Chapter 83
The residence that the Empress had provided for Mahel was filled with luxurious items. It was a building intended to host envoys from surrounding kingdoms, its grandeur reflecting the prestige of the Empire. There were artifacts scattered throughout that would make anyone who understood their value dizzy with awe, but Mahel passed them by without interest.
“…Are you certain I was behind the previous kidnapping?”
The attitude of Prince Kazar weighed on Mahel’s mind.
Entering the room, she removed her earrings and placed them down. A maid who had followed her from the Kingdom of Valua came inside and firmly closed the door.
“Where have you been?”
“A walk.”
Mahel answered curtly, glancing at the maid.
“And the investigation I asked you to do?”
“It seems to be true. His Highness the Fourth Prince visits the Duke’s residence every day.”
“Am I late?”
Mahel clicked her tongue in displeasure and collapsed onto the bed. Her dress was being mercilessly wrinkled, but she didn’t care in the slightest.
“Pants are comfortable after all.”
Mahel rarely wore flowing dresses. They were cumbersome when practicing swordsmanship or riding horses.
“…Why did Father tell me to be careful of the Empress?”
The maid, having heard Mahel’s murmur, offered an answer.
“He wasn’t opposed to accepting the Empire’s invitation. Perhaps he was just worried. After all, Princess, you are the heir to the throne.”
Mahel shook her head. Her father’s expression had conveyed a bit more than mere worry.
“It wasn’t worry. It seemed like he feared something. Still, he didn’t oppose it.”
The maid cautiously offered her opinion.
“Could it be that the King noticed the kidnapping of Prince Kazar? People suspected of being his agents were seen snooping around Valua for some time.”
“If he noticed, he wouldn’t have let them go. Anyway, I need to find Jay.”
“Since the attempt failed and he completely cut off traces, it will be difficult to find him.”
“That figures.”
Finding someone who is deliberately hiding in such a vast Empire is no easy task. Mahel could do little outside of the Empire compared to Valua.
“Maybe we met during the welcoming ceremony.”
“Jay? Did you see anyone like him?”
“He wasn’t there, but I suspect the mastermind might have attended.”
“You think the mastermind is in the Imperial Palace?”
“Selling off the Imperial Prince isn’t something just anyone can attempt. We need to identify the faction opposing Prince Kazar. Or maybe they’ll approach me first.”
“I’ll look into it.”
“One more thing.”
“Yes?”
“Find a way to meet Lady Spes. I want to meet her in person.”
“That’s…”
“Why? Is it difficult?”
The maid bowed her head and offered counsel.
“Duke Spes is a more troublesome counterpart than the Imperial family, Princess.”
“Isn’t she adopted? It’s fine, try to find a way. I cannot disappoint Mother.”
In Mahel’s eyes, there was a sense of duty accompanying her words.
A small carriage arrived at the Spes estate. From it stepped Anne Mineda. The young lady of the Mineda viscount’s family took in the estate and garden in one glance. As her grandmother had described, it was beautiful.
‘So this is the Spes estate.’
Anne’s heart thumped uncontrollably.
Dave, who came to greet her, welcomed Anne with a gentle smile.
“Welcome to the Spes family estate. I am Dave Joy, the butler.”
“I’m Anne Mineda.”
“Follow me this way. We will move your luggage to your room.”
“Yes, please.”
Dave guided her with a kind smile and asked softly:
“How is Baroness Rice’s health?”
“She’s much better, but still finds it difficult to go out. The healing clerics can’t fix psychological issues, they say. She was very regretful that she couldn’t accompany me.”
“She must recover quickly; I am worried. Have you spoken with Baroness Rice?”
“Yes. Don’t worry. I understand everything. Here is the confidentiality oath. My grandmother instructed me to give it to you as soon as I arrived.”
Anne handed over the secrecy oath she had kept tucked in her chest.
Anne loved the stories her grandmother told. As Stella Princess’s former nanny, she knew many interesting tales.
Her favorite story was the one about Princess Stella praying for the Empire and the young Duke Spes inheriting his title early. The second favorite was the recent tale of Lady Eluana and Prince Kazar.
When asked if she would become a maid in the Duke’s household, she didn’t hesitate. Before leaving, Anne had signed the secrecy oath and learned of Eluana and Rui’s secret. She had prepared herself fully for what awaited her at the estate, and her resolve was evident in her eyes.
