6. Confusion

The picnic at Lake Park was very lively. It was full spring, with acacia fragrance brushing past noses on the breeze. Perhaps because rumors spread that Her Majesty the Queen would visit, many more people than usual had gathered.

Rosia came with Baroness Luther and Betty. The baroness tagged along to keep watch, while Betty was excited about meeting Leo Palena. Though she had criticized his face as ugly when Rosia met Nigel, her heart seemed to have changed again already. Betty appeared happy about getting even slightly closer to her desired love marriage. If she was happy, Rosia intended to support her. Anything for her dearest friend’s happiness.

The three walked quickly across the well-maintained lawn side by side. Though some men glanced at Betty and Rosia, the baroness paid them no attention. In her excessive outfit with her neck held stiffly upright, she looked just like a male peacock. Thanks to her, not only men but even women couldn’t easily approach.

Betty walked arm in arm with Rosia and whispered just loud enough for Rosia to hear.

“Baroness Luther is a bit much today, Rosie. At this rate, her neck might snap if the wind blows.”

“I can hear you, Betty.”

Baroness Luther glared at Betty with stern eyes. Betty startled and retreated slightly behind Rosia.

“Then I’ll go to Lord Leo.”

Betty said with an awkward smile while carefully watching the baroness’s reaction. The three stopped walking simultaneously. Leo Palena stood with his friends some distance away. They were all strapping men, and Rosia felt uneasy for no reason and grabbed Betty’s wrist to stop her.

“Wait, Betty. Will you be alright alone?”

“Of course. Are you worried about Leo’s friends? It’s fine, fine. I’ve met them several times already.”

Betty patted Rosia’s hand saying not to worry. She’d met them before? Still, Rosia didn’t feel comfortable about it. She just felt uneasy. But it was awkward to stop Betty without any reason. After hesitating briefly, Rosia finally let go.

“You’ll stay in Lake Park?”

“We’ll probably go boating? See you later, Rosie. Goodbye for now, Baroness.”

Betty gave Rosia a quick hug before quickly disappearing from view. As Rosia searched for Betty’s retreating figure vanishing into the crowd, she was practically dragged along by Baroness Luther.

“Lady Odor handles herself well alone, Rosia. Shouldn’t you learn from your friend?”

The baroness was someone with clear objectives from the start. She was clearly moving to meet Her Majesty the Queen and Nigel Gragford. Rosia had to be helplessly dragged along while swallowing a sigh inside. There were already too many watching eyes. Moreover, though unwanted, Rosia was famous among the nobles. Rosia Berthe, the woman who had secret meetings with Nigel. Those who didn’t know better would probably only see Rosia that way.

Finding the Queen wasn’t very difficult. The Queen was receiving greetings from people while flanked by the Crown Prince and Grand Duke, accompanied by several guards. Baroness Luther took a deep breath and turned sharply toward Rosia. Then she looked over Rosia’s hair ornaments and dress with a dissatisfied expression.

“I told you to dress more elaborately. At this rate, you won’t even catch anyone’s eye.”

“I dressed naturally since it’s a picnic.”

“This is too natural, Rosia.”

The baroness grumbled while patting Rosia’s dress to fix its shape before linking arms with her.

“Now we’ll greet Her Majesty the Queen. You must make the best impression. We might become family after all.”

Family with the Queen, such grand dreams indeed. Rosia almost blurted that out. How lightly did the baroness view Her Majesty the Queen? Rosia was disgusted by such disrespect.

Of course, whatever Rosia thought didn’t matter at all to the baroness. She succeeded in squeezing through the crowd of people with just the single-minded determination to greet the Queen.

Just then, a young couple finished greeting the Queen and left. Rosia glanced briefly at Nigel standing to the Queen’s right. Nigel stared back at Rosia as well. Today too, his face was more beautiful than the divine statues standing in Lake Park. But Rosia had grown so accustomed to that appearance that she no longer marveled greatly at it. She only worried about how to return the coat and handkerchief left in the carriage.

