Chapter 39
‘Mmm… I’m not really asking for anything from Thierry, so I’m just passing the ball to Marie, but it’s a bit too much.’
I let out an awkward laugh at Marie’s aura, as if she could burst into tears at the slightest touch.
I stared at Marie, who pledged her loyalty to me, saying that I owed her a favor that I could never repay, even if I spent the rest of my life doing it, and that I would repay her until the day I die, but I couldn’t help myself, so I changed the subject.
“By the way, it’s a beautiful day. Shall we go for a walk?”
“Oh, yes, I’ll be right there!”
Marie moved off almost too quickly to finish her sentence. I sighed inwardly, accepting Marie’s eager attention.
I walked down the hallway, thinking I was just going to get some fresh air and go to the nearby garden. A stern-looking middle-aged man walking down the hall from the opposite direction caught my eye.
‘You’re the Duke of… Joubert, aren’t you?’
With his gray hair slicked back like a sword and the icy walls, I knew immediately who he was because I’d seen him at the hunt and asked Marie about him separately.
But I wasn’t the only one, and as we closed the distance, I could see the displeasure in his face as he looked at me. I chuckled inwardly, realizing that he knew who I was without me telling him.
‘For such a high nobleman, he doesn’t even bother to keep his facial expressions in check. It’s obvious he doesn’t like me.’
I’d heard that today was the day Thierry and the officials regularly dined together, so maybe that’s why he’s here early. Or maybe it’s because of the break-in at the Handmaiden’s cell during the night.
‘If that’s the reason, I’m going to look even worse…’
I let a naturally harmless grin spread across my face.
“I suppose you could sell your ass. Or do you walk around and sell laughter?”
Wow, that’s strong, I thought to myself.
I was more amused than offended by the fact that he’d been trying to get a rise out of me for a couple of seizures.
Yeah, I know, it’s not making sense, how twisted is that?
But being an aristocrat doesn’t necessarily mean smiling gracefully and being sarcastic. On the contrary, it seems that the higher up you are, the more prone you are to behave crudely, and if that’s the case, I don’t think it’s a good idea to just cover yourself.
“Duke of Joubert, be careful with that mouth.”
Oscar warned, blocking my path as I paused to consider how to respond. The Duke of Joubert’s eyes widened at Oscar’s menacing tone.
‘You’re going to tear my eyes out with that…?’
The Duke’s eyes glowed with such life that if he had magic beams coming out of them, he would have shot them at me in a heartbeat.
I don’t think it’s right to turn back, but shouldn’t I give him a little something to make up for it, too?
In the original story, the Duke of Joubert was Thierry’s stumbling block, destined to be removed at some point. So I might as well encourage him to disappear a little sooner.
“Did I not tell you that you are nothing more than a wench dragged from a country barely the size of your palm.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, and you’re being rude to begin with.”
I decided to keep my frightened face on for now.
“But I don’t think we’re on first name terms.”
Of course, I’m going to say everything I need to say in a sneaky way.
I rationalized, “Well, even a sunny Princess can be scared, but she can also be brave, right?
“Do you know Countess Anthe by any chance?”
“What the… What?”
“You know, I think I saw you together once…?”
“What nonsense are you talking about, when was I with that maid, and are you accusing me now?!”
“Hmphh, I’m sorry, I must have been mistaken!”
“How dare you speak of me in such a manner?”
“By the way, do you happen to know who Chloé is?”
“…!”
“Do you know all the noblemen’s titles so well that you recognize them by their first names instead of the usual last?”
I glared at the Duke of Joubert, who stiffened, then turned to Oscar with a look of disbelief. Oscar’s jade-colored eyes slanted down from the Duke’s to study my face.
And then, feigning nonchalance as if he had been agitated, the Duke said to me.
“No, I don’t think so, because I don’t need to know her name unless I see her often.”
“Hmm, is that so?”
“The name of the handmaiden, maybe, if you’re in and out of the palace often enough, but that’s about it. Are you trying to look at me like I’m offended, or are you trying to show off that you don’t have enough brains to remember such trivialities?”
“You must be a very clever and sensitive man, Duke, to remember such a trifle, unlike myself, for I find it hard to believe that you are the same man who insulted me a moment ago.”
