episode_0012

“I cannot accept this!”

“I’m not asking for your understanding. I’ve said numerous times that this is a decision of the palace. Haven’t I?”

At the loud voice of Lady Lorenzo Huffshaw, I was able to regain my momentarily lost composure. I wanted to confront Ancel about the issue of the first queen’s suicide, which seemed to make my mind go blank, but for now, the matter at hand took precedence.

Lady Lorenzo Huffshaw was still in a frenzy, unable to accept her dismissal as the princess’s tutor, and was causing a scene with Bangsio, her steward. Well, I had expected that she wouldn’t easily come to terms with it given her personality.

Ahem.

I set down the coffee cup in my hand on the table and focused on Lady Huffshaw. As I looked at her with Vivian’s characteristic insolent gaze, I almost inadvertently averted my eyes because of Lady Huffshaw glaring at me with eyes that were red and swollen like those of a beast. Is that the expression of someone who values etiquette?

“Lady Lorenzo Huffshaw, why would I become responsible for the princess’s education?”

“…Didn’t Her Majesty dislike me? Education isn’t as easy as Her Majesty thinks it is…!”

It seemed that my words no longer reached Lady Huffshaw’s ears. It seemed like she was just spouting words in any way possible to somehow mitigate the current situation.

I got up from the sofa and approached Lady Huffshaw. As I took a step closer, I could hear Lady Huffshaw’s labored breathing as she tried to contain her anger.

Yes, as you say, I don’t like Lady Huffshaw.

“Ha…! Is that the only reason you’ve taken charge of the princess’s education? Just because you dislike me?”

If that were the only reason, I would have used a different approach.

Exasperated by Lady Huffshaw’s display of anger as if she were the victim, I let out a small sigh. Just looking at that face brought to mind the ‘ending’ from a game, which irritated me.

Honestly, I’ve had a lot of doubts about whether I’m doing the right thing with this. The place I’m in now isn’t a world that flows like a game script, it’s reality.

So, I wondered if being the lady-in-waiting is not so different from a game. But… I didn’t just come here to have fun and relax. Through the maids I’ve become close to, I gathered rumors spreading throughout the palace, even confirming the rumor that the lady-in-waiting is fixated on the princess.

“If you didn’t see the princess as a substitute for the queen, I wouldn’t have offered to take charge of her ‘education.’”

“…What…?”

The lady-in-waiting’s eyes bulged with blood vessels, as if she’d been struck at her core. Bangso, who overheard the conversation, widened his eyes, questioning the truth of what he heard.

“When the queen married His Majesty, the late king, and the former queen, praised you abundantly. They truly raised a beautiful lady who suits His Majesty.”

As I spoke, the lady-in-waiting’s shoulders shook violently. I continued looking at her and speaking.

“The rumor that you received praise from His Majesty spread quickly in social circles. Everyone praised you. They called you an excellent ‘educator’ and said they would pay any amount to have their own child educated by you.”

“…No, that’s not true.”

“That’s how you gained recognition for raising the queen and stayed in the palace to assist her. Moreover, you held the position of the queen’s ‘mentor.’”

“…No, that’s not true.”

“Isn’t it a life in the palace that every noble envies? Congratulations. At that time, you were truly a successful noble that everyone envied.”

When I lightly tapped the lady-in-waiting’s shoulder, she glared at me as if she wanted to tear me apart. Even so, there was nothing she could do.

This is where the real story begins.

“But what will you do about this?”

“Your Majesty…!”

As if trying to interrupt the next part of the conversation, the lady-in-waiting called out to me. However, I looked at her bewildered expression, gave a sly smile, and continued.

“The queen you raised has passed away.”

*Thud*

The sound of teeth grinding fiercely followed the end of her words. It seemed as if she was barely holding back from exploding, her clenched fists trembling visibly.

“After the death of the first queen, your position in the palace became extremely precarious. The title of ‘first queen’s mentor’ vanished in an instant.”

“…”

“Rumors even spread that you were involved in the first queen’s death. Noble figures have started to criticize your educational policies, claiming it to be the root of the problem.”

I was surprised to hear about the first queen’s suicide, but in the game, the first queen was already treated as a deceased character. In the game, she didn’t die by suicide but due to illness.

So, not knowing that the first queen had died, I couldn’t understand why the Marchioness was so fixated on the princess. I could only guess that something had happened to the first queen.

However, the moment I heard the news of the first queen’s death today, I understood clearly why the Marchioness was fixated on the princess.

In the end, no matter how the first queen died, the Marchioness had no choice but to be fixated on the princess.

All for the sake of reclaiming her lost honor.

“Were you trying to restore your reputation through the princess, by any means necessary?”

“No..! I truly did it for the princess..!”

“Did you really think that raising the princess like the first queen, following her every step, was truly for the princess? Didn’t you think of raising the princess just like the first queen, all because of that same educational method?”

“What’s wrong with that! My educational method has already been proven! I raised the first queen with that education, what’s wrong with that method!”

“It’s because of that same educational method that the princess will…!!”

Later, she takes her own life.

The words echoed in my mind until the very core of my being.

In the game, the princess is subjected to an education from the Marchioness that is nothing short of ‘brainwashing’. She must act in every way like the first queen, from her preferences to her way of speaking.

The Duchess’s “education” was nothing short of annihilating the princess’s personality. Everything had to be like the first queen, just as the first queen would have done. That was the Duchess’s “education.”

