Episode 47. The Missing Servant Medal
A hard, round metal.
When I unfolded it, it was a servant's medal.
When I looked at Sir Rond in surprise, he pretended not to notice and turned away, looking at the distant mountains. When I looked around, I saw Prince Kydel smiling arrogantly over his shoulder.
He gracefully turned around and returned to His Highness Grayon, avoiding my surprised gaze.
His Majesty the Emperor's servitor then called His Highness Grayon and the servitor, and the two walked toward His Majesty.
I panicked. My lips moved on their own.
'That guy must be crazy! Did he just give me his medal? He's going to go before His Majesty the Emperor without his medal?'
I hoped Prince Kydel would look back just once. Then I could throw him the medal.
However, he just walked away from His Highness Grayon, dressed in his fancy uniform.
"Ha!"
When I turned my head, Her Highness the Princess, who had seen what I was holding in my hand, was glaring at me fiercely.
Where did you get the medal?
'I'm going crazy!'
Prince Kydel was already standing in front of His Majesty the Emperor.
I finally accepted the situation and thought with a complicated heart.
'I will not forget your heroic sacrifice, you crazy bastard.'
I pinned the medal on my chest in front of Her Highness, the Princess.
'You damned bitch.'
For the first time, I cursed Her Highness the Princess.
The Emperor's voice was heard.
"Why didn't Prince Kydel wear the medal?"
Then His Highness Grayon glanced at Prince Kydel and answered.
"Only the insignia that Your Majesty personally bestows may be worn on the uniform, Your Majesty."
"I see. Whether or not there is a medal, Locard Kydel is still a loyal servant of Grayon. Aren't the two of you bound by life?"
Prince Kydel bowed his head politely, and His Majesty the Emperor gave them a congratulatory speech, asking for God's protection during the competition.
Next were Her Highness Miliora and I.
The Princess turned around and walked in front of His Majesty first, and I quickly followed her, holding onto the hem of my dress.
His Majesty the Emperor shifted his gaze from His Highness Miliora to my face. I lowered my eyes and held my breath at his lingering gaze.
“Do your best in the competition. I pray for the protection of the gods.”
Then, the Princess and I, as well as the attendants, stood in front of His Majesty the Emperor in order. Now it was time to announce the competition. His Majesty the Emperor’s attendant unfolded a scroll and spoke loudly.
“I will announce the start of the competition for the Princes and Princesses of the great Tagar Empire and give them the first task. ‘Prepare a birthday gift that will satisfy His Majesty the Emperor the most.’”
After His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress left together, the Princes left the government hall in order. When the Princess and the attendants were the only ones in the government hall, Her Highness Miliora glared at the medal on my chest and then left as if she were angry.
‘That is very...’
Even the Emperor would curse in places he couldn’t see, but it was only Her Highness the Princess who cursed. She must have thought that she would not suffer any loss if she embarrassed me in front of His Majesty the Emperor, because her anger was so intense that it made my bones ache.
I watched the back of Lord Rond catching up with Her Highness the Princess, and then I followed him, grumbling to myself.
***
I returned to my room and curled up on the bed, groaning. My whole body felt aching as the tension eased.
As I lay down, the medal of the servant still on my chest felt heavier and heavier, pressing down on my chest.
“What on earth are you talking about...?”
Her Highness the Princess was also offended, but I was at a loss as to why Prince Kydel would do such a thing.
His face, smiling and turning his eyes away from Lord Rond, lingered in my mind.
Prince Grayon also seemed unaware of Prince Kydel’s actions, so what would have happened if he hadn’t been able to make an excuse so quickly?
It was my fault for getting into trouble, but I couldn’t allow the aftereffects to spread to others.
“Anyway, I don’t like it!”
I roughly got up, then groaned in pain and sat down. Then I carefully took off the medal, examined it, and put it in a drawer.
I have no ambitions. Her Highness Milliora is no different.
Her greed is limited to a pleasant tea party and the ability to square her shoulders and greet Her Highness the Empress.
My role is to help her successfully complete this competition.
I thought I could do that with all my might, but now I wasn’t even recognized as a maid and was only given Prince Kydel’s medal.
