“Madam, what are you doing so early in the morning that you are so busy?”
“It’s nothing.”
Early in the morning, I was using the letter that had been sent to the West as a kindling. It was a letter from Noevian.
“I know, Madam. I’ve told you this many times before.”
Madame Leblaix was basically a businesswoman, but she called herself an artist and was a diehard who would never do anything she didn't want to do. The reason she could do that was because she was a noble of the Duchy of Katari, not Ronta.
“I have been watching Her Highness the Crown Princess from afar for quite some time since I opened my costume shop in Ronta. Really! Not at all! I have no inspiration at all. She was a typical noble lady of Ronta, and even now that she is the next Empress, it is still the same. I have already told you in detail before, but how do you know that you are my muse and cause trouble like this...”
“Her Highness the Crown Princess did not personally designate Madame, but I am going to see her because I trust her. Viscountess Giuseppe has a keen eye for people. I do not believe Her Highness has directly ordered me to bring anyone.”
Madame Leblaix sighed helplessly as I turned to compliment her, even though her lips were curled. According to Madame Leblaix, Noura had put in a lot of effort to introduce Madame Leblaix to the Crown Princess, but she had rejected her every time.
“If you had asked me to work for the Viscountess, I would have done it properly. But if I force myself to make clothes for Her Highness the Crown Princess and the results are not good... I wonder if I will be severely punished...”
“Don’t worry about the results. Design for me, not for Her Highness the Crown Princess.”
"...Yes?"
Before we knew it, the carriage we were riding in arrived in front of the magnificent Crown Princess Palace. The waiting knight opened the door, but neither of us got up.
“What do you mean?”
“It’s true. She doesn’t want a style just for herself right now.”
“Oh, really?”
Madam Leblaix asked back as if she didn't understand. I shrugged my shoulders a little awkwardly.
“She wants to take what I have and make it her own.”
Madame's eyes, which had been shaking violently, began to sparkle as she understood the meaning of my words.
“...That’s the type of person I hate the most.”
And then she clenched her fists and jumped out of the carriage without even being escorted by the knight.
“I said this without a subject, so you won’t say I’m being disrespectful, right?”
“Thank you for your help.”
I answered with a smile.
“Do you have any idea?”
“What kind of feeling do you mean?”
Emperor Julius's expression hardened at the attitude of Rhodnes, who answered crookedly. How long had it been since he had seen his son, who had avoided meeting his father alone when he came to the capital?
“It’s nothing.”
Early in the morning, I was using the letter that had been sent to the West as a kindling. It was a letter from Noevian.
"Refuse the position of maid of honor to the Crown Princess."
There was no explanation or request for understanding, just that one line.
“You are the one who will do great things in the future! Leave these petty matters to us!”
Marge snatched the poker from my hand, scraped up all the remaining paper and threw it into the fireplace. Since I told her the news that I had become the Crown Princess' maid, I was the one who was going to enter the palace, but Marge was more excited.
“Madam-. Madame Leblaix has arrived.”
Jonah entered the drawing room with the aforementioned face and said.
“You are the one who will do great things in the future! Leave these petty matters to us!”
Marge snatched the poker from my hand, scraped up all the remaining paper and threw it into the fireplace. Since I told her the news that I had become the Crown Princess' maid, I was the one who was going to enter the palace, but Marge was more excited.
“Madam-. Madame Leblaix has arrived.”
Jonah entered the drawing room with the aforementioned face and said.
While looking at the letter from Noevian burning along with the fire, I left the mansion to pass through the first gate of Doris.
***
Madame Leblaix, who had a subtle expression on her face the whole time inside the carriage, opened her mouth heavily only when she reached the palace.
“Madam, it is your request that I meet with Her Highness the Crown Princess...”
“Madam, it is your request that I meet with Her Highness the Crown Princess...”
“I know, Madam. I’ve told you this many times before.”
Madame Leblaix was basically a businesswoman, but she called herself an artist and was a diehard who would never do anything she didn't want to do. The reason she could do that was because she was a noble of the Duchy of Katari, not Ronta.
