It was that evening.
“Is Redian still not here?”
“I’ve sent someone to him several times, but they said he would come after training,” Aeron responded to my question.
By the afternoon, everyone except Redian had finished their uniform fittings. Those were the same people who were being harassed in the underground castle, but I fed them well, let them sleep well, and even put them in uniforms… They would have quickly ventured into the entertainment business.
If I hadn’t known their futures, I might have done so. Unfortunately, they were talents destined for significant roles in the future, which was a pity.
“Aeron, it wouldn’t be possible to remove their masks for this award ceremony, would it?”
“No, it’s impossible!” At that moment, Bergman, who had been sewing by hand in a corner, shouted vehemently. “There’s been a lot of talk about our masked knights. It’s like one of their identities!” He was usually easygoing and laughed about everything, but he was stubborn about this.
“I think it’s better to keep the masks on. If their faces were exposed…” Aeron hummed in agreement, shaking his head.
There were even rumors among the maids who had seen Norma passing by, exchanging drawings of them.
“It’s a shame.”
After all, the year Redian became the crown prince, lovesickness spread like an epidemic, so, well.
“Redian’s fitting can be done by me, so let’s call it a day. If it’s too late, we can reschedule for tomorrow.”
“But you have to deal with work from the morning tomorrow; I’m not sure if we can match the timing.”
“Let’s wait as long as we can. If he doesn’t come, it can’t be helped.”
It seemed like we might have to wait past midnight.
I sent Bergman and Aeron back, thinking, who’s the norma and who’s the master here? This guy was making me wait for him.
How long had it been? Knock, knock.
What, he’s coming now? I lifted my head at the knock that came after a long while. I hadn’t realized it, but it was well past midnight.
“Come in.”
The door creaked open. That politeness was too unfamiliar to our Redian.
“Aeron, why are you back?”
“Princess, I apologize for the late hour. It’s not urgent, so I thought about telling you in the morning, but Daisy mentioned you were still in the office.”
“Why? What’s so urgent?”
My heart suddenly felt uneasy. What could Aeron possibly have to tell me at this hour?
“Ah, it’s nothing major, but there was a small fire in the west building’s archive.”
“What? A fire? Is anyone hurt?”
I was greatly alarmed by the mention of fire, but Aeron remained calm.
“Everyone is safe. It was just a small fire that spread a bit, so there shouldn’t be any significant damage.” And then, Aeron added, “Just a few documents were burned, so I was hesitant to report it…”
Huh? Only a few documents were burned? It was a relief that no one was hurt and there was no other damage, but still.
“But a fire is a fire, right? What were the west building’s butlers and the duty guards doing?”
“At that time, the guards were patrolling, and the butler was found asleep in the hallway.”
“What?”
I could understand the guards patrolling. But the butler asleep in the hallway?
“When the guards are away, the reserve should patrol inside the building. What was the duty reserve doing?”
“Ah, well, um, it might sound odd to say, but the duty reserve was also found… asleep.”
“…”
Asleep? Asleeeep?!
My expression instantly soured.
“That, Princess. I spoke directly to the butler and the reserve myself.” Sensing the atmosphere turning grim, Aeron hurriedly added, “They both claim to have been wronged. The butler said he fell asleep as if he had lost consciousness, and the duty reserve said he wasn’t asleep but had passed out.”
It sounded like the world’s biggest excuse contest. Though it was absurd, if Aeron was reporting this directly to me, there must be a reason.
“Furthermore, today’s duty reserve was Phil Roberto. From what I’ve observed, both the west building’s butler and Roberto are not the kind to make such mistakes.”
It wasn’t a wrong assessment. If someone had risen to the position of butler, they would have worked at the duchy for a long time, with excellent performance and attitude. And Phil was a knight known for his diligence, even to my ears. That’s why I had been eyeing him for a position as a trainer for Norma.
“Why would they suddenly pass out?”
Aeron shook his head as if he didn’t know himself. “It’s quite ambiguous.”
“Yes. Considering the minor impact of the incident, the butler, and Phil’s usual work ethic, I think it might be best to let it go.”
