Chapter 47

We happened to encounter Lady Natalie as she was talking to a cat.

Lady Natalie froze.

I stood there, unsure of what to say.

“Meeeeeow~”

The cat’s meow echoed in the silent scene.

The calico cat, oblivious to the human drama, stretched its front and back legs in turn and sauntered off into the shadows of the trees.

“Ahh……”

Lady Natalie sighed regretfully at the brown tail disappearing into the greenery.

But she soon seemed to remember our presence.

“Did you hear my monologue……?”

“……I didn’t hear anything?”

“You heard everything, didn’t you?!”

Lady Natalie’s face turned bright red.

She began to tremble slightly, even her earlobes turning red.

……I can totally understand how she feels.

She had been talking to the cat, thinking no one was around.

If someone had seen her in that relaxed state, what would have happened?

……The answer was right in front of me, as Lady Natalie was demonstrating.

It’s not often that you feel as embarrassed as when someone hears you talking to an animal.

I could only sympathize, putting my own situation aside.

“Lady Natalie, please calm down. Let’s talk calmly for a moment—”

“Lady Natalie~?”

A woman’s voice made Lady Natalie flinch.

The voice belonged to a maid in her uniform.

“Lady Natalie!! You’re here!!”

“……I’ve caused you worry.”

Wow, impressive.

Lady Natalie had already regained her usual doll-like composure.

Her cheeks were slightly red, but it was a quick and impressive recovery.

I decided to silently applaud her.

“Lady Natalie, please hurry and get ready… Lady Letitia?”

“Good afternoon.”

I greeted the frozen maid and decided to help Lady Natalie.

“I just met Lady Natalie and we’ve been walking and talking together. Right, Lady Natalie?”

“……Yes, that’s correct. Lady Letitia is very kind and a good conversationalist, and it was enjoyable.”

Lady Natalie immediately went along with the story.

Despite her expressionless face, she seemed relieved.

Together, we headed to the palace.

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Inside, after formal greetings, Lady Natalie dismissed everyone.

Her maids were initially hesitant, but they had to follow Lady Natalie’s orders.

I also accepted that Lucian would temporarily step back, so they reluctantly agreed.

With Lucian and the maids waiting in the room just outside, I faced Lady Natalie alone.

“Lady Letitia, thank you!! You really helped me just now……!!”

Lady Natalie bowed deeply.

Her posture expressed the highest level of gratitude and respect.

“Please stand up. I understand your feelings very well.”

“Thank you so much!! And please, I beg of you, keep what happened just now a secret……!!”

“I won’t say a word. I have no intention of spreading it around.”

Lady Natalie looked like she was about to cry with her face flushed red.

It would be cruel to push her further. It was too cruel.

I have the habit of talking to animals too, so I can relate to her situation.

After repeating my promise not to tell anyone, Lady Natalie seemed to calm down a bit.

“Thank you……! ……When I feel anxious or lonely, I tend to talk to cats and animals. It’s a shameful habit, but I would be grateful if you could overlook it.”

“I don’t think it’s shameful. I understand that it can be embarrassing to be seen, but there’s no need to be so self-deprecating.”

I denied her words.

It was to encourage her and reflect on my own past.

I believe many people who love animals and talk to them can relate.

“Is that so……? ……People around me have always criticized me for talking to animals, saying it’s a pitiful thing to do……”

Lady Natalie, speaking weakly, had shed her doll-like princess mask and was a 16-year-old girl.

Her anxious appearance was understandable given her background and upbringing.

In Lady Natalie’s hometown, there was deep-seated prejudice against beastfolk.

As a result, there was no culture of caring for small animals like cats and dogs.

Humans were considered supreme, and other beings were seen as inferior.

As a duchess’s daughter, Lady Natalie’s act of confiding in animals was not something the people around her would tolerate.

“Indeed, in your hometown, being close to animals was not welcomed. However, there are many people in the world who cherish animals and entrust parts of their hearts to them. I, too, have memories of finding comfort in animals when I was feeling down.”

“Lady Letitia……? Is that true?”

“Can’t believe it? Everyone has a few expressions they don’t show to others.”

“I’m sorry!! I didn’t mean to doubt you. It’s just that Lady Letitia has always been so admirable. You’re only one year older than me, yet you came from a foreign country and have always been dignified and graceful……”

Her admiring and respectful gaze made me feel a bit awkward.

……The reason I can be at ease in this foreign land.

While my past life’s memories and experiences help, the biggest factor is my brother’s education.

If it weren’t for my brother’s loving discipline—rather, his Spartan noble education, I, a commoner at heart, would never have been able to marry into a foreign royal family as a queen.

After experiencing the storm of criticism from my brother’s beautiful smile, I could handle most social interactions with nobles without feeling nervous.

Now, even though I’m far from my brother, I always have Lucian by my side.

I am aware that I am more fortunate in many ways than Lady Natalie, who had Deaz as her attendant.

“I believe you have been strong and resilient in this royal palace, far from your hometown. Your willingness to take responsibility for the theft of the chiffon cake at the birthday party, which Deaz orchestrated, was very admirable.”

“……Thank you. But it was all because I couldn’t stop Deaz……”

Lady Natalie bowed deeply again.

“Lady Letitia, I apologize again. I caused you a great deal of trouble because I failed to notice the theft orchestrated by Deaz and the others. It was all due to my incompetence.”

“Lady Natalie……”

“Do you despise me? I know better than anyone that I am not fit to be a queen candidate.”

“……What do you mean by that?”

“Exactly what I said. You saw it yourself just now, didn’t you? I am a pitiful person who can only reveal my true feelings to cats and animals. I have always been shy and unlucky, and I was constantly scolded by my parents. Being a queen candidate and coming to the royal palace was supposed to be the role of my older sister, who is three years older and more active……”

Lady Natalie bit her lip.

I remember hearing that her older sister was bedridden and had no hope of recovery.

“Because of my duchy’s bloodline, I became the only candidate for Queen to King Glenreed. But I am not capable of such a great responsibility…… To not disappoint my parents, I hid my timid nature, put on a mask of indifference, and entrusted the real power to my aunt, Deaz, to stand as a queen candidate.”