If Your Grace helps me, I will never forget this kindness for the rest of my life.

That’s right. But, Hersia, you’re not foolishly hoping I’ll help you without asking for anything in return, are you?

Though she seemed to have steeled herself already, Hersia looked at Sikar with quite an anxious gaze.

“Ah, what Your Grace wishes of me is…”

“Monitor the Queen’s every move and report back to me.”

Hersia wore a deeply shocked expression—and I was just as stunned.

Monitor the Queen’s every move? That was far too impossible a demand.

“Your Grace, please reconsider this part. How could I possibly dare to monitor Her Majesty the Queen’s every move?”

“One of the Queen’s maidservants is about to give birth and will be stepping away from her duties for a while. During that time, only two maidservants will remain by the Queen’s side—so you can slip in as one of them.”

“But… how on earth could I become a maidservant to Her Majesty? Surely Her Majesty would never permit it.”

“Petition the King. Tell him you wish to serve as the Queen’s maid before marrying into House Hamel. He’ll grant such a small request from his cousin.”

“What? But… even if His Majesty permits it, what if Lady Countess Kaylian finds out?”

Kaylian was the Countess of a powerful noble house. Her overseeing the Queen’s maidservants stemmed from loyalty and honor toward the Queen—so anyone attempting to take that role would be seen as challenging Kaylian herself.

Even if the challenger were Hersia, Kaylian was not the type to quietly stand by while someone usurped her position.

And since Hersia wasn’t the sort to confront anyone, she couldn’t help but feel afraid.

“Even if she gets angry, the King won’t be able to stop you—he’s sending you to House Hamel for his own political advantage, after all.”

“But… my heart is trembling too much…”

Of course it was. Not only Kaylian, but the Queen’s temperament was far from ordinary—merely standing beside her would feel suffocating.

But Sikar, naturally, didn’t care one bit about Hersia’s feelings.

“How can you hope to change anything if you can’t even handle such a small task for your own sake? If you can’t manage even this much for me, you’re utterly useless to me.”

Sikar slowly rose from his seat as he spoke.

“My Lady. Unfortunately, it seems there’s no way to help Hersia.”

I glanced at Hersia, who was shedding tears with a look of despair, then followed after Sikar.

“Sikar!”

He turned at the sound of me chasing after him, stopping in his tracks.

“What.”

“What do you mean, just leaving like this? Isn’t there another way?”

“No.”

“Then at least explain it to Hersia.”

“What explanation?”

“How can you push someone who’s already terrified like that? You’re practically blindfolding someone who’s already stumbling in the dark.”

“I already told you—I have no intention of helping Hersia unconditionally. You know as well as I do that the King isn’t sending Hersia to House Hamel merely to marry his cousin into a good family. Since this marriage has a clear purpose, I must also pay a price to sway Gillian. This isn’t something that’ll be solved by whining like a child.”

Of course, Sikar wasn’t wrong—but he failed to understand that not everyone could think so coldly.

“Sikar, you’re right. But who starts out perfectly capable and courageous? Especially now, Hersia is acting this way because she’s overwhelmed. If you clearly explain to her first what she needs to do, then let her decide, it won’t be too late. Of course she panicked when you suddenly told her to become the Queen’s maid and report every move!”

Sikar stared at me as if he’d never heard anything more absurd.

“You’re telling me I need to explain things to a full-grown adult? How ridiculous.”

“Not everyone who’s an adult is mature and rational.”

Sikar sighed as if annoyed, then walked toward the reception room.

“I suppose I’ll give her some explanation.”

I followed closely behind Sikar as I spoke.

“Just like I just persuaded you, you must also do your best to persuade Hersia.”

Sikar, who had been walking smoothly, suddenly stopped and glanced sideways at me.

“You’re asking too much.”

“I’m not ordering you—I’m asking.”

“Your requests are starting to sound more and more like commands—you’re beginning to resemble me. That fierce attitude isn’t bad, actually.”

Sikar entered the reception room with a satisfied expression.

‘Don’t feel satisfied over something like that!’

Hersia, who had been bowing her head deeply, jumped up in surprise as we re-entered.

“Sit down, Hersia.”

“Sit.”

Only after Sikar sat down did Hersia take her seat.

“My Lady wishes for a concrete explanation of what you must do—so listen carefully.”

“Thank you, Your Grace…”

Sikar continued his explanation to Hersia, who looked utterly cowed.

Currently, the Queen is attended by two maidservants. Since they’ve long been intimidated by Kaylian’s presence, they’re unlikely to give Hersia a hard time.

However, to use them effectively, she must treat them kindly—unlike Kaylian.

