I Became a Tyrant’s Maid - Chapter 72

“Rose is crazy.”

“Your mouth is stretched to your ears as you say that, Milla.”

Unfortunately, among my limited connections, Milla was the only one with the kindest nature and the most experience here.

“How can my mouth not stretch to my ears when they’re giving this much money!”

Milla wriggled her body and grinned.

It was the best choice I could make.

If I had stepped up to oversee everything in the Crown Prince’s palace, there might have been quite a few people who would agree, but there would be far more who would oppose.

I haven’t worked here for long.

Moreover, I don’t know anyone deeply except Milla.

Even if there are a few more, the only people I’m friendly with are those from the kitchen.

Besides, my reputation had already become strange, so there was nothing good about stepping forward more.

As if the rumors about me being the Crown Prince’s mistress weren’t already widespread because of the head maid, imagine if I suddenly said I was going to be the head maid.

Who would welcome me?

It would only add fuel to the rumors.

Of course, there were some factions that were favorable to me.

But that was only the result of my instigation. Besides, even if they genuinely supported me, how could I know their true intentions when we’ve never even exchanged words?

“You know that in return, the work has increased too, right?”

At my words, Milla’s face quickly became gloomy.

“Rose, but it’s clearly Milla who became the head maid, so why do I have to be doing this here?”

A familiar orange head popped up from the corner of my room.

To that, I winked and said,

“Aaron, you’re my crew, aren’t you? And it’s not head maid, it’s HR manager, Aaron.”

Aaron’s mouth gaped open in bewilderment.

Thinking it over, he must have felt a bit unfair, as he soon threw away the pile of contracts he had been diligently copying and stood up abruptly.

“HR whatever, this isn’t a colleague, it’s slavery!”

Oh, I said crew, but he countered with colleague!

The necklace Calix gave must be translating properly.

It’s amazing no matter how many times I see it.

“No, you said you wanted to see my contract, didn’t you? I clearly said that if you want to see my contract, you have to do what I ask.”

At my words, Aaron seemed to flare up as he stood up and shouted.

“Even so, this isn’t being a scribe or a slave. This is too much, Rose! How many servants are there in the Crown Prince’s palace, and you want me to distribute one to each of them!”

I patted Aaron’s back and said soothingly.

“Who else would I trust besides you guys? Right?”

At those words, Aaron glanced at me and then, seeming to understand, pursed his lips.

Then he plopped back down in his seat and picked up the pen again.

If we had a printer, this would have been solved in 10 minutes, but there was no such thing here.

It might not be a bad idea to mention it to Calix when I get the chance.

He owns the most famous artifact merchant guild in the empire, so couldn’t he easily make a printer or two?

“I’m a kitchen person…”

Aaron said with a tearful face, but both Milla and I were too engrossed in our copying to pay attention.

“There’s not much left. Let’s finish quickly and go eat.”

I thought as I looked at the contracts Aaron had copied.

From now on, I needed to increase my influence in the Crown Prince’s palace.

Additionally, I needed to find talented individuals to whom I could pass on my position at any time.

“Ah, Milla. From tomorrow, we need to practice that. Speeches.”

“Speeches?”

“Yes.”

I sighed briefly and looked at the blank paper.

What’s the most important virtue in politics?

I think it’s speeches! After all, the Crown Prince’s palace is also a small society!

“Of course, I’d like you to participate too, Aaron.”

“Why me!”

“Because you and I are colleagues, remember?”

Speeches were essential.

A true leader of this era must know how to communicate with the public!

“We’ll create speech drafts and present them in front of the servants. Why the organization needs to be restructured, what mindset we should have in serving His Highness.”

Moreover, Calix currently has no support base.

Meanwhile, even the servants in the Crown Prince’s palace don’t support him? That’s unthinkable.

‘Who would sincerely follow someone who isn’t even supported by the people he employs?’

No matter how the novel’s plot dictates that he becomes the emperor and gains absolute power, in the end, that power is obtained through numerous massacres.

Moreover, in the original work, Calix’s end wasn’t revealed, so we don’t know what happened to the tyrant’s fate.

‘I don’t want Calix to die.’

To be honest, it would be a complete lie to say I haven’t grown fond of him while being by his side, so I didn’t want him to suffer as in the original work.

