Estribal’s expression hardened like ice. Ciello took a deep breath.
Ciello had also been pushing a small trolley around the banquet hall for quite some time, and thanks to that, she knew what was happening on the balcony.
20% of the people were those who were tired of the festival’s heat and sought refuge, 30% were those who were plotting political conspiracies and schemes. The remaining 50% were those who were enjoying the festival with their whole body. Some deliberately spilled alcohol to get Ciello to come to them, suggesting she become a spy, or go out to the balcony. There was even a persistent noble who clung to her.
“Your Majesty. I am grateful for your grace, but isn’t today more important than any other day? I worry that my humble impulses may become a burden to your future.”
Estribal calmly declined. However, the emperor shrugged his shoulders.
“It’s because it’s a day like today that we should enjoy. You. Sit here.”
The emperor patted the spot next to him. Ciello hesitated. How could he quickly end this situation without offending the emperor? Estribal’s mind was spinning.
“Your Majesty.”
“Why, is it not to your taste?”
The Emperor’s interest must be diverted elsewhere. Estribal, hiding his tension, naturally opened his mouth.
“Don’t you know? I have…”
Estribal trailed off his sentence like bait, and his trick hit the mark.
“You, don’t tell me…you’re still hung up on that girl?”
Estribal confirmed with silence. The Emperor clapped his hands and chuckled.
“I didn’t know that! My goodness, you should have brought her to the founding ceremony! What does she look like? I’m so curious I could jump!”
To the Emperor, Ciello’s existence had long been put to the backburner. Estribal sighed in relief internally and spoke in a way that would please the Emperor.
“If I were to fall for her, wouldn’t I be meaninglessly drinking a huge amount of water?” (TL: This phrase is used mainly when someone makes a pointless amount of effort trying to achieve something that is impossible or impractical.)
At his words, the Emperor seemed satisfied, laughing and brushing up his shining golden hair.
“That’s right, I thoughtfully made her the Empress. She gave birth to such a good body. Even I think my previous body was…”
Estribal winked at the right time, and Ciello quickly got up and quietly filled the teacup without attracting attention.
“Speaking of which, that crippled woman. I can’t understand why she walks around with her head held high when her string must have snapped.”
“Sometimes, even a chicken with its neck cut off walks around.”
“Pfft! That’s funny. It would be fun to see it in person.”
The Emperor, while laughing frivolously, drank tea with an elegant hand gesture that was second to none. Estribal catered to his taste with a few words, then discreetly pulled out a pocket watch from his pocket and said,
“Your Majesty. It’s 13:42. It will soon be 14:00.”
Ciello swallowed her saliva. The reason Estribal specifically mentioned the exact time was likely for Ciello’s convenience.
“Alright, then get up. The palace magicians are so picky that if you’re even a little late, they’ll make a fuss…”
The Emperor, seeming annoyed, got up from his seat and went out to the balcony. Estribal turned his head and locked eyes with Ciello.
As if he had been in the shade and saw the sun for the first time in a long time, his golden eyes stung above Ciello’s gray pupils. Ciello couldn’t bear the light and quietly bowed her head. Estribal looked down at Ciello like that, then turned his body without a word and went out to the balcony.
“Sigh…”
Ciello slumped down on the long chair as if collapsing. She thought it wouldn’t be too hard since she wasn’t a real maid, but she was twice as tired because she had to play the role of both a maid and a spy.
The nobles attending the party ate and drank without rest. Why were there so many cases of spilling drinks or dropping them on the floor? In the meantime, she wanted to just break the wrists of the nobles who were throwing flattery at her. Should she hit just once and turn back time? Ciello seriously considered it for a moment.
Anyway, Ciello wasn’t a fool, so she tactfully dodged here and there, pricked up her ears, and picked up the information coming from around her. At this rate, things were going pretty well.
“Crazy bastard…”
But she never imagined the Emperor would spout such nonsense. The sight of Estribal trying to protect Ciello while catering to the Emperor’s whims disturbed her heart.
Ciello bit her lip hard. A sense of hostility towards the Emperor surged in her heart. Perhaps this was one of the reasons why Estribal didn’t want to bring her to the banquet hall. As she thought about it, a self-mocking sigh escaped from Ciello’s mouth.
