Chapter 37
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Maid (4)
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Rose flinched and lifted her head.
"Huh?"
The moment she heard Helena's voice, she seemed to catch on to something.
The instant Rose looked up and confirmed Helena's face,
"......"
Their gazes locked.
Rose's green eyes, filled with suspicion as if to say no way, met Helena's blue eyes, brimming with curiosity and mischief.
"...What's your name?"
Rose asked Helena.
"You're a maid I've never seen before. Tell me where you work, too."
Helena stepped back, clasping her hands together. With an enigmatic smile, she replied,
"Rune, ma'am. I work in the laundry."
"Rune, is it."
Rose scrutinized Helena's face intently. Helena kept her head bowed, enduring the gaze.
Has she figured it out?
I watched Rose, trying to read her thoughts.
Eventually, Rose looked away from Helena with an inscrutable expression.
"You may go now."
"Yes, Madam."
Helena tidied the teapot on the cart. Then she slowly pushed it toward the door.
Clunk.
With her still-silent footsteps, Helena's figure vanished beyond the door. It was a surprisingly swift and tidy exit.
I thought she'd cause a scene.
I couldn't tell if it was because I'd thoroughly ignored her, or because I'd laid down the law before Rose arrived.
"......"
Rose kept her eyes downcast, staring at the teacup on the table. Her face was deep in thought.
"Is something wrong?"
When I casually asked as if I knew nothing, Rose lifted her face. Her lips twitched as if she wanted to ask me something, but
"......No, nothing."
She shook her head in the end. But traces of worry lingered at the tip of her jaw.
Doubts like, Did I see wrong? No, that can't be.
Hmm.
I had no intention of hiding the fact that I'd hired Helena.
Now that we could openly(?) suspect Head Physician Joel, it would be best to share that I'd decided to run the guild as well.
So, how could I bring it up naturally?
"My lady."
After pondering for a moment, I opened my mouth.
"Shall we take a walk?"
**
I leaned against the castle wall, arms crossed.
"Hoo......"
A long breath escaped, turning into a pale mist. The sun hadn't set yet, but the wind was quite chilly.
Winter was approaching.
Swish.
I turned my head at the sound of approaching footsteps from afar.
Crunch, crunch.
Rose was walking over in a thick winter coat. She waddled slightly, as if the garment was heavy.
"Your Excellency."
Our eyes met, and Rose smiled faintly.
She no longer tensed up or shrank back at the sight of me. This small change felt monumental to me.
"You've been waiting."
"Not long."
I uncrossed my arms and stood straight. Rose came to stand before me and asked,
"You'll be back before dinner, right?"
"No."
I nodded toward the stables over there.
"I'm going out on horseback."
"Pardon?"
Rose's eyes widened.
"Didn't you say a walk?"
"A walk on horseback."
"Eek......"
Rose suddenly started flustering about.
"I thought you meant a stroll around the territory."
"I don't take aimless walks."
Rose froze for a moment. A straightforward gaze flew at me, trying to gauge my intentions.
"Not an ordinary walk, then?"
"Correct. Above all, it's safer for you to come with me than to leave you here alone."
"Ah......"
Rose peered into my eyes for a moment, then slowly nodded.
"You have urgent business outside that requires my presence."
As expected, Rose was sharp. She grasped the meaning from the slightest hint.
Swish.
Instead of affirming, I held out what I was carrying.
"This is...?"
I took what she obediently offered in her open palms. A light, thin gray robe with no distinctive features.
"Take off that coat you're wearing and put this on."
Rose looked puzzled but dutifully removed her thick coat.
She followed orders without argument. That was one reason I liked her.
Swish.
The moment I draped the robe over her shoulders,
"Ah, this!"
Rose's face lit up instantly.
"A robe with insulation magic!"
It warmed the inside cozily the moment it touched her body, so of course she'd notice.
"Wow, this is such a rare luxury item. I've only heard about it, never seen one."
Rose spun around in place. The hem of the robe fluttered lightly up and down.
"Incredibly light. But the entire hem has circuits embroidered like fine stitching. I heard the process is insanely complicated."
Rose lifted the hem slightly and brought it close to her eyes.
