<span>“You don’t have to be pessimistic just because you didn’t achieve the results you wanted in this training. You just have to work hard from now on.”


    <span>“Hai!”


    <span>“–Excuse me, Your Excellency Rovine.”


    <span>At the sound of a knight’s call, Rovine turned.


    <span>“His Majesty will be preparing for an audience shortly. Pleasee to the throne room.”


    <span>“Got it, I’ll be on my way… I’ll see you tomorrow then.”


    <span>“Thank you for your story!”


    <span>She bowed her head alongside Fritz and watched Rovine walk out of the training grounds.


    <span>Rishe stood rooted on the ground and mulled over things.


    <i><span>His Majesty, His Royal Highness Arnold’s father, I have never been allowed to meet him, but he’s certainly here at the Imperial Castle.</i>


    <span>It has been a month since Rishe arrived in this country.


    <span>No matter how vast the castle was, theck of contact with the Emperor to this point was deliberately directed.


    <i><span>However, the thing that bothers me most right now is more than His Majesty…</i>


    <span>When she looked up a momentter, she saw Fritz taking a deep breath and patting his chest.


    <span>“Ha, that was tense, Lucius! I never thought I’d be able to talk to Count Rovine.”


    <span>“Really? You looked like you were behaving normally.”


    <span>“No way! I was actually sweating! But it’s motivating to hear you say it like that. So, Lucius, you got time for meter? Let’s have dinner together.”


    <span>“Ah!!”


    <span>That being said, she was jolted.


    <span>If she didn’t go back soon, the knight guards might get suspicious. If they reported to Arnold, she would likely be found out in no time.


    <span>“Sorry Fritz, I have to go. I have work in the afternoon.”


    <span>“I see, but it can’t be helped, good luck!”


    <span>“Thanks and see youter!”


    <span>After hurriedly leaving the training grounds, she jumped into a nearby storage room and removed her wig. It wasn’t her dress she changed into, but a uniform for a maidservant.


    <span>She put the set of training clothes and other items into aundry basket and covered the top with a sheet. She couldn’t wander around the castle dressed as a trainee, but it was no problem if she was dressed as a maid.


    <span>Once she reached the detached pce, she returned to her room from the balcony as usual.


    <span>She was almost brought to tears on the way up the rope with her shaking arms.


    <span>“Elise, I’m back!”


    <span>“Wee back, everything’s ready.”


    <span>She took a quick bath in the bathroom with Elise’s help. She was the only one who knew about men’s clothing. She sweated off, put on a clean dress and got ready to go.


    <span>She dried her loose, wavy, coral- hair andbed it through, and was all set.


    <span>“Good morning, Rishe-sama!”


    <span>“Good morning everyone…”


    <span>She inadvertently exposed her fatigue, and the setting of “an elegant bath after a good night’s sleep until noon” was about to copse, but fortunately, the maids didn’t seem to notice it.


    <span>As she was walking from the bathroom back to her room with a few of the handmaidens, including Elise, she met an unexpected person.


    <span>“Your Highness Arnold.”


    <span>“Hmm.”


    <span>She was about to say, how unusual, and then it urred to her why he was there.


    <span>Several knights were bringing belongings into the office that had been prepared for Arnold.


    <span>“How’s the move going?”


    <span>“Who knows, I’m not the one who’s doing the moving.”


    <span>“My Lord, no, Your Highness Arnold! It’s not good, you need to give me proper instructions…”


    <span>The squire, Oliver, emerged from the office. He looked at Rishe and smiled.


    <span>“Hi, Rishe-sama, thank you for this wonderful room for His Highness.”


    <span>“Not at all, Oliver-sama. I hope it’s afortable working environment for all of you. By the way, just now, you addressed His Highness as My Lord…”


    <span>Arnold looked up as she asked, and replied with a terribly ufortable look on his face.


    <span>“I’ve been telling him to stop calling me that freaky name, but this guy never listens.”


    <span>“I’ve restrained myself doing that in public, haven’t I? Forget about that, I’ll arrangest month’s document’s on the right-hand side of the bookcase, if that’s okay with you.”


    <span>Oliver quickly returned to the office and directed the other knights around.


    <i><span>That call. It sounded like a clear distinction that your master isn’t His Majesty, but His Highness Arnold.</i>


    <span>She hoped to hear from Oliver again in the near future.


    <span>While pondering, Arnold called her.


    <span>“Rishe.”


    <span>“Yes, what is it?”


    <span>He bent down quickly and brought his mouth close to Rishe’s ear and whispered, “Tomorrow afternoon at two o’clock,e to the West Gate. Don’t let others know.”


    <span>Was it because of the presence of several maids around her that he thus lowered his voice? It was somewhat tickling when his slightly hoarse voice hit her ear.


    <span>Arnold was about to leave when Rishe stood on tiptoes and replied with a hand covering her mouth.


    <span>“Should I dye my hair?”


    <span>“No, you don’t have to go that far.”


    <span>“Okay, then I’ll be dressed to blend in with the city.”


    <span>Once she was done, she stood down and stepped away from Arnold. That was when she first noticed the eyes of the maidservants.


    <span>“…”


    <i><span>W-What?!</i>


    <span>The maids were looking at Rishe and him with rosy cheeks and glittering eyes.


    <span>Rishe was unaware of how the scene of them talking privately in each other’s ears looked like from the edge.


    <span>“Your Highness, pleasee quickly!”


    <span>“Shut up…Well then.”<span>


    <span>When Oliver called, Arnold walked into his office with a cumbersome look on his face.


    <span>Rishe parted with the strangely fidgety maids, and when she entered her room, Elise, who looked equally restless, spoke.


    <span>“Uhm, Rishe-sama, what did you speak about privately earlier?”


    <span>They were alone in the room, so she decided to tell only Elise about it.


    <span>“Actually, Elise. Tomorrow afternoon, I’m going to the castle town with His Highness Arnold.”


    <span>Instantly, Elise, whom she thought has always been poker-faced, had a change in her eye color.


    <span>“What kind of outing is it?”


    <span>“I couldn’t tell you the details. But I was beaten to the punch and had to do whatever His Highness orders. So I’m sure I’ll be helping him with some official duties.”


    <span>“…”


    <span>“Anyway, we need to dress inconspicuously tomorrow. Would a brown dress do?　I also have a gray robe, so I’m going to get it moderately dirty and traveler-wise… Wa~.”


    <span>Rishe was surprised when Elise grabbed her hand firmly.


    <span>“Leave it to me, Rishe-sama.”


    <hr>