The Victory Square of the Julius Marquisate was packed with enthusiastic spectators.

Christina Julius stepped forward in front of Arthur, the commander-in-chief at the head of the victorious army. She grasped the skirts of her dress, lowered her gaze, and gracefully bent her knee.

“…I behold the rising light of the Empire.”

At Christina’s first words to Arthur, the gathered crowd erupted in thunderous cheers and applause.

The cheering continued until Marquis Julius raised his hand to quiet the crowd.

Christina paused briefly, then continued speaking with her body still bowed.

“…Congratulations on your victorious return with great honor. I am pleased to see you in good health.”

The square erupted again with cheers.

This time, the noise died down before the Marquis could raise his hand.

The excited crowd, not wanting to miss his first words, each put a finger to their lips and urged those beside them to quickly lower their voices.

The spectators’ eyes shone.

The gathered people rejoiced at their fortune to witness firsthand the reunion of the couple of the century, and waited for Arthur’s response.

Unfolding before their eyes was the historic moment of reunion that the entire Empire had been waiting for.

“…”

Seated on his horse looking down at Christina, Arthur gazed at her quietly before smiling as if intrigued.

“…You say you are my wife?”

The crowd, who had been wearing expectant expressions, looked at each other or shook their heads, murmuring “What did Lord Arthur say?”

With so many people gathered, only a few close by could actually hear his voice.

But everyone could sense that no cries of joy had erupted.

People lowered their voices even more, hoping to catch even a single word, their faces half questioning, half expectant.

“…”

Christina remained silent, standing still with her mouth closed.

Silence fell between them.

“Lord Arthur.”

Just before the atmosphere turned strange, the Marchioness intervened on Christina’s behalf.

“It has been so long since you last met, Christina must be very nervous.”

Arthur quietly looked at the Marchioness with the same smiling face.

He gave no reply, only a fresh but somewhat chilly smile.

The Marchioness was a bit flustered, but she forced a gentle smile and continued speaking.

“She was only seventeen when you left, so you may not recognize her. …She’s grown into quite a beauty, hasn’t she?”

In response to the Marchioness’s words, Arthur gave a small deflating laugh instead of answering, rubbing his furrowed brow with his index and middle fingers.

Then he raised his head and quietly surveyed the Julius family members.

As the atmosphere grew strange, puzzled expressions began to spread among the people.

Antonio Julius, the Marquis of Julius, who had been standing back a step, silently projecting the air of a dignified and benevolent lord, had a flicker of discomfort cross his face.

…He’s not answering when the Marchioness is speaking to him?

The Marquis of Julius wanted to make a grand start to their renewed relationship in front of everyone, and he was displeased that Arthur was not responding as favorably as he had hoped.

He felt inclined to gracefully point this out and prompt a response, but the Marquis was aware of the many people watching them and simply smiled.

It wouldn’t be good for the Marquis of Julius’s first words to the national hero Lord Arthur to be a lecture or criticism about his unnoble behavior.

Moreover, they were in a situation where they needed to somehow resolve the persistent allegations of inadequate supplies.

For that, they needed Arthur’s positive testimony.

Having thought that far, the Marquis of Julius rose as if to personally go embrace him.

It would be good to create a scene worthy of an illustration in the news bulletin.

Though not enough scribes from the temple’s archives or reporters from the guild had gathered due to the earlier than expected visit, there were many people watching, so word would spread.

However, just as the Marquis of Julius, with a broad smile, spread his arms and began to descend from the platform,

Arthur opened his mouth, still wearing that troubled smile.

“This woman is not the one I married?”

His voice clearly spread through the crowd.

Ignoring the stunned people, Arthur smoothly turned away from Christina and shifted his gaze to the Julius family members.

“I said I wanted to see ‘my wife.'”

* * *

“…”

What on earth was going on?

Reina, dragged out of bed, stared at the Marchioness standing before her in bewilderment.

“My, My Lady? Um…”

The Marchioness glared at Reina, snapping her fan shut with a clap.

Normally, Reina would have quickly looked up at her with pitiful and respectful eyes, as if frightened, but this time it was impossible.

She was in the middle of having her clothes frantically stripped off.

Reina let out a yelp as Mrs. Hurst’s hands spun her around like a top.

Next, the corset was tightened with a jerk. A gasp escaped involuntarily.

The corset was tightened once more.

“Ugh.”

To think there was still room to tighten it further.

Struggling not to be crushed by the corset, Reina failed to notice that the Marchioness’s gaze that had flashed by was different from usual.

“…”

The Marchioness was still watching the maid before her, not having made a final decision.

From behind Reina, who was clutching the bedpost and groaning, the Marchioness spoke.

“You know Lord Arthur has returned, right?”

“Ugh, y-yes…”

Reina barely managed to answer, gasping for breath and clawing at the corset.

Is there anyone in the Empire who doesn’t know he’s returned?

For a month now, every temple bulletin, guild newspaper, and extra edition has been reporting his every move daily.

“Oof.”

The head maid, Mrs. Hurst, wrapped Reina’s face tightly with a towel heated in hot water.

