The New Ladies-in-Waiting
“Miss Susan Lepol, Miss Julia Evans?”
At the sound of their names, they immediately offered perfect court-style greetings. Vera gave a light bow as well.
“I am Vera Lekton. Please follow me.”
With her blunt features and complete absence of a smile, Vera carried an almost intimidating air. They had already heard about her in advance. Rumors had spread far and wide that she was the only maid in the princess’s palace acknowledged for her competence who had managed to survive.
“Miss Susan, this way. Miss Julia, you will use this room. Olivia Grace is using the one over there.”
They looked puzzled to hear that Olivia had arrived first.
“Miss Olivia entered the palace yesterday.”
Vera added the explanation.
Since her family has no power, is she trying to make a good impression by arriving early like that?
Julia had looked into the other girls selected as maids and had seen the name Grace viscountcy for the first time. They were capital nobles, yet poor and powerless, she had heard. Despite that, there were rumors of marriage talks with the Kedrey ducal family.
They said Lord Raphaelo Kedrey is incredibly handsome.
“Only the two of you will be greeting Her Highness, so send a servant once your preparations are complete.”
Vera had no energy left to look after them the way she had cared for Olivia. She had been up since dawn straightening out the imperial palace that had been turned upside down overnight.
“I hope the preparations won’t take too long. Her Highness is busy with Department of Internal Affairs matters.”
“Understood.”
Susan bowed once more and promptly disappeared into her room. Julia grumbled to the maid her family had brought along.
“There are only four maids in the princess’s palace, so I thought we’d receive generous treatment. What is this?”
“Still, the room is quite nice. It gets plenty of sunlight, my lady.”
The maid skillfully steered Julia’s attention in a different direction.
“Isn’t it truly splendid? Our castle is large and luxurious, of course, but it’s to Mother’s taste, so it never quite appealed to me.”
After a quick look around the room, Julia stood before the mirror and inspected her appearance once more.
“I was the greatest beauty in the east, but I never imagined I would stand out in the capital as well.”
Julia carefully studied her rich golden hair and blue eyes that sparkled like sapphires.
“It’s time to change your clothes, my lady.”
Julia’s chatter did not stop even while she changed.
“I thought the imperial palace was filled with incredible beauties, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. How did palace maids come to represent the very image of competent and beautiful women?”
“Because they must be supported by elegant court etiquette, refined attire, and a considerable level of talent and education.”
“Well, in any case, it suits me quite well, so I like it.”
She laughed brightly and gave one final check to the small flower-trimmed hat on her head. The brilliant orange dress brought out her refreshing charm.
“My preparations seem complete, so send the servant.”
The maid bowed with an expression that suggested she wanted to sigh. An entire hour had already passed, after all.
The maid who arrived yesterday left immediately, saying she had nothing to prepare.
Susan Lepol had also finished quickly, simply switching from an outdoor hat to an indoor hair ornament.
In a situation where Vera had already shown how busy she was, delaying for a full hour was problematic. The fact that it had taken only this long was thanks to her maid’s skillful coaxing.
“Lady Julia. We will move to the reception room now.”
When she stepped out, Susan was waiting. It looked as though she had been standing there for Julia. Susan, who had never once spoken to her first, regarded her with haughty eyes.
“Your preparations were rather quick?”
Julia could not miss the sarcasm. Her mood soured at once. She wanted to snap back at Susan, but she caught sight of Vera approaching. She had no choice but to swallow her displeasure.
Vera glanced briefly at Julia’s outfit. One looked ready for a ball; the other looked dressed for quiet reading at home. They were complete opposites. Working with them in the future seemed like it would be difficult.
“Follow me.”
Vera led them to the reception room where Cayena waited. The courtiers were not the only ones busy from morning onward. Because Cayena was head of the Department of Internal Affairs, she had to give final approval on every personnel appointment.
It’s fortunate she handles such work so cleanly, as if she’s used to it.
For some reason, Cayena was exceptionally skilled at understanding reports and issuing instructions. While Vera felt relieved by how flawless her work was, she was also puzzled. Did imperial family members simply inherit such abilities?
Vera stopped in front of the reception room.
“Please announce them.”
The doorman knocked and opened the door. A lovely voice flowed from within the slightly opened doorway.
“Tell them to come in.”
It was finally the moment to face the widely rumored princess. Julia peeked inside the reception room with curious eyes. Susan still wore an indifferent expression.
Sunlight poured through the large arched window where the rain had briefly stopped. Beneath that light, a woman sat at a table that doubled as a letter box, pen in hand over a sheet of paper. There was no need to explain who the plainly dressed woman was; it was obvious at a glance.
Julia was shocked to the point that her pride in her own beauty felt ridiculous.
So that is the princess…
Julia felt the sting of defeat, as if she had become a tacky country girl.
Then Vera spoke from behind them.
“Pay your respects to Her Highness.”
Julia and Susan knelt on one knee and bowed.
“We greet Your Highness the Princess.”
Cayena set down her pen and looked at the two women bowing their heads. In her first life, Susan had boldly confronted her several times, leaving a deep impression. Meeting her again like this brought a fresh wave of emotion.
“It is good to meet you.”
She had them rise and moved to the wide sofa.
“The east must be at its busiest season. I hope selecting you as maids for the princess’s palace has not become a burden to the marquis family.”
The Evans marquis family, owners of the largest grain belt, was busiest in spring and autumn. Though that busyness had nothing to do with Julia, asking was simple courtesy.
“I have admired the imperial palace for a very long time.”
As Julia spoke, she stole a glance at Cayena. The woman’s beauty was enough to draw an involuntary sigh.
“Is that so? Then I am glad.”
Cayena turned her gaze to meet Susan’s eyes. She quickly read the curiosity and faint rebelliousness in her expression.
“Is the Lepol margrave in good health?”
Susan answered in a somewhat sour tone.
“He is so healthy it is almost a problem.”
“He was truly a generous and fine man. I would be delighted if he could attend my coming-of-age ceremony this time.”
“I will try to send a letter.”
At the indifferent reply, Vera gave Susan a sharp look. Julia’s casual, light tone was already a problem, but Susan’s aggressive manner of speaking was an even greater one.
Miss Olivia is clearly in a different class.
A daughter raised from childhood with the possibility of becoming a palace maid would have learned court speech and etiquette from a young age. Especially for capital nobles, court etiquette was something they naturally absorbed through attending the many balls held at the palace. Sadly, of the newly selected maids, only Olivia was from the capital.
“Was the imperial palace rather chaotic?”
Julia answered first.
“A little… Has something serious happened?”
“We have been busy reorganizing the Department of Internal Affairs. It will stabilize soon, and then you will be able to learn your duties in a calmer atmosphere.”
Julia was slightly bewildered. She had heard that maids in the princess’s palace had almost no actual work.
She had been told they simply followed along carrying parasols or coats. Yet from the way Cayena spoke, it seemed there was more to their responsibilities.
“Do you know what kind of work the Department of Internal Affairs does?”
The Evans marquis family had taught Julia about the department’s duties. They had prepared her in advance in case she might become empress.
However, Julia had shown not the slightest interest. She preferred older men, and upon hearing that Rezef was a year younger than her, she had lost all interest. So she simply rolled her eyes. She was sure she had heard it before, yet nothing came to mind.