Betrayed by My Fiancé, I Changed My Role from a Viscount’s Daughter to a Lady-in-Waiting to the Quee

「I brought you something, Miss!」

Everyone there stuttered at the『Miss』who came back there.

「Here you go, water. I squeezed lemon to make it easier for her to drink. This one came in a tub. You can use these clean towels!」

Eh, what. The attention to detail that doesn’t suit his face.

「T–Thank you…」

「You’re welcome, by the way!」

The charming reply was even more eye-opening.

「No, wait a second. What do you mean by『Miss』!?!」

「Eh, what are you talking about?」

「I told you, what do you mean by this『Miss』thing!?」

I don’t remember becoming such a thing, and I didn’t give permission for it. What in the world is going on when you call me『Miss』without warning?

「Miss is Miss, right??」

“What’s so obvious about that?” And they responded as if I am wrong. I might yell, “What are you talking about⁉”

「Kuhahha, it’s fune. Sooner or later it’s going to happen.」

Rio, laughing and sympathizing with me, and the roughnecks around me, for some reason, were all「Ahh, is that so」 about me being『Miss,』they were so convinced that I was『Miss Rio.』Why are they so good at listening, isn’t this ridiculous?

「Haah… That fantasy will never become a reality.」

It seemed silly to take him seriously, and I pushed him away in a tone of exasperation. It’s your choice to dream. It will never become reality, though.

「By the way, how long do you plan to stay? As you can see, I don’t have time for this nonsense. Would you please get out of this room?」

I thank you for fulfilling all my requests. However, it’s just too much work to stay in a room that’s not that big. Besides, although it’s good that she’s unconscious now, it’s obvious that if she were to come to her senses now, she would be in serious trouble.

「My princess is so selfish, hey.」

Next to『Miss』is『Princess』—! I am indeed not a princess. And stop adding more settings, already.

「Well, I guess I’ll just have to find a dress like I promised. Hey, show me around.」

「Understood!」

Rio and the others leave the room in a straightforward manner. Among them, there is only one man who doesn’t seem to be satisfied with the situation. It doesn’t have to be told again, this is a man who was『interesting』to Rio.

As I stole a glance behind him, I thought my eyes met for a moment with the man who turned around just before the door closed.

Later that evening, Rio reappeared and brought a dress that I put on the woman without putting my sleeves through it.

Although the material is not as soft as nightgowns, it is much better than wearing something that can barely be called clothing. I thought Rio would say something to me about it, but he just laughed at me in an amused way. I secretly frown at his attitude, as if he could see right through me from the beginning.

I dismissed the grinning Rio and concentrated on caring for the woman.

「Drink the water. Yes, take your time. There’s no need to rush.」

A woman sweating from a high fever is given a drink of water, and then her body is wiped as cold as possible.

The woman, who was dazed, kept saying something in a scratchy voice. I could not determine if it was talking to me or due to high fever.

「…urk… s…ca…red…」

「It’s alright, I’m over here. You’re not alone.」

I tried to listen and respond to her words as much as possible, hoping to reassure her as much as possible. Compared to last night, the light from the cantera illuminating the room also played a part.

Last night, I had to repeatedly hug and call out to the panicking woman in the dark and then take time to calm her down, but today I was able to fall asleep peacefully simply by holding the woman’s hand back as she searched for me every time she woke up.

This helped to keep my energy levels down, and I felt much better than last night. However, the fear that had mocked me was about to strike me.

It was near midnight.

My body was craving rest, but there was no way I could sleep with no way of knowing who might come at any moment, and the time just passed. The woman was also quietly asleep, and I was indeed tired after last night’s all-nighter and nerve-wracking interaction with Rio. A yawn escaped me, and as I stretched a little, I noticed footsteps approaching my room.

「…!」

In an instant, my sleepiness was gone. Footsteps for one. And they were stealthy. Footsteps that would certainly not have been heard if it had not been in the sleeping silence of midnight.

I had no good feeling to this at all. There was no way I was going to have such a naive idea that maybe I could help. There is no doubt that these footsteps are not good for me. I felt cold sweat on my back.

The footsteps stopped in front of the room as expected. I braced myself with the woman at my back. I have no weapons. But I can’t stand it when they do whatever they want without resistance. I bite my lip.

The doorknob slowly turned, and I waited with bated breath. But the door never opened.

There was a clattering sound of a knob being turned, but the door wouldn’t open. The owner of the footsteps didn’t have a key.

「…Who?」

I somehow managed to keep my trembling throat under control and managed to speak out.

「Who is there? Answer me!」

I raised my voice to scold myself. If I didn’t do so, I was afraid I would get out of control.

No answer from outside. The sound of turning doorknobs has stopped, and after a moment of silence.

Slam!!!!

「Hiee!!」

The door swung so loudly that I thought I would catch my breath.

And then the sound of footsteps moving away. The sound is different from when they came, and I can feel tears welling up in my eyes. My heart is thumping like a thunderclap, and my mouth is parched.

It has been less than five minutes since I noticed the footsteps. But I felt like my life was shortened in those few minutes. That’s how scared I was.

I held my breath to stop the sobs that were threatening to burst forth, but I couldn’t seem to do anything about it. But I couldn’t seem to do anything about it, so I kept my face down. There is no sign of anyone behind the door anymore. The fear had passed. I knew this in my head, but I could not hold back the trembling in my body.

「…ugh…ueeghh…」

Don’t lose. I swear that I won’t lose.

I tell myself in my mind without saying it out loud.

No matter how confident I act in front of men, I am afraid of scary things. I can’t stand being afraid. Even if I am prepared for it, the fear that comes at me is the same. But I will never let them beat me. It’s okay, it’s absolutely okay. I repeat in my mind the words I have uttered many times.

「…Eh…?」

I looked up at the warmth I suddenly felt on my head.

I wondered when I had opened my eyes. With a quiet look in her eyes, a far cry from her nightmare and panic, she gently stroked my head in a comforting manner.

Then, with just her lips, she said,「It’s alright.」