Chapter 70

Jeff sent Nonna to her bedroom and is now talking with Mills.

"Let the Second Knights handle the man and woman. I’ve already informed Chester. Only Chester, Mike, and your leaders know about your wife. I ask you not to speak of this to anyone else."

"Of course. I apologize for inviting Nonna to training without the viscount’s permission."

Mills bowed deeply.

"No, I told Nonna not to go. It was our oversight that she disobeyed. You’re not at fault. However, I’m concerned that your relationship with Nonna might reveal my wife’s secret role."

"You’re right. I’ll be more careful in the future."

"I’m sorry. I’ll explain to Nonna. Now, could you tell me where you went?"

Mills drew a rough map and address, bowed several times, and left.

"Anna, I’ll contact the Second Knights. The sooner, the better."

"Can you find the place with that map? It looks like you have to climb over three walls."

"I know the capital well. This will do. We can’t use the same route as Nonna, though."

Jeff left on horseback, and I quietly peeked into Nonna’s room. She wasn’t sleeping and sat up when I entered. I sat on the bed, and Nonna immediately apologized.

"Mom, I’m sorry. Before we got home, I told Mills it was okay to come back, but he insisted on explaining why he was so late. I’m sorry for revealing your secret."

"It’s no use dwelling on the past. It’s fine, just be more careful in the future."

Nonna’s hair, usually in braids, was loose and felt cool to the touch.

"Jeff told you not to go because he was worried about your secret being revealed. But there’s another reason I didn’t want you to go."

"What reason, Mom?"

"I trained you to protect yourself, and you’ve become much stronger than I expected. You can speak Ashberry, Randall, and Shen fluently, and you’re getting better at Hagel too."

Nonna listened silently, unsure where my words were leading.

"You’ve become someone that the Hagel organization and the Third Knights would want desperately. I’m very afraid of you being taken in by such organizations. I should have explained this better. I’m sorry for not saying enough."

"Do you dislike such organizations, Mom?"

"When I entered that world at eight, I had no choice but to work for my family. But you’re different."

I continued, hoping my true intentions would reach her heart.

"I don’t want you to get involved with that kind of organization. It’s filled with death. Just imagining you getting used to death in such a place makes me feel like I can’t forgive myself. I can see myself regretting training you for the rest of my life."

"Mom..."

Nonna’s expression was desperate.

"I just wanted to get stronger to protect you. And I enjoyed the training. If you hadn’t saved me, I might have become like Aure. I thought about it many times. I might have become someone who hates everyone and makes money by deceiving others."

"Nonna..."

"I’m the one who broke the rules. I’m sorry, Mom. I should have expressed myself better. I wanted to choose my own friends. When Dad said ‘no,’ I got angry. Why did he say it like that? It made me so frustrated."

I thought Jeff’s tone was harsh, but I understood his worry and remained silent.

"We all should have been clearer. From now on, we’ll communicate better. Thank you for telling me this. Jeff will take care of those two."

"Is Dad going out so late?"

"That’s the Second Knights’ job. Trust him to handle it."

The next morning, we received a report that Fred and his gang had been captured by the Second Knights. Rosalie was also released from house arrest. Fred was indeed in league with the men. After breakfast, I sent Nonna, who was still sulking, to the ranch.

"You can train as much as you like with Mr. Miles at the ranch. Always bring a guard with you."

"I’ll train, but I’ll also ask for tips on getting along with the sheep."

Nonna managed a smile and left in a carriage. I had to go to the castle. I received an invitation to a tea party at 9 AM. This wasn’t just a tea party.

◇ ◇ ◇

"Thank you for inviting me, Lady Delphine."

"Viscountess Asher, I’m sorry for the short notice."

"Not at all."

Lady Delphine’s room, where I had been staying for two months, had an unexpected visitor: Gunther Bahl. He looked uncomfortable when he saw me.

"I had to apologize to you today. I heard you were chosen as my conversation partner and Randall language teacher."

"Yes."

So, it wasn’t Lady Delphine’s choice.

"I didn’t tell the prince about you. But this person told Conrad specifically."

"I’m very sorry!"

"Viscountess Asher, Gunther’s real name is Grayson Aldran. He was sent by someone from my homeland who was concerned about me. Because of him, I broke my promise to you."

"I deeply regret it, Lady Delphine, Viscountess Asher. I will accept any punishment."

Lady Delphine sighed elegantly.

"Viscountess Asher, this person noticed you when you entered the hall after the rebellion was suppressed."

"I thought the princess’s movements were too flawless and became curious. While observing, I realized it was the lady I had danced with. I didn’t think the prince knew anything about it..."

"Just noticing it would have been fine, but he told the prince that ‘in this country, noble ladies serve as shadows.’"

So, Gunther, you were the one who told the prince about me.

The prince might have thought that if I became close to Lady Delphine, it would give him more leverage to keep Jeff. Jeff is loved... too much by the prince.

"The prince trusts Viscount Asher greatly. I tried to stop him from choosing you, saying it wasn’t necessary, but he insisted, saying ‘Jeffrey doesn’t move for money or honor.’"

"I’m grateful that the prince trusts my husband."

The prince understands Jeff’s character well.

"When the prince was young, he often played with Bryan Wilks, who was later executed. He trusted him. This time, Bryan tried to kill me. The prince must have been deeply shocked. Yet, he remains calm and hides his feelings from me. Despite his inner turmoil, he appears bright and cheerful."

Lady Delphine looked at me directly.

"I feel conflicted about choosing you as my conversation partner. But, on the other hand, I’m glad. I was raised to be the queen of this country from birth, but I don’t know much about the world. I have the knowledge a queen needs, but I lack many things as a person. Anna, I want to grow not just as a future queen, but as an Ashberry citizen and a mother to my children. I want your rich knowledge and experience to help me."

"Lady Delphine..."

I was surprised.

Though our positions are different, her desire to make up for her shortcomings is the same as my goal when I came to this country.

Lady Delphine, despite her position as the mother of the nation, still wishes to grow as a person. Her pure and serious character moved me.

"I will humbly serve as your conversation partner and language teacher."

"I’m grateful, Viscountess Asher."

After speaking with a fairy-like expression, Lady Delphine’s face changed, and she glared at Gunther.

"Grayson, your father, Duke Aldran, was very kind to me when I was young. For his sake, I’ll overlook your indiscretion. But I’m really angry."

"I’m very sorry!"

"I will live with the people of this country until my last breath. I am now a citizen of the Ashberry Kingdom. Please convey this to the duke who worries about me."

"I understand."

"Viscountess Asher, I’ll send for you with more notice next time. I look forward to our time together."

I left the castle, moved by Lady Delphine’s character.

When I first met Gunther, I thought I had seen him somewhere. Perhaps I saw him at a ball as the son of the Duke of Egal, or maybe he was a guard accompanying a dignitary. I can’t remember if it was in the Hagel Kingdom or the Randall Kingdom, so I probably just saw him in passing.

The news of me becoming Lady Delphine’s conversation partner and language teacher spread quickly among the nobility.

The mountain of invitations that had calmed down started coming to our house again. Not just to us, but to Nonna too.

I was momentarily discouraged but didn’t give up.

While searching for the best for Jeff, Nonna, and me, I, like Lady Delphine, am determined to live in this country as one of its citizens.