Chapter 9

“Hasn’t the workload grown outrageously?”

When I asked the civil officer who brought the documents, he replied as if troubled.

“I merely transferred the work that Lady Daisy had recently been responsible for to Your Highness Freddie…”

“…Daisy’s work? In other words, I’m now in charge of her duties?”

“Not necessarily. Inherently, you were supposed to be in charge of them. However, Lady Daisy offered to do it. Not only that, hasn’t His Highness Jake also been assisting you in your duties as the first prince?”

“…Daisy and Jake were taking care of my business?”

The civil officer stared at me in disbelief.

“…Well, it doesn’t matter. Anyway, I have a lot of work to do, so please reduce it. Daisy’s share should be passed to Jake.”

“…Understood. I shall report to His Highness Jake right away.”

“That’s unnecessary.”

“…?”

“What…?

“Why do you need to report it? Can’t you just pass it along with other the other documents?”

“I can’t do that. The division of labor must be formally recorded and submitted to His Majesty the King in writing. Since His Highness Jake will also confirm the documents, it’s impossible not to report it.”

“What? To His Majesty the King? I haven’t been informed of this.”

“I’ll shall take the documents that need to be processed with me. For other documents, I’ll deliver them if you ask me to. His Highness Jake has ordered for the necessary documents himself.”

After giving me such an indifferent remark, the civil officer left while carrying away some of the documents he had brought with him.

The cold expression the civil officer showed me at the end looked similar to Ryan’s when we met in the student council room the other day.

***

“I’ve never eaten such delicious sweets in the viscount household!”

The adorable Lula was stuffing her mouth with tasty madeleines.

When my mother especially invited Lula to an afternoon tea party, I worried she would have something else in mind. However, when I saw her smiling, I was relieved.

“But still, I’m ashamed to be wearing such a dress…”

“What are you ashamed of? It suits you very well.”

“It’s the best dress a viscount family can afford, but as for whether or not it’s suitable for a tea party with Her Majesty and Lord Freddie…”

“Why would you worry about that? No matter what kind of dress you wear, Lula is cute. But don’t worry, next time, I’ll give you another dress—one suitable for the first prince’s fiancée.”

“Really? I’m very happy to have been chosen as Lord Freddie’s fiancée!”

My mother, who saw our exchange, asked without breaking her smile.

“Freddie, are you aware of a certain passive-aggressive noble lady who always puts the others down?”

“What is this about…?”

I laughed at the words I had never heard before and asked back.

Most likely, not even Lula understood what my mother was referring to. She was so confused that her madeleine fell from her hand. Soon, a maid arrived to clean the madeleine with a smile.

“As I thought, you didn’t do any research.”

“What do you mean?”

“We were aware of it, but still accepted her in the end. After all, Marquis Astor led us to believe that it was Daisy’s own desire to be a concubine.”

“Mother, what are you…?”

I was bewildered at the nonsensical things my mother said with a smile.

“What is this supposed to mean?! Lady Daisy is going to become a concubine? I absolutely hate that idea!”

Upon hearing my mother’s words, Lula went pale and shrieked.I panicked and took her hand.

“Lula, calm down. There’s no way I’ll make Daisy my concubine, because I truly love you.”

“…Lord Freddie. I love you too.”

“Mother! As you can see, we’re in love! I won’t take Daisy as my concubine!”

For the first time in my life, I raised my voice to my mother in order to protect Lula.

“To begin with, until we find out the cause of her coma, we can’t have Daisy as a concubine. For congress to accept her without knowing if she’ll collapse again is dubious.”

My mother went on with a smile.

“…At the same time, despite Lula’s prayer, Daisy didn’t wake up. For even the prayer of the saint to be rendered ineffective, her ailment must be terrible!”

“I, I did my best—!”

“Yes, I saw how hard Lula worked, since I was beside her the entire time.”

“…To be honest with you, some nasty people have begun treating me with suspicion at the academy.”

“What!? Why didn’t you tell me sooner!? Lula is the saint who has saved my life! How dare they doubt my benefactor!”

“…Moreover, they even say terrible things like—‘Even if she starts receiving the princess education now, it’s unlikely she will surpass Lady Daisy.’

“Lula is a saint, and at the same time, my true love. As such, you’ll be able to surpass Daisy in no time.”

“…You really think so?”

“I do, and if Lula is too busy with her duties as a saint, then Daisy should take your place… I see… If Daisy becomes my concubine, then Lula won’t have any need to work hard. With this, you wouldn’t have to receive the princess education.”

“No way! As if I could let that happen! I can’t stand Lord Freddie loving Lady Daisy!”

“There’s no way I’ll fall in love with Daisy. In terms of position, Lula will be my queen, while Daisy is merely a concubine. Don’t worry, Lula, she’ll just be assuming your work for you. Of course, I also plan to only take Lula with me to social gatherings and other public events.”

…Indeed, there’s also that option.

I had now realized that taking Daisy as my concubine yielded nothing but advantages. Even Lula, who’d been blinking for a while, seemed to be convinced.

“Then, will Lady Daisy take care of everything for me? Does that mean she’ll obey me? Moreover, Lord Freddie won’t see her as a woman?”

“I feel sorry for Daisy, but that’s exactly what I’m saying.”

“Then, I’ll put up with it. I’ll allow Lady Daisy to become Lord Freddie’s concubine.”

“As expected of the saint. Lula, you’re so kind and generous.”

Ignoring our entire conversation, my mother raised a single question.

“…Even though she has no visible injuries, she has been asleep for two months. Moreover, not even the miraculous saint could heal her. Freddie, haven’t you realize anything yet?”

“What, that’s her current state? Although, has it really been two months since this whole thing started?”

My mother smiled at my words.

“I see, then you truly know nothing.”

…The expression on my mother’s face was as cold as the expressions of both Ryan and the civil officer.

“—As for you, Lady Lula, my apologies for the sudden invitation. You have no need to worry about your dress as this won’t happen again. Also, Daisy won’t become Freddie’s concubine, so you won’t need to put up with anything.”

Neither I nor Lula could say anything back to my mother who coldly uttered those words.