Published: August 10, 2026
For the past while, Mio had been staying at the Duke's mansion with Lord Ryuu-Ryuu, and had been away from Granado Castle.
I never would have imagined that she would come back at a time like this... I was so relieved, so grateful, that my tear ducts completely gave out.
As I clung to her and cried my eyes out, I managed to explain the situation in bits and pieces.
"Oh, Mio, Thomas just suddenly—he, he—"
"While I was away for a while, it seems something unpleasant happened."
"Y-Yes, exactly, and then Thomas— I—"
"It's all right, please calm down, lady marie. Here, these are one of the specialty products of the duchy, steamed chestnut buns."
"T-thank you, but don't worry about me, just Thomas—!"
Still sobbing, I took the paper package from Mio.
Mio pushed me aside and hurried over to the fallen Thomas, checking on him.
She held a hand in front of his face, took his wrist, and after a few seconds... she let out a soft sigh of relief.
"He's fine. He's only 'fallen' over. It's no different from being asleep."
"I-I see...! Ahh, thank goodness..."
The strength left my knees, and I ended up collapsing onto the ground.
Mio probably intended to wake Thomas up, because she began smacking his back with her palm. But before I could see him recover, I was pulled by the shoulder again.
This time it was the Oracle man.
"As that maid said, he's fine. More importantly, get in the carriage already."
"........"
"What is it? You said you'd come too, didn't you?"
I silently stood up.
Fine. I felt like I'd go anywhere.
And yet my knees were shaking so badly they wouldn't listen to me. My legs trembled and refused to move. I slapped my thigh hard. After a numbing, stinging pain, the shaking stopped.
All right. Let's go.
"...Mio, I've asked Head Maid Audrey to look after Lisa. Please stay with her until Lord Cyrus returns..."
But Mio shook her head.
"For a baby, it's better to have her mother than a wet nurse. I'll go."
"Eh?"
The voice of confusion came not from me, but from the Oracle man. Mio caught the sound and turned her face toward him.
"Does that cause some kind of problem?"
"...No... but..."
"Just now, you allowed lady marie to accompany us. I'm saying I'll go in her place. Is there some problem with that?"
"...You're just a maid, aren't you?"
"I am not a housekeeper, but a maid, and the chief chamberlain. I am not his employer, but if he has caused a scandal, then I am in the position to take responsibility."
"...But... you just said you returned to the castle a moment ago, didn't you? I doubt you know the situation."
"The same applies to lady marie. Do the lord of the castle or the duchess know the habits of the gatekeepers well?"
"........tsk..."
I definitely heard the man click his tongue in frustration at that moment.
"Fine. We're withdrawing."
Saying that, the man raised his right hand high into the sky.
It seemed that was the signal to withdraw. The people waiting behind him all turned on their heels at once and began boarding the carriages one by one.
The man who seemed to be their leader nodded generously and turned his back on us.
Huh? Are they not even taking Thomas with them?!
Mio narrowed her eyes and asked in a low voice.
"Are you saying that if extra people are going to tag along, then even taking the suspect into custody is unnecessary?"
"He's not needed. If he is a man worthy of concern from two ladies willing to stake themselves on his behalf, then he must be a good man."
"...Huh?"
I couldn't help letting out a thoroughly suspicious-sounding noise.
"And besides, the victim who reported this was a kind person. Surely they'll overlook a poor gatekeeper who, on a moment of weakness, stole a single bun."
"Wha—? A bun?!"
"Then, excuse us."
The man curtly spat out those words and got into the carriage.
And then the carriage that had been about to take Thomas and me away started moving.
It sped off at incredible speed and vanished from sight in no time at all...
At last, I went limp and collapsed right there.
Ahh... There were so many things I didn't understand at all, but...