Chapter 128: Who Should I Take?

While I was still worrying and thinking, Cass didn’t seem to notice the weight of my words.

"Lord Robby, if you leave the palace, who will take care of you? I’m worried you won’t be properly looked after in the foreign country."

"That’s true. Robby can’t do anything, and going alone is fine, isn’t it?"

Wait, alone? No one is going with me? Can’t Lily and Stevie come?

"Mother... Since I have no choice but to go to the Kingdom of Mainz, can’t I take someone with me?"

"Huh? Are you planning to take someone with you, Robby? Do you have some daughter who will come with you? Of course Cass is out of the question. Cass has to stay with me and take care of the child that’s coming."

When Mother asked Cass, he said,

"Yes. I’m terribly sorry to Lord Robby, but I’m married and I’m Lady Doreen’s maid. I can’t go with him. I’m sorry."

He bowed.

"Robby, who do you want to take? Don’t tell me it’s Marin Brand. She was the one who taught you swordsmanship."

Cass looked shocked when Mother said that.

"Lord Robby. That woman is impossible. I became close to her, but she’s already married now."

You know, right? I saw you two last night encouraging each other. Michel and his wife were having a party, and Marin-sensei probably had a wonderful time too. I think they’re starting to swap husbands. But does this world even have husband-swapping?

"Robby, if you have someone in mind, tell me. I’ll ask them."

Mother leaned in with sparkling eyes. Don’t get so close. I can see your cleavage. You’re about to spill out!

"Uh... for example, Stevie Nix?"

Mother said,

"Stevie Nix? Who is that? Does such a girl exist?"

She had been making a huge fuss about Stevie when I called her for night service, but she already forgot her name. Cass remembered and explained,

"Stevie Nix? That’s the girl with the stick-like figure, Lady Doreen!"

"Eh? Is it that airheaded girl? She seemed a bit strange, didn’t she?"

Yes, that strange, eccentric girl is Stevie.

"Right. That eccentric, strange girl. Is she suitable? I heard she was called for night service, but it didn’t work out in the end."

Cass explained it, but that’s how he evaluated Stevie — eccentric and strange. And she wasn’t actually called for night service. Because the situation was chaotic that day, everyone’s memories are fuzzy. That’s fine.

"Robby, is that girl okay? Aren’t there more busty, curvy girls? There are plenty of maids in the rear palace."

What the... Stevie’s low evaluation was heartbreaking. It felt like he was subtly pointing out that I have no eye for women. Of course, she has no chest and no butt. She’s quiet and has no charm. She doesn’t show much emotion and easily falls for sweet things. Ah, this is the classic pattern where the protagonist’s favorite girl only has negative points.

"Is there no one else?"

"Well, there aren’t many girls who would want to go with you to the Kingdom of Mainz. Besides, Stevie’s brother died along with the Crown Prince, so she’s completely alone in the world. Going to the Kingdom of Mainz shouldn’t be a problem, right?"

"Really? Then that’s fine."

Mother and Cass’s evaluation of Stevie seemed fine. It was just elimination by default.

"Mother, Stevie Nix has been my guard when I go to the commoner district. She’s reliable. I can count on her when it counts."

"Huh? Really? I always thought she was just weeding the garden because she couldn’t do maid work properly."

That’s a pretty harsh thing to say.

"Robby, do you have anyone else in mind? You mentioned Stevie Nix with such an unusual name, so I was surprised. Is there someone else you’re thinking of?"

Mother tilted her head. I have no choice but to say it outright. She’ll probably be shocked by the unusual name.

"Uh... what about Lily Page?"

""Ehhhh?! Lily Page?!""

Mother and Cass looked shocked. Mother even lifted her butt a little.

"Lily? Lily, huh? Right, Lily."

Mother’s vague comment was impossible to interpret.

"Lily Page, Lord Robby. Well, I can’t say it’s impossible, but wouldn’t it be better if she were a little younger?"

Cass mentioned age. Mother said,

"But Lily has suddenly become younger. I don’t know what happened, but look, Linda has too! Linda Lewis has as well! Both of them have suddenly become young again, and the maids are all puzzled. Right, Cass?"

Ugh, I have a hunch about what that means and I can’t comment.

"Yes, Lady Doreen! Both of them have become much more radiant and glossy lately. Lily looks like a ten-year-old! The maids are all whispering about it. Her makeup is so light, yet she doesn’t seem to be hiding wrinkles, and the spots are disappearing! Everyone is curious, but she just smiles and won’t say anything!"

Cass insisted, but he probably drank the same youth elixir. He must have felt its effect too. But maybe the effect wasn’t as strong on him as on Lily?

"Well, I’ll ask them. I’ll ask if they’ll come with you to the Kingdom of Mainz. I’ll also ask if they’re willing to stay there forever. Okay, Robby?"

