TRETTHD 71

#71. The Other Side

Delicate desserts piled high with sweet cream were neatly arranged on ornate plates, and a teapot and teacups painted with petals by a master artisan’s hand graced the table.

The edges of the table were adorned with flowers for a touch of charm, and fresh fruit had been prepared to accompany teatime.

At the splendid setting, Erze’s eyes sparkled brightly.

“Wow…!”

Her expression was as if she had never seen anything like it before.

Belia smiled and gestured for her to sit.

“Please, make yourself comfortable, Erze. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to say so.”

“I’ve truly never seen such beautiful desserts before.”

“I hope they suit your taste.”

“All the food in the palace has been delicious! Truly.”

Now, looking at Erze didn’t trouble Belia the way it once had.

A faint trace of bitterness remained, but not enough to make her agonize over every gesture or word from the girl as she used to.

All thanks to Khalid. He had saved her from being trapped in the remnants of her past.

Belia smiled at Erze.

“You must have been very startled that day.”

“…Pardon?”

“I was quite unwell, it seems. I regret that I may have caused you trouble unintentionally.”

“No, not at all! I was only worried for Your Highness…”

Erze fiddled with her fingers, then awkwardly lifted her gaze, looking at Belia with concern.

“Are you well now?”

“Much better, thanks to you. I heard you often asked after me… thank you, Erze, for your concern.”

Erze’s cheeks flushed red.

She scratched her cheek with a finger and smiled shyly, and that guileless expression felt strangely refreshing to Belia—who until recently had only seen Erze through the lens of old memories.

“And how have you been spending your time?”

“I’ve been exploring the palace here and there… I’ve seen so much artwork. I’ve eaten lots of delicious things, too…”

Erze eagerly recounted her days roaming the palace.

Then something seemed to come to mind.

“Oh! And while walking in the gardens, I often ran into His Highness the First Prince.”

Often ran into him…

Was that truly coincidence?

“I even got the chance to finally thank him for his help, and we spoke a little.”

Belia focused intently on her words.

“His Highness seemed to be as kind as the rumors say. He treated me so well too… it made me feel grateful and happy.”

“Did His Highness treat you kindly?”

“Yes! He even told me I could stay in the palace as long as I wished. I was so grateful.”

As long as she wished?

Belia’s eyes grew cold.

For Raul to tell someone who wasn’t even his guest that she could stay indefinitely… could that mean he held feelings for her?

Belia’s thoughts sharpened as she asked,

“Do you want to remain in the palace longer, Erze?”

“Uh… well…”

Her hesitation said enough—she clearly did.

Belia didn’t encourage her to stay, though. Things weren’t uncomfortable as before, but that didn’t mean she wanted to live with Erze’s presence forever.

“Still, His Highness must hold you in high regard. He isn’t one to say such things lightly.”

As Belia sipped her tea and spoke casually, Erze’s face turned crimson.

“N-no, it’s not like that…”

“He must have shown you much consideration, then.”

“…He seems like a good person.”

Erze muttered, embarrassed. Belia did not reply.

Perhaps uneasy with speaking further of Raul, Erze quickly changed the subject.

“Now that I think of it, His Highness the Second Prince is very kind as well. The way he cares for Your Highness moved me deeply.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, I really thought His Highness cares for you very much.”

But that was a remark too bold for Erze to make.

Belia sighed softly.

“Thank you. But that isn’t something you should be saying to me.”

“Oh, I didn’t mean it like that. I’m so sorry…”

Erze shrank back, her voice trailing off.

Belia regretted scolding her after inviting her for a pleasant tea, so she lightened her tone and asked brightly,

“Then how do you plan to spend your remaining time here?”

“Tomorrow I’ll be touring the capital’s central district. I come from a small town with only farms nearby, so I rarely get to see a bustling city.”

“There are many famous restaurants in the area. Be sure to stop by—don’t worry about the cost. I’ll inform the maid accompanying you.”

“Wow, thank you, Your Highness!”

Erze grinned, saying there was a place she had especially wanted to visit. She confessed that she would never have dared to go alone without Belia’s help—so unlike the prideful young noble ladies who always clung to their dignity.

Belia even wondered if Raul had been charmed by this unusual honesty.

Not that it matters anymore…

Belia gave a faint smile, about to end the meeting, when Erze asked hesitantly,

“Um, it’s shameless of me, but may I ask a favor?”

