Chapter 31
Chapter 31
Translation: godsn
"So no matter who takes the position of Royal Head Maid, this situation will repeat itself. But if it's you, everyone will know I stand behind you—and they'll give up any resistance. At the same time, they wouldn't dare think of causing trouble."
There was no way one wouldn't feel tense when Lady Pinatelli, who acted as the Queen Dowager's eyes, was scrutinizing every corner of the palace.
"You're the only one who can restore order in this chaos. Only then can I rest easy."
Could one person truly receive such profound trust?
The fact that this trust came from none other than the Queen Dowager filled Lady Pinatelli with deep gratitude.
'Driving out the corrupt and depraved to restore order in the royal household—that has been my own long-cherished wish as well.'
At the same time, she felt a twinge of guilt for not being able to tell the Queen Dowager the whole truth.
She bowed deeply.
"...I will do my utmost not to disappoint Your Highness's expectations. I will dedicate my entire life to this task."
"...Good. I shall place my trust in you alone."
A wrinkled hand slowly patted her shoulder.
"Did you hear? There's a new Royal Head Maid now."
"Lady Pinatelli, the Marchioness? Wasn't she the Queen Dowager's personal maid?"
The newly appointed Royal Head Maid was a woman both gentle as water and resolute.
She no longer turned a blind eye to the rampant laziness and injustice within the palace.
She excised every place touched by the former Head Maid Cuisine, and a sweeping reshuffling occurred among the palace staff.
Having served in the palace for so long, Lady Pinatelli knew its inner workings well.
She was particularly zealous in rooting out the Regent's planted spies scattered throughout.
With the Queen Dowager firmly backing her, no one dared obstruct the new Head Maid's unimpeded progress.
"The former Head Maid was guilty of embezzlement, but what's even more shocking is that she was expelled for plotting against Her Highness the Princess!"
Moreover, rumors spread that the Royal Physician who had neglected the Princess when she collapsed some time ago had been severely beaten and expelled from the palace.
"It seems Her Majesty the Queen Dowager still holds her granddaughter in her heart after all!"
The invisible hierarchy within the palace was gradually being restored.
The Princess's Palace.
With the new Head Maid reforming the palace, changes came to the Princess's Palace as well.
"Arrange it similarly to the Queen Dowager's palace. Hang that drapery here."
The new Head Maid personally came to the Princess's Palace to oversee the placement of every item. Not a single object or piece of furniture lacked classical elegance.
Little by little, as everything took shape, it finally began to resemble a proper royal residence.
"Greetings to Her Highness the Princess."
Upon spotting Medeia, Lady Pinatelli bowed deeply.
Her etiquette toward royalty was impeccable in every aspect.
When the Head Maid, the leader of all palace servants, showed such sincere respect to the Princess, the others naturally straightened their backs as well.
'Lady Pinatelli is the Queen Dowager's woman. So if she treats the Princess like this, it must mean the Queen Dowager values the Princess after all.'
They could no longer ignore or belittle the Princess.
Because the message was clear—no matter how much the Queen Dowager might dislike her granddaughter, she would never tolerate wicked individuals harming her.
"Lady Pinatelli."
Medeia acknowledged the greeting with a nod.
"This place is too dusty for Your Highness to remain here."
"You must be exhausted from working all day, Head Maid. Would you care to take a moment to enjoy some fresh air with me? My garden is small but quite cozy."
Madam Pinatelli did not refuse the princess's invitation.
"Your Highness's consideration moves me deeply."
They sat in a secluded spot by the entrance. A single beam of bright sunlight illuminated them.
A faint shadow fell across Medeia's head. Madam Pinatelli suppressed a smile.
"It's simply astonishing. That events unfolded exactly as Your Highness anticipated..."
"......"
"I am grateful. That I can stand in this position is entirely due to Your Highness's grace."
Instead of responding, Medeia lifted her teacup.
The secret conversation they'd shared at dawn sank beneath the rippling tea leaves.
Madam Pinatelli, understanding the implication, smiled wordlessly.
"The royal palace is being set right again. Your contributions have been immense. The royal seal I stamped has finally served its true purpose."
"Your Highness flatters me. I merely did what was proper. Though it will take considerable time—that wretch Cuisine has left filth in far too many places."
"I trust you'll handle it splendidly."
Medeia offered words of encouragement before carefully broaching another matter.
"However... while tracing the whereabouts of my former maids, I came across certain information. I wonder if I might share it with you."
"Please speak freely. When it comes to restoring proper order to the royal household, what could possibly give me pause?"
Medeia hesitated briefly before continuing.
"There are rumors... that Madam Cuisine smuggled palace children out to be sold."
"Smuggled?" Madam Pinatelli's brow furrowed."Your Highness means to say Cuisine was involved in human trafficking?"
"I don't know the details myself. When I tried to locate the maid who left this clue, she too had disappeared..."
