The Maid With a Child - Chapter 57

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 57. How could I possibly dare—
“Your Majesty said that to attempt harm to the Crown Prince, who bears the weight of peace between two nations, is a grave crime, and thus bestowed a reward upon the courageous young lady who disciplined the ruffian.”
By solidifying Adlen’s standing in this manner, the King achieved two effects at once.
He enlarged the Crown Prince’s prominence all the more, and bound Adlen even more tightly so she could not escape.
In Racalte’s assessment, the latter weight ran somewhat deeper. But he saw no reason to tell Adlen that.
Fortunately, Adlen focused on the reward rather than probing too far.
“A r-reward? A reward, even……?”
“He bestowed it in cash.”
!
The master’s words were no mere boast.
To assault a man and receive payment for it—the world was still a place worth living in. Adlen’s chest melted warm in an instant.
“Might I examine you, to ensure you are unharmed?”
Only after her mind was put at ease did Adlen become aware of the other figures watching her.
“I am the Royal Physician. His Majesty sent me.”
The Royal Physician examined Adlen with the same courtesy he would show a true lady of quality.
Those who witnessed this exchange offered their own remarks.
“It seems His Majesty held the young lady’s courage in especially high regard. Truly, courage is magnificent in anyone.”
“Indeed, that man had been pestering us for ages anyway. I was thoroughly irritated with him myself.”
A single glass bottle, sharper and cleaner than the fist of House Sigelion’s count himself. This will live on in history.”
Adlen looked at the people around her with bewildered eyes.
They had followed her all the way to the Rest Room, waited for her to wake, and why were they being so unexpectedly kind?
It was the power of the King’s single word, a single gesture.
Warm gazes fell upon Adlen as she looked about in confusion.
* * *
After the Royal Physician finished his examination, Adlen returned home early.
She felt some regret that she hadn’t shown the Baby to more people, but prolonging her stay in that atmosphere would have been exhausting, so she thought it just as well.
“Now we can enjoy some peace for a while, can’t we, Baby?”
She had discharged her task from His Majesty without incident, and no new orders had been set before her.
If there were no more attacks, she could reasonably hope for a return to peaceful, ordinary days.
Yet peace did not come easily.
The rumors from High Society had spread so far and wide that they resonated even in the servants’ quarters.
“Adlen, did you really and truly end up with the master like that?!”
“No.”
“You’re absolutely sure?!”
It’s a lie.”
“Then I should have guessed it when they said you were living in the same room!”
“You failed to notice.”
No matter how vehemently Adlen denied it, no one believed her. She couldn’t fathom why they asked at all.
The situation had come to this point about a week after the King’s birthday celebration.
The danger of attack had surely diminished, and as the Baby grew more active each day, she had begun venturing out beyond the manor to some degree.
She had visited the Maid’s Quarters partly to pay her respects and partly to check on how her duties were being handled, and this was the result.
“How could rumors from High Society possibly reach the servants’ back rooms?”
“They’re about you, aren’t they? You made quite an impression there. The Dress and Jewelry the master provided for you were of staggering value.”
“That was an expense incurred for the reputation of House Sigelion. Surely the master didn’t buy those things with any dark intentions?”
It would be one thing if it were a reward, but dark intentions—of that she was certain. She could speak on that point without hesitation.
She was no fool, nor so dull that she couldn’t recognize a man’s true designs. Her relationship with the master was strictly professional, utterly clean and uncomplicated.
She herself took pride in harboring no selfish feelings toward him whatsoever.
Upon closer acquaintance, he proved far more tender and attentive than she had expected, and there was a steadying calm in his presence. Add to that a face that wrung gasps of admiration, a form sculpted by the gods themselves, and yes, her heart did quicken from time to time.
Yet such feelings changed nothing.
How could someone like her dare presume any connection to the master?
Should her heart ever race ahead of itself, she would grab it by the hair and beat it back into place.
Adlen was resolved so firmly, yet why did the rumors flow so slickly, so stickily, so obscenely?
She had believed such talk would shatter completely the moment she shattered that man’s skull at the party.
