Chapter 29. Noble Dignity (2)
“Your Majesty the Empress. You’re here.”
As Rasillia entered the room, the maids quickly changed their expressions. Had she not heard their conversation from outside, she would never have known what had just happened.
“What were you all gathered here for?”
Ever since Rasillia had awakened in the Empress’s body, the maids’ position had become rather ambiguous.
Empress Carthagena always had maids in tow. The eight noblewomen flanking her on both sides were not only symbols of her power but also tools that made her stand out.
The maids of the Empress’s palace were practically an extension of the Empress herself. They were accustomed to strutting around the palace, acting high and mighty without a care in the world.
But everything changed once the Empress claimed she had lost her memory.
The Empress no longer summoned her maids except when dressing, and the maids spent most of their time idly sitting in empty rooms of the Empress’s palace.
With so little to do, their days consisted of sipping tea and munching on various snacks. Naturally, they had each gained a little weight.
But this couldn’t go on forever.
Still, they were too afraid to voice their complaints directly to the Empress. Just that morning, the Marchioness of Pashad had merely tested the waters by raising a small complaint—and was promptly expelled from the palace.
So the only outlet left was an easy target: the young lady who appeared from nowhere, who didn’t even seem like a proper noble.
“Did you enjoy your meal, Your Majesty?”
“We heard His Majesty was eagerly looking forward to dining with you.”
Instead of responding to the overly polite maids, Rasillia looked at Yvette.
Yvette wore an incredibly dark expression, seemingly blaming herself for failing to perform her duties since the very first day.
“…I believe I ordered Lady Shurayden to change her clothes.”
Yvette was still wearing the soiled outfit.
She drew in a breath and bowed her head deeply.
“My apologies, Your Majesty. I would have to leave the palace to change…”
Unlike the resident noble maids who brought their luggage and servants into the palace, Yvette, a palace maid, had to return home every other day.
‘That’s truly my oversight.’
It was something Rasillia had failed to consider. But likely, so had the former Empress Carthagena.
Yvette’s status may have changed, but she had received none of the privileges that came with it. Expecting her to fulfill the duties of the chief maid under those conditions was too cruel.
“If you allow me, I’ll leave immediately.”
“That would be best, Your Majesty.”
Oddly enough, one of the noble maids chimed in support.
She wouldn’t have said it without a reason.
‘Because I can’t keep an eye on her outside the palace. It’ll be easier to bully her there.’
In the worst-case scenario, Yvette might never return.
“No need for that. If a change of clothes is the issue, then she may wear mine.”
That caused an uproar.
“Pardon? Your Majesty? What did you say?”
Yvette didn’t even seem to understand what had been said. The other maids, who previously chose their words with extreme caution, suddenly raised their voices in outrage.
“That is unacceptable, Your Majesty!”
“How could a commoner wear royal garments! She has different blood!”
“It was outrageous enough for a mere palace maid to become a lady-in-waiting!”
Perhaps the maids had already sensed that the Empress had changed since losing her memory. That might be why they dared raise their voices without fear.
But Rasillia was not weak-spirited compared to Carthagena—her methods were simply different. As an oracle, she could be even stricter than the former Empress.
“Do go on.”
Compared to the agitated maids, Rasillia’s voice was very quiet. But it hit like cold water soaking through one’s skin.
“If shouting in front of the Empress is considered noble dignity…”
“……”
“……”
The room fell silent in an instant.
Rasillia calmly studied the maids whose faces she hadn’t properly familiarized herself with until now. No one stood out. Most were probably like the Marchioness of Pashad. Still, she asked just in case.
“Among you, is there anyone who might be useful to His Majesty’s future consort?”
“Pardon?”
Yvette blinked in confusion. But Rasillia wasn’t speaking to her.
“Bip!”
The reply came from behind Yvette’s head. With her thick hair always tied up, Pipi seemed to be hiding somewhere within it.
Pipi’s chirp meant no one was suitable. Then there was nothing more to consider.
“Lady Shurayden.”
“Y-Yes?”
“Have you read the Imperial Etiquette Manual?”
“Eh? Oh—yes! I have read it before.”
“Good. Was there anything in it stating that the Empress must not bestow her garments to a duke’s daughter?”
“Hmm… No, Your Majesty. On the contrary, it said that receiving royal garments is a great honor, and in such cases, one should wear the gifted clothing whenever meeting royalty.”
“So you’re saying my maids have misinformed me of etiquette? Were they trying to make me look ignorant by using my memory loss as an excuse?”
