Chapter 74

I wrote it all down in a rush... I might have to fix it later (sweat).

After returning to the Crown Prince's palace from the Belphias Duke's residence, Alvis and the others had their evening meal. Afterward, Alvis was resting in his room with Elina. There were no maids present, but they would come running if he rang the bell. Until their marriage, maids had always been around, even in their rooms, so it felt strange to Alvis that they weren't there. It had only been a little over a year, yet he had become quite accustomed to their presence.

"Is something wrong, Lord Alvis?"

Elina, who had been sitting next to him, looked at him curiously, wondering why he was silent.

"It's nothing serious, but I was just thinking about how much I've gotten used to things."

"Used to what?"

"Being a royal, I've gotten used to having maids around all the time. Before that, I used to do everything myself."

"Was it when you were in the Royal Guard?"

Alvis nodded. It was the same in the knight's order. For those from noble families, this was a challenge. Those who had been taken care of by maids all their lives often struggled with even simple tasks like changing clothes. There were dining halls in the barracks, and plenty of options in the town below the castle, but people who were used to being pampered found it hard to adjust. Alvis wasn't always able to do everything on his own either. As a duke's son, he always had maids around, and Edward was also very attentive. After joining the knight's order, there were many things he wasn't used to. He gradually got used to doing things on his own, but then his position changed. Things he used to do on his own were now done with the help of maids. Someone was always around until he went to bed. If someone said he was back to his old self, that would be the end of it.

"I realized how much I've gotten used to not having Tiera and the others around."

"Me too. Sara has always been by my side."

Sara, Elina's maid since she was a child, continued to serve her even after she became the Crown Princess. Of course, she served as Elina's personal maid.

"Sara is a maid, but to me, she's like a sister. I'm glad she came with me."

Sara's relationship with Elina might be similar to Alvis and Edward's. She was always by Elina's side, and she was the one who comforted her when she was hurt.

"Still, I feel a little guilty."

"About Sara?"

"Yes. She's from a viscount's family. She's past the age for marriage, and if I keep her here, it might not be good for her."

Sara was a year older than Alvis. The age for noble daughters to marry had passed. While she didn't seem to mind, her family, the viscount's house, must have been sending her marriage proposals. Now that she was a maid in the Crown Prince's palace, those proposals would come to Alvis.

"If you're worried about Elina, you should ask her. She'll probably tell you if you ask. Though, she might prioritize staying by your side."

"Hehe, that's true. I shouldn't be so selfish, but I am."

"Even if she gets married, it doesn't mean she'll stop being your maid. My personal maids are all married."

Tiera, of course, and Jullina as well. They and their husbands both work at the castle, so they manage to spend time together.

"That's true. I'll ask her tomorrow."

"Alright."

Elina stood up and poured tea into a cup. The maids had prepared it. Though she was a duke's daughter, Elina seemed to know how to make tea. Pouring tea for a conversation in the evening was becoming a routine for her.

"Thank you."

"No, I'm not as good as Tiera and the others."

"No, it's delicious."

When Alvis said this, Elina sighed in relief. She lacked confidence because she had never shown her tea-making skills to anyone but Sara. There was no such opportunity with Gerald, and at tea parties, Elina couldn't prepare the tea herself; that was the maids' job. It was something she could only do in a space where it was just the two of them.

"By the way, I want to thank you today."

"Thank me?"

"For dealing with Millie. She was a bit spoiled, wasn't she?"

Millia is the youngest of the duke's family. She seems to be learning from Leona, but it will take time for her to understand.

"No, she was very lovely. I could tell she really loves her brother."

"Well, Millie's existence was a kind of salvation for me. I can't deny that I spoiled her."

"Lord Alvis, that's..."

Elina's face clouded over. Alvis had let something slip. He scratched his cheek, thinking of how to smooth things over. Then, Elina put down her cup and hugged Alvis around the waist.

"Elina?"

"I won't ask now. But... someday, please tell me."

"..."

"About your past. I really want to know. I want to know the Alvis I don't know. And if there's something that binds you, I want to share it. I hope for that."

Her arms tightened around his waist. It seemed she had heard something at the duke's residence while Alvis was away. Maglia was there, so it was likely. Maglia and Leona understood Alvis the most in that house.

"Really, my brother said too much."

When Alvis muttered this, Elina looked up. Her expression seemed to fear Alvis's answer, like a child who had said too much.

"Is it not okay?"

"…You might be disappointed in me if you knew."

"That won't happen. No matter what, I could never dislike Lord Alvis."

"That's—"

The words "impossible" were swallowed by Elina's lips. Her hands, which had been around his waist, now cupped his cheeks. She pushed him down onto the sofa. Looking up, Alvis saw Elina, her face flushed, looking down at him.

"No matter what happened in the past, Lord Alvis is still Lord Alvis. That won't change. But—"

"But?"

"I don't want to be the only one who doesn't know. Lady Rithine knows, but I don't know anything about Lord Alvis. Even though I'm his wife, everyone else knows more about you. That—"

Alvis blinked, repeating Elina's words in his mind. Everyone knows Alvis. The "everyone" refers to the duke's family. That's natural, as they are his family. But Rithine's name was included. In other words, what does that mean?

"…Are you jealous of Rithine?"

"I'm sorry... It's natural. Lady Rithine and Lord Alvis are cousins and childhood friends. I understand that. I understand. But—"

Alvis nodded in understanding. Though he had avoided women, he wasn't that insensitive. He understood that Rithine was special to him. And to Rithine, Alvis was more than just a childhood friend. They had spent so much time together. Elina must understand this, but it's not something that can be easily accepted. It's not a matter of logic.

"I see. I understand..."

The feelings Alvis had for Rithine were affection. He cared for her as a cousin and wanted her to be happy. Rithine probably felt the same. These feelings were different from those he had for Elina. Even if he put it into words, it wouldn't dispel Elina's anxiety. Some things can't be changed.

Alvis placed his hand on Elina's cheek, which was about to burst into tears.

"Alright. I promise. When the time comes... will you listen to my story?"

Not now, but when Alvis was ready to talk, he wanted her to listen. As he said this, a tear rolled down Elina's eye. Even when she cried, she was beautiful, Alvis thought, and laughed. He wiped away her tears with his hand and pulled her into his arms.

"Thank you, Elina."