Chapter 10. First birthday (5)
For the time being, I was just ignoring what was going on outside and lying around day after day, eating only the food my nanny fed me.
Today, as always, I’m full, my back is warm, and I’m going to take a nap while I’m satisfied.
“…Dah?”
huh? It’s a bit noisy outside for some reason.
Isn’t it time for the soldiers to go on tour?
Not when the ladies-in-waiting were cleaning.
Roughly speaking, there are two people.
One adult and… the other is light-footed.
is it a child
There was something strange about it, but somehow I felt a sense of déjà vu.
Who was it? It’s frail.
The question was soon resolved.
Between the two signs, I heard my mother’s footsteps.
Just in case, I made sure to memorize the signs of my mother and nanny.
Judging by the steady footsteps, at least it wasn’t an uninvited guest.
Then who is it?
The door opened, and soon after being guided by her mother, the guest appeared.
“Oh… Miss Pinelia?!”
The nanny who was taking care of me was surprised to see the person who entered.
And I was surprised as well.
indeed. So, did you feel a sense of déjà vu?
The guest who came to our palace was none other than one of the king’s concubines.
and her daughter, a girl.
He must have been the fourth of the siblings he saw then.
Surely, in order, she was the second princess, right?
As an added bonus, he even softly kneaded my cheeks.
“Ms. Pinelia?! sorry! Not ready…
The nanny was at a loss for a sudden visit from the concubine.
Because the nanny hadn’t heard anything.
“….are you okay. Because I came without telling anyone else.”
Concubine… Is it Pinelia?
She rebuked the nanny in a calm tone.
“As expected… I would have prepared it if you had told me in advance.”
Mom is also responding calmly now, but it seems she was surprised.
Pinelia shook her head.
“Because I didn’t want to let others know as much as possible.”
What do you mean?
As if the adults had something to talk about, Pinelia pointed her child, the second princess, to the nanny, and left the girl in the care of the nanny for a while.
Then, together with my mother, we headed to the next room alone.
‘I was so surprised…
Lyfana was sweating inside her heart like a waterfall.
I thought my heart would stop when suddenly one of the ladies-in-waiting, bluish in complexion, stepped forward and secretly informed me that Pinelia had come.
In fact, she had never had a very long conversation with the other concubines.
It was because the other concubines felt uncomfortable with Lipana because she was the lowest in rank and especially because she was a maid.
Among them, I have never had more conversations with Pinelia than with the other concubines.
third in the sequence.
There are few ups and downs in his expression, and he doesn’t talk too much.
Do not show your thoughts outwardly.
I don’t know why she came, but I couldn’t keep her waiting, so I came out and greeted her.
After all, she is a concubine of a higher rank than herself.
It cannot be neglected.
‘…What should I do?’
I couldn’t even stand, so I sat across the table with the table in the middle.
While waiting for the lady-in-waiting to serve the tea, Lipana was restless inwardly.
I couldn’t have known if it was a notice in advance, but I couldn’t guess Pinelia’s intentions at all as she came suddenly.
‘Should I talk to you first?’
The time when Leafana was about to take a deep breath before talking to her, thinking that it would be nice.
“….Sorry.”
“Khop?! Ahhh?! Big hmm?!”
Lipana, completely taken aback by Pinelia’s short words at an unexpected timing, coughed.
Fortunately, the lady-in-waiting came out with the car just in time.
I barely managed to calm myself down after passing the tea down my throat.
” are you okay?”
“yes. yes?! Oh, nothing.”
I was surprised that you said something out of the blue! I couldn’t say that, so Lipana just laughed and evaded it.
“Uh… what are you talking about?”
“Half a year ago…
Listening to Pinelia’s muttering, Lipana tilted her head.
half a year ago?
“???? no way.”
What are you talking about?
“I’m sorry.”
Only then did Lipana understand what she wanted to say.
Budget embezzlement case half a year ago.
I was referring to it now.
“Are you here to apologize?”
When I asked cautiously, Pinelia nodded.
Then, slowly, he began to explain the circumstances at that time.
It took a while for her to understand because she didn’t speak very well, but Lipana listened with her mouth shut until the end.
Pinelia Kenzest.
It is a family that has built countless military feats during the height of war in the past.
Even now, there are even fairy tales about the achievements of their ancestors, so there is no one who does not know what a great feat they have accomplished.
However, now it is just an old glory, and it is only a nameless family that has fallen as it will fall.
This is because for a while, a boy with talent in martial arts had not been born.
Of course, intelligent children were born, but since there was no child with the talent to inherit the martial arts, it naturally lost its status.
Recently, I have heard rumors that even the funds to maintain the family are at stake as the light has finally been created.
“…was it because of the family?”
It’s gotten really dangerous lately. It was about this embezzlement that I received an offer in such a situation.
Z
Pinelia had no choice but to intervene in this embezzlement in order to repay the family light.
Of course, there’s no way you can repay the debt by stealing some of that stuff… but
at least something extra would have come along as a bonus in return for dipping your toe in this thing and pretending not to see it.
