Chapter 78

With the garden party the next day, my mental state is at its worst.

...Yes, I brought this upon myself, but I don't know what to do when I think about Lord Aldar Saul! On the one hand, it's a wonderful opportunity, and I do like him, so it should be fine, right?

"I like you! Please go out with me!!"

"Oh, how delightful! I would be honored!!"

Wait, am I supposed to do this? Who? Me?

If someone were to ask if I should say "I'm sorry" in such a situation, that would be... even if I didn't mean to tease him, after all that, to receive such sincere words, I feel like I would be finished as a human being. Especially since I do have feelings for him...

But still?!

So, after all the back and forth, I decided to start dating.

And the person I'm dating is Lord Aldar Saul, who many young ladies are after. Should I be afraid of being stabbed in the back...?

No, that's an exaggeration.

The problem is my lack of resolve.

I have the resolve to serve in the palace, but I've never had the resolve for a romantic relationship, not even in my past life. I don't even know how to go about it.

Because the other party is a handsome guy, you know? Do you understand? He's handsome. I said it twice because it's important.

In contrast, I'm ordinary. The epitome of ordinary. No matter how you look at it, I'm ordinary.

Do you understand the contrast? The fear of others' gazes when we stand together!

Haha, "My dreamy handsome guy falling in love with me...?!" I think that kind of romance is only allowed in games. In reality, if such a situation were to happen, you might be laughed at as "Beauty and the Beast" or have to worry about your back, or even find tacks in your shoe locker.

No, all of that is just my imagination.

"Yuria, are you okay? Are you sleep-deprived?"

"The lineup for this year's garden party is quite impressive, isn't it?"

"I'm sorry to worry you."

Oops, I shouldn't have. But, as expected of Lady Primera, to notice my slight change in condition when even Maina and Sebastian didn't... Is this love?! Oh, my princess is the best!!

Today is the day before the garden party, and Lady Primera and the Queen Mother are having a tea party to discuss the preparations. I'm the only one serving, and it's at the summer palace. ...So I let my guard down a bit. I need to reflect on that.

As for Scarlett today?

Sebastian and Maina are giving us our final training. It's expected to be very strict, but it's for the big day tomorrow. I hope they do their best!!

"By the way, Yuria, I have some good news. The guards are already aware, but this year seems a bit troublesome."

"Huh? Really?"

"Yes, Primera, you must stay by your grandmother's side."

"Okay!"

Oh, Lady Primera is so cute!

The Queen Mother even patted her head with a gentle smile... This place feels like a utopia!

In the beautiful garden where leaves dance, a lovely young girl and an elegant old lady admiring her... This is a scene that should be captured in a painting. What a feast for the eyes.

However, didn't the Queen Mother just say something quite unsettling?

"The guards are aware... but we haven't heard anything."

"Yes, I don't think they would tell the serving maids. They probably decided that the knights responsible for security should handle it."

"...How did the Queen Mother find out?"

"Hehe, it's a secret."

The elegant old lady even winked and put a finger to her lips... Ah, I was startled! Of course, I didn't show it on my face.

But, how does she have such an extensive network of information...?

"Well, I'll tell you this in confidence. A newly debuted high-ranking noble's daughter recently expressed interest in the monsters in the border region, so her father is planning to bring in a small monster as a surprise. He's going to insist it's a surprise."

"That's a bad idea, isn't it?!"

"Yes, it is."

The Queen Mother smiled and nodded at my interruption. Was that the right reaction?

However, there are only a few nobles who can get away with such a reckless surprise at a garden party hosted by the Queen.

That's why the Queen Mother is being careful not to say too much.

"Of course, the King and Queen are aware and will ensure that the monster doesn't get anywhere near the royal family. Oh, the Crown Prince doesn't know, though. Albert might tell him."

"...Is it okay to tell me this?"

"It's fine. I trust that a noble lady won't spread it around. ...Still, don't you think if someone is interested in monsters, they should just see them at their own estate? Maybe they'll learn their lesson if they have a bad experience."

"Grandmother, aren't monsters scary?"

"Yes, they are very scary."

"I wonder if Lord Dean Dain will ever participate in a monster hunt..."

Oh, I'm a bit worried.

Of course, it makes sense... this year, even the guards participated in hunts.

In the game, he was supposed to join the knights eventually... but since he avoided the masochistic path, the future might change. He said he would become a fine knight for Lady Primera. Given his age and the Baum family's status, it's realistic for him to join the knights, then the guards, and eventually become the Crown Prince's right-hand man.

If that's the case, he'll probably participate in hunts... Lady Primera must be thinking about that too, but it's still worrying.

Of course, we understand that we can live safely because of the efforts of hunters and adventurers, but it's different when it involves someone close to us... it's scary to think about the danger they might face.

"Grandmother, why don't the fathers who know about the monsters stop them?"

"Well, you're right. But, Primera, the royal family can't function with just the royal family. While it's foolish to be unable to act when strong leadership is needed, it's also not good to suppress everything from above. ...And sometimes, there are ways to use such foolish actions to one's advantage."

"Grandmother, what did you just say?"

"Hehe, it's a bit too early for you to know."

The Queen Mother's last words, said with a slightly sinister look, are a bit scary.

Hmm... but if she's saying it like that, there must be some kind of secret plot or scheme! It's a world that a maid like me shouldn't know about. Or rather, a world I don't want to know about.

Hmm, I don't think Lord Aldar Saul would tell me even if I asked. The fact that I wasn't told at this stage means that the higher-ups are trying to keep the information under wraps.

But I should consider this a good piece of information.

If the atmosphere turns that way, I need to make sure there's a way to guide Lady Primera and the Queen Mother away from the scene!

"By the way, Yuria, I heard you had a conflict with a maid from the outer palace?"

"It wasn't a conflict... but it was an unpleasant conversation."

"No, I have an idea who that maid is. She was an excellent maid at the border lord's estate and was sent to the outer palace. She couldn't serve in the main palace due to her low status, but she was recommended when there was a shortage of staff."

"Really?"

"Yes. The outer palace always has a lot of people coming and going. There are many commoners' children there too. I only heard about her from the border lord himself, but I haven't seen her."

I see, she's from the border.

That explains why she's not directly serving the royal family. It's not that I'm looking down on border regions or being discriminatory, but people from the border are often suspected of having ties with other countries.

Because they live on the border, there are issues like marriage relations and refugees.

But now I know she's capable!

"When I heard that she was engaged to a guard, I was told she was happy she wouldn't have to return to the border... The border lord seemed disappointed, or perhaps surprised, so maybe she was waiting for someone?"

"...Where do you hear all this, Queen Mother...?"

"Grandmother knows everything!"

"Hehe, it's a secret."

The smiling, elegant old lady is quite a sight!

...I hope nothing happens at tomorrow's garden party... There's been no news from the outer palace, so maybe Eren has been taken off serving duties. Since she's from another palace, I can't confirm what happened unless I check.

I don't want to check because it might lead to unnecessary suspicions or misunderstandings.

Well, I'll just do my job!

Bring it on!!

Oh, no.

No monsters, please.