“I have been watching Her Highness the Crown Princess from afar for quite some time since I opened my costume shop in Ronta. Really! Not at all! I have no inspiration at all. She was a typical noble lady of Ronta, and even now that she is the next Empress, it is still the same. I have already told you in detail before, but how do you know that you are my muse and cause trouble like this...”
“Her Highness the Crown Princess did not personally designate Madame, but I am going to see her because I trust her. Viscountess Giuseppe has a keen eye for people. I do not believe Her Highness has directly ordered me to bring anyone.”
Madame Leblaix sighed helplessly as I turned to compliment her, even though her lips were curled. According to Madame Leblaix, Noura had put in a lot of effort to introduce Madame Leblaix to the Crown Princess, but she had rejected her every time.
“If you had asked me to work for the Viscountess, I would have done it properly. But if I force myself to make clothes for Her Highness the Crown Princess and the results are not good... I wonder if I will be severely punished...”
“Don’t worry about the results. Design for me, not for Her Highness the Crown Princess.”
"...Yes?"
Before we knew it, the carriage we were riding in arrived in front of the magnificent Crown Princess Palace. The waiting knight opened the door, but neither of us got up.
“What do you mean?”
“It’s true. She doesn’t want a style just for herself right now.”
“Oh, really?”
Madam Leblaix asked back as if she didn't understand. I shrugged my shoulders a little awkwardly.
“She wants to take what I have and make it her own.”
Madame's eyes, which had been shaking violently, began to sparkle as she understood the meaning of my words.
“...That’s the type of person I hate the most.”
And then she clenched her fists and jumped out of the carriage without even being escorted by the knight.
“I said this without a subject, so you won’t say I’m being disrespectful, right?”
“Thank you for your help.”
I answered with a smile.
***
As I entered the audience room, which was so extravagant that it was mind-boggling, there was Doris, Noura, and a Young Lady whom I was seeing for the first time.
“Today’s interview is just a formality, so you can think of it as just tea time. You can think of it as a time for the other maids to introduce themselves to each other.”
Noura reintroduced herself as Viscountess Giuseppe, and Young Lady, whom I was seeing for the first time, introduced herself as Countess Siscometin.
“Today’s interview is just a formality, so you can think of it as just tea time. You can think of it as a time for the other maids to introduce themselves to each other.”
Noura reintroduced herself as Viscountess Giuseppe, and Young Lady, whom I was seeing for the first time, introduced herself as Countess Siscometin.
Tea time went quite smoothly. Countess Siscometin allowed me to call her Irene, but Viscountess Giuseppe refused to allow me to use her own name, so there was a bit of a fight. Even while having tea time, I observed Doris and Viscountess Giuseppe without fail.
'You're similar to me.'
I remembered the group of Viscountess Giuseppe who had been looking me over yesterday. Faces that seemed to want to ask me about what I was wearing, but never asked because of their pride. A dress that looked strangely altered. I immediately knew that it was a copy of the clothes Madame Leblaix had designed for me.
'You're similar to me.'
I remembered the group of Viscountess Giuseppe who had been looking me over yesterday. Faces that seemed to want to ask me about what I was wearing, but never asked because of their pride. A dress that looked strangely altered. I immediately knew that it was a copy of the clothes Madame Leblaix had designed for me.
Doris was the same. From her loosely tied hair to everything she wore on her ears and around her neck, she looked very much like me yesterday. It was too similar to think it was just my imagination. I opened my mouth quietly to Doris, who was only caressing her teacup.
“Your Highness, regarding the task you entrusted to me last time.”
“...Oh, that’s right. When will I be able to meet that creative talent?”
As soon as I opened my mouth, Noura's gaze followed. Doris's eyes also sparkled with interest.
“There are many famous designers in the capital, but do you know Madame Leblaix among them?”
“Oh, Madam! I know! To wear Madame Leblaix’s dress, you must make a reservation six months in advance! Your Highness! Your Highness, you know that too!”
As Irene started to fuss, Noura's face hardened.
“I’m sure I’ve heard of her before. So, should I also wait for half a year?”
Doris smiled and answered as if she knew Madame Leblaix's stubbornness.
“She entered the palace with me today. Would you like to meet her?”
“!”