Though they’ve remained silent until now, they secretly despise Kaylian deeply.

Once Hersia becomes close to them, the rest will proceed smoothly. Even without chasing after every detail, whenever Hersia asks, they’ll tell her everything.

Thus, Sikar’s instructions to Hersia were as follows:

Become close enough to the maidservants to drink and socialize with them. Then, host a small formal banquet at Hersia’s residence and invite us.

“Once you’re close to the maidservants, you’ll automatically learn the Queen’s every move. Surely you can manage this much?”

Upon hearing it, Hersia seemed to realize it wasn’t so difficult after all, and nodded.

“I’ll try, Your Grace.”

“Remember—you must become close to the maidservants.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Hersia didn’t ask why she needed to befriend them. She’d been frightened at the thought of spying on the Queen, but now, sensing it wasn’t as difficult as she’d feared, she seemed somewhat relieved.

I understood why Sikar told Hersia to build intimacy with the maidservants—it seemed he intended to view their memories during the banquet.

Using Hersia to uncover the Queen’s every move, then observing finer details through the maidservants’ memories, would be the most effective approach.

Since the Queen’s maidservants couldn’t freely attend social gatherings, Sikar likely hadn’t found a proper opportunity to access their memories.

He could have seized chances through illegal or risky means, but it seemed he’d reserved those as a last resort.

“Before doing any of that, you must first persuade your cousin, the King. So don’t omit a single detail—do exactly as I instruct.”

Then, Sikar outlined everything Hersia would need to handle going forward.

When Hersia reached for a pen to take notes, Sikar warned her not to leave any evidence—she must memorize everything.

So Hersia listened intently, determined not to miss a single word Sikar said.

‘He should’ve explained it like this from the start. He really doesn’t know how to talk to people.’

After seeing Hersia off, apparently reassured, I asked Sikar,

“You’re planning to view the maidservants’ memories during the banquet, aren’t you?”

“Of course. Otherwise, why would I attend such a pointless party?”

“Judging by Hersia’s expression, she’ll manage well. She seemed to gain some confidence.”

“If she lacks even this much ability, she shouldn’t expect to change her life at all.”

“She’ll do fine. Today, her gaze was the most confident I’ve ever seen.”

Sikar gave me a faint smile, then looked away as our eyes met.

“Seeing you happy doesn’t seem so bad.”

Then he turned sharply and walked down the hallway.

He could’ve just said I looked nice when I smiled.

Still, seeing Sikar quietly smiling because I was happy over Hersia made me smile too, for no particular reason.

But why was Sikar trying to extract information using the Queen’s attendants, rather than Gillian’s inner circle?

It didn’t seem to be a method for identifying others from the same place as me.

I was curious, but since he hadn’t volunteered the information, I couldn’t press further.

For now, as always, trusting that he’d handle things well on his own was the greatest help I could offer.

Visiting the Duke’s estate and then securing an audience with the King wasn’t an easy task—but since this was the only way to avoid marrying into House Hamel, Hersia gritted her teeth.

Standing in the audience chamber, where even her own breath seemed to echo grandly, she bowed respectfully to Gillian.

“Thank you for granting me an audience, Your Majesty.”

Gillian, seated in his chair, gestured lazily toward Hersia as if telling her to sit.

“You’ve always avoided me, yet now you’re the one asking to see me? I’m dying of curiosity. Sit down there, quickly.”

‘So that’s why my audience was scheduled so early.’

When Hersia first requested the audience, she’d been far down the waiting list—it seemed she’d have to wait over a month to see the King.

The waiting list had been packed with scheduled audiences for lords from various territories. She’d actually begun to relax, relieved that the date was set so far ahead.

Yet the very next day, an order arrived from Gillian summoning her to the palace.

Leaning back in his chair, Gillian slowly lowered his head toward Hersia.

“State your business for requesting to see me.”

“I heard Lady Countess Kaylian will be taking temporary leave due to childbirth.”

“Yes, so I’ve been told. But why are you asking? Surely you’re not implying you wish to become one of the Queen’s maidservants?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I wish to become a maidservant to Her Majesty the Queen.”

“Why suddenly do you wish to become the Queen’s maidservant?”

“I’ve long wished to serve Her Majesty but was unable to—now, I believe this is my opportunity.”

“Is that truly all?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“We’ll see whether that’s truly your reason. Stand up.”

Gillian suddenly stood, grabbed Hersia’s arm, and pulled her to her feet—leaving her flustered.

“Your, Your Majesty? Why, why are you doing this?”

“Follow me quietly.”

Gillian moved forward, emanating the aura of a ferocious beast.

Following behind him, Hersia felt as if she were walking through a field of thorns.