The Duke’s face contorted like a crumpled sheet of paper. His thin, mean-looking lips were about to open, but I interrupted him and asked calmly.
“So, have you heard anything about the handmaiden?”
“… I have heard. Why do you ask?”
“Oh, well, seeing as you know her name, I was wondering if you were close to her, and I’m sure you’d feel bad if you were that close.”
“You’ve lost your nerve, treating a criminal like one of your own.”
The grinding sound was blatantly audible. Duke of Joubert was obviously pissed off, and if it weren’t for Oscar, he’d be ready to punch him in the face.
“Oh, I see,” he said, “you must be displeased to be associated with a criminal, whatever the actual relationship, so please forgive me.”
I lowered my eyebrows sheepishly and pressed my fingers to my eyes in a futile attempt to hide them, and then Oscar held out his handkerchief to me and spoke with the earnestness that sometimes characterized his ramblings.
“Don’t take offense. I insulted you first, and whatever you have to say will be weaker than that, and since I have to report all of this to you, Duke Joubert, I think you had better take a digestive and join us for dinner.”
I don’t know if my last words, muttered in a low voice, reached the Duke of Joubert. It sounded faint even to me, so I looked at the Duke with a dubious stare, but his white face told me he might have heard.
“… I’m in a hurry, so I’ll go first, but if you’re going to be a prude, be a prude and be quiet!”
The Duke of Joubert warned, like a lowly villain spouting a line as he fled to save face.
“You’re lucky to be a duke, for you were born into a good family; otherwise you’d be a man of crime, and you talk a lot. I kept my smile steady and stoic on the outside, hiding my true feelings on the inside.
“Yes, sir… Have a long life.”
“What?”
“I’ll leave you to it.”
“… What’s a long life?”
I had to cover my mouth to keep from bursting out laughing, and quickly walked past the Duke of Joubert, who was staring at me with a frown. Pride prevented me from stopping him and asking, but curiosity must have gotten the better of him, because he remained frozen in place as I walked away.
When Connor stepped out and toward me, and Duke of Joubert was out of sight, Oscar asked.
“What do you mean by long life?”
Should I tell him, but if it’s a language only I know, it’s probably best not to share it with anyone.
After a moment’s thought, I smiled my usual cheerful smile.
“It just means live long!”
Well, there’s nothing wrong with that.
***
“Well, he’s going to go anyway, but is there anything we can do to speed it up…”
I sat down at the table and muttered to myself with a serious face. I felt a little bad for being so quick with Duke Joubert after all these years of pretending to be a harmless Princess, but I didn’t regret it.
I had some memory of his weaknesses, after all, and his temper would probably dig my grave first.
“No matter what I think of, there’s only so much I can do right now… Hmm… Is that the only way to go?”
I knew Oscar was by my side and would protect me, but gathering information was still my top priority. I still need to tell Maud, and she’s the only one who can help me with this.
“Yes! I’m going now!”
I jumped to my feet and left the room with a determined look on my face, not even giving Oscar and Marie a chance to ask where I was going.
I headed down the now familiar path toward the kitchen. Usually I’m lucky to see them on the way, but today I didn’t see any ants, so I decided to go a little deeper.
As I got closer, I heard a shouting match in the distance.
“… Do your own thing, and mind your own business.”
It was Maud’s voice.
I stood in front of the slightly open door with a stern expression on my face. I put my hand on the doorknob and hesitantly pulled it down, just in time to hear the voice on the other end.
“You’re just like the rest of us, begging the Emperor for the Princess, aren’t you? Comradeship, what is it? It’s not even funny.”
“I told you to shut the fuck up, and you dare to bring up the Imperial Family in front of me after you accused me of putting them behind your back, have you lost your cowardice?”
“… So why are you interrupting me, I’m talking about a Princess who came to someone else’s country and stirred things up without knowing the subject matter!”
As I listened, I realized what was going on. Apparently, the inferiority complex guy got caught in the middle of my rant, and Maud overheard and said something.
‘I was just saying hello on my way over, Maud.’
I felt satisfied that Maud had my back, whether she heard me or not.
I listened to the commotion inside, gesturing to Marie and Oscar, who stood behind me, looking like they were about to jump in at any moment, to hold it together.
