Since I Don’t Know Anything About It, Shall We Break Up, Your Majesty?

Elina’s residence was just a ten-minute carriage ride past the opera street.

It was located between the financial district and the boutique street, fitting for someone who loved luxury, right in the center of the 5th avenue where many artists and celebrities lived.

Lumiere waited for her in the central drawing room, which overlooked the porte-cochère¹ of Elina’s mansion .

Unlike the bustling outside, the inside of the mansion was quiet, like in another world.

‘It’s my first time at Elina’s house.’

Originally, Elina’s residence was not known to the public.

For her, who had both enthusiastic fans and malicious ones, privacy was very important.

Understanding that, Lumiere had never been particularly curious about Elina’s residence.

Even without that, Elina was always at the opera house.

Lumiere slowly looked around the central drawing room.

To her honor, a large painting of her decorated the huge frame above the fireplace.

A portrait of the strong, beautiful, and aloof Elina Buick.

Lumiere focused a lot on the colors and symbols that could represent her, instead of detailed descriptions.

A vivid green dress drawn with bold lines, an elegantly held long cigarette holder, black satin gloves reaching up to her forearms, and bright red lips slightly tilted upward.

Now her hair was white, appearing grayish, but she had stubbornly maintained that unique style for over 10 years.

Elina, whom everyone admired and envied.

Karien’s eternal muse.

There were also many small, cute frames on the mantle.

Young Elina with her lovers, and a small, cute girl who seemed to be her daughter.

“……Excuse me, are you perhaps a princess?”

Around then, a very small and thin voice spoke up.

Startled, she turned around to see a small child peeking at her from behind the drawing room door.

The boy, with soft-looking brown hair neatly combed down, appeared to be about six or seven years old.

Lumiere smiled and greeted the child.

“Hello? I’m sorry, but I’m not a princess. I’m a guest visiting Madame Elina Buick today.”

“……Ah.”

The child seemed oddly disappointed at the news that she was not a princess.

“Are you disappointed? Oh dear, what should I do?”

“N-no! It’s just that you look so much like a princess, but you said you’re not……. You really seem like one, but you said you’re not, so I got confused. You look exactly like the princess I imagined. I was so surprised I f-followed you…….”

The child stammered, still hiding behind the door.

Seeing his face turn redder as he spoke, he seemed to be a shy child.

His awkward compliment, saying she looked like a princess, was incredibly endearing.

“Is that so? But isn’t it uncomfortable to stay there like that?”

The child shook his head.

“I see. Then, are you perhaps afraid of me?”

The child’s head shook even more vigorously, as if to say that was absolutely not the case.

Lumiere smiled a little and patted the seat next to her.

“In that case, would you like to come over here and keep me company for a while, young master? It’s quite lonely being by myself.”

“……Can I sit next to you?”

“Of course. I’d be grateful if you did.”

Unable to hide his delight, the child blushed and slowly approached.

His steps seemed slow, and there was a bandage wrapped around his ankle.

The child glanced at Lumiere and then sat down a little distance away from her.

His dangling legs swung back and forth, much like a small puppy wagging its tail.

“It looks like you hurt your leg. Are you okay?”

“Pardon? Yes! I-I’m okay. It really hurt and was scary when I fell off the horse, but my grandmother took care of me, so it doesn’t hurt at all now. It’s amazing. My grandmother seems like she can use magic.”

The boy, still with some baby fat, was very shy, but his eyes sparkled when he talked about his grandmother.

Lumiere smiled and pointed at the portrait.

“Is that lady your grandmother, by any chance?”

“Yes! That’s right! Isn’t my grandmother pretty? She’s an incredibly famous opera singer. She sings really well, too.”

“That’s right, she’s the most famous actress in this country. I’m a big fan myself.”

“Wow! Then, can I call you big sister, uh… c-can I call you big sister?”

It was a cute request, but being called big sister…

It was too much and an excessive title.

Lumiere wasn’t shameless enough to pretend she didn’t know there was a 20-year age difference.

“Just call me Lumiere.”

“Can I really call you by your name?”

“Since I gave you permission, I think you can. But what’s your name, young master?”

“I-I’m Michael Buick!”

The child shouted loudly, then quickly covered his mouth.

Thinking his voice was too loud, he seemed to be checking her reaction.

Lumiere smiled reassuringly and gently lowered the child’s hand.

