No Joke – "Please Understand-!"
Sisilia cried out in a half-spewing-blood state of desperation. "Please understand-!" And beside her, Beatrice—crouched low in the same white dress—thought to herself, 'Why am I dragged into this...?' But when Sisilia stared at her blankly, she hurriedly added, "P-Please... understand..."
Beatrice shed tears at the passing royal knights' words. 'Even this doesn't work?'
Gazing at the utterly unmoved palace, Sisilia fell into deep shock. 'In dramas, this always solved everything...!' Was reality really so different from TV shows after all? It looked like she'd need to tweak her plan a bit.
"Betty. You keep protesting here. I'll go brainstorm a new plan."
"S-Sisilia?"
Sisilia brushed the dirt from her reddened knees and stood. She pressed a finger to her lips, deep in thought as she walked. 'Do they hate newbies? Why so hardline?'
Sisilia just couldn't wrap her head around it. She'd even braced herself to tank some reputation loss by rebelling like this, but the queen was being way too inflexible.
'In times like this.'
Sisilia trusted the words of the great sage. Know thyself and know thy enemy, and thou shalt win every battle. The classic "Know Self, Know Foe."
First up: Analyze Queen Lydia. With that, she headed to the library.
"Welcome to the repository of knowledge. Wi—Windsor Knights?... First Windsor member to visit since the order's founding. History books...? Plenty in Section B."
Sisilia stood on tiptoes, straining to reach. When it proved impossible, she glanced around and subtly invoked her Aura of Wind.
"Knight! No Auras in the library! If you're short, use the ladder!"
"S-Sorry."
The rule-abiding citizen Sisilia meekly apologized, then hugged a stack of books to her chest and sat down. Donning a monocle for that intellectual vibe, she eyed the volumes.
Queen Lydia's Reign Vol. 2: Saint Michael Calendar 234~375
[No one among Liannen Kingdom's ministers foresaw it back then.]
[That the queen's choice to execute hundreds of nobles and thousands of clergy* would ultimately prove right.]
Sisilia never read books from the start. She skipped to whatever caught her eye, and in this dull history tome, it was the clergy bits that hooked her.
[Pope Francesco II led the clergy to meddle in nations' politics.]
[Kingdoms that once permitted their presence fell one by one to the Holy Nation's grasp.]
[Only two resisted across the vast Arcadia Continent: Liannen Kingdom, which eradicated churches and cathedrals beforehand, and the mighty Eldrishion Empire.]
[Yet even that mighty empire waged 200 years of religious war against the Holy Nation, scars running deep.]
[Queen Lydia foresaw this 60 years prior and acted preemptively.]
Footnote - Confirmed clergy sacrifices: over 6,000. Nobles purged in backlash: around 200.
"Whoa."
Sisilia was genuinely impressed. The rest was intriguing too. Afterward, Queen Lydia poured the kingdom's full might into battling the demonkin. The empire won its war with the Holy Nation but emerged tattered. Having lost its edge against demons, it turned to Liannen for aid. In exchange for blocking the demons, Liannen claimed vast northern lands before the Demon King Castle—forming its current territory.
'No matter how I look at it, she seems like someone who decides the outcome first and fits the process around it.'
She countered the pope's plot 60 years early, before any suspicious clergy moves. Her logic stayed consistent then and after: [The sun will rise tomorrow.][And so shall I.]
After skimming more books, Sisilia drew conclusions.
'Near-prophetic intuitive reasoning.'
'Unshakable self-confidence and the power to make it real.'
'Giving birth to a common farmer's kid and the vice-captain out of nowhere? Highly impulsive.'
'Bias beyond madness toward confirmation. Problem is, she's never been wrong once.'
'Ruthless destructive instinct if things veer even slightly. No matter how inhumane, she executes.'
To sum it up in one phrase:
'In short, she just does whatever she feels like.'
No point in eloquent persuasion with someone like that—they've already decided. She needed to ripple that ironclad conclusion. But without getting caught as the "other" stirring it. Best: a tiny pebble. One so small it'd go unnoticed.
Wrapping up, Sisilia closed the book. Her lips curved faintly.
"Fine. I can play whims too."
* * *
The palace maids cleaned with hazy expressions, stealing glances everywhere. A silver-haired maid exuded a mysterious aura. Twin tails with a maid headband suited her perfectly.
"...That's Windsor Knights."
"Shh."
Maid A hurriedly covered her mouth. The silver-haired girl swept indifferently with her broom.
"Just... pretend you don't see."
"...Can we?"
Both had seen Sisilia before. Even without, they'd recognize her instantly. Silver hair was extremely rare in Liannen—practically nonexistent. Grab any kid off the street and ask, "Name of the silver-haired girl?" A hundred out of a hundred: "Lady Sisilia!"
"Gotta go—Her Majesty's teatime."
"You're on duty today?"
"Yeah. Hope I do okay..."
Then a shadow fell between them.
"Eek."
Maid A steadied her near-fainting nerves. "Wh-What is it?"
"I'll handle teatime. Senior."
"Ah, haha... Y-You sure?"
"Sh-Should be fine. Nothing too hard."
The maids fretted endlessly. 'But she's Windsor Knights.'
Windsors protected people from demons—a righteous order. Overlook their occasional antics. ...Though why infiltrate the palace as a maid was beyond them.