I jumped up, saluted, and opened the door to the audience room again. As Leblaix, who had been waiting, entered the audience room with the face of a polite and skilled businessman, Noura's face turned completely ashen, and Irene rubbed her eyes, slowly got up, and covered her mouth.
“I have finally met the Imperial Star, Your Highness the Crown Princess. This is Madame Leblaix.”
Madame's eyes dazzled at the sight of Doris and Noura's attire, but like a seasoned businesswoman, she quickly hid her agitation.
“How is she, Your Highness?”
I smiled shyly and spoke to Doris. Doris smiled faintly, looked Madame Leblaix up and down, and answered me with a satisfied expression.
“No matter how great your power is, you can’t ignore the sincerity of wanting to have a capable person by your side. Right?”
Doris continued talking, absentmindedly looking through the design book Madame had brought.
“Congratulations, Madam. Starting today, you officially become my maid, so you deserve my congratulations.”
“Your Highness, regarding the task you entrusted to me last time.”
“...Oh, that’s right. When will I be able to meet that creative talent?”
As soon as I opened my mouth, Noura's gaze followed. Doris's eyes also sparkled with interest.
“There are many famous designers in the capital, but do you know Madame Leblaix among them?”
“Oh, Madam! I know! To wear Madame Leblaix’s dress, you must make a reservation six months in advance! Your Highness! Your Highness, you know that too!”
As Irene started to fuss, Noura's face hardened.
“I’m sure I’ve heard of her before. So, should I also wait for half a year?”
Doris smiled and answered as if she knew Madame Leblaix's stubbornness.
“She entered the palace with me today. Would you like to meet her?”
“!”
I jumped up, saluted, and opened the door to the audience room again. As Leblaix, who had been waiting, entered the audience room with the face of a polite and skilled businessman, Noura's face turned completely ashen, and Irene rubbed her eyes, slowly got up, and covered her mouth.
“I have finally met the Imperial Star, Your Highness the Crown Princess. This is Madame Leblaix.”
Madame's eyes dazzled at the sight of Doris and Noura's attire, but like a seasoned businesswoman, she quickly hid her agitation.
“How is she, Your Highness?”
I smiled shyly and spoke to Doris. Doris smiled faintly, looked Madame Leblaix up and down, and answered me with a satisfied expression.
“No matter how great your power is, you can’t ignore the sincerity of wanting to have a capable person by your side. Right?”
Doris continued talking, absentmindedly looking through the design book Madame had brought.
“Congratulations, Madam. Starting today, you officially become my maid, so you deserve my congratulations.”
***
It was a long time after Madame Leblaix, who had promised to meet her next time, left, that Doris, with a big smile on her face, opened her mouth.
“Ah, the reason I called you all here today was to interview Countess Acacia for procedural reasons, but also to tell you something important.”
“What is it, Your Highness?”
“The Grand Duke of Trovica will soon have to leave the capital due to matters with Elacon. I know it’s not a good idea to entrust a job to someone in mourning, but what can I do? There aren’t many talented people in this country.”
Doris looked as if she didn't think about what she said at all.
“Oh, then who will entertain the visitors to the Grand Duchess Trovica's residence or the cemetery?”
“Irene, you got it. The royal family is planning to send someone temporarily for that very reason.”
Participating in the royal family’s ceremonial duties as a representative of the royal family. It was certainly quite an honorable task. Noura, whose face had always been ashen, looked at Doris with an enthusiastic gaze as if she wanted to do it herself. Unfortunately, Doris didn’t even glance in her direction.
“So, Ma’am.”
“Yes, Your Highness”
“I intend to recommend Madam to Her Majesty the Empress and send you there.”
“!”
“Just one week. You’ll be in charge of welcoming visitors and managing the mansion at Grand Duchess Trovika’s residence.”
Noura's stone-hardened face and Irene's surprised face came into view one after another. The socialite's source of information was Viscountess Giuseppe, and the powerful one was Irene Siscometin. What does Doris want from Blie Acacia?
“Ah, the reason I called you all here today was to interview Countess Acacia for procedural reasons, but also to tell you something important.”
“What is it, Your Highness?”
