I entered the studio, pencil in hand, staring blankly at the blank canvas. Noah said he had some business to attend to in Cynthia for a while. He had offered to join me again this time, but I had to wait for Countess Reuben's call, and since I wasn't in a position to go, I declined.
“You better not care what happens after this. It’s not your fault.”
That's what he said before he left.
Ayla's innocent smile suddenly comes to mind, and I feel a pang of emotion clenching my chest. I pick up a pencil and roughly sketch out her features, sketching them out as they come to mind. Large, kind eyes, droopy corners, small, timid lips. She has the feel of a harmless herbivore.
“I hate good kids.”
I sighed as I looked at the character sketch modeled after Ayla's appearance. If only I had the influence and power I had in the world, I could have helped her more effectively. Or maybe, just maybe, if her heart wasn't so fragile. If only we had, maybe we could have been friends.
Soon, as if to dispel the shadows of my delusion, a knock was heard at regular intervals on the door.
“Molly? Come in.”
To my answer, the door opened. Standing behind it were Renier, her face pale, and Molly, her gaze downcast, sighing deeply.
“Baroness Renier Elliot?”
“Countess Rotsilt.”
I stopped calling her "Lenny." She, too, tied her hair back with the ribbon I'd given her. After the unfamiliar title was exchanged, Renier's eyes narrowed sadly. Seeing that expression, I guessed that the anxiety I'd been harboring had finally materialized.
“What’s going on?”
“Ayla Delson... doesn’t seem to be making it through today.”
That meant there was no tomorrow for Ayla. I jumped up in revolt, then slumped back into my chair with a long sigh, like a deflated balloon. Renier, who was staring at me intently, spoke.
“The Princess is suffering from a mental illness. Because of it, many palace maids and servants have died.”
"The Queen must have known about this. She's been ignoring it, right? And you too."
Renier didn't answer. I accepted her silence as a sign of acceptance.
The royal family has been hiding and concealing Erita's evil deeds.
This was expected. The previous kidnapping, the murder of the Duke of Hessen's nanny, and the attempted murder of Daniel were all dismissed as innocent. The talk of a fair and impartial investigation, even of the Princess, was merely a show of plausibility.
“Can I get it now?”
At my question, Renier hesitated and once again delayed her answer. I slowly stood up. I guess I came here because there was still hope.
“Let’s go to the palace together.”
“What are you going to do?”
I raised my chin and answered with a blank expression.
“I will meet Her Majesty the Queen.”
Molly's eyes widened as she stood there listening. Perhaps thinking it was a reckless overreach, Renier shook her head and stopped me.
"It's useless. I've already had enough of appealing to emotions."
“If you are not confident, get out of here, Sir Renier.”
Noah's voice, telling me not to bother anymore, came to mind, warning me again, but I couldn't turn my back on this situation. If I let it go, the consequences would come back to bite me. And with it, the regrets that would haunt me for the rest of my life.
“No. I will go with you.”
Renier, who seemed to have made the same judgment as I, followed me.
Arriving at Tempshire Palace, I requested a formal audience with the Queen and was told I would have to wait about two hours.
While waiting in the audience's reception room, Renier fidgeted nervously. I covered her hand and asked her.
"Sir Renier, why don't you step forward and save her yourself? I don't mean to reprimand you."
"Because my mission and identity will be revealed. More broadly, information about a hidden organization that hasn't been revealed to the public will be leaked."
"...But why do you trust me and tell me? What are you going to do if I reveal it to the outside world?”
Renier looked at the flannel coin purse in my hand. She had made it for me.
"Because I've been a maid to Madam before. Even if that happens, I'm willing to accept it as payment for my sins."
“If we get caught, there will be consequences.”
"Yes, I have. I was already caught by Count Rotsilt, but he kept quiet. Thanks to that, I only had to write a report for disobeying orders. When Madam was kidnapped, I left my assigned duty station without permission to go rescue you."
This little knight was trying to save me. A tingling, yet unfamiliar feeling welled up in my heart. Why do people endure hardships to help and save others?
A faint wrinkle appeared on the bridge of her nose as she smiled, wrinkling her nose.
