Bound by the Imperial Decree
The imperial edict arrived at the Grace viscount’s estate. The family mourned, saying there was no turning back now. With a somber face, Viscount Grace spoke to his daughter.
“It is His Majesty’s decree. There is nothing we can do about this.”
Just as the letter said.
Olivia bit her lower lip when her faint suspicion proved correct.
This is definitely Princess Cayena’s will.
She had also heard that every last one of the existing maids in the princess’s palace had been driven out. It was a complete overhaul. She consulted the only friend she could speak openly with—Maria.
“It’s painfully obvious that Her Highness dislikes me. So isn’t it strange that she chose me as her lady-in-waiting?”
Olivia sat on the wooden swing and kicked at the ground. Her thoughts were far too tangled.
“You’re right. It really was unexpected that she would pick you.”
“What could she possibly need me for?”
Maria smiled at her deeply troubled friend as if scolding her.
“What deep meaning could there be? From what I see, she probably just wants to keep you close and watch you.”
Her tone carried absolute certainty that the princess had no special intentions. Everyone in high society knew that the princess envied and guarded against Olivia. Yet Olivia could not view the matter so simply.
“If that were the case, she would have done it long ago.”
If she had expelled all the maids from the princess’s palace, she would fill the positions with new people. Olivia wondered what sort of figures would gather there, but she had no way of finding out. The uncertainty left her frustrated.
I should enter the palace a day early and assess the situation first.
Once she made up her mind, Olivia acted without delay. There was little to pack. She wanted to bring one maid, but that would burden her household too heavily. As the eldest daughter, she endured what she wanted.
“There’s no need to go so early. Why not leave tomorrow?”
She had already called a hired carriage. Olivia moved her bag and bid her family farewell.
“I can do this well. Please don’t worry.”
She headed for the imperial palace with the edict in hand. After completing a simple procedure, she stepped inside the grounds.
It’s overwhelming…
The imperial palace was imposing from the very entrance. Beyond its scale and splendor, the atmosphere that permeated the place stole her breath.
This is where I will live from now on. I must adapt quickly.
With the help of a court attendant, she made her way to the princess’s palace.
“We were informed in advance, Miss Grace.”
A neatly dressed maid was waiting for her at the entrance to the princess’s palace.
“It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Olivia Grace.”
“I am Vera Lekton. Please just call me Vera.”
She was clearly an upper maid. Hadn’t all the previous maids been expelled? Was she one of the survivors?
Then there is a high chance she is Princess Cayena’s person.
Vera guided her to her quarters first. The room was a private chamber, far more splendid than even her parents’ bedroom—the best room in the Grace mansion. Olivia set down her bag and looked around in admiration.
A full-length mirror in a maid’s room.
Vera gave a brief explanation of her duties.
“Including myself and Miss Olivia, there are only four maids who will attend Her Highness directly. You will be granted many privileges, but the responsibilities will be equally heavy.”
Olivia was slightly surprised to hear there would be only four maids in total. Vera explained that she was the one in charge of all the maids in the princess’s palace.
“Miss Olivia will primarily be responsible for entertaining Her Highness’s guests. In addition, you will manage party schedules, overall etiquette, and tea service.”
It was an exceptionally good position to give to Olivia, who would undoubtedly be the one with the humblest family background among those gathered here. It was a role that carried influence not only in high society but within the princess’s palace—second only to Vera, or perhaps even the highest standing of all.
What on earth is she thinking?
At this point, the princess began to feel like an enigma to her.
“We will now go to greet Her Highness, so please prepare yourself.”
If she wished to change into better clothes, she should do so. Olivia was already wearing the best dress she owned, aside from her evening gown. Since her attire needed no preparation, she intended to ready something else.
“Is there nothing I should be cautious about?”
At Olivia’s question, Vera smiled.
“You will come to understand on your own what a young lady should and should not do, so please do not worry.”
“… I see.”
Olivia found Vera’s words rather meaningful. She checked her appearance once more and followed Vera.
