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After changing into my work clothes, I left my room a little early and headed to the dining room for the servants.
All the knights and the servants of the royal palace reside in the servants’ quarters located within the palace. The rooms reserved for the former candidates for engagement, who were called in as maids, were actually not used.
The reason they used more luxurious guest rooms was due to the title “prospective fiancées,” but now, when they truly become servants, they use the regular quarters. Even so, the quality of the rooms is still high, as we are servants of the royal palace.
The palace servants include children of low-ranking nobles, though there are also commoners, they must pass rigorous examinations, interviews, and obtain recommendations. Even if they have the ability, the difference in status and rank is still strictly considered.
Personally, I was able to obtain the job relatively smoothly due to my modest title as a baron’s daughter and the recommendation from the Knight Commander’s assistant. However, in reality, it is not a job that can be easily acquired.
Supposedly, that’s how it should have been, but for some reason, I feel like I’ve been changing jobs quite frequently.
I settle into my usual designated seat by the window, which offered a nice view, and received my portion of bread, soup, and salad and began eating. The food, prepared by the palace cooks, was exceptionally delicious.
The view from the window provided a clear sight of the spot where carriages arrived and departed within the palace grounds, making it easy to observe people coming and going.
Despite the early hour, a few carriages appeared.
I recognized the familiar crest on the carriage that had just stopped, and as I stared, I realized that the man getting off was Reynaldo.
Indeed, it was a carriage from the Rose territory.
As I stuffed a piece of bread into my mouth, I observed Reynaldo’s appearance.
The fact that he had arrived so early in the morning meant that he had probably ridden the carriage through the night.
He looked a bit tired as he got off the carriage.
Perhaps noticing my peering gaze, Reynaldo looked up. Our eyes met.
Then, his expression softened, and he gently waved his hand, so I hurriedly waved back.
“…..?”
I observed carefully, paying attention to Reynaldo’s gestures.
He beckoned me and then pointed to where he was standing.
I nodded through the window and quickly finished my soup before clearing the dishes.
“Lord Reynaldo.”
“Marie, I apologize for arriving so early.”
When I reached the place where I had been looking earlier, the carriage had already left, leaving only Reynaldo there.
I feel sorry that he waited for me, especially on such an early and chilly morning where even his breath turned visible in the cold air.
“No, it’s all right. Did you arrive at this time because you were traveling since last night?”
“That’s right. I went to check on the Rose territory for a while. I actually wanted to invite you, but it was sudden, and I had to travel all night, so I decided against it.”
“I see.”
It’s heartwarming to see that Reynaldo remembered my wish to greet the people who had taken care of me in the Rose territory. It made me very happy.
“How are things going with your work in the Knights’ Corps?”
“They’ve been treating me well.”
More than enough, actually.
“Are you working today too?”
“Yes, since it’s still early, I plan to wait in the dining hall for a while. What about you, Lord Reynaldo? Have you had your meal?”
“Not yet. If you don’t mind, would you like to rest in my room? I can make some tea while we have our meal.”
Delighted by Reynaldo’s invitation, I nodded in agreement.
Since the dinner party, which had become a tradition before I entered the Knights’ Corps, had disappeared, it had been a while since I last met Reynaldo like this.
With a joyful feeling as bright as the morning sun that had finally risen, I followed Reynaldo.