141 - Pieces of the Broken Glass Slipper
Chapter 2: Masks and Romance
Soothing Marie, who was thoroughly upset by the announcement of the next Head Maid, was easier than expected. Bringing Mlang out and confirming that she was below her resolved it surprisingly easily.
Mlang promised to cooperate in anything concerning Marie, as I intended.
"I will do anything to help you, Miss. So please call me anytime."
Marie was displeased that she had to call Mlang 'Head Maid', but she soon became satisfied when she realized that she had the real power over the maids. My false excuse was also one of the factors that quelled her dissatisfaction.
"And don't misunderstand. I mentioned your name. But Father opposed it."
"Why? Why would he do that?"
"Because he cherishes Roena. He wanted the Head Maid to come from her maid."
Marie looks at me with a tearful face. Her expression seemed to ask, 'Can't I ever become the Head Maid?'
"Lovely Marie, remember that my Mother has my sibling in her womb. And pray every day that the child is a boy."
I didn't directly mention the word 'heir', but Marie quickly realized what I was saying. And what I intended.
The Head Maid's retirement was done in a way that didn't match the precedent, but there was no law that said it couldn't happen again.
Marie says to me with a bright expression.
"Yes, I will donate to the temple regularly."
"Don't forget to cooperate well with Mlang in the meantime."
"Don't worry. I won't disappoint you."
Madame de Lavalier quickly sent a letter to Roena, saying she was 'sorry' to hear that Mlang had been appointed as the next Head Maid. She added that if it had been her, she would have put forward someone with more discernment.
Roena brought the letter to me, read it aloud, and blinked innocently. She seemed to have forgotten that Mother's pregnancy had hurt me in the past, and she came to me without any hesitation.
"Mlang is a good maid, so why is she so angry?"
She seemed to want to say, 'This is happening because you chose the wrong maid.'
I wondered what her intention was in coming to me, so I deliberately opened the door for her, but was she only here to do this? I almost laughed at her ridiculous trick.
I pretended to be indifferent and answered Roena's words.
"It seems she was very heartbroken that you were sick with a mental illness. So, how are you now?"
Then she blushed and muttered that she was fine now. She's not a fool, so she realizes that there's a bone in my words and is ashamed.
So I offered her a comfort that I didn't mean.
"Did your mental illness heal so easily? Well, that's a relief. I hope you don't suffer from such things anymore."
Fortunately, Roena's intentions didn't end there. As if the previous one was just an appetizer before the meal, she finally brought up the real reason why she came to visit me.
She folded the letter and put it on the table, hesitated for a moment, and then carefully opened her mouth.
"Do you remember the mask you put on me last time?"
"Mask? Ah, you mean the Deer Mask?"
Of course, I remember. I put it on her so that she would realize how unpleasant her whining voice was. It was quite a long time ago, but it was something I couldn't forget. She met the Crown Prince through it, so how could I not?
"But why?"
"Can I use it?"
I was speechless for a moment. I thought that the only time to use a mask was at a Masquerade. But no matter how much I thought about it, the only time the word 'mask' was used was at a vulgar ball where beasts mingled.
But Roena, who trembled just at the sight of a prostitute, was attending such a lewd place? That's impossible.
I looked at Roena with suspicious eyes.
"Pulcher sent me an invitation this time, and he said that I must bring a mask... He said that he would like a deer-shaped mask, and I just thought of the mask you gave me."
If it was a ball hosted by the Empress, it would definitely be decent. Perhaps gambling for money would be the only depravity that could be done there. So Roena was saying that she would attend there so innocently.
But why the 'Deer Mask' of all things?
No, I don't even know why she had to come to me to get my permission. I couldn't understand what intention was hidden in this act.
Even if I narrowed my eyes and looked at her, she just smiled as if she didn't know anything.
Well, should I just bump into it in the end?
I felt suspicious, but I thought I would only know what was going on if I gave her permission, so I nodded without saying anything.
Roena said thank you with a happy expression. And the next day, she wore the Deer Mask I gave her, dressed to the nines, and headed to the Empress's palace.
