9th Grade Civil Servant In Another World Chapter 67 - Another World Con Artist (4)

“Don’t go.”

Erika said curtly.

“Royal authority on the continent has been dead for ages, and that includes Rubellia too. They can’t just order foreigners around at will. It’s an invitation, not a command. Make an excuse and decline, Lucas. No matter how popular we are, we’re still outsiders. People who only know Rubellia’s history superficially. Dealing with the nobles is already overwhelming enough—having to worry about royalty too would be a nightmare. It’s best not to go if at all possible.”

Daniel, on the other hand, was positive.

“Hmm, I think it might be fine to go just once. Still, it’s an invitation from the Queen, so refusing would be burdensome, and we don’t know if the Queen is truly interested or not. What if she just called us because we’re interesting foreigners? In other words, it might just be pointless worry on our part. Wouldn’t it be enough to decide after hearing what the Queen has to say first?”

Both had valid points.

Though we’re approaching this lightly, Rubellia’s political scene is just as much of a minefield as Schufaben’s.

We still haven’t figured out who has connections with whom, which families are connected by marriage, or whether ancestral grudges from a hundred years ago are still continuing to this day.

We’ve been maintaining our position as ‘foreigners who know nothing’ and acting cheerfully, but if the royal family starts taking interest in us, would that be possible?

On the other hand, if we could just secure the royal family as our massive backing, we could cast aside all the nobles we’ve been sweet-talking until now and just focus on the Queen alone. Conveniently so.

“Fortune or misfortune. Opportunity or trap. I’m not sure. And there’s no time to think. How about we decide with a coin flip? Heads is Erika, tails is Daniel!”

I pulled out a coin from my wallet and flicked it.

Clack!

I caught the spinning coin mid-air and placed it on the back of my hand, then slowly lifted my hand.

“Tails came up. Can’t be helped.”

“Lucas. I saw you manipulate the coin. Just say what you want instead of doing something so crude.”

“Hahaha!”

I burst into loud laughter and handed the coin to Erika.

“Sorry, Erika. It was a joke. I’m going. Turning crisis into opportunity is my specialty, isn’t it?”

“That’s really an annoying thing to say.”

Daniel’s face showed a smile as he said that.

“But it’s also something I can’t deny. What about you, Erika?”

“Do whatever you want. When have you ever listened when we tried to stop you? That’s why I agreed for you to be the leader. Go wild to your heart’s content.”

Erika’s voice was as sharp as always, but her eyes were gentle.

“Thanks for trusting me, friends.”

“Don’t say disgusting things like that.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

***

The day after I sent my reply to the chamberlain, the Queen sent a carriage.

‘Strangely, I don’t have a bad feeling about this. My heart’s beating normally too.’

I muttered to myself as we passed through the garden of White Palace, which bloomed with flowers even in winter.

I was quietly taking deep breaths and checking my pulse.

I usually get a chilly, anxious premonition before something big happens.

But now, even though the major event of a royal audience was right around the corner, I didn’t feel nervous at all.

‘Must be a very good sign.’

White Palace was truly vast, magnificent, and complex.

“Please come in.”

Following the etiquette I’d been lectured about ad nauseam by the chamberlain, I walked with a deeply bowed back, finally stopping at a distance where I could barely see the Queen’s feet before raising my head.

In the vast audience chamber, the Queen sat in proper posture on her golden throne.

My gaze, which had traveled up to the Queen’s face, came to an abrupt halt.

The Queen, who was said to be ninety years old this year, looked no more than thirty at most, even being generous about it.

Excluding the white hair she’d kept for authority, she truly looked about my age.

‘Right. She’d be magically maintained. Damn this rotten world.’

I momentarily recalled Supreme Leader Kruger I’d seen just once in person. He too had the appearance of a young man in his twenties.

The life expectancy of ordinary people in this world is around sixty to seventy years. However, the upper classes usually live over eighty years, sometimes up to one hundred and twenty.

Once again, what a rotten world!

