Chapter 42: The Messenger
A heavy and sturdy carriage stopped in front of my house, and a messenger dressed in dazzling clothes, carrying a letter, descended from the carriage in front of the narrow entrance.
It’s amazing that they thought they could drive the royal carriage on such a narrow road. Isn’t it the first time that the royal carriage has stopped in this place, which is close to the slum area?
The neighboring residents have come to look at the situation and have been driven away by the soldiers who are guarding the messenger when they try to peep from the other side of the carriage.
“I proclaim the word of His Royal Highness Prince Elias Sipi Patrikainen, the Young Lion of the Kingdom, the Crown Prince of Dawn!”
The messenger raised his voice loudly, and Lex and I lowered our heads in unison.
“His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, is deeply concerned by the current situation caused by the loss of the job of Alex Mika Peltra as the head of the family and a researcher at the Royal Research Institute, and he extends his mercy and compassion to you by offering a helping hand.
Therefore, Vilhelmina Peltra is hereby appointed as a full-time secretary to the Crown Prince.”
I raised my head, looked at the messenger, and was about to open my mouth, but my speech was stopped by a hand held out horizontally. It was Lex’s.
He stepped forward and said, “I decline.”
Oh my, Lex is going to protect me
“What do you mean?”
“First of all, your premise is incorrect. I did not get fired from the Institute, I resigned. I have a clear outlook on our future lives, and I don’t need any help from His Highness.”
“Are you saying you reject His Highness’s kindness?”
“It’s not kindness, no matter how you look at it. If you’re going to offer help because I lost my job, I can understand if you hire me as an official… no, let’s say, as a technician. But it doesn’t make sense to summon my wife.”
Yes, it’s just a show. His position must be getting worse in the royal family or among the nobles. And neither him nor Miss Madetoya have the power to stop it.
That’s why he’s trying to drag me into this farce.
“Mrs. Peltra! You wouldn’t dare reject His Highness’s orders, would you?”
The messenger turns to face me
“I can’t accept.”
“What do you mean?”
“I said, I decline.”
“This is an order from the Crown Prince, equivalent to a royal decree. As a former Duke’s daughter with a high status, you should understand the significance, shouldn’t you?”
I hide my mouth with my hand and show a proud smile.
“You offer your hand, but threaten me with my life if I refuse.
“No, I’m not threatening you.”
“Even if it’s the Crown Prince’s order, I’ll have no choice but to refuse it if it would diminish His Majesty the King’s prestige or endanger the kingdom. Even if I were a loyal subject.
“What?”
“I understand you are a messenger.”
“Yes, I am.”
“Then I would like to ask, which crest should I display at the castle gate?”
“Well… I would suggest you put the Duke Periknen’s crest on it.”
Putting a cross on the shield is a way used when one is banished from the house, but that’s only if one has the crest. I don’t have anything with me since I was expelled from the Duke’s house.
“I don’t see the preparation of that crest. Also, as you can see, there is no carriage in the house, but if the crest is used, may I display it on the carriage?”
“Of course, it is only natural for you to prepare the carriage!”
That’s right, of course, if you are a noble.
“That would be contradictory to extend a hand in such a desperate situation. In the first place, I am just a commoner woman, was the job of a royal palace official open to women?”
The messenger’s face was getting worse and worse.
“…No. But His Highness made an exception.”
“Either the king or the parliament can make that exception. Do you have a permit that allows me to be registered as an official with either the king’s or the parliament’s seal?”
He wiped his sweat with a handkerchief on his forehead. I waited, but there was no answer.
“Well, it seems impossible then. Please inform His Highness.”
The messenger clicked his tongue and turned on his heel.
“Oh, yes.”
I stopped him.
“This is just a soliloquy, but His Highness may hire me as Miss Madetoya’s maidservant next time.”
“…Maybe so.”
“A maidservant who takes care of a person in the castle is generally not recognized unless their parent is a Viscount or higher. Of course, if you are a herald, you know this.
“I’ll pass it on.”
“Anyway, If you tell him that you will give me the rank of Viscount, a carriage with a coat of arms, a house big enough to hold a carriage in the first place, and dresses, jewelry, and cosmetics as gifts, I’ll listen to your story. Please let His Highness know that.”
Lex, who was standing next to me, burst out laughing.
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