“I’m not sure if I’ve upset Sir Arthur’s mood… or if he always maintains that level of vigilance even when I’m not around. Honestly, it was suffocating.”

“…”

The Marchioness felt her chest tighten.

Reina was being watched to that extent?

The Marchioness furrowed her brow and remained silent for a moment before sighing.

“I see. …You didn’t make any mistakes. It’s not usually like that. …There have been some issues.”

“Issues?”

“It seems that’s why they’re on high alert. …As you said, it might have been worse because you weren’t the usual visiting doctor.”

“Was it not like this when my father used to visit?”

The Marchioness pressed her temples with a tired expression.

“That’s right. There used to be at most one knight. Our lady-in-waiting would also look after her in front of the knight to avoid awkward situations.”

Taylor calmly recounted the situation he had observed.

“When I went, there was no lady-in-waiting. There were only two knights. Moreover, they even prevented me from approaching for the examination. I asked if we should call for a lady-in-waiting before the examination, but the knight didn’t allow it.”

“…”

The Marchioness fell into thought.

Though she didn’t tell Taylor any more, the Marchioness was recalling Reina’s mistake after sending the note about the mushroom diet.

The incident when mushrooms openly appeared in Arthur’s meal.

She immediately wondered if Reina had gotten into trouble because of that.

…Could Arthur really have a serious mushroom allergy?

She also thought that Reina might have difficulty passing notes like before.

What should I do about this…

“…”

It would have been better if she had been outright hated and cast out.

Knowing that would only benefit us, it seems they weren’t going to do that.

…I hope she’s not being tortured to reveal information about us?

Should I tell her to lay low for a while?

Wait.

Could it be…

Then, is this suspicion that Dr. Lorenson is a messenger?

Could that be why the knights were so sensitive about the doctor’s examination…

If we’re not careful, Dr. Lorenson might be harmed when he returns.

Perhaps they only allowed the meeting because it was Taylor?

“…”

Her head throbbed.

We need to resolve things with Arthur somehow, and quickly…

That damn veteran’s compensation…

At that moment, Taylor subtly expressed his antipathy towards Arthur.

“…Why is Sir Arthur treating Reina like this?”

“…”

Taylor frowned and spoke after a brief pause.

“I may not know the circumstances well, but… isn’t this discourteous to Lady Christina as well?”

“…”

Feeling a surge of emotion at Taylor’s words, which seemed to understand her feelings, the Marchioness tightly closed her eyes and then opened them.

Then she soon revealed her true feelings with a more openly angry expression.

“You’re absolutely right.”

After sighing again, the Marchioness composed her expression and asked calmly.

“Did Reina give you any notes or anything? Even if not exactly that, did you notice any signs that she wanted to convey something?”

“No. There was nothing like that.”

Taylor remained silent for a while before asking.

“…Has Reina been passing notes to my father all this time? To deliver to you, Marchioness…?”

The Marchioness frowned and leaned back on the sofa.

“…Yes. But it seems they’ve caught on to it somehow.”

Taylor seemed to ponder for a moment before speaking.

“…If that was the situation, I think they must have noticed, from what I saw. The two knights were closely watching Reina and me from both sides.”

“…”

“Now that you’ve told me, I understand. I was wondering why they were acting like that…”

And after a short pause, Taylor sighed, touching his forehead.

“Honestly, it was quite disconcerting. It was the first time I’ve been watched like that while examining a patient. Reina actually… started crying as soon as she saw me.”

The Marchioness’s eyebrow twitched.

“…Crying? …Haa.”

The Marchioness pressed her throbbing temple and let out a deep sigh.

Reina is completely ruined.

The Marchioness abandoned her hopes, thinking there was little chance of getting any more information through Reina in the future.

“…”

Suddenly feeling a bit regretful about Reina as she realized she couldn’t use her anymore, the Marchioness thought.

She was an easy child to handle, having won over her grandmother’s favor just right.

Tsk.

Instead, the Marchioness pinned her hopes on the possibility of using Taylor in place of Dr. Lorenson.

“How do you think Arthur’s side views you?”

[This is the timeline separator]

“…There will be situations that require quick wit and good judgment.”

“May I test you?”

[This is the timeline separator]

【 To my respected father, 】

【 I have completed the test well. 】

【 As you said, there were matters requiring quick wit, but I resolved them well, 】

【 and I decided to willingly help a patient who could face greater misfortune without my assistance. 】

【 Sir Arthur expressed his wish for me to stay a few more days, which I agreed to, 】

【 so you can return slowly, leaving the ‘young lady’ in my care. 】

【 I attach the Marchioness’s written permission. 】
【 With love, 】

【 Your son, Taylor. 】

[This is the timeline separator]

“…”

After writing the letter to his father, Alvin Lorenson.