‘Well, it’s none of my business.’

I quickly organized my thoughts and lightly kissed the hand the Queen extended.

“Lucas Redan from Schufaben greets Your Majesty the Queen.”

The Queen smiled gently. It was a smile that naturally radiated benevolence.

As a salesman, I’d developed something of an eye for people. But even a complete amateur without such insight would immediately know that the Queen was an extremely gentle and good-natured person.

That was clear from the information I’d gathered while staying in Rubellia, as well as from Lucas’s memories.

‘They said she had the least damage among all continental nations during the revolution. Now I see why.’

Queen Marianne I was beloved by all her people.

“I’m sorry for calling you so suddenly. I hope I haven’t caused any inconvenience?”

At the Queen’s words, I demonstrated the elegant gestures I’d practiced hard.

“Such words are inappropriate, Your Majesty. When our gracious Queen has sent an invitation, how could I harbor such impious thoughts? Rather, I was so excited last night that I couldn’t sleep.”

“Hoho, you really are as eloquent as the rumors say, young man.”

The Queen smiled and rose from her seat. The hem of her pure white dress spread like flower petals. She came down from the platform, supporting herself with a pure gold scepter.

“Let’s dispense with the tedious formalities here. Lord Redan, I was so surprised when I heard the rumors. A descendant of royalty, they said.”

“Your Majesty, why do you show such interest in this insignificant foreigner?”

The Queen stared at my face with an intensity that was almost uncomfortable.

I too risked impropriety by meeting her eyes. My intuition was telling me to do so.

Thanks to that, I didn’t miss the emotion of ‘longing’ that flickered through her gentle brown eyes.

“It’s amazing. Even after so much time has passed and several generations of children have been born, Lord Redan truly resembles Charlotte so much.”

“Ah…!”

In that moment, a face flashed in my mind.

Charlotte Avenne.

My—no, Lucas’s great-grandmother.

Seeing me make a dumbfounded expression, the Queen smiled softly and began walking.

“Shall we take a stroll through White Palace together? I have many stories I’d like to share.”

“It would be my honor, Your Majesty.”

I bowed deeply in respect and followed behind the Queen.

After erasing the stupid expression from my face and trying to appear composed, I found it hard to suppress the foolish grin that kept threatening to emerge.

‘I can use this!’

The thread had fallen into my hands.

***

“I greet Your Highness the Princess!”

Marianne was frightened by Charlotte Avenne, who bowed with her crisp, ringing voice.

She’d been told Charlotte was one year younger at ten years old, but her height that was taller than her peers, bold gaze, and fearless attitude made Charlotte look about thirteen.

Marianne, who had been frail from birth, barely managed to speak after her nanny patted her encouragingly.

“It’s… nice to meet you…”

Seeing her almost whimpering, Charlotte shouted cheerfully again.

“Today we’re going to climb trees!”

“Cl-climb trees?”

“Yes! Grandfather said there’s nothing better than physical activity for children to become friends!”

Charlotte toddled over and held out her small hand.

“I’ll escort Your Highness!”

Overwhelmed by her energy, Marianne took her hand in bewilderment.

Charlotte’s grandfather was right. Through the unfamiliar game called ‘tree climbing,’ Marianne became friends with Charlotte.

Charlotte was granddaughter of a count. Thanks to that status, she could be chosen as Marianne’s playmate.

Oh, of course there was another reason.

The King, whose seed was weak, had obtained only Marianne after four marriages.

And since Marianne, who would almost certainly become Queen after his death, was too innocent and timid to be considered royal material.

So they brought in Charlotte, the granddaughter of Count Avenne, who was similarly an only child and notably known for being spirited and lively, as a playmate.

The King’s choice was correct.

The two quickly became close, engaging in everything from playing house to horse racing, from reading books to playing ball games.

They would take picnics with sandwiches and pies they’d made imitating the cooks, or swim in the garden pond.

Marianne gradually learned Charlotte’s bold and fearless aspects.

