533 The regret of a certain maid

― ― At Harvis Royal Castle (a certain maid's point of view)

A few days after he was suddenly taken into custody with those who served Lord Agnos.

After being summoned by the Prime Minister to cleanse myself, I entered a room in the Imperial Castle for the first time in a long time.

... no, it would be more correct to say "he was taken" than "he stepped in".

In fact, there are knights on either side of me, and a knight stands in front of the door as if to stop them from escaping.

I was indignant in my heart at such a sinful treatment.

My mother and I have served Lord Agnos. Even if Mr. Agnos has a few [special circumstances], he has never scorned or acted in repugnance.

And yet, why?

Do I have to be treated like this...?

You look disgruntled.

On the other hand, the Prime Minister had a grumpy look on his face.

From time to time, this person is only connected to Agnos-sama. The same was true of the Queen. Most of the people around Lord Agnos will testify that way, if not me.

... in other words, 'the point of contact with me is just that.'

Even from there, I must be just one of the maidservants with Agnos. I don't think that perception is wrong.

Why did you suddenly find out why you were detained?

At the words of the Prime Minister, I shook my shoulders for a moment.

"... yes, it must have been the attack on Agnos-sama."

I answered as I leaned down.

You can't be unaware of it. At present, the royal castle is the place to carry this story.

At the beginning of my detention, I didn't understand the meaning at all and only complained that it was a 'mistake'.

However, I was beginning to think that I had no choice but to take advantage of the information that comes with each passing day, such as the terrible incident caused by Master Agnos and the position that Harvis is currently in.

We were by Lord Agnos's side the entire time.

If you're suspected of being an accomplice, you have no choice.

... I thought so. No matter how wrong we may be, it is only natural to suspect.

However, the Chancellor has become increasingly unhappy with my answers.

It's like you're talking to someone else.

"It's true that Agnos-sama was next to me, but he wasn't involved." No matter how much I'm the daughter of Agnos-sama's nanny, it's true. "

The expression "other personnel" is correct in a sense.

The mother went up to the castle with the side room, and was a nanny to Agnos. For Agnos who doesn't know his mother, everyone will think she was special.

Of course, from my daughter's point of view, it looked that way. I think my mother cared more about Agnos than I do about my daughter.

I can't believe you're jealous! I was so proud of my mother that I felt so proud of her, and one day I wanted to build a relationship like my mother's.

After all, Lord Agnos was a very beautiful and gentle princess.

Serving a great master is a joy for those under his command. There was something about Agnos that made me think so.

Someday, I will also have a relationship with Agnos like that between you and my mother.

That was my wish. I often exchanged words with Agnos-sama, so I don't think it was a boasting, but it became that way over time.

I was proud that you had that much trust. However, the next thing the Prime Minister caught on to was a contemptuous gaze and... unexpected words.

"It shouldn't be any other human resources!" What do you think servants are? "

"... eh?"

"You seem to think of yourself as' the one who thinks of the sinful Lord and is heartbroken ', but from the end of the spectrum, you only seem to be responsible for the cause once."

"Oh, no! Why are you doing this..."

"If you think about it a little bit, you know, right? In fact, the nobles said," What were they doing beside me? "There's a voice rising up."

"Eh... but that's..."

Lord Agnos is the King's beloved daughter. What the hell can I say if I'm only the nanny's daughter?

In the first place, those of you who have spoken of such things are not really aware of Agnos' situation.

"Blood stain" means that you can see it and gradually understand its abnormality.

You don't know that -- and you've never been there -- but "the people who were there were wrong!"

Perhaps because of my inner anger, the Prime Minister sighed deeply.

"Look, royalty is the 'commanding side'." Despite Agnos' circumstances, why don't you know that you should have been punished? "

"...... ah"

"No matter from whose eyes you look, you are [only] obedient to the Lord." It wasn't an exaggeration to say you were intoxicated, was it? If you show such a way, you can't argue even if you're treated as an accomplice. "

To the Prime Minister's words, I could not return them.... but I also felt angry.

Then what happens to the mother who was closest to Agnos as a nanny?

Mother has worked harder than anyone to protect Side Room's will and ensure that Agnos has a happy life. I couldn't forgive the fact that the Prime Minister, who had never been associated with Master Agnos, denied my mother's efforts.

Does the Prime Minister deny even the mother who tried to stay close to Agnos?

