“Qualifications, huh? That’s an interesting remark.”

“Oh, no, it’s not like I have a different meaning. It’s just…”

“Come to think of it, it’s becoming a bit intriguing. Weren’t the two of them friends for a long time?”

“W-Well…”

RuZen subtly leaned his upper body forward. Margaret, lips quivering, avoided RuZen’s gaze.

“If it’s difficult to talk about, you don’t have to. I’m not prying; it’s just a bit of curiosity. You’ve mentioned being friends since the academy, but honestly, you two don’t seem like a compatible pair.”

“…….”

“Did I make an unpleasant remark?”

“No, it’s not like that.”

“Then I’m relieved.”

RuZen smiled and leaned back, stepping away. Margaret unconsciously parted her lips slightly. The clock’s hour hand behind RuZen indicated that his departure time was approaching.

Margaret toyed with her fingertips. Once RuZen leaves, she will be alone again.

“…In fact, many people were curious.”

As Margaret spoke, RuZen’s steps subtly moved forward. In response, Margaret hurriedly continued her words.

“But it’s not something remarkable. The servant who worked at our house happened to work at Craiton, and, coincidentally, she became Craiton’s lady-in-waiting when he took charge. That’s how we got to know each other.”

“Servant?”

“The former Livianna was under the influence of strange ideas. She believed that all life is precious and should be respected accordingly.”

Margaret hesitated, unable to continue her words. It was a dangerous concept. If everyone were to be equally respected, the social hierarchy could not exist. This would be an act challenging the pinnacle of the imperial hierarchy.

“Anyway, thanks to her, I found out. Honestly, we weren’t the only ones close to each other. Livianna always attracted attention wherever she went.”

“Is it not as impressive as you thought?”

“I’m not saying anything unpleasant.”

“Then that’s good.”

RuZen chuckled and leaned back again. Margaret, at a slightly greater distance, unintentionally opened her mouth. RuZen’s departure time was approaching, as indicated by the clock’s hour hand.

Margaret touched her fingertips. If RuZen left, she would be alone again.

“…Actually, many people were curious about it.”

As Margaret peeled away, RuZen’s steps slightly moved forward. In response, Margaret hastily continued her words.

“But it’s not something remarkable. The servant who worked at our house happened to work at Craiton, and, coincidentally, she became Craiton’s lady-in-waiting when he took charge. That’s how we got to know each other.”

“Servant?”

“The former Livianna was under the influence of strange ideas. She believed that all life is precious and should be respected accordingly.”

Margaret hesitated, unable to continue.
“I just wanted to help a friend.”

Margaret, tears welling up in her eyes, folded her hands like praying. Her tightly clenched hands were trembling.

“Then I can’t understand the current situation even more.”

“…In fact, the Marquis Craiton and I were lovers. We were promised to be married.”

“You knew?”

“I did. I asked him to wait a little, saying he would return soon.”

“It might have been better to believe that a dog could talk.”

RuZen licked his tongue. Margaret shrugged her shoulders weakly.

“At first, I tried to accept it obediently. I wanted to believe in him. But no matter how much I thought about it, it didn’t seem right.”

“Normally, it wouldn’t.”

“So, I begged and tried to persuade him. But it was all in vain. In the end, I went to Livianna, explaining my situation and asking her for help.”

“And?”

RuZen pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to Margaret. Hesitatingly, Margaret accepted the handkerchief.

“Livianna refused.”

“It sounds like Lady Craiton denied your affair even though she knew about it.”

“She was in a position to demand a substantial compensation, and Craiton, no, Bake. He had the wealth to repay that debt. So, I couldn’t give up. Bake had the best conditions among those who proposed to her.”

Margaret lightly tapped her eye area with the handkerchief. From RuZen’s handed handkerchief, a scent emanated from him. It was a fragrance familiar to Margaret now.

Margaret squeezed the handkerchief tightly with both hands.

“Surprisingly, everyone seems to be doing well, considering what happened.”

“They’re pretending.”

“Pretending?”

“Livianna agreed to close her eyes to Bake’s denial of our affair under the condition that she wouldn’t have a child. And to avoid public attention, she created an image of an affectionate relationship with her husband’s close friend for each of us. That’s her specialty.”

Just like turning a merchant’s son into the Marquis Craiton.

Margaret sighed deeply, mumbling as if letting out the rest of the story. Then, she slowly raised her head and looked at RuZen. Her hands were on her stomach.

“Livianna thinks I broke the promise.”

“Because, contrary to the promise, you became pregnant?”

“And, moreover, the timing wasn’t right.”

“What do you mean, the timing wasn’t right?”

“Livianna mistakenly believes that I harmed Maryal.”

“Mistakenly?”