--I thought that from that day on, I would never be "happy" again.





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In the event that you have any questions regarding where and how to use the site, you can call us at the web site. It was in recognition of the success of the trading business he had established. Even after he became a nobleman, he continued to do business, so the family's feeling is rather similar to that of the common people.

The trading business continued until Shayla's father's generation. Shayla's mother died when she was very young, and her father was the only family member who would play with her when he was not working. Shayla was certainly happy when she was a young girl, even if she did not have much time to spend with her father, who was kind and loving.

That happiness waned soon after Shayla made her debut in the world of socialites. Shayla's father, who was out on a business trip as usual, had an accident on the way and suddenly did not return.

Shayla is barely of legal age. She is too heavy a burden to inherit a baronetcy, and an unmarried daughter has no right to inherit a baronetcy from her male parent. The next Baron of Caleld was her uncle, whom she had half-broken ties with.
My uncle would occasionally come and take away the income that my grandfather and father had worked so hard to earn. Finally, my father ran out of patience and yelled at him, "Don't ever show your face at our house again! Shayla knows that her father finally lost patience with her and kicked her out of the house. Shayla understood that her uncle had taken his wife and taken over the entire Barony of Callerd.

The business that her great-grandfather had started had been sold off to others. Her aunt and uncle, who had acquired a large amount of money, spent their days playing instead of working. Formally, Shayla was their adopted daughter, but in reality, she was a servant who did not need to be paid. She was not allowed to go out in society, and was forced to work from morning to night in shabby clothes. Sometimes I was even chastised by my aunt and uncle who suddenly became ill-tempered.

Oh, my life is going to end like this.

In the early spring, I had no hope for life, only despair.
A stranger came to the house of the Callerd family.

Suddenly, she was summoned by her aunt, dressed in the dress her father had bought her before his death, and asked to appear before the guests. "Don't say anything you don't want to say! She was even reminded.

When Shayla entered the room and bowed, the guest said.

'Wow, this is beautiful. I didn't know that Baron Callerd had such a daughter.
No, she's just a poor girl, but she's ...... been trained in all the proper etiquette. What do you think?
"Hmm. Your daughter is certainly perfect.
"Oh, well, ......!
"Thank you, Baron Callerd. I've been having some trouble finding people to help me.
No, no, no. Not at all. It's just that we're giving up our only daughter...
Of course. Of course, I'll give you a reasonable reward.

As she listened to him with her head bowed, Shayla felt her blood run cold.

My uncle is trying to send me somewhere else. And he's taking money from this client. This is just like peddling.
I don't know where he's taking me. The most likely place is the customer's mistress. But no matter where they take me, I'll never be able to return to the house where I was born and raised...

I don't want to," she almost said. But before Shayla could shout, the deal seemed to have been made.

You don't mind if I take you with me, do you?
'Yes, yes. Please take me with you.

--Before she could say goodbye, Shayla left her birthplace.



She was filled with fear and anxiety about what was going to happen to her, but fortunately she did not become the concubine of the old man. But the situation is similar to that.

She was given the bare minimum of clothes and ornaments without knowing anything, and was thrown into the palace of the current king. Shayla, who became one of his concubines, was in a way treated better than her birth family.

Sheila was treated better than her birth family in a way. The Baron Kareld's Family Feud is famous among the youngest nobles, and their reputation has fallen to the bottom of the earth. The maids of honor took a dim view of the chambermaid who had been sold into the palace from such a family. The maidservants at the palace were noblemen or daughters of noble families with well-defined identities. Shayla's status was not so different from theirs. There was no way she would be treated with respect.
They would take care of her in one way or another. But it's not much. What kind of dream is it to be a princess with a maidservant waiting for you at all times?　I think. Cleaning was especially random, and Shayla had no choice but to spend her spare time cleaning the room herself. The maids despise her more and more.

If that was all, it might have seemed better than when she was still living with her aunt and uncle. However, from the time Shayla entered the palace, it gradually became a difficult place for a rising noble like her to breathe.

Lilliane, daughter of the Marquess of Landrose, the "Peony Master," who entered the Inner Palace at the same time as Shayla, was a princess from a long line of distinguished families. She was so proud to be a noblewoman that she blatantly disrespected her concubines who came from new noble families. If the top princess of the court did such a thing, there would naturally be others who would follow. By the time the summer came, the palace had become a place where the entourage from prestigious, old noble, and high-ranking families suppressed, tormented, and half-controlled the entourage from new noble families, led by Liliane.

The entourage, whose parents were noblemen, could not walk through the corridors in the daytime. If they were caught walking in the wrong direction, they could be beaten to a pulp. For Shayla, life was not so different from the days when she had been threatened by her aunt and uncle.