Taylor, having put down his pen, quietly mulled over Kay’s words.

“The lady has family to protect and isn’t prepared to get involved in life-threatening political struggles, right?”

“…”

“It wasn’t hidden, you know.”

“As much as Sir Arthur.”

“…”

Well.

If he had figured me out,

It would have been much simpler to say something like ‘The lady is there against her will anyway, isn’t she?’

Reina’s ‘feelings’ are not included in the reasons why it would be happier for her to leave Sir Arthur’s side.

“…”

Am I overthinking?

The offer to provide a mansion, and with his own money at that, was certainly surprising,

but even if it was sincere, I had no intention of accepting such a thing.

If it’s a house to live in with the woman I love.

Taylor planned to achieve it with his own strength.

However, the reason Kay’s proposal was meaningful to Taylor was

because he had almost withdrawn on his own, thinking his desire might actually be causing Reina pain.

But…

“…”

Not a scoundrel?

If ‘Arthur Julius’ were the kind of person who would let Reina go, as Sir Kay said,

wouldn’t things have not turned out this way in the first place?

Moreover, if his words were true,

it would have been quicker to ask Reina directly.

To plead with Sir Arthur about her unhappiness and pain.

To ask him to let her go.

But why is he trying to involve me instead of doing that?

“The lady doesn’t seem to have a talent for false acting, does she?”

“…”

Taylor thought of Reina’s eyes as she blankly stared at Arthur when he entered.

And he looked at the newsletters on the desk that he had collected to give her when they met,

the ones she secretly cherished and collected.

He had gathered them himself with his own hands to see her smiling face.

“…”

It didn’t seem like it would be easy.

[This is the timeline separator]

The next day, late morning on a weekend.

Kay, who had carefully knocked and entered to check if the two people who showed no signs of leaving the bedroom were alright, found Arthur and Reina asleep on the bed, leaning against each other.

They were sleeping so soundly. Even Arthur was fast asleep, unaware that Kay had entered.

Kay sighed lightly and opened the window to ventilate the room.

It had rained all night, and the sky was a clear blue.

A crisp autumn breeze carrying the scent of rain entered.

After opening several windows in turn, Kay turned around and

noticed a single sheet of paper placed between the two people leaning against each other.

“…?”

A sheet of paper full of scribbles with question marks and exclamation points written here and there

was fluttering in the wind, placed under Reina’s hand, which was loosely holding a pen with a dried nib.

It seemed they had been looking at it together…

No, wait. Sir Arthur can’t read, can he?

“…”

Kay hesitated for a moment but soon sighed.

If they had been looking at it together while writing, he might have known what was written, Kay thought.

With Sir Arthur’s keen eye and memory.

…Yes. His Excellency must have handled it well.

But a word that couldn’t be ignored was visible at the top, so Kay paused and looked down at it.

‘Marriage contract?’

“…”

Kay’s gaze lingered on the paper as he approached closer.

Flutter.

Just as the wind-blown paper was about to fall, Kay reached out and caught it.

Kay glanced once at the sleeping Reina and scanned over it.

“…”

It wasn’t a real contract that could have legal effect.

There were no signatures, let alone anyone’s name, and it wasn’t clear which party was the principal.

The paper was full of randomly written question marks, undefined words, and doodles.

“…”

But somehow, it felt like seeing something that shouldn’t have been seen.

Kay ignored it and gently placed it back under Reina’s hand before withdrawing.

【 Marriage Contract 】 Like this?
The parties A and B hereby pledge to agree to the following terms regarding their marriage.

One. A and B shall faithfully serve as good husband and good wife to each other for the duration of the marriage.

Two. A shall guarantee the safety of B’s grandmother and make every effort to allow them to meet at any time.
(Visitation rights?) Carry her on my back once. Promise.
Three. A may dress up as prettily as desired, as much as wanted. No thinking it’s presumptuous. !!B may demand most-favored-nation treatment(?) regarding A’s adornment.
→ Most-favored-nation treatment?? What’s that?
Four. A and B shall always wear their wedding rings. However, when unable to wear rings, handkerchiefs may be used as substitutes.

Five. Always inform in advance when staying out overnight. However, exceptions for things like Lord Dylan’s matters!

Six. Financial compensation to be discussed later. For now, A gives B a weekly allowance of 30 gold.
−Really? You can lower this if you’d like.
Seven. In case of separation, always say goodbye properly. No disappearing without saying farewell.

― Part 1 Complete.

To be continued in Part 2.