TN: I"m sorry for the late post. I wanted to post a chapter every week to catch up with web novel but my job doesn"t give me much time to do anything else. I hope you enjoy this post and I"ll try to be more consistent in posting.
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Mary"s mother, the lady of the Albert House, Carrel, didn"t have to say hurry. Without any explanation nor time to change clothes, once they realized, they were already in the carriage.
This overbearing pressure, as expected of the lady of Albert"s house. The rumour about once there were strong rivals in love who checked each other with sidelong glance, but in a flash one of them approached the next head of Albert House and won the fight was probably true. Everyone who heard the story at that time, could only said, “It was brilliant.”
Although she acted as a proper good wife and mother only after her marriage to the Albert family, but her coercive ability was still going strong. Glancing back between that mother and the horse carriage in front of her, Mary peered at her mother"s face.
“Umm… Mother, I can come with my own carriage.”
“Oh my, what are you talking about, Mary. We are in a hurry so climb in.”
See, with a push on her back, Mary climbed into the carriage with resignation.
And she reluctantly sat on the seat facing the back of the carriage. In other words, the lower seat.
“Oh my, Mary, why are you sitting there? “
“Mother, we are in a hurry, right. For now, let"s depart.”
Be quick, this time it"s Mary who urge her mother.
Carrel could not help getting into the carriage, but with a strange look, she still sat down at the place where Mary would normally have to sit. Feeling out of place when facing her daughter, unconsciously she tilted her head, her hair wavy hair softly sway.
The last one to enter was Addie. He came in like a proper attendant, with an “Excuse me,” and apologetic expression, before sitting beside Carrel.
Carrel"s eyes widened this time because she really didn"t get the meaning of this action.
Mary and Addie, both of them should understand the meaning between the lower and upper seat.
But somehow, the two of them sat in reverse. Mary acted as if it was a normal thing, gazing out of the window while enjoying the wind. Meanwhile, Addie was looking outside the window with an apologetic expression. His expression was drawn and he looked pale.
What is this about…she looked at both of them as the carriage sways. Mary, who noticed her gaze, said, “Please don"t mind it, mother.”
“Addie has motion-sickness. To the point he will faint if he sit facing the opposite direction.”
“Oh, is that so? “
“Apologies, Madam! I know this is rude, but no matter what, the reverse seat….only the reverse seat… “
Perhaps imagining it was bad as well, as Addie paled even further while apologizing…and then returned to tiredly leaning on the window. It seemed the motion-sickness was real.
Her daughter who understand his affliction and sat on the lower seat while thinking about Carrel"s position as the mother. Carrel gazed at Mary who seemed to have no care and looking at the scenery.
“…If Mary is fine with it, then so do I. And you are feeling fine? “
“Yes, I feel fine. I can even read dictionary while at it.”
“That"s because My Lady"s semicircular ca.n.a.l is being protected by those alloy drills…”
“However, the scenery from that side seems better. Addie, change place with me.”
“I"m sorry, I will shut up, anything but that. At least, on the horse or the roof is better…”
“I don"t want to ride a carriage with a human plastered into its roof. Look, all that talking is making it worse. Just look outside.”
“Yes…”
Carrel could only look in astonishment at both of them as Mary ended the conversation with a “Honestly.” And then, understanding the situation, her red eyes crinkled as she smiled.
When her daughters went out, they always departed several hours earlier than the scheduled time, but still there was no big difference in arrival time. Whenever it was questioned, Mary always answered with an atypical “I was enjoying the scenery,” and dodge further question.
In the first place, it was weird when Mary, who didn"t have materialistic desire like any other n.o.ble daughter, wanted her personal carriage. “One horse carriage is enough!”, was what she said whenever other people bragged, but whenever there was a need, she always took her own carriage.
And all of those was what made her different from other n.o.ble daughter… I see, so it was for this, Carrel smiled slightly at them but both Mary and Addie didn"t notice.
When they arrived at the Royal Palace, everything was in chaos. The severity of that chaos was to the point that no one welcomed their arrival despite being visited by the Albert House.
