Chapter 87

Albertina stood at the classroom door, took a deep breath, and firmly gripped the secret letter from her mother.

The world before her eyes went dark.

This is a very serious situation.

Even I understand that this is a very bad situation.

I have no resistance, the only one I have.

I haven't told anyone about this yet, not even Anna. If it were Anna... I might be able to tell her, but ever since the barrier surrounding the detached palace was destroyed, I have always been accompanied by multiple guards and maids.

I can't find the right moment, and I'm racking my brain over how to tell her.

Anna seems to sense something from my furtive glances, but there's never a moment when the guards are thin...

I don't think I'm completely useless. I can sense someone's presence if I try hard enough. Checking the building structure takes a lot of time, but... I can't do anything with the barrier itself.

The doctors haven't noticed it either. Dr. Latitche has come to see me, but with maids always around, I can't share anything reckless.

Thinking of Father, I feel like I might collapse at any moment. A fleeting glance at a flower or a cup of tea brings back memories and makes me break down in tears.

I am a sensory-type magician. I build magic more through feeling and imagery than through theory, and I am easily swayed by emotional fluctuations.

This is a fatal flaw for someone as mentally fragile as me. I never thought I would fall into a magic slump in this situation. I know the reason, but I don't know how to fix it.

I worry inwardly and sometimes get lost in my sadness.

Kishutaria promised to protect me. So did others. But I can't trust most of them. I am a powerless existence in name only.

Frustration and irritation—what can I do? For now, I started by reading the books I had brought to my room, one by one. I read a variety of topics to avoid looking unnatural. Reading books helps me immerse myself and distract from my sorrow. It might be a form of escapism.

Seeing me like this, someone from the palace came.

Is this part of the princess's education?

To comfort me, they sent a large number of dresses and jewels. They proudly tell me which princess wore which dress at which ceremony, and which king gave which ornament to which queen.

Indeed—ordinary young ladies might be dazzled by these luxurious costumes and dazzling jewels.

But I have a discerning eye.

I don't like these old, dusty, retro designs.

Moreover, I'm thoroughly tired of them. The detached palace of Vayu has a considerable number of paintings. The costumes of the former queens and princesses are always the same... I understand history and tradition, but they are too ingrained in my mind, and I'm getting tired of them.

Father's gifts for my birthdays and other occasions were much more beautiful. What would I use a necklace so large it could cover my face? It might look good in a museum or art gallery, but if a normal person wore such a dazzling, glittery thing, it would be like the extravagant costumes and performances at the Red and White Song Contest, where the songs and the performers don't even register in your mind.

The middle-aged woman, who speaks with a haughty air, seems to be giving off a cold vibe from Anna and Bella...

This is an old maid from the palace. She's younger than Bella, but considering her age, Bella should have retired. It's not good to comment on a woman's age, but as one gets older, the body gradually wears down. There's no retirement system in this country, so if you quit, you're fired or have to report it yourself.

In any case, the maid who brought the glittering jewelry and dresses is selling them with great enthusiasm.

Her eyes are bloodshot, which is a bit scary.

But since she's a woman, I can manage... Besides, she has proper manners, and the historical anecdotes she brings are not bad.

I can't accept her taste in dresses, though.

What's going on with her? What does she want?

She's getting more and more excited and has started talking about the scandalous stories of the royal family. Is this okay? Her stories are very, very interesting, but it could be considered disrespectful...

But they are much more interesting than the dresses. The content is even recognized in the books in the detached palace's library.

Is she a history enthusiast of this era?

"In other words! It is said that this detached palace of Vayu has secret rooms of the former queens and princesses! What kind of secret meetings took place! How did history move! Oh, I must see it! Even if not, I want to crawl around and look for traces, the places where it happened!"

I see, she came here to investigate the detached palace, not me.

But she's a bit out of touch with trends, and the dresses and jewelry were the only topics she could bring to attract young women.

Her enthusiasm reminds me of the merchants who tried to persuade me to commercialize the items from my past life... It's a Julius-like technique. Not childish, but overwhelming with enthusiasm and business spirit, I often nodded in agreement.

Her gestures and expressions are like those of a stage actress. It's a musical without enough singing.

When I asked her to tell me about the former king's queen and concubines, names started pouring out like a chant.

"Which one do you prefer?"

"The twenty-seventh lover, later the fourteenth concubine, Harriet Merus, was a dancer—what?"

"Do you prefer being a maid or a teacher? You want to work in this detached palace, right?"

"Really!? Yes! I did it!"

She jumped around, completely different from the strict, older woman who first came.

Bella gave her a cold, icy stare, and Anna remained silent, waiting for my approval.

"As a maid, you will be able to see many things by accompanying me.

But as a teacher, you will only be here at specific times, though."

"Though?"

"I will request that the Duke of Fortuna and the royal family provide some conveniences for you as a teaching material."

"Teacher! I'll be a teacher!"

She made a fist pump, just like Jibril.

Cecile Carmain is a bit like her.

"Um, I have a question right away."

