The Maid Uniform Is Truly Magnificent!
Three days had passed since Diana became my vassal.
“Liana, Diana. Summon all the ministers.”
“Pardon…? May I ask the reason?”
At Liana’s question, I offered a gentle smile.
“Today is the day of the first results report, after all.”
It was a policy I had implemented the moment I became regent. Every week, each department would present a report on their achievements over the past seven days, and I would evaluate them.
“What kind of reward are you planning to give?”
“A modest performance bonus should suffice.”
Liana nodded, seemingly satisfied with my answer.
“Then what will be the punishment for the department that comes in last?”
“I intend to make them wear maid uniforms until the next results report.”
I hadn’t decided on the spot that day, but after pondering it carefully over the past week, I had settled on maid uniforms.
Maid uniforms. What a beautiful creation of humanity they were. The subtle allure of the short miniskirt, the frills and lace that maximized cuteness, and the perfect black-and-white combination—it was nothing short of art.
The only flaw, if one could call it that, was that they would be worn by healthy adult men. But still.
‘Shame becomes a powerful driving force.’
Since they would never want to wear it again, they would work even harder in the future so that another department would have to wear the maid uniforms. And that other department, not wanting to wear them either, would work even harder. In the long run, the quality of work across all departments would undoubtedly improve.
I had no idea how I came up with such a brilliant idea! I was a genius.
“Liana, Diana! I’m counting on you!”
I had even placed a custom order for the maid uniforms, after all.
. . .
While I waited alone in the conference room, all the ministers entered with extremely tense expressions.
‘I’m not going to kill anyone. Why do they all look like that?’
Once the last minister had taken his seat, I spoke.
“It’s been three days, everyone. You haven’t been slacking off and just playing around for the past week, have you?”
“N-no, the one who played around was none other than Your Majesty the Regent…”
“How insolent!”
It was an irrefutable fact. Still, I had played while getting everything done properly.
“Liana, sheathe your sword.”
At my command, Liana immediately lowered her blade. She really needed to stop drawing it at the slightest provocation.
“We will now hear the results reports in order. Starting from the person on my left, please present them one by one.”
The person on my left was the Chief Seneschal, also known as the leader of all the ministers. In other words, he was the head of the servants and high-ranking officials.
“Y-yes… Our department has completed the maid uniforms that Her Highness the Princess commissioned.”
“W-what?! Chief Seneschal! Is that true?!”
“Maid uniforms… Maid uniforms…!”
Everyone was in an absolute uproar. I hadn’t even said who would have to wear them, yet they were all panicking like this.
“Can you bring the maid uniforms here?”
“Yes… I will have them brought immediately.”
The Chief Seneschal said something to the guards standing by the conference room door, and the guards quickly left their posts.
About five minutes later, two large wooden crates came into view. I opened one of them and unfolded a maid uniform so everyone could see it.
“The department that I judge to have the lowest performance will have all its members wear maid uniforms for one week.”
““……!””
I flipped the maid uniform back and forth to inspect it.
“The craftsmanship is excellent. Well done.”
It was perfect. The design that boldly revealed the chest, the lace-trimmed miniskirt, the soft fabric, and the flawless finishing touches. It would not be an exaggeration to call it the greatest maid uniform in existence.
My score for it was 99 out of 100. First place was already decided.
“Next is the Finance Department led by the Finance Minister.”
“Yes… We ran a promotion offering annual interest to nobles who entrusted their money to the imperial family, and we were able to fill the imperial treasury with their funds.”
Oh. This was truly welcome news. It was basically a modern bank, wasn’t it?
“But you’re not just sitting on the money, are you?”
“Of course not. We made small investments in clearly viable businesses and acquired partial stakes in their operations.”
He was even doing what a fund manager would do. As expected, this was an indispensable department for the empire. My score… 100 points! The maid uniforms were excellent, but money was more important, after all.
“Well done. I will continue to entrust the imperial treasury to you.”
“Y-yes…! Thank you!”
Next was the Foreign Ministry led by the diplomat. When I looked at him with an expectant gaze, he let out a nervous sigh.
“Haa… We returned the auction items that Your Majesty the Regent had brought to each nation. Since only three days have passed, we have not yet received any replies.”
Hmm. Wasn’t this essentially saving the Varshain Empire, which had nearly become the enemy of every nation, from the brink of disaster? The score was naturally 100 points.
The next presenter was the Director of Arts, responsible for the empire’s artistic culture.
“Our department has deployed musicians throughout the empire to hold large and small performances in order to soothe the increasingly anxious public sentiment.”
