Rosana shook her head in denial. She thought she’d grown somewhat closer to him. She felt familiar with him. However, that was purely a personal feeling. Just because she felt familiarity didn’t mean calling him by name was proper etiquette.

Following his logic, anyone close to him could call him by name. Titles weren’t established for no reason.

‘Asking me to call him by name……’

It was the name of the empire’s number one. A name only permitted between those especially close. Rosana lifted her eyes slightly to look at Jade. 

He’d been wearing a sad expression, but at some point had completely changed his demeanor, his lips full of a mischievous smile. Rosana cleared her throat lightly.

Rosana fidgeted with her hands. He’d given her permission to call him by name. In that case…… 

She didn’t understand why calling someone by name was so nerve-wracking. She attributed her racing heartbeat to nervousness.

“J-Jade?”

“……”

She hoped he wouldn’t notice her trembling voice. Rosana scratched her flushed cheeks with her finger.

‘Why…… is he not answering?’

Ah, should she have formally added an honorific? Thinking she’d misunderstood on her own, Rosana felt terribly embarrassed.

“I called your name so casually……”

Then Jade suddenly spoke.

“No. Rather, it has such a pleasant ring to it. I lost myself without realizing. I’d like you to call me that from now on.”

Jade quickly continued speaking at Rosana’s retreating attitude. When Rosana raised her head, she saw Jade wearing a satisfied expression like a well-fed beast. His beautifully curved eyes looked straight at Rosana. Her cheeks flushed an uncontrollable red.

“I don’t use honorifics with you either, so there’s no need for you to use them.”

“But……”

“I don’t know how it is in Astrot, but we value the framework of family. It’s our nature to give everything, even our liver and gallbladder, to our own people. Of course, I’m included in that.”

Jade grinned, saying it was a silly joke.

“Others get called by name, I can’t be the only one who isn’t. Accept your fate.”

“……”

Though she was sick of the word fate, she thought fate being tied to Jade wasn’t so bad. Rosana smiled brightly.

* * *

“Lady Rosana, what did you talk about today?”

“He asked about the wedding.”

“Oh my, really?”

Yuna rejoiced like it was her own affair.

“How’s the reaction from those around us?”

Yuna’s expression soured.

“You don’t need to worry about what the lower servants say.”

Celine’s expression remained unchanged.

Rosana hadn’t expected things to change in an instant. Rather, things had been going too smoothly until now. Though the servants within Rosana’s palace were changing, considering all the servants in the imperial palace, there were more who doubted Rosana.

Being loved by everyone was difficult. Having been hated by everyone, Rosana was happy that even just a few people approached her.

“I’m going to rest in my room for a bit now. You two should rest as well.”

Rosana often enjoyed reading time alone. Celine spoke tactfully.

“Shall I prepare some simple refreshments?”

“I’d appreciate that.”

Rosana handed Yuna the book she’d already finished reading and made a request.

“Yuna, could I ask for another book?”

“Of course!”

Yuna, who’d been about to leave with the book in her arms, turned back around to ask what kind of book she wanted, and Rosana requested books about weddings. 

Her mindset was to familiarize herself in advance since procedures and formalities might differ from Astrot. Yuna’s expression brightened.

“I’ll be back!”

* * *

Yuna headed toward the imperial library. Then, like someone had been waiting, a maid popped out from around the corner. They collided, Yuna fell to the floor, and the book escaped from her arms.

“Oh my, if it isn’t Yuna.”

Yuna’s body stiffened at the familiar voice.

“Veronica……”

Yuna tried to force up the corners of her mouth, but they trembled. She felt dismayed thinking about what fault Veronica would find this time and refuse to let go.

“Really. Do I eat people or something? Why do you avoid me like that?”

Veronica’s group appeared from behind, asking what was going on. They were all familiar faces. Yuna averted her gaze.

“Wh-what are you talking about? I’m just busy with work.”

Yuna stood up while brushing off her skirt. She stubbornly ignored them since causing a commotion wouldn’t be good for her either. Usually passing by was enough, but lately they’d surround her in a circle to prevent her from leaving, then pick fights.

“Going to the imperial library again today?”

“That’s right. I need to go quickly. Aren’t you busy with work too?”

At Yuna’s words, Veronica’s face crumpled as she spoke incredulously.

“Of course I’m busy. Unlike you, I’m a reg.u.lar maid.”

She specifically pointed out and mocked Yuna for becoming a personal maid. Veronica found it disagreeable that Yuna had suddenly been selected as a personal maid. She’d even confronted Jane about it.

Celine was a young lady from a fairly prestigious family. But Yuna was different. She was from fallen nobility. 

Though her status was lower, Veronica had treated her well out of pity, yet Yuna got promoted before her. Other maids also looked down on her, comparing themselves and saying they were better than Yuna.

“If you keep doing this……”

Yuna tried to speak up courageously.

“What did I do? You’re going to drive me out without evidence? Can you even do that? You’d be in trouble if you got kicked out of here. Don’t you have many younger siblings to feed?”

At Veronica’s words, Yuna’s hands clenched tightly. She couldn’t bring herself to retort. She was receiving a salary as high as her position as personal maid. She desperately needed that money to feed her many younger siblings. That’s why she worked so hard.

She bit her lip hard. These were all things Yuna had confided to Veronica. They’d once been friends who got along well, yet just because their positions had changed, she was being treated so differently.

Bitter feelings welled up from within.

“What does that have to do with you?”

“What do you mean what does it have to do with me? People have positions that suit their station. Don’t you think that position is too big for you?”

“Lady Rosana said I make her comfortable.”

