Chapter 30
30. Anxious, Anxious Secure Communication2021.12.12.
As soon as Arthur, who had escorted Reina to the bedroom, left saying he needed to talk more with the Crown Prince, the pale-faced Reina hurriedly rushed to the desk, grabbed a pen, and fumbled for some paper. Finally finding a small notebook, she tore out a sheet, sat down, and began pressing down hard with the quill pen to write on it. 【I met the Crown Prince.】 【He said he’ll invite Lady Christina to the debutante.】 【He saw my face—what should I do?】 【His Highness thinks I’m Lady Christina.】 Then Reina bit her lip as she repeatedly read over the note, before picking up the quill again and adding in the cramped margin, 【He suddenly came to the mansion. I had no chance to avoid him.】 She felt she needed to explain that it was a situation beyond her control.
“…….”
Reina read over the brief note several times with anxious eyes, biting her nails. Everything’s a total mess……. I haven’t even found Sir Arthur’s weakness yet……. Her gaze trembled uneasily.
“…….”
Since she’d been told to bring back Sir Arthur’s weakness, the Marchioness must be expecting her report, but for her first report to be something like this. She’d surely face stern reprimand. If Grandmother got really furious……. Reina paced the room restlessly, clutching the note to her lips.
“…….”
If she could, she wanted to add that they had been in Sir Arthur’s private garden, that the Crown Prince had appeared without warning, and that His Highness had said his presence here was a secret. She also wanted to add that it seemed impossible to avoid the debutante, the largest in history, which all noble ladies from seventeen to twenty-three were required to attend. But the small scrap of paper was already filled with writing, leaving no space for more. She had to convey only the most urgent information. Something small enough to secretly pass to Doctor Lorenson when he came in the morning….
“…….”
Reina waited for the ink to dry, then flipped the note over and wrote a bit more on the back. She blew on it with her mouth to dry it again, folded it small so the ink wouldn’t smudge, and hid it between the bed headboard and the mattress. So she could discreetly hand it over tomorrow when Doctor Lorenson came, seizing the right moment….
“…….”
She checked several more times to make sure it was safely hidden where no one from outside could see it, then leaned against the bed headboard to confirm she could subtly retrieve it from under the sheets.
“…….”
And then Reina sat blankly on the bed.
「Do you need help?」
「How can I help you?」
“…….”
She recalled Lord Rembrandt’s words offering to help. But it felt like nothing more than empty talk. Even setting aside the fact that she couldn’t trust the intentions of someone she’d only formally greeted once. Lord Rembrandt was ultimately part of the imperial family as well. Moreover, he was the Crown Prince’s maternal cousin. Even if his sympathy toward her was genuine, at his core, Lord Rembrandt was not someone close to a Julius maid but rather aligned with the Crown Prince’s side. It was safer for Reina to keep her distance rather than approach him seeking help. Clinging to him in hopes of aid might only lead to the Marchioness discovering that Lord Rembrandt already knew everything. And if he tried to protect her, it might even bring harm to him instead.
“…….”
At least, in the report she had to make to the Marchioness, she could discreetly omit the part about meeting Lord Rembrandt and that he already knew everything—that was the one small relief for Reina. Exhausted, she leaned her head against the bedpost. * * * As soon as Arthur left the room, Kay and Tristan flanked him and began walking together. Moments later, Lukan joined them, straightening his sleeves. Lionel, who had been guarding the hallway with the knights, gave a brief salute, and Arthur signaled with his eyes to entrust Reina’s protection to him as he passed by. Kay reported quietly as they walked.
“Your Excellency. The Crown Prince’s army hasn’t departed for the capital as scheduled. It seems like again….”
Arthur cut into Kay’s report.
“I know. I just met him.”
Kay’s eyes widened as he swallowed hard.
“……The Crown Prince? He came here?”
Arthur continued impassively.
“Yes. He saw my wife’s face. Thanks to that, she was quite flustered. He even invited her to the capital.”
Kay groaned and clutched his head in dismay. Lukan cautiously offered his opinion.
“……Couldn’t we tell His Highness? He’d take our side.”
Arthur dismissed it.
“Absolutely not. If Kyle finds out, it’ll blow up.”
Then he signaled to Tristan.
“The Guard Captain should be nearby. He’s probably looking for the Crown Prince, so go tell him to check Lord Rembrandt’s quarters. He’ll be there.”
“Yes.”
Next, he turned to Kay and ordered.
“Look into the social season resuming this spring and the debutante. Whether ‘Christina’ absolutely has to go. My wife received an invitation from Kyle. The atmosphere makes it hard to decline.”
“Yes.”
* * * When Rembrandt returned to the annex where he was staying, Francis, who had been sitting on the reception room sofa reading a book, heard the footsteps, closed the book, and stood up.
“Lord Rembrandt, you’re back?”
Rembrandt smiled.
“Francis, go check if anyone’s come.”
Then another guest entered following Rembrandt. Francis froze upon seeing him, his eyes widening in disbelief.
“……Your Highness?”