"I did it for my younger siblings, but living in Her Majesty's shadow and having to witness the misfortune of others was incredibly difficult and mentally exhausting. I felt a mounting sense of guilt, thinking I was the cause of their misfortune. It wasn't something I was suited for in the first place."
“If you quit, will you just go back to being an ordinary citizen?”
Renier turned her head and looked out the window, her smile still intact. She answered.
"I have been dishonorably discharged because I failed to complete my required retirement. My status here will be terminated, and I will never return."
“That means we came together just now...”
I clenched and unclenched my molars without realizing it. My voice, weakening and fading, trailed off, and I couldn't finish, but Renier answered clearly.
"Yes, I'm going to stop now. I felt ashamed of myself for judging others' lives against my own. Because of my fault, innocent people were held hostage for years, and it was exhausting. I think the times I enjoyed the most were when I was with Madam."
Was it the willingness to be exiled from their homeland to save Ayla? This place was known as the motherland, willing to go to war for a single Medea. Wasn't it a nation with such a strong national identity? My eyes were fixed on Renier's hair. Just as all hairs appear the same color, yet are not all black, hers was dark brown.
“Sir Renier. Are you a mixed-blood like me?”
Renier, who was following my gaze and holding his hair, answered.
“That’s right. Even though you’re of mixed blood, Madam has pitch-black hair, like a pure Medea.”
Renier added, her eyes narrowing and scanning my face carefully.
“You look a lot like someone I know.”
“Are you referring to the Duchess of Hessen, who is of the Grand Duke family?”
Just as she was about to answer, there was a knock on the door, and a servant came in with the message that Erita was looking for me.
I gestured to Renier to wait here and followed the servant.
The place I was guided to was the Princess's room. Erita, sitting seductively on the sofa, tapped her heels as she looked up at me with a smile. I caught my breath, maintained my composure, and asked.
“Did you find me?”
“Yeah, do you know why I called you?”
“I don’t know. I just came to find Ayla Delson.”
Erita lifted her chin proudly, clicking her tongue in laughter as if she was dumbfounded.
"Ayla asked me for protection. She seemed to fear harm from you, since she was carrying Count Rotsilt's child."
“I see. Wouldn’t a conversation between the parties involved be necessary to confirm the facts?”
I maintained a calm tone. Erita raised her eyebrows at me, who seemed completely unfazed by the fact that Ayla was carrying Noah's child.
"She was my exclusive maid, so I'm protecting her out of fear of her being killed. I can't let her face the thing she fears. You should go back now."
“Ayla Delson’s legal guardians are the Count and Countess of Reuben.”
“Are you saying that the Supreme Court Justice adopted her?”
He spoke as if she already knew all the cards I had. I unfolded a copy of the permit from my pocket.
"Yes. Here's a copy of the family court authorization. She's related to Countess Maria Reuben, and I've been granted the authority to act as her guardian."
"Could it be that you're plotting to kill Ayla Delson in collaboration with your relatives, the Counts of Reuben? I refuse to do so."
"I need to see her, at least to check on her health. Even if you're royalty, I can't infringe on the rights of her legal guardian."
This wasn't a dictatorship, so there were clearly elected institutions and legally enforced checks and balances to ensure power. Therefore, even royalty couldn't act as they pleased in the public eye. Of course, behind closed doors, they would likely engage in covert shredding operations to conceal their actions.
“Ayla and the child are healthy, so let’s go back now.”
Erita raised the corners of her lips and issued a warning. I warned her with a blank expression.
“I will meet Her Majesty the Queen in person.”
“Yeah, what difference would it make if you met? You’re both stupid.”
I couldn't defeat a Princess whose mother was the Queen. I sensed the hidden intention behind her easygoing words, but I wasn't completely helpless. The reason I cared so much was that I anticipated the outcome. There was a possibility that Erita would kill Ayla and frame the Count Reuben family and me for the murder.
“I am also a citizen of Medea.”
"So?"
Erita still held a contemptuous gaze toward the weak, mocking them. Originally, in the world, I belonged to the powerful, a member of the capitalist class. Therefore, I am well aware of the cowardly attitude of the weak, who survive against the powerful. Conversely, I also understand the weaponized weaknesses the weak can wield against the powerful.