Roena, who returned from the ball not late that night, had a flushed expression for some reason. Perhaps that's why, unlike usual, she didn't even think about changing her clothes and came straight to my room. And she immediately threw a question at me.
"Have you ever met the Crown Prince while wearing the Deer Mask?"
Roena's eyes were hazy.
I, who was about to go to bed early, barely suppressed the rising annoyance and asked her back.
"Why are you asking that?"
"I thought he was a difficult person to approach. The rumors weren't good either. But he was very kind, wonderful, um, yes! He was even kind."
"Roena, what are you talking about? Can you please tell me so I can understand? Are you saying that the Crown Prince came to the Masquerade hosted by Pulcher?"
"I didn't know at first. But I couldn't help but notice soon. Sapphire blue eyes and blue hair. Who else but His Highness has these two things?"
I made Roena sit on the sofa, who was excited and talking nonsense. And after pouring her water, I asked in a calm voice.
"So, are you saying that you met the Crown Prince while wearing the Deer Mask?"
"Did I just meet him? I even danced with him. He only danced with me the whole time. Of course, he mistook me for you at first. He quickly admitted his mistake and even kissed the back of my hand as a sign of apology."
I tilted my head. I thought it was strange. That's because Roena has blonde hair, and I have brown hair. Just by looking at the hair color, he would have known that it wasn't me. No, let's say he was confused for a moment by the mask he wore at that time. Still, it didn't make sense that he didn't know until he had a conversation.
What on earth is going on?
Unlike me, who was confused, Roena covered her red cheeks with her hands and made a small sound of joy.
"I guess the rumors aren't everything. Oh my gosh, why is my heart beating so fast?"
She was clearly a lovely girl in love.
"Other people say that I'm the first woman he's danced with for so long. Everyone knows that the Wolf Mask is the Crown Prince, although they don't try to show it. Ah, what should I do? My heart is so full that I can't do anything."
I nodded vaguely, half listening to her confession. I wasn't in the mood to listen to her properly because of a question that suddenly came to mind.
I have more than one question I want to solve right now.
In particular, I was wondering why 'the Crown Prince' approached Roena wearing 'my mask'. Why?
Why did the Empress tell her to wear the Deer Mask? Why did the Crown Prince attend that Masquerade and approach Roena, thinking she was me? And why did he keep dancing with her so that everyone's attention was focused on her? It was no different from saying that he was interested in Roena.
Wait a minute. Like he was interested?
Suddenly, a thought flashed through my mind. In the past, Roena fell in love with the Crown Prince, and that place was also a ball.
If that's the case this time, if they met by chance and he fell in love with her, then some of the questions I heard earlier would be resolved.
A man who only showed interest in lifting a woman's skirt when she wore a mask showed a kind appearance knowing that the woman in the Deer Mask was Roena...
Is there any other reason to think about it? It's rather amazing that such a man can fall in love like other ordinary people.
When I thought this far, I felt strangely empty. I thought that Roena becoming the Crown Princess was inevitable no matter what.
At the same time, I felt uneasy. This was not so much jealousy of Roena, who was destined to become the future Crown Princess, but something more fundamental. Yes, should I call it an intuitive warning? Strangely, something seemed to be twisted.
What on earth is it?
"Sissae, I have a favor to ask."
Roena says in a serious tone.
"If you meet the Crown Prince, can you tell me about him? And if you have a chance to meet him, can you go with me? Please."
"That's not something I can decide."
I said sharply in a stiff voice. It was a mutually cooperative meeting by contract, so there was no room for a third party to suddenly intervene, unless I was willingly by his side. There was no reason to do so either.
If I took a reckless adventure to observe the Crown Prince's attitude towards Roena, I could put myself in danger. Wasn't he the one who used to emit murderous intent without any hesitation?
But the words that came out of Roena's mouth were so unexpected that I couldn't help but open my mouth with a dumbfounded expression.
"Pulcher also allowed it. He said he wanted me to become friends with the Crown Prince. So please help me."
Roena, who had already grabbed my hand, smiled brightly. She was acting as if she was sure that I would help her. Slowly blinking her eyes that shone innocently without a single speck of dust.
