Beneath the Surviving Princess's Joyful Facade - Chapter 113

The next day, after finishing breakfast, Miesa went to the room formerly used by Vermel’s queen mother to hear Tilberg’s report.

“We are planning to redecorate a new room for Your Majesty. It’s on the third floor instead of the second. Would that be acceptable?”

“I don’t want the third floor. Is there a reason we can’t use this room instead?” Miesa shook her head firmly, causing Tilberg to sweat profusely.

“In that case, we can reopen the closed passage and have the Margrave use the adjacent room…”

“I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to use the late king’s room,” Eirik interjected, shaking his head.

Miesa widened her eyes and asked, “Why not share this room together?”

“Then I will arrange for both of you to share this room and redecorate it accordingly,” Tilberg replied, moving on to the next matter.

While he organized his notes, Miesa gave an important order. “Also, promote Viscountess Manere to Chief Lady-in-Waiting.”

“Understood,” Tilberg replied, as Viscountess Manere, who had been standing to the side, bowed her head in gratitude. This much was expected by Tilberg, but the queen’s next words caught him off guard.

“Gella is also to be one of my ladies-in-waiting. By the way, where is Gella?” Miesa asked, looking around.

“Your Majesty, that person… Gella might not be entirely suitable for palace work due to her background,” Tilberg objected in a voice that seemed to squeeze out his frustration.

“Gella should be changing her head bandages,” Eirik said, ignoring Tilberg’s protest. Miesa wasn’t listening either; she seemed more focused on talking with the Margrave, discussing Gella’s head injury.

In the midst of this, an attendant approached and discreetly grabbed Tilberg’s elbow.

“What is it? I’m in the middle of reporting to Her Majesty.”

The attendant whispered with a troubled expression. Tilberg’s face changed from red to pale as he listened, and with a sense of resignation, he reported to the queen. “Your Majesty, there is also a request for an audience.”

“Other than those I mentioned yesterday?” Miesa inquired, raising an eyebrow.

Tilberg sighed deeply. “It’s Duke Salachez. In fact, he has been waiting for the past two hours.”

“My goodness,” Miesa murmured, while Eirik also sighed deeply, leaning close to her to whisper.

“The Duke may not be familiar with the customs and might not realize that permission is required for an audience.”

Miesa didn’t know that permission was needed for an audience either. However, she clicked her tongue as if she already knew and asked Tilberg, “Where is the Duke now?”

“He says he’s in the audience chamber, waiting for an audience,” Tilberg replied.

Eirik leaned in closer to Miesa and spoke in a low voice, “Typically, there is a waiting area. Persisting in the audience chamber without permission is grounds for punishment.”

Oh, I shouldn’t have nodded, Miesa thought, hesitating for a moment as Eirik continued whispering.

“Furthermore, the audience chamber has many eyes and ears, so it would be better to use the reception room,” he advised.

“All right, then. Lead the Duke to the reception room. Since he’s waited two hours, another hour won’t hurt,” Miesa decided, dismissing the attendant with the order.

After the attendant left, Miesa quickly listened to the reports from Tilberg and Viscountess Manere. Once urgent matters were somewhat settled, Miesa rose with a dissatisfied expression. “I was planning to browse through the gift boxes today.”

“If you meet the Duke, it will be time for lunch. Would you like to check them after that?” Eirik suggested.

“Where are the gifts?” Miesa asked, pondering his words with a dissatisfied face.

“They’re in the basement for now. There is one more thing to tell you,” Eirik added, leaning closer to Miesa and whispering softly.

“Mrs. Dialle is alive.”

“The Big?” Miesa exclaimed loudly, her eyes widening in surprise.

Eirik, realizing the whisper was unnecessary, explained slowly in his normal voice, “We received news that Mrs. Dialle’s execution was delayed at the time, but we were not informed of the exact date afterward.”

Mrs. Dialle was under investigation due to suspicions of involvement in the death of her husband, Viscount Dialle, three years ago.

“After the death of Mrs. Maleca, Your Majesty seemed quite unsettled, so we planned to inform you once it was confirmed. I apologize for the delay.”

“It’s fine, really. I’m just so happy to hear that Dialle is alive!” Miesa said, shaking her head at Eirik’s words.

Viscountess Manere, who only vaguely understood the situation, tried to hide her confusion. She wondered why Miesa seemed as delighted as if she had heard news of a missing family member being safe, despite Mrs. Dialle’s attempt to poison the queen.

