Chapter 18

I wonder how many times I've had this far-off look in my eyes since I was born.

It's strange, I was born into a viscount's family, and I was happy not to be the heir. I immersed myself in the joy of working as a maid, and I took pride in becoming a maid for the person I was supposed to serve.

It's not a black company, so there's no unreasonable overtime! My colleagues aren't stressed out! The pay isn't bad! The costumes are made of good material, and the tea leaves and ingredients I handle are of high quality!

So, why am I being measured in the inner palace, on the harem side, at the residence of Her Majesty the Queen Mother...?

And this tailor is amazing—she's a master! She's a little trembling old lady, about half my height, and I was worried, but the moment she picked up the measuring tape, her closed eyes opened, and the trembling stopped. I thought she might have some kind of special move...

Well, the way she's measuring and drawing design sketches at lightning speed is almost like a special move...

I think she's several times faster than any tailor I know. What is this grandma?

I asked if I could see what the design would be, but she just glanced at me and said, "Look forward to the day... Grandma will do her best!" and refused me.

...Oh? This grandma is kind of cute, and I feel a little swoon. Am I tired?

"Yuria, you must be tired from all the recent events. I'm glad you say you enjoy working as a maid, but you need to take care of the practical issues first before you can focus on that."

"Y-Yes, I'm sorry."

"Hehehe, no, it's fine. I shouldn't be so preachy. I'm just happy that a young lady like you visits here, as I don't have many people to talk to. Thank you for always taking care of my grandchildren. Thanks to you, they seem to be growing up well. I've been meaning to thank you, so please accept these dresses. Once you debut, you won't have to attend so many evening parties, and I'll make sure of that. But please read and remember this document here, okay?"

"Y-Yes."

I was about to say "Yes," but when Her Majesty the Queen Mother rang a bell, a silver tray with a stack of documents about 30 centimeters high appeared from behind her, and I was speechless.

I'd like to be praised for not letting my face contort.

"By the way, have you heard about the recent events?"

"Only that I will receive an explanation from the appropriate person."

"Right, they want me to explain. I wonder if young Ernest found it too troublesome to explain. I need to tell Bianca to make him talk more about things other than work."

Sighing, Her Majesty the Queen Mother still had a worried mother's expression.

Come to think of it, since the Prince and the Chancellor are friends, it's not strange that Her Majesty the Queen Mother has known the Chancellor since childhood. After all, he's from a ducal family.

"Actually, the Shagran royal family proposed a marriage for Primera before, but we declined. The official reason was that the previous duchess, who came as a symbol of friendship, hasn't had a child, but we didn't want to have another duchess while she was still alive. Ideally, she should have been the crown prince's wife, the future queen, but they had just had a family dispute and suggested Primera as a concubine. My foolish son, who dotes on his daughter, refused outright. To avoid diplomatic issues, we temporarily eased tariffs and so on."

"Is that so?!"

"Of course, we kept it secret from Primera. Their proposal was unofficial, as their family dispute hadn't settled, and they wanted our support. However, the crown prince already has a wife from a ducal family, a child, and a concubine. It seems they thought it was too difficult to replace the queen, so they suggested a concubine. They must be in a hurry, but if the crown prince is like that, the country's future is bleak. If it had been an unofficial letter from a trusted subordinate, someone might have stopped him, but it seems he acted on his own. The concubine is from a merchant family and has connections with the Talbot Trading Company."

"How terrible."

"Of course, this is what the royal family learned when His Majesty inquired unofficially with the other king. In every country, concubines fight ugly battles to put their children on the throne, while the king is left out."

Her Majesty the Queen Mother laughed carefree, truly enjoying herself.

But the content she was talking about was the embarrassing inside story of another country.

I felt a chill, wondering how much of it would leak out, and she seemed to notice my thoughts, blinking and smiling.

"Don't worry, Yuria. I know that the palace guard Aldar Saul von Baum often visits your room, and that you secretly buy chocolate from the Mitchel confectionery in the town and share it with the apprentice maids. It's all in my heart."

Gulp.

You know all of that, don't you?!

Please, someone praise me for maintaining my usual expression without my face contorting this time.

"Still, you're so kind. The apprentices can't afford sweets from Mitchel confectionery with their wages. They must have been happy?"

"Yes."

"That's good. You really take good care of people. The maids and maids assigned to the princess's palace are lucky. You not only spoil them but also educate them, and you even teach them reading and arithmetic?"

"Wh-Where did you hear that from...?"

"From Albert."

Hearing that the Prince had spilled the beans, I decided not to give him any more snacks for a while.

"Anyway, have you memorized the documents?"

"Yes, ...no, could I have a little more time?"

"Hehehe, even though you're called the iron maid, you're still a real woman. Why can't others see that a little push can make you flustered?"

"…I don't know."

"Oh, right, Yuria, what about Aldar Saul?"

"What do you mean, what about him? We're just trying to help Dean Dain and Primera get along...!!"

"Look, look, keep your eyes on the documents."

"Y-Yes!"

"Hehehe."

...She's a sensible person, but a bit too mischievous, this Queen Mother.

I know she's bored, but... I really wish she would play with someone else!

A mischievous old lady is kind of cute.