Beneath the Surviving Princess's Joyful Facade - Chapter 44

“Did you not sleep well?” Eirik asked, suddenly opening his eyes. Miesa jumped in surprise, quickly sitting up. He rubbed his face, ran a hand through his hair, and then gave her a sleepy smile.

“I slept a little,” she replied.

“If you were bored, you should have woken me up,” he said.

“It wasn’t really boredom… well, maybe it was. Yes, I was bored,” she decided.

“Can I go out today?” she asked.

“It would be best to avoid going out for now,” Eirik said cautiously.

“Can I still wander around the mansion?” she asked hopefully.

“My father will be around…” Eirik hesitated. Based on his father’s behavior yesterday, he knew that if Miesa encountered him, unpleasant remarks were inevitable. He furrowed his brow and thought for a moment, then met her expectant gaze.

Seeing her hopeful expression, he couldn’t refuse. Finally, Eirik nodded.

“As long as you stay with Gella, it should be fine. Just avoid the east wing on the second floor. And if you do run into my father, just ignore anything he says.”

“Then it’s okay?” she asked with a bright smile.

Her smile was so natural and radiant that Eirik wanted to kiss her. But remembering yesterday, he hesitated and instead reached out to gently stroke her tousled hair.

Over the next few days, Miesa kept herself busy, constantly on the move around the mansion with Gella. It seemed as if she feared that something terrible might happen if she stopped for even a moment.

Wearing a flower-shaped bib that the maids had made for her, she roamed the stairs, the maids’ workroom, and the garden. Whenever she spotted Eirik, she would wrinkle her nose and laugh, her way of acknowledging him. Eirik, happy to receive her greeting, would smile back.

Yet, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Her schedule was unnaturally busy.

“Thank goodness Miesa seems fine,” his mother remarked when he went to fetch Miesa from the living room. Eirik responded with a bitter smile.

“Yes, it seems so,” he said, sitting down on the sofa. Watching his mother comb Miesa’s hair, he realized he would have to wait a while longer to take her away.

“Aaah, aaah,” Miesa mumbled, opening and closing her mouth as she wriggled her toes, bare since she had taken off her stockings.

“Why are you doing this, Miesa?”

“She seems happy,” Eirik observed.

While others might have seen her behavior as random, Eirik had become adept at reading the subtle changes in her voice, expressions, and actions. He smiled as he watched her.

“Yes, thank goodness,” his mother said, continuing to comb Miesa’s hair. But Eirik’s observation didn’t stop there. He couldn’t ignore how her shoulders and jawline had become noticeably thinner.

Her food intake had significantly decreased since the day the two royal maids were dealt with. Yet, she never showed any sign of distress, simply moving energetically around with Gella.

“After playing in the garden, I brought her up to wash, and then I decided to comb her hair myself,” his mother explained.

“You did well,” Eirik replied, his thoughts interrupted. He then turned to Gella, who was standing nearby.

“You’ve done enough for today, Gella. You may take your leave now,” he said.

“Yes, sir. Thank you,” Gella replied, though she kept watching Margravine Cladnier’s hands as she worked.

Noticing this, Margravine Cladnier smiled and said, “Hair as fine as this is actually more difficult to manage. Don’t worry about learning it yourself. Just bring her to me.”

“Thank you, madam. I’ll take my leave then,” Gella said shyly, leaving the room.

Once the door closed, Margravine Cladnier spoke to Eirik in a low voice. “That girl, Gella, is quite good. I like her.”

“I’m glad you approve,” Eirik said.

“When Miesa was fidgeting earlier, she picked her up effortlessly. She’s strong,” Margravine Cladnier continued with satisfaction.

“She talks to Miesa all the time, pointing out flowers and trees in the garden, explaining their uses and benefits,” she added.

“Is Miesa learning well?” Eirik asked playfully, knowing the answer.

Margravine Cladnier shot him a mock glare. “Miesa is getting plenty of sunlight and having a good time. That’s what matters.”

“True,” Eirik agreed.

“Gella must have learned well from growing up in the village. She takes good care of Miesa. Hold still now, Miesa,” Margravine Cladnier instructed, reaching out to take the blue satin ribbon Edil handed her, tying it carefully in Miesa’s hair.

