Chapter 79: Roslyn

“Did you have trouble sleeping last night?”

“Yes. A little….”

“That… is quite a rare occurrence.”

I had spent my first sleepless night since being born.

The key to growing tall is always sleeping early and waking up early.

Perhaps that’s why.

Heine tilted her head in question as I, with my usual villainess-worthy, atrocious schedule, let out a tired yawn.

“Well, because of that. I think I’ll just take a leisurely nap today.”

Training and research are good, but the most important thing is a strong body that can handle it all without strain.

Above all, for a creature called human, sleep is one of the most essential needs that must be satisfied.

Trying to use my head with such a tired body would be futile, and the efficiency would undoubtedly be poor.

If that happened, the misfortune of wasting an entire day might occur.

I decided to take a nice, long nap to completely shake off this fatigue.

“This is an order. Heine. For my comfortable nap, set up a hammock in the garden….”

“There’s no way that can happen.”

“Eh?”

I was just about to take a nap with the birdsong as my lullaby.

For some reason, Heine said that was impossible.

“Have you forgotten what day it is?”

“…A sleepy day?”

“Haaah….”

Heine let out a short sigh.

Her gaze, as always, saying ‘of course’, was stinging.

“L-Leo’s birthday?”

“Master Leo’s birthday has already passed.”

Judging by Heine’s reaction, it was clear that today was some kind of special day.

Dad, my older brother, my grandfather, and even my grandmother.

I had memorized all of my family’s birthdays except for Leo’s, so using the process of elimination, the only one left was my one-year-younger brother, Leo.

Of course, I had also firmly imprinted my precious maid Heine’s birthday in my brain, so the development of it being Heine’s birthday was also impossible.

‘Huh?’

‘It’s not Leo’s birthday?’

‘Then what on earth is it?’

“Is a birthday the only special day for you, Lady Lin….”

“The day I took my first steps…?”

“…It’s certainly something to celebrate. But isn’t it a bit much to make every little thing like that a special day?”

“Hmph. This maid is right. I got a real scolding from my late wife because of that once. Hahaha!”

“Grandfather?”

My grandfather, laughing heartily as always, came to visit me today.

The hug and the rubbing of his bushy beard were truly tiresome and ticklish.

‘I’m already fifteen and a proper adult….’

At first, I thought this was just his personality, but he was strict with Leo, teaching him various things and even arranging for private tutoring to prepare him for the academy.

That’s right.

For some reason, my grandfather treated only me like a newborn baby.

“Stop…!”

Feeling like this would never end if I just stood by, I pushed my grandfather’s face away.

He looked disappointed, but I couldn’t be fooled.

That was a kind of survival strategy.

Yes.

Like a cat that has survived until now with its cute looks, despite all its bratty behavior.

It was a reflex action, close to a survival strategy.

“So, what day is it today, Heine?”

“That is….”

“I’ll explain that.”

My grandfather intercepted Heine’s reply.

At that, Heine just quietly, politely closed her mouth.

“Lin, both you and your brother. You’ve reached the age to enter the academy.”

“Another old story….”

“It’s not like that. Just listen.”

Heine politely offered my grandfather some black tea.

Grandfather took the small teacup with a nod of thanks.

He took a sip of the black tea and, seeming to like it, praised Heine’s skill.

“The academy is a special place where the Emperor’s bloodline, nobles from other empires, even foreign princes and princesses, children from renowned families, and even dragons from the gutter all gather together.”

Why is the Empire an Empire?

It is not merely a kingdom, but an empire, because it possesses enough power to exert great influence over surrounding nations.

Because it is the largest and strongest, the most outstanding talents gather.

And because the most outstanding talents are there, the most outstanding academy is created.

It was originally created for the political purpose of centralizing power, but now, the academy’s current state was that it exerted its powerful influence even on neighboring countries.

That’s right.

The academy is not just some big school.

It is the wildest of wilds, where all sorts of national and political interests are entangled.

As is often the case, it professes equality on the surface, but not a single person truly believes it.

“In all things in this world, the first step is always important. Therefore, we nobles have a ritual of undergoing our own tests and lessons within the family before entering the academy.”

‘Ah, now I remember.’

‘That setting.’

Before entering the academy, to avoid being looked down upon by other families, most nobles would have their children study in advance as soon as they officially became adults.

However, considering they had their own knight training and such even before the academy existed, this wasn’t exactly a new custom.

“And this is the same not only for us but for all the branch families as well.”

Branch families.

That was the term used to describe the Gardner families, the collateral blood relatives of our Rosegarden family.

All the branch families that were not Rosegarden swore allegiance under the common name of Gardner.

As you can guess from the name Gardner, it’s a family closely related to the birth of the gardeners, and to this day, most of the high-ranking gardeners are members of the Gardner family.

“My Lord.”

“Yes. Who arrived first?”

Just then, a knight from the castle approached.

It was news that the branch families were arriving at Rosegarden Castle one by one.

