Beneath the Surviving Princess's Joyful Facade - Chapter 116

Sometimes laughing out loud, sometimes pondering deeply, Miesa finally succumbed to temptation. “Yes, with just one or two, it might be different, but there are five of them.”

“Pardon?” Tilberg asked.

“I’ve changed my mind. There’s no rule saying I can only observe today,” Miesa declared.

As Tilberg was about to question her, Miesa spoke in a deliberately cautious tone, considering each one. “In fact, if you think about it, Carlisle has only been allied with Vermel for four or five years. Maleca’s crime is relatively small since all he did was capture people.”

“……?”

“But Count Sellas is the one who set up a slaughterhouse in the Central Palace and led the way in tormenting and killing those trying to help me, even those I didn’t know, by all means possible. Chief Lady-in-Waiting Namirea fed me sedatives and whatnot, and Dialle followed me to the Cladnier estate, harassing me daily. So shouldn’t they be punished more severely than those two?”

Tilberg swallowed hard, suppressing his desire to argue that none of their crimes could be easily weighed against each other. He had no right to set the standards for judgment. Tilberg himself had once actively defended Miesa from Vermel, but as the violence continued, he felt powerless and eventually became a passive observer.

“Take Sellas and Namirea out of their boxes and place them next to Dialle. I hate these three the most.”

Tilberg quietly obeyed the firm command. As Count Sellas and Chief Lady-in-Waiting Namirea were dragged out of their boxes, Cullen stood aside, watching everything.

Having grown up on the battlefield after joining the Cladnier family’s knighthood, Cullen had seen many deaths. Yet in this short time, he repeatedly doubted his eyes and ears.

He had always suspected that Margravine, now queen, had lived a difficult life, but he couldn’t believe the unimaginable contempt and abuse she had endured as the youngest daughter of the royal family.

The queen spoke lightly about the crimes of the two remaining in the boxes, despite their enormity. What could their heinous acts possibly be if those of the three before her were considered worse?

Though Cullen didn’t know what greater punishment awaited those three, he clenched his fists in anger. Yet Miesa’s attention shifted to those whose crimes she deemed lighter.

“Well, we should show a little consideration to Carlisle and Maleca, whose wrongdoings aren’t as great.”

With a gentle smile, Miesa walked back to the boxes. “The boxes are large, aren’t they? They might get lonely and need some friends to keep them company.”

Her smile grew as she looked at Carlisle and Maleca in turn. “Carlisle called me a rat, and Maleca called me a maggot…”

The room grew quieter still, not even a breath to be heard, only Miesa’s voice softly echoing.

“Put some friends in the boxes with Carlisle and Maleca. Healthy, lively ones. Lots of them.”

***

Eirik was teaching Duke Salachez and Gella the royal court’s etiquette in one of the guest rooms.

“Now, after Her Majesty finishes her meal, the Chamberlain brings tea and a towel.”

“I don’t know how to brew tea, though,” Duke Salachez said, scratching the back of his head.

“You only need to deliver it, Duke. The ladies-in-waiting will prepare the tea and towel,” Eirik explained.

“Oh, so I’ll be the one making the tea?” Gella asked nervously. The road ahead seemed long, and Eirik sighed, clarifying, “Are you the only lady-in-waiting? Leave it to someone else and get used to the other tasks first.”

Meanwhile, Miesa had gone to the office before lunch and had yet to return. As Eirik worriedly gazed at the setting sun outside the window, he heard the door open and saw Miesa peeking in.

“Are you finished now?”

Eirik stood up eagerly, and Duke Salachez and Gella, following what they had learned over the past half-day, stood politely with their hands clasped. Normally, a commoner and a duke would not stand side by side, but they managed to pose together like a lady-in-waiting and chamberlain.

Eirik, more relieved than satisfied, checked their posture and turned to Miesa. “You skipped lunch. I didn’t expect it to take this long.”

“Oh, I’ll eat now. I’m hungry,” Miesa said with a bashful smile, extending a hand, which Eirik took with a plea.

“Please try to eat on time.”

“Did you wait long? What were you doing?” Miesa asked.

“I was teaching Duke Salachez and Gella the basics of royal etiquette,” Eirik replied.

