***
It's not Sir or Lady, but you?
I paused at the unexpected title and looked at Sir Hiltine, startled by his additional words.
His Majesty told you to kill everyone who touched ?
"Yes."
Oh my God. His Majesty gave such a terrific order?
It's a good thing I stretched myself out to stop Sir Hiltine earlier. No matter how much Aldor had done that he deserved to die, I didn't really want him to die. I didn't want anyone to die because of .
That order is too much. Please dont do that in the future.
This is an order from His Majesty.
Hiltine answered firmly with a slightly bitter smile.
And I have already disobeyed his orders.
He was talking about him not being able to kill Aldor earlier. Also about asking him not to report this to Kalian.
Im sorry that I unknowingly made you disobey His Majestys orders. But my intentions remain the sa.
I said, looking straight at him as he looked at with an indifferent look.
So don't kill other people. Sir Hiltine, too, doesnt want that, right?
Sir Hiltine's expression changed subtly. He looked surprised and also shocked.
Why is he like that?
Sir Hiltine?
When I called him in confusion, Sir Hiltine covered his face with his hand.
"Are you okay?"
I tried to reach him, but Sir Hiltine avoided my hand and took a step back.
I put my awkward hand back and looked at him.
Sir Hiltine's expression beca a little more distorted when he t my eyes. He hesitated for a mont, then swush', he turned and disappeared quickly before I could grab hold of him.
I, who was left alone in an instant, wanted to chase Sir Hiltine, but I chose not to and entered the annex.
I didn't know where Sir Hiltine had gone, and I didn't want to go around and go through the sa thing that happened to before.
The annex was quiet, perhaps because it was late. And the silence that wrapped around was scary.
So I quickly returned to my room like soone was chasing .
"My Lady!"
Eria, who was waiting for in the room, approached with a smile.
Are you okay, My Lady? I heard sothing bad happened at the party.
Is it only known as sothing bad happened?
It was best for it all to be buried, but since there was such a commotion, it was difficult to bury it completely. But with this much, Marquis Hutton could be said to be quick to use his hands well.
What happened?
Just a minor accident.
It's not minor at all, but it's sothing I couldn't tell her, so I just roughly glossed over it.
Eria was quick to notice and didn't ask anymore.
Should I help you change your clothes?
"No need. I can change by myself. So, can you leave? Im tired and want to be alone.
"I understand."
After Eria left, I sat down in front of the dressing table, rubbing my face.
The woman reflected in the mirror was gaunt and unattractive.
Why couldn't they just leave alone?
Andante, and also Aldor.
I got goosebumps as I rembered what I had suffered from both of them. I wrapped my arms around my trembling shoulders and lowered my head.
Aldor fakely apologized to , but I also fakely forgave him. How could I truly forgive him when he had done such a thing?
I couldn't do that.
Certainly.
*****
You don't look well, My Lady.
The next day, late in the morning.
Eria, who had prepared a late breakfast, asked anxiously.
Did you not sleep well?
Well, yeah.
Theres no way I could sleep comfortably when I went through sothing like that. Even if I fell asleep because I was so tired, I kept waking up because what I had suffered from Andante and Aldor kept appearing in my dreams alternately. And after waking up like that, I couldn't sleep for a while due to the aftermath.
It will probably be like this for a while.
Because it took a year for what Andante did to beco dull.
How long will this take? I wish it could get dull sooner.
If you have insomnia, should I bring you so tea for a good nights sleep? Drink it and then take a nap. You don't have any special plans today anyway."
Hmm, should I?
"Please do that."
After thinking about it for a while, I thought it was a good idea and accepted Eria's suggestion.
Eria brought the tea near the end of my late breakfast.
It was a light reddish, fragrant tea.
Chamomile, huh?
You know it right away.
I used to drink this kind of tea a lot.
It was the tea that Misa prepared for , who could hardly sleep due to insomnia after the predecessor Duke and Duchess Williot died.
Besides this, she prepared a lot of things like lavender-scented candles and a pillow for a good night's sleep.
Was it just Misa? The butler and the other servants of the Duke of Williot also cared for and helped a lot.
I still missed them, but this made miss them even more.
I should write a letter to Misa as soon as I get back to the capital. To the other servants too, if possible.
With that in mind, I took a sip of the tea.
