Chapter 105
Translator: Yonnee
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We met up again with Mercy at the villa’s rear garden, and there, she updated us on the status of the operations—it seemed like Rosteratu and some other people were inside. As I changed clothes, Schubert and I infiltrated the mansion posing as attendants.
As I was on my way to the banquet hall, I passed by the kitchen where someone handed me a tray of dishes, so I brought it with me there.
Lights illuminated the hallway brightly. It was around midnight, but it’s as bright as the daytime inside the villa.
It looked more simple on the outside, but sure enough, the inside of the house was practically gilded with gold. I would have even believed that this was Midas’ mansion after he had turned everything he touched into gold.
…That impotent king’s brain really seems to have turned to spongey mush. I can’t believe he’s wasting so much money on a place like this.
I really hope Albert can ascend the throne soon.
I tried to recall the original story and when exactly Albert was supposed to escape the tower. I think there’s a few months left… Though I’m not entirely sure.
Glancing at me sideways, Schubert whispered.
“And your glasses?”
“I’m wearing it properly.”
Even though I’m wearing pants right now, it would be difficult to pretend to be like the other attendants just like that due to my smaller physique. It was thanks to the magic spell engraved on the glasses that I could fit in here naturally.
The glasses made sure that my gender and my face itself looked ambiguous to the eye. Because of this, other people didn’t give me any particular attention, so my smaller physique didn’t matter to them. I was just an attendant who’s hard at work, that’s all that they could see.
Schubert was pushing a two-tier tray on wheels beside me, and Alexander was hidden in a box at the lower compartment. Blanc, on the other hand, was hiding in the box that was at the bottom of the second tray. Mercy had placed a ‘Hide’ spell on those boxes.
“Once we’re done distributing the liquor and food, the dragon will knock on the box three times—that’s the signal for us to get out of the way.”
Schubert whispered to me under his breath as he pointed to the box where Alexander was.
“If you’re too far away, then I’ll wave my hand three times to let you know. Still though, are you sure you won’t avoid it?”
“Alexander vowed his entire existence if he lied to me.”
Earlier, Liam asked to confirm my safety several times over.
“…That’s true.”
Schubert looked like he’s worried about me. It was not too long ago that he said he’d never ever trust me, but I seemed to have successfully gained his trust now.
“Thanks for worrying about me.”
“I’m not worried.”
“Yeah, I guess not. I saw it wrong.”
“…But when you say it that way, it really does make me worried.”
He mumbled again shyly. Schubert grumbled as the doors opened.
And soon, I entered the banquet hall where Rosteratu was.
A dazzling chandelier hung opulently overhead and shone brightly, and there were some sofas positioned in several places. This wasn’t a regular banquet hall.
The nobles conversed and exchanged subtle glances. There were men and women holding hands as they left their seats. But the most eye-catching one was—
“Rosteratu. That’s him.”
It was that middle-aged man sitting there while surrounded by women. Anyone with eyes could tell that the person who had the most power in that sofa was him.
Only a few small memories of Rosé remained with me, so I didn’t know what Rosteratu looked like. But the moment I saw him, I knew it was him.
An expression full of lust and desire, a cloudy look in one’s gaze. At just one glance, I knew that he was a man who lived a deplorably hedonistic life.
There’s this saying that goes: the longer you live, the more your true character shows on your face. That’s exactly the case with Rosteratu. His life was plain to see on that face.
He had a smaller build than Albert, despite his plumpness, and he looked so shabby when he looked like he had no muscle in his body at all.
He had a condescending, pompous expression on his face, but despite that, he still looked so terribly small in that crowd.
I recalled Albert, who was trapped in the tower yet was still busy managing his condition every day. And how brilliant he was.
Yet because of this small man,
Albert had been robbed of his life.
The scene in the novel that talked about how Albert killed Rosteratu was short.
The rebellion succeeded, Albert stormed the palace, he raised the same sword he used to kill Rosé, then slashed Rosteratu with one strike.
What was he thinking when that happened?
After handing down an insignificant death to the man who pushed him into the abyss, did this bring Albert happiness?
I hope it did. I hope Albert was so happy that he wouldn’t be visited by any trifling thoughts of the previous king.
I gripped the tray’s handles tightly.
Looking around, I began to distribute the dishes to the tables around me. A service smile was plastered on my lips.
* * *
Doing an attendant’s work was far more difficult than I thought. It’s like these nobles had vacuums installed in their stomachs or something because the food I gave them disappeared right after—every single time. People around me were busy laughing and chatting as they promiscuously played around.
There were some people who really just talked. I have no idea what happens behind the scenes in their minds, but they looked like those aristocrats I’d see in the movies, greeting each other with prim and proper courtesy as they conversed.
However, those who acted ever so gracefully soon turned one-eighty. They let out their contemptuous remarks and shouted with all the strength left in their body, ‘I’m the best!’
At the back of my mind, I acknowledged two things vaguely: one, that this was the kind of social environment I’d have to face later, and two, that this surely wouldn’t suit me.
…Well, it’s something that I’d have to deal with if I ever decide to stay by Albert’s side.
But Rosé Artius was a maid. What would happen when the rumors spread?
There was a lot on my mind tonight.