From the drawing room inside Rosemary Palace, Jestina looked down at the maid Ran had brought.
The maid lay flat on the floor.
“Raise your head.”
“Yes, Lady Jestina.”
When the maid looked up, Jestina looked into her eyes and laughed.
Her eyes were full of greed.
She liked it.
“I heard you attend to Priscilla’s bath?”
“That’s right.”
“What’s your name?”
“It’s Mary.”
It was a common name. Common names were usually given by people of humble status.
“If you do as I say, I will let you live without worrying about money.”
Mary’s eyes changed at the words.
“If you ask me to do anything, I’ll do it.”
“All right, I like it.”
Jestina beckoned Ran.
Then Ran took out a small bottle.
Mary carefully picked up the bottle.
“Every time you wash Priscilla’s hair, put it on her hair. That’s all you have to do.”
“Then Priscilla…”
“Don’t worry, she won’t die. I’m not that stupid.”
Mary patted her heart when she said she wouldn’t die.
“She’ll just get a little ugly.”
“She’ll get ugly?”
“You don’t have to know that much. All you have to do is do what you’re told to do.”
“Yes, Lady Jestina.”
“Go away now.”
When Mary went out, Jestina smiled coldly. The mere thought of it made her laugh.
“Will His Majesty embrace you even if you become ugly? I’m looking forward to it.”
Jestina beckoned Ran.
“Bring me wine from the kingdom. I want to drink it today.”
“Yes.”
As Ran went out to pick up the wine, Jestina lay slanted on the sofa, humming.
Then, as if waiting, the maids approached and rubbed her arms and legs.
~~~~
The next morning, Priscilla finished breakfast and looked at the book that Rien had brought.
“Why are there so many plant encyclopedias?”
Rien brought not one but ten plant encyclopedias.
“I also picked this up with the help of a librarian and brought it.”
“So, are there more?”
“Yes, I think there are more than 100 plant encyclopedias.”
“You mean the palace library is that big?”
“Of course, all the books of the Empire are there, so it’s needless to say the scale.”
Priscilla looked at Rien with envy.
“I envy you. Rien is free to roam the palace.”
“You envy everything. Have some tea. It’s going to get cold.”
Priscilla took a sip of Rien’s fruit tea and opened the book.
When she opened the book, she found pictures and explanations of plants.
“When am I going to finish this book? I wish I could keep it.”
Priscilla looked at the book for hours, blinding her eyes.
“Oh, my eyes hurt.”
She was digging through so many books that her eyes were about to fall out.
Priscilla closed the book for a moment and stretched it.
“Oh, my shoulders are stiff because I’ve been sitting in one position for a long time.”
For a moment, after stretching, Priscilla opened the book again after drinking tea.
With the determination to drink coffee, she roughly ate a sandwich for lunch.
And then a few hours passed again.
“Phew, I’ve seen five books, but they don’t have them.”
She looked at the five books that Rien had brought, but she didn’t find anything.
Then Rien came in with a knock.
“Lady Priscilla, please eat.”
She guessed it was already dinnertime.
“I’ll stop here for today.”
Priscilla rose from her seat, left the study, and had dinner.
And she went for a walk in the evening.
It was to go see Heidi the cat.
Heidi was still taken care of by Eren at the stone wall.
Eren was feeding Heidi.
“Here you are, sister.”
“I was eating.”
Heidi ate the rice in the bowl and meowed as if to greet Priscilla.
“Enjoy your meal.”
Priscilla patted Heidi on the head.
“Sister seems to like Heidi more than me.”
“Of course.”
“You’re not sorry?”
There was nothing to be sorry about.
Eren was destined to be an unrequited crush in the future, so she felt sorry for him and let her act as her younger brother.
“Sister.”
“What*?”
*TN: Uses 왜 here which translates into why which is common in Korea to ask for the reason for something
“I think I have to go somewhere for a while.”
“Where?”
“I’m running errands for brother.”
“What did His Majesty make you do?”
“Uh, so I have to leave the imperial palace. Sister, please take care of Heidi for me.”
“You make it sound so difficult. Don’t worry and go.”
“Thank you.”
Patter, patter.
It suddenly rained.
“What?”
Priscilla quickly held Heidi in her arms.
Then Eren took off his outer garment and put it on Priscilla’s head.
“Suddenly it’s raining.”
“Yeah. I’ll have to avoid it.”
“Is there anywhere to escape? I can’t take sister over the stone wall.”
“Let’s go for now.”
Thanks for the translation!
You should not feed cats rice. They are obligate carnivores.