CH 92

Tea Party and Lorschel (6)

“People are precious because they are just ‘people’. And I’m sure it’s because they have so much ability and personality that a person can truly be recognized. That’s why Seroif looks into such ability in hiring talent without ever being tied to status at all.”

“Do you think that system is actually problematic?”

“You said that it wasn’t right. But I don’t really think so…… Perhaps I thought of it that way because I was an ‘abandoned’ Princess—just like what you think.”

Roelin’s words sounded like they were hurriedly breathing all over the place. On top of that, Kergel had also overheard her and opened his eyes wide in return.

She never thought that she would bring up a story that had been hurting her since birth with her very own mouth.

Even if all the situations were already over, the wounds still have not healed just yet, so it was absolutely difficult to say that once again.

“It had been my first time here and that was the most amazing part. The fact that status at birth does not stick to one for life until death. And that everyone is given a chance.”

Roelin’s blue eyes weren’t being intimidated at all. She didn’t even show a sense of shame about herself. The blue eyes simply resembled a clear sky.

Like a sky which completely embraced the sun that delivered bright sunlight to everyone.

“So, I thought. If I had been born here, I would have already lived differently. If I had been born in Seroif, I would have been able to live with a different appearance than a mere fake princess who had to live day by day in the Separate Palace back in Rakain.”

“Em, Empress……”

The maid, who was covering her mouth behind Kergel, began to cry perhaps because she had heard of Roelin’s words. But instead of looking back, he still fixed his eyes on Roelin.

She then continued while looking at the other women with a calm expression.

“Just because I can dream of a different life like that, I think that the Seroif’s system is definitely right.”

After Roelin’s words had been finished, there was a moment of silence. The women from the Duchy simply sipped their tea with an uncomfortable look. Then, someone eventually managed to change the subject.

After that, it was just another list of such boring stories.

The old ladies had also matched the conversation moderately and set the tone, but they did not bring up anything else more.

“………let us go now.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Kergel stood while leaning against the tree before he spoke to Lucy and the maid. Lucy gestured to the maid as she hurriedly moved along.

……soft, but on the other hand, a very strong woman indeed.

“That’s for sure. For whose companion is she truly?”

He glanced at Roelin and murmured to himself. The corners of his mouth eventually curled upwards.

* * *

“You’ve done a great job, Lucy. Everyone had worked hard as well.”

“No, Empress. It was a matter of course. On the contrary, we apologize for not being able to serve you properly since there have been a lot of things that we are really not good at.”

“No. It was very good. Of course, it’s my first time at a tea party, so I didn’t really know much either.”

Roelin cracked a small laugh at Lucy’s words and said jokingly. Then, she relaxed her shoulder and leaned against the back. Her whole body felt tired, perhaps because she was feeling utterly nervous without her realizing it at all.

“But I did a good job, right?”

In the meantime, she also felt sorry for herself. Whether she had really led the tea party properly or did she do it perfectly well until the end—things like that.

Roelin asked Lucy for a definite answer. Lucy was trying to answer the question with a smile while cleaning up the place where the tea party had been held just now as she guided Silloa and the other maids too.

“Of course…”

“Of course you had ended it well. No one could end it better than that.”

However, before Lucy could respond, a man’s voice intervened all of a sudden. It had belonged to Kergel.

Lucy and the maids hurriedly backed away while they curtsied towards Kergel. Roelin also tried to rise from her seat as Kergel approached. But even before that, Kergel was already drawing closer while waving his hand.

“It’s alright, Roelin. Just sit down. You don’t have to be so polite. You’re not my servant at all.”

“All right, Kergel. Oh! Can you get me some refreshments again, Lucy?”

Roelin smiled back at Kergel and immediately spoke to Lucy. Lucy bent down as she replied before leaving the table with the other maids.

The breeze gently wafted through her hair and let it go. Kergel was sitting next to Roelin when he smoothed out her disheveled hair and opened his mouth.

“Was it hard?”

“No, it was fine.”

“It was fine… Of course, it must have been difficult to deal with those women who can’t even communicate properly.”

Kergel grumbled while he kept fiddling with Roelin’s hair. Roelin’s eyes curved at that amiable and careful touch.

It was rather trivial, but he made her heart flutter every time this happened. Even with the affection at his fingertips, her heart still pounded uncontrollably.

Especially when they were all alone like this……

Roelin felt her face began to burn slightly and changed the subject by sweeping her cheek down with the back of her hand.

“By the way, how did you even come on time like this? If not, the tea party had just ended a little while ago.”

“……I know. I thought that it would be over by this time, so I came and it just happened to be over too.”

Kergel was startled for a moment, but he soon replied in a calm tone. His attempt to raid the tea party was naturally buried as a mere ‘none’.