Ah, it’s hot!

The scream disappeared into the towel.

Next, another wet towel was vigorously rubbed through her hair.

Then a hair iron heated over the brazier approached, radiating heat.

“…!”

As the threatening heat neared her skin, Reina’s neck shrank back and a chill ran down her spine.

Wait, wait! It’s hot, it’s scary!

Behind her, the Marchioness’s voice continued.

“If you want to live, you’ll need to speak well to Lord Arthur so we don’t get into trouble. If it comes out that you impersonated Christina before, it will be a very difficult situation for both you and us. Especially you, you definitely won’t be safe. You’re smart, so I’m sure you understand without me having to spell it out.”

…?

For a moment, Reina thought she might become the young lady’s maid, but she quickly realized that couldn’t be the case.

Reina’s face turned pale as she belatedly understood the Marchioness’s words.

What does this mean? Who am I supposed to say what to?

“Pardon?”

Reina turned her head in alarm, assessing the atmosphere between the head maid and the Marchioness.

So, the news just now about Lord Arthur’s return…

The Marchioness looked down at Reina coldly.

It wasn’t difficult to realize that Lord Arthur’s return, which she had thought would take at least ten days, had suddenly become an immediate crisis.

And also what order had just been given to her.

Reina was very flustered, but she answered stutteringly, politely and cautiously.

“M-My Lady. Shouldn’t the real Lady Christina step forward now? Lord Arthur has returned as a proper victorious general, and I hear the imperial family is giving him tremendous rewards.”

There was no response from the Marchioness.

Reina continued haltingly.

“Su-Surely that’s enough to make him a suitable son-in-law for a marquis family… What if things go wrong because I go out unnecessarily…”

Indeed, he was no longer the Lord Arthur of the past.

It meant that even for the prestigious Julius family, he was no longer someone they could treat carelessly or gloss over mistakes with.

The most modest term used to describe him in the news bulletins was “the rising star of the imperial family.”

Though not directly declared, the imperial family had indirectly acknowledged Arthur as a proper member by expressing joy at the “brotherly affection,”

In other words, he was no longer someone they could subtly substitute a maid for.

But why?

It should be a situation where hiding the past events to the best of their ability wasn’t enough, so why me?

“M-My Lady.”

Back then, she was young and didn’t know better, so she got involved as ordered, but now she was old enough to know that getting wrongly entangled in such matters could easily cost her her head.

She didn’t want to get involved anymore.

Just someone famous somewhat related to me.

Someone whose news of success might make me feel proud for no reason…

She sincerely didn’t want the distance to be any closer than that.

However, the silent Marchioness opened her tightly closed mouth and spoke.

“…It seems that bastard has noticed something.”

Before Reina could ask which bastard she meant, the Marchioness’s voice changed.

“Or did you lie to me? You said he didn’t realize you weren’t Christina!”

Reina flinched and repeated the answer she had given every time she was called in over the past month.

“O-Of course not. He definitely didn’t notice then… I did exactly as I was told…”

Anxiously, she hurriedly tried to recall the old memories once more.

But before her thoughts could spread out, the Marchioness’s sharp voice pierced into her ears.

“Then why is that bastard saying Christina is not his wife!”

Reina was startled and held her breath.

‘…Lord Arthur said that?’

Her heart sank.

The possibility that Lord Arthur had realized he had married a fake bride and would make an issue of it was frightening even to Reina.

That marriage was a contract with the imperial family.

What they had done was deceive the imperial family.

If it became a problem, everyone involved could be executed.

At that moment, Mrs. Hurst the head maid whirled Reina around again and said to the Marchioness.

“You mean Reina was found out? If that was the case, why didn’t all hell break loose five years ago instead of now? Even I would want to make an issue of it out of anger after covering it up for five years.”

Even the mighty Marchioness was struck speechless by the blunt words of Mrs. Hurst, who had served three generations of marchionesses while guarding the mansion for fifty years.

Mrs. Hurst’s mouth didn’t stop.

“So you should have at least waited until his death was more certain before having a change of heart. When news came that he was achieving great things, you should have at least sent proper supplies instead of neglecting him like that. How could he not feel resentful? I told you this could be a problem, that it wasn’t right.”

The words were so accurate that Reina almost chimed in agreement.

But seeing the Marchioness’s terrifying expression, Reina quickly managed her own expression.

The Marchioness couldn’t do anything to Olga Hurst, the old-timer of the mansion who had the favor of the grand madam, so instead she glared at Reina and raised her hand clutching the fan.

“You…!”

Reina’s shoulders instinctively shrank back.

But the expected slap didn’t fall.

The Marchioness’s hand with bulging veins trembled, then she gritted her teeth and turned away.

“…Just be prepared for now. If this matter is resolved well, I’ll make sure your grandmother is not disappointed. You know that if things go wrong, neither you nor your grandmother will be safe, right?”

And without waiting for Reina’s answer, the Marchioness stormed out of the room.

Bang!

“…”

Reina stared blankly at the closed door and answered the Marchioness who could no longer hear.

“…Yes, of course.”

Strong hands busily tied ribbons on the dress.