Deanna is a woman with a refreshing and manly thought process, but of course she has not been like this since birth. She has had her share of setbacks, misfortunes, and desperation.

But that's not the end of it, that's why the Crester family is revered as 'the Crester family'.

"......, ugh...

I'm not sure what to make of this. It seemed that Shayla was weeping secretly in a dead end at the end of the turn.

Deanna walked up to the corner without making a sound (although the carpet underneath her made it almost impossible to hear her footsteps). She exhaled quietly, and strengthened her throat.
--And then.

"......, what's wrong?
What's wrong?

I'm sure you'll be able to understand why I've been so impressed with your work.





*****************

I'm not sure what to make of that. My father, Duiris, had a low voice that resonated deep within his body, and when he laughed, it usually scared the hell out of someone. My brother Edward's voice is a mysterious one, gentle but sounding like a womanizer.
And Deanna's voice has a queenly tone and a seductive luster that is unforgettable once you hear it.

Naturally, people recognized her as the voice of the Countess of Clester, and for a time, Deanna was unable to converse with ordinary ladies, simply because she echoed her greeting to the audience. For a time, Diana was unable to speak with ordinary ladies, even when she echoed her greetings in the hall, because the little people who heard Diana's voice flocked to her, and the ladies avoided her.
No matter how long I had known the "bad guy face", this treatment was indeed unbearable. Even if I wanted to build up a good network of contacts, I couldn't even get a foothold.

I'm a woman anyway, I don't care if I don't have any connections, I won't go to any more soirées.

I don't care if I don't have any connections. But how can the Cresta family, who have been dealing with this face for over three hundred years, be intimidated by something like that?

I know, it happens to everyone at one time or another when you're born a Crester. I'm sure you'll be happy to know that I'm not the only one who's a little nervous about this.

This is the aunt who taught Diana how to swim in the Crester court. The wily members of the Crester family paid no heed to their youngest daughter's defiance.
On the contrary.

"I'll tell you something, Deanna. You can't change your face, but you can change your voice if you train yourself.

The next step was to teach her a new skill.

By training the muscles of the throat, you can freely change your voice from masculine to high-pitched female. With this skill, she could speak normally with whomever she wanted to, as long as she remained invisible.
Whispered to her, Deanna worked up her throat. At the time, Deanna had been stuck at the mercy of a single greeting, and the new skill her aunt had taught her seemed like a ray of hope.
It wasn't until she had completely mastered the voice-over skill that she realized that her aunt had gotten the better of her. But it was a useful skill, so I decided to live with it. It was true that I had learned a useful skill.

--Yes, especially in a situation like this.

I'm sorry. I was walking by and I heard you crying. I thought maybe I should just walk away, but you looked so distressed. ...... I couldn't help but notice.
No, ......, I'm sorry. I'm sorry about that.
You have nothing to apologize for. You've been through a lot, haven't you?

Shayla is completely unaware that she's talking to Deanna. She was talking to someone she didn't know. Well, that's what we both do.

"Are you having a hard time .........
If you want, you can talk to me.　I don't know who you are or where you are from. I don't know who you are or where you are, but I think it would help if you could just let it out.
"...... ease...

Shayla's voice was somber. Deanna purposely tried to sound cheerful.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interfere.
"No, no!　No, no, no!

No, no, no! Shayla's voice was definitely directed at Diana.

"I'm sorry. It's not that your feelings are annoying or anything. It's just that I don't know when I'm going to feel better. ......!
...... You have a very serious problem, don't you?
I don't know. I don't know what's in her heart, and I don't know what's in mine.

Shayla seemed to be very confused. It's frustrating to be able to only bring her voice, but Deanna still speaks softly.

"Calm down. Let's take it one at a time, okay?　If you can find a place to sit, please do so. If there's a place to sit, please do so. If you're a nobleman who's been invited to a soiree, it must be difficult for you to stand still.
"There's a ...... sofa where you can sit. But, uh, you're ......
I'm fine. I was there as an added bonus, and I'm not that tired.

I'm more worried about you, he said seriously, and then there was a slight rustling of clothes. Shayla seemed to have sat down.



"...... is a mysterious person. I don't know why I feel so at ease when I talk to you.
Oh, really?　That's good.

Well, that's the kind of voice I'm making. If you say 'I'm nervous,' I'll have to cry.

"Um, ......, who are you?
Me?　I'm ...... Dee, if you want to call me that.
"Miss Dee, is that ......?　Why are you here, Mr. Dee?
I'm not very good at these things. Last year, I just skipped it, but this year, my position requires me to be here for a while.
The position ......?
Oh, I never told you. I'm Her Majesty's consort.

