episode_0152

“I’ll borrow Emily for a bit.”

After making a vague promise, Elizabeth, who had been staring intently at Emily for a while, only rolled her eyes and looked at me, asking for Emily.

It wasn’t unusual for us to receive help from each other’s servants, but the chilling aura emanating from Elizabeth’s eyes gave me the feeling that I shouldn’t just let Emily go.

“Uh… why?”

“I have something important to discuss.”

“Then can’t you just do it here?”

“William, you’re not the kind of person who’s so clueless that a man would interfere in women’s talk, are you?”

I frowned and looked back and forth between Emily and Elizabeth.

One side had a heavy, somber atmosphere, and the other had a pale face, but even if I was told to read the room and leave, I couldn’t just leave…

No matter how I thought about it, I just couldn’t leave.

“Elizabeth.”

Having made that decision, I subtly moved to the side, half-shielding Emily with my body, and stared into Elizabeth’s eyes.

“I’d usually step aside, but she’s terrified right now. If she were your servant, I wouldn’t have any reason to interfere, but Emily is clearly our servant. I’m her master, and I don’t know what happened between you two, but shouldn’t you briefly explain to me why you absolutely have to take Emily?”

“That’s…”

Elizabeth’s eyes wavered.

It wasn’t just a stubborn refusal, but a perfectly normal request to know the basis for why Emily had to be sent to her for a while, so Elizabeth couldn’t easily ignore it.

“That’s right, I was a bit hasty.”

“It happens, just briefly explain why you have to take Emily.”

In the end, Elizabeth also acknowledged her mistake and softened her stance.

“There was an error in communication between Emily and me, and I’m just trying to correct it. Emily made a slight mistake. The reason my expression was a bit fierce… was because my expectations were a bit off. I was a bit emotional.”

“Mistake?”

I couldn’t help but be surprised by Elizabeth’s explanation.

Emily made a mistake.

And it was such a big mistake that Elizabeth momentarily acted emotionally.

I couldn’t believe it.

Our mother’s trust can’t be won with cheap tricks or flukes.

“Emily, is that true?”

“Yes, that’s right. I conveyed incorrect information, which almost caused a problem.”

I wondered if there had been some misunderstanding, so I asked Emily as well. Emily lowered her head, looking apologetic, and admitted that Elizabeth’s words were true.

“Oh dear… this is unexpected…”

I squeezed my eyes shut and massaged the back of my neck.

My neck felt a little stiff and my head was dizzy.

I didn’t know exactly what happened between them, but if Emily made a mistake, there was nothing more I could do to stop it.

Rather than shielding Emily, I should be the one to step up and scold her severely.

It was fortunate that it was Elizabeth, so it ended at the level of wanting to talk, but if it were someone else, I would have had to be prepared for a beating.

“Haa…”

I moved to the side again, stepping out from between Emily and Elizabeth.

And with an apologetic expression, I slightly lowered my head and gestured that it was okay to take Emily.

“Thank you.”

“Since we made a mistake, of course we have to talk it over. Rather, I should be the one scolding her…”

“No, it’s not that big of a mistake to begin with. I’m not trying to scold her, I just want to know the facts accurately as to why it happened.”

As I offered an apology and bowed my head, Elizabeth waved her hand a few times to stop me, glanced at Emily, and slowly moved towards the door.

“Emily, please follow me to the lounge for a moment.”

“… Yes.”

With that, Elizabeth led the way, and Emily followed her to the lounge.

– Click!

As the two of them left the studio and the door closed, the studio, where the other employees had not yet arrived, instantly became desolate.

I was the only one left in the studio.

“Tch…”

I smacked my lips slightly and sat down in front of the workbench.

I hoped the conversation between the two of them would end smoothly…

“Duke Howard, may I come in now?”

“Huh?”

As I was trying to calm my uneasy mind and shaking my legs, the door opened slightly and Duke Herbert peeked his head in.

For a brief moment, I wondered why he came to work but didn’t come into the studio.

Realizing that there had been a fierce atmosphere in the studio until just a moment ago, I awkwardly smiled and wiggled my hand.

“Ah, it’s okay to come in now.”

“Everyone, it’s okay to come in now.”

At my permission, the door swung open, and the employees who had been cautiously watching from the hallway followed Duke Herbert and entered one by one.

“Heeu~ it’s cold…”

“Eeu~ William, don’t create such a chilling atmosphere from the morning.”

“That’s right, the atmosphere is fierce, and it’s cold outside, I thought I was going to die.”

