An Invitation from the Academy
Susan had spent her entire life with no connection to the imperial family, so she had nothing to say. In the end, Vera spoke up.
“The Inner Palace Department serves His Majesty the Emperor and assists the imperial household. Duties differ according to rank and office. Miss Susan and Miss Julia have been assigned exclusively to Her Highness the Princess and will serve as senior maids in the Princess’s Palace.”
“You explained that well, Vera.”
When Cayena praised her, Vera bowed her head deeply.
“Vera, I know you’re busy, but I need you to continue overseeing the new maids’ training.”
“It is nothing, Your Highness. This is simply my duty.”
Cayena dismissed the maids.
“You may go and rest now.”
Vera rose with the two newcomers, offered their respects, and left the reception room.
The moment the door closed, Julia let out a long breath.
“Since today is your first day, rest and take time to adjust to the imperial palace. The junior maids will inform you of your specific duties.”
The junior maids who had been standing neatly against the wall stepped forward. Among them were Annie and Dona, who had risen from lower servants.
“Then I shall see you tomorrow.”
“Ah, yes. See you tomorrow.”
Julia studied Vera’s flawless posture and decided the woman probably wouldn’t bleed even if stabbed with a needle.
“If you’ll excuse me.”
Susan offered a curt remark, gathered her own maids, and swept out first.
Julia felt as though cold water had been poured over the glamorous palace life she had imagined. She had dreamed of wearing beautiful dresses, holding the princess’s parasol, and attending splendid parties… Instead, she walked toward her quarters with the junior maid assigned to her—Dona.
“Miss Julia will be responsible for managing Her Highness’s meals, refreshments, and medicine in their entirety.”
“What?!”
Julia was stunned.
“But I can’t cook, and I have no medical knowledge! How am I supposed to handle any of that?”
Even from the brief description, the work sounded far from easy. She frowned fiercely.
“Then what do the other maids do?”
Dona explained each of the four maids’ responsibilities. After listening, Julia’s mood soured completely. There was one position that perfectly matched her tastes—Olivia’s role.
Entertaining guests and managing parties? That’s the very center of the capital’s social world!
She desperately wanted that duty. Shouldn’t someone with outstanding beauty like herself be the one handling such public-facing work?
“Is it possible to change assignments?”
Since the Grace viscountcy held little power, Julia assumed her family could arrange a switch without difficulty. But Dona shook her head.
“These positions were assigned directly by Her Highness. They cannot be altered arbitrarily. Any request for a change must be made to Her Highness herself.”
“Ha…”
Julia let out a deep, frustrated sigh.
“You will learn over time, so please don’t worry too much.”
Dona’s comfort had no effect whatsoever.
Even that Susan woman’s duties are better than mine. She only has to manage dresses and jewelry. Managing furniture and supplies may not be glamorous, but still…
It seemed Cayena had deliberately given her the hardest and most trivial tasks. Julia had no interest in the objective importance of the role. She simply wanted work that looked good and let her show off.
“Please call for me whenever you need anything.”
Julia nodded at Dona’s words and entered her room. Milen, the maid she had brought from her family, immediately recognized that her mistress had been burdened with an excessively heavy responsibility.
They seem to have entrusted far too important a duty to the Evans daughter…
“Overseeing prescriptions and meals is quite a demanding responsibility, miss.”
“What kind of responsibility is cooking?! This is truly upsetting. I thought I would meet my ideal man here and have a wonderful romance.”
She possessed family status, beauty, and now served as a princess’s maid. She was perfectly prepared as a bride. With the princess’s coming-of-age ceremony only a month away, she had secretly hoped for a fated encounter. Most of all, she had been looking forward to meeting Raphaelo.
“If that’s what you want, His Highness the Prince is right nearby. I heard he’s incredibly handsome.”
“I’m not interested in younger men.”
“What’s one year? That hardly counts as younger.”
Julia had no interest in the prince currently under house arrest.
If he’s Cayena’s brother… his appearance must certainly be outstanding.
She gloomily recalled the princess’s face. This was the first time she had ever lost to anyone in beauty. Worse, Cayena was the same age. That stung her pride even more.
We’re the same age, so what makes us so different? Is it because she’s imperial blood?
Cayena possessed an elegant dignity and profound aura that drew the eye. Among her friends, Julia had never met anyone with such presence.