The only solace for Shayla was to feed crumbs to the birds in the shade of the corridor before the sun had even risen. She saves some of the bread that is served at mealtime, and wakes up earlier than the sunrise to spread the crumbs by a small plant in the shade of the corridor. The only comfort and relief for Shayla was to watch as the birds noticed and came down to peck at the crumbs.

Shayla had been fond of small animals since she was a child, and often begged her father to let her keep them. However, the Kaleld compound was visited by various people for trade negotiations. Some people may not like animals, and even if they wanted to keep an animal, they could not.


The father suggested to his daughter, who was disgusted by his words, "We can't have animals in our house. So, let's make friends with animals that live in nature.

The father and daughter spread bread crumbs and played with the birds that came by. It was one of the happiest times Shayla had ever spent with her father. Thinking of those happy times, and to be soothed by the birds' gestures again, Shayla scattered breadcrumbs almost every day since she came to the palace. Gradually, the birds became accustomed to her, and they began to show their delightful behavior by perching on her shoulder or chirping with their fingertips.

--One day, in the middle of summer, there was a disturbance in the only healing time.

On that day, Shayla was playing with the birds as usual, when she felt an unusual presence on her back.
Didn't the Peony people find her?　Shayla turned around in a panic. But what was there was neither the Master Peony's consort nor the Master Peony herself, but an unexpected presence.

Her lustrous hair reflected the morning sun, making her silver hair sparkle even more.
Her cool ice-blue eyes widened and reflected her own - Shayla, if I'm not mistaken.

Who?　Those were the words that came to Shayla's mind. The first man in the palace would be the king himself, but it was impossible to immediately associate Shayla with a man who hadn't been heard from since she arrived. In addition, Shayla had only glimpsed the king from a distance, and had no impression of him because she thought he was a person on a cloud. Therefore, her first impression of him was "Who is this guy?　So my first impression was "Who is this guy?

"You are ......?
What?
"What is your name?

I don't know what's going on, but it seems he's asking me my name. Shayla replied with the dignity of a lady.

"My name is Shayla Callerd.
"Shayla ....... Are you a concubine?
"Ah, ...... yes. I am the youngest member of your household.
"I see...

I'm not sure what the man in front of me was trying to do, and that's when Shayla twisted her head.

"Your Majesty!

You can see several knights running from the other side of the corridor. The first knight, with auburn hair, shouted as he approached.

"Your Majesty, what are you doing here all alone?
It's my palace. It's my palace. What's wrong with me going out alone?
It's my palace. I'm not supposed to go out alone." "You should think about the people you're protecting.

Shayla grew increasingly pale. It's a good thing that you're not the only one who has a problem with this, because now that you're the subject of a conversation that doesn't feel real, you realize who it is you're talking to.

'Also, I'm sorry!　I'm so sorry!

The man - the king - called out kindly to Shayla, who hurriedly fell flat on her face.

I'm sorry. If you are the daughter of a noble family, it is understandable that you do not know my face. There's no need to be afraid. ...... Stand up, Shayla.
"...... yes.

It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.
The king gently took Shayla's hand in his.

I'm sorry I startled you. But I was surprised too. But I was surprised, too, when I saw the birds swooping down one by one, and when I looked in to see what was going on, I found you at .......
I'm sorry, I took the liberty.
You said it was fine. If you are one of my ladies, you are free to live as you please in the palace. --Do you always feed the birds here?
"Yes. I like animals. I love animals. ...... And I feel very happy when I'm with the little birds.

The last words were said fearfully, looking the king in the eye. I could tell from the tone of his voice that he wasn't angry, but I didn't know what he meant.
When Shayla's gaze met his, the king laughed softly.

'Yes, indeed. The little bird is truly adorable. I think I know how you feel.
Thank you, ......!

It's been a long time since Shayla has felt this way. It was a joy that Shayla had not felt in a long time. She naturally smiled and looked at the king.

"Your Majesty, it's time.
"......". That's right.

However, that peaceful time was coming to an end. The king let go of Shayla's hand and smiled sadly at her.

...... I never knew there was a girl like you in the palace.
It's no wonder you don't know me. It's no wonder you don't know.
"I see.
"Please take care. Have a good day.



It's a remnant of the old days when we used to say good-bye at the end of conversations. I always sent my father off to work with these words.

"Oh. I'm off.

Shayla bowed her head to the king and saw him off. After the signs had completely disappeared, she looked up and thought about the encounter she had just had.

It was like a dream. It was like a dream. The man who reigned at the top of the land had looked her in the eyes and had given her kind words, though they may have been merciful. The fact that He had affirmed my memories of my father would surely be a light that would support Shayla in the difficult times of her life to come.

Shayla closed her eyes softly, her heart trembling with a little joy.