Chapter 46: Royal Palace Envoy — Part 2

“Lady Maria, would you be able to speak to me as usual like this?”

There it was again—that pleading look!

—Isn’t that becoming a habit, Brian-sama?

But compared to his usual flawless “perfect noble gentleman” mode, this was much easier to approach.

So I timidly tried to express how I felt.

“You were so splendid and wonderful that I felt intimidated. I’m sorry.”

“I’m glad to hear that. I’ll be more careful from now on.”

No, I actually want to see that side of you too… but that would be far too selfish to say.

While I was struggling with that strange inner conflict, the envoy party arrived at the Cruz Count’s residence.

As we entered the grounds through the gate, Lloyd came out to greet us.

“We have been expecting you. I will guide the envoys inside.”

With that, he led us toward the entrance hall.

Since I was the official envoy, I walked at the front, followed by Brian-sama and my brother, with Bell behind them.

My father, who had been waiting in the hall, blinked repeatedly when he saw me.

He had been informed beforehand, but seeing it in person seemed to shock him.
To be fair, I also thought it was rather overblown.

Entering my own home accompanied by the son of a duke and my brother, the son of a count…

But given how things had unfolded, it couldn’t be helped.

Without delay, I said, “I have come to deliver a letter sent from the Belsia royal family to the Cruz Count’s house,” and handed the cloth-wrapped letter to my father.

The key household staff standing behind him had been holding their breath as they watched, but now they finally seemed to relax.

I also felt relieved and stepped back.

My brother came to stand beside me and said, “You did well,” praising me.

As he spoke, I sensed he was about to ruffle my hair, and at the same time, Brian-sama said “Stop that,” and caught his hand.

How fast could he move?
No wonder he was strong.
Still, honestly, Brother…

I whispered, “I’ll bite you, you know.”

Behind me, Bell was glaring as well.
After all, today’s hairstyle was one of her new designs.

“Now then, honored envoy, please take your rest here. We have prepared a welcoming dinner, and a servant will come to escort you when the time arrives.”

At my father’s words, Lloyd guided Brian-sama to his room.

My brother said, “I’ll be in my room,” and left.

I returned to my room with Bell.
Most of my clothes and belongings had been left here as they were.

So I hadn’t brought much with me for this visit.

When I returned to my room for the first time in a while, it felt strangely surreal.

My life at the palace now felt like another dream.
Even though I had already spent about a month there.

“Hey, Bell. This isn’t a dream, right? In less than eight days after the wedding, I met Brian-sama, Jason-sama and the others died, there was an attack, and now I’ve been working as a maid at the palace. This is reality, right?”

Bell answered energetically.

“Yes. And it has been confirmed that things will not end peacefully. Let’s brace ourselves and face it head-on.”

“You’re right. I have to stay strong.”

As I slumped and held my head, she gently draped a shawl over my shoulders and placed indoor slippers at my feet.

When I changed from my delicate shoes into comfortable indoor slippers, I felt relieved.

I stepped out onto the balcony to look at the garden.
The gazebo that had been blown up had been beautifully repaired.

New seedlings had been planted in the flowerbeds and neatly arranged.
They would likely bloom next year.

For now, the damage to our home had been minimal.

I wondered what had happened to the Marquis’ house.

In the end, who took Mary’s body?

At the palace, I had no access to such rumors.

My main source of information—my brother—was busy with household matters and his duties in the Royal Guard, and Brian-sama had been away as part of the condolence delegation.

The only one I could rely on was Bell, but most of what she heard from other maids was gossip.

Among those rumors were stories about this entire incident, though they had been twisted into absurd versions.

That Jason-sama had been a murderer with a preference for men, that the lovers had killed each other, that he had secretly been the leader of a band of thieves…

The variations were endless, and Bell had been exasperated.

It had been about a month and a half since then, so I wanted to confirm what version of the story had settled by now.

Despite the chaotic thoughts stirring within me, the scenery before my eyes was peaceful, as if nothing had happened.

In any case, I was alive now.

Thinking that made me feel more positive.

Just as I finished changing, a servant came to inform me that dinner was ready.

I picked up my usual fan and slowly stood.

When I entered the dining room, Brian-sama was already seated at the table.
Since I was being treated as the guest of honor, my seat was diagonally next to my father, while Brian-sama sat in the lower position.

I thought the envoy role had already ended, but it seemed we were still maintaining that arrangement.

My brother, who arrived later, sat across from me, with my younger sister beside him.

After greeting my father, I sat down and then greeted Brian-sama as well.

“You are as beautiful as ever. Surprisingly, this is the first time we’ve shared a table like this.”

“Now that you mention it, you’re right. We met under unusual circumstances and have been passing each other by ever since.”

Then I suddenly laughed.

“Even now, this isn’t exactly normal. Sitting above the son of a duke at the table…”

As we laughed together, my family—aside from my brother—and the servants seemed surprised.

Of course, Lloyd and Bell were exceptions.

Fortunately, the events of that day—the attack and how Brian-sama and I had behaved—had been kept secret by the household knights present, so the details hadn’t spread to others.

I chose sherry as my aperitif.

I took a sip of the sweet, rich liquid.

My brother, seated across from me, was drinking our family’s special vermouth.
He was recommending his favorite to Brian-sama as well.

After taking a sip, Brian-sama let out an impressed sound.

“This is different from the usual kind. It has a lovely aroma and a refined taste.”

“Right? It’s our family’s secret recipe. Friends come to visit just for this.”

My brother laughed, but then suddenly stopped.

He glanced at me and looked slightly guilty.

Seeing that, I immediately understood.

Jason-sama must have been one of those friends who came to visit like that.

As the meal progressed, my father addressed me.

“I know nothing about any connection with the Belsian royal family. Have you heard anything?”

“No, I haven’t heard anything either. Grandmother never once spoke about Belsia.”

“It’s troubling to accept an invitation without knowing anything. But we cannot refuse a formal invitation either. I wonder what kind of connection there was.”

My father looked troubled as he pondered.

When Brian-sama relayed what he had heard from the Belsian Queen Dowager, my father seemed somewhat convinced, and his expression brightened.

“I didn’t hear it from your grandmother, but I once heard from my aunt about the Belsian royal couple’s visit. Apparently, your grandparents met at that evening party.”

“Oh?” my brother responded in surprise.

“Great-aunt is still doing well, right? Maybe I should go ask her about it.”

“That would be good. I’d like to know, even a little, what kind of relationship they had.”

My father seemed fully satisfied now, his expression clear and bright.