Marcus smiled bitterly as if he knew everything.
“Actually, I should have already given up on it. But it didn’t work out.”
For some reason, Ines didn’t want to apologize to him. It wasn’t anyone’s fault to harbor feelings for someone and then let them go.
“Did you decide to accept his feelings?”
“I don’t think it’s appropriate to say that I accept his feelings. But I can’t think of anything else to say right now.”
When Ines laughed brightly, he laughed along. After a long silence, he raised his voice a little as if he had made up his mind.
“Everyone might try to dissuade Ines. They say you're going down a difficult path.”
She smiled bitterly instead of answering.
“But I don’t think so.”
“...”
“The fact that two people have the same feelings for each other is a miracle in itself. What problem would a difficult path be for someone who has met a miracle?”
After finishing speaking, Marcus stood up and stood tall in front of her. And he smiled brightly like that day. It was as if that smile had turned back time for the two of them.
Back to the time when Ines had not yet committed a sin, and so she could tell him to pursue his dream.
“So I will cheer you on. Just like you who cheered me on, even though it was clear that the path you were taking would not be easy.”
The round sun hung behind him. Marcus’s red hair, shining beneath it, still seemed to be the light scattered by the sun.
“I also really want to tell you this. Life is precious. No one else can live it for you. So do what you want to do. Don’t go until the moment of no return.”
Marcus smiled brightly, confidently, as he repeated her words. Ines gave him the same answer as he had.
“Yes, I understand. No, I will keep that in mind.”
After that, the two walked together in the quiet castle without saying anything. Ines tried to stop him, but he said that he definitely wanted to take her. Since the path they walked together was so warm, Ines didn’t stop him any longer.
Just as the road ended and the Imperial Palace was in sight, a sudden, damp wind that didn’t suit the dry weather blew past Ines’s neck. It was much warmer than other days, but strangely cool, giving her goosebumps all over.
As she walked toward the Imperial Palace, the chilly feeling grew stronger.
Ines wrapped the blanket still hanging on her shoulders a little tighter.
“Are you cold?”
Marcus asked quickly, but Ines tilted her head. It seemed more appropriate to say that she felt cool rather than cold.
“I think so...”
However, Ines, who couldn’t find any particular reason, stopped walking to leave him. Marcus stopped her when she tried to take off the blanket she had wrapped around her. Then he held it a little tighter and gave it to her.
“Just do it and go. You can return it later, or you can just use it. It’s not good, so you can throw it away.”
Ines looked down at her shoulder for a moment and nodded.
“I’ll return it to you next time.”
The two parted ways with proper etiquette befitting their status.
It was a calm greeting that promised to meet again, even though it was unclear when the blanket would be returned. Ines thought that was fortunate.
Ines used a small reception room on the second floor of the imperial palace exclusively. It was quite ironic, considering that her bedroom was hidden away from even the hallway.
No matter how favored a subject was, a mere maid couldn't receive her guest in the reception room of the imperial palace.
Nevertheless, Ines did not refuse the place the Emperor gave her. Ines would receive more and more from him in the future. It took practice to take it for granted.
When she entered, the guest Ines had invited was already there.
“You’re early.”
The one who Ines greeted happily was none other than Charlotte. Charlotte, who had been standing with a very tense face, let out a long sigh when she saw Ines.
“Whew...”
“What’s wrong?”
“I never imagined that I would be able to enter the Imperial Palace. I am still a criminal, let alone a noble.”
Charlotte would not have been able to enter through the main gate of the palace. Even so, it was unusual for a maid belonging to the temple to enter the Imperial Palace as a criminal.
“Are you very uncomfortable? It is easier to talk here.”
After Princess Manisut left, even the chief chamberlain treated Ines with respect. Those who saw this naturally began to carry out Ines’ polite request as a stern command.
It was becoming a very natural thing, without either the one making the request or the one granting it realizing it.
In other words, Ines was the real power in the palace. And even after realizing her position, Ines had no intention of denying it.
“It’s not uncomfortable. It’s just a little strange.”