The employees, who had come to work early but were unfairly punished in the hallway because of us, added a word of complaint as they headed to their seats.

“Haha… sorry, I’ll be careful next time.”

“But what were you fighting about?”

“I know, it’s the first time I’ve seen Elizabeth act so coldly.”

“Duke Howard, did you perhaps get caught two-timing?”

“Ro… Romance, forbidden love…?”

“Herbert, Elin, what nonsense are you both talking about? Duke Howard probably just made some kind of mistake.”

“But why is Emily being dragged away?”

“… I know.”

A fight between one man and two women.

A strange combination of royalty, nobility, and a commoner maid.

And the situation where the two women left, saying they had something to talk about.

“……”

The employees’ gazes all turned to me at once.

Eyes sparkling as if they had found an interesting piece of gossip.

Lips twitching because they were itching to talk.

“… Whatever you guys are thinking, it’s not like that, so just prepare for work.”

I preemptively struck first before the employees could open their mouths, and turned my back to avoid their gazes.

“Ah~ are you really going to do this?”

“We waited outside shivering, so please tell us a little bit!”

“If you fight in the atelier and make us curious, you have to take responsibility!”

Complaints erupted from nobles and commoners alike.

“I don’t know, I won’t tell you, go back to your seats.”

But they were not royalty, only offspring of noble families and commoners.

I had become a strong William who wouldn’t even bat an eye at this level of pressure, so I ignored the employees’ words with an iron will and repeated the words “go back to your seats” like a parrot.

“I.don’t.know.I.won’t.tell.you.”

“Ah, please!”

“Eeu!”

The noise pouring in from all directions felt comfortable.

Just a few months ago, I would have felt bloated if people gave me this much attention, but not anymore.

Ah…

Is this what growth is…?

It was a terrifying speed.

_

“Tteing…! I’m too petty to listen!”

Having endured the employees’ onslaught with a steadfast will forged through practical experience, I was eventually able to get them to give in without saying anything.

The pressure from ordinary people without experience, spirit, or innate charisma was nothing more than white noise.

“Hehe~”

“… Emily, I’m sorry, I didn’t know and misunderstood.”

I felt proud.

The employees felt empty and trudged back to their seats when, just in time, Emily and Elizabeth returned to the studio after finishing their conversation.

“No, it was a situation where you could have misunderstood. You didn’t do anything wrong because of it, so there’s no need to be sorry.”

“Hehe~ you’re truly someone I regret having William by your side, I think I know why the Baekjak family only keeps you by William’s side.”

“It’s too much praise for a servant who made a mistake and caused trouble for Your Highness.”

It seemed that they had finished the conversation very well, as smiles were blooming on both of their faces, and the conversation they exchanged was filled with affection.

They hadn’t talked for very long, but their misunderstandings were resolved so well.

Contrary to what I had worried about, it seemed that it wasn’t a really serious problem.

“No, it’s not your fault, it’s because someone’s sense is disastrously lacking.”

“I’ve already given up on that part, Your Highness should give up quickly too, it’ll be easier on your mind.”

Wasn’t it…?

“Aihyu… you’ve suffered a lot too.”

“Ahaha…”

It felt like rather than resolving the resentment, they had created a common enemy and were covering up all the wrongs on that person.

“Emily, let’s hang in there.”

“Yes.”

As I continued to watch their actions with an unknown sense of dread, they burned their animosity towards the pitiful common enemy, whoever it was, looked at each other sadly, nodded their heads a few times, and returned to their seats.

“Was it resolved well?”

I could tell from their expressions that it was resolved well, but I deliberately grabbed Emily, who was heading to the corner, and asked.

“Yes, Her Highness Elizabeth was kind enough to understand my situation, so it ended well.”

“That’s a relief, nothing else happened, right?”

“She said she wanted to choose the clothes to wear to the Crown Prince’s birthday with you, Master.”

“Clothes?”

I calculated the date in my head.

There wasn’t nearly enough time to make new ones.

Then they wouldn’t be making new ones, and they would probably just match the colors or accessories to create a similar atmosphere.

“Did she say when she wanted to do it?”

“She asked me to stay behind after work because she wanted to do it right away, does Master perhaps want a different day?”

“No, today is fine too, it’s better to finish these things quickly rather than preparing them in a hurry.”

“Yes, I’ll tell her that.”

“Okay.”

Having heard my answer, Emily turned back to Elizabeth, whom she had just parted with.

“Hmm…”

I wondered what color dress I should have her wear this time…

It was a happy worry.