Medeia lowered her lashes. Concern shadowed her noble features.
"Regardless of status, once someone enters the palace grounds, they become people of the royal household—citizens of Valdina. But if it's true they were forcibly sold from these very walls..."
Madam Pinatelli first sought to reassure the princess.
"I understand Your Highness's concern. I shall investigate—please don't trouble yourself overmuch."
"I worried whether I should burden you with such matters so soon after your appointment. Your words relieve me greatly."
Even after thorough investigation of Cuisine, not a speck of evidence surfaced regarding the "gifts" she'd sent to the Minister.
This meant Etienne had hidden his... particular tastes with extreme care.
"Since palace investigations were previously overseen by the former Head Maid and the Minister of Palace Affairs, perhaps you might consult with him? He may know something."
Medeia added cautiously,
"Though given how the Minister became entangled in the Head Maid's schemes, I must approach him with some wariness."
"That's perfectly understandable."
Madam Pinatelli nodded in agreement.
Office of the Minister of Palace Affairs. The Minister flung down a newspaper.
It contained follow-up reports about the former Head Maid Cuisine.
"An utter failure. What an idiot."
Tsk-tsking, he vigorously scratched his protruding belly.
When Cuisine was imprisoned, he'd immediately disavowed her and sought his own survival.
"How was I to know what that woman did on her own whims?"
"She did visit recently, promising more of those 'toys.' Probably planned to steal my belongings that day to connect me with the princess, then manipulate me. Thought she had leverage over me, you see."
The Regent, who had come upon hearing of the day's events, had also been skillfully persuaded and sent away.
After all, there was no evidence that he had been complicit.
The Regent had left with a dubious expression.
Though he was a paranoid man who wouldn't fully believe his words, he wouldn't dare withdraw his hand entirely.
In any case, Cuisine's downfall had dealt a significant blow to the Minister as well.
The new Head Maid had been purging the royal palace, cutting off the bribes that had often filled his pockets.
But above all, what truly pained him—
Was that with Cuisine's death, the source of his pleasures had vanished.
'Cuisine, that woman... She was truly skilled. Her taste in "merchandise" was impeccable.'
It was a shame, like breaking a tool he would never find again.
As he clicked his tongue in regret, a servant announced the arrival of a guest.
The Minister shot to his feet.
"Welcome, Madam Pinatelli!"
"Such a shameless wretch should have been disposed of long ago, indeed!"
The Minister slammed the table with a booming voice, feigning indignation.
Eager to win Madam Pinatelli's favor, he spared no breath in cursing the former Head Maid, Cuisine.
"In her greed, she even dared to plot against Her Highness the Princess! Truly, Her Majesty the Queen Dowager was wise to execute such a viper without delay."
His jowls shook as he let out a hearty, exaggerated laugh.
But Madam Pinatelli merely stared at him impassively. Flustered, the Minister wiped the smile from his face.
"Ahem, ahem!"
"Then I shall take my leave now. I trust you will look further into the matter we discussed."
"Of course! Human trafficking—why, even the devil would shudder at Cuisine's depravity. I will uncover every last detail of this vile affair!"
Having received the answer she wanted, Madam Pinatelli rose.
Rubbing his greasy hands together, the Minister ventured a sly question.
"Now that we've established this connection, I'd love to pay my respects to Her Majesty the Queen Dowager together someday. When would be a good time?"
"Rather than fostering personal ties, I believe Her Majesty would be far more pleased if we focused on the pressing matters at hand."
Madam Pinatelli's reply was icy.
"Then I bid you good day."
"...Yes. Do take care."
As she departed with flawless courtesy, Count Etienne immediately curled his lips in distaste.
"Stiff as a wooden plank. Pah!"
He spat out the tea he had just sipped.
Splat! The murky liquid splattered messily across the table. A servant bearing a fox badge approached, offering a handkerchief.
"What a nuisance. I hid it so thoroughly—how the hell did she sniff it out?"
Now that eyes were upon him, it seemed he'd have to lay low for a while—no more "toys" or indulgences.
"Damn it all, what rotten luck! Even in death, she's still causing trouble."
Nothing was going his way. In frustration, he kicked the table aside.
Madam Pinatelli sent word that she had met with the Minister.
'More cautious than I expected.'
The fact that so many political enemies still hadn't uncovered the Minister's fatal weaknesses spoke volumes.
'No—perhaps it's that the Minister hid them too well.'
Either way, the secret he had guarded for so long would soon be exposed.
Medeia turned.
"Neril, your friend Tom—he's from the streets, isn't he?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"I have an errand I'd like to entrust to him."
Neril was handed a parchment listing various herbs and ingredients.
Having severed the Regent's left arm, the next step was his right.
'Minister Etienne. You're next.'
Once the last loose end was tied up, that is.