After hearing that, Lipana was struggling for a while, and Pinelia took a leather sack from her bosom and put it on the table.
What was in the sack was a considerable amount of gold coins.
“Pinelia? This…
“I’ll give it back…. Giving this won’t solve the problem.”
Guessing the meaning, this is probably the gold coin that Pinelia stole.
“I don’t mean to ask for forgiveness. Still…
she was silent for a moment.
“I want you to hate only me.”
Her gaze turned to the room where the children were.
Is that so…
Lipana let out a sigh.
Fighting dirty emotions is the responsibility of adults.
In addition, when it comes to the royal family, the concubines’ quarrels over power continue to their children.
Is that why you don’t want to make your children have dark feelings?
I understand, but…
Lipana pondered for a moment before pushing back the gold coin pouch.
Pinelia’s eyes trembled slightly as if she wanted to ask what she was doing.
“are you okay. And I won’t take this. Because Pinelia did not commit embezzlement.”
Pinelia opened her eyes wide in embarrassment.
It means that now Lipana will pretend not to hear about what she confided in.
And knowing that she, who used to siphon money to pay her debts, would return it, Lyfa, I deliberately pretended not to know.
“You don’t have to sympathize.”
“It’s not pity.”
Lipana shook her head.
“I will say this instead. I do not want to enmity you.”
Pinelia blankly looked at Lipana’s face.
“If you still don’t want to take it…
Lipana gently pulled the bag of gold towards herself and then pushed it back.
“Consider it a sign of my friendship. Wouldn’t it be better to think of it as a gift for you?”
Even though he said it himself, he smiled as if he was a little embarrassed.
Are you using this money now… as a means of reconciliation?
“And I knew from the start.”
“?…”
What?”
“The reason why our palace has a small budget…
”
There was nothing more to say.
Knowing why…
he didn’t go into detail, but it meant that he already knew who did what.
“I know her personality well… but she was a lady-in-waiting.”
“….okay. You… His…
I can’t tell you who.
However, all the concubines know this.
Lipana was originally the queen’s maid.
Then, she came into the king’s eyes, became pregnant with Arel, and became a concubine.
That meant that the person who knew the queen’s tendencies best than anyone else was none other than Lyfana herself.
“I thought I couldn’t help being hated by him.”
“But not anymore.”
Lipana shook her head.
“Because there’s Arel too… even if it’s him, I can’t let him do whatever he wants.”
She is unaware of her enemy’s true nature.
Rather, as much as you know, you may be aware of the potential for mayhem in the future.
Moreover… the queen’s reaction at the banquet to commemorate the birth of Arel.
The moment she saw her smile, Lipana thought her breathing would stop.
In the meantime, she was relieved that she and Arel were in a position that was simply not worth checking, but she realized that there was no guarantee that she could remain vigilant in the future.
That’s why Lipana said firmly.
“So I won’t just watch.”
And there is also a meaning of warning.
I see it once, but not twice.
Like the king said then.
“So, I want to be friends with Pinelia-sama.”
It’s not just because of mere favor.
Just in case…. someday.
You’ll need someone to hold your hand when you’re really in trouble.
That’s why Lipana forgives Pinelia.
This gold coin was not only a reward for forgiveness, but also for maintaining a proper relationship with her in the future.
huh.
Pinelia stared at Lipana for a moment, then gave a short nod as if she understood everything.
* * *
Ahaang? That’s how it happened.
It was a sound that could be heard from across the room, but I could hear it enough, so I roughly understood everything.
What surprised me more than that was…..
…Mom? Could it be that you knew everything?
As soon as I heard it, I went blank.
At that time, I was worried about my mother’s reaction to the queen, but I couldn’t believe that my mother was the lady’s maid… Even
if I didn’t mention who exactly, I could guess what she was talking about when I listened to the nuance.
That’s why my mother was embarrassed about the queen.
To some extent, I understood.
Regarding concubine Pinelia, who participated in the embezzlement, it was reprehensible even though it was because of her family situation and position.
However, since my mother forgave her and it seems that she has her own thoughts, I will have to wait and see.
I overheard it carefully just in case, but I don’t feel much malice towards that woman named Pinelia.
I thought it would be okay if I left it alone.
Then… Now I have to face the problem I am facing now.
Breaking out in a cold sweat, I saw the reality in front of my eyes again.
I saw a girl with azure hair slowly approaching me, staring at me with sparkling eyes as if in amazement.
She was the second princess, right?
As for why this happened…..
My mother and concubine… It was after Aunt Pinelia had gone in to talk.
“Wow!”
The 2nd Princess, who found me, looked up at me sitting on the bed, then her eyes twinkled and suddenly she grabbed onto the railing and climbed up.
What is he doing dangerously?
Contrary to my worries, I got up on the bed at once.
It was not the time to admire him saying that even though he was young, his athleticism was very promising.
Suddenly, my sanctuary was invaded.
Why is he suddenly like this?
And the second princess and I are not moving, facing each other as we are now.
