“No. I should have gone to save you when it first happened……”

Even if Sir Eden had been there, it wouldn’t have made much difference. Neither the Emperor, known as the greatest knight, nor any of his knights under his command had noticed ‘Reibella Felicity.’ 

 At that time, after the Emperor and his knights left with only the princess, Reibella escaped the cabin alone and resented the knights the entire time she followed the waterway. 

 Wondering why they hadn’t found her, suspecting if they had deliberately ignored her. 

 However, they said they hadn’t even properly recognized the existence of ‘Reibella Felicity’ at the time. 

 When they returned with the princess, they said they heard some sound but didn’t consider it to be a ‘person.’ 

 It was an absurd excuse, but Reibella let it slide. After all, she had experienced countless unfair moments living as less than an extra in this world. 

 Perhaps reading that thought in her resigned expression, Eden silently observed Reibella for a moment. 

 Then he knelt on one knee to meet her eye level.

“From now on, if anything happens, please come find me, understood?”

“Why?”

“Answer me. Understood?”

At his gently insistent tone, Reibella found herself nodding reflexively. Even after seeing this, Eden remained restless for a while, unable to feel assured, then finally smiled with a mix of resignation and said,

“I’ll come visit you often, Miss.”

……Why is he acting like this? 

 * * *

 “From now on, you are Her Highness the Princess’s personal maid.”

As soon as they returned to the Princess’s Palace, an impossible order was given. It was an order to serve directly at the princess’s side.

‘Now that a new food taster has arrived, Reibella can rest.’

The princess’s words finally made sense. 

 For Reibella, it was a position she had avoided until now because she thought ‘she wouldn’t survive.’ 

 Honestly, until now it had been more of a ‘probably so’ kind of guess, but after this kidnapping incident, she could be ‘certain.’ Nothing good ever came from being near the princess. 

 So she had prepared herself to naturally distance herself from the princess upon return, but…

 What are you saying all of a sudden? 

 “Head Maid, I’m still young and don’t have such capabilities. Just cleaning the palace for Her Highness is enough!” 

 “This has already been decided, so accept it.” 

 ……Why are you doing this? Do you want me dead? 

 “Reibella.” 

 Head Maid Raniel Soi called Reibella’s name softly. As it was the first time she had called her by name, Reibella looked up at her tensely. 

 “You made a mistake. When Her Highness said she was going out alone, you didn’t inform me, and you followed her alone only to get kidnapped.” 

 Reibella’s head drooped lower at these pointed remarks. 

 “But you did well.” 

 Instead of the continued criticism she expected, the words that followed were unexpectedly praise. 

 “I heard you threw yourself in harm’s way for Her Highness. That’s not something just anyone can do.” 

 “……” 

 “Raise your head. You did your best.” 

 When Reibella slowly raised her head at her command, Raniel met her gaze with gentle eyes and spoke. Though she had seen her every day since starting work at the Princess’s Palace, this was the first time seeing such an expression. 

 When Reibella showed surprise, she briefly displayed an awkward look before quickly erasing it and continuing her words. 

 “Don’t feel burdened. You’ll do well. Though you’ll be the princess’s personal maid, at first you’ll mainly be helping with the other personal maids’ miscellaneous tasks.” 

 It seemed Raniel assumed Reibella was refusing the position of personal maid due to her guilt over failing to prevent the kidnapping. 

 ‘If I refuse any more, it might cause unnecessary misunderstandings.’ 

 Since Reibella had no desire to create needless misunderstandings, she swallowed her sigh and nodded. Only then did a faint smile spread across Raniel’s lips. 

 “Well then, you’ve been through a lot, so go rest. Her Highness said she’d like to give you a vacation, so I’ll give you a week’s reward leave. Rest well in your room.” 

 Originally she should return to her family home, but knowing she had no home, it meant to rest in the palace quarters. Reibella agreed and left the Head Maid’s room. 

 As soon as she stepped outside, countless gazes poured onto Reibella. 

 They too seemed to have heard some rumors. 

 Whether they were good rumors or bad ones so doesn’t know.