As soon as Ines sat down, the maid of the palace came in to serve her. Charlotte looked at Ines with new eyes.
Not long ago, she was the woman who had been bathing happily in the forest with her.
“Another guest is coming.”
“Who...?”
Before Charlotte could finish her question, news of another guest’s arrival was delivered. When Ines got up, Charlotte followed her.
“Are you here?”
“Yes, Ines.”
The other guest was Casey, who had recently become the Empress's maid. She entered with a bright smile on her face.
The three of them sat facing each other in the reception room of the Imperial Palace, not in Romfield's cell.
Some time had passed since Ines had introduced the two to each other, but Charlotte still had difficulty adjusting to her new position. However, she was not the only one who felt this way.
Ines thought that this moment was truly miraculous.
Casey began by briefly talking about her daily life.
"I'm still learning, but I could easily tell that the internal affairs of the Empress's Palace were in a very serious state."
Ines nodded at Casey's words. As the Empress ran away, her closest maid disappeared with her.
The aide maid also left her seat. The previous power had been practically ousted from the palace. So everything had to start anew.
Casey explained in relatively detail what had happened. Ines listened to her story carefully.
The atmosphere in the reception room between the three of them was always gentle.
“How long will Charlotte have to return to the temple?”
“Yes, it’s really not that long.”
“What are you planning to do after that?”
Charlotte bit her lips for a moment. Her family probably wouldn’t accept Charlotte, a divorcee who had lost her noble status.
She had less than half a year left to live in this harsh world as a commoner.
“I haven’t... decided on anything yet.”
“If it’s okay, how about staying in the palace?”
“Yes?”
“Of course, the position of maid would be difficult. But I don’t think working here would be so bad.”
Charlotte was speechless for a moment.
“You’d be fine with it for the time being. Until you can make enough money to settle down, or until you find a new job.”
“Yes.”
“Really?”
Ines asked with a really happy voice. Charlotte nodded.
“Of course. It was really overwhelming. It’s not that long left now. It’s time for me to stand on my own two feet.”
“Then I’ll tell you so you don’t have to go to the temple again.”
“Is that... possible?”
“Of course, this is the royal palace.”
Casey, who was looking at the two, smiled gently.
“But what can I do in the palace?”
“There’s no need to decide right away. There’s still time.”
Ines thought for a moment before telling them why she had called them together. The requests and proposals she was about to make to them were by no means light. However, Ines absolutely needed these two.
Staying only in the palace came with more restrictions than expected. That meant there was a lot they could do for her in the future.
“Casey, Charlotte, I actually have a favor to ask of you two.”
Two pairs of eyes shining with firearms turned to Ines. Ines’s breath stopped for a moment at the sight of their eyes, which were clearly different from the ones she had seen at Romfield.
Ines caught her breath, went to the desk in the reception room, and took out a bundle of papers. She then brought them in front of them.
“Huh?”
Charlotte quickly recognized what they were, but Casey tilted her head.
“These are bank notes from Mondrae Bank.”
“Ah... Now that I think about it, I’ve seen it.”
Ines’ eyes sparkled at Casey’s words.
“Is that so? Where?”
When she tilted her head as if she couldn’t quite remember, Ines continued.
“It doesn’t matter where you saw it right now. Here’s what I want to ask you.”
Ines divided the bundle in half and held it out to them.
“I want to find out how much credit these banknotes have in the current system.”
“What do you mean?”
“I understand that banknotes are used as currency in the current system. But I want to know exactly what the range is. And what the conversion value is.”
Mondrae banknotes were being used without difficulty to purchase large items.
Weapons, military supplies, grain, etc. could all be paid for with banknotes and later exchanged for gold or sanbate. It depended on how the parties involved in the transaction negotiated.
“To put it simply, I want to know if you can actually live with these banknotes.”
But she also wanted to know if the banknotes could be used to buy and sell small items between people or in the market.
“You mean you want to know if you can buy fruit or bread with these notes?”
Charlotte had already referred to the banknotes as money. That was exactly what Ines wanted.
Making the Mondrae Bank the central bank of the Empire, thus creating a new unified currency that is not Sanbate.
