The gardener led me to an elegant white pavilion, where I saw the Queen enjoying tea with several noble ladies.
Just then, a maid with a completely emotionless expression approached the gardener.
"Mr. Goff, do you need something here?"
Her maid uniform instantly broke every stereotype I had—her skirt didn't reach the ankles like I expected, it barely reached mid-thigh. That was… ridiculously revealing.
The gardener pointed at me as he spoke to her.
"Yuje, this young man behind me is looking for Her Majesty the Queen."
The maid looked at me, still expressionless.
"I don't think I've seen you before. What business do you have here?"
I pointed at myself.
"Please inform Her Majesty. I am Karen."
"Karen?"
The moment she repeated my name, her expression shifted—just a little. As expected. The gardener, however, stared at me in surprise.
"Young man, your name is really Karen?"
I knew it. Every time I announced my name, I got this reaction. At this point, I was immune.
"I've been laughed at plenty of times, but yes, my name is Karen."
People always mistaken it for a woman's name, but I didn't hate it. In fact—I was proud of it.
The gardener froze for a moment before replying,
"…It must be a coincidence. Probably someone else with the same name."
Someone in the castle with the same name? Curious, I asked:
"There's someone named Karen working in the castle?"
But before the gardener could answer, the maid stepped in, her expression shifting again.
"Mr. Karen… are you the hero who hunted down Samidoride?"
"Yuje, it's just a coincidence," the gardener cut in quickly.
Hearing them talk, I finally understood what was going on. Come to think of it, the gardener's reaction earlier didn't make sense—having a common name wasn't strange.
But he claimed to know everyone in the castle, so if someone with my name actually worked here, he shouldn't have reacted like that. Unless… he'd never seen that person before.
Combine that with the fact that—well, I admit it—Lina and I are pretty famous.
Still, the maid kept ignoring the gardener and stared straight at me, waiting for my answer. Unfortunately, the sky was already turning orange. I didn't have time to explain everything.
"Ms. Yuje, please inform Her Majesty as soon as possible. Your questions will be answered."
"I understand."
She approached the Queen, whispered something to her, and the Queen immediately turned toward me. She quickly stood and walked over, her expression anxious yet still dignified.
"Mr. Karen, you're finally here. Did you finish the task Edward entrusted to you?"
"Good afternoon, Your Majesty. The gate is done, but I couldn't find His Majesty, so I haven't installed the lamp posts yet. But… Your Majesty, your hands…?"
She was holding both hands out toward me as if expecting something. The Queen tilted her head in confusion.
"Didn't we agree on this?"
The only agreement between us was the cake. Was there… something else? No, that was definitely the only thing. I decided to confirm it just in case.
"If Your Majesty means the cake, I already handed it to the gate guard when I arrived."
"But I never received it. What time did you arrive?"
"About one-thirty."
That should be right. But she didn't receive the cake?
Yet the guard I entrusted it to went in and came back almost immediately—empty-handed.
Hours had passed since then. No way the Queen wouldn't have been notified.
Unless… something happened to the cake?!
"One-thirty?! It's nearly evening now! Yuje, go ask the gate guards where that cake went!"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Since she sent someone to check, it would be cleared up soon. Honestly, the moment I handed it over, it stopped being my responsibility anyway.
The Queen then composed herself and looked toward the gardener.
"Goff, did you need something?"
He bowed immediately. Before he could answer, I stepped in first.
"Your Majesty, I asked Mr. Goff to bring me here."
The Queen lifted her fan and covered her mouth. I had no idea what that gesture meant. Then she thanked the gardener.
"I see. Thank you, Goff."
The Queen's gratitude made the gardener bow even deeper.
"No, this is simply my duty."
Then the Queen offered him a truly warm smile—gentle, sincere—and spoke again.
"I should also thank you for tending this beautiful garden. I truly love it."
Hearing those words, the gardener practically lit up.
"Your Majesty, thank you for your praise! I'll make the garden even more beautiful! My work isn't done yet, so please excuse me!"
"You may go."
He left with spring in his step—he was definitely going to brag about this later.
The Queen then turned back to me, realizing I wasn't here just to deliver a cake.
"But Mr. Karen, if you didn't come about the cake, then what is it?"
"I'm looking for His Majesty, but I don't know where he is."
"Edward is usually in the palace. You could ask the attendants."
"Of course I know that, but I ran into a noble… and he kicked me out."
I said it with genuine regret.
The Queen also looked a bit regretful—but her eyes suddenly changed, as if she were secretly pleased.
"That truly is unfortunate... no, actually, quite lucky."
Her sudden correction made me raise an eyebrow.
"Why?"
The Queen's expression brightened all at once as she explained.
"If you hadn't been sent away, you wouldn't have found me. And then I'd never know what happened to the cake."
She had a point. If I hadn't been kicked out, I wouldn't have met her, and she wouldn't have realized the cake never arrived. I only asked the gate guards to deliver it because I didn't think I'd run into her.
So the lucky one wasn't me—it was the queen.
"That makes sense. So the lucky one is you, Your Majesty."
"Hahaha."
The Queen laughed happily. Just then, a man's voice came from behind us.
"Leanna, what are you laughing about?"
Both the Queen and I looked in that direction—it was the king. The Queen lowered her fan and beckoned him over.
"Edward, perfect timing."
"What's perfect timing? I thought Karen was still at the gate since he never showed up. I went out to find him, but the guards told me he'd finished ages ago and had already come inside the castle... Wait, isn't that Karen right next to you?"
Still talking as he approached, he finally spotted me. I waved.
"Hello, Your Majesty."
"Karen, I've been waiting for you for quite a while. Why didn't you come find me?"
"I got kicked ou—"
"Your Majesty."
Before I could finish, the Queen's friends cut me off. They lifted their skirts and bowed with impeccable etiquette, but interrupting me wasn't polite at all—and they were sneaking glances at me too. Was this a challenge?!
I crossed my arms instinctively. The king glanced at them, then shot me a brief, displeased look before responding.
"...Oh. You may rise."
Once they received his reply, the group of ladies glanced at me again—and giggled.
Yep. Definitely looking for a fight.
(Just try it. I'll beat you so hard, you'll have to bring your husbands, and then I'll beat them too!)
I took a deep breath. Thinking about it that way actually calmed me down.