By that time, I had almost given up, thinking that Raniero would just laugh at those words.
However, unexpectedly, he responded to that.
If I said anything, typically, he would've repelled it within one second, whereas this time, he closed his mouth and glanced at the table on my side… Well, even though I said it was on my side of the table, he was probably looking at my legs under it.
Raniero was suddenly speechless.
After that, we just ate without saying a word while I glanced around carefully and put the hard-roasted corn in my mouth. Shortly after the meal was over, he ordered the maids to bring me my clothes from the Empress' Palace. Because of that, I was fortunate enough to be able to avoid the disobedience of going into a political meeting with only his tunic on.
'Does he understand now…?'
I entered the room in surprise.
Even though we avoided the riot, the political affairs meeting wasn't enjoyable. It was because the tense atmosphere in front of Raniero had been transmitted, so everyone was speaking extremely carefully, and it was very quiet. And I, who only knew about the politics and economy of the Actilus Empire at the level of a 'foreign princess,' had nothing to say and just had to listen. In such an environment, you couldn't help but feel sleepy.
I was really sleepy…
Nonetheless, when I felt like I was going to fall asleep, I made eye contact with Raniero every time I felt like I was going to fall asleep while smiling and pinching the back of my hand under the table until I shed a few tears.
And although I thought it was liberating after the political meeting… Raniero even took me to personal training instead. He urged me to catch a dagger, but it didn't work out. My body was weak because I used it too much yesterday. Of course, he looked at me like I was pathetic. Still, I could only sit in a shady corner and watch his beautiful sword dance.
And now that it was all over…
At last, I was freed from that damn Emperor and returned to my cozy nest—
"Haaaahh…"
I couldn't keep my dignity any longer.
It was because I didn't have the mental power to do that. I didn't even change my clothes and collapsed on my bed, which I had met forty-eight hours ago. Even though it was summer, it was still cool at night so Cisen put a shawl, thin like dragonfly wings, on my shoulder. Meanwhile, Duchess Nerma, who hadn't yet left the Palace, stood behind her and laughed.
"It's nice to see the two of you having a good time together."
I choked up at that.
…Was it a good thing?! I mean, from a national point of view, it was definitely a good thing. Nevertheless, it wasn't so good for me personally! I don't mind being bad at this… I just want His Majesty not to pay any attention to me!
I'm so tired of this!
'And originally, today…'
I lay down on the bed and rolled my eyes.
Duchess Nerma wasn't the only maid who didn't leave the Palace yet. Sylvia, with her silver hair tied up to one side, was also standing, holding her hands politely.
'I was going to throw her an entrance party or something…'
My nose was three feet long*, so I couldn't care for Sylvia too much. Still, if her relationship with the existing maids were bad, I'd be in trouble.
[ T/N: 'One's own nose is three feet long; have one's own fish to fry,' is an expression used to describe a situation where one's own business is so urgent and difficult that one couldn't afford to help others. ]
If the relationship between the maids were awkward, the atmosphere of the Palace would be uncomfortable as well. I wouldn't be a fan of the Empress Palace having the same atmosphere as the government meeting earlier… Well, it didn't seem like Sylvia was particularly sociable either. Meanwhile, the rest of the maids are the servants of her mother that she killed, so now that she was on the other side of the line, they might want to cut the ropes now.
My head was already exploding as to how to reform the atmosphere.
'…Favoring Sylvia openly could be one of the ways.'
No one could tell me anything about that as well. As I mentioned, except for Cisen and Sylvia, all the other maids were ordered by Roberta Jacques to shun me.
Hmm, shall we try that?
As I rolled my eyes, thinking about it again, at the end of my gaze this time was Duchess Nerma. As soon as our eyes met, she strode towards me.
'Aack.'
Without realizing it, I jumped up and sat down as Duchess Nerma sat at my feet with a smirk and glanced up at me.
"Your Majesty, yesterday's hunting was done very proudly. His Majesty the Emperor declared that there were no wounds on the Empress's body. Ha… I'm so thrilled."
I replied with an uncomfortable voice.
"Is, is that so…?"
"Your Majesty's now a true person of Actilus—a true national mother loved by all. Everyone's eager to see Her Majesty the Empress."
For some reason, the back of my neck felt chilly at her words. At the same time, Duchess Nerma smiled lovingly, puffing her round, plump cheeks before adding.
"So now, all the social gatherings that had been postponed…"
'Aaaaaakkkk!'
…Right, there was something like that!
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