The Princess and the Maid's Standoff
A tense silence hung between the two women. Princess Mage sat at the table in a refined posture, quietly sipping her tea. Charlene stood holding a round tray with both hands, glaring at the princess with open displeasure.
Ugh. Charlene didn't look happy at all. This was the moment for me to quickly change the atmosphere.
"Princess. You've moved in right next door to our shop? What's going on? Aren't you returning to the imperial palace in Aurelium?"
At my question, the princess set down her teacup and answered with haughty grace.
"After living in this city of Marenost for a few weeks, I've grown rather fond of it. The imperial palace feels terribly stifling."
"Won't you encounter danger living in a place like this?"
"It's fine. The captain of Marenost's guard, Mikhail, has agreed to keep watch near my house."
As she idly traced the rim of her teacup, Princess Mage turned her deep gaze toward Charlene and spoke.
"By the way, it seems the head maid of the Petal of Marenost teahouse, Miss Charlene, isn't pleased about my moving in next door. Why the expression like you've bitten into a bug?"
Charlene let out a sharp scoff, as if the words were utterly ridiculous.
I quickly stepped over to her.
"Charlene. I don't know what kind of face you're making or why, but the person in front of you is a princess of this empire. Control your expression, will you?"
"Yes. Well, if that's what Master wants..."
Charlene set the tray on the table and began wiping another surface with a dishcloth before opening her mouth again.
"Why don't you just speak honestly? Princess?"
"Pardon?"
"There must be another reason you specifically chose to move in next to our shop, right? Lying won't work on me."
This time, Princess Mage let out a small, sharp laugh.
Wow. I was breaking out in a cold sweat. I'd clearly told her the other person was a princess of our empire, yet Charlene showed zero respect. She wasn't about to lose an inch in this battle of wills.
I quickly bowed my head to Princess Mage and apologized in her place.
"I-I'm sorry, Princess. Charlene has always had a rather willful personality... Please allow me to apologize on her behalf."
"No, it's quite all right. That's simply how Miss Charlene is. There's no need for you to apologize, Mr. Kailon."
At that, Charlene gave a loud snort and returned to wiping tables.
A brief silence fell.
Princess Mage, who had been quietly drinking her Lumina tea, spoke in a calm, measured tone.
"...The imperial family needs both of you. Please, become our allies."
Huh? At those words, even Charlene—who had been wiping the table—turned her head to stare at the princess.
Holding her teacup with both hands as if it were precious, Princess Mage looked up at the ceiling with slightly misty eyes and murmured as if to herself.
"This empire is like a candle flame before a storm."
Hmm... Princess Mage's voice carried real gravity.
Upon hearing it, Charlene tossed the dishcloth aside and turned to me.
"Master. Shall we listen to the princess's troubles?"
Princess Mage spoke for quite a long time. To summarize, the Arcadia Empire was currently teetering on the edge of a cliff. I didn't know the exact reasons, but the wicked mage Sephirot harbored a deep hatred for Emperor Valderic. No one knew the current whereabouts of Sephirot and the Demon King Apocryon, who had been defeated in the previous battle. And Duke Lucas Eisenvelt was constantly eyeing the imperial throne. In many ways, the imperial family's situation did indeed look dire.
Oh. Right. Come to think of it, should I mention the strange proposal I received from Eisenvelt today?
As I wrestled with that thought, Charlene looked at my face and spoke first.
"Master. You visited Lucas Eisenvelt today, didn't you? What exactly did you hear?"
Ah. Charlene had beaten me to it.
At her words, Princess Mage's head snapped up as she fixed her gaze on me.
"Lucas Eisenvelt summoned you, Mr. Kailon? What did that man say?"
Ah... I supposed I should tell them. It was better than lying.
I recounted the proposal Eisenvelt had made to me that day.
The moment the words left my mouth, both Princess Mage and Charlene flushed bright red—for entirely different reasons.
"That arrogant, insolent man made such a proposal to you, Mr. Kailon? Is he now openly plotting treason?"
"Master? That insolent noble made a proposal involving me?"
Both women had gotten angry at the same time. This wasn't good. I needed to calm them down.
"Since I refused, there's no need to get so worked up. I'm not interested in such matters, nor do I want to get involved."
Princess Mage, her face still flushed, drained the now-cold Lumina tea in one gulp and spoke.
"It seems we must act quickly on our side. Any further delay and that man Eisenvelt will likely launch his rebellion."
At those words, Charlene and I exchanged glances. Charlene shrugged and asked,
"Princess. What are you thinking right now?"
Princess Mage looked sharply back and forth between us before answering.
"Miss Charlene. Please kill Lucas Eisenvelt."
Charlene pouted as if the suggestion displeased her. With a light huff, she answered without breaking eye contact.
"That proposal again? I told you last time that I don't accept contract killings."
"This isn't a contract killing. It's for the greater good of the empire."
"Master? What do you think?"
Charlene asked me. The atmosphere had grown quite serious. Just like with Eisenvelt's offer, I felt it would be best to refuse this one as well.
"Charlene is the maid I hired. Princess, I have no desire to see my maid stain her hands with blood..."
At my words, Princess Mage let out a deep sigh and squeezed her eyes shut. After exhaling slowly, she spoke again.
