47 予想外の訪問




After fussing and fussing over the rough seas that came at them, the garden party was finally over. It was the first time for Diana to experience such hardship for only two hours, and to feel such a long time for those two hours.
In fact, she wanted to help clean up the courtyard, but a strange sense of solidarity seemed to have arisen among the maids, as if they didn't want to make the "Red Rose" work any harder. The waiting maids made her change her clothes without question, removed her makeup, and threw her on a bed.

"I'm afraid... I'm afraid I can't let you through here.

I was awakened by the sound of an argument.

It was already dark outside. I thought I had just laid down and closed my eyes for a moment, but apparently I had fallen asleep.
The sound of arguing voices came from the hallway outside the bedroom. It seemed that Rita was the one who was mainly talking. Yuri's voice is also heard, but in a subdued voice.

"Please leave us. The Red Rose is on vacation.
I understand that. But I really need to talk to you now.
"After all you've done to the Red Rose, how dare you prevent her from getting some rest?

Rita's voice was chillingly angry.

I am not a royal maid. I am not a royal lady's maid, I am only in the service of Diana. Therefore, I have no intention of backing down now, even if it is by the King's order. The only thing the Lord needs now is rest.

Diana, who was half in a dream, was awakened by that word. Rita was now confronting the king himself on the other side of the door?

"Anyone? Is anyone there?

Seriously impatient, Diana raised her voice. I don't know what's going on, but Rita is really angry. I don't know what's going on, but Rita is really angry. His Majesty the King? What is that food? It's like food.
Fortunately, Deanna's voice seems to have reached the other side of the door, and the arguing has died down for the moment. The door to the private room opens, and Lurie comes in at a near gallop.

"Master Diana?
What's going on?
Your Majesty is here.
I see. And why is Rita so angry?
Yuri told me that Diana was absent, but ...... she came to the bedroom door, saying that she needed to talk to me now. Rita, who was waiting in the bedroom, answered the door.
Yeah, I got the gist of it.

As they talked, Deanna quickly put on her loungewear. To Luly's surprise.

Are you going to see him?
"Of course. I'll show you to the main room. Yuri will show you to the king, and you will serve tea. Rita will help you get ready. Call her right away.
"Yes, sir.

Luly opened the door to the silent corridor and said a few words. She left and was replaced by Rita, who came in.

"Rita, do my hair.
"...... Dear Diana.

Rita's expression is sullen. I knew what she meant, so I smiled and shook my head.

"Thank you. I'm sorry I made you worry. It's okay now.

With that, Rita sensed Deanna's change of heart. Reluctantly, she picked up her hairbrush and smiled.

I'm sorry. It's the first time I've ever felt this itchy when I'm around you.
"I shouldn't have done what I did at home. You don't have a mother or brother here.
Yes. I didn't realize how difficult it would be to have no one to admonish Deanna for her recklessness.

Rita, who had done her hair as she spoke, lifted her eyes slightly.

I don't want that to happen again. I don't want another day where I have to watch Diana look like she's dying.
I'm sorry. I'll be careful from now on.

I'll be careful from now on." Deanna was aware that she had caused Rita a great deal of worry this time, so she apologized honestly. Rita finally smiled when she saw her.

I was worried about you, but now you seem to be okay with whatever happens to you.
Yeah. ...... Let's go, shall we?

We can't take it easy. There is a guest waiting for us.

"Thank you for your patience, Your Majesty.
"Oh ...... Oh. There you are.



When I went to the main room, His Majesty was narrowly sitting on the sofa under the cold gaze of his maids. Apparently, it was the unanimous opinion of the king that he wanted Diana to take a rest, though he was unable to say so due to his position.
I felt sorry for Deanna in the face of such a blatantly 'airheaded' atmosphere.

"Everyone, stand back.
"Master Red Rose?
"I'm sorry for worrying you. I'll get some rest when you get back. ...... You're the ladies of the royal court, you know whose will is most important, and you don't need me to tell you that.
I'm not sure what to make of that. It is our duty to do our best for you.

Yuri's eyes were fixed. The girls were aware of the King's unfavorable attitude towards Diana, and they really wanted to protect her from him.
She smiled naturally, thinking that this feeling was more precious than anything else.

Thank you. I'm the luckiest person in the world.
"Dear Red Rose...
I'm fine. I'll be fine. ...... leave me alone with you for a little while.

He implored Rita and Alford to step back as well. Rita immediately nodded in understanding and turned to Yuri.

"Let's go, Yuri.
Rita!
It's okay. If you need anything, Master Diana will be there for you.

Rita, who had been the angriest of them all, had calmed down, and the maids had realized something. They bowed quietly and disappeared into the antechamber.
Alford was expected to follow suit, but surprisingly, he didn't move and stayed behind the king.

Soo-Won, Master Commander?
Don't worry about me, Master Red Rose. Please speak.
But...
His Majesty has asked me to stay with you.
Alford!

Even the poor king's restraint didn't stop him.

