Chapter 27

Cake with vanilla ice cream. And to finish it off, a little mint leaf is placed on top and a cup of cold tea is added to it. I made ice cubes and put them in a glass, which made a cool sound and was enjoyable to listen to. When you put them in front of your guests, their faces light up and I’m happy to see them happy – as long as it’s not a business meeting!

Peace, come.

I wonder if there is a spell like that. I don’t know of any incantations that could bring about peace at the mention of such a word.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa! This is Julia-dono’s pastry? These baked goods are common, but is this round, white sweet the one rumored to be the recent favorite of His Highness the Prime Minister?”

“You’re well aware that he doesn’t appreciate talks like that.”

“Fufufu, well, that’s the part I mustn’t mention. It’s a nice summer treat.”

Is it my imagination that there are flowers flying around a good old man with a happy smile in his eyes? He’s the best merchant in the country, isn’t he? Although he has a slightly plump body shape, he has a charming face and his first impression is that he’s a good-natured guy, though I think he’s quite a big dog inside. But it’s just nice to know that he’s going to eat it well!

That’s different. What’s the use of being around?

“So, we have a business to discuss while we eat.”

“Yes, of course, how much tea do you need? I can bring you several varieties of the same high mountain tea.”

“Thank you very much.”

“So is it okay for the delivery to be in three days?”

“Yes, I’ll have your order written up right away.”

I get up and take one of the documents on my desk and write it down.

The order form is already in a fixed format, so I write on it the details of which chamber of commerce I want to use, what and how much I want to buy, and which department I want to receive it from. One copy is submitted to the treasurer and the other is submitted to the treasurer when the chamber of commerce delivers the goods and receives the money.

That’s why when you buy something superfluous or maids’ miscellaneous supplies, the treasurer may tell you that you’re wasting your money… Well, our princess’ palace has always been frugal, so we’ll serve you like we used to. There is no such thing as buying superfluous things under the umbrella of authority. A few generations ago, there was a time when there was shortage of side rooms and no. of rooms needed could not be counted even in the fingers of both hands, and that’s why the policing of the finance officers was so effective, but now there’s no need for so many people to work there, since it’s only the Queen, the Crown Prince, and Primera, all of whom believe in frugality and also… there are a minimum number of people.

But there was a time when the number of people in the household was much larger than the number of maidservants, and if you had a son, you couldn’t easily assign the maidservants.

This is a bit off-topic, but that is why this copy is so effective. It’s not my idea or anything. It was already available when I became a maid. Carbon paper is awesome. Of course, the name was different.

“Then, please take this one.”

“Of course… By the way, do you have a moment of your time to spare?”

“Sure, of course.”

Rather, that’s the main point, isn’t it! You’re trying to shorten my lifespan, aren’t you!

The ones that only feel like peace and quiet are disappearing from life! Don’t trouble those little people!

And well, inwardly I’m in a great deal of turmoil, but of course, I’m a big, fat, mature woman! I sat back down across from him with a cool, uncharacteristic look on my face. The reason I stood up straight was because I was dealing with a customer, not because I was scared. It’s true.

“You amaze me, though. I thought you were just a young lady who was content to take care of the princess, but…”

“…I don’t know what you’re talking about, I’m sure you’re mistaken.”

“Hahaha! Yes, I’m sure you have Your Highness’s best interests at heart! This was a poor choice of words on my part.”

The head of the association, who smacked his own forehead with a good sound and smiled pleasantly, gave a sly and impersonal smile. Ah, perhaps this is the face that is typical for the head of the association. Could this be a smile to get me to let my guard down? But, there’s nothing even if you get my guard down. Just because I’m the first handmaiden doesn’t mean I’m getting any special privileges, other than the fact that Primera-sama likes me….

“Jenda Trading Company.”

“E?”

“I’m sorry that you had to rely on that chamber of commerce. Talbot and Co. haven’t been around long. I had no idea you had such a close relationship with Jenda Trading Company, an old-timer in the world of finance. The Queen doesn’t have a good impression of moneylenders and the Jenda Trading Company. Even more so when it comes to the birthplace of your entourage.”

“…Uhm, I’m not really sure what’s going on here.”

“Don’t be so humble! Jenda Merchant Association is a financial specialist that even the Rizil Chamber of Commerce would give a glance to. The old-fashioned and somewhat difficult chairman of the board, but the old man is indebted to you. You’ll be able to find a lot of people who are willing to pay for your services. The lion would have left it alone if it hadn’t come biting like a mouse prowling around your feet.”

E, wait a minute?

I just wanted to get a connection to the Jenda Chamber of Commerce to tell me about the Talbot Chamber of Commerce.

”

”

I just thought it would be a biased opinion if it was only from the Rizil Chamber of Commerce. I think you may have misunderstood something.

“Um, I’m sorry, I’m afraid you’ve misunderstood something…”

“No, no-no. Of course, it’s quite natural for you to visit the Jenda Trading Company. Her Royal Highness is their granddaughter, without a doubt. Nevertheless, we are so far apart in status that we are not allowed to exchange a word, but I am bowled over by the devotion that comes between us. His Majesty’s partiality was a bit problematic, even from my point of view, as I am allowed to be friends with the king, and I felt pity for him because I am indebted to the head of the Jenda Chamber of Commerce for the care he has given me, but….”

“Uhm, what?”

“However, I thought that you wouldn’t take such a risk of being glared at by the Queen by showing any connection with the Jenda Trading Company. However, your reliance on them this time has shown those ties!”

E, are? No, I didn’t do such a big thing?

When I went to the Jenda Trading Company, they didn’t spend too much time on useless conversation, or perhaps they were just making small talk about how the royals were doing, and so on and so forth. I knew that, and I made a small talk around the topic. I just thought it would be so sad not to be able to stand up publicly as a grandparent.

I’m not a big fan of what the head of the Rizil Corporation says, but I didn’t know that Jenda Trading Company was an old-timer in the finance industry. Yeah, really. I just thought it was more like an old-fashioned candy store. I’m so sorry!

“So, about the money, it won’t be long before it’s liquidated. In fact, it might even come back in the black, right? Um… it’s the Jenda Trading Company!”

“Ha, haaa…”

“I’m sorry to say that I misjudged the kind of the woman you are. Let’s honestly admit defeat. You must really be a professional maid, as you are able to keep a cool head even when our branch manager is approaching you without any sound of footsteps and signs of distraction. Should I be glad I’m not an ambitious person, or should I not be?”

I felt like I had found an unbelievable creature as I watched the old man laughing out loud while spouting out some disturbing words. What is this guy talking about….he’s misunderstood me in a big way and he doesn’t get my explanation at all, or he doesn’t want to listen to me, that’s for sure.

I mean, well, it was a debt at a violent profit, but if it came back in the black would that be a bad idea…?

After that, though, I was told a lot of things that I didn’t understand.

They said that it was wise not to wear the headpiece that Arder Saul gave me, or something like that… it’s just too good not to wear it. I’m told that he was instrumental in the improvement of the relationship between His Highness the Crown Prince and Primera and that the two of them are good friends, to begin with. The Prime Minister’s mood has been good lately, and business has been very coherent…….that probably had nothing to do with me.

Anyway, the head of the Rizil Chamber of Commerce said something I didn’t understand and left.

….I wonder, I’m very, very, um……tired.

I want to take a bath, I thought. I want to go to the hot springs. I really want to go to the hot springs!

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The protagonist, who couldn’t explain the misunderstanding, escaped from reality.