Everyone had different opinions on whether or not an illegitimate child should have such things.
The Count believed it was possible, and Her Highness considered it a terrible insult.
I didn’t know whose idea was right.
All I knew was that I needed this to achieve my dream.
But now that I was in the position of holding someone else’s medal, my mood was mixed and messed up. I had to return it to Prince Kydel, but I couldn’t bring myself to go see him.
I felt embarrassed and grateful, but at the same time, I wondered what he was thinking.
I thought he was trying to silence me about knowing the secret of His Highness Grayon’s health, but he didn’t need that.
A bribe is something you give to someone stronger than you.
Even if he owed me a debt, I didn’t think I could be of any help to him in the future.
Sometimes, I could sense a mixture of interest and suspicion in the way he looked at me.
Sometimes, his eyes filled with suspicion reminded me of an eagle circling high above my head.
The first lion's son might have thought that I, an illegitimate child who had been recognized by another lion, was a strange being.
However, that was no proper evidence to explain his actions.
The more I thought about it, the more my mind became confused.
'Locard Kydel... '
It was simple to think about. He saved me from a difficult situation. So I should be grateful.
I would never have taken on such a burden for a woman who wrote me abusive letters in such an important position.
I envied his boldness and courage, but also felt resentful.
I ruffled my hair in a complicated mood, and then I thought that maybe I was so restless because I had never received such kindness.
In the end, I gave up thinking.
'What, would he have done it for me? It was a crazy man doing a crazy thing.'
Muttered words did not make me feel any better.
So I had to curl up in my aching body and chew on this absurdity.
My master drove me to the edge of a cliff, and the crazy man who was no better than my enemy saved me.
***
“What are you doing?”
Grayon asked Locard in a low voice in the hallway outside the government hall.
But Locard’s answer was innocent.
“I did it according to the rules of the conquest. And I trusted Your Highness’s ability to improvise.”
Grayon didn’t even scoff at his explanation.
“You... do you have feelings for that bastard?”
Grayon furrowed his eyebrows nervously, but Locard narrowed his brows and answered.
“I do. Feelings.”
“Locard!”
“She should have been your maid from the beginning. Your Highness needs capable people of various classes by your side. Don’t you know that?”
“Don’t you think that your words and actions are contradictory?”
Grayon’s point was correct.
Locard’s actions of coveting Lorisha Loire and helping her settle down as Milliora’s maid were contradictory.
However, Locard frowned slightly as he looked at the distant mountains, then smiled.
“I’m trying to take a long-term view.”
As Grayon turned around nervously and walked away, Locard caught up with him and said,
“Your Highness, you do feel sorry for her, don’t you? If you knew it would turn out like this, then you would have said so.”
Grayon’s mouth snapped shut at Locard’s question.
“It’s already past time. You should think carefully about a birthday present for His Majesty the Emperor.”
“I’ve already thought about it.”
Grayon quickly smiled warmly, and Locard narrowed his eyes and smiled.
“But that’s not easy, Your Highness.”
***
The next day, I looked down at the attendant’s medal and thought about it. Since the competition had started, I should wear the medal, but it wasn’t mine.
I hesitated and put the medal on and headed to Her Highness Milliora’s reception room.
I wanted to return the medal to Prince Kydel, but he hadn’t returned from the academy yet.
When I stood in front of the door, Eria widened her eyes in surprise at my medal, then smiled and opened the door.
“I greet Your Highness, the Princess.”
I went in and offered an example, but Her Highness the Princess didn’t even pretend to hear. She really hadn’t changed at all.
Instead, the Tea Party members all looked at my medal. Even though they were women, it was a little embarrassing to have people staring at my chest.
They looked at my face with envy from the medal, then pretended not to know me again.
Then, Keryl glanced at me and said to the young ladies,
“Now, everyone. Let’s continue preparing the birthday gift for His Majesty.”
What?
What are you, ladies who aren't even maids, talking about now...?
Keryl glanced at me with a triumphant smile and spoke forcefully as if she wanted me to hear.
"If we don't help Her Highness with the competition, who will?"
"Of course, of course!"
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