"Then, go on in... She's already gone?"
* * *
Lydia broke into a cold sweat, eyeing one maid warily. 'What the heck?'
Pre-bedtime teatime with a book was her daily routine. A 300-year habit. But for the first time, it was disrupted.
"Today's attendant is awfully pretty. What's your name?"
Awkward smile from Lydia as she asked. Sisilia bowed politely.
"Sisilia."
"...No intent to hide, huh."
Lydia sighed, closing her book.
"What brings you here, Sisilia?"
"To attend Your Majesty."
"...No joking."
Sisilia tilted her head innocently. "A maid attending—is there a problem?"
"...You just said Sisilia. The only Sisilia I know is the Sword Princess of the Windsor Knights."
"!"
'D-Did she slip up?'
As Lydia gawked at Sisilia's "pure" brain, she added:
"A maid named Sisilia."
Sisilia smirked triumphantly. Clearly thinking it a perfect excuse.
'Blatantly doubling down won't work...! If you wanted to hide, at least change your looks! Twin tails don't fool anyone!'
Lydia couldn't pinpoint where to even start, speechless.
"No tasks for me?"
Regardless, Sisilia asked demurely. Lydia replied hazily:
"Fix the tea... Can you? Coffee, please."
"As you command."
'What maid answers like that...'
Lydia clutched her forehead, headache mounting. But a 300-year queen's poker face didn't crumble easily. Regaining composure, she reopened her book. Whatever this was, she'd welcome talk if it came. No way she'd fail to sway a 16-year-old.
Right—if the kid was reasonable.
Vrrr—
"...?"
Lydia's eyes narrowed cat-like, slowly turning. Sisilia shook something furiously, "manufacturing" (?).
Whirr! Splurrrt—!
No matter how you sliced it, not tea-brewing sounds.
"What... are you making?"
Sisilia glanced back. "Café au lait."
"...Café au lait?"
Lydia bit her thumb anxiously. 'Poisoning me? That'd mess up naming humanity's proxy. Legal headaches...'
Soon, Sisilia set down the cup flawlessly, sans a tremor.
"...?"
Lydia gulped. White liquid (milk?) formed letters.
To resolve discord with your child, abandon Sisilia Windsor as humanity's proxy. It brings good fortune (吉).
'How the hell...'
Lydia stared at Sisilia, queasy. Sisilia stood expectant for praise.
"Th-That's some skill... Never seen coffee like this."
"Art coffee."
"Indeed. Even top engravers couldn't etch letters this tiny."
Anxious but curious, Lydia gripped the mug. She sipped—
"—!!"
Her pupils dilated. 'Why's it... delicious?'
Incredibly smooth, sweet bliss lingered. Lydia, taster of worldly delicacies, found this uniquely special.
"...Truly superb. I'd reward its maker."
"Right?"
Sisilia shrugged, pleased. Who knew one café gig in her past life would pay off? Hard work pays dividends.
Lydia sipped more, unable to stop marveling.
"Wow—teach the other maids? The umami deepens with each sip; it'll linger till tomorrow."
"In exchange, a condition."
"Mm. Rewards will be generous."
"Abandon making Sisilia Windsor humanity's proxy. I humbly beg as Your Majesty's exclusive maid."
'Here it comes.'
Lydia set down the cup. "Earnest. But overstepping for an exclusive maid."
In short: Discuss properly through channels.
Lydia hardened her gaze coldly. Sisilia's eyes welled up.
Sniffle.
"...?"
Lydia fidgeted, blurting just before tears fell: "F-Fine... I'll consider it."
"Really?"
"...Yes."
"Then, I'll take my leave."
"Bit early for an exclusive maid to clock out...?"
Lydia gawked at the triumphant Sisilia. But she declared boldly:
"Curfew."
"...Right. Still a minor. G-Go on."
* * *
"Where've you been, coming back now."
"...Walk."
"Curfew was close."
Sisilia hung her head glumly. 'Hoped for confirmation tonight. Maid outfit should've hooked her.'
300-year-old monsters weren't easy.
"Your friend waited ages."
"Who? Where from?"
"You got two friends now?"
"About a hundred."
"...?"
Chiron didn't argue. Pity stayed his tongue. Sisilia hurt more from that.
"Where hast thou been, returning so late."
Facing yawning Bianca, Sisilia tilted her head.
"A housewarming gift. 'Twill benefit thy life to keep it as heirloom forever."
Bianca primly offered cake. Sisilia blankly accepted, carefully opening: the new menu cake snatched by that rotten prince.
New menu must be eaten fresh—that's newbie basics. Tears welled in Sisilia's eyes.
"T-To tears?"
Bianca gawked, then backed away. Sisilia's gaze was off.
"Lady."
Sisilia advanced. Bianca retreated in fear, cornered against the wall, trembling.
"Wh-Why that dangerous look! W-Wait, why the lily hairpin all sudden!"
"Just one lick."
"Wh-What?!"
Lick.
Sisilia actually licked Bianca's cheek. Then, beaming, she grabbed the cake and vanished to eat.
Today's pain healed.
Meanwhile, Bianca—her "purity" stolen(?—plopped down in shock.
"Sh-She's a total psycho."
Bianca wiped her cheek furiously with a handkerchief.