The hesitant child spoke again in a slightly quieter voice.

“Then Lumiere, have you seen my grandmother’s performance? How is it? It must be amazing.”

“Of course. It’s fantastic. But Michael, have you never seen your grandmother’s performance?”

At Lumiere’s question, Michael drooped his shoulders sadly.

“……No, I haven’t. Actually, it’s not been long since I found out my grandmother is an opera singer.”

It felt like hearing a personal secret.

Lumiere looked at the child with a momentary helpless expression, then raised her hand to hug the child’s shoulder.

“It’s okay. You’ll see it from now on. Elina’s performances get better and better, so the ones you’ll see will be even more wonderful than the ones I’ve seen.”

Did Lumiere’s comfort reach Michael’s heart?

The child’s plump cheeks slowly puffed up, blooming like a sunflower under the sun.

The child nodded vigorously and spoke with a very proud face.

“You know, Lumiere, in my entire life, I’ve never seen a grandmother prettier than mine. Especially the grandmother in that picture looks really pretty!”

“Do you like that picture?”

“Yes! It’s such a pretty picture! And this is a secret, but I think it’s a little prettier than real life.”

“……Oh. Is that so, Michael?”

Suddenly, another person’s voice interrupted.

“……!”

The child froze, startled by the sudden voice.

“N-no, that’s not it…….”

The child’s face turned bright red, and he began to tremble excessively.

As if he had encountered something terrifying, his small body quivered.

‘……What’s going on?’

“Michael, are you okay?”

“Yes, y-yes! Hic! I just got a little surprised.”

Lumiere tried not to show her surprise and naturally wrapped her arm around the child’s shoulder.

“Oh dear, I was just trying to tease a little, but it seems I scared you again.”

The woman, who had been standing by the door, sighed softly and approached, as if she could see the child’s trembling even from a distance.

“Michael.”

“Yes, yes. Yes……. I’m not shivering on purpose.”

The woman knelt down to meet the child’s eyes.

She looked at the child with a gentle face Lumiere had never seen before, then opened her arms and patted the child’s back.

Thankfully, the trembling body gradually calmed down.

Looking up at the child again, she gently tapped the child’s nose with her fingertip, not enough to hurt, and said,

“Were you just saying that I’m the prettiest grandmother in the world to make me happy? That’s disappointing.”

“No! That’s true! Grandma is the prettiest grandmother in the world! Really!”

Michael shouted desperately, clenching his fists.

The woman laughed softly and lifted the child into her arms, holding him at her side.

“I thought I was tired of hearing that I’m the prettiest in the world, but every time you say it, it feels new and delightful, Michael. Such a cute little guy is my grandson.”

She kissed the child’s flushed cheek and smiled at Lumiere.

“Hello, my dear artist girl. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

With a simple face she had never shown before, Elina Buick greeted her.

* * *

“……Seriously, it’s noisy and messy.”

Maria, sitting on the windowsill of Madame Audrey’s boutique, frowned as she looked outside.

On the street, a dirty crowd in rags was breaking buildings and digging up the ground.

Among them, some people were fighting for unknown reasons.

Why are they fighting like that?

For what?

For tomorrow?

But do they even have a tomorrow?

For people who live so dirty and squalidly?

Maria watched the people destroying what had been their home with indifferent eyes.

Her brother had been injured because of that construction.

He’d been attacked by a stranger and was in such a terrible state that he couldn’t go outside for a while, they said.

Even so, Maria felt nothing.

Because she was the most pitiful woman in the world right now.

‘What’s the point of becoming a queen?’

What’s the point of reaching the most noble position in this country?

“……When I’ve ended up marrying a disgusting king who reeks and oozes pus.”

I must be the most pitiful bride in Levania.

No, maybe in the world!

“Sigh…….”

Maria leaned against the window and sighed deeply.

Meanwhile, Madame Audrey, who had organized the numerous bills for the jewelry and dresses Maria had bought, approached her with a light step.

“Lady Maria! Here is the list of items you purchased today. I will have everything delivered to your residence. Would you like to check if anything is missing?”

“My maid, Lindsay, will do that, Madame.”

“Understood. We will also double-check to ensure nothing is overlooked.”

Without even glancing at Audrey’s list, Maria tore off a check from her checkbook.

Audrey’s eyes widened in disbelief as she accepted the check Maria handed over.

“L-Lady Maria, t-this has the royal seal…….”