Chapter 9

Being the eldest son of a marquis means he is the next in line to become a marquis.

For me, a viscountess, he is far too high in status.

No matter how I think about it, there is no benefit for him.

The man who made things difficult for me was the previous marquis, and the current Rosmel Marquis should be his son who inherited the title.

If he is the eldest son, he shouldn’t be much older than me.

Even so, I still don’t understand.

Why would he propose a marriage to someone like me?

To the person who was the cause of the previous marquis’s retirement.

"You look puzzled."

The queen said to me, who couldn’t say anything.

"There’s no need to worry. Because of the incident ten years ago, I have been distanced from the king, and he wants to please both me and you."

"Princess Elise, I understand, but there’s no point in trying to please me."

When I said that, the queen sighed as if exasperated.

"Do you really think that?"

"What do you mean?"

"At the very least, I would try anything you recommend, whether it’s an object or a person. I trust you."

"Thank you, I appreciate that."

Suddenly being trusted, I almost lost my composure.

I’m happy, but what does this have to do with the marriage proposal?

My confusion must have shown on my face. The queen sighed again.

"Oh, you really are clueless about these things. Well, that’s also one of your good points."

I wasn’t sure if it was a compliment or a criticism.

The queen’s smile suggested it wasn’t meant negatively.

"Understand this: The Rosmel Marquis wants you to be a bridge between him and me. By choosing you, who have a history from ten years ago, he wants to show his loyalty to the king."

To my surprise, the queen knew about the incident ten years ago.

She knew and still proposed the marriage to me with the marquis’s son.

"But why now, after ten years?"

"It’s simply because the marquis’s son was still young back then. Also, they probably didn’t expect you to become the queen’s maid."

Indeed, at that time, I was just a maid, and there wasn’t much benefit in marrying their son.

But now that I’m the queen’s maid, I have more value.

"For me, it’s not a bad deal. If you become the marquise, you can take me to places where a mere maid can’t go, and I can expect the marquis’s support when needed."

Indeed, a maid’s job is to serve the queen, but there are formal occasions where the king is present, and I can’t attend.

Such places are usually attended by married maids who have married into high-ranking noble families.

"I don’t think it’s a bad deal for you either. Given the circumstances, you won’t be treated poorly after marriage. Besides, if you look at the conditions alone, he’s an ideal match."

Indeed, for a late-married woman like me, he’s a luxurious match.

From what I’ve heard, he’s not shockingly old or anything.

But my head is still blank from the sudden marriage proposal, and even though I know it would benefit the queen, I can’t give an immediate answer.

The queen, seeing my silence, said kindly,

"Of course, you can refuse. It’s not mandatory. Please take your time to think about it."

Her voice was like she was talking to the children at the orphanage she visited.

I felt like a child, uncertain and uneasy, as I listened to her words.

***

I decided to meet the son of the Rosmel Marquis to think things through.

What does he think of me?

I know that noble marriages aren’t based on personal preferences, but the thought of being hated is terrifying.

When I was pretending to be Julius’s lover, I always wore heavy makeup to avoid being recognized, but today I wore light makeup.

I’m not very good at makeup.

My skin is sensitive, and it tends to break out after I wear makeup.

To avoid making it seem like a formal meeting, I was told that it would appear as if we coincidentally sat at the same table.

The location is the palace garden.

Only those who are allowed can enter, so there’s no risk of being seen.

By the way, I haven’t told my parents yet, and I’m waiting for the queen’s response.

If my father knew that this marriage would benefit the queen, he would push for it immediately.

I should do the same, but Ian’s shadow still lingers in my heart, and I can’t give an immediate answer.

Wearing a dress I brought from home, I sat at a table set in the garden and waited for him.

The well-maintained garden is beautiful and should be a calming sight, but I can’t relax at all.

Soon, a young man ran over to me.

He stopped in front of my table and said,

"It’s been a while. Do you remember me?"

I was so surprised that I couldn’t even speak.

The person standing there was Thomas, who had guided me in the Azure Star Knights.