And if they looked closely, there were people who rarely come to the Royal Palace. Even scholars. All of them were distinguished people, which was proving the current situation was a big deal to that extent.
“This is dreadful…”
“Well, it can"t be helped, they found the missing Princess, after all.”
This level of confusion was something that never happened before, without thinking Mary and Addie stood around as well. A maid came running toward the two of them in hurry.
Only giving a light bow to the lady of Albert House was something impossible to imagine in the Royal Palace.
Even so, Carrel took control of the situation. She looked around, caught and questioned a nearby maid, before pulling Mary by hand.
“Mother, what is it? If you have business, why bring me too…”
“Honestly, what a contrary daughter, you should help when your friend is in trouble.”
“Frieeend! ？ Who! ！ “
“Of course it"s Alicichan. Besides, my lady doesn"t have any other friend.”
“Addie, remember this when we"re going back with the carriage! “
“Ah! I"m sorry! “
Mary yelled at Addie as given and he screamed back in defeat when the horse carriage was mentioned. Against that, Carrel chided “Hey, no bullying! ” like a mother would, still, it was something so out of place as a n.o.ble.
With liveliness and speed that didn"t befit the image of someone from Albert House, they continued to rush into the busy Royal Palace.
However, no one had time to pay attention inside the chaos. They didn"t seem to realize that Mary was there at all. People who talked whatever they want, those who irritatedly clicked their tongue, and those who yelled at the maids, asking when the King will return.
But it couldn"t be helped in this confusing situation.
Because she lamented over the loss of her first child, the Queen didn"t bear any more children. Not because they didn"t love each other anymore, but the shock from losing their beloved daughter made it difficult for them, despite the va.s.sals" insistence for the birth of an heir.
With both of them gave up on having children despite the insistence of their surrounding, some relatives with blood connection with royalty made secret manoeuvres when the circ.u.mstances permit, some even tried to send concunbines for the King. There was even a protest to abolish the monarchy.
While they pretended to be in peace, the inside were swirling with each person"s desire. In that situation, Alicia appeared.
A girl with a legitimate royal blood. And since the girl was close with first son of Dias House, some even considered this good match as a miracle.
Of course while there were people who are happy, there were those who are not. Especially for those who were aiming at the next chair of the king and actively moved in the background, it would be throwing salt to the sea.
And to top it all, both King and Queen were away on diplomatic business, there was no one who could make a decision and settle the situation.
Without no one to clear the confusion, it got more befuddled as time goes on.
With everyone hiding their desire inside their chest, they probe each other intention inside the chaos.
The Royal Palace was the one with the highest concentration of chaos.
Inside the room filled with royalty, prime minister, and people who hold authority in the country, Alicia sat in the midst of it all.
Parliament meeting room, or so it was called, had heavy door and was being guarded by security on both sides to prohibit entrance. Even when the they didn"t know the situation inside, the atmosphere was heavy with pressure.
Mary and Addie stood before that door with pale face.
“Mo… mother… are you perhaps…”
“Madam…please be careful.”
With a ‘No way" inside their mind, they watched as Carrel stood dignifiedly in front of that door.
However, even if she is the lady of the Albert House, no, it"s precisely because she is the lady of the Albert House, she should be aware of the heavy atmosphere drifting from the room.
Actually, some of the n.o.ble were glancing at them from some time before, but they definitely won"t come closer. They were interested with what"s happening inside but they know they would be crushed by the pressure if they enter.
Who were inside, and who were spreading this heavy atmosphere. Just by thinking that, Mary felt her stomach twist, and hesitated to even touch the door.
“Mother, even if we stand here, the meeting isn"t over yet. Let"s have some tea somewhere.”
“T, that"s right, Madam. Standing around will tire you, how about we borrow a room and rest.”
Hey, hey, Mary and Addie desperately tried to appeal to her, but as usual Carrel raised herself to her full height, without responding to her daughter or even raising an eyebrow, stared at the door…
Gong, gong,
and knock on it.
With her fist.
“Mother! “
“Madam “
“”She"s going mad! “”
And so, Mary and Addie"s idiotic voice echoed in the red-carpeted corridor.