 Though she was curious inside, she decided to rest first. Upon reaching her room after so long, Reibella fell right asleep. 

 It was a sweet rest after such a long time. 

 * * *

 “Two days disappeared in an instant……” 

 Reibella muttered while looking out the window with drowsy eyes. She wondered when she had fallen asleep, but when she opened her eyes, two days had already passed. 

 What she vaguely remembered was that maids had come and gone in between. 

 ‘They woke me up to eat. The food seemed really fancy.’ 

 She had gotten up while half-asleep and eaten something, thinking it was food tasting at the time. So she had forced herself to eat even while nodding off, but…

 Thinking about it now, that wasn’t food tasting. After all, they said a new food taster had arrived. But to say it was just a dream……. 

 Reibella’s gaze turned to the table. Luxurious foods fit for the princess were laid out before her. 

 ‘Is it because I’m the princess’s personal maid?’ 

 Compared to when she first came to the palace, it was truly a heaven and earth difference. 

 ‘The weather’s nice, should I go see Calyx?’ 

 Suddenly she thought of Calyx’s palace. That place wasn’t properly managed, and since hardly anyone went in and out, the meals must be terrible. 

 ‘I wonder if he’d like it if I brought this food?’ 

 Let’s take it! 

 Just in case, she tasted a bit of the particularly delicious and healthy-looking foods and transferred them to empty containers. 

 While she was gathering the food one by one…… a thump came from beyond the window. When she peeked her head out to check outside, a maid had fallen ungracefully. And various items were scattered around her head. 

 ‘How embarrassing.’ 

 The reddening face as she jumped up was unfamiliar. 

 ‘She must be someone who came before finishing training.’ 

 Watching her clean up, she was clearly flustered and at a loss for what to do. She seemed to be someone who hadn’t been in the palace very long. 

 There didn’t appear to be anyone around to help, and somehow it didn’t feel right to just watch. Letting out a small sigh, Reibella climbed over the windowsill and approached her. 

 Then she calmly gathered the scattered items in one place and examined the maid’s clothes to fix her appearance. 

 “Th-thank you……” 

 The freckled girl with high cheekbones shyly expressed her thanks. 

 ‘She’s tall.’ 

 Thirteen, fourteen years old? 

 She was an innocent-looking child with brown hair. 

 “It’s nothing. Are you hurt anywhere?” 

 “U-um, no.” 

 “That’s good. Please be more careful from now on. Though these might not seem like much, they’re all items for Her Highness the Princess. It would be a big problem if they get damaged.” 

 The girl nodded repeatedly like a student in class. Then she carefully asked. 

 “Do you perhaps know where the Crystal Room is?” 

 “Ah. That place is hard to find. Over there towards…… No, I’ll go with you.” 

 Reibella took some of the luggage from the girl and started walking ahead. The girl followed, repeatedly thanking her as if she’d met a savior. 

 “You seem young but know so much. When did you come here?” 

 “I haven’t been here long either.” 

 “What do you do?” 

 “Food tast— no. I’m Her Highness’s personal maid.” 

 “Oh? Then aren’t you a really important person?” 

 “No, no. You can treat me casually.” 

 Once she found out about her being a Felicity, she might regret having this conversation. Reibella hoped she wouldn’t create an embarrassing memory and end up resenting her. 

 “Wait. Come to think of it, I heard there’s an amazing young maid. That’s you— I mean, Miss Maid, right?” 

 “……?” 

 An amazing maid? There’s no way such a reaction would come. Wasn’t there anything about ‘that maid being Felicity’ in those rumors? 

 “They say that maid received Her Highness’s grace and saved Her Highness multiple times…… eating poison in her place, preventing kidnapping! Oh my, are you that maid? Really?” 

 Going by the story alone, it was certainly talking about her. When Reibella nodded, the girl squealed. 

 “I’ve wanted to meet you! You’re my idol!” 

 ……What? 

 * * *

 Wahaha. 

 At the clear ringing of girls’ voices, Princess Erina’s gaze turned toward the window. Among several unfamiliar maids, there was a cute pink-haired girl at the center. 

 Reibella Felicity. 

 The girl who was both her friend and idol.