But after he showed me the polluted sunset, those trivial things no longer mattered.
“You’re welcome.”

When my hood was removed in the carriage heading towards the palace, the night streets of the capital were visible through the window in front of me.
Realizing this, my teeth began to chatter.
“Your Majesty Milliora will kill me for being AWOL!”
“The Tagars tend to enjoy killing maids.”
Is that supposed to be a joke?
I glared at Duke Kaidel.
He had transformed from a sinister-looking bandit to an impeccably dressed nobleman, and I couldn’t stand how infuriating he looked.
“You must find it amusing! But for me…”
“Shall I help you?”
I squinted and looked at him.
That single offer made me acutely aware of the gap between us.
He’s not bragging about having the unwavering trust of his lord.
It must be easy for you. Everyone adores, respects, and fawns over you.
But I knew now that I couldn’t get mad at him for that anymore.
Because I had witnessed that the favor he seemingly easily received from people wasn’t something he got for free.
He had risked his life for it and was responsible for countless other lives.
So the vast difference between him and me was justified.
I sighed and asked,
“So why did you decline the tea party last time? Do you know how difficult that made things for me?”
“Wasn’t it a problem if I didn’t go?”
“Yes, that’s true, but…!”
Seeing his smirking face, I was sure he was doing this knowingly.
“Do you find it fun to corner people?”
“Yes.”
“Hah!”
Feeling utterly defeated by Duke Kaidel, I said,
“Don’t tell Her Highness anything, it would really complicate things.”
“If you wish.”
I mumbled to myself, leaning my head against the wall of the carriage.
“Should I say I was sick? No, they would know my room was empty. The palace is big, should I say I got lost?”
“Then he casually inserted a comment.

“‘What if I say I had to urgently go to a daycare center near the capital because of an issue with the donation I gave, and ended up staying the night because the children grabbed onto me?'”

“Aah!”

Duke Kaidel mimicked my reaction awkwardly.

“A…ah?”

Conceited jerk. Detestable jerk.

Not only did you prepare such a grand competition gift, but you also instantly solve my problem?

I responded very unnaturally.

“Aah… It’s a good idea, is what I mean.”

“Of course. It’s my idea, after all.”

“Th-thank… you.”

By now, even being annoyed with him was exhausting.

I looked out the window in a state of resignation and said,

“Congratulations.”

“Congratulations?”

“For winning the first competition.”

“Well.”

I slowly understood why he responded that way.

“Still.”

Only then did he genuinely smile.

“Thank you.”

Soon, the third imperial palace came into view.

It was two days later that the news broke: Pirate Gang Gonghae had self-destructed after an internal conflict.

The ship Duke Kaidel had taken was completely burned and disappeared, making it the only logical conclusion for the gang’s annihilation.

I stared at the printed words on the surface, feeling stunned. Seeing the events I’d vividly witnessed reconstructed into a news article by someone else’s voice made it feel like a completely different, unfamiliar incident.

And it gave me a strange feeling to be the only one in the imperial palace who knows the truth behind this monumental historical event.

Although I’ll probably never have the chance to say, ‘This old lady saw Pirate Gang Gonghae wiped out firsthand! Hehehe,’ until the day I die.

When Princess Jeon appeared in the reception room, she glared at me.

“Explain yourself!””