"I expected as much. Is there something you want from me? Money? Honor?"
Faced with her earnest expression, I had no choice but to answer honestly.
"You're making a similar proposal to Lucas Eisenvelt. Princess, I don't desire any of those things—"
"I will never give up on you, Mr. Kailon, or Miss Charlene."
Flames sparked in Princess Mage's eyes. This princess was far more stubborn than I'd expected.
When I made a troubled face, Charlene smiled brightly and spoke.
"Then, can you do anything? Princess?"
"Yes. Anything at all."
"Even if it means we might have to harm that man Lucas Eisenvelt?"
"Yes."
Charlene, legs still crossed, smiled even more brightly.
"Then, Princess. Could you work as a maid in this teahouse?"
What?
I nearly spat out my drink. I hurriedly dragged Charlene into a corner of the shop.
"Hey. Charlene. Have you lost your mind? That person is a princess of this empire. Does that sound like a reasonable suggestion to you?"
"Oh my. Don't worry, Master. Do you really think a princess raised in luxury would accept my offer? I made a suggestion she has no choice but to refuse."
"What?"
"I figured that with conditions like these, the princess would finally give up on us. How could a well-bred princess ever work as a maid?"
...Hmm. When she put it that way, it made sense. Yeah. If the princess had any sense at all, she wouldn't accept such an absurd proposal. It concerned the dignity of the imperial family, after all.
With that understanding, we returned to sit before Princess Mage. I covered my mouth with a fake cough and spoke a bit brazenly.
"Well, if the princess is prepared to go that far, we might consider it. My apologies, Princess."
Princess Mage, who had been sitting there pale and dazed, suddenly bit her lip hard.
"...I'll do it."
What??
Even Charlene seemed shocked by the answer.
"Whether it's being a maid or anything else, I'll do exactly as you ask. Then you'll truly become our ally, correct?"
Huh? This was completely derailing the plan.
Charlene looked flustered too, her lips trembling as she glanced at me.
"Why? Did you think I couldn't manage it?"
"P-Princess. No, let's forget that suggestion entirely. How could I possibly hire Your Highness as a—"
"Once the words have been spoken, they must be honored, Mr. Kailon. I clearly stated I would become a maid at this teahouse. Are you going to cowardly retract them now?"
Wow. This princess was pure determination.
Charlene stared at her intently with legs crossed before speaking.
"I cannot kill Lucas Eisenvelt."
At Charlene's serious reply, Princess Mage looked at her. Charlene continued.
"Because Lucas Eisenvelt is not yet fated to die. I have a condition that prevents me from killing those whose time has not come. I can't explain the details, but that's how it is."
Princess Mage gave a faint nod and answered.
"That's fine. What I want isn't necessarily his life. If that man loses his power and can never rise again, that would satisfy me."
Charlene shrugged.
"Very well. Then try working as a maid. Depending on how you perform, I'll decide whether to help the imperial family or not."
"Charlene!!"
I couldn't hold back any longer. I slammed the table and shot to my feet.
"What kind of insolent suggestion are you making to the princess—"
"Mr. Kailon!"
Princess Mage cut me off.
"...Mr. Kailon. I'm perfectly fine with it. I'll purchase a maid dress first thing tomorrow. From now on, I am also a maid of this teahouse."
Having said that, Princess Mage stood up abruptly and strode briskly out of the shop.
I turned to Charlene in frustration.
"Charlene! What kind of proposal was that to give a princess?"
"Master. Even without becoming a maid, the princess was the type who'd come bother us every single day. She's living right next door now anyway, isn't she?"
"What?"
"It's fine. She won't last long before giving up. Being a maid is no easy task."
Charlene spoke with absolute confidence.
It seemed the pride of these two women soared straight into the heavens, ensuring they would keep clashing. My head was starting to throb. I wouldn't actually get punished for hiring the empire's princess as a maid, right?
The next morning...
...Princess Mage really did show up at the teahouse wearing a maid dress.
Wow. She was fully committed. A fluttery apron, even a garter belt hugging her thighs. Even as a princess, the outfit suited her surprisingly well. Perhaps it was her natural beauty.
When I stood there speechless, Princess Mage adjusted her stockings and asked,
"How do I look? It suits me quite well, doesn't it?"
"Y-Your Highness. No matter how I think about it, this isn't right. If I employ you as a maid, what kind of punishment will I receive from His Majesty..."
"It's fine. I'll make sure to speak appropriately so no harm comes to you, Mr. Kailon. What should I start with?"
Even Charlene looked genuinely surprised. It seemed not even she had predicted that the princess would appear the very next morning, fully dressed in a maid uniform.
Charlene's gaze lingered on Princess Mage's shapely legs and the garter belt before she spoke.
"...All right. Let's see how long our princess can endure. Princess. Do you know how to cook?"
"How could I? I've never once gotten my hands wet with dishwater."
"Then we'll start with washing dishes. Follow me."
Princess Mage obediently trailed after Charlene.
Charlene glanced back at me.
"Master, don't even think about intervening. She's my junior maid now, so I'll be the one training her."
...Tsk. Charlene's voice carried a menacing edge. I really hoped nothing bad would come of this.