The tall, golden-haired handsome man raised his head, looked at him, and smiled. Startled, Francis forgot even to bow and rushed forward from in front of the sofa.
“Your Highness! My goodness. Is it really you?”
The Crown Prince, smiling at him, gave a brief greeting and offered a handshake.
“It’s been a while.”
It was a reunion after five years since the Crown Prince had set out on campaign. Francis beamed with astonishment, gripping his hand firmly with both of his before following up with an embrace.
“How long has it been! How on earth…. Did you come with the triumphant army? Without any notice! I heard you were heading straight to the palace!”
The Crown Prince laughed and shook his hand.
“I planned to, but it felt wrong to just pass by. I stopped in briefly. They said Rembrandt was here, and you too. And I was curious about Arthur’s lady.”
Francis laughed happily, narrowing his eyes.
“Ah, including me on the list like this again. It’s an honor. Are you well?”
The Crown Prince wrinkled his nose in a grin and said.
“Thanks to you. Well, as everyone says, thanks to Arthur too.”
Rembrandt offered the Crown Prince a seat.
“Please, sit.”
Francis moved to the opposite side, leaving the seat of honor and Rembrandt’s spot open, and asked.
“Have you met the Marquis and Marchioness?”
The Crown Prince sat in the seat of honor and continued.
“No, well. It might look like I’m dragging my heels on returning to the capital, and it’d just make things awkward for everyone. The Marquis is busy enough worrying about Arthur, so I’ll stay quietly for a day or two and go.”
“They’d be thrilled and surprised if they knew Your Highness was here.”
“That’d be a bit annoying too.”
Francis squinted.
“The poor supplies—are they really true?”
“Yeah, it was a mess. Didn’t Arthur tell you?”
“I haven’t even had a chance to talk to Sir Arthur. The Marquis hid him away so tightly, refusing to show him. Lord Rembrandt barely got to meet him once. I didn’t even get a turn.”
Rembrandt’s butler wheeled in a tea trolley to the reception room and set up the tea service. Francis continued.
“He seems very busy as the Triumphal General with all sorts of things. Visiting bereaved families, visiting veterans, giving interviews…. From the gazette, I saw Sir Arthur actually gave a somewhat positive explanation about the poor supplies in his interview.”
The Crown Prince raised an eyebrow slightly.
“Arthur gave a positive explanation? Wonder what he got out of it.”
Rembrandt chimed in casually.
“Bonuses for veterans and pensions for bereaved families. …Quite a lot.”
The Crown Prince’s eyes widened in surprise, then he burst out laughing.
“Well done. Not easy to get that from such a tightwad.”
“He’s an Elector now; he had to do at least that much.”
Francis asked the Crown Prince again.
“Ah, did you happen to meet Sir Arthur on your way?”
“Yeah. I went to see him first and just finished talking. Rembrandt was there with me too.”
“I see. Ah, and Lady Christina too…?”
The Crown Prince scratched his nose with a grin.
“Yeah, I saw her. She seems like a nice woman. I was worried, but Arthur married well.”
Francis looked at the Crown Prince with slightly surprised eyes.
“You met her? Lady Christina?”
“Yes. Haven’t you met her, Francis?”
Francis shook his head.
“Not at all. The Marquis Julius is hiding her away so tightly. It’s not just me; he won’t even show her to Lord Rembrandt. He scheduled a portrait session but won’t even let her peek out. Such a high nose….”
“Really?”
The Crown Prince picked up his teacup and said curiously.
“She didn’t seem like such a haughty young lady.”
Rembrandt smiled just enough not to seem awkward, lifting his teacup to hide his expression. At the Crown Prince’s words, Francis showed subtle interest and lowered his voice.
“Really? What was she like?”
It wouldn’t have been a topic for a formal setting, but the Crown Prince, Rembrandt, and Francis were friends who had studied together since childhood. The Crown Prince spoke casually, as if mentioning a close friend’s girlfriend.
“Pretty, polite. The pure yet elegant type?”
Rembrandt silently stirred his teacup, watching the Crown Prince describe ‘Reina’ as Christina. The Crown Prince continued.
“I’d only heard she was picky and she was all veiled in mystery, so I wondered if she was some strange person…. But unexpectedly, she’s rather…. Gentle and cautious type. The kind adults like.”
“Really?”
“…….”
Rembrandt hid his embarrassment with a slight smile and averted his gaze. But the ball soon came to him.
“What do you think? You’ve known the lady for a while.”
Cough. Rembrandt coughed lightly while drinking his tea. Francis looked at him puzzled, as if wondering what this was about. Rembrandt covered his mouth with his fist, frowned slightly, and glanced at the Crown Prince.
“We agreed not to talk about that.”
“Ah, sorry. A secret between us two?”
“?”
Francis looked at Rembrandt in bewilderment. The Crown Prince narrowed his eyes suspiciously at Rembrandt.
“You… you don’t actually have something going on with Arthur’s lady, do you?”
“I told you no. I’d stake my aunt’s dignity on it.”
The Crown Prince said incredulously.
“Why are you staking it? She’s my mother.”