The bitter and sweet taste of chamomile spread fragrantly in my mouth.
It seed that my depressed mood had improved a little.
Can I take away the dishes you're done eating?
"Yeah. I'll sleep after drinking the tea, so you don't have to co until I call you."
Yes, My Lady.
When Eria went out and I was drinking the tea while recalling the mories of Misa and others, a knock was heard.
Who is it? Is it Eria? Or maybe Aldor isn't here again, is he?
My hand almost lost its strength for a mont, but I managed to put the teacup I had almost dropped on the table and looked at the door.
I had to ask who it was, but I couldn't speak. It was because of the fear that it might be Aldor. But I had to ask. It's not polite to make the other person wait too long.
When I was about to force myself to speak, the other person spoke first.
Sir Thebesa, are you not inside?
It was Diane. I finally answered calmly.
No, I'm here. Co on in."
With my permission, the door opened and Diane entered cautiously.
She looked quite different from yesterday when she bravely stord through Aldor's door.
Are you okay, Sir Thebesa?
Now that I thought about it, I hadn't explained anything yet to Diane. She must have been very worried, it was my negligence.
I smiled brightly and nodded to show that I was okay.
"Yes, I'm okay. Fortunately, Lord Hutton confessed his fault before the sacred trial began, so it ended well.
"What a relief."
Diane sighed in relief and wiped her chest.
Umm, can you give so of your ti?
"Of course. I'll have the maid bring the tea right now."
Diane shook her hand as I got up and tried to pull the bell.
"No need. I have other plans, so I have to go right away. I ca here just to check Sir's condition and to say sothing to you.
"Is that so?"
Co to think of it, yesterday she said she had sothing she really wanted to say to .
Instead of sitting back down, I stood facing Diane.
Diane hesitated for a mont, unlike her usual self, and then slowly opened her mouth.
"I'm sorry."
Why is she sorry all of a sudden?
What are you sorry for?
What I said to Sir yesterday.
What she said to ? What
"Ah."
Co to think of it, she told that I was the emperor's mistress. And because of that, I was reluctant to see Diane.
I had been through sothing even bigger than that, so I forgot about it.
Yesterday I hated and felt disappointed for Diane, but not now. It was thanks to Diane who ca first and apologized sincerely. Also to the trust she showed in during Aldor's incident yesterday.
It wouldn't have been easy to trust in that situation, but Diane trusted without wavering in the slightest. That alone could absolve her of all her mistakes.
"No. It's okay, so don't worry about it. People can misunderstand in their lives.
But it was a real misunderstanding.
Diane scratched her cheek with an awkward expression.
Before I ca to the Empire, I looked into Sir Thebesa. Ah, of course, the others as well.
I guessed so. Because I did that too.
And everyone said that Sir Thebesa was the Emperors lover. So I really thought you were.
"I understand. But that's a false rumor. I'm simply an aide to His Majesty the Emperor.
Yes, I believe that.
Diane shook her head bigly.
But Sir is capable of that.
It was good to be recognized by Diane, but sohow I was embarrassed and smiled awkwardly.
Whatever the reason, I'm really sorry for the strange misunderstanding. It was not intentional.
Yes, I know.
"That's a relief."
Diane smiled bashfully, and then asked carefully, looking in the eye again.
Umm, Sir Thebesa.
"Yes."
"If you don't mind
Perhaps because it was difficult to say, Diane hesitated, unable to say it easily.
What is she trying to say so hard?
If you have anything you want to say, you can say it, Sir Andrian.
Only then did Diane speak up.
Umm, if you don't mind, may I call your na, Sir Thebesa?
Calling soone by their first na, not by their surna, aning that they were in a close relationship. Usually, nas were called between blood relatives, lovers, and friends.
Kalian called by my first na too, but it was a special case.
In other words, Diane was asking to be friends now.
I was stunned. I thought I had beco quite close to Diane, but I never thought that she would co up with such an offer first.
Diane smiled awkwardly as I looked at her without saying a word.
I cant do that, right? I'm sorry. I asked too much. Then, take a good rest. I'll get going
"Wait!"
I grabbed Diane's arm as she tried to rush out.
Diane looked back at with her eyes wide open.
I looked at Diane and smiled.
You should hear my answer, Diane.
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