Charlotte cried for a good while.
Allen, though flustered, tried to get her to stop crying by offering her a handkerchief and another cup of tea.
She eventually calmed down and began to speak softly.
"It really ...... happened out of the blue."
It was a week ago.
A birthday party was held at the royal castle for Prince Cecil, the second prince of the Kingdom of Neils. Of course, his fiancée was also invited to the party, and she went around greeting the guests of honor.
She never exchanged a word with Prince Cecil.
The engagement had been arranged years ago, but they rarely met each other.
On the rare occasions where they did meet, they had never engaged in conversation.
The prince always gave Charlotte a cold glare.
However, when the banquet was at its peak, she was called by Prince Cecil to the center of the party.
As the guests and soldiers looked on, what he told them was not a declaration of love - but rather, a declaration that they could not believe their ears.
"Charlotte Evans! Your wrongdoings have been investigated! Therefore ... I am annulling my engagement to you!
All of a sudden, she was told that her engagement had been called off.
Immediately after the sudden revelation, she had been blamed for several misdeeds that she had no recollection of doing.
The evidence was so carefully prepared and backed up that all those present had believed it.
Her family did not have her back either.
Although it was not publicly known, Charlotte was the child of the duke's mistress. Since the duke had a considerably hard time bearing children, Charlotte was taken into the Evans family at an early age.
But a few years later, a child was born to the new duchess.
As a result, she became the black sheep of the house. Even her servants did not defend Charlotte when she was falsely accused.
She was on the brink of going to prison--
"I ran away from home when there was a gap between the guard's break intervals..."
"I see..."
Allen stroked his chin.
It was a conspiracy play, plain and simple.
Perhaps the prince did not want to marry the illegitimate daughter of the duke, or perhaps he had another woman he liked. Whatever the reason may be.
Either way, Charlotte was a hindrance to the prince.
Charlotte bowed her head deeply.
"It has escalated to the extent that it even appeared in the newspapers of this country. I'm sure they'll be after me soon... so I won't trouble you. I will immediately leave after a short break--"
"I have a question."
Allen interrupted her with his index finger.
"Are you any good at cleaning?"
"...What?"
"Please answer the question."
Charlotte's eyes widened in astonishment as she hesitantly replied.
"Well, I think I can do it as well as anyone else... why do you ask?"
"That's great. Perfect answer."
Allen patted Charlotte on the shoulder.
"All right, Charlotte. I'll hire you."
"What?!"