Chapter 165: What About Living Expenses in the Mainz Kingdom?

In the end, I was told by the Queen herself that nothing further would develop between us from now on, and I returned to my room with slumped shoulders. From the beginning it had been impossible to expect such a thing. I had been told so many times.

Back in my room, I opened the envelope I had received from Lord Richelieu. Inside was a single sheet of paper, decorated with flowery language, but in short it said, "Twenty gold coins will be sent each month, so live on that." Was this really enough as living expenses? Would it be sufficient when living in the Mainz Kingdom? I would be taking two maids, Lily and Stevie, but wouldn’t I also need to hire local staff such as a butler, footmen, and a cook? Who on earth would know something like that? Lord Richelieu probably knew (his subordinates had investigated and reported), and the amount he decided on was this. Besides, there was no one living in this country who understood the Mainz Kingdom. Perhaps the Mainz Kingdom was a highly developed nation where something like Su○ca could be used normally... but that was unlikely. In isekai novels there were cases where a smartphone brought from the previous life somehow communicated with the other world and the battery never needed charging, so I wanted to hope. If many people had come from other worlds, someone might have made electricity usable. But most likely it wouldn’t be much different from this country.

When night came, I thought Debbie would come, but once again the auntie maid arrived. Well, that couldn’t be helped (deep down I had hoped with about a 1% chance that one of the Queen’s maids would come). When I climbed onto the roof, Lily was waiting for me as expected.

"Lily, today there was the ambassador appointment ceremony, and in the document I received it said twenty gold coins would be sent every month. Is that enough to live on? I’ll have to hire servants and live over there, right?"

I asked Lily, but as expected the question was beyond her.

"I’m sorry, but I cannot say. The people currently working at the embassy in the Mainz Kingdom are still serving there, I believe. The butler was from this country, as I recall. The other servants were people of the Mainz Kingdom. Beyond that I don’t know. You’ll just have to go and see."

She answered exactly as expected.

"Yeah, that’s true. Isn’t there anyone who has gone to the Mainz Kingdom and returned?"

Lily nodded repeatedly and said,

"There was someone in the knight order before, but I believe he died in the battle against the demon race."

"Is that so? Then it can’t be helped."

It was a pity. That battle had probably caused the deaths of a great number of capable people.

"I’m sorry I couldn’t be of more help."

After a short silence,

"Hey, Lily..."

"No!"

Lily shook her head. Even though I hadn’t said anything, she acted as if she had read my mind.

"Eh!? I didn’t say anything yet."

"I know. It’s about the Queen, isn’t it?"

"You know?"

She really knew?

"I know."

"Does that mean you overheard the conversation between the Queen and me? Were you eavesdropping?"

"I was not listening. However, the story that Robin-sama and the Queen have become close has reached me. Besides, it’s written on your face."

"What is?"

"That you want to sneak into the Queen’s bedchamber."

"W-w-w-what are you saying! I-if I did something like that..."

"If it were discovered, both the Queen and Robin-sama would be sentenced to death."

"Eh. Really?"

"Without a doubt!"

"Is there a precedent?"

"Whether there is or not, I know. It is a crime of undermining the authority of His Majesty the King, so it would unquestionably be treated as the heaviest crime. Therefore it would be death. How you would be killed would depend on His Majesty’s feelings."

"That’s... but what if it wasn’t discovered?"

"It would absolutely be discovered!"

"Absolutely?"

"Without a doubt!"

"Really?"

"Yes. In the first place, if Robin-sama intended to go to the Queen’s bedchamber, I could not accompany you. I cannot even tell you the location of the bedchamber!"

"Eh, why?"

"If I told you, I would be assisting Robin-sama in adultery!! Unless I sincerely stop you and you still force your way through, I would also be charged with a crime. Without a doubt I would also be sentenced to death! If I had blood relatives, the entire clan would be sentenced to death."

"I see..."

Heavy...

"That’s right. Moreover, this is an important period for deciding the next crown prince. In order to eliminate rivals, the princes, the royal family, for example His Majesty’s younger brothers, are engaged in fierce behind-the-scenes struggles. Therefore there are also people plotting to eliminate the Queen. At a time like this, going to the Queen’s place at night — you must understand that even approaching would cost you your life."

"When you put it that way, you’re right."

"Even if you went, to enter the bedchamber you would have to fight the guards surrounding the Queen. Would you defeat those people and then go to the Queen? All of the Queen’s guards are women. There are also those around the same age as Stevie. Would you kill those people and then go to the Queen? While you were fighting them, if an agent of the Queen’s political enemies slipped through the security net and reached the Queen, harming her, what would Robin-sama do?"

"Guuuu..."

I had nothing to say.

"Therefore, please give up on the Queen. Around Robin-sama there are me and Stevie. I am already old, but Stevie is still young and admires Robin-sama. Even knowing that Robin-sama will one day marry a young lady of high nobility, she still admires you. Therefore, could you at least take a little of that feeling into consideration? Please."

Hearing the obvious from Lily, I felt as if my eyes had been opened. Yes, let’s do that. There isn’t much time left until departure. I’ll behave myself.