After a moment’s thought, I stood up. “Still, just in case, I should go to the west building by myself.”
It was a relief that it wasn’t a big deal, but I felt I needed to see it with my own eyes to be reassured.
“I’ll prepare the carriage, so please take your time coming out.”
It seemed like it was too late for Redian to come anyway. I put away the documents I was reviewing and headed for the hallway when,
“…Master.”
“Rere?”
As I turned around, Redian was walking towards me from the end of the hallway. He was wearing only a white shirt, despite the late hour, without his coat.
“Why are you going out so late?”
“And what about you, coming this late?”
“You told me to come as soon as training was over.”
Well, yes, but…
“Let’s call it a night, Redian.” I checked the time again and spoke to Redian. “I heard there was a small accident in the west building, so I need to go check it out.”
“Ah, I heard about that too. A small fire.”
Redian, who had been looking down, looked up at me again. “They said there wasn’t any major problem. No one was hurt.”
The dim light of the hallway was filled with the soft glow of the moon.
“Still, just to be sure, I need to go see. You must be tired from training so late; go rest.”
“…”
The shadow cast by the window covered half of Redian’s face. Perhaps that’s why his eyes seemed especially dark blue.
“Got it? Go back now.”
As I tried to turn away after comforting him,
“Master.”
In a swift motion, Redian grabbed my wrist, holding me back.
“Rere.”
“…I’ve come because you told me to.”
Involuntarily turning towards him, I found myself staring blankly at him. Even the smile he usually had when looking at me was gone, and his eyes were cold.
“What?”
“You promised not to turn your back on me.”
Even when I went out, he barely managed to hold onto the end of my robe. This was the first time he had grabbed my wrist like this.
“What are you doing?”
“My former master told me to come up to the duchy, so I came…”
His tone was unfamiliarly slow and calm.
“And I came here because Master asked me to.”
“…”
“I always try to keep my promises with Master.”
It would have been better if Redian had frowned or grimaced.
“Master seems to have forgotten that already.”
Facing his emotionless expression left me speechless.
“Rere.”
“If Master tells me to come, I will come. And if Master tells me to go, I will go…”
Between the silence of a chilly night’s air,
“Do I really look like a dog wagging its tail to Master?”
Only his low voice reached me.
* * *
“Your Grace, you’ve arrived. It’s an honor to see you again.”
The duke had safely reached his destination. The carriage, enchanted with travel magic, had covered a distance that would normally take over a week in almost two days.
“I want to rest, so don’t let anyone in.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
After receiving greetings from the butler and servants waiting at the villa, the duke immediately went up to his bedroom.
“…”
Opening the door, a cool breeze brushed the duke’s face. The interior was so clean it felt as though no one had ever lived there, lacking any human warmth.
“The furniture is all the same.”
The bed they shared, the dressing table chair she always sat on chattering, her favorite piano. The sea was the same, and the flowers that bloomed around this time were the same, but… Claude was nowhere to be found.
“How did you leave without leaving any trace?” The duke murmured as he looked around the room.
True to her modest nature, the only trace of Claude was the cover she had made for the piano.
“I’m here, Claude.”
The duke lightly touched the embroidery on the cover. Even the servant who cleaned the room every day seemed to have only dusted it off without ever touching it.
“What on earth was the last thing you wanted to tell me?”
But today, nearly twenty years after Claude had left, the duke finally decided to uncover the cover.
“To call me back here.”
As he removed the cloth, the piano’s lid was revealed. And opening that lid…
This must be the safe Claude mentioned.
A jewel box was placed among the rusty strings and dampers. The duke immediately understood why she had described this box as a safe. With intricate pearl decorations, gilding surrounding the box, and ebony inlays.
Was it the former royal princess’s? Just the appearance was too luxurious for something Claude would use. Why would she keep this here…
The moment the duke carefully opened the jewel box. Could it be? As if it had been waiting for this day, a clear and transparent music box sound filled the air, and…
“My goodness.” Seeing something wrapped in black velvet inside the box, the duke sighed deeply.
“How did Claude manage to get this?”
It was the golden insignia representing the Rixon imperial family.
And the plot deepens…