She had secretly expected the capital’s social circles to flip upside down once she arrived, declaring her more beautiful than Cayena. But after seeing the princess today, she realized that would never happen. Julia grew depressed.
Time flowed on without mercy. Cayena was paying the full price for stepping into the spotlight.
This feels exactly like the days I worked overtime every night because of team projects in my past life.
Back then she had been an ordinary employee; now she was a princess of the realm, yet she still felt she was working excessively.
She felt slightly wronged. It might have been easier if she had been born a noble daughter. She wasn’t ruthless enough to ignore the weight a royal carried. Therefore, she intended to involve herself only enough to establish a functioning system.
Let’s just think of it as earning my keep.
Considering everything she ate, slept in, and enjoyed here as something she had to pay for eased her resentment toward the labor.
“…Do you enjoy working?”
Cayena looked at Vera, who worked at an even fiercer intensity yet had sparkling eyes, in disbelief.
Vera smiled brightly.
“Because there is someone who acknowledges me.”
In all her life, Vera had never felt her thirst so thoroughly quenched. Cayena was clear with both rewards and punishments. That allowed Vera to savor the joy of working in an environment where she could earn recognition simply by performing well.
Watching Vera, Cayena recalled her former self.
Was I ever like that?
Being recognized for competence and advancing felt good. Yet for a “woman,” good superiors had been nonexistent.
Does that mean I’m a good superior?
She couldn’t be sure. Still, it seemed she was receiving favorable evaluations.
Where corruption existed, those who rejected it naturally rose. Through this incident, the upright individuals previously mocked as fools emerged from the shadows. Cayena promoted them at once. Praise for her began to spread throughout the palace.
Five days after Rezef’s confinement, she had seized control of the Inner Palace Department.
Rezef is being strangely quiet.
She had expected him to leave the palace again to confront her. He despised anyone challenging his authority.
She knew that, yet she was willing to accept a certain amount of backlash. If necessary, she could offer him other benefits. She still held plenty of useful information. In a pinch, she could also drag someone who hindered him into danger.
Yet Rezef remained silent. There were reports that he had quarreled slightly with Xenon. That was all. The quiet felt like a child holding his breath before doing something bad, and it left Cayena deeply uneasy.
The biggest problem is the lack of a proper spy in the Prince’s Palace.
Should she provoke Xenon to extract information?
If I step forward any further it will draw too much attention. For now, I should act like I’m quietly tending to domestic affairs.
“Are they adjusting well?”
Vera understood the question referred to the new maids.
“Not at all.”
Her decisive tone carried clear dissatisfaction.
“In particular, they say Julia is expressing strong discontent with the duties Your Highness assigned her.”
Dona relayed every complaint Julia had voiced the previous day. Vera had already felt anxious assigning such sensitive work to her; now that Julia displayed disloyal behavior, Vera grew thoroughly displeased.
“That’s fortunate.”
If Julia fit the role perfectly and performed it well, separating the Evans family from Rezef would become far more difficult.
At Cayena’s remark, Vera looked momentarily dazed. Was Her Highness planning something again?
Cayena asked another question.
“What about Olivia?”
“She said she can begin her duties immediately.”
“Make sure she settles in comfortably.”
Vera felt grateful to Olivia, who had helped expose the central palace kitchen corruption. Moreover, Olivia had not fled but had joined her in asking for forgiveness. She expected they would work well together.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
While sorting the letters that had arrived for Cayena, Vera’s hand suddenly stopped. She placed the item on top of the stack on the silver tray and approached.
“Your Highness.”
At the call, Cayena turned and picked up the letter. Seeing the one on top, she murmured in confusion.
“The Imperial Academy?”
It was one of the places with which she had the least connection. Yet they had sent her a letter. When she unfolded it, a clear official seal was visible. Cayena immediately understood whose invitation this was.
The Kedrey Ducal House has expressed its intention to construct a new building at the Imperial Academy to commemorate Her Highness the Princess’s coming of age.
After Her Highness has sufficiently discussed the building’s purpose and any additional matters, we respectfully request that you determine its direction…
Cayena forgot even her dignity as princess and unconsciously let vulgar words slip.
“He’s lost his mind.”
“Pardon?”
“Never mind. It’s nothing.”
Building a structure just to create an excuse to see her?
What is that man thinking?
Raphaelo was acting strangely.