"I plan to formally petition the Queen about the inequality, discrimination, and unfairness experienced by palace maids. If this doesn't resolve the issue, the public will be the judge."
I smiled faintly at Erita.
“You better not care what happens after this. It’s not your fault.”
That's what he said before he left.
Ayla's innocent smile suddenly comes to mind, and I feel a pang of emotion clenching my chest. I pick up a pencil and roughly sketch out her features, sketching them out as they come to mind. Large, kind eyes, droopy corners, small, timid lips. She has the feel of a harmless herbivore.
“I hate good kids.”
I sighed as I looked at the character sketch modeled after Ayla's appearance. If only I had the influence and power I had in the world, I could have helped her more effectively. Or maybe, just maybe, if her heart wasn't so fragile. If only we had, maybe we could have been friends.
Soon, as if to dispel the shadows of my delusion, a knock was heard at regular intervals on the door.
“Molly? Come in.”
To my answer, the door opened. Standing behind it were Renier, her face pale, and Molly, her gaze downcast, sighing deeply.
“Baroness Renier Elliot?”
“Countess Rotsilt.”
I stopped calling her "Lenny." She, too, tied her hair back with the ribbon I'd given her. After the unfamiliar title was exchanged, Renier's eyes narrowed sadly. Seeing that expression, I guessed that the anxiety I'd been harboring had finally materialized.
“What’s going on?”
“Ayla Delson... doesn’t seem to be making it through today.”
“What I couldn't let go of...”
“The Princess is suffering from a mental illness. Because of it, many palace maids and servants have died.”
"The Queen must have known about this. She's been ignoring it, right? And you too."
Renier didn't answer. I accepted her silence as a sign of acceptance.
The royal family has been hiding and concealing Erita's evil deeds.
This was expected. The previous kidnapping, the murder of the Duke of Hessen's nanny, and the attempted murder of Daniel were all dismissed as innocent. The talk of a fair and impartial investigation, even of the Princess, was merely a show of plausibility.
“Can I get it now?”
At my question, Renier hesitated and once again delayed her answer. I slowly stood up. I guess I came here because there was still hope.
“Let’s go to the palace together.”
“What are you going to do?”
I raised my chin and answered with a blank expression.
“I will meet Her Majesty the Queen.”
Molly's eyes widened as she stood there listening. Perhaps thinking it was a reckless overreach, Renier shook her head and stopped me.
"It's useless. I've already had enough of appealing to emotions."
“If you are not confident, get out of here, Sir Renier.”
Noah's voice, telling me not to bother anymore, came to mind, warning me again, but I couldn't turn my back on this situation. If I let it go, the consequences would come back to bite me. And with it, the regrets that would haunt me for the rest of my life.
“No. I will go with you.”
Renier, who seemed to have made the same judgment as I, followed me.
***
Arriving at Tempshire Palace, I requested a formal audience with the Queen and was told I would have to wait about two hours.
While waiting in the audience's reception room, Renier fidgeted nervously. I covered her hand and asked her.
"Sir Renier, why don't you step forward and save her yourself? I don't mean to reprimand you."
"Because my mission and identity will be revealed. More broadly, information about a hidden organization that hasn't been revealed to the public will be leaked."
"...But why do you trust me and tell me? What are you going to do if I reveal it to the outside world?”
Renier looked at the flannel coin purse in my hand. She had made it for me.
"Because I've been a maid to Madam before. Even if that happens, I'm willing to accept it as payment for my sins."
“If we get caught, there will be consequences.”
"Yes, I have. I was already caught by Count Rotsilt, but he kept quiet. Thanks to that, I only had to write a report for disobeying orders. When Madam was kidnapped, I left my assigned duty station without permission to go rescue you."
This little knight was trying to save me. A tingling, yet unfamiliar feeling welled up in my heart. Why do people endure hardships to help and save others?
A faint wrinkle appeared on the bridge of her nose as she smiled, wrinkling her nose.
"I did it for my younger siblings, but living in Her Majesty's shadow and having to witness the misfortune of others was incredibly difficult and mentally exhausting. I felt a mounting sense of guilt, thinking I was the cause of their misfortune. It wasn't something I was suited for in the first place."
