Chapter 7: The Weight of What I Do Not Know
“Thatâs true⌠why indeed⌔
With a wry smile, Roberts tilted his head.
The reaction reflected in my eyes didnât seem like something he was saying just to get through the moment.
“âŚHis Majesty has never once required attendants until now. That is precisely why his words toward you came as a surprise to us as well.”
Duke Michel had said the same thing.
And judging by the reactions of those around us, it was clearly common knowledge.
“By the way⌠do you happen to know what His Majesty did immediately after securing the throne following the power struggle with his siblings, Lady Flora?”
For some reason, Roberts directed that question at me.
But seeing no reason to hesitate, I simply shook my head.
“Execution. His blood-related siblings and those aligned with their faction were all executedâeveryone except children who had not yet reached ten years of age.”
The words he spoke described an incredibly brutal truth.
But as someone who knew how things had been back then, I could only think that it was only natural.
As far as I knew, Walter had been placed in life-threatening situations countless times.
He had been targeted for death simply for being in the way.
Even when he tried to flee far away, pursuers were sent after him, and he was nearly killed again.
That was all I knew.
But there was no way those who had chased him so relentlessly would have simply given up just because he reached my family home.
He must have overcome hardships I could never know and climbed to where he is now.
That explanation made perfect sense to me.
Which was why, even upon hearing that he had executed noblesâincluding his own siblingsâI didnât change my expression at all.
“âŚAre you not afraid, Lady Flora?”
After observing my reaction, Roberts suddenly asked me that.
“Afraid of what?”
“Do you not find His Majesty frightening, knowing what he has done?”
A man who had executed even his own blood without hesitation.
It was because I was about to serve such a person that he asked me that question.
Ah, I see.
So thatâs what this was about.
Understanding that, I answered calmly.
“Iâm sure His Majesty had his reasons for doing so. To judge him based only on surface-level facts, without knowing his circumstances⌠I could never bring myself to call him frightening.”
I spoke as if it were nothing.
There was no way I could know what had happened to Walter after my death.
After all, I had been given a new life.
I had intended to avoid learning anything about my previous life as much as possible.
Because I, of all people, had decided that such memories were unnecessary for Flora Waybeia.
Still, there must have been an important reason.
The young boy who had once held nothing but the title of royalty, with no support behind himâ
Had now risen to become king.
There must have been some powerful, defining event that drove him to claim the throne at any cost.
That was why I had no intention of blaming him.
“âŚI see. I feel as though I understand, just a little, why His Majesty chose you as his attendant, Lady Flora.”
Donât just come to your own conclusionsâtell me too.
That was what I wanted to say, but even when I tried to convey it with my gaze, Roberts simply nodded to himself repeatedly, satisfied.
This was hopeless.
“Come to think of it⌔
Suddenly, something came back to me.
Hearing the word âexecutionâ had brought to mind the moment of my death in my previous life.
I had said something to Walter just before losing consciousness.
“âŚHm.”
For some reason, only that part of my memory was completely missing.
No matter how hard I tried to recall it, all I could remember was a vague sense that I had said something foolish.
And yet, a part of me felt that this was only natural.
âI had lied to Walter constantly.
The reason was obvious.
Because I had filled my words with lies, my memories had become unclear.
“There is no distinction between high and low.”
From the moment I said those words, it had all been a lie.
I would have saved him regardless of whether he was royalty or not.
But I chose my words carefully, believing that was the best way to earn his trust.
In truth, I had simply thought it was ridiculous.
Because I worked in the royal palace, I knew better than anyone how harmless Walter had been at the time.
He had been forced to live modestly because he was born of a concubine.
And he had accepted that, living quietly.
I had seen it with my own eyes.
And yet, that same boy had been dragged into a filthy power struggle and nearly killed for reasons that had nothing to do with him.
That was why I had reached out my hand to him.
Because that child had done nothing wrong.
At the time, he hadnât even harbored the slightest desire to inherit the throne.
And during the few days we spent fleeing together, I came to understand the kind of person he was.
He had longed for an ordinary life, even if it meant living as a commoner.
He was far more emotional than I had expected.
When he saw me on the verge of death, his face twisted in desperation as he declared that he would not allow me to die.
That was the kind of person he was.
That was why, in my final moments, I chose those words.
“âââââââ”
But in the end, I still couldnât remember them.
“Well⌠Iâll remember eventually.”
I muttered quietly to myself, so softly that even Roberts walking beside me wouldnât hear.