Chapter 19

Bernard-sama's mansion was visited by the captain, who invited us to have a meal.

"Would you like to go out and eat with Nonna?"

"It would be nice to eat out, but I have something I want to discuss with you, Captain, so please come to my house. It's something I don't want many people to hear."

Today is the day of that appointment.

The matter I want to discuss is that since the ball, a very skilled stalker has been following me.

Nonna seems to like the captain and is excited. She hasn't mentioned her mother since the incident. When I inquired at the guard station, it seems her mother is still missing.

---

That night, the captain, dressed in civilian clothes, knocked on the door right on time. He had just taken a bath, and his short silver hair shone like real silver threads.

"Come, come in. The food is best eaten while it's hot."

"It smells great. I've been looking forward to this."

The captain was seated opposite me, guided by Nonna.

I poured steaming white soup into a soup bowl and placed it on the table, then took my seat. I had prepared a mountain of reheated round bread, along with butter and white liver paste. The captain took a sip of the soup and closed his eyes.

"Ah, it's a flavor that warms the stomach."

"Does it suit your taste?"

"Yes, very much. Is this asparagus?"

"Yes. I found the white ones at the store. The ingredients in this country are very rich."

"I'm glad you like it here."

When the soup was almost finished, I stood up, put on oven mitts, and took a deep dish out of the oven. The dish, which I had put in at the right time, was bubbling with cheese. Underneath, there were chunks of bacon, carrots, broccoli, and pumpkin.

I divided the cheesy vegetable bake onto each plate and said with a smile, "The heat is part of the flavor. Please, enjoy."

The captain ate the hot dish calmly. I also put a spoonful in my mouth, being careful not to burn myself. The melted cheese had a crispy texture and a fragrant aroma. The vegetables were soft and sweet, and the white sauce and cheese created a rich flavor. Nonna was blowing on her food to cool it down.

"So, what is it you want to discuss, Victoria?"

"Actually, since the ball, there's been a man secretly following me. It's creepy and scary, so I was thinking of reporting it to the guards and having him caught. I thought I should let you know beforehand."

The captain pondered while eating and then drank some wine before turning to me.

"I haven't heard about it, but it seems like the First Prince arranged it. You noticed the stalker well, didn't you?"

"At first, I noticed a man's reflection in the store window. I kept seeing him in the glass. But the First Prince? Does he do this to all women who are close to you, the important captain?"

I could tell that wasn't the case.

"No, probably not. In fact... a guard saw a woman running away from the man who was knocked out at the ball. The guard testified that the woman's dress was light purple or light blue."

It was quite dark there. There were others with good night vision besides me. I almost clicked my tongue in frustration.

"I was in a corner of the venue. It's very troublesome to be stalked for something I have no memory of. If the First Prince continues to have me followed..."

Before I could finish, the captain interrupted.

"I'll take responsibility and ask the Prince to stop the stalking. So, don't suddenly disappear."

"Disappear suddenly?"

When I asked, the captain's face showed a slight hesitation.

"Well, I just have a feeling you might suddenly vanish."

"I won't. You're overthinking it."

Is he unusually perceptive? Or is it a coincidence?

I thought about moving to another country if the royal family was interested in me, but I was surprised by his words.

After that, I chatted about various trivial matters. I asked the captain questions and let him take the lead. He made me laugh with amusing stories of his subordinates' mishaps. As the night grew deeper, he stood up.

"Can I come again?"

"Yes, of course."

At the entrance, the captain gently embraced me with both arms. It was a bit longer than a typical goodnight hug. I remained still and didn't return the embrace. After he released me, I smiled and said, "Good night," and saw him off.

While washing the dishes in warm water, I thought.

Since I started working at fifteen, I have only trusted one person. That one person betrayed my trust, which is why I am here.

When you trust someone, you should also be prepared to be betrayed. That way, you won't feel the pain if you are betrayed or abandoned halfway. You can just smile and say, "I knew it."

I repeated this to myself and went to sleep.

The next day, the stalker's presence disappeared.

It seems the captain really did talk to the Prince.

---

A few days later.

Today is my day off from working as Bernard-sama's assistant.

Let's go out with Nonna.

Going out will be a good change of pace. If things get bad, there are plenty of places where I can survive. It's a waste of energy to keep fearing an uncertain threat.

"Nonna, let's buy a new ribbon. The blue one is a bit lonely."

"I like this one."

"I think a deep purple or burgundy would suit your golden hair. A wine color. Let's also buy shoes to match the ribbon."

We politely declined Lady Yolana's offer to use her carriage, saying, "Walking is good for the body," and set off for the southern district.

In the accessory shop, we looked at various colors and patterns of ribbons. Nonna wanted another blue one, so I bought a slightly darker blue ribbon and a burgundy one.

"Let's buy one for you too, Vickie."

"For me? Well, how about we get matching ones?"

Nonna looked up at me and smiled sweetly.

(Buying gifts for someone important fills the giver's heart with joy), I thought as I held Nonna's hand. Buying gifts for my family also made me happy.

Tonight, Nonna will stay at the main house with the maid Susan.

Let's go to that tavern again.

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