Chapter 71 ….
“Yes, Head Maid.”
Snapping back to her senses, Eugenie lifted her head.
The Head Maid was looking at her with a curious expression.
“There’s something I’m curious about. Why do you assume that Maid Sayers will naturally prepare the party poorly?”
“…Pardon?”
“Well, think about it. From what I see, Maid Sayers is…”
The Head Maid hesitated for a moment before speaking bluntly.
“…quite capable.”
Eugenie’s eyes widened like a startled rabbit.
For those words—“quite capable”—to come out of the strict Head Maid’s mouth…
It meant she held Eugenie in very high regard.
“You’re meticulous, diligent, and sincere. Ever since Maid Sayers became the chief maid of the Second Prince’s Palace, there hasn’t been a single error found in the expenditure reports or the regular budget proposals.”
Huh?
“You’ve also helped with numerous imperial events. And you’ve got a sharp eye as well. During the negotiations with the Kingdom of Lloyd, I was indebted to Maid Sayers myself.”
Huh?!
Eugenie became slightly dazed.
Is the person standing in front of me really the Head Maid of the Imperial Palace?
That strict Head Maid… openly praising me like this?!
“And yet, despite already proving your ability through all those achievements,”
the Head Maid continued, lightly pushing up the silver frame of her glasses,
“Maid Sayers speaks as though failure is a foregone conclusion.”
“….”
That hit the mark.
Eugenie shut her mouth tightly.
She didn’t want to disappoint His Majesty the Emperor.
And because of that, it was true she had kept shrinking back.
“Then let me ask you this.”
The intelligent eyes behind the glasses seemed to pierce straight through Eugenie.
“So—do you not want to do it?”
“….”
That wasn’t it.
Her grip tightened around the documents she held.
His Majesty… trusted me.
Rather than avoiding it, she wanted somehow to live up to that trust.
So I…
Eugenie bit her lower lip lightly.
I want to be of help to His Majesty.
At that moment, it felt as if someone had struck her on the head.
I see.
Even though fear had made her hesitate, Eugenie’s answer had been decided from the beginning.
She wanted to do it.
Because…
She wanted Cedric to acknowledge her.
With a trembling voice, Eugenie answered.
“I… want to do it.”
“Then just do it.”
Though blunt, the Head Maid’s tone held encouragement.
“If it’s hard to believe in yourself, then believe in the eyes of the people who’ve been helped by Maid Sayers until now.”
“…Head Maid.”
“I believe Maid Sayers will do well.”
The moment she heard those words, Eugenie felt something hot surge up from deep inside her chest.
Cedric had said the same thing to her before.
There were so many people who trusted her and cheered her on like this.
…In that case.
“Thank you. Though my abilities are limited, I will do my best.”
Eugenie answered clearly.
Her voice was no longer trembling.
“Good. That’s the spirit.”
The Head Maid looked satisfied and lightly patted Eugenie on the shoulder.
“Your career aside, preparing this party will also help Maid Sayers a lot.”
Then she added jokingly,
“If you continue serving as the chief maid of the Second Prince’s Palace, you might later end up planning a party for His Highness the Second Prince.”
Ah.
Eugenie blinked.
That’s right. For His Highness the Second Prince as well…
At that moment, the Head Maid smiled warmly, as if to reassure her.
“Besides, I’ll be here this time too. So don’t feel too burdened.”
At those words, Eugenie broke into a bright smile.
It was a lighthearted smile, as if all the lingering worries she’d carried until now had been blown away.
“Yes, Head Maid.”
* * *
After that,
Eugenie officially began preparing for the inauguration party of the foundation’s chairperson.
Since she had the opportunity to plan a party for the first time in a while, she wanted to do it as well as possible.
And so, the first person she met was…
“So Maid Sayers will be planning the celebration party for my inauguration?”
The Dowager Countess Rodriguez.
She had recently been appointed as the new chairperson of the Imperial Children’s Foundation, and she was an elderly noblewoman.
The dowager countess smiled gently at Eugenie.
“I look forward to working with you.”
“The pleasure is mine, Dowager Countess Rodriguez.”
Eugenie bowed politely.
“I will do my best.”
Upon hearing that, the dowager countess leaned comfortably against the sofa and smiled brightly.
“Well now, a famous person doing her best for my party. I’m quite looking forward to it.”
Her voice was playful.
Eugenie blinked in confusion.
“Pardon?”
A famous person? What does that mean?
The dowager countess shrugged lightly.
“You have the trust of His Majesty the Emperor, and even of His Highness the Second Prince.”
Huh?
Eugenie’s eyes widened like a startled rabbit.
The dowager countess elegantly moistened her lips with tea and continued.
“I heard the negotiations with the Kingdom of Lloyd went smoothly. They say Maid Sayers played quite a large role.”
“That’s not true, it was just—”
“And that’s not all. I heard you also helped organize the tariff items, and you attended Lady Amelia’s memorial service as well.”
Eugenie found herself at a loss for words.
Honestly, those weren’t such big things.
But when listed out like that, it almost sounded like she had accomplished something truly remarkable.
But how did news of those things spread?
Watching Eugenie roll her eyes in confusion, the dowager countess smiled faintly.
“You look like you’re wondering how I know all these things.”
Ugh.
She had hit the nail on the head.
Embarrassed, Eugenie closed her mouth tightly.
The dowager countess continued teasingly.
“That’s because His Majesty himself praised Maid Sayers.”
“What?!”
Startled, Eugenie practically jumped out of her seat.
The dowager countess replied calmly.
“My son told me. Regarding the negotiations with the Kingdom of Lloyd, His Majesty mentioned Maid Sayers several times.”
If it was the dowager countess’s son, that meant Count Rodriguez.
And Count Rodriguez was currently a leading figure in noble society and served as the Vice Minister of the Administrative Bureau.
So it made sense that he would often meet the Emperor and the imperial officials…
“In any case, since someone like Maid Sayers is planning my inauguration party, I have very high expectations.”
“You flatter me.”
Eugenie felt her cheeks grow warm.
She slightly lowered her head, avoiding the dowager countess’s mischievous gaze.
But only for a moment.
“By the way, about this celebration party.”
“Yes, Your Ladyship.”
Eugenie straightened her posture and looked at her.
The dowager countess continued calmly.
“His Majesty graciously said he would personally have an inauguration party held for me.”
At first glance, she looked like a very warm and gentle person—perhaps because she had spent her life caring for children.
But the words that followed were not entirely gentle.
“However, objectively speaking, His Majesty didn’t say that because he has any personal fondness for me.”
“….”
Eugenie’s shoulders stiffened slightly.
After all, the noblewoman in front of her had built her position in the conservative aristocratic society through lifelong charitable work.
Someone that capable would not fail to understand Cedric’s intentions.
“Most likely, His Majesty intends to show his support for me through this party… and stir new winds within the imperial foundation.”
As if she had already organized her thoughts, the dowager countess spoke smoothly.
“He dismissed Marquis Jester, appointed someone like me—who has no imperial blood—as chairperson, and is even inviting commoner children from our orphanage.”
The dowager countess fixed Eugenie with a steady gaze.
“That must mean His Majesty’s resolve is quite firm.”
Wow, she’s incredible.
Eugenie admired her inwardly.
This was practically insight that pierced straight into Cedric’s mind.
“Anyway, what I want to say is this: since His Majesty has such intentions for this party…”