I know it's disrespectful. But! We cannot allow ourselves to deny the love we have for Lord Agnos, including our mother.

However, the Prime Minister was somewhere sadly blinded.

"... I don't want to deny your mother's love for Agnos-sama." In the first place, he was wrong, but he felt responsible. "

Huh?

"Considering Agnos-sama's circumstances, we can't just raise him as he is." So, "I warped it." Of course, even if I knew it wasn't a good thing, it was best for the nanny. "

[Distorted]? What is the Prime Minister saying?

"I wonder if Agnos-sama was aware of that, but he took the nanny's plan." In fact, whether it's a lie or not, I could have made Lord Agnos a [sweet princess]. "

"Oh, no..."

Then it's as if you're saying, "We know that Agnos-sama is a fake figure."

"I didn't feel guilty. I guess I just wanted to keep the word of the Lord and protect Lord Agnos, who doesn't know his mother. But the biggest difference between you and me is that I was prepared to take responsibility for it."

"Take responsibility..."

"'It was the nanny herself who grew up like that, and she deliberately distorted it.'" That's what was written in the diary where it was found. If you had even tried to be close to the real Lord Agnos, you might have been able to tell him directly. "

In saying that, the Prime Minister turned to me with pity. But that's not what I'm talking about.

... stop it.

Don't look at me like that!

"I called you because I wanted to show you the current situation of Lord Agnos." It was sent by Ilfena with warmth, but it seems that Agnos is living happily. "

It's a lie!

Unexpectedly, I was screaming that way.

"The princess has been taken away from us, banished from this country, and seen as a sinner by all countries!" You can't be happy! ”

"... Huh?"

"Like us, we don't have anyone around who thinks of Agnos-sama as their top priority." I'm sure you're just showing it like that! ”

I was not there when Lord Agnos was expelled. If I had been there, I would have followed you and charmed you no matter what you threw away.

There is no lie in that feeling. If I may, I would still like to go to your side.

"...... Well, look at this. At least, we'll be relieved."

……

Without waiting for my reply, the Prime Minister turned his attention to the sorcerer-like person in the room. With that gaze, the sorcerer nodded, manipulating the magic tool.

- And I saw the footage.

"Uu...... Shh......"

That's all I could hear, and it was crumbling.

In the video, Agnos wore modest clothes and was playing with his children in a wide area. Sometimes, the adults watching were jumping and stroking their heads, making them happy.

... but that smile made me feel so defeated that I collapsed.

Even though I served you from a young age, I had never seen Agnos-sama smile like that.

The innocent, happy smile of a child.

No, that's not all. I... I don't think anyone who served next to Lord Agnos has ever had such a smile on their face.

Why? Why, Lord Agnos!

"We've served you sincerely and sincerely...!"

"Why are you angry?"

……

"Did you feel betrayed? Do you regret knowing that your loyalty was selfish?"

"...... even though I don't know anything......"

I did not expect the sharpness of the words directed at me, but stared at the Prime Minister.

... but I couldn't help but realize that I was right, according to the next words of the Prime Minister.

"Why are you unhappy? Most importantly, the Lord lives happily ever after."

"...... ah"

"You probably regret not being there." ”Why are you laughing like that when you're not there? I guess that's what I said."

Exactly. No matter what, it was the indignation of Lord Agnos that took hold of my heart.

"If I were a deceased nanny, I would have been relieved that Agnos-sama was smiling even when I was not around." You may even be happy and thankful to those around you. That's the difference between you and me. "

--You guys were just "drunk on your own to serve the princess of your dreams".

"Ah... ahhh...!"

If I hadn't watched the footage, I would have believed what I was up to.

But now I realize it's impossible.

I... we mistakenly treated Lord Agnos. The price for pushing the ideal and not seeing the real Agnos-sama is the trust from Agnos-sama's heart.

"Even when Master Agnos was banished from Harvis, he didn't shed any tears."...... If you know Agnos who has a strong bond to certain things and even wakes up a hoax, you know what that means? "

"Lord Agnos... was not obsessed with anyone in Harvis..."

“That's right. If the nanny had been alive, it might still have been different.”

Even if you say it yourself, you will be hurt by the fact. The video of Agnos-sama happily staying ahead of him with his mildly raised face.

Master Agnos, I wasn't special to you.

I wept quietly at the fact that I regretted not having understood anything about my mother.

However, a maid who was only obedient could not be the one to turn her heart to.

That fact was terribly painful to my chest.