Chapter 27
27. Smoothly Twisting Along2021.12.02.
“Crown Prince Kyle?!”
Oh no. The Crown Prince smiled awkwardly in embarrassment and hurriedly covered Reina’s mouth with his hand. He lowered his voice, pressing his index finger to his lips as he whispered softly.
“Shh. My being here is a secret.”
Reina froze completely, her mouth covered by his hand.
“I-I’m sorry, Your Highness.”
Crown Prince? Crown Prince?! How is he here? Is he really the Crown Prince? Even setting that aside, my form of address was terribly rude. The Crown Prince suddenly felt Sir Arthur’s piercing gaze from ahead and removed his hand from Reina. He raised both palms in surrender.
“My apologies.”
Arthur smiled thinly. As soon as Reina was freed from him, she jumped to her feet, offering a formal bow while stammering.
“I’m sorry. I never imagined Your Highness would grace such a humble place, so I committed a grave discourtesy.”
“Ah, it’s fine, it’s fine. Please, sit comfortably, Lady.”
The Crown Prince casually pulled over a spare chair nearby and sat down.
“You must be Christina? I’ve heard so much about you. The greatest beauty in high society, they say. Nice to meet you.”
Kyle took Reina’s hand without asking and, smiling at her, kissed it before letting go. Arthur smiled uncomfortably.
“Your Highness. I don’t recall giving permission for you to join us.”
“Why so stingy? Just so you know, calling me that means you’re annoyed.”
“Not always.”
“That means you are this time.”
Reina fell into a state of panic. She had gone to such lengths to avoid meeting Lord Rembrandt, and now it was the Crown Prince. The Marchioness hadn’t forbidden it, but surely she couldn’t have imagined Reina would ever have occasion to meet the Crown Prince. It was clear that meeting him as ‘Christina’ was something she absolutely shouldn’t do. What now? She couldn’t just run away at this point. Reina avoided the Crown Prince’s gaze, breaking out in cold sweat.
“…….”
The one small comfort was that Marina had done today’s makeup. For the past few days, Brody had occasionally done her morning makeup instead of Marina, but this morning it had been Marina. When Brody did her makeup, she didn’t look like a young lady at all, but on days when Marina did it, Reina truly resembled Christina. ……That was the one small comfort, if it could be called that……. But honestly, it wasn’t much reassurance. Reina desperately bowed her head toward the ground, avoiding the Crown Prince’s gaze. If he had ever seen her face this close up before, no amount of makeup would help—the jig would be up the moment she met the real Lady Christina later.
“…….”
Arthur felt irritated seeing Reina unable to meet the eyes of the ‘handsome’ Crown Prince. ……She said she’d never done that before? * * *
「Um……. Taylor. Can I ask you something?」
「One of the kitchen maids I know got a burn a while ago…….」
「She says the spot still hurts sometimes and feels hot…….」
「Really?」
「Um, by any chance…… Taylor.」
「About old people forgetting things sometimes…….」
「Um……. Taylor.」
「Taylor…….」
“…….”
Trivial questions. Every time Reina asked things like that, she seemed ashamed, like a thief sneaking away with something without paying. He’d wondered why she was so hesitant……. Taylor Lorenson sighed, ruffling his own hair.
“Whew…….”
Now he understood. All those things she’d asked about as “a friend’s” issues had actually been about her own grandmother. He’d known Reina didn’t have any other friends besides him……. How had he not realized? He’d been so proud of himself for bringing her little things like the gazette, thinking he knew her well. And yet he’d thought he was her closest friend……. The realization hit him that he knew nothing about Reina.
‘……Why didn’t she tell me?’
Was it related to that secret about her connection to the Julius family?
“Doctor.”
“Ah, yes.”
The caretaker lady called him with a smile and took the medicine bowl Taylor offered.
“Ever since you started coming, Grandmother’s condition has improved so much.”
Taylor felt genuine relief, patting his chest with a smile.
“Really? That’s great.”
The caretaker smiled warmly and left with the medicine.
“…….”
