Reincarnated Villainess Does Not Want Revenge - Chapter 85.1
Translated by: ShinigamiTori
These next chapters will feature an extra story about Prince Risel. It’s a ‘what if’ story starting from the point where Marie becomes a palace maid in the main story.
The Former Villainess and the Black-Haired Knight
Women tend to enjoy gossip.
“Hey, what ended up happening to Prince Risel’s fiancée candidate?”
One of the maids asks the maid next to her in a hushed voice.
“I don’t think it’s been decided yet. I heard that the daughter of Count Rixvale is making a move, though.”
“That’s bound to be impossible at this rate. I mean… he’s been avoiding her every time he sees her, hasn’t he? That’s….”
Hyuck, hyuck, hyuck.
The maids’ gossip resonates louder than the chirping of birds.
“Is it true that this situation was proposed by Duke Rose?”
“Yes, it seems so. I heard that since Prince Risel couldn’t decide on a fiancée, Duke Rose said that the prince should choose one himself, just as the king did.”
“How do you know so much about it?”
“I heard it from a maid who was present at the meeting.”
I realized in my heart that there could be no secrets within the royal palace.
I understand women’s love of gossip because I’m a woman myself.
But the rumors that circulate in the palace are not cute local rumors, but rumors that, if taken the wrong way, could affect the country’s affairs.
‘To be so transparent about such things… Is this country going to be okay?’
I let out a sigh and resumed my assigned task.
Cleaning up the nostalgic royal palace was fun, like I was reliving Rosemary’s memories.
Rosemary was once the fiancée of Prince Gray, the king of this country. However, due to political power struggles between the factions and the prince falling in love with Tia, the current queen, Rosemary is ultimately sentenced to death.
I, Marie Edigma, who recalled the memories of my previous life, am now serving as a maid in the very palace where I lost my life in my previous life.
Regarding this matter, I’ve come to terms with the fact that the past is the past and the present is the present.
Therefore, I made sure not to have any contact with Rosemary’s younger brother, Duke Rose, with whom she had close ties in the past, or with Alberto McClain, who had been Rosemary’s knight.
I promised myself that I would never reveal them, whether it was my own feelings or Rosemary’s, that I would not let them take me back to the past.
Nevertheless, there are moments when I feel like savoring the nostalgia, and during my breaks, I occasionally peek into the knights’ training grounds.
And today, too, since it was my break time, I was thinking of going to see the knights’ training with a sandwich in hand, which was shared from the kitchen.
While the other maids wonder what’s enjoyable in such a sweltering place, I’ve always admired knights, making it an enjoyable spot for me.
‘I remember when I was little I used to annoy my older brother by imitating a knight….’
Rosemary used to play the knight game, with herself as the princess, but the current me used to be a tomboyish girl who would play as the knight and duel with my brother.
My brother used to tease me, saying, “How could Marie, such a manly girl, become a proper young lady?” But I may have been quite the tomboy since I couldn’t even retort back to that.
Still, when I was told to act ladylike, I was able to learn impeccable manners that surprised those around me, which, in hindsight, is probably because of my past life as Rosemary.
?
In the courtyard of the royal palace that I pass through on my way to the knights’ training grounds, there is the figure of a young lady, who is neglecting her duties as a maid today, and instead searching for Prince Risel.
Even though they have been provided with maid uniforms, some women are dressed in flamboyant maid outfits with their own unique designs or are wearing overpowering perfumes, as they compete in finding the prince.
Personally, I’ve never had a good look at Prince Risel’s true face. He gave a speech on my first day of service, but I was so far away in the hall that the only thing I remember was that he had the same red hair as Queen Tia.
The noble ladies passing through the courtyard pay me no mind and start gossiping. Ah, it seems the chirping of birds has begun here as well.
“I can’t find him again today.”
“I wonder where he is.”
“I must win the prince’s favor at all costs!”
“Oh, dear, with that face of yours, I think it’s going to be quite difficult.”
“Yes, I agree. My condolences.”
Hyuck, hyuck, hyuck.
The birds here seemed to be much more vicious.
They try to keep each other in check, but they can’t find a prince to compete with in the first place.
Prince Risel was a clever one.
At one point, he had a subordinate of similar stature to himself walk around with a red-haired wig to divert the women’s attention toward him. Other times, he had a fake messenger tell people that he was working in a corner of the castle, and while the young ladies gathered in one place, he gained his freedom.
From his behavior, it’s clear that the prince doesn’t want to choose a fiancée. Incidentally, this information also came from a fellow maid. Rumors can be truly frightening.
I pass by the hyena-like ladies with a sidelong glance and take a seat on a bench in the corner of the training ground, which has become my usual spot.
Shaded by trees, this was a pleasant lunch spot with a refreshing breeze.
“I wonder if there’s no training today.”
The training knights I was hoping to see were nowhere to be found. Since they have irregular training sessions, there are times when no one is here, like today. In these cases, I enjoy my lunch in peace while admiring the scenery.
I spread the packaged sandwich I was holding on my lap and began eating it under the peaceful weather.
The sandwich consisted of an egg, lettuce, and bacon, apparently left over from breakfast. All of the dishes are made by the palace’s top chefs, so the taste is guaranteed.
‘At first, I thought the royal palace was nothing special, but being able to enjoy delicious food like this and receive a high salary, it’s not bad at all.’
There’s no trace of the stifling atmosphere in the royal palace that was like Rosemary’s time.
It’s because such matters are beyond the scope of a mere maid.
That’s right, I thought absentmindedly as I reached for my third sandwich.
Suddenly, a lone man entered the training ground.
His hair is black, and his clothing, while of good quality, is simple. He has a good-looking face, but is young, maybe a year older than me.
‘Maybe he’s a new recruit? Judging from his appearance, he looks like a noble…’
The royal palace’s knights don’t place a strong emphasis on social status. Even a commoner could become a knight if he had a certain level of education and passed the entrance exam. Still, it is said that some people are recommended by nobles. Many pampered noble sons supposedly quit quickly due to the rigor of the training… This is what I heard from a woman who once worked as a maid in the Knights’ Corps for a while.
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