episode_0003

“Why did you suddenly curse?”

That phrase suddenly blurted out of my mouth.

‘…What am I saying?’

‘Shibal,’—that word was definitely the first time I’d ever heard it.

Something felt familiar, it rolled off the tongue easily, and I definitely felt it was a curse word.

“…A curse?”

“It’s nothing.”

The girl tilted her head.

A dopey-looking face with vacant eyes. She touched her face with her fingers, making a puzzled expression. It was as if she didn’t know a single character of writing; a low, lowly…

“……!”

I cut my thoughts off there.

Living in such a dark place, I’ve come to have the same thoughts as those nobles.

Those who smile to your face but then point their fingers behind your back. They’re the kind I hate the most in the world. And the kind I fear the most…

“Ugh, it smells.”

“…What?”

The girl pinched her nose and made a grimace.

What the…

“What kind of smell is that…”

Sniff sniff.

Even though I only had the door open for a short while, I had already gotten used to the fresh outside air. When I turned back and breathed in the air inside the room, a stuffy and foul odor stung my nostrils.

“Cough…”

“See? It smells, doesn’t it?”

Had I really spent all day in this space?

I couldn’t believe it.

Turning my head, I saw a large mirror.

My hair was matted, clumped together like I’d smeared mud in it. There were tear streaks under my eyes and drool stains around my mouth. Just looking at it, I immediately thought that I was a total wreck.

My rigid mind relaxed.

Soon my consciousness started to recognize “shame” once more.

My face flushed, and I blurted out whatever came to mind.

“You, you…! How dare you speak to me so disrespectfully…!!”

“Who are you?”

Such a natural attitude.

With no falsehood whatsoever, she truly didn’t know who I was. She didn’t know what rumours were circulating about me…

She simply looked at me, right in my eyes, and said that I smelled bad and was dirty.

“I, I am… the fifth princess of the Naifrantz Kingdom…”

My own name, which I hadn’t spoken aloud in a long time.

“Narita… Florain… Naifra…”

Thud, drip.

Tears flowed, preventing me from continuing.

Why?

Was it because I felt like I was having a conversation with someone for the first time in my life? Because the girl, not knowing who I was, simply looked straight at me and waited for me to finish?

That innocent expression was enough to wash away the grime that had built up in my heart over the past several years.

“I’m a princess. I’m, like, the third highest-ranking person in this castle.”

Actually, I’m probably around 29th, but.

“Eeeeht…? Then you’re… higher than our head maid, nim? Head maid nim?”

“Of course. And it’s ‘Head Maid,’ not ‘Head Maid nim.’”

Why do you make perfectly good eyes look crosseyed?

That aside,

Normally, you’re not supposed to add ‘-nim’ in front of me, but would teaching the basics of honorifics to someone who doesn’t even know them be meaningful?

Seeing the girl struggling to memorize the characters by writing them on her palm, I burst out laughing.

But what was the honorific again…

“Hmm… It’s too difficult. So, what should I call you, I mean, *what should I call you*?”

“Princess Narita. From now on, you should call me that.”

“Yes, Princess Narita!”

It felt like teaching a child.

She seems to be around my age, but perhaps our life experiences are drastically different? We were alike yet also different.

“Ah! Right, that’s not important. I heard that I’m to be responsible for looking after you from today.”

Yuri… was it?

She opened my bedroom door completely and began to examine the inside.

“…There’s a mountain of things to do.”

“Why are you looking at me like that? It’s your job, isn’t it?”

“Get out of here!”

A startled sound escaped my lips.

Yuri suddenly grabbed my hand and pulled me somewhere.

“Hey, where are we going?”

“It smells! Let’s wash up!”

It smells again…

I went to retort, my face reddening, but my arms had no strength.

I was happy to see the castle corridor again after such long time.

The outside breeze felt refreshing.

It was purely joyful that someone was looking at me.

Like a wilting plant, I simply did as Yuri said.

We arrived at the bathroom.

She poured warm water over my head, made soap suds, and scrubbed me vigorously. Her touch was so rough that I screamed, and soap ended up in my eyes and mouth.

“Eep, wheeze…!”

“I-I’m sorry, Your Highness!!”

“Pfft… Ahaha, it’s okay.”

My eyes stung and my mouth felt bitter. But it was fun.

The soapy water flew this way and that way; I enjoyed myself bathing like this after a long time, and my mood improved considerably.

Next was drying my hair.

“Yuri, a little more gently…”

She was too rough with the towel, so I cried out again.

“Ow, it’s hot!”

The magical tool used for drying my hair emitted hot air, too hot this time, I cried out.

