Chapter 10 Part 1

“…So, you still haven’t figured out how Rose Knight and Harten Endeavor became close?”

“All I was able to find out is that Rose Knight visited the Dorothea Palace several times. The entrance permit stated that he was to meet with Lord Gray from the diplomatic mission.”

“Useless! Why do you think you’re still alive? You better start paying back what you owe for being spared!”

Stepping back from the furious Daisy Queenie, the robed figure, trying to suppress a sigh, lowered his head.

“Your Majesty.”

“Get out now!”

Even after the robed figure left the room, Daisy Queenie’s distorted face remained fixed. Daisy gestured at the trembling woman in the corner, glancing at her nervously. The girl, dressed in a maid’s outfit with a harmonious blend of white and black, awkwardly collapsed at Daisy’s feet.

“Has there been no news from the Knights’ servants?”

“For, for the deeply ill elderly mother… one of the servants is in urgent need of money. It’s said they already took a year’s salary in advance and are applying for more…”

“Bring them to me within three days. Get any useful information, anything!”

At the furious outburst, the woman shivered, answered quickly, and fled in a hurry. Since Daisy Queenie had become the tyrant of the room, the robed figure and the maid Roland had been tormented daily. Hoping not to anger the tyrant this time, the two left the mansion, each with their own mission in mind.

***

“The doctors say they can’t even identify the illness. They don’t know the name of the disease… and because of that, they don’t know the proper treatment either.”

“What about the temple? Don’t they know either?”

At my question, Garnet gave a sympathetic smile. A somewhat bitter expression spread across her face, and it was only then that I realized I had said something thoughtless.

“Priests are far too distant for commoners, Miss.”

“…I wasn’t thinking. Please tell Taryn that the proposal has been rejected.”

“Excuse me?”

“My blessing day is in five days. Bring Taryn’s mother to the temple then, and let her see the priest. Who knows? Oh, and if Taryn needs the money for another reason, ask her to resubmit the proposal.”

A smile blossomed on Garnet’s face. Filled with pride and joy, I smiled back. Garnet, with a gleam of excitement, left the room holding the rejected document with the stamp.

“Ah, Garnet! Leave the documents with someone else and bring this one to Father’s office.”

“Yes, of course, Miss!”

I heard Garnet’s voice calling someone else as she stood by the office door. I picked up the teacup next to the papers and sank into thought. A disease the doctors couldn’t identify. No medicine, no cure. While I didn’t have any solutions myself, I couldn’t help but feel sympathy. I wanted to help.

In this current time, where the Middle Ages and the early modern period blend, even basic hygiene concepts are lacking. Bathing with warm water is a luxury reserved for the nobility, while commoners may only bathe once a week at best.

Moreover, even the so-called doctors only remodeled their homes to create consultation rooms for diagnosing illnesses. It’s nothing like the modern hospitals that pay so much attention to cleanliness. As I picked up a snack, I thought that once the orphanage was properly established, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to create a hospital that had a similar atmosphere.

***

Knock knock knock.

“Your Highness.”

“Come in.”

Roland, still shrinking under the sharp tone, stepped inside. As she had done yesterday, she prostrated herself and positioned herself at the feet of Daisy Queenie.

“What is it?”

“I’ve fully swayed Taryn from the Knight’s household, who was being courted.”

“…What? Is that true?”

A flush of color spread across Daisy Queenie’s face. Taryn had been the target of her efforts for months, yet the person had resisted, frustrating her. Finally, they had been swayed! Daisy Queenie gripped the armrest of her chair tightly, tilting her head.

“Tell me more.”

“Taryn had requested an additional three months’ worth of salary from the Knight’s household, but it was rejected. That rejection turned her mind. Dorothy, whom the Miss had planted beforehand, played a crucial role.”

“……”

“Rose Knight’s—her personal maid, explained to Dorothy why Taryn’s proposal was rejected, but Dorothy didn’t pass that information on. Taryn only knows that her proposal was rejected.”

“Fools. Well, at least things went more smoothly because of it.”

Daisy Queenie smiled with satisfaction, nodding her head. She would finally have a way to get back at Rose Knight. Just the thought of it thrilled her. It would be an opportunity to crush that proud face once again. While Halo Cart was also a good tool, it now seemed trivial. She would torment Rose Knight painfully until the very end.

“Bring Taryn to me tomorrow. Tell her I’ll decide on her reward after hearing her story.”

“Yes, of course, Your Highness.”

As Roland stepped back, Daisy Queenie shifted her attention from her to the dress she had been eyeing. Hadn’t she said she was attending Count Merrian’s party? The golden dress, shining like honey, was already prepared, but for some reason, her partner had repeatedly rejected her invitations.

However, that wouldn’t last long. She was confident that as soon as she stood beside him, he would fall for her. But for now, she needed to set her priorities straight.

“First, I’ll deal with Rose Knight…”

There was nothing more annoying than having an irritating thorn constantly present. Harten Endeavor could be dealt with afterward. It was already shaping up to be an enjoyable night just thinking about it.

***

“Miss, there’s a letter from Vero!”

“Vero? It’s for me?”

Garnet quickly handed me the letter as I asked in confusion. The name written on the envelope in crooked handwriting was indeed mine. I removed the wax seal in a daze.

“Why is Vero suddenly…?”

“Oh dear, it’s obviously a letter sent because he likes you! You used to write letters to your nanny, remember?”

I blushed at the embarrassing memory. It was a letter I had written to my nanny when I was still young, begging her to stay home during a holiday. I had cried and clung to her, thinking I would never see her again, and I cried so loudly that the entire house could hear me.

Touched by my distress, my nanny bought a lot of candy and chocolates to cheer me up. As I let out a small laugh, Garnet, who knew the full story, smiled.

“After hearing that story of yours, I really wanted to meet you. I didn’t expect to become your personal maid, though!”

“That’s such an old story.”

The nostalgia of those past memories made me slow down as I unfolded the letter. Back then, I was so naive, unaware that I was stepping into such a complicated world. Even if I had known, I wondered what would have been different.

“…What does it say?”

Garnet, clearly curious about the contents of Vero’s letter, slowly approached and asked. Given her fondness for all things cute and beautiful, I was sure she had already melted at the sight of the crooked handwriting on the envelope.

I finished reading the letter, then absentmindedly rubbed the corner of my mouth that had lifted into a smile. Was this what it felt like to raise a child? I thought I understood why parents become so soft with their children, before setting the letter down. Garnet quickly leaned in to peek at it.

“You can read it, it’s fine. There’s something about you in it too, Garnet.”

“Oh, really?”

Garnet’s face lit up with excitement as she quickly grabbed the letter. A peaceful atmosphere settled in the quiet office. I put down the quill I had been holding and stretched.

At first, I wondered why the letter was sent to me and not to Garnet, but it seemed that Ten’s letter had made its way to Vero. She must have secretly passed it along to Aunt Layla, asking her to keep it a secret from everyone. Was it the child’s intuition, or something Ten had written in the letter? …Come to think of it, I didn’t know what it said at all. I should have asked about it beforehand.