“The Grand Duke of Trovica will soon have to leave the capital due to matters with Elacon. I know it’s not a good idea to entrust a job to someone in mourning, but what can I do? There aren’t many talented people in this country.”
Doris looked as if she didn't think about what she said at all.
“Oh, then who will entertain the visitors to the Grand Duchess Trovica's residence or the cemetery?”
“Irene, you got it. The royal family is planning to send someone temporarily for that very reason.”
Participating in the royal family’s ceremonial duties as a representative of the royal family. It was certainly quite an honorable task. Noura, whose face had always been ashen, looked at Doris with an enthusiastic gaze as if she wanted to do it herself. Unfortunately, Doris didn’t even glance in her direction.
“So, Ma’am.”
“Yes, Your Highness”
“I intend to recommend Madam to Her Majesty the Empress and send you there.”
“!”
“Just one week. You’ll be in charge of welcoming visitors and managing the mansion at Grand Duchess Trovika’s residence.”
Noura's stone-hardened face and Irene's surprised face came into view one after another. The socialite's source of information was Viscountess Giuseppe, and the powerful one was Irene Siscometin. What does Doris want from Blie Acacia?
As I watched Doris smiling affectionately at me, I felt like I was slowly getting a sense of what I had to do to make Doris like me.
***
“Do you have any idea?”
“What kind of feeling do you mean?”
Emperor Julius's expression hardened at the attitude of Rhodnes, who answered crookedly. How long had it been since he had seen his son, who had avoided meeting his father alone when he came to the capital?
It was the first time they had met alone since he had blushed in the party hall, so the Emperor was glad to see his son. Contrary to his gladness, Rhodnes' face was filled with shallow contempt. The Emperor swallowed and continued speaking to his son.
“This is a case of a missing woman. You are the only person I can trust with this matter.”
“Why are you giving the salaries of the captain of the capital guard and the captain of the imperial knights?”
“Roan.”
“I need a break too.”
The Emperor's mouth snapped shut as Rhodnes uttered the word 'rest', which he rarely spoke. As Rhodnes himself had said, he needed rest. He had gone to the battlefield at a young age and had never returned to the capital. His only goal, his first love, was to marry his uncle and was no longer in this world.
“This is a case of a missing woman. You are the only person I can trust with this matter.”
“Why are you giving the salaries of the captain of the capital guard and the captain of the imperial knights?”
“Roan.”
“I need a break too.”
The Emperor's mouth snapped shut as Rhodnes uttered the word 'rest', which he rarely spoke. As Rhodnes himself had said, he needed rest. He had gone to the battlefield at a young age and had never returned to the capital. His only goal, his first love, was to marry his uncle and was no longer in this world.
The Emperor, who knew the inside story, looked at his son as if he felt sorry. However, Rhodnes averted his gaze. Her chiseled, beautiful side profile was filled with loneliness and emptiness. The Emperor understood her feelings better than anyone else. It was an emotion he had once felt after the death of Empress Letina, whom he had considered his first and last love.
“And I’ve been hearing a lot of stories lately that are really making my ears bleed.”
“...”
“People are saying that the victim of the incident that my father asked me to do so much, Baroness Kuroseda, is actually my father’s mistress. I was about to pull out all their tongues, but I felt I had to ask my father directly, so I came here.”
Although Rhodnes already knew the truth through his investigation, he said so to his father. The Emperor sat at his desk in his office without saying a word and stared at him.
“Please.”
“It is a disgrace to the royal family.”
“Roan.”
“My mother will be crying in the basement.”
“One day, you too will understand your father’s heart.”
The Emperor spoke with a voice full of regret. But no matter how much Rhodnes thought about it, he could not help but think that he would never understand his father.
“The dead are dead. The living must live. I realized that too late, and I did something I shouldn’t have done to Baroness Kuroseda.”
The voice soaked in regret was not directed at his mother, Empress Letina. It was clearly directed at the 'government' that he had secretly asked to find.
“I realized too late that the loss and hurt caused by people can only be healed by other people.”
Rhodnes opened his mouth, unable to control his suddenly rising anger.
“The dead are not a disease that needs to be cured.”
“Roan.”
“Something that no one can replace. Isn’t that love?”
