finger…and then handed it to Amy.
W-What?!
Lady Amy! Reach out your hand and take it! Scott screamed internally.
Amy had frozen in place, but after being stealthily nudged several times by a panicking Scott, she finally reached out her hand.
The queen gently placed the gold ring in Amy’s plump hand.
“It’s quite difficult for someone your age to perform healing magic. I’ve heard you’re quite talented too. Keep up the good work.”
“Thank you very much for your kind words.”
The queen stooped down to Amy’s eye level and quietly added, “We’ll be counting on your help again today.”
“I-I’ll work as hard as I can!”
“Splendid.”
Amy thought the queen’s short reply was tinged with relief.
The queen quickly turned back and continued walking, the rest of the party following suit, as if nothing had happened.
Amy clutched the ring against her chest with both hands and bowed once more. When the last servant finally disappeared from view, everyone collectively relaxed.
“T-Talk about surprising…!”
“Lady Amy!”
Amy had weakly slumped down to the floor right where she had been standing. She looked up at Scott, tears nearly spilling from her eyes.
“Her Majesty’s maid looked quite shocked, too, so it didn’t seem like something she had planned in advance… Can you stand? The Crown Prince should be coming through any moment.”
“I-I’ll stand! Let’s get back—and quickly!”
That was more than enough random encounters for one day!
After forcing her spineless back to stand through gumption alone, Amy jogged out of the corridor.
Edward himself had told Amy before that he wasn’t very close with his parents—they pretty much only saw each other on official occasions.
Even the selection of Edward’s potential fiancée had been spearheaded by the civil officials. Naturally, as just a fiancée candidate, Amy had never had an audience with Edward’s parents.
But warmth from the queen—from Edward’s mother—still lingered in the ring Amy clutched in her hand.
Her eyes were the same color as Edward’s… Amy belatedly realized, feeling the tiny weight in her hand very acutely.