Taylor fiddled with the back of his head and leaned against the desk, propping himself up with his hands. He didn’t know the full story. For now, though, Taylor decided to do his absolute best for her grandmother. Instinctively, he sensed that the grandmother was a precious person to Reina. Even without that reason, she was his patient as a doctor.
“…….”
Taylor pulled a book from the bookshelf. There was something odd about Iona, Reina’s grandmother’s symptoms. A full-body burn from five years ago. Now it was mostly scars, with only a small patch remaining on her back. Could inflammation from that last so long? No……. Before that. Could someone survive with inflammation lingering that long without healing?
“…….”
Taylor let out a short sigh and opened the medical text he’d bought from the inner castle’s specialist bookstore.
“Doctor.”
The caretaker appeared at the doorway again, tray in hand, calling him.
“Yes?”
Taylor looked up toward her.
“Doctor Lorenson is here. Your father, right? The one who came with you a few days ago…….”
“Ah…… yes!”
Delighted, Taylor marked his place in the book and stood right up. * * *
“Father!”
“How have you been doing?”
Alvin Lorenson had just stepped down from the carriage and was taking the luggage handed to him by the coachman.
“Yeah, well. So-so…….”
He said that, but honestly, Taylor wasn’t sure. He took the large bundle of medicinal herbs from his father, his face uncertain.
“I’m trying hard……. Oh, you said you were the one who treated Grandmother’s burns five years ago, right?”
“Yeah. That’s right. She was on the brink of death; I barely saved her. It was sheer luck. Is she doing well?”
They walked toward the house, continuing their conversation.
“Yes. Her condition isn’t bad. Compared to her age, which had me worried, her health is good overall. Her mood is mostly upbeat too. Though she treats me like I’m a stranger every day…….”
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah. But the caretaker lady, who’s been with her for years, says she does the same to her. It’s a bit strange for just forgetfulness…….”
Meeting his father brought all the questions he’d been thinking about pouring out.
“By any chance, has Grandmother ever had a head injury? The caretaker doesn’t know either. She says it’s been that way since the first time she saw her…….”
“Hmm……. I only saw her once five years ago, so I don’t know much.”
Alvin Lorenson entered the house with Taylor as he spoke.
“There are cases like that among the elderly sometimes. Lately, there’s been academic talk that it’s not just old age but a kind of disease. Does she get irritable or violent at all?”
“No. Nothing like that.”
“That’s a relief, then. Make sure the doors are secure so she doesn’t wander off and get lost, and take good care of her.”
As he set the herbs on the table, Taylor blinked.
“Wander off?”
“Yeah. It happens often with patients like that.”
Alvin Lorenson continued.
“They leave the house without knowing what they’re doing and forget the way back. They don’t even know they need to return.”
Taylor’s expression turned worried yet ambiguous. Was it just age-related decline? He’d never seen anyone over seventy except Head Maid Mrs. Hurst, so it didn’t quite hit home. Mrs. Hurst was so spry she didn’t seem the same age as Reina’s grandmother, and even more robust than his father. Head Butler Jim was only around sixty, a good ten years younger. The Marchioness dowager, the only other person around that age, lived separately at a distant villa rather than the mansion. A frail, forgetful elderly person like Iona was a first for Taylor. Well, seeing anyone over seventy was rare to begin with…….
“…….”
It must be thanks to Reina taking good care of her grandmother—that was her blessing. As Taylor unpacked the herbs and organized them in the cabinet per his father’s advice, he said,
“Still, I think I should talk to her guardian. To check if she’s had any injuries……. And when it started.”
Taylor subtly laid the groundwork for bringing up Reina.
“Yeah. That’s actually why I came. Have you noted down her symptoms and the messages to relay?”
“Yes. No issues.”
The unexpectedly straightforward reply made Doctor Lorenson raise an eyebrow. Not bad, kid?
“…….”
But the next moment, Alvin Lorenson stared silently at his son. His young, handsome son’s fine features stood out anew. Doctor Lorenson narrowed his eyes.
