♛
A question arose that it might be Grandiel’s decision.
The cause was due to the combination of the remaining maids. Erica seems to be favored by Stella, so of course, she’s excluded.
Daphne would have remained because she was also being educated as the next head maid, but Radiata and I were unreasonable.
Rather, wasn’t I the top priority to be expelled? In particular, the fact that I was taken by Stella and received her probation was surprising enough.
Of course, Grandiel would have somehow used his power, but he would not have designated a maid to remain on the document stamped with the imperial seal.
So, the most natural way was to recruit people with personnel rights. I glanced at her face as I listened to the story of the maid.
There was no hostility in the way she looked at me. Just intense fatigue was clearly shown.
‘Or did she bring the recommendation with the imperial seal stamped and leave it behind because she thought there was a string on the Emperor’s side?’
That was possible, but considering the fact that Radiata’s position was exceptionally fast or that Grandiel told the maid separately so that I wouldn’t be scolded, she weighed more as a person.
‘Well, it’s just a guess. I can ask Grandiel for more details later.’
However, if the maid was a person on Grandiel’s side, there’s no need to entrust to me the surveillance on Stella. That part bothered me.
“It may be sudden, but go back to your room, wash up, and get ready.”
“What?”
After thinking about something else for a while, I couldn’t keep up with the flow of the story. When I asked back with a blank look, the maid, who frowned, said with strength in every word.
“There’s a tea party at the Marquis of Eustoma today. Erica is Princess Stella’s attendant, and goes with Daphne.”
“Okay.”
She ended the conversation with a light sigh and rubbed her temple. I couldn’t see Rendle off before he returned. I had something to ask, but I couldn’t help it.
Rendle will be by Stella’s side anyway, so I’ll have to see the situation later and meet separately.
It was unintentional, but thinking that I could wash first, I headed to my room. I stretched out in the hallway and organized my thoughts.
‘I didn’t know he’d cut down the budget on Stella Palace.’
I knew that Grandiel would use an appropriate excuse to release me, but this was unexpected. Because I thought that he would move cautiously when acting as a Prince.
‘Because in the novel, even when disaster struck, he didn’t come forward.’
Grandiel hid until the end of the novel.
He aided Radiata while disguised as Nepenthes, but if the purpose of strengthening the Imperial power was to restore the Emperor’s power, it would have been more beneficial for the Crown Prince to step forward.
If you set a big ball, the status of the Imperial Family will naturally rise and the number of talented people who follow him will increase.
Also, he could get support from nobles at once, so it was a shortcut to strengthening the Imperial power!
Nevertheless, Grandiel continued his poor acting.
‘Maybe he has something more to hide.’
Grandiel said he would ensure my safety, but I couldn’t just rely on that contract.
As I promised not to, I kept getting the feeling he was hiding something, so I couldn’t trust him completely.
‘I need to be prepared to defend myself.’
And not only to just sit around idly in prison. In a quiet place without any disturbance, I calmly organized the contents of the novel.
As the contract marriage between Radiata and Ellex failed, the original story and development were completely different, and through Acker’s meeting, I realized that there was a behind-the-scenes story that did not appear in the novel.
In fact, after meeting Acker, I thought that I should not trust the content of the novel.
‘I thought I could live peacefully if I cleaned up the poop I packed.’
By twisting the novel’s development, I thought I would become normal if I could escape from the extra villain role and pay off the debts I had made in the past.
But it wasn’t… From Grandiel to Radiata and Ellex, they became entangled.
Being intertwined with the main characters of the novel means that the events that appeared are also happening around me.
‘I didn’t have any ability there, so even if a disaster happened, I thought it had nothing to do with me… ‘
I don’t know for some reason, but I seemed to have a knack for calming Ellex’s ability.
The problem was that I used this ability to prevent the disaster, so I don’t know if I’ll be dragged to the expedition later.
Just imagining it was terrifying… In any case, useful information was needed to prepare for a situation that might happen in the future.
So, while organizing the novel, I analyzed things like what would happen and the purpose of the character regardless of the development of the original story.
By understanding the purpose of a character, I could roughly predict his or her behavior in other situations.
‘Maybe because it’s a romance novel, everyone’s purpose is to love, but it’s a disadvantage.’
I was in a situation where I could only sigh, but I stopped thinking complicated thoughts. It was because I arrived in front of the door before I knew it.
As soon as I opened the door, Radiata greeted me, “Merrie!”
“Lara, is everything alright?”