Belia gave a slight nod of permission.

Looking somewhat troubled, Erze continued,

“Yesterday His Highness the First Prince mentioned the palace greenhouse in the rear garden. When I said I’d like to see it today, he told me I couldn’t enter alone…”

“Ah, that’s true. The greenhouse is reserved for the royal family—you can’t enter without permission.”

“But he said I could go if I was with Your Highness. Would you perhaps accompany me tomorrow afternoon?”

The sudden request startled Belia, but thinking this would be the last time, she didn’t refuse.

“Very well. I’ll adjust my schedule. We can go together.”

After that, the name Erze would mean nothing more to her.

Belia finished her tea calmly and rose from her seat.

“Then, I’ll see you tomorrow, Erze.”

“Honestly, I find Baroness Kinetra’s daughter rather suspicious.”

One of Belia’s maids, fixing her hair, suddenly blurted out.

“Did something happen?”

“No, but… wasn’t it strange that she asked to tour the palace in the first place?”

Most of the maids nodded in agreement.

Belia stopped the hairdressing and turned to them.

“She’s a guest who’ll be leaving soon anyway.”

“…A few days ago, I saw her walking with His Highness the First Prince in the palace garden.”

“Yes, I’ve already heard that.”

But the maid brought up something different.

“The way she smiled so sweetly, almost like she was flirting, was odd… And she often loiters near His Highness the Second Prince’s office too…”

Belia quickly raised a hand, cutting her off.

There was one thing she couldn’t ignore.

“Loiters near Khalid’s office?”

At Belia’s question, another maid spoke up uneasily.

“I’ve personally seen it three times, Your Highness. Twice she claimed to be lost, so I guided her back, but the third time, when she saw me, she panicked and ran away.”

Her tone brimmed with displeasure.

“She later excused it by saying she wasn’t used to the layout, but that doesn’t make sense. The guest chambers and His Highness’s office aren’t even on the same floor, and they’re far apart. How could she end up there by mistake?”

“…Hmm.”

Belia admitted it did sound suspicious.

She asked seriously,

“Was there anything else unusual?”

“Yes, I have something.”

Another maid, bringing water, stepped forward cautiously.

“When Your Highness collapsed recently, the guest would often linger outside this room, asking after you.”

Belia had already heard that from Khalid—that Erze came often to ask about her health. But the maid’s expression suggested there was more.

“It’s understandable to visit often out of concern. We all did the same. Nearly everyone in service here was worried sick for you. But still…”

Her face twisted.

“When I once saw her coming out of His Highness’s chambers, it felt truly unsettling.”

Belia’s eyes widened.

“…From Khalid’s chambers?”

“She claimed she mistook it for the adjacent room, but that was a lie. I’d already seen her speaking with His Highness outside your door several times. And even if she was confused, who would think to open the door of a royal’s room without permission? Why enter His Highness’s chamber when no one was inside? That’s deeply suspicious.”

Belia couldn’t dismiss this.

The fact that Erze had secretly entered Khalid’s chambers was not something to take lightly.

What if she were someone’s spy?

Though all important documents were locked in the office safe, the risk of disaster wasn’t negligible.

“Does His Highness know of this?”

“Yes. I told him immediately. She was caught and searched on the spot, but nothing suspicious was found. His Highness asked us not to make a fuss or worry you.”

“…I see. But you still felt uneasy?”

“Of course. Loitering near His Highness’s office, sneaking into his chambers… all those things suggest she’s after something. Maybe she came here just to catch the princes’ attention. Honestly, I wish she’d just go home as soon as possible.”

Her voice bristled with anger.

Belia gently calmed them.

“If nothing was found during the search, it may truly have been a mistake. Don’t treat a guest rudely out of unnecessary suspicion.”

“Of course, Your Highness. We’d never do anything to trouble you or His Highness.”

Belia smiled warmly at their loyalty.

“Thank you. I feel secure knowing you’re here.”

But beneath her composed exterior, her thoughts were tangled.

Taken together, the maids’ accounts painted Erze as someone trying to get closer to Khalid. Even if not, she clearly had some hidden intention.

I’ll have to watch her carefully when we meet later.

The pure, bright Erze she had spoken with yesterday didn’t match the suspicious figure described by her maids.

Besides, wasn’t Erze supposed to like Raul?

Her behavior made no sense at all.