“If you quit, will you just go back to being an ordinary citizen?”
Renier turned her head and looked out the window, her smile still intact. She answered.
"I have been dishonorably discharged because I failed to complete my required retirement. My status here will be terminated, and I will never return."
“That means we came together just now...”
I clenched and unclenched my molars without realizing it. My voice, weakening and fading, trailed off, and I couldn't finish, but Renier answered clearly.
"Yes, I'm going to stop now. I felt ashamed of myself for judging others' lives against my own. Because of my fault, innocent people were held hostage for years, and it was exhausting. I think the times I enjoyed the most were when I was with Madam."
Was it the willingness to be exiled from their homeland to save Ayla? This place was known as the motherland, willing to go to war for a single Medea. Wasn't it a nation with such a strong national identity? My eyes were fixed on Renier's hair. Just as all hairs appear the same color, yet are not all black, hers was dark brown.
“Sir Renier. Are you a mixed-blood like me?”
Renier, who was following my gaze and holding his hair, answered.
“That’s right. Even though you’re of mixed blood, Madam has pitch-black hair, like a pure Medea.”
Renier added, her eyes narrowing and scanning my face carefully.
“You look a lot like someone I know.”
“Are you referring to the Duchess of Hessen, who is of the Grand Duke family?”
Just as she was about to answer, there was a knock on the door, and a servant came in with the message that Erita was looking for me.
I gestured to Renier to wait here and followed the servant.
The place I was guided to was the Princess's room. Erita, sitting seductively on the sofa, tapped her heels as she looked up at me with a smile. I caught my breath, maintained my composure, and asked.
“Did you find me?”
“Yeah, do you know why I called you?”
“I don’t know. I just came to find Ayla Delson.”
Erita lifted her chin proudly, clicking her tongue in laughter as if she was dumbfounded.
"Ayla asked me for protection. She seemed to fear harm from you, since she was carrying Count Rotsilt's child."
“I see. Wouldn’t a conversation between the parties involved be necessary to confirm the facts?”
I maintained a calm tone. Erita raised her eyebrows at me, who seemed completely unfazed by the fact that Ayla was carrying Noah's child.
"She was my exclusive maid, so I'm protecting her out of fear of her being killed. I can't let her face the thing she fears. You should go back now."
“Ayla Delson’s legal guardians are the Count and Countess of Reuben.”
“Are you saying that the Supreme Court Justice adopted her?”
He spoke as if she already knew all the cards I had. I unfolded a copy of the permit from my pocket.
"Yes. Here's a copy of the family court authorization. She's related to Countess Maria Reuben, and I've been granted the authority to act as her guardian."
"Could it be that you're plotting to kill Ayla Delson in collaboration with your relatives, the Counts of Reuben? I refuse to do so."
"I need to see her, at least to check on her health. Even if you're royalty, I can't infringe on the rights of her legal guardian."
This wasn't a dictatorship, so there were clearly elected institutions and legally enforced checks and balances to ensure power. Therefore, even royalty couldn't act as they pleased in the public eye. Of course, behind closed doors, they would likely engage in covert shredding operations to conceal their actions.
“Ayla and the child are healthy, so let’s go back now.”
Erita raised the corners of her lips and issued a warning. I warned her with a blank expression.
“I will meet Her Majesty the Queen in person.”
“Yeah, what difference would it make if you met? You’re both stupid.”
I couldn't defeat a Princess whose mother was the Queen. I sensed the hidden intention behind her easygoing words, but I wasn't completely helpless. The reason I cared so much was that I anticipated the outcome. There was a possibility that Erita would kill Ayla and frame the Count Reuben family and me for the murder.
“I am also a citizen of Medea.”
"So?"
Erita still held a contemptuous gaze toward the weak, mocking them. Originally, in the world, I belonged to the powerful, a member of the capitalist class. Therefore, I am well aware of the cowardly attitude of the weak, who survive against the powerful. Conversely, I also understand the weaponized weaknesses the weak can wield against the powerful.
"I plan to formally petition the Queen about the inequality, discrimination, and unfairness experienced by palace maids. If this doesn't resolve the issue, the public will be the judge."
I smiled faintly at Erita.
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