Chapter 57
As Lea was lost in thought, Rose returned carrying a large basket.
“Lady Haisley, I’ve prepared everything. Shall we head out now? By the way, where are you planning to go? You’re not thinking of leaving the palace, are you?”
“There’s a low hill behind the palace. The one opposite the hunting grounds…”
“Ah, you mean you want to go there?”
“Mm, it’s not that I want to see anything in particular. The breeze is just so cool today that I wanted to go outside.”
“You’ve made a good decision, Lady Haisley. I was worried since you’ve been staying in the palace all this time.”
Lea no longer felt awkward around Rose, who now treated her with more familiarity than before. She was still paying Rose her wages and sometimes prepared gifts for Rose’s younger sibling as well.
It seemed that this was the perfect distance for a relationship. At least, when it came to dealing with people.
“Yeah, it was too hot before, so I didn’t want to go out, but now that the wind is getting cooler, it feels like autumn is coming.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Oh, to get there, don’t we have to pass by the Third Imperial Guard’s training grounds?”
“There’s another way, actually.”
“But that path is the quickest, isn’t it?”
“Well, that’s true.”
Lea headed toward the Third Imperial Guard’s training grounds, her real objective. She hoped that Eric would be there with the knights.
After all, she couldn’t go out for a picnic every day. There was nothing to be gained by drawing unnecessary attention.
“Many people have been worried since you haven’t attended any of the nobles’ tea parties or banquets lately, Milady.”
“Mm, I have to admit, I’ve been sent a lot of invitations, but… after getting injured twice in a row, I just wanted to rest for a while.”
“Well, health comes first.”
“Yeah, thank you.”
“…Don’t mention it.”
Just as Rose said, Lea had been sending polite refusals in reply to all the invitations that had arrived in her name recently.
Adding flowery words to each response was a chore in itself, but there was nothing to be gained by creating bad blood with the nobles.
Lately, though, she felt she was receiving more invitations than before. No doubt Bianca was up to something again.
“Mother may want to maintain friendly relations with the nobles, but honestly, I find them difficult.”
“Ah, I see.”
“Of course, I know you’re a noble too, Rose… It’s not the nobles I meet personally, but just sitting among that group is hard for me.”
Lea was honest, at least with Rose. Not because she trusted her, but because she wanted rumors to spread among the nobles.
Right now, the two of them were passing through the heart of the palace. In other words, there were all sorts of palace people within earshot of their conversation.
Nobles were extremely generous to commoners who knew their place. If she bowed her head first, the nobles would surely welcome her, but what about the Empress?
Would she like it, or would she be angry, thinking Lea was tarnishing her reputation?
Now that Zion was completely on her side, Lea honestly felt reassured. She thought that even if she were dragged off to the dungeon, he could rescue her at any time, so it no longer mattered if Bianca found out.
She was no longer the obedient, foolish daughter she had once been.
“They must be practicing at the training grounds.”
Rose muttered as she looked toward the Third Imperial Guard’s training grounds. Muscular men, bare-chested, were swinging wooden swords.
Lea quickly scanned the area, searching for Eric among them. As soon as she spotted her target, she altered her course to pass by him.
As Lea and Rose passed the training grounds, the members of the Third Imperial Guard all turned to look. When they saw the basket in Rose’s hand, they each nodded in understanding.
They all knew the hill near the training grounds was a perfect spot for a picnic.
When Lea was close enough to Eric, she suddenly staggered and collapsed to the ground. It was the same trick she’d used with Zion, but it was the simplest and most effective method with knights. They simply could not ignore a lady who had collapsed.
“Lady Haisley!”
Rose, who had been following behind, rushed over in alarm, set down the basket, and grabbed Lea’s shoulder.
“Are you all right?”
“…Maybe it’s because I haven’t been out in so long. My legs suddenly gave out.”
“Please wait a moment. I’ll call for a palace doctor. Ah, but the ground here is so dirty…”
Looking flustered, Rose glanced around and finally managed to find a place for Lea to sit.
Lea clenched her fists tightly and furrowed her brow. In her mind, she repeated: ‘You’re seriously hurt. Think about when you had been in terrible pain. About when you were tortured…’
After a little while, a shadow fell over her head, signaling that someone had approached.
“Milady, are you all right?”
He was much slower than Zion had been, but since he was the very person she’d been hoping for, Lea forced a smile and looked up.
“Ah, you’re the Commander of the Third Imperial Guard, aren’t you?”
“…Yes, I am Eric de Brewer. Can you stand if you take my hand, Your Ladyship?”
As if she had been waiting for this, Lea placed her hand on his palm. She was even glad to be offered such an easy chance at contact.
Golden eyes gleamed brilliantly under the sunlight. When Eric met Lea’s gaze, he was startled for a moment, then stiffened in surprise at the strange energy passing through her hand.
There was not a single Esper in the world who could resist a Guide’s guiding. Of course, one might dislike a particular Guide, but refusal was impossible.
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