Chapter 76 - An Unexpected Visitor
Ever since Anna-san left, her words have been spinning in my head, each one resurfacing with painful clarity. No matter what I do, the memory of her suffering lingers.
A knock at the door interrupted my thoughts as Samuel entered. He brought with him the savory, toasted aroma of fresh-baked goods, filling the room with a comforting scent. Drawn by the smell, Kuro woke from his nap on the bed. He immediately began weaving through Samuel’s legs, letting out a cheerful meow. Samuel can’t see you, Kuro.
I realized Samuel was supposed to be on leave today. "Oh, Samuel. You’ve returned?"
"Yes, just a moment ago. Thank you for the time off, Ojou-sama. Thanks to your kindness, my brother’s wedding went off without a hitch."
"I see. I’m glad to hear that."
Samuel had taken two weeks off to attend the wedding, traveling all the way back to the Barony of Emonier. I hadn't expected him back until tomorrow. "You’re still on leave until today. You should have taken it easy and rested a bit longer."
"No, no. Staying idle just doesn't suit my nature."
"Is that so? Well, please make sure to rest early tonight. You must be exhausted from such a long journey."
Samuel nodded with a bright smile. Then, as if remembering something, he spoke up. "By the way, I saw a church carriage leaving as I arrived. We passed each other on the road."
"The Lady Saint was here today. We were in the same year at the academy."
"The Saint, you say? Even back in my home territory, the rumors were everywhere. Everyone was talking about the birth of a new Saint."
"I see. So the news has already spread across the entire kingdom."
I nodded at his words. Even the Barony of Emonier, which was quite far from the royal capital, had heard the news. The emergence of a Saint was clearly a matter of great concern for the people of this nation. I decided to ask him a question. "What do you think, Samuel? About a Saint being born?"
"Me? Well, I don't know much about such things, but..." Samuel lowered his eyebrows in a troubled expression, scratching his head with a large hand. "Let’s see. It’s a bright spot for the country, isn't it? Even the common folk are curious about what kind of person she is."
"True. She hasn't made her official debut yet."
"Well, a simple cook like me will likely never have the chance to meet her. But... I hope the Lady Saint doesn't find things too difficult."
"Difficult?"
My heart skipped a beat. I looked up at Samuel, but he simply looked back with a puzzled, innocent expression. He hadn't heard my conversation with Anna-san. He wasn't talking about her specific circumstances. What, then, did he mean?
"If the country prospers, it’s thanks to the Saint. But if there are disasters, or a string of bad weather, or if anything goes wrong, people will say she angered the Spirit King. People are fragile creatures. When things go poorly for the nation, they tend to blame whoever stands out the most. That’s why I hope the Lady Saint can live a peaceful life."
He was right. And knowing His Majesty, he likely intended to use Anna-san, the Saint, as a shield for the royal family. Furthermore, as the Saint, she would be deeply involved with the Church and high-ranking nobles. Many would seek to exploit her position. She would have to recognize that malice and navigate around it. To think he could consider the well-being of someone he’s never even met... This cook truly has a heart of gold.
Even with me, though he was merely an employee, he had always been attentive and considerate of my health when preparing meals. He was naturally observant and deeply thoughtful of others. "You are very kind, Samuel."
"N-no, I’m just someone who doesn't understand politics," he stammered, waving his hands dismissively before his face. "I’ll take my leave now."
Kuro, who had settled onto my lap at some point, snatched a cookie from the plate and began munching away. Once he finished, he let out another meow, demanding more. "Kuro, even for a spirit, aren't you eating too many sweets?"
A sharp meow was his only response. "Fine, fine. Just one more."
I gave a wry smile at his persistence. Kuro tapped my arm lightly with his paw as if offended by my nagging, then hopped off my lap with another cookie in his mouth. He carried it over to the bed and began eating it slowly, as if savoring a treasure. A soft chuckle escaped my lips. It seemed Kuro had also been waiting for Samuel’s snacks.
Now then. I needed to inform His Highness about today’s events in a letter. However, I wasn't sure how much to tell him regarding Anna-san’s circumstances. I couldn't speak of things she hadn't told him herself. Yet, to put His Highness’s mind at ease...
Just as I opened the drawer to take out some stationery, a knock sounded at the door. "Ojou-sama," Sarah’s voice called out. I told her to enter, and she stepped inside with a look of slight confusion. "Is something wrong?"
"Well... Lord Ernest has arrived."
"Ernest? I didn't have an appointment with him. Does he have business with my father?"
My cousin Ernest visited occasionally to see my father, though lately, he had been so busy with training that he usually left immediately after his business was concluded. We rarely did more than exchange greetings. "No, it seems he has business with you, Ojou-sama."
"With me? I wonder what it is. Is he in the drawing room?"
"No, he said he would wait in the Garden."
"I see. Thank you."
I closed the drawer and stood up. As I moved toward the door, Sarah spoke up again, her voice tinged with anxiety. "Um... Lord Ernest is not alone. He is accompanied by a friend."
"A friend of Ernest’s? Who might that be?"
"The person is hiding their identity under a robe. Lord Ernest assured us they were a person of certain standing. The Head Butler also permitted it, saying he had heard something from the Marquis, so we showed them in."
Hiding under a robe? Perhaps someone from the Order of Mages? "I see. If my father knows of it, they must not be a suspicious person. I’ll ask Ernest for the details."
"I shall accompany you."
Sarah seemed quite worried about me. It was certainly unusual for someone to be in the Marquis’s estate with their face hidden. And Ernest hadn't mentioned coming. Perhaps he knows about Anna-san’s visit today. They were close at the academy, after all.
Sarah and I headed toward the conservatory in the Garden. Through the glass walls, I could see two figures sitting at a tea table. Ernest was there, along with someone in a brown robe, their hood pulled low so that their face was completely obscured. Brown meant they weren't from the Order of Mages. They truly seemed to just want to hide their identity. But who could it be?
As I entered the conservatory, the two of them looked up. The reaction was instantaneous, but it didn't come from Ernest. The person in the brown robe stood up abruptly and rushed toward me. "Eh?"
My eyes widened in surprise. I instinctively stepped back from the unexpected movement, but the robed figure didn't slow down. "Wha—what are you—"
I held out my hands to stop them, but it was too late. The person pulled me into a tight embrace, pinning my arms to my sides. Wait, this scent...
At that moment, the hood fell back, and golden hair, dyed by the red of the setting sun, brushed against my cheek. In the distance, Ernest stood up, watching us with a troubled, wry smile. But the person holding me with such strength didn't seem to notice him at all. "Rachel, I was so worried."
Loosening his grip slightly, he cupped my cheeks gently with both hands. As our eyes met, his beautiful face filled my entire field of vision. "His Highness..."