FERH 31

Chapter 31

One of the reasons Rianel came to such a decision was that she learned how the bribery charges against her had been cleared.

I thought it was because the receipts Asil attached were accepted as credible evidence.

Apparently, thanks to the imperial princess adding her testimony, the receipts were officially adopted as evidence.

[I saw it myself. At that dress shop. The Duke of Novantium was personally paying for the dress.]

“So, I intend to express my thanks.”

And while I’m at it, check on the princess’s condition as well.

The thin arm glimpsed between the voluminous lace sleeves, and the expression on her face that seemed unaware even of her own melancholy—it was as if…

It’s similar to the face I had when I was drying up in the imperial palace.

The face of someone standing at the very edge of despair—she couldn’t turn away from it just because it was bothersome.

“Then let us go together.”

“You mean you, Director?”

“If Her Highness the Imperial Princess protected one of my subordinates, wouldn’t it be proper, as her superior, to accompany you and offer thanks together?”

Recently, Rianel had been avoiding Asil.

If he were to ask why she had patted his head that day, she wouldn’t know what to say.

Of course, Asil hadn’t deliberately brought up that incident, but with suspicion still hanging in the air, his very presence felt uncomfortable. She had been trying to avoid being alone with him.

And now we’re going to the princess’s palace together.

“Do you dislike the idea?”

“…No.”

Rianel couldn’t find any words to refuse such a plausible request from her superior.

Maybe this is why people strive to get promoted.

So, on the following day—a holiday—

Rianel arrived at the princess’s palace with Asil tagging along, and a “gift” for the princess in hand.

“W-who are you…?”

“We’re from the Special Taxation Bureau. May we see Her Highness the Princess?”

“What? Why would the Tax Bureau come here…? Th-the princess is busy right now!”

The maid, who had come out without thinking much to greet visitors, cried out in alarm.

“That’s not it. We’re here to personally express our thanks. I believe we submitted a request for an audience yesterday under the name of the Duke of Novantium.”

This time, Asil spoke.

“A request for an audience? I haven’t heard anything about that…”

Still, perhaps unable to ignore the weight carried by the title “Duke,” the maid led them to the reception room.

“Please wait a moment.”

Asil sat calmly, while Rianel passed the time by surveying the room.

The furnishings are almost unchanged.

Rianel, who had visited the princess’s palace several times back when she was empress, felt a bitter twinge at how little the scene differed from her memories.

But that brief calm didn’t last long.

Noise began to pour in through the corridor.

“What, an audience request? And you let tax officials inside just like that?”

“They’re not tax officials—”

“In the first place, no one received any audience request, so what—”

“I did! I received it!”

The conversation between the maid and her superior was abruptly cut off by the voice of someone even higher up.

Not long after, the reception room door opened and Princess Tiren entered.

She looked a bit more disheveled than she had at the ball.

One corner of her indoor dress was folded over, and her brown curly hair was tousled.

Even so, she looked much better than she had at the ball. A flush of anticipation and excitement colored her cheeks.

“Uh… I honestly didn’t think you’d really come. No one has visited my palace for years.”

Asil smiled.

“I couldn’t break a promise made to Your Highness.”

Tiren’s face reddened even more.

“S-so, what brings you here?”

“I heard that when I was accused of bribery, Your Highness actively spoke up to clarify matters. I wish to express my gratitude.”

“It—it was nothing. I just said what I saw…”

Still awkward with praise, the princess lowered her head in embarrassment.

Then she noticed the large box in Rianel’s hands and widened her eyes.

The savory, mouthwatering aroma that had filled the room since they entered was coming from that box.

“Um… what is that?”

Rianel placed the heavy, cloth-wrapped box on the table.

“A small token of my appreciation.”

Small?

“Children in their growth years need high-quality meals to achieve balanced development of bones and muscles.”

Quality aside—

Isn’t the quantity a bit excessive?

“Uh… does this mean you brought it so we could eat together here?”

“No. It’s all for Your Highness.”

“Are you trying to turn me into a pig?”

Are you planning to fatten me up and then eat me?

“That is not the case.”

“Hahaha, of course not, right? Sorry, I tend to say strange things sometimes…”

“Raising humans for consumption is inefficient. Compared to the cost of feed, the amount of meat obtained is extremely small.”