“Ouch ouch…”

When she combed my hair, it got tangled a few times, so I made comments.

It took nearly two hours to finally finish drying my hair, which was scratched, burned, and really beyond what I’d expect from a royal maid.

“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!”

Seeing her repeatedly bowing her head, I sensed that though her skills were poor, she was accustomed to such chores. Yet, looking at her face, she was simply a child of my age.

That’s where I should have noticed.

“I’ll prepare a simple meal, as you must be hungry.”

“Okay. Hmm… Choose the menu yourself. Whatever you’re best at, Yuri.”

“Yes! I’ll bring the best meal!”

Yuri, who said she’d be right back, was gone for another hour or two. Here is where I should have noticed something else.

“I’m sorry, I’m very late…?”

“Yeah. I thought I was going to starve to death.”

On the tray she brought out were meat, bread, and various other dishes. The steam rising from the food showed it was delicious.

My eyes widened.

“Thanks!”

As soon as I stuck my fork in, the juices flowed out. I scooped up plenty of the sauce and stuffed it in my mouth, completely ignoring table manner.

“Mmph.”

Munch munch.

Mmm…

Hmm…

I briefly glanced at Yuri’s expression. The confident look she had when she went to cook was gone, replaced by a look of anxiety.

I slowly put down my fork.

“It’s… average.”

“…Is it not tasty?”

Ugh, how did she know?

My inner thoughts must have shown on my face.

“It’s not that bad. It’ll get better with practice.”

To put it nicely, it was a meal from a day when the cook wasn’t feeling well; to put it badly, it was… gruel?… Gruel…? What was it again? Wasn’t it something like dog food?

Anyway,

Actually, the reason I made that subtle expression wasn’t because of the food. It was because I felt the royal atmosphere, and my lost political sense, returning to me, physically.

Why did Yuri come to me at this time?

The answer is clear.

It was a way to gather troublesome things together. We were both discarded.

The maids who used to serve me all quit soon after. Even when I was given food, I only pretended to eat. Since I wouldn’t move, even when they cleaned me, it would have felt like they were washing a corpse.

It was surely a nuisance thing to the head maid. It was obvious that she decided to stop worrying about me.

Yuri is the same. As a royal maid, she must definitely have at least one skill.

However, she wouldn’t have had the time to gradually train and teach each lacking servant.

That’s why they sent her to me, to get rid of this problem.

Suddenly, Yuri’s posture as she fidgeted with her fingers reminded me of myself.

‘How long do I have to keep this up?’

Am I supposed to live in this room until I die?

No.

I won’t let those who point fingers at me and those who push Yuri to the brink get away with it. My temper won’t allow me to waste away in this dim room.

‘I have to get back up.’

『You have partially fulfilled the ‘Player’ requirements.』 『[Seed of Memory] has begun to sprout.』

But I’ll just repeat the same things if I’m alone. I need trustworthy allies.

“Yuri.”

“Yes, no… Yes!”

Brown hair and blue eyes. A young, pale face, but the scars visible on her body in the bathroom. The calloused hands showed years of rough work, but skill was lacking. She probably can’t do magic, can’t read, and doesn’t have proper court manners.

“Is the work manageable?”

“…Actually, it’s a bit difficult.”

And she’s not lying. That’s enough for me to trust her.

“Are you going to quit then?”

“No…! It’s not like that. And, I have nowhere else to go…”

She… doesn’t have a home. Even though we are both discarded, my situation certainly is better.

That’s why I wanted to reach out to her. I wanted her by my side.

I quickly gobbled down some meat and bread. I got up from my seat, ignoring Yuri trying to dissuade me.

“I need to go somewhere for a bit.”

“Oh, then… I’ll get you your outdoor clothes—”

“No, it’s okay, I’m staying within the castle.”

I’ve acquired a comrade; next I need information. I put on some clothes and walked towards the door when I noticed the dust and hair on the floor.

“Could you clean up this while I’m gone?”

“Yes! I’ll thoroughly clean it this time!”

Yuri’s face lit up as soon as I gave her a simple task. With my back to her, I headed for the corridor.

『[Character Story: Yuri] progress has increased.』 『Character ‘Narita Florain Naifrantz’ is not a ‘Player.’』 『Experience and reward acquisition are delayed.』

That divine-sounding voice that has been echoing since a while ago. I still have absolutely no idea what it means.

“…Did you really think I’d say that?”

『[Seed of Memory] has sprouted.』 『You have partially fulfilled the ‘Player’ requirements.』

I remembered a little bit. Memories of my past life. I haven’t recovered everything, but I found out one thing.

‘If I go to the library, I will discover the truth of this world.’

I quickened my pace.