To the Queen’s left stood Davion and Greta. They stood arm in arm, looking back and forth between Rosia and the baroness. Greta leaned her head slightly toward Davion and whispered something. Then Davion smiled faintly while looking at Rosia. It wasn’t a particularly pleasant response. But they had no right to question whatever they were saying. She could only pretend not to notice.

Just then, Baroness Luther approached the Queen and curtsied.

“Your Majesty, I am Baroness Luther. And this is Rosia of House Berthe.”

Rosia quickly took her eyes off Nigel and made a proper curtsy.

“We are always grateful for Wetzel’s prosperity and blessings, Your Majesty.”

“So you are Lady Berthe. I saw the article.”

The Queen looked over Rosia with an expressionless face. Rosia smiled while lowering her gaze naturally to avoid awkwardness. Being evaluated by the highest person in this country couldn’t help but make her nervous. Especially bringing up the article right away made embarrassment flood in. But compared to the baroness’s reaction, Rosia’s was nothing.

The baroness kept glancing anxiously at the Queen with restless eyes. She looked afraid as if the Queen might pronounce a death sentence. The Queen, who must have dealt with countless people, couldn’t miss those inner thoughts.

“Baroness Luther, have you committed some crime?”

“P-pardon? Ah, no, Your Majesty.”

Baroness Luther startled and bowed her head deeply. The Queen raised one eyebrow crookedly. Rosia thought that gesture was just like Nigel. The Queen looked at Rosia once more before nodding slightly and saying.

“That will be all.”

“Ah, but……”

Though Baroness Luther hurriedly raised her head and looked at the Queen, Queen Gragford was already walking away. The baroness stared blankly at her retreating figure with a hollow expression. She seemed quite upset that all her efforts only resulted in briefly showing their faces.

Rosia was also a bit flustered. She needed to return the coat to Nigel but there were too many people around. Yet she couldn’t follow those who seemed to live in a different world while waiting for an opportunity. What should she do? Would she have to wait until their next meeting at this rate?

“Quickly follow them, Rosia. The Grand Duke was looking at you. An opportunity will come if you follow.”

The baroness who had been stamping her feet suddenly pushed Rosia’s back. Rosia was about to resist saying she didn’t want to, but gave up and pretended to do as the baroness said. She wanted to get away from the baroness’s side first. And she was also worried about Betty who had left on an unsettling note earlier. Though Nigel’s coat could be returned anytime, now was the only time to find Betty. Since she said she would stay within Lake Park, she shouldn’t have gone too far.

Rosia walked aimlessly through the crowds until she reached a place where the baroness was out of sight. As she was about to pass by where they had gone boating last time, someone stopped her.

“Lady Berthe.”

Rosia turned around with a start. Nigel Gragford stared at her with an impassive expression.

“Where are you going in such a hurry?”

“Ah, Your Highness. I need to find my friend.”

Rosia felt relief without realizing it. To feel relief at having that strange Grand Duke Gragford in front of her. It seemed she had already grown used to this man. As the nanny had said, as Rosia had first felt, he wasn’t simply a bad person after all. Just that much. Rosia quickly rationalized this unfamiliar change.

At that moment, Betty’s orange hair was visible in the distance. She was entering the forest while holding Leo Palena’s hand. Why are they going into the forest? Rosia suddenly felt uneasy. Fortunately, the young Marquis Palena’s friends were nowhere to be seen. But that wasn’t enough to feel completely at ease. If something were to happen after they entered the forest like that…… Rosia anxiously bit her lip before hurriedly saying to Nigel.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness. I must go now.”

“Wait……”

Though Nigel tried to say something, it was cut off as Rosia turned her back. Rosia headed toward the forest almost at a run. If she went just a bit faster, she could catch up to Betty. That thought alone filled her mind. The items she needed to return to Nigel had long been forgotten. Unpleasant imaginings anxiously pounded at her heart so she couldn’t just stand by and watch.

When she came to her senses, she had already entered quite deep into the forest. Due to the thick standing trees, the forest was much darker than by the lake. Since it was a walking path extending from the lake, a narrow path continued on. Rosia looked around searching for Betty.