#186. Our princess can’t be like this?
[Chief, isn’t this the person?]
‘Huh? who?’
[Why are you here? The thief who ate the lariette from the team leader a few days ago.]
“…Ah, that bastard who robbed on a broomstick?”
Only then did Limon recognize the man and nodded.
He was such an insignificant bastard that he hadn’t kept it in his memory at all, but at that time, the thief would have known why he would make such an angry expression when he saw him.
Thanks to that reaction, the man turned around when he realized that Limon really did not know him, not pretending not to know him.
“이 개새끼가! Who am I to be like this!!!”
The man charged at Limon, brandishing the broom he was holding.
No, I was trying to run.
“What are you doing?”
“omg!?”
…if it weren’t for the low voice that came from behind just in time.
A knight in splendid armor appeared behind the hardened man holding a broom.
Lucas looked at the man with stern eyes.
“What is your name?”
“My name is Max Powell. be well.”
“Max Powell… I see. You are the servant who started serving his sentence a while ago.”
One more time to nod.
Lucas raised his gaze slightly and continued.
“But what are you going to do with that broom?”
“yes? ah! This is so…”
Max hurriedly hid the broom he was holding behind his back.
However, it was not a broom to be hidden, and above all, a face full of cold sweat was spewing out more truth than words.
“I guess you need some extra discipline. I will give you separate instructions, so go straight to the correctional center.”
“Yes yep!”
Max bowed his head and left as if running away.
Lucas, who shook his head at the sight, put a hand on his chest only belatedly and bowed respectfully to Limon and Julia.
“I apologize on behalf of the servant. The lack of education in the head family caused trouble to the guests.”
“Oh I’m fine.”
Julia readily accepted the apology.
Limon, on the other hand, narrowed his eyes.
And after taking a closer look at Lucas’ armor and its sentence, which were more colorful than the other knights, he opened his mouth.
“…I don’t really care either, but there are a few things I want to check instead.”
“What are you talking about?”
“He must be a prisoner who was just caught in the act of stealing that bastard, so why are you acting as a servant here?”
“He is a prisoner. I’m just doing chores at the count’s house to replace my sentence.”
“Ah, you mean the edification system that the Sea Serpent Count family is proud of?”
“yes. He still looked ugly because he lacked discipline, but if he learns his duty well, he will return to society as a much better person in the future.”
“Is that great? As expected of the benevolent Count Sea Serpent.”
Looking at Lucas who calmly said that he should not hate people even if he hates sins, he nodded admiringly.
Limon tilted his head.
“By the way, knight man. It’s nice to be great, but after all, doesn’t that mean that this count’s family is full of convict-turned-servants?”
Sensing the subtle meaning hidden in the words, Lucas replied calmly.
“It is true that many of them served time in prison, but most of them became new people after being reformed.”
“Even if the knights say so. I was worried about the body that was about to be attacked by that less rehabilitated prisoner.”
“If you are concerned about safety, we will attach a dedicated escort.”
“No, I am a person who hates being accompanied by escorts.”
Limon shrugged.
And muttered to himself in a loud voice.
“This is troublesome. I’m such a coward, so at this rate, I think I’ll just want to get away with it and run away from the performance, let alone practice because I’m scared.”
[…who’s a coward?]
“Wait a minute Lee…?”
Yuna-kyung almost slipped off her shoulder at that absurd statement, and Julia tried to leave in embarrassment.
Limon stopped them with a slight wink.
There is no way that he, who has been investigating the count’s family for the past few days, does not know about the origins of the servants and maids. Of course, I never cared about it that much.
Even so, there was a reason for doing this obvious thing again.
No matter how you look at it, Lucas is a high-ranking knight.
And if you were a senior member of the blue dragon clan that Limon knew, and he was from a prestigious family, your response in this situation was already decided.
“Then, what can I do to help you reassure you?”
Limon grinned at Lucas, who came out exactly as he had expected.
“Oh, not so great. I have a very trivial request…”
* * *
‘You’ve wasted too much time.’
Lucas clicked his tongue lightly.
Originally, I had planned to stop by just to check if the gazebo was built well.
It was later than expected because he had to accept Limon’s absurd request.
I didn’t really regret it.
The fault of the servant’s discipline was always the count’s responsibility. It would be rather fortunate if I could get over this with that much request.
Anyway, it’s true that it’s delayed because of it.
So, as soon as Lucas met Rose, he bowed his head and apologized.
“I’m sorry, Princess. There was a small problem, and the report was delayed because I had to solve it.”
“…Why now?”
“yes?”
“Oh no. it’s nothing.”
“…?”
Lucas was puzzled.
Originally, as a princess of the blue dragon clan, she never lost her composure and composure under any circumstances.
But today, strangely, she couldn’t find any composure.
No, I even felt restless.
It’s like being a girl who welcomes an unwanted guest just before the concert she’s been waiting for begins.
‘Nonsense thoughts.’
Lucas shook his head to get rid of the nonsense, and opened his mouth with a clearing of his throat.
“How are you feeling?”
“It has improved a lot.”
“…Really?”
