kscans

Chapter 43 - Unconventional to the End

A palace maid guided them to a destination. Isn't this a special area that only royalty is allowed to enter? the twins wondered as they walked. If they were permitted inside, they probably wouldn't be punished, but a sliver of anxiety remained.

"Please wait a moment."

"Yes."

The twins stopped after asking their guide to halt. The maid, as if understanding their concern, waited for Lupia's words with a faint smile on her face.

"Is it truly alright for us to proceed beyond this point?"

"Of course. I have been instructed to bring you both here, and I have obtained the permission of my mistress. Please wear these."

The maid approached the twins and handed them something she said was from the one who had summoned them. Seeing what it was, they understood.

"Ah, right."

"With these, it should be fine."

Understanding the intent, the tension that had gripped the two finally eased.

What she had handed them was a pair of earrings favored by Tilmina, the princess of the Qua Kingdom and their cousin. She wore them so often that everyone recognized them as hers. Wearing these would pose no problem. Lupia removed one of her own earrings and put it on. Rupert followed his sister's lead, attaching the other one to his own ear. Once she confirmed that Lupia had attached hers to her left ear and Rupert to his right, the maid bowed once more to the two of them before starting to walk again.

"I wonder what Til wants."

"Who knows. I doubt she just wanted to see us because she heard we were coming today."

"She's a princess, so even just meeting up requires scheduling adjustments and all that, right?"

"Knowing Uncle, he might have informed her in advance and had her adjust her schedule."

"That's plausible."

They considered various possibilities, speaking in low voices as they walked a little further.

"Here we are."

Ahead of where the maid indicated, they could see a young woman waving at them. Princess Tilmina-Li-Qua, Lupia and Rupert's cousin and the princess of this country. The three were close in age and had often played together since they were young. That hadn't changed even as they grew older. Occasionally, her younger brother would join them, but when it came to playing, it was usually just the three of them.

"Welcome, Lupia, Rupert."

A soft, pleasant voice and a textbook smile. In response, Lupia and Rupert offered the proper courtesy to royalty.

"It has been some time, Your Highness, Princess Tilmina."

"We are honored to have the opportunity to meet with you like this."

"Thank you… Everyone, please withdraw to an appropriate distance. I wish to speak with them."

Tilmina waved her hand, and the maids bowed deeply and moved away. However, a woman who was likely the Head Maid did not move, remaining where she was with an unconcealed look of disapproval.

"Excuse me, did you not hear me?"

"Your Highness! …I am against this… Having tea with such people!"

"Lupia and Rupert are my relatives, currently guests of this country, and furthermore, their immigration has been confirmed, but…"

"Th-that…!"

"And besides… Right now, these two are here as my relatives, but… I see…"

The sudden chill in the air was surely not their imagination. Tilmina's aura as she hid her mouth with a fan could only be described as ice. There was no way she could forgive the act of insulting her relatives right in front of her.

"You don't even have the self-awareness to realize you're being incredibly rude to relatives of the royal family, do you?"

Each word was punctuated with an emotion that could only be 'unforgivable'.

"I-I was only thinking of Your Highness's well-being!"

"So there was another one here. A useless person who can't even vet information."

"…?!"

"You, who did you hear what from?"

"…Ah…"

"You probably just heard the worthless gossip the nobles are spreading around the castle."

The Head Maid choked on her words. The content she had heard was likely things like 'the poor ducal lady whose fiancé was stolen,' 'the unattractive woman who couldn't even hold on to her fiancé,' or 'the damaged lady who fled to the Qua Kingdom in search of her next marriage proposal.' All of it was a magnificent concentration of slander against Lupia. She, too, had been dancing to the tune of rumors, yet she had come to voice her opinion to Tilmina without confirming their validity. Such a person could not be left as the princess's maid.

"Were you trying to eliminate a foreign element? To ensure the perpetual continuation of this country? But you know, that is not your role to fulfill. I am not an infant who doesn't understand things… Ah, so in other words, you were also implicitly making a fool of me."

The Head Maid's face turned a pathetic shade of pale. She looked pleadingly at Lupia and Rupert, but what of it? When the two of them exchanged glances and tilted their heads in unison, the Head Maid's face was painted with nothing but despair.