“I’ll include Dialle as a gift,” Miesa declared, smiling brightly.

Including Mrs. Dialle among the gifts seemed ominous. On the morning of the first day, the queen also reportedly said they would accept Chief Lady-in-Waiting Namirea as a gift.

“That means the investigation must be concluded quickly,” Eirik commented, glancing at Captain Tilberg of the Royal Guards.

Tilberg nodded reluctantly, and Miesa urged him excitedly, “Tilberg, when can you conclude the investigation? Today? Tomorrow?”

“I’ll convey your message to expedite it as much as possible,” Tilberg assured.

“Good.” Miesa continued with a beaming smile. “Please move the gifts behind the queen’s office. You know where that is, right, Tilberg?”

The captain of the Royal Guards nodded reluctantly, his face contorted with displeasure.

Before heading to the reception room, Miesa listened to Eirik’s brief explanation about Duke Salachez. She had seen him only once at a banquet, where his fiery red hair and unusual attire left a strong impression.

“May the goddess’s glory and blessing be upon the highest,” Duke Salachez said as Miesa slowly sat down on the sofa, her gaze appraising him. Today, the duke appeared surprisingly neat.

“You played a significant role that night,” Miesa said, recalling what Eirik had told her. Knowing that he liked to be recognized, she thought a little praise would please him.

“No, I wouldn’t say it was significant. All I did was keep the Central Defense Force occupied while Your Majesty bestowed the marquisate on Lady Crispin,” he replied, modestly boasting about his achievements. Eirik, standing behind Miesa, smirked at the duke’s performance.

“So, what would you like as a reward?” Miesa asked.

“I would like the position of Chamberlain,” Duke Salachez answered without hesitation.

“Chamberlain?”

“Chamberlain?”

“Oh my.”

Miesa and Eirik both exclaimed, startled, and even Viscountess Manere, standing by the door, jumped in surprise.

“I have my reasons. Please hear me out,” Duke Salachez replied, calmly explaining.

“I don’t know if the Margrave mentioned it, but I had to hastily assume the position of head of my family. I lack connections with other families and am deficient in many areas.”

“If you lack so much, why should I make you Chamberlain?” Miesa asked purely out of curiosity. Her expressionless question might have sounded sharp, but Duke Salachez remained unfazed.

“I was going to explain why I want the position, but perhaps I should address why Your Majesty might find me useful instead?” he suggested with a sly smile.

“Who do you have around you now, Your Majesty? The Margrave, the Captain of the Royal Guards, and the lady standing at the door there. Hello! Your name?” he continued, turning his attention to Viscountess Manere.

“…I’m Kayla of House Manere,” she replied hesitantly. Duke Salachez turned back to face forward.

“Besides Viscountess Manere, there’s probably also Marquise Crispin. Aren’t they all quite boring?”

“They’re interesting. The Margrave and Viscountess Manere too,” Miesa replied firmly, finding the energetic duke both intriguing and unusual but feeling the need to correct him. Duke Salachez looked at Eirik incredulously.

“Interesting, you say, the Margrave?” he repeated, bewildered, before quickly regaining his composure.

“…Well, I’m good at clever tricks,” he said.

“I don’t need shallow tricks.”

“I can also employ deep strategies,” Duke Salachez replied with a relaxed smile, leaving Miesa slightly irritated by his evasive remarks. Unaccustomed to verbal sparring, she found dealing with such a person uncomfortable.

As she stared at him blankly, Duke Salachez leaned forward and played his trump card. “Keep me around for three days, Your Majesty, and you’ll see I’m more useful than you think.”

“Three days?” Miesa echoed.

“Yes. And if I’m not to your liking after that, I’ll step down gracefully.”

Miesa turned to Eirik, seeking his input, but he simply waited for her decision. “He’s Your Majesty’s man, so you should decide,” he said.

I see. Indeed, Viscountess Manere had become the first to be her own by chance. Miesa pondered briefly before asking Duke Salachez again, “…Alright. Why do you want to become Chamberlain?”

“The nobility doesn’t treat me as a person, so I have no opportunity to know who is who. That’s why I desperately want the Chamberlain position, to meet various people while accompanying Your Majesty. I’m not confident in handling documents like a counselor,” Duke Salachez admitted.