Chapter 82

I'm late.

I'm sure I'll be scolded for being late again. Please bear with me.

Finally, the end of the Naris Kingdom arc is in sight. I wonder how many more chapters it will take... I want to feel satisfied soon.

"Sorry, Kiri. Could you prepare some tea again?"

Samuel, with a troubled look but a sweet tone, called out to Kiri.

"Again, you didn't like it? ...You must be having a hard time."

Though she said it with exasperation, Kiri quickly set about arranging the tea ware. This was the third time today. Lana, Samuel's mistress, had already fallen so low in the palace that her reputation couldn't get any worse.

The tea was bad, the food lacked refinement, the room was unsatisfactory, the bath was too small, the bed was too hard, and so on. All she did was complain, throw teacups, books, and trinkets, and verbally abuse people. It didn't matter whether it was the maids she brought from her own country or the maids of the Marita Kingdom. To her, servants were not even recognized as human beings.

Originally, Lana was the daughter of a duke in the Naris Kingdom, but she came to the Marita Kingdom as one of Prince Rolf's subordinates. To demand better treatment than Prince Rolf in such a position was beyond reason.

Samuel and Bisk, who served as Lana's attendants and guards, tried to advise her, but she always lashed out at them. They were often harshly reprimanded for daring to give their mistress advice. However, they never bowed to their mistress and continued to advise her, sometimes even protecting and comforting the maids who were being scolded.

"The current Lady Lana is not the usual Lady Lana. She is hurt and confused by the broken engagement, but originally, she is a kind person who cares for us. The engagement was broken off due to the poor health of her fiancé, but the other noble families have twisted the story to make it seem like it was Lady Lana's fault. This has made her feel that whatever she does, she will be seen as bad, and she has become despondent..."

Every time Lana threw a tantrum, Samuel would visit Kiri and the other palace maids, apologizing and explaining this. He was especially careful with Kiri, who had a strong aversion to Lana for trying to harm her mistress, Shina, and apologized politely. Through Samuel's actions, Kiri and the other maids, who initially had no good feelings towards Lana, began to change their minds. If she had such loyal attendants, they thought, Lana couldn't be that bad a mistress.

Kiri, whose mistress Shina had been falsely accused in the Daido Kingdom and later maligned, empathized with the struggles of Samuel and the others who served Lana. She began to talk more with Samuel, and as a result, the other maids often left Samuel's support to Kiri. Since Lana threw tantrums several times a day, Kiri and Samuel quickly became close, to the point where they called each other by their first names without honorifics.

"Sorry, Kiri. When Lady Lana calms down, I'm sure she will change her attitude. Bisk and I believe that she will definitely recover. She is someone we have decided to serve with all our hearts."

Samuel cared deeply for his mistress, Lana. He believed she would recover one day. Despite her current terrible behavior, Samuel's loyalty made one believe that she was a good mistress before the engagement was broken. Kiri, who also served a mistress, began to feel a sense of kinship with Samuel.

"Although it might make me seem like a playboy to say this to someone I just met, I fell in love with your beauty and sword skills at first sight. And now, I am drawn to your kindness..."

When Samuel suddenly said this, Kiri was surprised. This was a short stay, and they would return to the Naris Kingdom in a few days, so Samuel had confessed, expecting to be rejected.

"I have no intention of leaving Lady Shina's side."

"Kiri, you are truly loyal. I respect that. But I can't give up. I don't want to part like this. I need you."

Samuel visited Kiri whenever he had a moment to spare, and Kiri, who had been stubborn, gradually softened. She felt sympathy for Samuel, who continued to advise Lana and was frustrated that his words didn't reach her. Despite his strong appearance, Samuel seemed somewhat unreliable, and Kiri couldn't leave him alone.

"I want to live with you. If you are by my side, I feel stronger."

Samuel held Kiri's hand and whispered weakly. Kiri always helped Samuel diligently.

"Sorry, Kiri. I must seem like a pitiful man, always burdening you with my troubles. Hey, is there anything troubling you? If you want, I'll listen to anything."

"It's not pitiful at all. You always try your best for Lady Lana. I respect you for that."

"Kiri, you are so kind. That's what makes you so incredibly attractive."

Samuel took Kiri's hands and asked sincerely.

"Hey, Kiri, is there anything I can do to help you? You seem a bit down lately. Even if it's just a little, I want to be useful to you."

Asked so earnestly and repeatedly, Kiri finally confided her deepest worries. About Prince Rolf, her distrust of the Marita Kingdom, and how Shina was deeply hurt by her suspicions about Prince Zinklett.

"Whatever decision Lady Shina makes, I will not leave her side. If this country won't protect her, I will protect her with everything I have. But, it's so sad for Lady Shina..."

"What a terrible situation."

Hearing Kiri's story, Samuel's face twisted, and he stroked Kiri's hand comfortingly.

"Kiri, to have a maid like you, Lady Shina must be so lucky. I'll think of something to help, too..."

Samuel smiled and praised Kiri. Just that made Kiri feel warm inside.

She didn't notice that Samuel was smirking behind her back.

A few days after this conversation, the situation took an unexpected turn.