“Actually, I should have already given up on it. But it didn’t work out.”
For some reason, Ines didn’t want to apologize to him. It wasn’t anyone’s fault to harbor feelings for someone and then let them go.
“Did you decide to accept his feelings?”
“I don’t think it’s appropriate to say that I accept his feelings. But I can’t think of anything else to say right now.”
When Ines laughed brightly, he laughed along. After a long silence, he raised his voice a little as if he had made up his mind.
“Everyone might try to dissuade Ines. They say you're going down a difficult path.”
She smiled bitterly instead of answering.
“But I don’t think so.”
“...”
“The fact that two people have the same feelings for each other is a miracle in itself. What problem would a difficult path be for someone who has met a miracle?”
After finishing speaking, Marcus stood up and stood tall in front of her. And he smiled brightly like that day. It was as if that smile had turned back time for the two of them.
Back to the time when Ines had not yet committed a sin, and so she could tell him to pursue his dream.
“So I will cheer you on. Just like you who cheered me on, even though it was clear that the path you were taking would not be easy.”
The round sun hung behind him. Marcus’s red hair, shining beneath it, still seemed to be the light scattered by the sun.
“I also really want to tell you this. Life is precious. No one else can live it for you. So do what you want to do. Don’t go until the moment of no return.”
Marcus smiled brightly, confidently, as he repeated her words. Ines gave him the same answer as he had.
“Yes, I understand. No, I will keep that in mind.”
After that, the two walked together in the quiet castle without saying anything. Ines tried to stop him, but he said that he definitely wanted to take her. Since the path they walked together was so warm, Ines didn’t stop him any longer.
Just as the road ended and the Imperial Palace was in sight, a sudden, damp wind that didn’t suit the dry weather blew past Ines’s neck. It was much warmer than other days, but strangely cool, giving her goosebumps all over.
As she walked toward the Imperial Palace, the chilly feeling grew stronger.
Ines wrapped the blanket still hanging on her shoulders a little tighter.
“Are you cold?”
Marcus asked quickly, but Ines tilted her head. It seemed more appropriate to say that she felt cool rather than cold.
“I think so...”
However, Ines, who couldn’t find any particular reason, stopped walking to leave him. Marcus stopped her when she tried to take off the blanket she had wrapped around her. Then he held it a little tighter and gave it to her.
“Just do it and go. You can return it later, or you can just use it. It’s not good, so you can throw it away.”
Ines looked down at her shoulder for a moment and nodded.
“I’ll return it to you next time.”
The two parted ways with proper etiquette befitting their status.
It was a calm greeting that promised to meet again, even though it was unclear when the blanket would be returned. Ines thought that was fortunate.
***
Ines used a small reception room on the second floor of the imperial palace exclusively. It was quite ironic, considering that her bedroom was hidden away from even the hallway.
No matter how favored a subject was, a mere maid couldn't receive her guest in the reception room of the imperial palace.
Nevertheless, Ines did not refuse the place the Emperor gave her. Ines would receive more and more from him in the future. It took practice to take it for granted.
When she entered, the guest Ines had invited was already there.
“You’re early.”
The one who Ines greeted happily was none other than Charlotte. Charlotte, who had been standing with a very tense face, let out a long sigh when she saw Ines.
“Whew...”
“What’s wrong?”
“I never imagined that I would be able to enter the Imperial Palace. I am still a criminal, let alone a noble.”
Charlotte would not have been able to enter through the main gate of the palace. Even so, it was unusual for a maid belonging to the temple to enter the Imperial Palace as a criminal.
“Are you very uncomfortable? It is easier to talk here.”
After Princess Manisut left, even the chief chamberlain treated Ines with respect. Those who saw this naturally began to carry out Ines’ polite request as a stern command.
It was becoming a very natural thing, without either the one making the request or the one granting it realizing it.
In other words, Ines was the real power in the palace. And even after realizing her position, Ines had no intention of denying it.
“It’s not uncomfortable. It’s just a little strange.”
As soon as Ines sat down, the maid of the palace came in to serve her. Charlotte looked at Ines with new eyes.
