0&1 Ch 3.1

Going Out

The next day, I told Grey, who had come for lunch, that the Queen had visited.

“So? Is today’s operation cancelled?” Grey asked.
“No? She dropped by yesterday, so she won’t come again today.”

The biggest risk in this plan was the Queen dropping by unexpectedly and discovering my absence. Grey raised his eyebrows.

“You didn’t say anything to her?”
“No.”
“Then the guards probably won’t block my carriage.”
“If they do, take me hostage and escape. Anyway, if I had told the Queen, do you think we’d be sitting here eating lunch?”
“… What would we be doing instead?”
“Certainly not enjoying such a pleasant time.”

Pleasant? Grey seemed to take issue with my choice of words but didn’t say anything.

Dot was in and out of the room, serving food. Each time he came in, we fell silent and focused on eating. Once he left again, Grey resumed planning.

“I left the clothes to change into in the carriage. How do you plan to get the servants out of the way? I’m telling you, we can’t take them with us.”

“I know. I have a plan.”

I wrote ‘Studying’ in big letters on a piece of paper.

“I’ll hang this on the door before we leave. No one will come in.”
“Really?”
“Yes. They won’t even call me for dinner. Everyone is cooperative about my studies. A scholar once said that studying on an empty stomach is more efficient. I think the Queen believes that too.”
“… Who said that?”
“How would I know? The Queen heard it herself.”

We finished our meal quickly. There was almost no risk of getting caught, but just in case, I spoke to Dot too.

“Once our guest leaves, I’ll be studying. Tell everyone to stay away from this wing.”

“Yes, Your Highness! Study hard!”

Dot clenched his fist and said, “Fighting!” He left with the tray and I pressed my ear to the door and listened for his footsteps fading away.

“It’s okay. He’s gone.”
“Yes… I see. Do you really have to confirm it like that?”
“How else am I supposed to know? Let’s go.”

We walked toward the carriage as if nothing were amiss. Even if someone saw us, they wouldn’t find it strange. We had a plan ready in case we ran into a servant. We’d say I was just walking Grey to his carriage.

But we didn’t encounter anyone.

When Grey opened the carriage door, Edward was already inside. And seated opposite him, clutching his head, was a man who looked like a knight.

The man burst into tears the moment he saw us.

“My life is ruined! God, what sin have I committed to deserve this? I only fell in love for a moment!”
“Sir Meringue. Your life is ruined because you were unfaithful. You should be grateful that your father, who loves you dearly, hired you as a coachman to help you get back on your feet.” Grey replied coolly.

“Young master, it’s not like that! This is totally different from what I did!”
“It’s fine. As long as we don’t get caught. Although, with the way you’re acting, we might.”
”Aah, I’m going crazy!”

Sir Meringue leapt from the carriage. I thought he might flee, but instead, he bowed to me and climbed into the driver’s seat.

“He may look like that, but he’s actually competent,” Grey explained.

Edward looked pale. Was it okay to trust these people?

“You okay?” I asked Edward.

That’s when the carriage shook. “Your Highness! Your Highness!” came a familiar voice. The vehicle rocked like someone had latched onto it.

Already?

I looked at Edward. Without a word, we both ducked down.

“Mm-mmph! Mmm!”
“Be quiet! Stop squirming! Young master, who is this?!” Sir Meringue yelled.

Whoever he had caught was making such a scene they might alert the entire palace guard. Grey stepped outside.

“What… Are you Prince Joffrey’s?”
“Mmph!”

I stuck my head out the door. The one Meringue had captured was Dot. How the hell had he followed us? His face bright red, Dot reached toward me.

“Mmmph mmph!”
“Be quiet!”

When I raised my index finger, Dot fell silent as if by magic.

“You’ll stay quiet if we let you go, right?”
Dot nodded.
“No screaming, understood?”
Dot nodded again.

“He’s my attendant. Let him go.”
“Yes, sir.”

Sir Meringue reluctantly let him go. The moment he was free, Dot ran to me in tears.

“Your Highness! Where are you going without me?”

I flinched. “I said quiet!”
“Your H–”
“If you call me that one more time, I’ll really leave you behind.”

Only after I threatened him did Dot quiet down. Instead, he clung to me like a limpet.

“I’m your attendant! You can’t leave me!”
“I’ll give you a vacation starting now. Let’s take today off. No, how about three days?”
“How could you! You think you’ll be fine for three whole days without me?”

Dot glared at me with resentment.

“No, even if I give you a vacation, why…”
“I have a duty to serve Your—um, young master!”

Dot quickly changed his form of address. This is driving me crazy.

“Let’s just take him along. This is taking too long,” Grey said.

“Are you sure?”
“We don’t have a choice. His Highness said it’d be fine.” Grey looked at me coldly.

“Are you really okay with this, young master?” Sir Meringue asked.

“If His Highness says so, then it must be fine.” Grey’s voice was icy.

Once Dot was aboard and the door shut, the carriage departed. I couldn’t bear to look at Grey’s face and stared out the window.

“Don’t show your face,” Grey said without even glancing at me.

“Okay.” I sat quietly, my back against the seat.

Edward seemed interested in Dot. He blinked his gentle eyes and looked at him.

Dot didn’t know what to do under the nobleman’s gaze.

“He’s a loyal servant,” Edward said to me.

“Yeah, he is.”

When I was sick and lying in bed, Dot never left my side. It’s hard work to take care of someone who is sick, especially a crying child.

He stayed up with me all night when I cried endlessly.

In this world, Dot was the person I relied on most. He was always by my side, answering my questions. Without him, I wouldn’t have adapted.

But that was that, and this was this.

“Where I’m going is a secret, Dot.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“You can’t call me that in public.”
“Yes, I won’t!”
“You have to act so no one notices you.”
“Yes!”

Grey pulled a wooden box from under the seat.

“That’s not something the servant can decide. At the very least, you need to disguise yourselves…”
“Disguise?”
“Yes. You don’t seriously think the two of you won’t be noticed, do you?”

He opened the box. Inside were wigs and glasses.

“Just hiding the hair helps avoid recognition.”

“A disguise kit, Your Highness.” Dot nodded as if this was completely normal.

I wondered if it was necessary, but Grey looked serious. Edward and I both donned wigs and glasses.

Edward’s glasses were black-rimmed, a design that had gone out of style years ago. Combined with the shaggy black wig, he looked like a weird kid with agoraphobia.

“These keep sliding down,” Edward said, pushing up his glasses.

“They suit you.”
“Really?”

He held out a hand and Grey handed him a small square mirror. Edward looked at himself and scowled.

“I look stupid.”
“No, you look smart.”
“Don’t lie.”

Any normal person would’ve said stop bullshitting, but Edward was dead serious.

“Do you know what ‘bullshit’ means?” I suddenly wondered.

Edward blinked.

“What’s that?”
“Lying.”
“A lie?”
“Don’t teach him weird stuff, Your Highness.” Grey said.

“Yes.”
“Don’t use formal speech.”
“Okay.”

Grey frowned. He closed his eyes, crossed his arms, and sank deeper into his seat.