A grave miscalculation.
When Adlen spoke with stern denial, even the senior maidservant who had been reciting the rumors fell silent.
“You’re really telling the truth?”
“I’m telling you it’s false! If you happen to meet anyone spreading this rumor, please explain that I absolutely hate the emotional and physical exhaustion of trying to rise above my station. I would refuse the master even if he begged to see me! Though he didn’t beg, I’m just saying hypothetically, you understand?”
Terrified that even a single misspoken word might birth some new and twisted rumor, she explained with trembling precision.
Thanks to Adlen’s fervent denials, people began to waver one by one.
Perhaps? Now that she mentioned it, she’s not really that type of girl.
Only then did Adlen let out a breath she’d been holding. The aftereffects of the party seemed determined to linger. How much longer before these rumors died down completely? A month? Six months?
But before ten days had even passed, another trial descended upon her.
* * *
Adlen stared down at the ornate letter placed before her.
“What is this, sir?”
It bore no Royal Seal—not the familiar one she’d come to recognize.
“An invitation to the birthday party of House Jillent’s second daughter.”
Racalte summarized the contents briefly.
Adlen blinked.
“I see. But why are you giving this to me?”
“It came addressed to the Crown Prince.”
Adlen glanced down at the Baby, who was cradled in Racalte’s arms and methodically destroying a puzzle.
So it wasn’t meant for her at all—it was for the young master. Of course. Adlen smiled warmly toward the Child.
“Have a wonderful time, young master.”
“Dlen! Gotta goodtime too!”
The Baby’s immediate imitation sent Adlen into laughter, and she shook her head.
“No, young master. The invitation was for you, so you’ll be the one attending.”
“I don’t see why that would be the case.”
“I don’t need to accompany you, do I?”
“And why wouldn’t you?”
“Well… I’m just a maid, and besides, the young master is growing up and can manage on his own now, so perhaps…”
“Can he?”
……
Racalte dismissed Adlen’s nonsensical argument with a single word.
Not “can”—but “can he?” That last word was far more terrifying.
“…There’s no way he could manage alone…”
Adlen sagged with despair, her head drooping.
The rumors from the King’s birthday party hadn’t yet faded. Even the servants of House Sigelion would tease her relentlessly whenever they saw her, saying things like, “Hey there, the flame-bearer’s woman! Did you make sure the young master had a good breakfast today?” They couldn’t seem to get enough of it.
If the servants were like this, one could only imagine how vigorously the high society was buzzing.
“…Then couldn’t we simply skip attending altogether? There’s no real reason why the young master has to go there.”
“His Majesty has already ordered that he attend.”
“But why?”
Had the King been present, it would have been an automatic yes, but since he wasn’t here, wasn’t she entitled to question it once?
Perhaps all the exhaustion from these recent days had made her bolder than usual.
“His Majesty wishes for the Crown Prince to become fully integrated into Teplan’s aristocratic society. Apparently, it’s customary to begin making appearances in high society around this age.”
“But he won’t even remember it if he goes now—he’s far too young.”
“The importance lies in leaving an impression on others. That’s what His Majesty believes.”
“I see…”
Thinking of the territorial nature of party guests, she understood immediately.
“If you want the Crown Prince to have the smoothest path possible, it’s better to attend as many of the invitations as you can.”
“Did you do the same, sir?”
“I came to it late, which is why I suffered for it.”
“You came late?”
It was surprising that a previous count of such standing—one who had been thrust into the Provisional Title by the King himself—would have arrived late to such matters.
“My father received his title after I was born. So I didn’t begin attending these gatherings until I was around four years old. By then, everyone had already formed their tight circles, and there was no room for me to fit in.”
“Is that why people gave you trouble even during your Provisional Title?”
“Likely.”
“Oh dear…”
If that were the case, then she couldn’t possibly refuse.
The young master’s future and happiness depended on it. That she herself would face hostility, hear whispers behind her back, and become entangled in cruel rumors was nothing—though in truth, it was everything.
“Well, the rumors have already spread far enough anyway…”
Adlen buried her face in her hands and groaned.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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