Dave accepted the oath and regarded Anne. Being the granddaughter of Baroness Rice alone inspired trust.
“I hope you don’t mind.”
“No, thank you for trusting me enough to tell me.”
“I had to find a maid for you, but given the special circumstances, I was conflicted. I appreciate your willingness to help. You are still unfamiliar with noble society. I hope Lady Mineda will assist you.”
“I will do my best.”
“Please wait in the Lavender Room.”
Anne followed Dave with light steps. Though the estate’s grandeur could have startled her, her gaze calmly took it in. She was captivated not by the estate, but by her longing for Eluana.
The massive ivory-colored wooden doors of the Lavender Room opened.
With cheerful laughter, a whip sliced through the air, striking floating steel orbs. They scattered with a clinking sound, spun around, and flew back toward the maid wielding the whip.
“Hyah! Yap! Hiyah!”
The maid, making strange noises, swung the whip, knocking all the steel orbs aside.
Clink. Clink.
“One more time! Hyah!”
Clink.
“Yap.”
Anne parted her lips slightly at the clamor and dazzling movement.
‘Aura?’
Anyone seeing the aura shimmering at the tip of the whip would be startled, even more so if the wielder were wearing a maid’s uniform.
Anne’s gaze shifted to the steel orbs resisting the whip. Hundreds moved in perfect coordination, blocking every strike.
“Final!”
The maid slammed the whip threateningly. The orbs, rebounding from the strike, hovered in midair.
“Magnificent! Milady! You didn’t break a single item!”
A maid with hair tied on both sides clapped, and the whip-wielding maid proudly exclaimed:
“As expected of our lady! You could handle a few knights now!”
Listening to the praise, the girl, Eluana, slowly turned her head. Simultaneously, hundreds of steel orbs behind her descended. Even more captivating to Anne were Eluana’s gleaming golden hair and mysterious eyes.
Eluana’s first impression was elegant yet not arrogant—exactly as Anne had imagined.
“Milady, this is Lady Mineda.”
Eluana smiled faintly at the introduction.
“I heard you were coming today. I am Eluana Vita Spes.”
Anne quickly greeted her politely.
“I am Anne Mineda. I have come to serve as your maid.”
“How is Baroness Rice’s health?”
“Much improved. My grandmother wanted to come as well. It is an honor to meet you.”
Startled by the word “honor,” Eluana laughed bashfully.
“Dave, please prepare some medicinal herbs for the carriage on the way back.”
“Yes, Milady. You may converse.”
Dave bowed politely and left. Once the door closed, Anne swallowed hard.
“Thank you for your concern, Milady.”
Eluana turned with a bright smile.
“I’ll introduce you. This is the knight, Thing, my bodyguard. This is Ling, my personal maid.”
When their names were called, Thing twirled her whip, and Ling bowed slightly with a cute smile.
‘So they’re knights, not just maids.’
Anne’s heart raced. If these two were her guards, she would be the only one attending to them. She bowed formally.
“I am Anne Mineda. Please call me Anne.”
“Call me Ling.”
Unlike Ling, Thing approached boldly.
“Wow! Our lady finally has a maid. I’m Thing. As a bodyguard, I didn’t know much about being a maid. I wear this uniform only so I can enter all places. Pleased to meet you, real maid.”
Anne was about to reply in kind when Thing continued:
“Oh! All our names are one syllable! Thing, Anne, Ling. It’s like fate, isn’t it?”
…Where?
Anne didn’t know what to say, but Eluana intervened.
“Anne, relax.”
But Anne couldn’t. There was work to be done immediately.
“First, I’ll organize the Lavender Room.”
Anne surveyed the hundreds of steel orbs scattered on the floor. Gathering them would take a long time. As she called for a few maids, Eluana said:
“It’s fine. Just do this.”
Almost instantly, the orbs rose into the air and swiftly entered a pouch on the table. Despite hundreds of orbs moving simultaneously, none collided or bounced out.
Eluana tied the pouch herself, finishing the task.
“Done?”
Anne thought: the elegant yet unassuming lady was remarkably capable.
“Yes, indeed.”
Eluana’s smile deepened.
“Good thing you arrived early, Anne. If you were later, we might have missed each other. I’ll be away a few days, so pack your things. We’ll depart once Kazar arrives.”
…But I haven’t even unpacked yet.