So, at least I wanted to create more allies for him earlier and leave.

Not snake-like dukes who only worry about their own safety and switch sides at the drop of a hat, but people around him who sincerely follow him.

“But why am I doing this instead of you, Rose?”

To Milla’s question, I kindly answered.

“Milla, you’ve worked in the Crown Prince’s palace for a long time, and I think you have a very good reputation within the palace. So, wouldn’t people be much more likely to follow you than me? And you know, my rumors.”

Calix, although he had a bit of a violent side, wasn’t a bad monarch figure.

He’s charismatic and powerful.

And he’s smart too. He knows how to turn crises into opportunities, and also knows when to give up appropriately.

If something seems impossible, he immediately makes and implements another plan.

‘Ugh, that’s why I keep getting overly immersed. Damn him!’

Calix was diligent in everything. So it felt like I couldn’t help but work hard too.

“Hmm… Rose, don’t worry too much about that. It’s just a baseless rumor.”

“No. I think I should care. What if the rumors get more distorted and turn into a scandal? I don’t have confidence in handling that.”

I glanced at Aaron. And let out a short sigh.

‘As long as I keep sticking close to Calix, the rumor of me being his mistress will follow like a tag.’

Eventually, if it reaches the ears of the Council of Elders, it’s obvious they’ll look at Calix unfavorably too.

It was clear that I would become good prey for other factions who were already desperate to find fault with Calix.

“Why are you looking at me like that, Rose? I get anxious when you do that.”

Aaron seemed to sense that I might make another unreasonable request and slowly backed away.

“I’ve got a good idea, Aaron.”

Of course, I grabbed Aaron’s clothes and pulled him back as he was retreating.

“Rose, I’m really scared,”

“Aaron, you don’t have a girlfriend, right?”

“…Huh?”

A brilliant idea to instantly quell the mistress controversy came to mind.

“Want to be my boyfriend?”

At my words, Aaron stared at me blankly like he’d eaten honey, and Milla gave a standing ovation beside me.

“Oh my, Rose. That was cool just now.”

And Aaron muttered with a face like the world had collapsed.

“Rose is definitely not from this world.”

I felt a bit stung for a moment, but even I thought it was quite shocking.

“I’ll give you a signing bonus.”

I took off the bracelet I was wearing and held it out to Aaron.

I had been wearing it because it was pretty, but I thought this much would be needed for him to easily agree.

“So, want to join in?”

Aaron glanced at my bracelet, then sighed deeply and messed up his hair vigorously.

“Do I look like a materialist to you, Rose?”

Despite saying that, he shouted and snatched the bracelet from me.

“I’m doing this because we’re colleagues as you said!”

“Oh really? Wow, I’m touched, Aaron.”

I grinned at Aaron.

If I openly walked around with Aaron in the imperial palace, wouldn’t the baseless rumors about me being a mistress disappear completely?

Why hadn’t I thought of this until now?

“I’ll use the gift Rose gave me preciously.”

“Sure, sure, you can do whatever you want with it as long as you follow my lead well.”

I sat on the bed, crossed my legs, and looked at the piles of contracts scattered on the floor.

Calix really should be grateful that I possessed Rose.

Where in this world would you find such a maid?

Lucky bastard.

“Ah, I’m too competent for my own good. Right?”

“Rose, did you take some medicine?”

“Be quiet, Aaron. Can’t you read the mood?”

I thought while covering my mouth and laughing silently.

Damn reactionaries, I’ll completely overhaul them and fill in with new personnel.

Those who look down on Calix as just a nominal Crown Prince will regret it and hit the ground.

Why?

‘Because I am Calix’s closest aide, that’s why!’

If I work hard, Calix will surely recognize my merits. By the time I submit my resignation, he might help me return home to repay my contributions.

For example, he could introduce me to a magician from the magic artifact merchant guild under his command, or introduce me to priests after he becomes emperor.

“I’m really scared every time Rose makes that expression…”

“Hmm. I agree with that, Aaron.”

Aaron and Milla were nodding at each other.

Hey, what’s wrong with my expression!

“Anyway, you guys have picked the right side. It’s the future Emperor’s side, you know.”

“Um… We get that you’re devoted to His Highness the Crown Prince, Rose, but can we go eat now?”