“By the way, we’ve received word that the new maid, Viscountess Manere, will be arriving soon,” Margravine Cladnier mentioned.

“Ah, yes. The new maid,” Eirik replied vaguely, already aware of the situation. Sensing this, Margravine Cladnier gave him a knowing glance and a slight smile, pleased with her son’s competent handling of affairs.

When Viscountess Manere had failed to find a suitable replacement, she volunteered herself for the role of the new maid to the princess, ensuring that the jewelry she had been gifting to Chief Lady-in-Waiting was not wasted.

Miesa’s new favorite place became the kitchen.

There, she could eat as much delicious food as she wanted. The kitchen staff, who had always been kind to her, now felt even more sympathy for her.

“When Ulis brought the master a chair, the black foam splashed everywhere, did you know?”

“Yeah, Nazel cleaned that room…”

Though they tried to keep it quiet, rumors spread throughout the mansion. The cleanup had been left to the servants.

“Oh, these nobles. Why do they go through such trouble to harm people from other houses?”

“Enough, let’s get back to preparing lunch,” the head cook said, waving a ladle to disperse the gathered staff. He then filled a pocket with shelled pecans and handed it to Gella.

“Give these to the young madam. She seemed to like nuts last time,” the cook said.

“Oh, thank you,” Gella replied, accepting the gift gratefully. The cook was busy today, so there was no time for their usual chat. Left to her own devices, Miesa wandered off towards the living room.

She wandered through the servants’ resting room, passed through the corridors used by the maids, and today, she even ventured into the place where they stored clothes in the living room.

“…Let’s go.”

“…if that’s what you want…”

Inside, voices could be heard. Gella jumped, pulling Miesa back as she whispered, “This place isn’t soundproof. If you make a noise, they’ll hear everything inside.”

Fascinated, Miesa sat down, and Gella fretted, “The master and madam are talking. If they find out we’re here…”

Giving up on moving Miesa, Gella rummaged through her pocket. “Here, chew on this quietly,” she said, pushing pieces of pecan into Miesa’s mouth.

“An apology that neither side feels is pointless.”

Miesa heard Margravine Cladnier say as she chewed on the pecans.

“You’ve lost your right as head of the family. We should prepare for succession. What part of this don’t you understand?”

Gella, realizing they were eavesdropping on a sensitive conversation, held her head in her hands. “We shouldn’t be hearing this. Let’s go, young madam.”

But Miesa lay down, pretending not to hear. The Margrave’s voice continued.

“Of course you’re angry. But to have my son and wife conspiring behind my back is outrageous. If you wanted revenge, you should have—”

Though Margravine Cladnier’s response was inaudible, the Margrave’s voice grew louder.

“I know I was wrong. I’m apologizing now. I swear I’ll never look at another woman again.”

“No, don’t misunderstand. You can live with that woman. I really don’t mind,” Margravine Cladnier’s voice was soft and soothing now.

“I consider you a good friend. Over the years, you’ve kept your fidelity as my husband.”

There was a brief silence before Margravine Cladnier spoke again. “Do you know why the previous heads of the Cladnier family died early?”

The Margrave’s answer was inaudible.

“Because they were forced to live too righteously, they couldn’t live long. And not being able to choose their own spouses while being expected never to stray… Such constraints shorten lives.”

The sound of pacing could be heard as the Margrave got up.

“Anyway, I don’t think it’s a bad thing. I think it’s time for both of us to break free from the family’s constraints and find some comfort,” Margravine Cladnier’s voice said calmly.

“What do you mean by that?” the Margrave’s gruff voice boomed. “After reassuring me about our friendship, are you saying that you plan to go out and about as well?”

“Well, I find your passion quite amusing. At your age, being so utterly captivated by something.”

Margrave Cladnier’s voice was quiet but clear.

“Anyway, the king’s eyes are on us, so—”

“Isn’t he supposed to succeed next spring? You’ve already planned this with Eirik and now you’re just informing me like this?”

Gella jumped, her hands shaking as she rummaged through the pecan pocket. “Young madam, if you make a sound, we’re dead. I mean, I’m dead.”

Now feeling full, Miesa closed her eyes. Pretending to sleep, she heard Gella relax and sink to the floor.