"Yes, Your Majesty. You said that you were not sure you could speak well in front of the Red Rose, and that you wanted me to be by your side, didn't you?
I did, but that's our little secret!
Your words are falling apart.
Which one of you broke it first?
I'll be the first to break it. You're forgetting your purpose, aren't you? What are we doing here? Don't tell me you didn't expect the maids to be so cold. Considering what you've been doing to the Red Rose, you should be grateful they offered you tea.

Deanna was rather impatient with Alford, who had started lecturing the king with complete candor. The Alford she knew was not someone who would act so brazenly disrespectful.

Commander Soo-won. What are you doing to His Majesty?
Oh, it's okay. You won't punish me. That is, if the Red Rose is willing to overlook this conversation.
"Oh, yes, Alford. In front of the Red Rose!
Shut up, Juke.

I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one who's a fan of your work. If they have come to a mutual understanding, it is not for a third party to interfere.

I'm going to pretend that I didn't hear anything, but ...... that doesn't mean that everyone else can. Your Majesty, please be very careful.
...... Now that's Alford's fault.
I agree with you, Your Majesty.

Alford can't be himself in front of everyone. This is because Deanna knows that he is not wearing a nobleman's skin, and she is confident that what was done here will not be leaked out. A slightly more intuitive person would have seen that Alford was doing this because he trusted Deanna, but ...... the current Juke wouldn't know that much.
I'm not sure what to make of this.

"Your Majesty, please forgive the rudeness of my maids. They are only looking out for me.
"Oh. .... Yeah, apparently.
I'm more than half taking it out on them. It's not your fault that I've had to lose sleep because I'm not doing my job.
"No, but this happened because I left you in charge of the garden party in the first place. The maids are understandably angry.
Thank you for your generosity.

"Thank you for your generosity." As he bowed, the conversation was cut short. The knight captain glared at the fidgety king from behind.

"...... Juke.
I know! I know, so don't rush me.
What do you want me to say? What do you want me to say? It's not a matter of rushing.
No apologies, no thanks, okay?



This is getting out of hand. When I tilted my head and interrupted them, the two men were startled.

"Isn't that what you were talking about?
"...... No, um...
Juke.
No, that's what I'm talking about! I'm sorry, Red Rose!

Juke shouted, but Alford, his trusted aide, was really cold.

You're an idiot. You can't apologize without someone urging you to, you're no more than five years old.
"You're out of line, Commander. Your Majesty was raised from a young age to be a future king. You never had to apologize in the first place.
It's because you spoiled him like that that Juke grew up. If you do something wrong to someone, you should apologize.
"That's true, but ...... wouldn't it be better to be reluctant to apologize than to be scolded and reluctant to apologize?
"Unfortunately, that logic is not in the best interest of the child who did the wrong thing.
...... Am I a child?
If you don't want to be called that, just apologize.

You are a very strict guardian. Deanna laughed lightly.

"Your Majesty. The Commander's words are rough, but they are also correct.
"...... I know.
I'll tell you one more thing: I mean what I say.

Juke's eyes swam to Diana.

I know that Commander Soo-won suggested that I apologize to you for your sake, but I did not ask for it. A perfunctory apology would be meaningless to me.
No, ......, that's not true!
Is it a sincere apology? If so, I can't accept it.

Deanna smiled slowly.

It's a good idea to take a look at your own personal life. I'm not sure if you've seen this before, but I'm sure you've. It's not a problem that can be solved by apologizing.
...... That's true. But even more so, I have to apologize to you.

I'm not sure what to say, but I'm sure you'll understand.

I'm sorry. I was angry at myself for being so pathetic, and I took it out on you. You were doing the best you could as the Red Rose.
"My power is very small. It was only through the efforts of the maids and maids of honor and many others that this meeting was possible. You really don't owe me any apologies.
"Not so fast. Didn't you just say that remorse must be expressed in one's attitude?
That's what I said, but...
Apologizing is a form of action. There are many things I am not good at, and if one of them is not being able to apologize honestly, then don't you think I should change that?

The eyes that stared at me were as innocent as a child's. They were the eyes of a person who wanted to grow up, untainted by anything else.
We've been through a lot, we've lost our way. Apparently, he'd come full circle and found something.

"If that's what you're thinking and that's why you're apologizing, then I respectfully accept. --But...
"I know. I know. This is not a solution. I still have a lot to learn about .......

With that, he stood up.

I'm leaving now. I'm sorry to interrupt your resting time.
"That's very kind of you. Thank you for coming all this way.

Standing up and bowing as well, Diana watched the King and Commander leave. A little while after the door closed, the maids came in as if they were waiting for her.

"Master Diana, are you alright?
"...... might not be okay.
What?

--Was that really, really real? What the hell happened to His Majesty the King during the garden party?

This can't be a dream, can it? I don't want to go to sleep and wake up to find that everything is gone.

I don't want it all to disappear when I wake up." Deanna muttered rather earnestly and was thrown back into her bed, which was both a promise and a reasonable decision.