“...”
“My father didn’t love my mother.”
The old Emperor's face became noticeably clouded and large tears flowed down. Rhodnes, who turned away from him, looked at the portrait of Baroness Kuroseda on the table and his face distorted even more.
“And I’ve been hearing a lot of stories lately that are really making my ears bleed.”
“...”
“People are saying that the victim of the incident that my father asked me to do so much, Baroness Kuroseda, is actually my father’s mistress. I was about to pull out all their tongues, but I felt I had to ask my father directly, so I came here.”
Although Rhodnes already knew the truth through his investigation, he said so to his father. The Emperor sat at his desk in his office without saying a word and stared at him.
“Please.”
“It is a disgrace to the royal family.”
“Roan.”
“My mother will be crying in the basement.”
“One day, you too will understand your father’s heart.”
The Emperor spoke with a voice full of regret. But no matter how much Rhodnes thought about it, he could not help but think that he would never understand his father.
“The dead are dead. The living must live. I realized that too late, and I did something I shouldn’t have done to Baroness Kuroseda.”
The voice soaked in regret was not directed at his mother, Empress Letina. It was clearly directed at the 'government' that he had secretly asked to find.
“I realized too late that the loss and hurt caused by people can only be healed by other people.”
Rhodnes opened his mouth, unable to control his suddenly rising anger.
“The dead are not a disease that needs to be cured.”
“Roan.”
“Something that no one can replace. Isn’t that love?”
“...”
“My father didn’t love my mother.”
The old Emperor's face became noticeably clouded and large tears flowed down. Rhodnes, who turned away from him, looked at the portrait of Baroness Kuroseda on the table and his face distorted even more.
Shining blond hair. A similar impression to his mother, Empress Letina, who was as beautiful as a fairy. Rough breaths burst out continuously through his teeth, and his chest pounded.
'The real one dies. We find comfort in a substitute.'
But am he qualified to criticize it? Suddenly, Rhodnes feels like he's falling into an endless pit.
“... I loved Letina. And Baroness Kuroseda too...”
“...I don’t want to hear it.”
Rhodnes finally stood up. The Emperor admired his son's mature appearance, but he could not bear to see the face that resembled Letina glaring at him with reproach and contempt, and he lowered his head.
“Roan. One day, you too will understand this Father.”
Eventually, Rhodnes left the place. He walked and walked along the long corridor. Anger that felt like his head was going to burst rose up. The people living in this empire were all crazy.
'The real one dies. We find comfort in a substitute.'
But am he qualified to criticize it? Suddenly, Rhodnes feels like he's falling into an endless pit.
“... I loved Letina. And Baroness Kuroseda too...”
“...I don’t want to hear it.”
Rhodnes finally stood up. The Emperor admired his son's mature appearance, but he could not bear to see the face that resembled Letina glaring at him with reproach and contempt, and he lowered his head.
“Roan. One day, you too will understand this Father.”
Eventually, Rhodnes left the place. He walked and walked along the long corridor. Anger that felt like his head was going to burst rose up. The people living in this empire were all crazy.
Rhodnes, who had been pouring out silent accusations to an unspecified number of people, finally stopped at the end of a quiet corridor where no servants walked. The presence of Blie Acacia suddenly came to mind and suffocated him.
'Why in my eyes... why on earth... do I see you as Adrienne?'
The image of himself saying such things just a moment ago made his mind tangled. Rhodnes lifted his head from where he had stopped. Coincidentally, at the end of the hallway hung a portrait of his mother, the late Empress Letina. When Letina's eyes, smiling affectionately, turned to him, he felt an unbearable sense of shame. And...
"...Your Highness?"
As if on cue, he encountered Blie Acacia there.
'Why in my eyes... why on earth... do I see you as Adrienne?'
The image of himself saying such things just a moment ago made his mind tangled. Rhodnes lifted his head from where he had stopped. Coincidentally, at the end of the hallway hung a portrait of his mother, the late Empress Letina. When Letina's eyes, smiling affectionately, turned to him, he felt an unbearable sense of shame. And...
"...Your Highness?"
As if on cue, he encountered Blie Acacia there.
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