The Sleepless Night of the Maid

Rex looked at Eva without saying anything. He only fidgeted with his hands and coughed a couple of times. He could feel his face warming in awkwardness.

Looking at his agitated expression, Eva knew that she had shaken something inside him, albeit weakly. Something that didn’t hurt Rex but still stung.

After a while, with a pleasant face, he tapped Eva on the shoulder.

“Do you know that the name Lily doesn’t really suit you?”

“What?”

“You’re not such a beautiful and weak plant.”

“Hm.”

Eva answered with no sincerity and a sulky face, it was less tiring to not deal with him when he was talking to himself.

“But it does look good on you. When I’m writing or speaking that name, it reminds me that you’re not being truthful.”

“…….”

“I hope you can abandon that name as soon as possible.”

Rex’s words, which were flowing like a stream, gripped her chest at the end. Only then did she understand the meaning hidden behind his words. That she was not as fragile as she seemed. She needed to take off the mask that life had put on her and find her true self.

Maybe he was encouraging her because it was almost time to say goodbye.

“Thank you. Oh, and Mr Rex.”

Eva took her mother’s bracelet out of her pocket and held it out for Rex to see.

“This bracelet, as you said last time, can we sell it for 3,000 coins?”

Eva was sorry to have delayed the schedule, and she couldn’t even pay for the hospital bill. In addition, she would need a large sum of money when she arrived in Montana. She’d have to find a house, manage living expenses, and a lot more. For Eva now, the immediate reality of her situation was more important than the bracelet’s meaning.

As if Eva’s request was unexpected, Rex glanced at her and the bracelet alternatively. She didn’t seem like she liked selling precious things. Then he smiled with a meaningful expression.

“Yeah, I’ll give you 500 more coins.”

“Thank you!”

Eva’s face flushed with joy. The deed was done. This money would greatly help her and Cecil live for a while. It’d be the base for her to hold onto while she looked for a job.

Looking at her smiling quietly, he patted her on the top of her head. Eva flinched in surprise but did not avoid it because even his cold hands felt warm.

***

Count Benjamin Holland sat at his office desk after having a late breakfast. The butler who brought his tea put the teacup down on his desk.

“Thank you.”

He smiled and held the teacup leisurely. It had been so long since he’d tasted this relaxation. Prince Edward, who took a vacation all of a sudden, overworked him for more than 10 days. As he was the Crown Prince’s royal secretary, it was his duty to stand next to him and help him, but this time it was particularly difficult.

The Prince’s stamina must have been excellent.

He was a monster who didn’t once breathe roughly while he was riding a horse in heavy armour for multiple days. Although Benjamin also exercised, it was not enough to keep up with the Crown Prince, both a knight and a soldier.

“These are the letters that Your Lordship received while away from the mansion.”

The butler brought a box containing the letters and put it on Benjamin’s desk. He frowned, looking at the thick stack inside the box. He would have to check them all one by one and send a reply according to the content.

“Don’t make a schedule for about three days, 10 days from now. Duke Kensington is hosting a ball.”

Benjamin picked up the letters and gave instructions to the butler. When they had stopped at the Kensington Palace, Olivia had invited him.