“Yes, of course.”
Lucas couldn’t erase his worried expression even after hearing Rose’s snappy answer.
No matter how you look at it, Rose’s complexion was haggard, and even a tinge could be seen around her eyes.
Clearly, she was more than normal and more lively than usual.
How can this happen in just one day?
In all likelihood, the aftereffects of not sleeping for the past six or six days and focusing solely on work must have struck at once.
“princess. I’ve said it before, but no matter how busy you are, you have to get enough sleep…?”
Lucas suddenly blinked his eyes.
It was because while we were talking, we noticed something that had suddenly protruded from behind Rose’s back.
“…pillow?”
“…!”
Why are there pillows and neck pillows in Rose’s office?
Rose, hearing Lucas muttered casually, was taken aback and straightened her back, hiding the pillow completely behind her back.
And he said it with a cough.
“I have enough rest already. Don’t worry about me, especially since I’m going to get a good night’s sleep today.”
“Is that so…?”
Lucas shook his head.
Normally, I would have thought that I would end up just saying that and overdoing it in the end.
Besides that pillow, chamomile tea, which is good for a good night’s sleep, and a softly burning scented candle.
For some reason, seeing the scenery of the office, which seemed to be fully prepared for a nap rather than in the middle of work, felt strangely persuasive.
Of course, there was absolutely no way that their diligent princess would fall asleep during work hours.
“Then I will report you. This is a story I’ve heard from people connected to the royal family, but the movements of Prince Carol…”
“Is that so. We need to be more vigilant.”
“Also, we are continuing to pursue witches of the 27 genealogy of magic, but no matter what…”
“I understand. Please continue the search.”
“And the preparations for the event…”
“Proceed like that.”
“…”
Lucas suddenly made a strange expression.
Obviously, he listens to the report with a serious face and is giving instructions dutifully.
It was because, strangely, I felt that Rose was not concentrating on her work or that she was nervous about something.
Especially in the sense of sneakily glancing at the window.
‘Usually, I would have started earlier, but why today…? no, that’s fortunate Still…’
“Can I continue reporting, Princess?”
“of course.”
Unlike his mind full of wandering thoughts, Rose’s unwavering answer led Lucas to continue reporting.
I was talking about the small things after passing all the important agenda.
“Next is about the gazebo you ordered yesterday.”
“How was it?”
“I stopped by the garden to check it out and it was well built to fit in with the surroundings. But there was a small problem there.”
“…small problem?”
“yes. A servant who has not yet been disciplined uses violence against the invited performer…”
“You mean the performer is hurt?!”
bang!!!!!
That moment.
Lucas stiffened.
It wasn’t just because of the desk split like canned millet or the mighty psionics that spewed out like an explosion.
It was because of Rose’s behavior when she hit the desk and jumped up, and her face was full of anxiety and nervousness.
“Answer me Sir Lucas! What happened to the performer? Are you seriously injured? what did the doctor say? If you need a healer, immediately…!”
“Geez… Calm down. The princess performer was not hurt.”
“Didn’t you say that the servant was violent against the musician!”
“I stopped before that.”
“…then is the performer okay?”
“Don’t worry, there are no injuries.”
Lucas answered calmly, even though he was breaking out in a cold sweat.
Thanks to that, Rose sighed with a relieved face, as if she had finally calmed down her agitation.
But that’s for a while.
She put on a frozen expression this time.
“What did the servant do?”
“I am currently undergoing additional discipline at the correctional center.”
“Are you saying that you are only being disciplined for committing a serious crime of harming a guest at your home?”
“Anyway, it ended in an attempt. I didn’t think there was a need to deliberately impose aggravated punishment, so I just dealt with it according to the procedure.”
Rose’s pupils shook.
As if tolerating or conflicting with something.
She closed her eyes, but finally nodded and opened her mouth quietly.
“That’s it.”
“…Are you all right?”
“yes. I’m sorry for trying to hurt the guest of the main house, but it’s not right to punish someone who has already been punished.”
‘I didn’t ask that question in that sense, Princess.’
Lucas muttered inwardly.
Even he, who had been helping her for more than ten years, had never seen Rose like this.
Not to mention the initial strange nervousness and outright coldness, including the still clenched fists.
But he didn’t bother to point it out.
On the surface, he just looked at Rose, who had regained her original calm demeanor, with trembling eyes.
“Then, the reason why the musicians are late for today’s practice must be because of the commotion.”
“Ah, practice must have started.”
“What do you mean?”
I haven’t heard any sound outside the window yet, but it seems like I started practicing before I knew it.
To her puzzled, Lucas calmly explained.
“For safety reasons, I was asked to move my accommodation to the main building, so I gave permission to use the main building’s parlor for practice.”
“…wasn’t the drawing room in the main building very well soundproofed?”
“yes. It’s quiet enough that I used it when I opened the salon, so you won’t have to worry about noise because it’s the main building.”
“…”
And after a while.
This time, Lucas couldn’t help but think to himself as he watched Rose look at him with resentment for some reason.
I don’t know what the hell happened to our perfect princess.