Chapter 4
Before I knew it, it seemed they’d already arranged a place for me to live.
(So... I’m going to work as a live-in servant at the duke’s house, right? I’ll do my best not to be a bother...)
After the prince and Toko-san finished talking, Toko-san stayed at the castle, while I was to go to the Ashford estate.
"Listen, if anything happens, tell me right away! Make sure they know you’ll report it to the Saint!!"
Toko-san pressed my cheeks between her palms, giving me a worried reminder.
"I-I understand..."
"Maybe I should’ve insisted you stay at the castle with me after all..."
"Um, Toko-san... why do you care so much about me?"
The only person who mattered in this world was Toko-san, the Saint.
I was just a mob with no value, yet she stubbornly kept trying to protect me.
When I asked, Toko-san gazed into the distance and stroked my head affectionately.
"...My little sister is about your age.
I’ve already moved out, and we haven’t seen each other in a while, but whenever I see a girl about your age, I think of my sister and can’t help worrying about her."
—Though I’ll never see her again.
I thought I heard her murmur that with a wistful sigh.
"Toko-sa..."
"...So just accept the protection of your elders with gratitude.
If you can’t go home, then you have to find a way to be happy in this world, no matter what!!"
As she said this, she tousled my hair as if trying to hide her loneliness.
I let out a strange little "Eep!" and Julius-san, who was nearby, gently stopped her.
"Saint-sama, that’s enough. You’re making Riko uncomfortable."
As Julius-san spoke, he gently smoothed my hair, and Toko-san gave him a sharp look.
"...I don’t trust anyone from this world.
But if you’re going to use me, then I’ll use you right back."
The beautiful woman glaring at him was quite intimidating, but Julius-san simply smiled without saying a word.
Perhaps she didn’t like his attitude, because Toko-san let out a long, dramatic sigh.
"...I still don’t like you.
Couldn’t you have picked another family to take Riko in?"
"House Ashford is a distinguished family that has stood since the kingdom’s founding. The head of the house is a man of character, and his domain is well managed. Julius himself is trustworthy, too.
I thought they’d be ideal people to take her in..."
"That’s not what I mean! Honestly, you’re so dense!!"
I didn’t know exactly what she disliked, but if Toko-san could speak her mind so plainly to the prince, she’d be fine.
Though Toko-san was reluctant to part, we promised to meet again in three days, and I headed to the Ashford estate by carriage with Julius-san.
◇
At the Ashford estate, which was as grand as a castle, we were greeted by the chief butler, a distinguished man with a magnificent white beard.
"Welcome home, Young Master. And this young lady is Riko-sama, I presume?"
"Yes. Saint-sama gave strict orders that she be treated with the utmost care."
He said this jokingly, then drew me forward with an arm around my shoulders. I’d been standing about two steps behind him.
"I-I’m Riko. Thank you for having me!!"
"I am Sebas, the head butler. I have served the Ashford family since before Julius-sama was born.
When Julius-sama was little, he was simply the most adorable little boy..."
"Sebas, that’s enough of that... Riko’s tired, so let her rest."
At his words, a woman in a chic dress stepped smoothly toward us. She wasn’t wearing an apron and didn’t look like a maid, so perhaps she was an attendant.
"Riko-sama, your room is ready. Please come this way."
"See you later, Riko."
"Y-yes!"
As I followed the attendant up the stairs, I saw the two of them enter a door on the first floor.
The chief butler seemed to be dabbing the corners of his eyes with a handkerchief.
You have a faint resemblance to Tina-sama...
(...Tina?)
Wondering about the chief butler’s heartfelt murmur, which I’d heard just before the door closed, I hurried after the attendant so I wouldn’t get lost.
"Um... is this my room...?"
"Yes. That’s what I was told."
It was a spacious, elegant room with charming powder-blue accents.
Warm light streamed through a large window with delicate lace curtains billowing gently.
In a word... it was incredibly luxurious.
"Shouldn’t I be staying in the servants’ quarters...?"
"Huh?"
"Oh, sorry. Never mind."
She looked genuinely taken aback, so I swallowed my words.
(Since they said they’d asked Julius-san to support me, I thought that meant I’d be able to work at the Ashford estate...?)
Had the servants not been told?
Surely this was some kind of mistake. I felt I should avoid going into this room and find the room I was actually meant to have. It was so spotless, after all, and I’d probably dirty it just by stepping inside.
"Um, I have something I’d like to discuss with Julius-san. Could I see him?"
When I asked, the attendant immediately went to check, and...
"He says we can have a late lunch in the gazebo in the courtyard two hours from now."
For some reason, she came back accompanied by two women.