With unexpected wonder in her heart, Beatrice headed toward her room.
And the one waiting for her in front of the door was none other than Clyde Dalton.
“Ugh.”
Beatrice let out a groan, wondering if she had to start Round Two from now on.
Whether he heard that sound or not, Clyde, who had been leaning against the door, lifted his head and looked at her.
With one hand in his pocket, he slowly took a few steps forward without saying a word.
‘Seriously, are you for real?!’
Meeting his blue eyes, Beatrice adjusted her posture even while screaming inside.
And she forced up the corners of her mouth, which felt as if they might spasm.
“Um….”
However, before Beatrice could ask what business he had as ‘Ria Kruger,’ Clyde calmly cut her off.
“Forget it. I didn’t come to bicker with you again.”
“Uh….”
“Take this.”
Beatrice, who had ended up receiving something he handed her out of nowhere, blinked rapidly.
Meanwhile, Clyde’s blue eyes scrutinized her in meticulous detail.
Her hair, face, neck, shoulders, arms, down to her very stance.
At that persistent gaze that seemed to be checking for something, Beatrice’s eyes narrowed.
Of course, Clyde was faster than Beatrice expressing her doubts this time as well.
“It’s hard to tell properly because of the glasses, but for now, it doesn’t look like you’re hurt or unwell.”
Having confirmed what he wanted, he exhaled a soft sigh and lightly touched the back of his hand to her forehead.
“You don’t seem to have a fever, either.”
“….”
“Get some rest for now. Don’t let your guard down, since you might not feel it while you’re tense. Make sure you eat that properly, too.”
“….”
Concluding with that motherly nagging, he turned around. Then he walked away without looking back.
“This is why, in the capital….”
He seemed to mutter something as he walked away, but Beatrice couldn’t hear it clearly.
Staring blankly at his retreating back, Beatrice slowly lowered her gaze.
Inside the cloth pouch he had thrust at her so abruptly were various items.
Ointment for scratches, a sedative, fatigue-relieving medicine, candies, and even hearty snacks that could make up a meal.
“…What’s with him?”
Though she muttered, wondering what it was, there was no way she didn’t know.
Having parted ways, the conversation they had just had must have crossed his mind.
‘Ah, right now, I’m a bit….’
‘A bit?’
‘A bit tired….’
‘Why wouldn’t you be? In order to investigate in the middle of the night, you jumped out of a window, ran into an assailant, got dragged off to prison, and exploded Orichalcum with your bare body to prove yourself on the spot. Naturally, you must be tired.’
Beatrice clicked her tongue lightly as she looked at the candy and snacks that impeccably reflected her preferences.
‘Excuses or not, this guy is already convinced I’m Beatrice.’
Are these glasses really functioning properly and not defective?
Fiddling with the frames for no reason and blaming the object, she shook her head slightly.
‘It belongs to Her Majesty the Empress; that couldn’t be.’
As expected, her behavior must have been the problem.
Or strictly speaking, Clyde was the strange one for being certain she was Beatrice over just those things.
At that moment, the voice of Head Maid Kaya suddenly drifted through her mind.
‘But if Lord Clyde recognizes Lady Beatrice despite all that…. It would surely be because of love.’
Along with her gaze, which had felt somewhat ticklish.
“…No way, what love.”
Clyde Dalton was not someone capable of doing such a thing.
‘Somehow, sleeping in the dungeon yesterday felt more mentally comfortable than right now….’
Beatrice stared down at the pouch with a subtle expression for a moment before finally stepping inside the room.
By now, this entire situation was starting to feel slightly foolish.
‘For now… let’s rest.’
Even while thinking she needed to wash up, Beatrice collapsed face-down onto the bed and closed her eyes just like that.
Just as Clyde had warned, fatigue seemed to rush in all at once now that the tension had eased.
* * *
With the Crown Prince joining, the atmosphere of the Marquisate began to change noticeably.
The first thing accomplished was naturally the retrieval and disposal of the Orichalcum dolls.
