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27. The Great Flood
“Nonsense! A court lady is a lady-in-waiting!”
The ladies-in-waiting were furious. It was natural. The ladies-in-waiting had never considered themselves to be of the same type as the palace servants. Users were closer to consumables such as candles and curtains. When Candle came one day and said that she would take the position of First Maid, it was like a great flood that turned the whole world upside down.
“Ah, you remember I was a court lady. You must be curious, I thought you didn’t know anything about the palace face.”
Yvette was not at all discouraged even among the angry ladies-in-waiting. She was actually gritty. But she was prepared that there would be a backlash. Besides, she was not the last maid, but the first maid, so even if her marquise hired her shaman and cursed herself, it would be understandable to her. Strangely though, she was not afraid. Maybe it’s because she went through a series of very strange things yesterday. The king of birds and the empress, the being that the king protects, are on my side, so I wondered what the problem was. And Yvette trusted the Empress. The scariest being in the empire was the Emperor. It was the same because he was an emperor, and the fact that he had demon blood mixed. Even the Emperor couldn’t beat her Empress. So, in fact, the most terrifying person in the empire had to be the Empress. That made Yvette very proud.
“What are you talking about!”
When Yvette calmly said what she had to say, the Marquise burst out.
Lasilia looked at the Marquis.
“That’s rude. Saying it to the princess of the duchy. Your status has changed, so be careful from now on.”
When the Empress came out like this, the Marquise was ready to grab her by the neck.
“Woe, Her Majesty! Where the hell is this happening! How can a court lady become a princess of a duchy!”
“The Duke of Shrydon adopted the princess. It was a formal adoption granted by His Majesty.”
“Who the hell is the Duke of Shryden! There is no such name in the Empire!”
“You keep doubting my words, but that rudeness is forgiven once because of the time you spent by my side. If you’re curious about the Duke of Shrydon, how about taking a look at the history of the empire? I will allow the end, so for the time being, stay at the Marquis’s residence and focus on reading. While the words have been spoken, you may leave the palace now.”
The Marquise of Farshad’s body trembled.
“Your Majesty the Empress. How can you do this to me… You can’t do this to me. You can’t just throw me away like this…”
“It wasn’t abandoned, you were allowed to rest. I wonder why you keep twisting my words. Are you doing this on purpose?”
“Empress Lungs…”
The Marquise, whose complexion had turned pale, looked as if she would collapse at any moment. The other ladies-in-waiting around her looked at Lasilia and the Marquise, unable to do anything about it.
“Look out. As I said, there is no need to return to the palace until you read the history of the empire.”
“…”
Lasilia turned her back on the speechless Marquise and turned to the other ladies-in-waiting.
“Starting today, my attendant will be the princess of Shryden, who became the first lady-in-waiting. This is her first time playing the maid role, so there may be some immaturity. I hope you will wholeheartedly help her with her princess work. Please convey my words to all the courtiers of the Empress’ palace.”
“…”
The ladies-in-waiting rolled their eyes and said nothing.
“Has anyone heard me?”
When Lasilia asked again, she only then heard a reply that was as big as a mosquito.
“Yes, yes… I understand, Her Majesty the Empress.”
Lasilia nodded her head once.
“Then I will take a bath now. It’s fine for everyone to leave except for the princess of Shryden.”
“Yes, Her Majesty.”
With that, it seemed that the great flood that had begun in the morning had come to an end.
* * *
Fortunately, the underdress she wore today had buttons in the front. She could put on and take off as many times as she wanted. After Lasilia, undressing, entered the bathtub, Yvette entered her.
“Beep!”
Pippi was also there. Pippi popped out of Yvette’s hand and sat on Racilia’s shoulder wrapped in her towel.
“Are you okay? It must be wet and slippery.”
When Lasilia asked while looking at her Pipi, Pipi shook its head.
“Beep.”
Rubbing her unfeathered head against her skin meant that he had missed her all night yesterday. Lasilia laughed and patted Pippy’s head.
“Hold on for one more day. The blue moon sets tomorrow.”
“Beep…”
Pippi was too childish. just like anyone
“But why discipline, Her Majesty? This will take a long time, so it would be better to do it at night.”
Yvette asked, gently fanning the wood fire to keep the smoke from extinguishing.
“It was not my will.”
“Oh, then?”
“It seems that Mrs. Farshad wanted something.”
“Um, no… What could it be?”
It must have been to give her a sense of danger that she had to take off her clothes in front of the ladies-in-waiting, but thanks to Yvette, she was able to pass it on without any problems. But she couldn’t say that to Yvette.
‘Because it could become a problem later.’
If it is known that Yvette knew about the mark and that she participated in hiding it, Yvette too could not escape punishment. Perhaps she didn’t know if it would affect the Duke of Shryden as well. She shouldn’t have had that happen.
“Well… In any case, you won’t feel good about me, so I’m thinking of reducing the number of customers for the time being. I’ll have to wear an underdress with buttons in the front. The same goes for pajamas.”
“Ah, don’t worry, sir. I will make sure there is nothing lacking, Your Majesty the Empress.”
It was something she wanted to avoid.
“Leave me to wear the underwear. Because it is more comfortable.”
“Ah… I understand, Her Majesty the Empress.”
Yvette shut her mouth and fanned hard again. Then she ate the smoke and coughed. Although she became the first lady-in-waiting, even in Lasilia’s eyes, Yvette was closer to the court lady. It was a pity that she smoked, so she got into the bathtub, but now it occurred to her that she didn’t have to.
