V1C13

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‘I

am sorry to take time out of your busy schedule.’ Matilda said to the Grand

Chamberlain, Laird1. She sat on the settee across from him,

bestowing a sweet thankful smile.

‘It’s

alright.’ He said in a friendly manner.

‘Today,

I had lunch with His Majesty. I'm sorry but eating so much sweet food was

difficult.’

‘I

am sorry the meal was difficult to eat.’

‘His

Majesty the King of Icecoreta will be visiting shortly, I would like to present

him with different kinds of dishes.’

Ignoring

the Laird’s troubled expression; Matilda tried to put on a smile of oblivious

innocence. It was harder than she expected. What did an innocent smile look

like?

‘Of

course it’s only for Luncheon. It is well know that the King of our country has

a weak constitution, so the naturally heavily salted dishes of Icecoreta do not

suit. I wondered if light Barenshiaga food should be made, it is only

luncheon,’ She said thoughtfully, looking innocent, ‘so I'd like to consult

with the chefs,'

She

smiled, but she wondered if she should laugh. Apprehension grew in her heart.

It is difficult playing innocent Princess.

‘His

Majesty said that if I wanted to eat my country’s food, I could order it. But,

I'm marrying into Bareshiaga, so I want this country’s food to be my “taste of

home”’

‘Is

there something strange about my request?’

Matilda

watched Laird closely; he seemed to be mumbling and was possibly hiding

something.

Why

did one have to ask so long for such small things?

‘I

will not ask you anymore!’ she said suddenly, ‘Please leave. I will ask his

Majesty tonight. For now I do not want to see your face.’ She turned her body

away from him, haughtily turning her nose up at the Grand Chamberlain.

One

of the maids quietly opened a door, ‘Please come through here,’

Laird,

the Grand Chamberlain, shuffled out of the room in a dazed manner wondering

what just happened.

But

after the enforcement of this, she would like to start weeding out all those

involved in defrauding the palace, expose them and get rid of them.

After

confirming that the door was shut properly, Matilda collapsed on the sofa.

That

had been tiring. Almost impossible.

She

really did not suit the cutie girl manner. It did not suit her at all.

‘That

looked like fun, Mattie!’ Leandroth said, entering from the opposite door. She

stared at him.

‘That

version of you is not to my taste, but it worked. At the word of the future

Empress, even a high ranking office will be dismissed. It will be the quickest

way to our goal.’

Leandroth

sat beside Matilda and stroked her hair, ‘Our plan seems like it will work, I

thought well.’ He patted her head.

‘I

don’t think I am cut out for this though,’

She

noticed the maids leaving the room.

‘Using

this method, is it alright?’

He

chuckled, ‘We

may not have needed to do it so quickly. But thank you for getting rid of the

ring leaders. The dismissal of the Grand Chamberlain may serve as the opening

salvo. It is not a thing of beauty, but what is beauty in a battlefield?’

‘It

was off, that the chief of staff could not talk freely. I wanted to solve it as

soon as possible.’

The

crowd gets caught. She felt like Leandroth was becoming a bad influence on her

language. (Zuben: Don’t ask me how.)

She

shook her head to dismiss his thanks. She did not do much.

‘We

will definitely win this game. Afterwards, you can be my assistant. So you don’t

have to hold back against anyone if you think you need to, to can fight freely.’

‘Very

well, I will be come your assistant and healthcare manager. I did declare it,

and I will make sure you are served delicious food.’

‘It

will be welcome, but even plain rice would be delicious.’ He said gently

patting her back,

Matilda

moved too quickly, so he patted her harder than he planned, and she got a

little dizzy.

‘I

am sorry, please do not talk.’ He said

‘No,

it wasn't …it didn't hurt that much. I stopped before you moved.’

Her

mind turned to other things (Zuben: Matilda’s mind certainly does zip from one unrelated

topic to the other.)

‘The

maids you have chosen are really amazing and also really beautiful.’ She said.

It was rather depressing.

‘There

is nothing to worry about. You only need to do things as you see fit, but do

consult with me. Besides, their looks were irrelevant, I chose them for their

capabilities.’

His

words made her even more depressed. (Zuben: Why?)

‘Like

a boy soldier on his first campaign, ne.’

‘Aha,

that’s an accurate description.’ She

felt a sharp pain in her chest.

‘Not

saying anything?’ he asked laughing in her ear.

‘If

your thinking wasn't inappropriate, I guess it’s enough.’ She said tying to

sound nonchalant.

‘I

forgive you.’ (Zuben: Don’t ask me what he’s apologizing for ‘cos I dunno)

They

smiled at each other. Matilda wound her arms around his neck and kissed him. A

cute sound of the kiss echoed in the room.

‘Are you planning to keep your punishment secret?’

‘Draw

a circle…?’ he said laughing, then he continued, ‘If you want to do it again,

can we do it here,’ he said cheekily as his hands reached for her chest, ‘they

would be better than cheeks.’

Matilda

smiled slightly embarrassed as she caught his hands and pushed them away, and

said in a mock-stern manner.

‘You've

had enough break time, please go and continue with your duties. Work hard, and

do your best.’

That

evening, Matilda was getting her wedding dress fitted, when she heard that the

Grand Chamberlain had been dismissed for disobeying the orders of the Emperor. Although,

it was a de facto dismissal; she heard that four high marquis and vassals interceded.

She worried for the future as a sense of dark foreboding come over her.

[1]

Laird: Grand Chamberlain; named by me.