Chapter 302.8

Extra Chapter – Birds of a Feather [Part 8]

Rose’s Handmaid, Meg’s POV

That crest belongs to the House of Marquis Lombard… Why is a Lombard’s carriage here even though the territory they own is near the Royal Capital?

Marquis Lombard and his successor, his eldest son, held important posts that made it hard for them to be away from the Royal Capital for a long time… If so, the owner of that carriage is… the second son, Carne-sama!!!

Carne-sama was known to be an excellent youth among the aristocrats, but because of my position as a maid, I knew that his gaze when looking at little children was abnormal.

Never let children into his room.

Never let children under 15 years old meet him.

Rumors about him slowly but surely spread among the domestic helpers ranging from servants to maids who had the chance to see his true colors.

Emma-sama and William-sama are in danger.

I had made the young children who had saved Rose-sama fall into Carne’s clutches.

…Just how much time has passed since the carriage arrived?

How much time has passed since George-sama came?

Judging from my senior’s expression, what if she intentionally offered Emma-sama and William-sama (beautiful girl and a pretty boy) to Carne?

My bad premonition was spot on. What terrible things had she done!

Please!!! Somehow!!! Let those two be safe!!!

I was so restless that I tripped over my own feet.

Finally arriving at the drawing room, I opened the door, and at the same time, Emma-sama‘s voice sounded from the room.

“Bear it in mind once again. Girls are?”

An unbelievable sight unfolded before my eyes.

Emma-sama sat comfortably on a chair while Carne and William-sama stood upright before her.

“ “G-Girls are what you yearn for from afar! Girls are what you sing of in a sad tone![1] No staring, no touching, no talking!!!” ”

[T/N 1: A twist of a modern poem by Muro Saisei from the anthology “The Lyrical Sketches.” Poem translation by Imperfect at Best]

Carne and William-sama were in such perfect sync it made me think that even the knight training wouldn’t be this well-coordinated.

They covered their eyes with their palms for “No staring,” formed a big X with their arms for “No touching,” and covered their mouths for “No talking.”

And at other times, they stood at attention.

“If you break this vow, I will tear this.”

Emma-sama held up a piece of paper and flapped it casually.

” “N-No! A-Anything but that!!!” “

William-sama accepted that paper and held it reverently over his head[2], then proceeded to pay utmost respects to it together with Carne as if that paper was radiating a divine light. [T/N 2: Like this]

“N-Never would have thought I would get to see the uniform-version Sakura–tan once again…”

“The pink outfit is wonderful, but this, too, is a masterpiece…”

Now that I looked closely, William-sama and Carne were crying. Just what on earth happened in such a short time?

It seemed that it didn’t turn into what I was worried about, but I couldn’t understand whatever had happened here.

End of Rose’s Handmaid, Meg’s POV

“P-Pardon me… Everything is ready… Would you like to…”

When Meg interrupted timidly, Emma stood up.

“Thank you for coming to pick us up! I can finally meet Rose-sama. So happy!”

Emma, who turned around to face the door, was still the usual childish carefree girl Meg knew.

“*cough* Well then, I will take my leave first…”

Carne left the room cheerfully.

Before he stepped out, Emma called him from behind as if to remind him of something.

“Carne-sama, you mustn’t forget your vow, okay?”

“I swear to God, Lady Emma.”

Carne nodded solemnly, went out of the mansion, woke his resting coachman, and left Valerie.

He completely forgot about the king’s letter and the message he was supposed to give and convey to Rose.

Carne Lombard, who was destined to become the culprit of a young girl serial murder case that would shake the Royal Capital in the future, had his fate turned as he would lead a completely different life through this small encounter.

He became the patron of many painters and provided them generous income from his earned salary. His name would go down in history as a leading figure in the Kingdom’s art and culture.

♠♠♠

After all the aftermath of the coup d’etat in the Royal Capital and the local barrier hazard in the Marquisate of Valerie had settled down, the king asked his concubine, Rose,

“Rose, about the thing I mentioned in my letter…”

“Your Majesty? Which letter are you referring to?”

“Of course it’s the letter I sent you when you were in Valerie.”

“…But I received no such letters…?”

“*sigh* So you’re angry, after all, aren’t you? Because I had you go to Valerie without explaining anything about the circumstances.”

“No, Your Majesty. I know Your Majesty has the children and my safety in mind. I am not angry or anything. But, while I was in Valerie, I had never heard that Your Majesty sent me a private letter.”

“…What’s the meaning of this? The king’s letters never arrived, you said?”

Not just one or two letters but all the letters the king sent had never reached Rose. That kind of situation should have been impossible.

‘Just what were the messenger and his people doing…’ the king frowned.

“What’s wrong, Your Majesty? You are making such a scary face.”

“It’s nothing…”

Seeing the genuine clueless look on Rose, the king spoke in an evasive manner as he was afraid he might sadden her if he told her the details.

“Your Majesty, what did you write in those letters?”

“I love you…”

“Eh?”

“I wrote that I love you, Rose.”

“…Your Majesty…♥”

Later, this missing letter incident was secretly investigated under royal order, and all the senior maids’ evil deeds were dug out.

To keep Rose from being hurt, the senior maids were punished quietly, and Meg, who had been serving Rose with devotion, was promoted to the head maid of all the royal concubine’s handmaids at an unusually young age.