Revealing my position here is a kind of gamble. Either she'll be wary of you and withdraw, or she'll feel closer to you because you're in the same position. If it's the latter, Dee can become Shayla's ally in the palace from now on.

"Side chambers," ......?
"I'm just one of 50 members of your entourage. I'm sure His Majesty doesn't care that I exist. But I don't want your favor, either, so I'm happy with the way I am.
"So, Dee, you're from the family of the new ...... nobleman?
Yeah, ...... is kind of a tricky word. I'm also, then you are also .......

Shayla's voice trailed off for a moment. After a moment of silence, a deep breath was heard, and then.

"Nice to meet you, Shayla Callerd. I am also one of your ladies.
You're a member of your entourage?
Yes, I am. ...... Yes, I am.

Shayla's voice was sullen. But Diana's surprise was followed by a buzz in her voice.

I thought the palace was a dull and boring place. I thought the palace was a boring place. --"May I call you Master Shayla?
Of course!
"Does Master Shayla wish to find favor with you?　Do you wish to be favored by Her Majesty?
No!　I don't want Your Majesty's favor for that. Not so long ago, the Inner Palace was a place of pain and suffering for noblewomen from new families. But now that the Red Rose is here, even I can walk the corridors normally. What more could I ask for?
"Good!　I'm glad to see that there are others who are thinking the same thing as I am.
What?

Deanna's voice bounced lightly. She continued, making sure that Shayla's attention was on her.

I don't think the palace was a good place before the Red Rose, either. I don't think the palace was a good place before the Red Rose joined, but it seems to me that the current Red Rose faction is aiming to expand their power, overthrow the Peony faction, and turn the palace into their own color. I don't think that's a good idea, and I'm against factional fighting. So if possible, I would like to live a quiet and peaceful life without being involved in such things.
"Master Dee, ......, I didn't know there were people who thought like that...
I'm sure there's at least one person out there who feels the same way.

I'm not sure what to make of that. I can hear Shayla laughing as well.

I'm sure you'll be fine.　Shayla.
"What?　Yes...
"I'm glad you're smiling, Miss Shayla. I guess my laziness comes in handy sometimes.
"Well, Master Dee.

Shayla giggles. After a few moments of calm, Shayla's voice suddenly dropped.

"...... Master Dee. Can I have your attention, please?
"Hmm?　Yes, of course.
Have you heard the rumor that His Majesty is in love with the Red Rose?
Well, ...... has heard that rumor, too.
...... I met the Red Rose for the first time today. She's as beautiful as they say,......, and unlike the rumors, she can be talked to normally.

Deanna's eyes widened. She understood that Shayla was not fooled by rumors, but was trying to see Diana herself.

Perhaps it was because she thought I was the daughter of an upstart nobleman and a member of her faction. But even so, from your words and your gaze, I felt that you were working with me. ...... This may be my own selfish wish.


If that's how Master Shayla felt about ........., then it's probably right, isn't it?
"If so, how happy and ...... how sorry I am.

I'm sorry, but this story is getting a little weird. You'll be able to find a lot more than just a few of them in the market.

"What do you mean you're sorry?
"Did you see the 'Red Rose' on stage with His Majesty today, Master Dee?
Well, ......, from a distance, but just a glimpse.
I'm sure that everyone thought that the Red Rose had feelings for you because of the gentle way she looked at you.

No!　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.
It seems that just before he showed up in the hall, Juke was gradually becoming able to listen to others, and I was mildly surprised to see that he was growing up, but that moment seems to have given rise to a terrible misunderstanding. If even Shayla, who was looking at me relatively calmly, felt that way, Deanna felt a chill as she wondered how many people had misunderstood her.

I don't care how good he looks or how smart he is, I don't want to be around a guy with a mental infant like him. In Deanna's mind, Juke could only be her little brother, at best, if she was so heartwarmed by witnessing him grow up.
But I can't just tell Shayla that. What a dilemma.

"Babe, the Red Rose loves you?　I didn't think so,.......
You don't have to tell me that ....... I'm sure you're aware of my feelings.
"No, that's why I'm ...... feeling?

I'm not sure what to say, but I'm going to say it. It was all she could do to deny it, but Shayla saw it in a different light.

"...... Master Dee. It's not the Red Rose that you were going to when there were rumors about you and the Red Rose.
"What ......?
It was ...... my room that His Majesty went to...!

I'm sorry, I know.

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