Chapter 22

This time it’s from Primera’s point of view.

My name is Primera, and I just turned 11 years old. I’m already eleven, I’m only eleven. Which one is it?

I, Primera, was a daughter of a concubine of the Kingdom of Kularaum who risked their lives to give birth to, the poor girl, that’s what I was told.

But Julia was always there by my side. I’m talking about the fact that she was there since the day I was born.

I took it for granted that Julia was there for me. She held my hand when I was scared. She would pat my head when I had scary dreams.

She read me books if I wanted to and I ate even the vegetables I didn’t like. Even meat, if Julia was cheering me on.

She was always ready to praise me for being cute. If my selfishness sometimes got the better of me, she made sure to tell me that it was wrong.

For a time, the Queen was so cold, and my father laughed, forgave me no matter what I did. I ate nothing but sweets out of desperation, but he admonished me with harsh words.

I was a bit rebellious, but she apologized and was sorry. Then, she forgave me.

When I asked her to stay with me, she said she’d be there for me.

That’s when I told her what I’d been thinking. Primera said that she thought of Julia as a mother figure!

To me, Julia was a natural partner, not just a maid in waiting.

I happened to see a father and son at the end of the official business that father took me out on, and I thought, oh, that’s it.

Of course, I can’t be of any use to him in his official duties. I learned what I could from watching.

But I couldn’t get that father and son out of my head. I thought that was just like me and Julia.

We were holding hands and laughing, and I thought, “Oh my God, that’s how I spend my time with Julia!”

That’s why Julia is Mother Julia.

She’s a very reliable handmaiden and a very, very important mother to Primera.

Julia taught me many things.

She told me that instead of eating only sweets, she’d be happy if I studied and danced and looked pretty for her.

Is that because you’re going to marry somewhere else? When I asked her what she was doing, she smiled very sweetly and said it was because she enjoyed messing with her hair and taking care of it.

So I had a hard time holding back the sweetness, but I took it a little bit at a time and Julia made me some homemade sweets!

You surprised me with that fluffy cake! It’s called chiffon cake.

It had carrots in it, which Primera doesn’t like, but it was delicious!

When I thought that Julia was thinking about Primera a lot, it made me very happy, and I would hug her when we were alone.

I think Julia is in trouble, but since she said she loves Primera, I’m sure she’ll forgive me… right?

Do you think she’ll hate me if I keep spoiling her?

But when I asked her honestly, she said she was happy to see me because she thinks of me as her daughter!

Primera had an older brother. I was cold and a little sad. I asked Julia if she and the Queen hated it after all. She told me that I should try to talk to her more.

So, I tried to be brave enough to talk to her. The only time she wasn’t there was when her brother and I were studying history. That’s when we started to talk for a little while.

My brother said he was frustrated because I could study so well, but that’s not true.

I’m told that he knows far more about his studies than I do and that he’s great at swords and horseback riding!

He’s also studying Imperial Medicine, which is the study of what is supposed to be a king, so he has to work much harder than I do, but he doesn’t feel that way.

He told me that he doesn’t hate me. He just didn’t know how to talk to me because we don’t see each other very often. Now, he pats me on the head sometimes.

I’m glad I talked to Mother Julia about it, after all!

And then there’s Dean Dayne!

When I first met him, he didn’t talk to me at all. But I thought he must be a very kind person.

The butler and the chamberlain also said they couldn’t exchange letters in person. So, I asked Julia about it, and she told me that the book Primera recommended was very enjoyable!

You read it! You said you don’t read much or anything!

He’s a sweet guy who remembers what I’ve said.

And he gave me this lovely necklace for my birthday, featuring an orange rose that he said I liked! It was so nice to have a card with it!

Because the gifts that various other people have given me are for the royal daughter, but I know that Lady Dean Dayne, like Julia, sees a person called Primera as well!

What kind of a thank you note would be best?

I would like to see you again.

If I ask Julia, will she make it happen?

Yes, Julia’s debut socialite dress, that was very, very nice!

All the other noblewomen were paying attention to me, and she felt prouder of Primera even though it was about Julia.

My grandmother said that she would arrange for me to come by if I stepped back from the party…….

I would have liked to have asked her to join us, but she said she didn’t want everyone to feel uncomfortable if I had a fight with father.

It’s a little complicated, but she said it’s okay now, so I’m sure Julia will be fine!

I’m sure that if push comes to shove, you can use my name, but I’m sure Julia won’t be happy about it.

From a distance, I saw that Julia’s brother looked a lot like Julia.

They seemed to get along so well, I wonder if he’ll come back to see Primera much later or not.

I’m feeling very uneasy.

No, it’s all right.

Julia told me she loves the Primera.

She loves her brothers and sisters. I love my brother, so I understand that feeling!

But Primera loves her brother, but she also loves Julia. I’m sure Julia does too.

“–Primera-sama, may I come in?”

“Come in.”

You’re here! I couldn’t help but smile. I shouldn’t, I shouldn’t, there are still other maids left too.

Yes, Primera is a great princess!

B-but can I take the maid down now?

At least a little bit yeah, I haven’t even taken off my dress yet.

Primera’s love for Mother Julia to wish her a happy birthday……right?

(TLnote: It’s Primera’s birthday but it was said like this… confusing right?)

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