“I see,” Miesa responded, looking quite pleased. However, the faces of Tilberg and Cullen behind her were a stark contrast, showing signs of distress.

Eirik was concerned by the pale faces of the sturdy knights and the absence of Viscountess Manere, who had seemingly disappeared. “Did you send Viscountess Manere on a task? She didn’t accompany you to the office, did she?”

“She did come with me, but she felt unwell and asked to leave early.”

As expected. Eirik hesitated but didn’t ask what had happened in the office to leave those who accompanied her in such a state.

“I understand. Where would you like to have your meal?”

“Where should I? You decide,” Miesa suggested.

“…I’d prefer if we returned to your room,” Eirik admitted, feeling a bit drained after teaching two people who didn’t even know the basics of noble etiquette. He would have rather marched for days than try to instruct the lazy Duke Salachez for half a day.

Though his patience was exceptional, Duke Salachez’s ceaseless chatter surpassed it. Compared to his cousin, Emmerich, who Eirik found talkative, Salachez was in a league of his own.

“Alright, let’s have dinner and rest tonight,” Miesa said, sensing Eirik’s exhaustion and pulling him by the hand.

As they prepared to leave, Gella and Duke Salachez naturally followed. Miesa stopped and complained, “You don’t need to come, Duke. Why would you if we’re not meeting other nobles?”

“But haven’t we already wasted a precious day of the three you granted me?” Duke Salachez protested.

“You’re not ready to follow me around yet. Finish reading that book, and we’ll talk again. It should be done by tomorrow afternoon.”

With that, Miesa led Eirik back to her room.

Left behind, Duke Salachez looked dejected. Half the thick book still remained, and he wouldn’t be able to speak to the queen until he finished it. It was as if she had told him not to talk to her for the rest of his time there.

Returning to the room previously used by the late king’s consort, Miesa and Eirik immediately sat at the table. The attendants and ladies-in-waiting, who had been waiting for the royal couple, busily brought in the meal.

Cullen, staring blankly at the table with a forlorn expression, clamped his hand over his mouth and fled when the dish covers were lifted. The glossy brown sauce-coated dish of round, elongated dumplings reminded him of worms.

Eirik pretended not to notice Cullen’s departure and focused solely on Miesa’s cheerful chatter.

“I plan to meet Anika tomorrow.”

“Anika?”

Eirik paused to recall the exotic name, certain it belonged to someone from the Principality of Sidate.

“Are you referring to Vermel’s mistress?”

“That’s right. She’s such an insufferable person,” Miesa replied, her face contorted with disdain.

“Understood,” Eirik said soothingly. “But please be sure to eat before meeting her tomorrow.”

“Okay. But I’ll be seeing Anika in the central hall, not the office.”

Is it really okay to use the central hall, where so many people have died? As Eirik hesitated, Miesa continued as if it were no big deal.

“There are a lot of things I want to ask and hear from Anika, and we can’t have a proper conversation in the office right now.”

“Oh…”

Eirik decided not to question the reasoning behind it. In the meantime, Miesa continued speaking.

“But I dislike the reception room. Anika isn’t even my guest.”

“I see.”

Meanwhile, Gella was busy moving around, helping with the meal service. She was trying her best to be helpful, but it was clear she was still inexperienced. The other ladies-in-waiting assisting with the meal whispered to Gella in a tone of slight exasperation.

“Lady Gella, the soup bowls should be placed over there.”

“Lady Gella, I can’t serve Her Majesty if you’re standing in front of me.”

The whispers, which started softly, gradually grew louder, even accompanied by exasperated sighs.

“Lady Gella, perhaps you should handle separating the rib bones from the veal roast.”

“That’s not how you remove the bones… Lady Gella, just let me handle it.”

“Lady Gella, could you please stay still over here?”

The ladies-in-waiting’s whispers were loud enough for Miesa to hear. Her expression changed at the sight of Gella flustered and struggling.

“What’s going on here?”

“It’s nothing, Your Majesty,” the young lady-in-waiting replied, clasping their hands politely.

“We were just explaining to Lady Gella, as she seems unfamiliar with serving.”

Eirik sensed something odd about their behavior. As commoners, there was no reason for them to use honorifics like “Lady” for Gella, who was a commoner herself.