“I will stop now.”
“What, yes? Her Majesty the Empress?”
“Go out first and prepare the clothes you will wear today. I’ll dry myself off and put on my underwear.”
“It would be cumbersome to do it alone. I will help.”
“No. Then it will take more time. Not only me, but Your Majesty’s mealtime will be late as well.”
“Ah, I guess. I will follow your wishes, Her Majesty.”
Yvette hurriedly got up and left the bathroom. Then, as Lasilia lifted herself from the bathtub, Pipi covered his face with his wings, and he turned away.
“beep!”
“Oh, did the water splash?”
“Beep!”
“Ah, you suddenly got up and panicked? Okay. From now on, I will talk and move.”
It was ridiculous for her to act like a human to a new subject born yesterday, and he was also a little cute.
“You will grow up quickly.”
Pipi’s wings covered his eyes while Racilia wiped her dry with a towel.
“I wonder what he will look like when he grows up.”
“Beep!”
When he becomes an adult, he becomes jaw-droppingly gorgeous, she says, swaying her hips proudly with Pipi turned on her back.
“I know, red bird. I think that would be really cool.”
“Beep!”
But she wouldn’t be able to see it herself. Because Pipi would have to find his place before he grows up. With such regret, Lasilia stroked Pippi’s head. Pippi flapped his wings, telling her to get dressed quickly.
* * *
Breakfast was served in the dining room of the Empress’ palace. Usually, breakfast was eaten simply in the office or bedroom while watching the morning routine, but after the Emperor moved to the Empress’ palace, it somehow became a routine that could not be neglected. Covered silver dishes filled the table. The table was half flowers and half food. The flickering candles in the silver candlesticks in the morning were burdensome. The most burdensome thing was the Emperor sitting next to her.
Since it was the Empress’ palace, the seat of honor seemed to belong to the Empress. The Emperor sat to her right. It was said to be a seat next to her, but it was a seat where his face could be seen directly if she turned her head slightly to the side. The Emperor, who made the mood agitated by saying that it was good in the morning, lit up the table with a uniquely more dazzling outfit. After one look at the Emperor’s face, the glittering silverware gave the illusion that the luster had died.
“The lady-in-waiting of the Empress’ palace is late.”
Serben spoke softly. If it was a normal meal, the shadow knight wouldn’t open his mouth. However, the first lady-in-waiting, who was supposed to stand by the Empress, wipe her hands and mouth with a napkin, and teach her food order, was nowhere to be seen. Persson, the chamberlain of the imperial palace, who had been hardening his expression a moment ago, stepped out.
“I’ll have to call another lady-in-waiting, Your Majesty the Empress.”
Again, if it was the same meal as usual, Persson wouldn’t even step out.
However, Persson was slowly getting angry at the Emperor’s breakfast being delayed because of the lady-in-waiting of the Empress’ palace.
Lasilia had noticed that too.
“Today is the first day of being sealed as a lady-in-waiting, so the work seems cumbersome. However, I can’t make His Majesty wait any longer, so it’s best to start eating as it is. Is that all right, Your Majesty?”
“It’s okay to wait longer.”
As if he had been waiting for Lescal, he replied without hesitation. Then he put his hand out on the table.
“If you don’t want another lady-in-waiting, you can postpone the meal as much as you like.”
“Thank you, but you don’t have to. The food will get cold too… But why are you holding out your hand?”
“Make it easier to hold hands.”
“… yes?”
Lescal let out a brief breath as Lasilia tilted her head. Lasilia could now recognize that it was the Emperor’s nervous expression.
“If I do you a favor, you’ll let me hold your hand.”
“…”
“…”
“…”
“…”
Except for Lescal, everyone else in the restaurant had similar expressions. In particular, Serben’s expression was pitiful.
“No. You don’t have to wait any longer. I can eat like this.”
“Without an attendant?”
“Just because I lost my memory doesn’t mean I forgot how to eat.”
“Then.”
Lescal raised one eyebrow and strangely averted his gaze. It was a look of disappointment.
“…Then I will pour you water to wash your hands.”
Anyway, we had to eat. With his white-gloved hand, Persson poured water from the silver jug into Lescal’s water bowl. Lescal put his hand in the bowl of water and snapped his fingers, then Persson picked up a thick white napkin and wiped his hands dry.
“Pour water for washing with the Empress.”
“Ah, I understand.”
Persson went round the table to the other side of the table from Lescal’s, and poured water into the water bowl from Lasilia’s left. She imitated Lescal’s routine and wiped her hands, and Lescal quickly stood up and snatched the napkin from Persson’s forearm.
“Because there is no one to wipe you.”
“…Yes, Your Majesty?”
It was not difficult to grasp the Emperor’s intentions as he held a napkin and glared at his eyes. Anyone other than Lasilia could have known.
“I have to.”
“…Then please.”
It was tiring to refuse every little thing like this. If she refused, the Emperor would come with another one. She’d rather be comfortable accepting the little things that were acceptable, and rejecting the things that came next. Lescal wrapped a napkin around Lasilia’s wet hand. Then, more than necessary, he began to dry each finger very carefully. He seemed to be fiddling with his fingers rather than wiping off the water, but since Lescal was the Emperor, no one would openly say such a thing.
“With this, I have granted your request once more.”
‘It’s not like that, it feels like I’ve been asked…’
“So next time I can hold your hand.”
“…”
That was while she was thinking about how to respond.
“Sorry for the delay, Her Majesty!”
Yvette let out a rough breath and entered the dining room.