She had thought it would be difficult to handle the internal energy already accumulated since the amount of Orharcon was greater than expected, but……
“First, let us classify those near their critical point and those that are still in decent condition.”
“As for the energy contained inside… since the amount is too vast, shall we rather try dissolving it? Using holy magic, um, meaning something like holy water, as a solvent seems like it would work? Or applying purification magic to a liquid…”
It was surprisingly being resolved smoothly.
It was thanks to Clyde taking Beatrice’s advice and including individuals with magical discernment in the expedition.
At the same time, the interception of monsters and the investigation of the Dark Mountain Range also proceeded rapidly.
A powerful focal point in the Crown Prince had appeared, but it was largely due to the surprisingly seamless chemistry between Clyde and Cassian.
Beatrice’s gaze turned toward the two men facing each other on one side of the conference room.
Even while reading through the vast amount of materials and reports in their hands, the two were coordinating crucial matters without difficulty.
“Our side will take charge of the vanguard of the containment line. As we have ample experience confronting monsters, we will be able to respond accordingly as long as clear instructions are given.”
“Then let us have the Knights manage the security of the gateway and major strongholds. It is not vastly different from our usual duties, so there will be no need for a separate adjustment period. I heard that Marquis Downer has headed for the border?”
“Yes. The situation here is urgent, but the border cannot be neglected either. His Imperial Highness the Archduke’s subordinates agreed to accompany my father, so the Marquisate’s troops will not be lacking.”
“Then, as for the decision-making authority…”
“Ah. Before departing, he entrusted all authority to me, so you need not worry about the decision-making aspect.”
“Thank you for confirming.”
…Whew, this is really no joke.
Just listening to the conversation made Beatrice’s complexion pale slightly.
“Ria, you must focus. The documents are getting mixed up.”
“Ah, yes.”
At the reprimand from Head Maid Nao, who had arrived alongside Crown Prince Crowell, Beatrice quickly focused on the task before her eyes.
Having handed off the Orharcon matter to others, Beatrice was finally able to take on the ‘maid-like’ duties she had been trained in by Kaya.
“Lady Nao, refreshments for His Highness and the knights have been prepared. May I ask you to inspect them?”
“Very well. Ria, leave that task for a moment and come check this with me first. You know the inspection method, don’t you?”
“Very much so. To the point where my ears could bleed.”
“Reliable as always.”
It was just as Beatrice was about to rise from her seat, listening to Head Maid Nao’s laughter-tinged voice.
Cassian, who had been briskly exchanging work with Clyde, raised his head and gazed at Beatrice with silver-gray eyes.
Her head tilted briefly at his sudden gaze, but in that moment, Cassian spoke to Clyde.
“Speaking of which, there is a favor I would like to ask.”
“Ah, yes. Please, go ahead.”
“If it is acceptable, could I borrow Lady Ria Kruger?”
“…That is a rather sudden request. Might I ask why you need Lady Kruger?”
“With the Orichalcum matter as well, it seemed Lady Ria Kruger possessed considerable expertise in magic. I would like to seek some advice. With enhancing special weapons to face monsters as well, and in many ways.”
“….”
While Beatrice’s eyes widened into circles at Cassian’s out-of-the-blue proposal, Clyde’s gaze also turned toward her.
At his look that demanded to know what on earth she had done this time, Beatrice widened her eyes pointedly.
It was a silent protest that she truly knew nothing.
Reading her expression that showed she had no idea what was going on, Clyde continued nonchalantly.
“Ah. Lady Kruger is… currently occupied with assigned duties, so I believe it would be difficult. However, I understand what you mean to say. I will assign someone to assist you.”
“I have observed for a few days, and if her current duties are clerical assistance and maid work, I would like to ask the party concerned for her opinion first.”
Since the House of the Marquis tends to pursue practical utility.
Lightly brushing aside Clyde’s refusal, Cassian looked straight at Beatrice and spoke.
“How about it, Lady Kruger? Could you lend your strength for my sake?”
Comments (0)