Chapter 92

"Aldar Saul-sama,"

"Aldar"

"……. ……, ……Aldar-sama. I must reiterate that the conversation with Eren should remain confidential, please."

"Would you mind speaking a bit louder and dropping the 'sama'? … What are you hiding, anyway?"

In the end, I decided to rely on Aldar. … What, you think I can't address him without the honorific? Get lost!

No matter how I think about it, I can't come up with a good way to handle the situation with Murietta…

"It's not that I'm hiding anything… When Eren was talking to someone from her hometown, something caught my attention. Since it's uncertain, I want to confirm it before reporting. Depending on the situation, it's fine if you report it to the knight's guild, but… could you wait for now?"

I can't say it's part of my job. I'm just personally requesting a meeting with Eren… So Aldar's tone is casual, but honestly, I don't know how to explain it.

There's no way I can say, "I have memories from my past life! There's a game similar to this world, and Eren's acquaintance is the protagonist, who might also have memories from a past life!!"

If I said that, I'd be considered a weirdo.

No, not just a weirdo, but I'd be locked up in some remote convent for mental illness!

So, to avoid such a bleak future, I explained to Aldar, "I have something I'm concerned about, so I want to meet Eren, but she seems emotionally unstable, so I'm asking you to accompany me."

It seems my concern also caught his attention… Damn, I knew it would come to this, so how should I explain it? Well, I don't even know if our conversation with Eren will yield any results…

The reason for her detention is related to her relationship with her ex-boyfriend at the garden party. Since she has been serving the royal castle for a long time and is Edi's fiancée, she cooperated with the investigation. However, because she couldn't behave properly, the suspicion couldn't be cleared, leading to her detention. If this continues, she might face a pay cut or even dismissal… Does she realize that?

After completing the meeting procedures with Aldar, the soldier on guard looked at us and said,

"Since a royal guard is accompanying you, I think it should be fine…"

"Yes, I will definitely guard her."

"There is no time limit for the meeting, but if the detainee shows any signs of violence, we will have to forcibly restrain her, and you will need to evacuate. Please understand this."

"Understood."

"Although she seems to have calmed down, she still appears agitated, so please avoid provoking her."

The knight's emphasis made me wonder how much she had struggled!

Being detained in the knight's quarters rather than with regular soldiers indicates that she is valued as a lady-in-waiting and Edi's fiancée. However, if this continues, Eren's position will only worsen, I thought. But, I can't know for sure until I talk to her.

Despite being detained, Eren was treated relatively well, confined in a corner of the knight's quarters. The room contained only a simple bed, a closet, a small table, a chair, and a lamp, which made it seem quite bleak. Maybe I should have brought some flowers?

She sat in the chair with a firm attitude, glaring at me.

"Do you have some business?"

"Yes. May I sit down?"

"Do as you please. You are of higher status than me, so you don't need my permission."

"…Thank you."

Her haughty attitude, but it seemed forced.

Being from a border region was something she didn't want to be known. She must understand that I know, but… that's why, right?

I'm not so petty that I would hold a grudge over this. Rather, I've been trained to handle such attitudes by Scarlett! No, in her case, she's just adorable… Oops, I let that slip.

"A boring woman like you must have found it easy to seduce a straightforward man like Edi, right?"

"Huh?"

"But too bad! He really likes me. I don't know why you came to make excuses—"

"Eren, I have already explained to the head lady-in-waiting that I am innocent in this matter."

"Pfft, you can say anything with words!"

"…Let me be clear again. There is absolutely nothing between us. I think it's strange to try to make a natural end to a relationship and then get heated over someone else."

Oops, I shouldn't have said that. It will only make her more hostile… But I already did.

Because I got irritated!! Why do I have to be treated like this?

I'm not a saint, you know.

But Eren must realize the truth in my words, as she glared at me with an intense expression but said nothing more.

Oh, that's scary. Super scary. A beautiful woman's rage is terrifying!!

But I can't back down here. I didn't come to fight… I just wanted to say something, but I have a purpose.

"Eren, I didn't come to fight with you."

"…What? Did you come to mock me? You're a noble lady, a favorite of the princess since childhood, now with status and honor, but you're jealous because you can't get a man! You must have come here feeling triumphant, bringing even Aldar Saul-sama!"

"Eren, please try to calm down… It might be difficult, but you can at least listen, right? You don't want to make your situation worse, do you?"

I could tell Aldar was giving her a stern look, so I quickly tried to calm her down, emphasizing that her situation could get worse.

Yes, I think… she understands, right? No, she doesn't. Otherwise, she wouldn't react like that.

"If you stop slandering me and show a repentant attitude, your punishment might be lighter. It's not that severe to begin with."

"…But, now that everyone knows I'm from the border, … surely, even the head lady-in-waiting…"

"The head lady-in-waiting has continued to protect you, knowing your background. I don't have any ill feelings toward you personally. If you can correct the false accusations about me and Edi, that would be sufficient."

"That's a lie, you're the princess's favorite."

"Huh?"

"Because, Murietta…"

Eren muttered something, but I couldn't hear it.

Just the name 'Murietta' again. What did Eren hear from Murietta?

I didn't know how to approach the topic, and I was unsure what to say to Eren.

Because, of course.

Eren, who is beautiful, looks completely exhausted and is now giving off a slightly deranged vibe. It's like a horror movie.

I, despite appearances, have a chicken heart… I just don't show it much.

"If the princess's people glare at you, you'll suffer… I don't want to go back to the border…!!"

"Eren…?"

What is she talking about?

Even if she has to leave her job as a lady-in-waiting, there's no reason for her to be sent back to the border. She could find a job in the city. And the idea that she would be sent back because the princess's people glared at her… I don't have that kind of power!

"…Excuse me, Lady Eren. It seems you have many misunderstandings."

"…Huh…?"

(Aldar?)

"The more stubborn your attitude, the harder it will be to find a resolution. Edi also hopes you can leave this place. As he said, the punishment is not severe, and it can be lighter depending on your attitude."

"That's a lie… Edi hasn't come at all!"

"That's natural. He can't make your situation worse."

"Huh?"

Eren is very emotional right now. I understand that you might be upset if your lover doesn't come to help you when you're in trouble… But Aldar told me before coming here that Edi is petitioning his superiors to prove her innocence in this incident.

If the guard were to allow a meeting with a detainee just because they are engaged, it could be seen as aiding an escape. It