Chapter 226: The Messenger from Duchess Vélez

Even though a messenger has come to the entrance, the troublesome part is that one cannot simply stand and talk at the entrance.

I descend the stairs from the private room on the second floor, glance sideways at the face of the messenger at the entrance while pretending not to notice, and enter the reception room. Then I must wait for the messenger to enter — that is the procedure one must follow, it seems. The messenger also appears to understand that; although I think my movement entered his field of vision, he is pretending not to look (I think). Does that mean that even if I appeared completely naked before the messenger he would pretend not to notice?

Incidentally, if the Duchess herself had come, I myself would have to stand before the entrance, open the carriage door, take the Duchess’s hand, and so on — extremely troublesome procedures would be required, and for me who was raised in the depths of the Rear Palace these are all things I have never experienced.

The messenger who entered the reception room made a formal greeting and then respectfully produced a single sealed letter. Rudolf received it, opened the seal, and handed it to me. It is pompous, yet from now on I must grow used to it. Do all the nobles of the world do this sort of thing as a matter of course?

Now then, what is the contents of the letter? Looking, it was an extremely simple and high-handed "Bring the medicine and come tomorrow. Come as early as possible." Of course it was written more politely and euphemistically... Medicine — that, right? There is nothing else, right? Surely.

When I raised my face the messenger did not smile; the messenger who seemed not to know the words "business smile" wore an extremely serious face and said,

"May I receive a reply?"

Because I did not know how to answer I handed the letter to Rudolf; after reading it through Rudolf frowned. He looks a little surprised. Then he looks at me and nods with a kokun. I see, it is all right.

"Then, messenger, would you please convey to the Duchess that I will call tomorrow. I will match the Duchess’s convenience, so although it is extremely rude I ask whether you could send a carriage to fetch me? I will prepare so that I can call at any time."

When I said that the messenger cleared his throat once with a kohon and said,

"Understood. I will come to fetch you tomorrow. Please treat me favorably."

He stood from his seat and left.

"I am surprised. To think there would be an invitation from the Duchess. What change of heart is this?"

Rudolf truly looks surprised.

"That is surely because Her Majesty the Queen’s letter is effective. Tomorrow I will go together with Lily."

"Eh, that? Must I not accompany you?"

"No, to go to the Duchess’s place I must take Lily."

"Is that so?"

Rudolf is making a face of "Why?", yet

"That’s right. Lily is absolutely necessary."

I assert.

"Understood. I leave it to you."

Yet the talk did not end there. If it were only Rudolf and me there would be nothing particular, yet when it becomes a matter of taking Lily the problem of Lily’s clothing arises. What will she wear? Carla-san, Rudolf’s wife, entered the check, and it became a matter of which of the costumes Lily brought from the Marie Kingdom she would wear. As a result all the clothes Lily brought were rejected. They are behind the fashion of the costumes of noble-class women of the Mainz Kingdom. There was no choice, so a costume-rental shop was called and we would select something. From there it had nothing to do with me, so I left it to Carla-san and Lily. From now on when I go out together with Lily I will have to borrow each time, aah... money goes out. Rudolf was saying things like "If it were a man, fashion lag would not matter and one could keep wearing the same clothes forever," in a small voice so that his wife would not hear.

I will surely never forget Lily whose eyes shone when she looked at the clothes the costume-rental shop brought.

At dinner I experienced the experience of eating silently alone while the butler and maids stood lined up around the table. Will this continue from now on...

Now, night came and it became bedtime and I was alone. There was no night-watch maid standing by in the room here. Is this ordinary, or is it for the sake of economy? I think various things. 𝘧𝓇ℯℴ𝓂

Night is supposed to be the time for producing the medicine. Inside the residence it has fallen silent and there is no sound. I am waiting yet Lily does not come. I can manufacture the medicine alone, yet I no longer want to do such a thing. Therefore, although Lily who heard the talk of Duchess Vélez during the day ought to come she does not come. Strange. Why? Is she being mean and not coming? Because she is angry that I forced her? That I attacked from behind? Anyway there is no sense that she is coming. That being so, there is no choice but to go. I know where Lily’s room is, and if I go from the window no one will know.

I open the window and go outside. Leaning out from the balcony I look left and right. I move to the balcony of the neighboring room. This is different. I think it is the room of the butler Rudolf and his wife. There is the sense of Carla-san. Yet there is no sense of Rudolf. I had not paid attention until now, yet Rudolf is absent. Could it be that the couple do not sleep in the same room? Because Rudolf’s snoring is terrible they sleep in separate rooms or something — that seems possible?

I move to the next room. From inside the room there is the sense of Lily. Eh? Is Lily sleeping? Even though I am this restless she is sleeping? Could this be a pose because she thinks I will come? It is not a two-person room, right? It is only Lily’s presence, right?

The window has only a hanging curtain hung from the inside. How defenseless! If there were someone invading from outside, something like this would come off with a chochoi no choi! I think while still feeling happy.

Because a hanging curtain was hung I returned to the room and took a knife. When I left my own room I knew the window lock was a hanging curtain, yet I did not notice until I went to Lily’s room...

Anyway, when I was about to insert the knife into the gap of Lily’s window I realized. This is a "night crawl." "Night crawl" — what a heart-throbbing word!! I must go so that Lily notices as little as possible.

I activate Stealth and insert the knife into the gap of the window. Then I slowly lift the hanging curtain. Little by little I lift it. I must not lift it enough to rotate. If it turns with a kurun! there might be a sound like charin. I raise it to about 45 degrees and gently push the window. So that the window makes no sound I push it open into the room at a speed of about one centimeter per second. When I open it a little the scent of Lily from inside the room hits my face. See, Lily is there after all! Aah, she is making sleeping breaths kuu, kuu, kuu. Mmm, even though the master is waiting restlessly, she herself is sleeping peacefully — how insolent! This must be firmly punished!