Chapter 25

The royal palace was divided into various sections: the outer palace (Geku), the inner palace (Naiku), the rear palace (Kokyu), the detached palace (Rikyu), the prince palace (Oji no Miya), and the royal hall (Palace itself). There were numerous servants in charge of each.

Among them, a girl who was still only an apprentice was instructed to clean the outer palace and was struggling to do it, since she wasn’t used to it when a girl who had become an apprentice around the same time poked her with her elbow to warn her.

“What’s wrong?”

“Look at that! That one! The one with the bearded hair and glasses! That’s the famous ‘Iron-Clad Lady-in-Waiting’, Your Highness Julia von Vandeid, The Princess’ First Lady-in-Waiting.”

“Eh, that girl?!”

These girls were the daughters of lower nobility.

Although they came here to be apprenticed alongwith the children of higher nobility. It was an unspoken agreement that chores were to be done by the lower class, so they worked hard at cleaning.

They had heard rumors of “Iron-clad Lady-in-Waiting” even before they started their apprenticeship.

Or so they say.

Although she was born from a viscount, she was very talented and favored by the Dowager Empress, who made her the lady-in-waiting for Her Highness, the princess.

She paid no respect to anyone but Her Highness the Princess whom she served. She even refused to be summoned by her brother.

She was a talented woman who could handle any kind of impossible task and was trusted by His Majesty’s Prime Minister.

Although she was only a lady-in-waiting, His Majesty the King praised her work.

And so many more.

On this day too, the way she walked with the head of the famous Rizil Trading Company was bedazzling. She walked in front of one of the world’s most prominent merchants. She was so calm and collected that she thought it’s only natural that she should be guiding him.

It was such a laughable story. Even the peerage’s nobles talked to him with a smile to please him. After all, he was the most powerful merchant in the country at present, and the King’s personal one. Therefore, he was well known.

She was just like a perfect lady-in-waiting. Straightforward with a beautiful stride for the sole purpose of guiding him.

Every now and then the head of the Rizil Trading Company would say something to her.They couldn’t hear the conversation from where they were but the soft smile on his face made the spectators almost certain that he was in no way saying a kind of gossip, nor difficult contents.

The apprentice girls couldn’t help but wonder how rigid the maidens were because they were as expressionless as ever

******

I’m upset now.

I’m so upset that I wish I could remember Pi (Math).

Why?

I didn’t expect that the country’s best merchant, the most inedible big dunce, the head of the Rizil Trading Company, would come to visit me!

I don’t know. I did give the information the other day, right? It’s a good idea to have a plan to repay the debt at the Talbot Trading Company and contact them again in the future to discuss the repayment plan. It’s a good thing that Queen Dowager had been kind enough to offer an interest-free service. I knew that most of the debt would be fulfilled when this matter was settled. I’ve already discussed this repayment with my parents. That I would go and take care of it for now.

But why did he come here?

Was the repayment plan that I submitted a little too lenient after all? Wasn’t there such a thing as a professional coming over to say no?

“Iyaa~, It’s a beautiful day today, isn’t it?”

“No, it’s an overcast day with no blue sky at all.”

“Haha, too much sun is bad for me. After all, age is a powerful thing.”

“What do you mean? Your son told me that you’re still traveling around the world very actively.”

“No, no, we don’t have enough people trained to run the store yet. I am ashamed to say that.”

“Humble. I heard that there are fewer people who have never heard of Rizil’s business in other countries.”

The most amazing thing about this job right now was that I could do these things without thinking about my answers!

Yes, even when I’m thinking about something else in my head, I can just give a random answer. It’s like my thoughts just come out of my mouth.

Sometimes the maids in the princess’s palace tell me how amazing I am. But actually, I’m thinking about something else. What should I have for today’s snack, or maybe I forgot to pickle the fish I bought yesterday. To be honest, I don’t want to walk around with the best merchant in the country or do anything conspicuous, but since the chairman of the board of directors asked me to show him around, I couldn’t say no. Rather why did you come to me? I could’ve come to visit you, you could’ve called me if you wanted!

I couldn’t help but feel sick in my stomach!

I can’t do anything but look forward while holding back the urge to sit down and cry. But I hope someone would notice and help me…No, I couldn’t get others involved if it’s debt repayment-related.

I was already planning to go to work as a lady-in-waiting. To greet Primera-sama in the morning, to give her a cute haircut, and watch her study with the crown prince, get comfortable. Then, I would continue with the cleanup of the other day’s party, and then make up my mind to go to the Rizil and Jenda Trading Company in the afternoon.

It’s not that I was not interested in this, but I’m not sure why they’d come to me.

…Haaa

I missed the peaceful days…

“Julia-dono, come to think of it, I heard from my son that you are quite good at making sweets!”

“…It’s not very good, but if you’d like to try it, you can have it.”

Peaceful days! I miss you!

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