“She must find you comfortable because you’re stupid.”

Yuna tried to pass by, thinking she wasn’t worth dealing with anymore, but she ended up falling with a crash when one maid stuck out her foot. Veronica’s group, who’d been laughing for a while, immediately switched their attitude when they heard another maid approaching.

They apologized, asked why she didn’t watch where she was going, picked up her book, and lightly brushed the dust off her maid uniform. Yuna moved her feet while holding back her reddening eyes. 

‘It’s okay. I know well enough that there are unspoken power struggles among maids.’

“Lady Rosana must be waiting.”

Even so, she couldn’t hide her drooping shoulders.

* * *

Rosana gazed out the window where the snow showed no signs of stopping, lost in thought.

“A once-in-a-lifetime marriage…… would warm weather be better?”

The books Yuna had brought, insisting she read them, mostly contained novels depicting happy couples holding wedding ceremonies and living happily married lives. They commonly held weddings on days when flower petals scattered.

Looking at the fireplace where logs crackled and burned brought a natural smile. When she’d sniffled slightly because her nose was cold from the chill, Jade had servants bring more firewood.

Logs were generously added to every fireplace so warm heat could circulate throughout the palace interior. Rosana liked how warm it was, enough to make her body go limp, but thanks to this, other servants seemed somewhat hot, sweating on a winter day.

While quietly reading as usual, she heard a knock on the door.

“……?”

The maid who quietly revealed herself was a somewhat familiar child. The maid brought a tray with simple refreshments and tea.

“I never gave an order to bring tea?”

“Ah, I apologize. I know it’s presumptuous, but wouldn’t your mouth be bored from long reading? I was also concerned you might be thirsty as the room becomes dry, so I brought tea.”

Rosana subtly touched her throat. She hadn’t thought about it until just now, but she suddenly felt thirsty.

“There might be signs of a cold, so I brought tea that’s effective against colds.”

The maid smiled sweetly, her eyes crinkling prettily. She looked somewhat familiar—she was the maid who’d draped a cardigan over Rosana when she’d been standing in the snow. 

Even then, she’d guided her to a warm place and served tea to warm her body. She was one of the maids favorable toward Rosana.

When Rosana nodded slightly, the maid set down the tea on the table. Then, saying that was her only purpose, she moved her steps toward the door.

“Come to think of it, I don’t know your name. What is it?”

“I’m called Veronica Liberi.”

She curtsied politely, lifting her skirt like she’d been waiting for this. Rosana nodded casually. 

There was no great significance to asking her name. She just thought it would be convenient to know. Then the maid spoke.

“Lady Rosana. There’s something I’d like to ask.”

“……”

Perhaps misunderstanding Rosana’s quiet expression, she immediately withdrew her words.

“Ah, if it’s rude, I’ll withdraw.”

“No, it’s fine. Go ahead.”

“Has Yuna perhaps made any big mistakes?”

“Yuna?”

“Yes, I heard the news that Yuna became your personal maid, Lady Rosana. However, contrary to appearances, she has clumsy aspects, so I was worried. Ah, I know well that you’re not that kind of person, Lady Rosana.”

Veronica hastily waved her hands, but her suspicion had already been conveyed. Rosana thought while sipping her tea. It’s understandable to worry…… since the rumors weren’t good.

Still, how nice that Yuna had a good friend who worried about her. Despite the situation where she could be scolded, she’d come steadfastly to ask about Yuna’s wellbeing. Since Rosana’s eyes were downcast, she didn’t see Veronica’s subtle gaze.

“Yuna is doing well. Sometimes…… I can’t deny there are mistakes.”

Rosana, who was by her side, knew well that Yuna was a naive maid. Sometimes her foot would catch on the carpet and she’d spill tea. Fortunately, Celine beside her caught her well.

However, her frequent mistakes and naive appearance made her more endearing and put Rosana’s mind at ease. She also liked seeing how Yuna would quickly get up after mistakes, apologize, and pledge to do better.

She didn’t know how Yuna got hired as an imperial palace maid, but looking at her personality, it often made sense.

“Yuna gives strength to others, doesn’t she?”

“……Yes, that’s right.”

Rosana raised her head. The strange silence before answering bothered her. Veronica wore a smiling face. Yet something about it nagged at her.

“Are you very close with Yuna?”

“Of course! Until she became your personal maid, Lady Rosana, we went around together. She had a lot of maid experience, but since she suddenly got employed at the imperial palace, she made frequent mistakes. She always worried whether she could do well.”

“……Really?”

The more the conversation continued, the more perplexed Rosana felt. Most of the topics were about Yuna. Rosana didn’t want to gossip about someone in their absence. 

However, she also didn’t want to be cold to someone who’d approached her kindly and talked to her. She thought Veronica was a chatty maid because she was Yuna’s friend.

“Yuna’s circumstances aren’t that good?”

“Yes. I know because I often counsel her. I heard Yuna applied for the imperial palace maid recruitment to save money. She said she didn’t have money to send her siblings to the academy.”

She even divulged private matters.

‘Should I be hearing this? Thinking of it as a friend’s concern, isn’t it awkward……?’

She had no one she could call a friend, so it was hard to judge. Veronica’s chatter was soon interrupted by Celine’s appearance. Celine shot a sharp glance at Veronica as she passed.

“Lady Rosana, what were you talking about?”

“She’s quite close with Yuna. She knew a lot about various things, so it was helpful.”

“……Is that so.”

At Rosana’s cheerful tone, Celine held back her words. Still, she pondered whether to advise, remembering what Rosana had told her about not knowing what was right or wrong.