Reina received her grandmother’s medical journal back from Kei.

Her eyes sparkled brightly as she accepted it preciously with both hands.

“Thank you.”

Kei smiled.

“Not at all. Thank you for lending it to me. You must have missed it very much.”

Kei smiled gently, subtly softening the cold atmosphere that Arthur’s ‘inspection’ order had created.

Then he sat down at the table in front of Reina and spoke.

“Were you not surprised because of His Excellency? I thought it would be better not to appear too close to us in front of Taylor Lorenson. Even considering that, His Excellency seemed to have come in a bit roughly.”

“Ah…”

Reina nodded with an awkward smile.

“Of course. It’s fine. I wasn’t surprised.”

She was surprised, but not in the sense of being suddenly frightened.

However, it seemed that intention was taken quite sincerely by Taylor.

Remembering Taylor who had said he would make her faint today if she wanted, Reina felt grateful and guilty.

Reina gazed down at Taylor’s medical journal.

【 Need help? 】

【 I’ll come again tomorrow. 】

Reina fiddled with the medical journal.

“…”

Saying such things to me,

It must have been quite burdensome for Taylor as well.

I was really grateful, and sorry for making him worry to that extent.

I didn’t want to worry Taylor any more.

“Sir Kei. I have something to tell you.”

The moment she saw the medical journal, Reina had already reached a conclusion in her heart.

She needed Taylor.

I can trust and entrust grandmother to Taylor.

“Yes, my lady.”

Kei looked at her with a gentle smile.

…Phew.

Reina took a deep breath.

Because for five years the marquis’ family had consistently sent caregivers and looked after her grandmother,

Reina experientially trusted the promises made by the marchioness.

Even if she wasn’t an overly compassionate person,

She believed that at least the madam kept her word.

That was why Reina had accepted the marchioness’s proposal.

But Taylor’s question “Is this really your grandmother?” and the medical journal he prepared for her made Reina think a bit more,

And led her to reach a certain confident conclusion.

I no longer trust the marchioness.

Reina gripped the medical journal tightly.

“…”

It’s okay if I don’t have money.

Because I’m young.

I may not be able to get a letter of recommendation.

Even if I can’t work as a maid anymore, I’ll manage somehow.

There will be opportunities to start some other work somewhere.

And Sir Arthur will protect grandmother.

Because he’s someone who knows how to cherish those who are precious.

While Reina was prepared to speak honestly and smiled towards Kei, she thought coldly to herself.

Even if Sir Arthur and Sir Kei are good people, they won’t take responsibility for me forever.

But if I ask them to take responsibility for grandmother, they will agree to that much.

Reina prepared herself to accept the consequences of her choice after that.

Reina placed the journal on her knees, pressed it down, and looked at Kei sitting across from her.

[This is the timeline separator]

Reina shared her story that she had put off until ‘after meeting Taylor’.

It felt quite unremarkable.

It was a common story without any special circumstances.

The marchioness had set ‘having Taylor take care of her sick grandmother’ as a condition for Reina’s spy work,

And that was desperate for Reina.

If Sir Arthur could do that, Reina wanted to help Sir Arthur in any way on his side.

Reina asked if he could persuade Taylor to continue doing what he had been doing so far on ‘Sir Arthur’s’ side rather than the ‘marchioness’s’.

Even if the marchioness realizes I’ve turned away and gives different orders,

Could you make it so Taylor can continue caring for grandmother like now?

Hearing those words, Kei immediately agreed without even saying he would discuss it with Arthur.

Along with other words that surprised Reina even more…

“Ah. I’ve already spoken with Taylor Lorenson about that. I was going to tell you anyway…”

“We’ve already secured the location where your grandmother is and sent people.”

Reina’s eyes widened.

Kei continued gently.

“For now, I said to just deploy enough security personnel without startling her unnecessarily.”

“But I thought you would feel most at ease if you met her directly…”

“How about we bring her here so you can meet her in person, my lady? After that, we can discuss changing her residence.”

“To a place the marchioness cannot know about.”

Reina covered her mouth with both hands and looked at Kei in surprise.

Kei said with a smile.

“My lady, you can speak of such things as ‘basic premises’ rather than ‘conditions’.”

“I was already thinking we should secure your grandmother’s safety first, of course, from when you mentioned it in last night’s interview.”

Kei continued speaking while writing something on paper with a smile.

“Try stating other negotiation conditions. We have a conscience too, how could we speak of such obvious things as conditions?”

And he whispered like a teacher giving a student a hint about a test answer.

“Ask for better things. Ask for a high-class mansion, ask for a farm. Ask to have an estate with a few servants included. You can say things like this.”