The door to the princess’s bedroom was extraordinary from the start. The massive door, adorned with gold, seemed to tell a story. It likely depicted a scene from mythology.
When that masterpiece of a door opened, a red carpet with splendid patterns caught her eye. She stepped onto the plush floor and soon found herself in the bedroom.
Finally.
The bedroom door opened at last. The first thing she noticed was how pleasant the fragrance in the room was. The soft, calming scent seemed to ease her tension. The chamber was a work of art, as befitting the princess’s sleeping quarters.
And within it, the most artistic figure of all—the princess herself—sat on a sofa reading a book. She turned her head.
Wow…
Olivia was momentarily stunned.
The moment her eyes met the impossibly beautiful woman with pale lemon-colored hair that bordered on platinum, worn in a calm cascade, she felt as if the breath had been stolen from her lungs.
Cayena met her gaze and smiled softly.
Oh no.
Olivia quickly regained her composure and offered her greeting without delay.
“Olivia Grace greets Her Highness the Princess.”
She certainly seems different from the princess I’ve seen before.
Though she could not claim to know Cayena well, Olivia could not help but wonder.
“I thought you were entering the palace tomorrow.”
“When I heard there were no maids attending Your Highness, I entered a day early.”
Olivia handled the situation with appropriate restraint and intelligence. Cayena found that cleverness pleasing.
Looking at Olivia’s glossy wheat-colored hair and lively green eyes sparkling with vitality, Cayena felt a strange sense of fondness. Though she could not compare to Cayena’s own dazzling beauty, her characteristically calm and intelligent aura drew the eye.
“It is a pleasure, Lady Olivia Grace.”
“I am now Your Highness’s person. Please address me comfortably.”
Her attitude was impeccably polite and courteous in every respect.
Cayena bit back a smile at her demeanor.
“Thank you for choosing me. Though I am lacking, I will serve Your Highness with all my heart.”
Cayena approached Olivia, who was still kneeling on one knee, and took her hand to help her rise.
“I hope we get along well from now on.”
Cayena gave her a deliberately mysterious smile.
They moved to the drawing room and drank tea together.
“You must have been quite surprised when you were chosen as a maid for the princess’s palace.”
Cayena spoke with a gentle smile, as if she had seen straight through the caution Olivia was exercising.
“I hope you can forget the way I treated you unkindly before.”
“How could I possibly do that?”
“Hearing you say that puts my mind at ease. By the way, you must be twenty now, correct?”
“Yes, that is right.”
“Then you must have already had your coming-of-age ceremony. I don’t recall hearing about it. I was too inattentive.”
Olivia had no inferiority complex about her poor family, so she answered honestly.
“I have many younger siblings and our household is not well off, so we did not hold a separate coming-of-age ceremony. That must be why Your Highness did not hear of it.”
Those around them cleared their throats or drew in sharp breaths at her words. Cayena simply smiled.
“Then you can celebrate mine with me.”
Cayena did not stop at words. She opened the dressing room entirely and began selecting a dress for Olivia to wear at the coming-of-age ceremony.
“Fortunately, our figures are similar, so one of my dresses should fit you.”
Startled, Olivia quickly knelt on one knee and protested.
“This is far too much for someone like me.”
“If I cannot even look after my own people this much, how could I hold my head high as a member of the imperial family? For the sake of your master’s dignity, please do not refuse.”
Vera, who stood nearby, added a word as well.
“It is all right to gratefully accept Her Highness’s kindness.”
“… Thank you.”
The Cayena she had encountered a few times in high society and the Cayena standing before her now seemed like completely different people. Noble grace flowed through her every action, and natural authority permeated her words.
She truly looked like an imperial princess of the empire. It was as if only the shell remained Cayena while the core had been entirely transformed.
Cayena stopped in front of the bedroom and looked at Olivia.
“Let us stop here for today and rest.”
It would be wasteful to expend too much energy in the opening skirmish. Cayena smiled leisurely as she watched Olivia, whose mind clearly swirled with complicated thoughts.
The Villainess Is a Marionette