"Understood. Thank you."

I bowed. Please. It’s a long shot, but there’s no way he’ll refuse. He probably won’t say "I can’t take him."

—-

Mother asked,

"Besides maids, who should I take? The guard knights? Robbie, do you have anyone in mind? The maids came up with names right away, so the guards are probably thinking too."

I was shocked. What? What does she mean? I had never even thought about bringing a man. She said "guard," but is there any knight strong enough? I live in the rear palace, so I barely know anything about the knight squad. I should just say it honestly. "I know a weirdly familiar name. The one I went out with before with Cass. That’s Walk, right?" It would probably work. If he couldn’t go because of his own circumstances, it would be a pity. Ordinary princes wouldn’t think like this, but it’s fine.

"Mother, I can’t think of any male knight who can accompany me."

When I said that, Cass jumped in.

"Lady Doreen, right now there are no excellent knights available to guard Lord Robby. They all died during the Crown Prince’s magical beast subjugation, and even more died as martyrs. The number of knights was already small, and now it’s even smaller. It’s already at the limit to protect the palace. So there might not be anyone who can go with Lord Robby."

This shocked me. Are there really no skilled warriors in this country? I couldn’t help asking.

"Cass, does this country have an army? An army? Generals?"

When I asked, both Mother and Cass blinked and looked at each other, then nodded. Mother spoke up.

"Robbie, I’ve told you many times, but our army here is the knight squad. I’ve heard that big countries like the Kingdom of Mainz and the Holy Roman Empire have regular armies in addition to knight squads, but this country doesn’t. Got it?"

Mother was giving me the "this child really doesn’t know anything" look. Cass was also looking like "it can’t be helped." So it turned out there was no talent in this country that I could take to the Kingdom of Mainz. Maybe someone like Browning-sensei, but he has a wife. And since he’s my son-in-law, that’s out. No more flags.

"Robbie, my husband and I don’t have anyone in mind either. Please consult with Prime Minister Richelieu. But worst case, you might not be able to go. Please don’t expect too much."

"Yes, understood."

With that, the conversation ended. But when the maid mentioned that Lily was fine but Stevie wasn’t, the topic of Stevie being "not enough" was brought up again between Mother and Cass. Apparently, if Stevie goes to the Kingdom of Mainz and becomes the representative maid for Marie, it would be embarrassing. Even if Stevie didn’t mind, it would be embarrassing for me, and Mother wouldn’t be affected, and I doubt the story would spread. Since it would drag on too long, I stayed silent.

The two of them kept talking, but I just listened with my heart empty. This was the same skill I used when the conversation drifted off into long rumors about some company during meetings. It was the same skill I used when I pretended to be asleep with my eyes open.

"Robbie? Hey, Robbie?"

When Mother called my name, my soul that had been floating above my head returned to my body.

"Yes? What is it?"

"Already! You’re not listening even though I’m talking to you about Cass! Well, never mind. With Lily and Stevie, is there anyone else you want to bring? Decide it with Prime Minister Richelieu."

In the end, nothing was decided. It was a common way of delaying things by taking time, pretending nothing was decided, and leaving it to others.

"I’ll let Cass tell His Majesty that Robbie has accepted."

"I understand."

I stayed in Mother’s room for a long time, but in the end, all that was decided was that I might be taught something by Cass.

After leaving Mother’s room with Cass, I returned to my own room, and Cass went to Prime Minister Richelieu.

As soon as I returned to the room, Cass came.

"Prime Minister Richelieu wants to see you right away," he said.

I had to go. I went to Prime Minister Richelieu’s room with Cass. On the way, I asked him.

"Cass, you said you would teach me where I’m lacking, right? What are you going to teach me?"

"It’s everything you’re lacking, Lord Robby. Prime Minister Richelieu will say this, but first he wants to resume the stopped classes and teach you other things. Manners, how to write letters, etc."

"Letters?"

"Yes. If it’s private matters, it’s fine to do it as usual, but once you go to the Kingdom of Mainz, you’ll have to write them yourself. How to write fancy letters, greetings at the right time, closing phrases, etc. You also have to learn the language of the Kingdom of Mainz."

"The language of the Kingdom of Mainz?"

"Yes, the language of the Kingdom of Mainz. It’s similar to Marie, but there are differences. You can’t afford to make a mistake there."

When I heard that I would be taught a foreign language, my energy dropped all at once. My English tests in junior and senior high school only got about half the points. It wasn’t about liking or disliking it — I just sucked at it. That was why hearing "foreign language" made me remember my weakness.

"I understand. Please teach me as much as you can. I’ll rely on you."

"I understand. I’ll teach you as much as my time allows."

Looking at Cass’s smile, I felt like I was going to learn all sorts of things.