Hmm. There was no better way to calm the people’s hearts than music. This was also 100 points, as expected.
Next would have been the Legion Commander, but since he had gone to war with Calian, he was not present.
With that, I had scored every department.
“Everyone did splendidly. So splendidly that I can hardly evaluate you. However, that does not mean there is no last-place department.”
““…….””
As everyone held their breath and watched, I announced the result.
“The department I believe showed the lowest performance is the Seneschal’s Department, led by the Chief Seneschal.”
I’m sorry, Chief Seneschal. You did well, but it wasn’t enough to beat the others. I hope you take on some additional duties next time.
“All members of the Seneschal’s Department will now wear the maid uniforms.”
“Y-Your Majesty the Regent, please… Have mercy on my dignity…!”
“Denied. Go change immediately.”
If he was the Chief Seneschal, he should set an example, shouldn’t he? It reminded me of the Bull of Phalaris, but since I wasn’t a tyrant like Phalaris, I had no worries about ever wearing this maid uniform myself.
“Everyone, let us wait until the Chief Seneschal returns after changing.”
The Chief Seneschal ran out clutching the maid uniform, looking like he was about to burst into tears.
. . .
Thirty minutes later, the Chief Seneschal appeared in his new attire.
“Oh. It suits you well.”
“Ugh…! Just kill me instead…!”
Whether it was from consistent exercise or not, his clearly defined masculine muscles combined with the unbearably cute maid uniform created an addictively synergistic effect.
“W-what is this…!”
The ministers were utterly horrified.
“As soon as I get back, I’ll work… As soon as I get back, I’ll work… As soon as I get back, I’ll work…”
Even the ministers had turned into passionate workaholics.
The impact was greater than I had anticipated, and I could only nod with a satisfied smile.
“From now on, every week, the department I judge to have the lowest performance will have to work while wearing the maid uniforms currently worn by the Seneschal’s Department. Keep that in mind. This concludes today’s results report.”
They would all have to work hard from now on. If they didn’t want to wear the cute maid uniforms, that is.
A week had already passed.
“Margrave, what are the enemy’s movements?”
“They have set up camp and are merely maintaining vigilance… They are doing nothing else.”
“Haa… What a headache.”
The coalition forces had pitched camp directly across the river and were in indefinite standby.
All sorts of thoughts raced through Calian’s mind.
‘Is this part of a plan to tie me down? Or are they trying to buy time for something?’ And so on.
“I miss Iris…”
Of course, compared to her peers, Iris was clever and sharp. But still.
‘A child is still a child.’
Calian was worried that the ministers might end up devouring Iris instead.
“H-huh…? Y-Your Majesty! Someone is crossing the river on a ferry!”
“What?!”
It was just as the Legion Commander said. A man riding a white horse, clad in ornate armor decorated with all kinds of lavish ornaments, and a single soldier who appeared to be his subordinate.
If they had intended to attack, they would have brought troops and launched a preemptive strike, but…
Calian realized it immediately. These two had risked danger to come here for negotiations.
The two who disembarked from the ferry slowly approached Calian’s position.
“Are you Emperor Calian Varshain?”
“I am. Who are you?”
Calian’s hand instinctively moved toward the sword sheath at his waist.
“I am the leader of the coalition forces. As the great emperor of this empire, you must already know why I have come, yes?”
“…Prepare a seat.”
Calian was furious. Though the man called himself the leader of the coalition, the king of mere insects was a pitiful creature before the king of beasts. Should he cut off the leader’s head right here and now?
But Calian did not.
‘To cowardly behead someone who has staked their life to come here would show absolutely no regard for the opponent.’
Fair and square. Calian intended only to crush them with the proud army of Varshain.
With that thought in mind, Calian had a table and two chairs set up inside an empty tent and called for the coalition leader.
When Calian entered the tent, the margrave and the legion commander tried to follow.
“Do not enter. This is a conversation between leaders.”
“…Understood.”
The so-called leader’s arrogance was enough to pierce the heavens. He put his feet up on the table and even dared to yawn in front of Calian. Calian wanted to shove a sword down his throat right then and there, but—
“Is your conduct not beneath your dignity?”
“Hah! You flatter me.”
Calian endured it by recalling Iris’s bright, innocent smile.
“State your true purpose for coming here. I have a habit of ripping out the tongues of those who speak too much.”
At Calian’s chilling threat, the coalition leader smirked.
“If you cede the Belhart Territory and the Greyton Territory, including Grey Garden, to our coalition, we will withdraw peacefully.”