Of course, she didn’t become a wild horse like Charlotte. Her innocence simply evolved into kindness, and her timidity into consideration.

However, there was one thing the King hadn’t anticipated.

Marianne and Charlotte became inseparable soulmates.

So much so that when Charlotte announced her marriage, the grown-up Marianne burst into heartbroken tears.

“Lotte, don’t go! What will I do without you!”

Seeing Marianne crying so hard her handkerchief was in tatters, Charlotte bit her lips anxiously.

“Your Highness! How can someone who will soon become Queen throw such a tantrum! Stop crying this instant!”

“Don’t call me that!”

“Sigh, my dear Mari, my sweet Mari. Please don’t cry. My heart feels like it’s being torn apart leaving you behind. But it’s just a neighboring country. I can visit often. If you invite me, my husband won’t be able to stop me!”

“But, but…!”

“I’ll write often. So much you’ll find it annoying. Enough to bury you in a pile of letters.”

Marianne finally calmed down and nodded, and only then could Charlotte leave with peace of mind.

And she kept her promise.

While Marianne became Queen, issued royal decrees, and governed the country, Charlotte wrote at least one letter per week.

The wedding scenery, saying she missed her, stories of big fights with her mother-in-law, saying she wanted to see her, her determination to remodel the garden to her taste though she liked the magnificent mansion, bragging about how wonderful and kind her husband was, jokes about how they would have chatted all night if she’d been there, prayers for her continued well-being…

Marianne also made sure to find time in her frantically busy schedule to write replies.

And she absolutely sent an invitation once a year to bring Charlotte’s family to Le Chapen.

Charlotte’s husband was Count Redan of Schufaben. The Redan family had split from the royal family about a hundred years ago but still maintained their wealth and influence.

Count Redan was a gentle, handsome man. His blonde hair and green eyes were very beautiful. Charlotte, with her sharp features and black hair and eyes, looked somewhat plain in comparison, but Marianne was satisfied since the two had such a good relationship.

Thus their friendship continued.

For about forty years.

***

「Mari, how wonderful it would be if you were beside me now. I don’t know if this letter will even reach you.

I can hear the angry shouts of the people outside my window. People I cared about are throwing stones at my house and shouting curses.

The gentleman who would tip his hat respectfully when I walked the streets, the grandmother who would slip me apples with her wrinkled hands, the little children who would grin and say our territory was the best place to live.

They all have the furious expressions of demons, pouring out curses I can’t even bear to repeat. Calling me a wicked witch from a foreign land is among the mildest.

Oh, my hands are trembling.

Ben and Elias have gone out with guns. But there are thousands of them and not even dozens of us.

Gunshots, screaming.

Marianne, did we really do wrong? Must we be stabbed to death with spears just for sitting in this position, at the end of this bloodline?

For freedom and republic?

I don’t know. But if that’s what they want, I could give them those hollow ideals as much as they wish.

If only they would let my husband and son, and my daughter-in-law and young grandson go safely.

I’m going to go outside now.

Marianne, I hope you’ll make a wiser choice than I did. You’ll be able to.

I send you all my friendship.

—Your little Lotte.」

Marianne’s hands trembled.

The servant who brought the letter sobbed before her.

Charlotte had been stabbed to death by the spears of the swarming townspeople, and Count Redan shot himself after being shot and paralyzed from the waist down. Their son had gone mad. The daughter who had married and moved to another region was missing and it was unknown whether she was alive or dead, and only the daughter-in-law and grandson had barely escaped the townspeople’s notice.

This had happened just a month ago.

Marianne read the letter over and over. And she also read the documents submitted by her ministers.

The entire continent was going mad.

She rose from her seat and walked steadily. Pushing past her bewildered retainers, she headed toward the people gathered in front of White Palace.

She removed her crown. Her white hair cascaded down.

“I shall relinquish this. Rubellia shall be reborn today as a nation of the people.”

The entire city shook with cheers.

Amid the cries praising her, Marianne wept.

She missed Charlotte.