Reina laughed.

Kei said with a gentle smile.

“He will give you plenty.”

Kei’s words continued.

“This is a very important time for His Excellency. It’s a time to be recognized and rewarded for the hardships and achievements of the past five years. However, since the position of a son-in-law is not such a stable one, His Excellency’s position is quite delicate. We can’t just rely on the imperial family, so there should be no elements that could become weaknesses for His Excellency.”

Kei continued speaking calmly.

“Sir Arthur should receive proper evaluation and compensation. It’s not just His Excellency’s problem for him to receive proper compensation. The conscripted soldiers of Julius, the knights, all their lives depend on Sir Arthur. If possible, I’d like him to gain full power and influence as the head of the Julius family, and I’d like His Excellency to gain the power to protect himself even after the army is disbanded. We’re all working towards that.”

Reina’s eyes seemed to understand quite well.

Kei shrugged lightly and smiled.

“In that sense, you are giving His Excellency a great deal of help, my lady. Although Julius is not an easy opponent, thanks to you being present as a weakness for the marquis in every negotiation, our negotiations are proceeding quite smoothly.”

Kei looked at Reina and spoke calmly.

“Thank you for being there for Sir Arthur and helping in various ways.”

Even though there was an intention to convey the suggestion to her subconscious that ‘you must not become Arthur’s weakness’,

All those words were also sincere.

They were words containing only the truth.

“I look forward to your continued support.”

For Sir Arthur’s sake as well. For your own sake too.

So that His Excellency does not make mistakes,

May you protect His Excellency and yourself well.

Whether she knew Kei’s inner thoughts or not,

Reina nodded with a smile.

“Yes.”

[This is the timeline separator]

Kei recited the list of documents that Arthur needed to review within a week.

【 Scope of regulations for disabled veterans: 】

【 Discussion on improving compensation for disabled veterans 】

【 Payment details of survivor pensions and veteran compensation 】

【 List of compensations rejected by Marquis Julius 】

【 Problems with current scope of recognition for survivors and veterans 】

【 Petitions from other compensation omissions 】

【 Legal advice on marriage contract 】

And he placed a pile of documents he had brought on Arthur’s desk.

He selected those of high importance and urgency, placed them on top again, and explained once more why those documents were urgent.

Finally, in front of him was placed a report on the ‘contents of the lady’s interview’ that Kei had written.

“…”

It was something he had created based on the order Lionel had conveyed to report separately on the interview with his wife.

Arthur stared at the document for a while, then sighed and rubbed his brow.

“…”

Although there were quite a few documents that suddenly piled up.

Kei only found Arthur’s response, which seemed more tired than usual, a bit puzzling as he waited for his words.

Arthur finally opened his mouth.

“…Kei. I’m sorry, but from now on I’ll receive reports orally.”

“Pardon?”

“Actually, I’ve developed some problems with my eyesight.”

“What? What do you mean…”

“I can’t read if you report on paper.”

“…Pardon?”

Kei had never repeated just ‘Pardon?’ three times in a row in front of anyone like an idiot.

Kei looked at Arthur with an expression that said, What did I just hear?

He couldn’t understand Arthur’s words.

“I’ve caused you unnecessary trouble. I should have said it sooner.”

“…”

Arthur lowered his hand from his face and looked at him brightly.

“I’ve lost my sight.”

“…”

Kei’s mouth fell open.

Arthur continued speaking calmly.

“Don’t tell others. Only Prince Kyle and Tristan know.”

And Arthur smiled a little awkwardly as he pushed the report Kei had written back towards him.

“…Could you read it to me?”

[This is the timeline separator]

In terms of disabled veteran grades, they say it’s Grade 1 bilateral blindness.

I don’t think it’s blindness since I can still see light.

Well… in terms of ‘grades’, they say it’s blindness.

I can distinguish the direction of light.

It’s just not clear.

I can’t see your expression now.

Or such writing.

There’s no need to worry as if I’m truly blind.

As you might guess, I can sufficiently compensate with other senses.

I can fully sense spatial forms, like where things are.

Thanks to that, there’s no problem in daily life at all.

See? You didn’t notice until now, right?

Hmm. I can see you’re dumbfounded.

I can also tell your mouth is open.

I think it’s the first time I’ve seen you make such an expression.

Saying that, Arthur laughed.

He looked calm.

Everyone is less perceptive than I thought.

No one knew except Kyle?

Don’t worry.

It’s not a problem.

Hmm. The paperwork might be a big deal though…

It’s a big deal for you and Tristan, but I’m fine.

Arthur laughed.

As if all of this was not a big deal.