"Yes, yes! Anything!"

"About the country's barrier magic, from a historical perspective, how much do you know?"

Cecile laughed. It was a mischievous, almost impish smile, not befitting a lady.

Things in the capital haven't been going well. Only bad things and unpleasant people.

"Leave it to me, Cecile Carmain! I'm not called a woman married to history for nothing!"

Her hazel eyes, shining brightly, were very reassuring.

---

Albertina, who hadn't smiled in a long time, now did so with a somewhat awkward but brighter voice.

Talking to the servants of Latitche was much more awkward, but it felt better than ever.

When she went to the hallway to prepare new tea, Clifft, who had been wandering around anxiously, noticed her and rushed over.

"Bella, did you really introduce Cecile to Albertina? Let me tell you, she's knowledgeable, but she's eccentric. She's a weird woman, like Sir Vania. Won't she double Albertina's mental burden?"

"No, my judgment is not wrong. Albertina is as curious as Cistina and Christina.

Cecile may jump at ancient documents instead of a wedding ring, but she's not a bad person. She has a moral compass, and she will serve the detached palace of Vayu loyally for at least ten years.

A person with other desires is more reassuring for the princess than someone interested in power."

"Isn't that a big problem?"

Clifft's face was full of worry.

"Clifft. Albertina is trying to stand on her own.

...I heard she is physically and mentally weak, but she has a strong core. If so, it's our job to help her."

And, swallowing her words, Bella thought.

Albertina's reading is extensive. A typical noble lady might read poetry and learn the history of her country and her fiancé's territory as a pastime. Many young girls are more interested in social gatherings and neglect their manners. Bella knows many who have fallen from grace due to their ignorance.

Even if it's a roundabout way, it's better to bring her out of her shell and connect her with the outside world. And she needs allies. If she keeps cowering, she will be exploited.

Bella had a daughter named Dora.

She was Christina's childhood friend and personal maid.

Bella's family had served the Fortuna family for generations, so Dora naturally did too. Being close to Christina's age, they could have built a good relationship, like Cistina and Bella.

But Dora was different.

Dora was quite beautiful, but her demeanor was haughty and condescending. Bella had taught her the manners of a noble lady and a servant. If she had been a bit more humble, she could have married into a decent family.

Dora had ambition. She wanted more than a modest life.

Bella was surprised when Dora rejected a baron's proposal and decided to follow Christina to her new home. The baron was a new noble from a merchant family, wealthy but not a good match. When she heard Dora would follow Christina, she had a bad feeling.

Dora, who had rejected a match arranged by the Fortuna family, could no longer stay there. It was a disgrace to Bella. Of course, the match was off.

Bella earnestly told Dora to serve Christina faithfully. If she was dismissed from the Latitche family, she wouldn't be able to work for the Fortuna family again.

Dora said it was natural and promised to work hard for the Latitche family.

But one day, while on an errand, Bella saw Dora.

In a high-end boutique in a prime location, the young and handsome Duke of Latitche was looking at shawls with his butler. The duke, who stole the attention of all the women around him, pointed out a first-class shawl and had it displayed. He was talking to Dora, who was wearing a tailored outfit. The delicate, slender gloves in the case next to them were probably already chosen. They were made of warm suede, with fur around the wrists, in light gray and off-white. He was probably deciding between the two, or maybe both.

Bella was relieved. The cold Duke of Latitche was known to dote on his wife. It was still a bit chilly, but it was clear who the gift was for.

If the princess from Fortuna was being treated well, nothing could be better.

But Bella was shocked.

Dora was looking at the duke with a passionate gaze that a servant should never have.

The duke's aqua-blue eyes didn't see Dora. She was just another maid. He probably brought her to help choose something that suited Christina's taste.

To Dora, it was a cruel but deserved reality. As a maid and a nanny, it was natural, but as a mother, it was bitter.

But the anger and shame were stronger than the sadness. Bella had sent Dora as a maid with Christina, despite being an old hand.

After Christina's death, Dora left the Latitche family.

Did she give up on being a second wife, or did her inappropriate ambition burn her out? Bella wanted to know.

If she had returned in despair after a failed love and the loss of Christina, it would have been better. If she had found someone else to love and asked for a leave, it would have been forgivable. But she didn't want to think about it if it wasn't.

The end of a servant who betrayed her master is never good.

At best, she would be dismissed without severance pay or a reference. At worst, she would be killed or made an example of.

(There's no point in worrying about Dora... At least Albertina is treated very well by her servants. She is a beloved lady. She will surely treat her servants as well as Christina did. As long as Dora doesn't do anything extreme, she won't be killed.)

But she doesn't understand Grail.

Bella sighed and shook her head. Dora isn't a child. She was old enough to judge right from wrong.

(It's my job to serve with all my heart, making up for Dora's shortcomings. I can't let the greedy old men make a meal out of the last remnant of Christina.)

With renewed determination, Bella lifted her head. She had to rein in the runaway train that was Cecile and thoroughly learn the lady's preferences.

Thank you for reading.