CPDW CH 06

Chapter 6: The Reading of the Will

When we arrived at the royal castle’s courtyard, I stepped down from the carriage—with Demetrio, ever the gentleman, offering his hand to escort me.

The official, on the other hand, disappeared almost immediately after we arrived.
He probably had a mountain of work waiting for him.

As I stood there, staring up at the towering castle in awe, Demetrio asked what was wrong.
I explained that it was my first time seeing the castle up close and that it felt so different from afar.
He tilted his head slightly, looking puzzled.

“…? But you can see it from your home and the garden, can’t you?”
“Yes, but seeing it this close… it feels more majestic somehow.”
“Hmm.”

He probably saw it every day, so he didn’t really get what I meant.

With my heart pounding, I followed Demetrio into the castle.
People we passed along the way gave us startled looks—probably because a knight was escorting a maid.
I quietly mentioned this to him, but after staring at me silently for a few seconds, he just ignored me!

Grandpa, I wanted to complain to you so badly.
Back when you were alive, if Demetrio acted cold toward me, I’d whine to Grandpa,
and the two of us would team up to tease Demetrio about it.

—But I couldn’t do that anymore.

Feeling a little sad, I walked alongside him until we stopped before a massive set of doors.

We had arrived at the Audience Chamber.
This was apparently where the reading of the will would take place.

Inside were about twenty people—royals, nobles, and knights.
It wasn’t time to start yet, so there would likely be more arriving soon.
A few maids stood neatly along the walls, and I was told that if I joined them,
I could blend in and attend quietly, without drawing attention.

So I slipped over to the wall and stood still like one of the maids.

Demetrio said he had to return to his duties and left.
As I absentmindedly looked down at the handkerchief I still hadn’t returned to him,
I noticed an embroidered crest in the corner—the royal family’s emblem.

—Wait. So he is royalty?

Then shouldn’t I not be calling him “-san” so casually!?
Wasn’t it a rule that only someone of very high status could guard the king?
But if he was royal, wouldn’t he normally be guarded, not the other way around?
I didn’t understand how any of that worked. The world of nobles was too complicated.

While I was lost in thought, more and more important-looking people entered the chamber.

About ten minutes later, everyone had apparently gathered.
As I stood there at the wall, dazed and unsure of what to do,
the official—who I now realized was the Prime Minister—stepped forward with a thick stack of documents.

“I will now begin the reading of the will left by the late His Majesty, the former king.”

Wait—the Prime Minister!?
That’s who came to my house!?
Why would someone that important come all the way to a poor baron’s home!?
My mind was spinning, but the ceremony continued without pause.

“This document is addressed to His Majesty, the new king.”
“I see.”
“This one is addressed to His Highness, the Crown Prince.”
“…Ah.”

—…Excuse me, what?