Albert was hellishly busy due to the queen’s arrest and couldn’t perform his usual duties as the high commander. Thus, Sir Eva took over Albert’s job and his office. These days, Sir Eva and I often had tea together during our breaks.
Speaking of which, when does Sir Eva actually work? I only catch sight of him going home right when his shift ends.
“Well, King Rizel is having a rough go of it as well, what with both his parents being arrested,” Sir Eva said. “The royal family’s dignity is at an all-time low.”
Despite speaking like a casual observer, recent events had affected Sir Eva a great deal. The knights were racing around the castle to quell disturbances as the waning of our national prestige gave rise to unlawfulness. Hopefully, everything would resolve itself soon. The knights had received high praise for doing everything within their power to protect the citizens, after all.
Reynaldo was still in the hospital. Much to my surprise, he was performing his duties as prime minister from bed.
“You should be resting,” I chided him during a visit.
“I’m simply reaping what I’ve sown,” he replied, continuing his work. “By the way, did you participate in the trial?”
“Yes, I provided my testimony.”
Immediately after things settled down, Queen Tia’s trial began. Matters had proceeded swiftly due to the severity of her crimes. Despite being convalescent, Reynaldo even jeopardized his recovery to appear in court. As Tia’s main victim, he needed to testify during the trial.
As the victim of an attempted kidnapping, I testified many times as well. Explaining everything I’d done in detail proved incredibly embarrassing. I needed to recount everything, from breaking the window to escape the kidnappers to donning a burlap sack to act as a decoy. The story of my rescuing Reynaldo caused quite a stir among the nobles in the court. I felt like running away at that point.
“Your testimony made the front page of the newspapers,” Sir Eva said. “I bought two copies to commemorate the occasion.”
“That’s quite enough…”
A newspaper reporter selected by the state attended the trial to publicize the proceedings. King Rizel received praise for this decision, as it had been his first initiative to relay the truth to his citizens. However, the article spent more time reporting on my actions than the queen’s crimes. As a result, many readers suspected it was some kind of national conspiracy.
“Honestly, after listening in on the trial, I feel more inclined to report on you,” the reporter said excitedly. “Speaking of which, would you be willing to give an interview?”
I’d declined, but based on that conversation, it probably wasn’t a conspiracy.
Once things settled down and Stanley heard the full story, he came to me with another suggestion. “Why don’t we create a local souvenir named after you to help enrich Edigma?”
Shouldn’t you show a little concern for your sister before suggesting money-making schemes? I’d wondered. But if it will help Edigma prosper, maybe I should consider it.
My worried father came to visit me once as well. The palace sent a swift horse to Edigma to relay the situation to him out of concern for me. Father raced to the capital without delay, where he was relieved to find me perfectly healthy. Afterward, our family enjoyed a wonderful meal out on the town for the first time in a while.
“The newspaper still hasn’t reached Edigma,” Father said. “Once it does, there’s going to be an uproar.”
“Still, you probably won’t be able to serve the knights for much longer, will you?” Sir Eva asked me in the present. “This place will be so dreary without you.”
I shook my head. “No, I can still stay here for a while more…”
“You don’t sound too confident.”
Well, what do you expect from me?
Palace officials had approached me about taking a short leave from the chivalric order. For better or worse, I’d become more recognizable as the commotion grew. Strangers even began calling out to me.
“People might wish to take advantage of you,” I’d been warned. “Thus, you have two options: keep a low profile or serve somewhere else in the capital.”
In less than half a year, I’d been a handmaid for the palace, then the chivalric order, then the Rose Duchy, and then the chivalric order again.
How many times am I going to change jobs, exactly? I wondered. It might be time for me to take my leave.
“Come back home soon,” Father had told me worriedly.
Though Prince Rizel’s fiancée uproar seemed like a distant memory, only around half a year had passed. I’d experienced so much during that time. As a fiancée candidate, I’d become a palace handmaid, and later, I’d worked for the chivalric order alongside Nicky. Next, Prince Rizel’s proposal led to Albert and Reynaldo uncovering my identity as Rosemary’s reincarnation. After exacting my “vengeance” against King Grey, I returned to being a handmaid for the chivalric order. Finally, my attempted kidnapping had occurred, and as a result, we’d captured Queen Tia.
Throughout these events, I came to know Rosemary, and her wish had reached Reynaldo. And then—
“Are you feeling warm?” Sir Eva asked me.
I jerked my head up to look at him. “Huh?”
“You seemed fine a while ago, but your face just turned red. If you caught a cold, perhaps you should go home.”
Apparently, recalling Albert’s declaration of love caused my face to flush.
“I’m fine,” I attempted to gloss over the issue. “It’s just a little warm in here.”
However, when my flush persisted, Sir Eva urged me to go home. Though I felt bad for making him worry, it was a good opportunity to think. I had three options, not two. I could return home, serve in the capital, or accept Albert’s proposal. I needed to decide soon.
For the first time in days, I visited the palace’s infirmary. The distinctive odor of disinfectant hung in the air. Reynaldo continued his duties while confined to his bed here. As such, I popped in whenever work ended, or I had time to spare. Though I considered leaving if he was busy, Reynaldo always called out to me when I stood beyond the door, as if he could see through the wood. He did the same thing today; his instincts weren’t the least bit dulled.
“Is that you, Mary?” he asked. “Please come in.”
He called out before I could even knock, so I opened the door gently. Reynaldo—who’d been looking over paperwork—turned in my direction.
“Have you finished work for the day?” he asked.
“I have. How are you feeling?”
“I should be able to return to my usual routine the day after tomorrow.”
Now that his wounds had mostly healed, he’d been transferred to the infirmary—a convalescent facility for palace servants who’d fallen ill. Reynaldo requested to be transferred here so that he could work during the last leg of his recovery. As a palace resident, I could visit him casually, which I was grateful for.