When I first saw this ending, it made me shudder with disgust.

With the high abilities given by the Duchess, could we finally see a happy ending this time? I was filled with anticipation, but this cursed game seemed to be a punishment handed over to the Duchess without any doubt.

Completely unexpectedly.

Suddenly, they showed the illustration of the princess found hanging.

Before I could recover from the shock of the princess, whom I had raised with care, having committed suicide, this cursed game began to kindly and meticulously explain why the princess had taken her own life.

The Duchess, who lost her honor due to the death of the first queen.

The mansion that tried to make the princess just like the first queen in order to regain that honor.

Unable to withstand that pressure, the princess eventually took her own life.

“What a vile woman.”

I thought as I looked at the Duchess, who was standing in front of me, trembling. She felt so despicable, trying to mold her daughter just like she was, unable to forget her past honor.

“…Anyway, I have no intention of understanding your educational policy. How wicked must your reputation have been for you to choose me, who is rumored to be a witch, between you and the palace?”

“Ha…”

“Just accept it quietly and retire. Your retirement pay will be generously taken care of by the bank.”

I picked up the crumpled “exclusive notice” on the table and held it out to the Duchess again. The Duchess stared blankly at the exclusive notice I offered, then suddenly burst into laughter.

“Didn’t Her Majesty tell me last time…? That the princess’s opinion matters.”

“…She did.”

After hearing my response, the Duchess abruptly turned her head and dashed out of the room with a thumping sound. In the sudden turn of events, both Bangsoo and I could do nothing but stare blankly at her departure.

I let out a small sigh and turned to look at Bangsoo. It seemed that Bangsoo was as bewildered by this situation as I was. No matter how much the Duchess may not consider me a royal, she…

Bansho sighed as he looked at the wide-open door, which Lady Hujak had just opened and left. “…Her Majesty seems unusually merciful today,” he said. “Isn’t Lady Hujak someone of your age? Every time I see her face, I can’t help but think of you, and it’s quite a struggle for me.”

“Hehe!” Bansho chuckled at my jest. If she were true to her nature, Vivian would not have been satisfied until she had throttled Lady Hujak right then and there. Vivian had no mercy for those who encroached upon her.

As we bantered, footsteps echoed in the corridor once again. Hearing the sound, Bansho sighed once more, and I, too, exhaled in sync with his sigh. It would have been good if Lady Hujak’s echoing steps were the only ones heard in the hallway. But amidst the echoing footsteps, a child’s voice could also be heard.

“Wait..! It hurts..! Slow down..!”

Lady Hujak entered without hesitation, holding the princess’s arm, almost dragging her along. For a moment, I felt breathless at the sight of Lady Hujak, who seemed almost deranged, bringing the princess in with an almost frantic expression.

Neither Bansho nor I could say anything in the presence of Lady Hujak. With an almost crazed look, she grabbed the princess’s shoulders and shouted, “Your Highness..! Her Majesty is trying to expel me! She says I am of no use to you! Your Highness..! Just one word… Just one word, please. Yes? I am more helpful to you than Her Majesty!”

“Ah, uh..!”

In this absurd situation, I lowered my head and looked at the princess. Between Lady Hujak’s rough grip, bruises adorned the princess’s arms, and there were marks on her wrists.

It was like the marks left by someone gripping and twisting forcefully.

“Wait..! Loren-”

Bansho’s face turned grim as he tried to stop Lady Hujak upon seeing the wounds on the princess’s arm, but my actions were quicker than Bansho’s restraining voice.

I grabbed the hunched shoulders of Lady Hujak, who was sitting crouched, pushed her aside, and let go of her. Then, I raised my hand high and slapped Lady Hujak’s cheek.

Snap!

The sound of the slap filled the room, causing a momentary silence. Lady Hujak, with her cheek stinging and head spinning, looked at me with an incredulous expression as she held her cheek with her hand.

Ignoring my tingling palm, I glared at Lady Hujak firmly.

“Are you truly out of your mind, Lady Hujak?”

“T-This is…”

As I struck her cheek, Bangsyo quickly took the princess away from Lady Hujak. I sat in front of Lady Hujak, who was now on the floor, and locked eyes with her.

“Lady Hujak, though I may despise you, I never thought I needed to do anything to you.”

“Y-Your Majesty…”

“I’ve endured much, thinking it was just an old person’s tantrum. Even when you failed to exhibit the ‘etiquette’ that you boast about to me through your actions.”

I extended the crumpled “Official Notice” in my hand back towards Lady Hujak. She reached out with trembling hands to take it, but…

“But do I need to endure anymore?”

I tore the Official Notice in half. As the paper ripped, Lady Hujak’s face began to pale, as if it foretold her future. She should have taken advantage of this last chance.

Scattering the torn pieces of the Official Notice on the ground, I stood up and instructed Bangsyo. This was something Bangsyo could handle appropriately.

“Bangsyo, I trust you’ll handle this without me having to say it.”

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

After dismissing Bangsyo, I lifted the wrist of the bewildered princess. Looking at her reddened, swollen wrist, I felt a twinge of guilt.

Gently stroking the princess’s head, I smiled and said,

“Starting today, come to my chambers for your lessons during Lady Hujak’s class time.”

“W-What…?”

“From now on, I will be your teacher.”