After all, there was no reason to help someone who had just insulted them.

"Your judgment will be decided later. Someone!"

Deciding this was going nowhere, Tilmina clapped her hands. A few knights rushed over in response, their faces suggesting they had known or predicted this would happen.

"Just as His Majesty said. Now, please take care of this one as well."

"Yes, ma'am!"

She gave a short command, and the Head Maid was led away. Her cries of 'Please help me!' could be heard, but once they had faded completely, Tilmina turned to them with a smile.

"Heehee, my apologies."

"You've got quite the personality, you know that?"

"I'll take that as a compliment, Rupert."

"I do get the feeling we were used by Uncle to clean house, though."

"Ehehe."

"That cute little laugh won't work on me, you know."

"Aww…"

When she wasn't putting on her princess face, she was just a 'relative's daughter' of the same age as Lupia and Rupert. It seemed that in light of the Calmond family's immigration, there was a desire to purge the nobles with overly biased ways of thinking and those who were quick to abandon critical thought. However, neither Lupia nor Rupert felt particularly good about this. They had braced themselves with a 'use us if you must' attitude, but Rupert sighed, thinking, Did they have to go this far?

"I am truly sorry. But my father and I are both genuinely happy that you're here, you know?"

"I can sort of tell. But you really overdid it."

"…Oof…"

Seeing Tilmina slump her shoulders dejectedly, Lupia gave a wry smile and settled back into her chair.

"Tilmina, on a different note, let me say this again. Thank you… for accepting someone like me."

"Lupia, hey, stop that! Lift your head!"

Tilmina started to panic, but it was understandable. She had always seen Lupia as a ducal lady who held her head high and looked straight ahead. The idea that such a person would have her engagement broken and be toyed with by the royal family was something Tilmina had been furious about. If the same thing had happened to her, she wouldn't have been able to remain so calm.

"But it doesn't change the fact that I'm damaged goods. As a ducal lady, I was on the verge of being completely ruined."

"…Lupia…"

"No, Liam's the one who messed up."

"That's right. Lupia, you did nothing wrong, and the Prince is the one who cheated and switched partners! If you married a guy like that, no matter what you say about it being for the sake of your family, he would just get another woman on the side, increase his number of concubines, and only add to the queen's worries!"

"…Well, you're not wrong. Hearing it put so bluntly is actually rather refreshing. In a way… yes, thank you, both of you."

The two of them puffed out their chests as if to say, We're not wrong! To the current Lupia, it was very comforting. She didn't have to be on guard. And she wouldn't be subjected to nothing but malicious rumors.

The country where she used to live… even though it was only a short while ago, it felt like years had passed. The country where she had lived for so long now seemed like a distant memory.

"So, Lupia. What are you going to do now? You can do anything, so you'll be in high demand."

"…You think so?"

"I know so! Hold your head higher and be more confident!"

The maid preparing their tea was even looking at them with a warm smile. What was this ticklish feeling? As Lupia wondered, a wagon laden with colorful cakes was brought over.

"Whoa, the details are incredible."

Rupert murmured in admiration at the cakes, which were intricately decorated with chocolate and spun sugar. He had a bit of a sweet tooth, so he was fidgeting with excitement as he eyed the cakes, wondering which one to choose. There were three of each of the five varieties, a thoughtful arrangement to ensure everyone got one.

"Can I pick first?"

"You can pick whichever one you like. We have plenty of extras."

At her words, Rupert's eyes lit up, and he unhesitatingly had his preferred cake served to him. As they began to eat, both Rupert and Lupia started to think about the future.

"The future… huh."

"You could be a tutor at our palace if you want. Oh, but since you have the chance, how about falling in love? We have some good knights, you know!"

"Ah…"

"Umm…"

Tilmina shot the hesitating twins a suspicious, narrowed glare that was impossible to escape. As if to say she had surrendered, Lupia opened her mouth to speak.

"Earlier… well… I sort of… dislocated the shoulder of one of this country's knights…"

That's not something you say while blushing, you know? Tilmina screamed internally.

But for now, she just wanted to enjoy their time as cousins. She had to help them find lots of fun things and new encounters in this country! The twins calmly watched Tilmina, who was clenching her fists with enough force to raise them to the heavens, but only the two of them knew it.