“You wouldn’t happen to…….”
“Yes?”
He recalled his son’s hesitation when he’d said he had to stay at the mansion for a long time. Taylor closed the herb cabinet, feigning nonchalance as he asked back.
“……Why?”
Alvin Lorenson asked.
“You wouldn’t happen to have a girl you’re meeting at the mansion?”
“No?”
The shameless instant reply.
“Then how about a matchmaking?”
“No?”
His expression changed to a serious denial. Doctor Lorenson raised an eyebrow.
“Why? Sir Macduff has a youngest daughter, nineteen, from a decent gentry* family. They say she’s interested in you.”
Taylor answered innocently.
“I appreciate the excessive interest. But noble social gatherings are still banned, right? And the noble marriage ban hasn’t been lifted.”
Doctor Lorenson shot back.
“Once Sir Arthur finishes the triumphal procession in the capital, the social bans and marriage prohibitions will lift soon anyway. Everyone’s already making under-the-table contacts. You’re the perfect age too…….”
Taylor struck first.
“I have someone I like. And I’m not telling you who.”
“…….”
“…….”
After a staring contest with his son, Doctor Lorenson sighed, as if he’d half-expected it.
“……One of the mansion’s maids, by any chance?”
“…….”
Taylor didn’t answer. Doctor Lorenson picked up his glasses and pressed his furrowed brow with his fingertips. Not telling me? It’s obvious.
“Honestly, you could court a gentry lady. You know that, right?”
“…….”
Taylor kept his mouth firmly shut. Doctor Lorenson stopped there. His son, with his reddened earlobes, looked pathetic. Even if they were the best-treated maids on the continent, a maid was still a maid. He had an attachment to the Julius family and few prejudices about status. But marriage was a practical matter. This kid could hold his own in noble houses.
“…….”
After thirty years devoted to the Julius family, building his reputation as a physician and forging ties with many nobles, he’d reached a position worthy of gentry himself. For his son to fancy a maid was displeasing. But whose temperament was that, if not obvious? Alvin Lorenson sighed.
“……Don’t get into trouble. Bring her to meet me later.”
Taylor’s eyes sparkled instantly.
“Really?”
Doctor Lorenson smacked his son’s back with an annoyed glare.
“I said I’d just take a look. Doesn’t mean I approve of just anyone.”
“How are you here? I thought you were heading straight to the capital.”
The Crown Prince picked up a fork and speared the last mushroom left on Arthur’s plate, eating it.
“…….”
“……Sorry. Seeing the lady eat it made it look tasty.”
Arthur sighed deeply, raking his hair back with clawed fingers.
“Kyle.”
“Cut me some slack. I want to put it off.”
“…….”
“‘Saved by a bastard and came back?! You should’ve died honorably in battle!’”
Whose impression was that? Changing his voice dramatically like in a play, the Crown Prince shuddered exaggeratedly with an “Eek.” Who on earth could say that to the Crown Prince?
“I have to see Rembrandt before I go. He’s here, right?”
Then he turned his gaze to Reina.
“My cousin. You know him? Want to see him together?”
“Ah, n-no!”
So that’s it. Lord Rembrandt was the Crown Prince’s maternal cousin……. Suddenly, Reina’s gaze stopped somewhere. Someone was climbing the stairs to Arthur’s private garden. Huh? That person……. He’s Lord Rembrandt’s attendant. The one who sold me the imperial gazette……. Reina stared at him blankly. He stared back at her blankly.
“Ah, sorry. I actually already called him to come.”
The Crown Prince followed Reina’s gaze to him and beckoned.
“Rembrandt.”
Reina’s eyes widened in horror.
“Yes?!”
That guy is Lord Rembrandt?!
“……Haa.”
Arthur let out a deep sigh, pressing his forehead. ――――― *Gentry: People from noble families. In a broad sense, it includes titled nobles; usually refers to noble children without titles, such as second sons and below. They use noble crests and form the ruling class of society. They are lower nobles or wealthy small-to-medium landowners below nobles, influential local figures.