“…?”

Was that really the thing to say right now?

Tiren stared blankly, her mouth hanging open, overwhelmed by a rare sense of bewilderment.

Where have I felt this déjà vu before…?

My sister-in-law?

Still, it was somehow comforting.

It’s been so long…

Only then did Tiren realize why she had spoken up to clear the charges of someone she had only met once.

Because this person resembles my sister-in-law.

She resembled the one who comforted her while pretending nothing was wrong, and quietly stayed by her side.

I wanted to help her too.

This was a gift from someone who resembled that sister-in-law. Tiren couldn’t refuse it.

“Uh… I’ll eat well. Thank you.”

If she could remember her like this, that alone was a good thing.

After Rianel and Asil left, the head maid, who had been standing a step behind, approached.

“Shall I throw it away?”

Her brow furrowed slightly.

She had expected something grand when they came to present a gift to royalty, and she disliked the fact that it was merely food.

A duke and even a lady, and they bring food? If they were going to express thanks, they should have offered cash.

Or at least gold that could easily be converted into cash.

“This isn’t even something we can offer to the temple.”

At the head maid’s grumbling, Tiren felt uneasy.

Three years ago, after the former head maid retired due to old age, Tiren had chosen this woman as her replacement.

Her plain attire and straight posture reminded her of her sister-in-law.

But in person, the new head maid was completely different.

Whenever she opened her mouth, it was god, faith, donations, offerings.

God’s name always came first from her lips.

My sister-in-law said that nothing was as unscientific as gods, and nothing as easy to manipulate as faith.

The head maid was a person thoroughly wrapped in piety.

She donated not only most of her own wages but even the budget of the princess’s palace to the temple.

Luxuries were out of the question; even food and clothing had to be strictly rationed. Everyone was always hungry and exhausted…

But there was no helping it.

That was what the head maid said.

[The reason Her Late Majesty the Empress passed away in such agony was due to the sin of disbelief. God was angered and took her so early, and in such a manner.]

The head maid did not openly slander the sister-in-law whom everyone cursed.

She simply said it was because the empress had incurred God’s wrath.

[If Her Late Majesty’s soul is to find peace even after death, God’s anger must be appeased. Offer donations and devote yourselves.]

She claimed that only continuous donations could soothe God’s anger, so Tiren followed her words.

Because my sister-in-law must not fall into hell.

But today, of all days, Tiren felt disappointed in the head maid.

That person resembled my sister-in-law.

You said you respected the late empress and mourned her death—how could you fail to recognize the shadow of the former empress reflected in Rianel?

Instead of arguing, Tiren hugged the box tightly.

She knew such complaints might sound strange.

“This is a gift, so I’m going to eat it. You said even God would be angered if food were wasted.”

“…Well, that is true.”

As usual, invoking “God” made the head maid back down obediently.

Tiren opened the box.

Inside were jars of honey, heaps of bread to eat with it, and even a pot of beef stew.

They weren’t expensive foods.

But it’s just like the food my sister-in-law used to make.

Perhaps because it reminded her of her, it felt special.

These were exactly the foods her sister-in-law brought whenever Tiren had no appetite.

Especially the stew.

The large chunks of vegetables and meat, the way only a little tomato was added to give a faint tangy aroma—it’s all the same…

Suddenly, her appetite stirred. It had been a long time since she’d felt such a basic desire.

On impulse, Tiren took a spoonful of the stew.

The mild flavor spreading from the tip of her tongue was painfully familiar…

“Ah…”

Tears welled up.

“Is it spoiled?”

“No.”

Tiren scooped up another generous bite of stew.

“It’s just… a taste I miss too much.”

The tears kept falling.

“Why did you do that?”

Only after they had put some distance between themselves and the princess’s palace did Asil ask.

“I mean what you said when we entered.”

If they claimed to be from the Special Taxation Bureau, wouldn’t they naturally be denied entry under the assumption it was official business?

Rianel was unashamed.

“Because it was an official visit.”

It was only for a brief moment, but Rianel had seen it.

The mold blooming on the corner wall of the reception room, and the cracked edge of the tea table.

As expected.

Wasn’t it suspicious?