The maids’ faces paled.
“Your Majesty… That’s too… harsh. We merely…”
“Merely?”
“Merely… This has never occurred in the Empress’s palace before…”
“If it doesn’t violate etiquette, why should it be a problem?”
“That’s…”
One of the maids snapped her folding fan shut and cried out.
“Such a thing as a palace maid becoming a lady-in-waiting has never happened before, Your Majesty!”
“And neither has a duke’s daughter becoming a palace maid. Isn’t that right?”
“Th-That’s…”
Her voice died away.
“If you now realize your ignorance, go and pick suitable clothes for the lady.”
“Your Majesty… How could you ask us to—”
Rasillia’s face turned colder.
“Your duty is to follow my will. If you’re not here to laze around the palace, then you must work as hard as Lady Shurayden does.”
“……”
The maids looked as though they might burst into tears.
“Bring the clothes.”
The reply barely escaped their lips.
“…Yes, Your Majesty.”
“U-Um… I mean… I truly appreciate your protection—it’s an honor—but still, treating the maids that way… N-Not that I mean to overstep… But still, they are your maids…”
Yvette mumbled in a shrinking voice.
“I really am fine… I may have been made the chief maid in name, but I’ll continue working sincerely as I always have. It’s not like anyone will see me as a duke’s daughter anyway, so…”
“Lady Shurayden.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Oh, but please—‘lady’ is too much. Just call me by my name. That’d be more comfortable.”
“This would have happened the moment I made you my maid. Don’t worry. There’s no need.”
“But, Your Majesty… The other maids are all from prestigious families… I heard they’re part of your power. If I fall out with them…”
That only gave Rasillia more reason to distance herself from the current maids.
The Empress would be replaced. Within a year, the Emperor had to find his true consort and crown her as the new Empress.
Leaving the current Empress’s faction in place would only hinder the new one.
Pipi had been right. Yvette would be of great benefit to the true consort. Even the replacement of the Empress’s faction sparked by Yvette’s presence would be part of that benefit.
“That’s my burden to bear. As I said, it’s not your concern.”
“Your Majesty…”
Yvette could only tear up, thinking Rasillia was taking unnecessary risks for her sake.
Rasillia wanted to tell her it wasn’t like that—but she couldn’t. Her status as a false consort was a secret.
“Are our figures similar? The clothes need to fit.”
“Gasp—what do you mean! Your Majesty is taller than me and so slender!”
“What if they don’t fit?”
“Oh no, don’t worry about that! I’ll alter them overnight if I have to! I’m really good at sewing!”
She really was a resourceful person.
“That’s a relief. …Ah, where’s Pipi? Still hiding in your hair?”
“Yes! I think my hair feels like a nest to her. She even sleeps there!”
“She must be asleep now too, since she’s quiet.”
“Seems so, Your Majesty.”
As Yvette beamed innocently at Rasillia for no reason, the maids returned with clothes.
“None of these are particularly to my liking.”
The maids not only brought clothes but also had to help Yvette change. It was obvious from their gritted teeth how they felt about it.
But the bigger problem was the dress itself.
Though they didn’t perform hard labor, Yvette’s current red gown looked horribly uncomfortable to move in.
With her shoulders and upper chest entirely exposed, she couldn’t even raise her arms.
“But Your Majesty, this seemed the most suitable.”
A lie, obviously.
They had likely picked something Yvette had never worn before and that was most inconvenient.
The dress looked like it would slide down with a single misstep, and Yvette was clearly flustered.
“Lady Shurayden has green eyes and brown hair. Red doesn’t suit her.”
In truth, it suited her very well.
But with Rasillia speaking so firmly, no one dared say otherwise.
“I-I see… Is that so…”
“I can’t trust your judgment. I’ll choose myself. Bring all the dresses.”
“Pardon, Your Majesty?”
“You heard me.”
“……”
The maids only exchanged anxious glances.
“Hurry. Don’t keep me waiting. I’ve already had to repeat myself because you won’t listen. Now I’m getting irritated.”
“…Y-Yes, Your Majesty.”
Frightened by her direct statement, the maids didn’t even dare suggest sending palace servants.
It took half a day to bring all the dresses from the wardrobe. The gowns were bulky, adorned with lavish decorations, and too heavy to carry many at once.
And because they had to be careful not to let the hems touch the floor, the task took even longer.
Rasillia gave half of them to Yvette.
Having spent the whole day hauling and arranging dresses, the exhausted maids no longer had the energy to resist.
