Chapter 74

“So, Kelly, have you been acquainted with Prince Bertrand for a long time?”

At Lord Nazel’s question, Kelly lowered her head and closed her eyes.

“…Yes. It was thanks to a chance meeting with Prince Bertrand in town that I was able to work at the Royal Castle. I initially worked as a maid for the Crown Princess; being scouted by the Princess’s attendants was unexpected.”

“It seems you’ve been in contact with him several times since moving to the frontier as well.”

“The Crown Princess seemed to be worried about me. Even after Lord Nazelbert took me in, Prince Bertrand would come to check on my situation.”

As Kelly spoke apologetically, Prince Bertrand chimed in to follow up.

“Don’t blame Kelly for keeping it a secret until now. She’s loyal to you, Nazelbert, but I told her to keep quiet. I was debating whether or not to pull a member of the House of Florescrus like you over to our side.”

“I’m not blaming her. Kelly is a precious member of our household and an excellent maid. I won’t deny her devotion just because she was connected to you. Besides, she never made a move that would harm us.”

I hadn’t doubted Kelly myself, but it seemed Lord Nazel had been observing various things without me noticing.

“Now then, Nazelbert. I’d like to ask for your cooperation from my end as well.”

“…You’ve already forcibly dragged me into Prince Leonard’s faction, haven’t you?”

“There’s that, but I want you to cooperate with me personally. It’s not a bad deal, is it?”

Lord Nazel didn’t seem particularly enthusiastic.

He ran a hand through his lustrous red hair, casting a troubled look toward the floor.

“To be honest, as long as the frontier is secure, I don’t care about anything else. Ordinarily, I’d refuse to get caught up in the Royal Family’s messes.”

“Won’t that idiot Robin just keep meddling anyway?”

“…That is the issue. There should be no reason for him to concern himself with someone he’s already cast out.”

“He’s got a nasty personality, that one. But his methods are far too sloppy. It’s about time the cracks started showing all over the place. I wonder how long the Royal Family can keep it covered up.”

Prince Bertrand’s eyes were filled with conviction.

“Even if I cooperate with Your Highness, there are conditions. At the very least, I need a promise that my mother and brother in the Ducal House will suffer no harm, and that Agnes and I can live peacefully here on the frontier.”

“You have no intention of returning to the Royal Capital?”

“None. I’ve taken a liking to Sutrena.”

“Fine by me, so lend a hand. Just like this recent incident, there’s a high probability Robin will try to make contact with you.”

“Understood. I’ve gathered all the evidence regarding his interference this time.”

Lord Nazel and Prince Bertrand talked for a while.

Thinking it wasn’t right to stay in a swimsuit forever, I asked Kelly to help me go change.

Once we returned to the room, Kelly spoke in a more subdued tone than usual.

“Lady Agnes, I am truly sorry. Even if I couldn’t speak of it, I hid the Prince’s existence and invited him into the manor under the guise of a merchant.”

I thought for a moment and shared my feelings with Kelly.

“It’s alright, Kelly. You can’t exactly defy an order from Prince Bertrand. Besides, I haven’t been troubled by it at all, and I’m actually grateful that he helped dispose of the things at the manor.”

“But…”

“The maids I had back at the Eventail estate always mocked me, calling me an ‘incompetent lady.’ They were all just puppets for my mother; none of them were people I could open my heart to. Even when I was hurt, they would look the other way. You were the first one, Kelly, to ever truly worry about me. Having someone care for me… it made me so happy.”

I gripped Kelly’s sleeve tightly and continued my plea.

“So, please don’t leave.”

Kelly turned her gaze toward me—still expressionless, yet now tinged with bewilderment.

“Yes…”

As usual, there wasn’t a flicker of movement on Kelly’s face.

And yet, to me… it looked as though her eyes were glistening just a tiny bit more than usual.