𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝟏
It was five days after my arrival at the royal castle when I was told that they wished to hear my story. Spoken in noblese, “Please tell us in as much detail as possible,” they said, and I finally felt relieved that it was my turn.
Since arriving at the castle, I had been in a constant state of tension, waiting to be called upon at any moment. Though I had nothing to hide and could stand proud, the nerves were still there.
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Guided by a maid, I left the room. The door closed behind me, and the royal blue was out of sight.
. . .The luxurious room I had been staying in had sheets, bedding, and even pillows in royal blue. It felt disrespectful to sleep in a bed adorned with the royal family’s color, so I asked for them to be changed, but the maid only said, “It’s fine for you to sleep in them as they are,” and did not accommodate my request.
I wonder what I would do if the person I am about to meet were to question me about this.
ㅤ
“We will hear your story here.”
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The room I was led to was just two doors down from mine. It was surprisingly close, which startled me, but it seemed they had considered not making me walk too much.
As someone who finds it hard to walk long distances in relatively high heels, I appreciated the thoughtful gesture.
ㅤ
“Thank you.”
“We are waiting for you inside.”
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It was somewhat comforting to know that the maid who had accompanied me would be there as well.
The room was decorated with warm ivory and pale light green. A breeze came through the large window, fluttering the white curtains.
In the middle of the room were a sofa and a table, and the man sitting there stood up to greet me.
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“Miss Alice Norchev, thank you for coming. This will be a light inquiry, so please don’t be nervous. If you feel unwell at any moment, let me know right away.”
“Yes, thank you.”
“I am Scott Almond. Easy name to remember, isn’t it?”
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His attempt to lighten the mood with a joke made me smile faintly. True to his name, Scott’s eyes and hair were the color of roasted almonds.
He squinted at me with a friendly gaze, his almond-colored eyes only showing concern for me.
Although Scott was handsome, it wasn’t like when I first joined the Fourth Knight Order; I could meet his gaze without difficulty.
It was because Scott treated me with respect, I had grown accustomed to handsome men, and, above all, the knights of the Fourth Knight Order had taught me that men need not be feared.
ㅤ
“Please take a seat. Let’s talk over some tea.”
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Surprisingly, what Scott wanted to hear the most was about my time before joining the Fourth Knight Order. I had expected him to ask about my escape to the noble school.
When I asked casually, Scott replied,
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“I have heard from others as well.”
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His answer made sense.
Since going to school, I was always with someone. Since my actions were transparent, there was no need for him to dig too deeply.
ㅤ
“So, Miss Norchev didn’t become a kitchen maid to find a husband, but to work.”
“Yes. As you may already know, Almond-sama, when I started working as a kitchen maid, the Norchev family was in financial trouble. As a noble’s daughter, I knew I should marry and seek support. However. . . after what had happened.”
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Intentionally cutting off my words and casting my gaze downwards, the amiable Scott leaned forward slightly in a flustered manner.
ㅤ
“It is fine to keep things that are difficult to talk about to yourself!”
“No, that might leave some questions unanswered. As for me, it’s in the past, so it’s alright.”
“Miss Norchev. . ..”
“Looking back, it seems my dad had anticipated my wish to work and had found a kitchen maid position for me, so that if I ever mentioned marriage, he could suggest work as an option. My family realized that I was uncomfortable around men. . ..”
“With your family’s love, you came to work in the Fourth Knight Order.”
ㅤ
When I occasionally answered Scott questions during our conversation, he surprisingly taught me various things.
Actually, it seems I was suspected of being Dyson’s accomplice. I was quite shocked, but after hearing the reasons, I understood.
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“At school, you met the merchant who had harmed Miss Norchev, right? Miss Norchev knew the merchant as Dyson’s accomplice, and by revealing this, gained Prince Linus’s trust, betrayed Dyson, and earned recognition. Or perhaps you called the merchant yourself, showed affection to Prince Linus, and tried to win his favor. Such things were also considered.”
“I, I see. . .”
“Rest assured, after a thorough investigation of Miss Norchev, it was deemed impossible. It was confirmed that Miss Norchev had not met with Dyson before becoming a kitchen maid. After she took the position, we intensified surveillance on Dyson, so they indeed had not met. Besides, Miss Norchev often spent her days off with someone.”
“The merchant has already been interrogated and confessed that after being retaliated against by Miss Norchev, he had been on the run, and we have gathered evidence to support this.”
ㅤ
Before becoming a kitchen maid, I seldom went outside.
As a noble young lady, the public occasions I attended were tea parties at a friend’s home and the first day of the Founding Festival. Since the incident with the merchant, I had been going to the market with Thor as well.
Young ladies of marriageable age go to various places, but it seems my tendency to stay at home cleared any suspicion that I might have met with Dyson.
The same goes for the merchant. If I had been wandering around alone, I might have been suspected of meeting with him.
It was good that I didn’t go out much and took care of the household and my mother.
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After some light conversation, Scott left the room.
What should I do? Glancing back at the maid, I was greeted with a warm smile.
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“Please take a seat and wait.”
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It was not the atmosphere to ask what for.
While drinking tea and waiting, the door opened after a few minutes. I froze upon seeing the door.
There stood a person even I could recognize.
ㅤ
“Your Majesty Coleesh. . ..”
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