“Yeah. I’m glad that Merrie was also released safely.”
Radiata said she simply received the situation at Stella Palace through Daphne. Even when I’m released.
“Where’s Daphne?”
“Oh, she’ll be choosing a dress with Stella.”
I couldn’t imagine the combination of Daphne and Stella.
Erica doesn’t like Daphne either. I went into the bathroom thinking about Erica.
The characters in the novel and the events to come were complicated in my mind, but the person who annoyed me the most was Erica.
She’s right next to me, and she’s arguing now and then, and I can’t help but get annoyed.
Shaking off my anger, I washed with warm water. I felt like I was washing away my stress with this soothing time.
“You’re hungry, aren’t you? I brought food.”
After washing up, Radiata brought a tray. It was a watery stew. She must have been considerate of me for starving for a while and suddenly eating greasy food in case of an upset stomach.
“Thank you!”
I raised my spoon, moved by her careful attention. Radiata told me what happened next to me for six days while I was eating stew.
As she followed Daphne, she learned the geography of the palace, greeted other servants, and built up basic culture through the virtues of the maidservant, and it seemed that she knew better than I did.
I worked as a maid for four days and went to prison, and Radiata was educated for six days under Daphne, so it’s a natural result.
Still, seeing her bright face made me feel better. It seems that the shadow of misfortune that had been cast on Radiata has disappeared.
“I’m glad you got used to it.”
“It’s all thanks to Merrie.”
‘Well, I didn’t do anything.’
I swallowed the words that were filling up to the end of her throat. Radiata was such a good person. I emptied the stew clean and got up from my seat.
‘Now that I’ve eaten, I have to work.’
I woke up happily thinking it was Sunday, but it feels like Monday! I stood in front of the mirror with heavy steps.
It was to check my clothes. I couldn’t show even the slightest break today. Today’s destination was the Marquis Eustoma.
When I think of the atmosphere of the last tea party, I couldn’t go with a light heart. I’m in a situation where I’m walking into the enemy camp with my own feet.
‘The maid’s flaw is the master’s flaw.’
If something was nitpicked because of me at the tea party, it won’t end with prison sentences. I had to be prepared.
After checking, I looked down at the red ribbon on the dressing table.
‘First of all, I am an exclusive maid by rank, but I think Stella will say something if I tie a ribbon.’
After contemplating, I eventually tied my hair with a red ribbon. I chose a place where Stella’s eyes could not reach as much as possible.
‘Because I’m an exclusive maid!’
It was a timid rebellion. After getting ready, I went out to the hallway to move to Stella’s room.
Perhaps the timing was good, Stella, who was ready, was waiting for the carriage in the lobby.
‘The budget has been reduced but she’s still fancy.’
Perhaps because she was ridiculed for her sloppy dress at the last tea party, today she felt dressed up with her soul.
The red silk dress subtly changed color according to the folds, and the lace decoration that wasn’t so excessive created an alluring atmosphere.
Her fine blonde hair was tied in half, and a small but brightly shining ruby earring showed off her presence.
A truly gorgeous rose!
Admiration for her spectacular beauty came out of nowhere, but my very personal impression was that it was a picture of a villainous woman.
I was captivated by her beauty for a while, but then came to my senses and greeted her quickly.
“I greet the descendant of the guardian, Princess Stella.”
Stella didn’t give me a single glance.
Just thorough disregard. Daphne called me with a wink, and I noticed the maid standing next to Stella. And I nodded slightly.
I stood next to Daphne with silent permission. Shortly thereafter, the carriage arrived.
♛
The inside of the carriage was literally a thorny cushion.
Stella looked at the window with a grumpy expression, Erica looked at me with distasteful eyes, and Daphne, who was silent with no expression.
I felt suffocated by the silence.
‘I’m so envious of Radiata remaining in the palace.’
She has not yet greeted Erica or Stella in the name of being educated.
It was a relief… The perception of Radiata was not good because of the incident on the last day of the New Year’s party.
If Stella met her in this situation, she might be annoyed more than I.
‘I don’t think Stella remembers the face of a person from a small family.’
I understand that Radiata’s rush to being Ellex’s stalker was a famous social event, but Stella said she hadn’t witnessed it in person.
Maybe they just know that ‘the illegitimate daughter of Count Ricoris chased after Ellex’.
‘Even if she doesn’t know her face, I still can’t relax.’
Radiata’s hair color stands out so much. As described in the novels, it was mentioned that it’s rare to find hair as clear as her in the Empire.
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