Chapter 49
49. The Second Piece of Intelligence2022.02.17.
【 ― Sir Arthur is picky about sardines too. 】 Reina looked down at the note she had written with a thoroughly uneasy expression.
“…….”
Was this really what the Marchioness wanted? Something felt off, but…… she had been satisfied…… so it couldn’t be bad, right? For Reina, it was already a relief that the Marchioness hadn’t gotten angry at the note she’d delivered and cut off support for her grandmother. ……But no matter how she thought about it, it was strange, so Reina blankly blinked her eyes. 【 The two of you were very satisfied. 】 【 The Marquis was especially delighted to learn about his ‘picky eating.’ 】
“…….”
I don’t get it. Was the Marchioness satisfied just with putting food Sir Arthur disliked on the table and making him show his discomfort? To pay a maid five gold a week just for that…… She really couldn’t understand the mindset of rich people. 【 We are still discussing the matter of meeting His Highness the Crown Prince, so there will be word later. 】 【 Don’t go wandering outside and stay in your room. 】 ……I don’t know. I’ll just do as I’m told. With a dazed look on her face, Reina flapped the note she’d written to dry the ink. In any case, true to her promise, she’d be allowed to meet Taylor tomorrow…… For Reina, it was simply a fortunate turn of events. Compared to the complicated anxiety she’d felt when the Marchioness first ordered her to uncover Sir Arthur’s weakness and bring it back, this was actually a reassuring outcome. In fact, when she’d first received that order, she’d assumed it would be far more dangerous……
“…….”
Somehow, she felt a bit embarrassed. ……Had she been too caught up in conspiracy theories? She must have read too many novels. It was a relief that the Marchioness’s request for ‘Sir Arthur’s weakness’ didn’t turn out to be anything so dangerous or sinister. Thinking of it as just sending some disliked food to embarrass the Marquis and put Miss Christina in an awkward spot with Sir Arthur lightened her heart a little. Well, what kind of great intelligence could she expect from me anyway? Self-indulgent nonsense. She did wonder if sardine pudding might end up on the table after delivering this note…… But still. It didn’t seem like they’d do anything worse to Sir Arthur. Honestly, Reina felt quite relieved. Thanks to that, she could think about meeting Taylor with a slightly less heavy heart.
“…….”
We’ll meet here, right? If he’s coming in Doctor Lorenson’s place to see me. Reina gazed at the bridal chamber reflected in the mirror. The spacious, luxurious bedroom and herself within it felt newly unfamiliar. Reina quietly set down the note, rose from the chair, and checked her reflection in the vanity mirror while wearing the dress, turning her body this way and that just a little.
“…….”
Every one of Miss Christina’s dresses was incredibly gorgeous and beautiful. With her discerning eye, pickiness, and above all, immense wealth, Miss Christina had always commissioned only the finest dresses without regard to cost.
“…….”
Taylor…… He’s going to feel so weird. Seeing a girl who always wore a maid’s uniform pretending to be a young lady in the world’s most expensive dress in a room like this. ……He’ll be baffled, won’t he? Even I would feel strange seeing Taylor here while dressed like this.
“…….”
Pretending to be a young lady…… Standing before the mirror, Reina unconsciously mimicked a lady-like posture for a moment. Then she hurriedly stopped.
“…….”
And this time, a bit more carefully. She recreated her appearance from when she’d pretended to be a lady in front of His Highness the Crown Prince—that is, the way she had greeted him with the propriety of a noble young lady. Slightly bending her knees, lifting her skirt just a touch. She’d been so flustered and rushed at the time that she wanted to check if it had looked natural.
“…….”
Then she tilted her head. ……Is this not it? A young lady does it like this…… Looking in the mirror, Reina now imitated a haughty, aristocratic greeting. Neck straight, back erect, lifting the hem of her dress with one hand, turning her body slightly, with a proud and elegant expression. Bending her knees, lowering her gaze in greeting……
“…….”
Reina blinked awkwardly at her reflection a couple of times and gave up on the imitation. Then she scratched her cheek in embarrassment.
“…….”
Taylor probably…… knows most of it already. ……He wouldn’t stare at me in shock or ask what I’m doing here, would he? That would make me pretty flustered too.
“…….”
Lost in thoughts of Taylor, Reina shook her head to dispel a worry tinged with a slightly different meaning that threatened to creep in. ……That’s all in the past. All of it. This is just more self-indulgent nonsense. Reina sat back down in the chair before the vanity and picked up the note.
“…….”
Hmm…… But…… Doesn’t Sir Arthur’s knight always stay during doctor visits……? In my current state—dressed in this gown in the young lady’s bridal chamber—can I ask Taylor in detail about ‘Reina’s grandmother’? It feels wrong to let Taylor see me not strictly playing the part of Miss Christina as the Marchioness commanded whenever the knight is present…… ……Should I write a note for Taylor too?
“…….”