"Ah, I'm so curious. I want to examine it closely in good light. Probably heat-generation circuits."
"You can look later. It's yours now."
"Pardon?"
Rose dropped the hem she was holding with a plop. Her rabbit-wide eyes turned to me.
"You're really giving it to me?"
"Yes."
I added in a nonchalant tone,
"Can't have you catching another cold."
"That's a misunderstanding on Your Excellency's part......"
"Your health is frail, that's a fact. Eat well, sleep deeply, and grow strong."
I wouldn't let her need another checkup from Joel. The plan of tasty food and warm bedding was in full swing.
"......Your Excellency,"
Rose muttered sullenly.
"Always treats me like a child."
"You are a child."
"......"
Rose's face puffed up. She was bursting with desire to protest but had no retort, so she just furrowed her brows.
That expression made me want to treat her even more like one. Deliberately, I didn't tell her the truth and beckoned instead.
"Let's go."
"Yes, Your Excellency. Oh, and."
Rose politely clasped her hands and bowed.
"Thank you, Your Excellency. I'll treasure it."
Her immediate gratitude upon receiving something was another reason I liked her.
It made giving gifts worthwhile.
Step, step.
I led the eagerly following Rose toward the stables. Thanks to instructions to Bill and Selma, no entourage trailed us.
"Your Excellency, by the way."
Rose, following behind, suddenly spoke up.
"I don't know how to ride. Is that okay?"
"Never ridden before?"
"I rode a few times in etiquette class at the Academy. Hardly counts as proper riding, though. Haven't been on one in ages."
"I see."
We soon arrived at the stables. Before opening the door, I stopped Rose.
"Wait here a moment."
"Yes."
Entering the stables, I saw the stablemaster tending to the horses.
"There you go, eat up."
The new stablemaster was feeding hay to a horse. He turned at the sound of the door.
"H-Huh?!"
At the sudden sight of me, his face drained as if he'd faint.
"Y-Your Excellency? What brings you here? Forgive me. If you'd notified me ahead, I'd have prepared."
His excessive stammering suggested he knew about his predecessor.
"How's my horse?"
"Perfectly fine, sir. Just finished eating. But why......"
"Why? Because I need to ride it."
"Pardon?"
The stablemaster jumped in surprise.
"Now?"
"Problem?"
"N-No, of course not."
A casual glance made him tremble as he led the horse out.
"I never took my eyes off it. I swear. Never left the stables empty."
"Enough, I get it."
"S-Sorry."
His overzealous self-defense was pitiful. But since it was necessary, I said nothing more.
"Good to see you."
I lightly stroked the horse's neck. Pleased by the touch, it narrowed its eyes.
This horse, which I'd recently started training with, was quite clever. It hid its fierce temperament around me but unleashed it fully against enemies.
Clop.
I led the horse straight out of the stables.
"Your Excellency."
Rose, waiting by the door, approached. Curiosity lit her slightly flushed face.
"So this is your horse. It's beautiful."
"Mm."
I gazed at Rose for a moment before speaking.
"You said you've ridden a few times. Can you mount alone?"
"Uh......"
Rose swallowed hard. Her large eyes spun as she pondered furiously.
"Maybe? But what if it kicks me off the rump?"
"It won't."
I nearly laughed but held it back. Laughing now might earn me a beet-red face from her, but perhaps not.
Instead, I beckoned her closer.
"Come here. I'll help you up."
"Ah."
Rose hesitated instead of coming right away. She stared at my extended hand.
...That expression again.
Rose always made that face when our bodies might touch.
As if she wanted to flee from me, to escape this place, a precarious expression. Like she was desperately trying to keep distance.
Does she hate touching me that much?
The incident in Joel's room came to mind. Imagining what would have happened if I hadn't suppressed that impulse then,
Damn.
The not-unpleasant mood plummeted rapidly.
The vivid image of a pale Rose shoving me away crushed my chest heavily, for no good reason.
...Not that it would ever happen.
I decided not to torment myself with needless fantasies.
Right, this was a contract marriage. Keeping things clean was the agreement.
"My lady, hurry."
Hiding my roughened feelings, I urged her calmly.
"Planning to hurt my arm again?"
Reminding her of our first day.