Not long ago, she was the woman who had been bathing happily in the forest with her.
“Another guest is coming.”
“Who...?”
Before Charlotte could finish her question, news of another guest’s arrival was delivered. When Ines got up, Charlotte followed her.
“Are you here?”
“Yes, Ines.”
The other guest was Casey, who had recently become the Empress's maid. She entered with a bright smile on her face.
The three of them sat facing each other in the reception room of the Imperial Palace, not in Romfield's cell.
Some time had passed since Ines had introduced the two to each other, but Charlotte still had difficulty adjusting to her new position. However, she was not the only one who felt this way.
Ines thought that this moment was truly miraculous.
Casey began by briefly talking about her daily life.
"I'm still learning, but I could easily tell that the internal affairs of the Empress's Palace were in a very serious state."
Ines nodded at Casey's words. As the Empress ran away, her closest maid disappeared with her.
The aide maid also left her seat. The previous power had been practically ousted from the palace. So everything had to start anew.
Casey explained in relatively detail what had happened. Ines listened to her story carefully.
The atmosphere in the reception room between the three of them was always gentle.
“How long will Charlotte have to return to the temple?”
“Yes, it’s really not that long.”
“What are you planning to do after that?”
Charlotte bit her lips for a moment. Her family probably wouldn’t accept Charlotte, a divorcee who had lost her noble status.
She had less than half a year left to live in this harsh world as a commoner.
“I haven’t... decided on anything yet.”
“If it’s okay, how about staying in the palace?”
“Yes?”
“Of course, the position of maid would be difficult. But I don’t think working here would be so bad.”
Charlotte was speechless for a moment.
“You’d be fine with it for the time being. Until you can make enough money to settle down, or until you find a new job.”
“Yes.”
“Really?”
Ines asked with a really happy voice. Charlotte nodded.
“Of course. It was really overwhelming. It’s not that long left now. It’s time for me to stand on my own two feet.”
“Then I’ll tell you so you don’t have to go to the temple again.”
“Is that... possible?”
“Of course, this is the royal palace.”
Casey, who was looking at the two, smiled gently.
“But what can I do in the palace?”
“There’s no need to decide right away. There’s still time.”
Ines thought for a moment before telling them why she had called them together. The requests and proposals she was about to make to them were by no means light. However, Ines absolutely needed these two.
Staying only in the palace came with more restrictions than expected. That meant there was a lot they could do for her in the future.
“Casey, Charlotte, I actually have a favor to ask of you two.”
Two pairs of eyes shining with firearms turned to Ines. Ines’s breath stopped for a moment at the sight of their eyes, which were clearly different from the ones she had seen at Romfield.
Ines caught her breath, went to the desk in the reception room, and took out a bundle of papers. She then brought them in front of them.
“Huh?”
Charlotte quickly recognized what they were, but Casey tilted her head.
“These are bank notes from Mondrae Bank.”
“Ah... Now that I think about it, I’ve seen it.”
Ines’ eyes sparkled at Casey’s words.
“Is that so? Where?”
When she tilted her head as if she couldn’t quite remember, Ines continued.
“It doesn’t matter where you saw it right now. Here’s what I want to ask you.”
Ines divided the bundle in half and held it out to them.
“I want to find out how much credit these banknotes have in the current system.”
“What do you mean?”
“I understand that banknotes are used as currency in the current system. But I want to know exactly what the range is. And what the conversion value is.”
Mondrae banknotes were being used without difficulty to purchase large items.
Weapons, military supplies, grain, etc. could all be paid for with banknotes and later exchanged for gold or sanbate. It depended on how the parties involved in the transaction negotiated.
“To put it simply, I want to know if you can actually live with these banknotes.”
But she also wanted to know if the banknotes could be used to buy and sell small items between people or in the market.
“You mean you want to know if you can buy fruit or bread with these notes?”
Charlotte had already referred to the banknotes as money. That was exactly what Ines wanted.
Making the Mondrae Bank the central bank of the Empire, thus creating a new unified currency that is not Sanbate.
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