Worried, Reina fiddled with the edge of the note. It was small. She had so much she wanted to hear about her grandmother…… Would a note be enough to discuss her grandmother fully? It wasn’t like the short messages for Doctor Lorenson. And since I’m not a doctor, I don’t even know what he needs to know for a diagnosis. Recalling how the renowned Doctor Lorenson had asked about things she’d never thought of during her recent cold and used them to diagnose her condition, Reina’s face grew concerned. Though she lacked medical knowledge, Reina had learned various things from being friends with Taylor for so long. One of them was that doctors’ questions, which sometimes seemed unrelated to the illness, could be surprisingly crucial to the diagnosis.
“…….”
So, if I knew what information Taylor needed, I could give proper answers…… But the Marchioness’s orders still nagged at her.
「Make sure not to say anything that reveals you’re a maid, even by mistake.」
「Remember that there are many eyes and ears in the mansion.」
“…….”
Reina knew it too. The mansion had many ears. If the Marchioness or some other guest happened to overhear her—as someone pretending to be Miss Christina—asking Taylor a bunch of questions as ‘Reina,’ it would be a total disaster, the end of everything. She couldn’t hope for the same luck as with Lord Rembrandt. She already knew too many people had discovered her situation, and that it was precarious. She couldn’t afford to let her guard down just because she’d gotten lucky a few times. Thinking of her grandmother’s well-being, Reina steeled herself.
“…….”
Still, thinking of her grandmother honestly lifted her spirits a bit. Her grandmother had a resident physician. None other than Taylor Lorenson, the young chief physician of House Julius. Imagining her grandmother being treated like a noble lady made Reina’s heart swell with pride. Trying not to look too excited, Reina cupped her flushed cheeks in the mirror with her palms to cool them. Don’t get too carried away. In any case…… This favor came from selling out Sir Arthur’s information. And I might become a traitor to House Julius soon. This isn’t the time to be carefree and happy. Listen to your conscience, Reina. Stay sharp. And think about tomorrow. Talk with Taylor, gauge the situation. Ask plenty about Grandmother. And…… also…… Prepare for whatever changes might come.
“…….”
The more she thought, the greedier Reina wanted to be. She wanted to keep sending Taylor to her grandmother, and she wanted to accept Sir Arthur’s offer to protect her if she took his side. Her most brazen yet honest desire right now was to ask Sir Arthur if he could bribe Taylor along with her. But even if Sir Arthur agreed, the question was whether Taylor would be willing. He’d said this place was good. People often asked the talented doctor why he didn’t go independent…… But every time, he’d always say he was used to the people here, liked it, had grown attached. That he’d probably stay forever. He’d said it with a smile. Could Sir Arthur buy Taylor over? Doctor Lorenson was a good man, but he was also loyal to the Marquis he’d served for so long. Taylor seemed likely to be the same.
“……Hoo.”
In the end, she’d have to ask Sir Arthur and Taylor. She just hoped that during her talk with Taylor tomorrow, her emotions wouldn’t sway her into rash judgments or wrong decisions…… She wanted that meeting to give her certainty. Reina mentally reviewed what she’d ask Taylor tomorrow. Is Grandmother doing well? Is she eating properly? Has the occasional fever been better lately? And the way her memory flickers in and out. Has it gotten worse? Why hasn’t the burn inflammation from five years ago healed yet? What does Taylor think? Is there a way to cure it…… Reina burned Doctor Lorenson’s note in the candle flame, then sat before the vanity and neatly folded the one she’d written.
“…….”
Still, maybe I should deliver this note…… a bit later? I don’t want Sir Arthur seeing food he dislikes on the table every day. And honestly, I don’t like sardines either. Knock knock.
“Yes.”
Startled by the sudden knock, Reina jumped up from her seat. But in her haste to grab the folded note and stand, she strongly shoved the earring stand on the vanity.
“!”
With a loud crash, the earring stand toppled noisily, knocking several important pieces of jewelry from the vanity to the floor. Shocked, Reina stared at the pearl earrings on the floor and the wedding ring rolling away.
“……!”
The door opened immediately at the noise. Arthur entered first, followed by a startled Tristan. Roll roll. The wedding ring rolled quickly across the floor. Arthur subtly shifted his foot to stop the ring coming toward him with the inside of his shoe. Almost simultaneously, Tristan glanced sideways, nodding as if to summon an attending maid.
“…….”
Arthur bent down and picked up the ring stopped before his shoe. He approached Reina and asked,
“Are you all right?”
She wasn’t. The folded intelligence note had fallen to the floor.
“…….”
“…….”
Arthur’s and Reina’s gazes landed on it at the same time.
“……?”
Tristan, who had followed Arthur in, picked it up. Reina’s face went deathly pale. Arthur pressed a hand to his forehead.
“…….”
“…….”
In the awkward silence, Arthur held out his hand to Tristan.
“……Give it here.”
“…….”
Tristan handed it over to Arthur. Pale-faced and dazed, Reina watched the note pass to him. We’re done for…… An indescribable silence hung between the three of them.