***

“The castle is in sight.”

“Yes. We are expected to arrive shortly.”

A white rose on a red lion.

A carriage bearing the crest of the Gardner family, modeled after the crest of the main family, the Rosegardens, entered the count’s domain.

A viscount family that governs in place of the Rosegardens, spread throughout the Flandia region in the western part of the Empire.

Among the children of that viscount family, a girl of the same age as Lin, said to be the most outstanding, looked out the window at Rosegarden Castle.

“Huhu, finally. I can see you again.”

Blonde hair reminiscent of barley.

Pickled frog-like green eyes.

The daughter of the Gardner family, a leading branch family of the Rosegardens, Roslin Gardner.

She was a girl who possessed an appearance and aura far more villainess-like than anyone from the direct bloodline.

“How long I have waited for this moment.”

Roslin’s eyelids curved into an arc.

How many years had it been since their last meeting?

The Gardner family, where the unique Rosegarden family love had transformed into loyalty.

That’s right.

Even compared to the other Gardners.

Right now, Roslin was looking forward to her reunion with Lin more than anyone else.

“As this is a reunion you have long awaited, the feeling must be quite extraordinary.”

“Be quiet. Do you intend to disturb my thoughts?”

“I-I’m sorry!”

“Tsk….”

Roslin clicked her tongue at her subordinate’s thoughtless comment.

Unlike a certain villainess whose master-servant relationship was practically reversed, she showed a clear hierarchy.

‘…Lady Lin.’

Roslin looked out the window at Rosegarden Castle again.

Then, she recalled the past.

She reminisced about the moment she went to the main house to register her birth, holding her father’s hand as a child.

“That is her, Roslin. The person standing over there is Lady Lin Rosegarden, to whom you must pledge your loyalty from now on.”

“That person is….”

Dazzling platinum blonde hair that seemed to be reflecting the sunlight.

Emerald eyes reminiscent of a forest lake.

Despite her young age, Roslin at the time could feel the difference between the direct line and a branch line in her very skin.

No jealousy arose.

Such distinct nobility only evoked a simple and blind loyalty.

“Who are you?”

“Ah… I, I am…. Roslin Gardner of the Gardner family…!”

“Hmph.”

Later, while she was hesitating alone, trying to gather the courage to speak.

The young Lin asked Roslin for her identity.

Her head instinctively bowed.

She introduced herself as formally as possible, but Lin showed no particular interest.

Nevertheless.

Roslin followed Lin around for the entire time she stayed at Rosegarden Castle.

Despite Lin’s continued indifference, she was not discouraged.

Rather, that aloof and noble appearance engraved even deeper reverence in her.

The master of a bloodline should naturally be like this.

Under that thought, at the time of their parting, Roslin swore a vow.

“I, Roslin, wish to become a splendid aide who will assist you in the future, Lady Lin.”

“Well…. do as you wish. Do what you want.”

“…!”

‘Yes!’

And so.

From that blunt reply from the young Lin, Roslin continued to strive for years.

She worked tirelessly to become a splendid aide and attendant worthy of her.

“Welcome, Lady Roslin.”

The Gardner family of Roslin arrived at Rosegarden Castle.

Barely hearing the gatekeeper’s greeting, she searched for her one and only interest.

“Where is Lady Lin?”

Hearing that she was enjoying tea time in the garden, Roslin immediately headed in that direction.

“Perhaps, are you Lady Roslin?”
“I am. This is perfect. You there, maid, guide me to where Lady Lin is.”

Heine, who had noticed Roslin’s presence first, politely led her to Lin.

“…Wait.”

However, something was strange.

The maid before her had a rather dignified appearance for a common maid.

Roslin eyed Heine’s back with suspicion, but she tried to deny it because of the promise from her childhood.

“Lady Lin. Roslin of the Gardner family has come, wishing to see you.”

“I see. Thank you for your hard work, Heine.”

Finally, Roslin achieved her long-awaited reunion with Lin.

But something was strange.

Calling a mere maid by her name?

To Roslin, this could only mean one thing.

“Wait… You there, why are you sitting at the same table as Lady Lin?”

Even more, as if to confirm it, Heine was pouring tea while sitting at the same table as Lin.

Her master, Lin, also acted as if Heine’s behaviour was completely natural.

“That’s because Heine is my Ladies’ Maid.”

A maid who could dare to sit with her master while wearing a maid uniform could only be the master’s closest aide and assistant, a Ladies’ Maid.

“What? B-But…!”

“…?”

Due to partial amnesia, Lin had completely forgotten the promise of the past.

She tilted her head at Roslin’s intense reaction.

Overcome by a strong sense of loss, Roslin finally clenched her fists and began to tremble.

“…You there!!!”

“Yes?”

And so, Roslin pointed her finger at Heine.

“Let’s have a match right now to see who is more fitting to be Lady Lin’s aide…!!”

She challenged her to a duel.