𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟑𝟒: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧’𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞
With a jittery heart, I take one step after another towards the queen.
Even though the queen harbors resentment towards the Concubine Faction, it seems she doesn’t detest the neutral faction as much.
This time, I am being introduced by Nina from the queen’s faction, so there shouldn’t be a major problem.
ㅤ
I lined up in the long queue and it was my turn after about an hour.
In order to be respectful, I introduce myself while bowing in the Binemöer style that Rachael taught me.
ㅤ
“I’ve come on behalf of Marchioness Falkenhigh, my name is Lara Dosa.”
“Ah, I’ve heard about you from the Marchioness. Look up.”
ㅤ
The moment I slowly lifted my face, my heart pounded with a thud!!
I recognized the necklace that the queen was wearing.
I wanted to think it was a misunderstanding. However, there was no mistaking the necklace adorned with incredibly clear emeralds.
It’s the same necklace that my uncle ordered me to sell in the world before time rewound.
There were many stolen goods that I carried to the pawnshop “Forbidden Fruit”.
Among them, that necklace was special and is stuck in my memory.
Because I was made to check it as evidence many times before I was executed.
ㅤ
The crime of stealing the necklace from Binemöer’s queen was extremely heavy.
I can remember as if it was yesterday, my uncle blaming the crime on me and feigning innocence.
ㅤ
The necklace is in Binemöer because it was before it was stolen.
Who on earth and how did they take it out of the queen’s hands?
ㅤ
While thinking, I was hit with dizziness.
ㅤ
“――!”
ㅤ
Although everything in front of me was about to turn white, I managed to grit my teeth and endure it.
I am here on behalf of the Marchioness.
At the very least, I must fulfill the role I was given.
ㅤ
“Tell the Marchioness to show up sometime.”
“Yes, certainly.”
ㅤ
As I bow deeply, I am told to step back.
It seems I was able to finish until the end somehow.
ㅤ
Due to seeing the queen’s necklace, my heart is pounding heavily.
I don’t even feel like I can breathe properly.
Nina, worried about me in this state, peers into my face.
ㅤ
“Lara-san, are you okay?”
“Ah, yes. I was a bit. . . nervous, it seems.”
ㅤ
I manage to squeeze out the words.
Nina’s figure in front of me is blurred double, triple.
If I don’t rest for a while before going home, I might collapse somewhere.
ㅤ
“Nina-san, thank you for today. Thanks to you, I was able to greet Her Majesty the Queen.”
ㅤ
Nina was being called by a few acquaintances inside the venue. She probably can’t just pay attention to me.
ㅤ
“You can go and greet your friends, Nina-san, I can go home on my own.”
“Are you really okay?”
“Yes. It’s just nervousness, so I’ll rest a bit before going back to Marquis’ house.”
“I see.”
ㅤ
Nina grips my hand and invites me to have tea slowly next time.
She is really a good person. I can’t trouble her anymore.
After parting with Nina, I start walking aiming for the resting room.
ㅤ
The cold sweat hasn’t stopped since a while ago. My fingertips are trembling and I am hit with chills.
[Nya, Nyaa?]
ㅤ
Ga-chan, worried about me, peers into my face.
I wanted to reply to reassure her that I’m okay, but my throat was hoarse and I couldn’t get my voice out properly.
ㅤ
[Nya. . . . . . . . . . . .]
ㅤ
I stroked Ga-chan with all my strength, who was making an anxious voice. It seems that my bluff was caught.
Even so, just by seeing the queen’s necklace, my energy was drained this much. . . . . .
Perhaps the fear of execution and losing Florenci came back.
Finally unable to stand, I walked along the wall.
ㅤ
The resting room that Nina told me about is just a little further.
“Ah, you!!”
ㅤ
A familiar voice reached my ears.
Before I could recognize who it was, my arm was grabbed.
ㅤ
“You didn’t think it would be rude to disappear while I was speaking?”
“Ah.”
ㅤ
Reflecting in my blurred vision was her hair, as red as burning fire――she is Duke’s daughter, Lisa.
Having to meet her here, I must really be out of luck.
ㅤ
“How dare someone like you greet the queen? You’re so cheeky!”
ㅤ
Lisa’s hand was raised high.
There was no room for evasion, so I tightly closed my eyes, bracing for the impact.
“――h!”
ㅤ
Despite bracing for a slap, nothing happened.
When I cautiously opened my eyelids, someone had caught Lisa’s slender arm.
ㅤ
“Violence isn’t a good look in the palace.”
ㅤ
I looked up at the source of the calm voice. For a moment, my blurry vision cleared.
Dressed in the uniform of the royal guard was a handsome young man with silver hair and green eyes—Lord Montyver.
ㅤ
Lisa turned pale and tried to yank her captured arm away.
However, Lord Montyver didn’t let go.
ㅤ
“I heard something about being cheeky. Can you tell me what about her was cheeky? I quite like hearing such rumors.”
ㅤ
With a smirk like a devil’s, Lord Montyver interrogated Lisa.
Lisa stammered out a justification.
ㅤ
“W, Well, she isn’t suitable to exchange words with the queen, yet she was going to celebrate with her, so, uh, I thought she was being cheeky, and pointed it out.”
“Oh really?”
ㅤ
Lisa tried to pull her hand free again, but didn’t budge an inch.
Lord Montyver kept holding onto her arm, looking down at her seriously.
ㅤ
“You’re Duke Maine’s daughter, right?”
ㅤ
Perhaps happy that Lord Montyver remembered her, Lisa’s expression brightened.
ㅤ
“Y, Yes! My name is Lisa.”
“Ah, right. That was your name. I didn’t really remember, and don’t plan to in the future either.”
ㅤ
At his cold dismissal, Lisa’s face paled once again.
ㅤ
“I’ll tell you this once. The woman you picked a fight with was here as the official representative of the Marchioness.”
ㅤ
With a charming smile, Lord Montyver pointed this out to Lisa.
ㅤ
“It seems the cheeky one was you after all.”
ㅤ
With that, he suddenly let go of her arm.
Even though he hadn’t pushed her, Lisa fell down on the spot.
As a slightly surprised Lord Montyver reached out his hand, Lisa got up as if spring-loaded.
And then, made a quick turn, and ran off.
ㅤ
“She disappeared like she was running from a devil.”
ㅤ
It seems he was unaware of his devilish demeanor.
ㅤ
“Lara, that was a disaster, huh?”
“. . . . . . Yes.”
ㅤ
I wanted to thank him for his help, but I was at my limit.
However, I can’t collapse in front of him.
The rest room was right in front of me.
Just nodding and passing by would be fine. Just as I thought this and took a step forward, my body tilted heavily.
ㅤ
“Watch out!!”
ㅤ
At the same time as I heard Lord Montyver’s voice, my consciousness abruptly cut off.
Translator’s Blog
Blog
- Did Uncle Steve RAID Your Snack Again?
- Lacus Clyne: The Ultimate Waifu? A Gundam SEED Freedom Deep Dive
- Your Crush is With Someone Else? Channel Your Inner Samurai, Not a Sad Puppy Dog.
- Study Guide: Lofi or Punk Emo? The Soundtrack to Smashing Your Next Exam (Like a Boss)
- Itachi Uchiha: The Ultimate Husbando?
Leave a Reply