“Sigh…I wonder when I’ll stop being stupid.”
Ciello hit the teacup and teapot rolling on the banquet hall trolley, then shrugged her shoulders.
“I’m stupid, but what can I do. I have to go.”
Ciello pushed the trolley and left the balcony to escape the grand banquet hall. The corridor was also decorated with flowers and ribbons everywhere.
“It’s really pretty…”
Ciello muttered in admiration. Of course, having to clean and polish these pretty things all day long made her a bit tired.
“Next time, I wish I could come gloriously as the princess said.”
Ciello entered the back room where the maids kept their odds and ends. It would have been troublesome if someone was there, but luckily, there was no one inside.
Ciello, following what she had learned in advance from the maids who sided with the princess, placed the lavishly decorated banquet hall trolley on one side and took out the trolley filled with cleaning supplies from the other side.
Once again, Ciello checked her surroundings, quickly took out scissors, roughly cut off the long brown wig she was wearing, and put it in the small trash can on the trolley. Then, Ciello smeared soot under her eyes and on her apron and checked her reflection in the window.
“Good. That’s enough.”
Ciello nodded her head. At this rate, she would look like a shabby maid cleaning in the corner, not a pretty maid serving in the grand banquet hall. Ciello pushed the cleaning supply trolley and moved towards the storage room where the verification was in progress.
–Eagle’s Eye…confirmed.
A mysterious voice of a magician seeped out from inside the room.
‘Here it is.’
Ciello stopped and checked her surroundings. Fortunately, the area around the room was quiet. Most of the nobles participating in this ritual attended not for the verification itself, but to catch the Emperor’s eye. So, it seemed that there were no watchers around them.
“That’s the main balcony.”
Ciello muttered as she looked out at the balcony. The room was close to the main balcony where the ‘Path of Hunting’ would open. It was for moving the statue right before the event after the verification. If she was in a hurry, she could jump off this balcony and run away.
–Perus, Cano, Turisaz.
While Ciello was looking around, the verification proceeded. An unknown spell along with light seeped out from the gap in the door, and it gradually subsided.
–In the name of the Eagle, I declare this piece to be genuine.
Applause and words of blessing towards the Emperor followed. After a while, the door opened, and the nobles, including Estribal, the magician, and the Emperor, came out of the room. Ciello casually turned her back and pretended to dust a picture frame. The Emperor looked pleased.
“Then let’s go to the banquet hall. I’ll pour each of you a drink.”
“Thank you for your immense grace.”
Everyone disappeared into the grand banquet hall. Ciello quickly checked the time. 14:36.
Since she had become a maid, there was no need to climb the wall. Now, she just needed to hide nearby, wait for the Emperor and Estribal to bring the counterfeit, and then turn back time to this moment.
“It’s nothing.”
If it stayed like this, there would be no worries. But for some reason, Estribal and the Emperor, who should have returned immediately, were nowhere to be seen.
“Something’s strange…”
Ciello frowned. The Emperor, in a good mood, had plenty of time left even after pouring drinks for all the major nobles. Estribal must also know that she was hiding here. Then, he would have brought the Emperor and switched to the counterfeit. If there was a change in the plan, he would have come alone and given her some hint.
“…Something definitely happened.”
As more time passed, Ciello bit her lip anxiously. She couldn’t just wait like this. Taking a deep breath, Ciello started to move towards the corridor where the Emperor and the nobles had gone down.
“Ah, where on earth are they…”
As Ciello was pushing the trolley around here and there, he saw a group of nobles huddled together.
“They’re talking to Duke Trepe again, aren’t they?”
Ciello held her breath and pretended to tidy up the shelves while eavesdropping on their conversation.
“That’s right. I saw them go into that corner room earlier.”
“Really, the Emperor, why is he so fond of such a rascal…”
Ciello pushed the trolley as calmly but quickly as possible, and walked briskly against the wall to avoid attracting attention. The Emperor’s voice was heard from the corner room.
‘Here it is.’
Ciello quietly entered the next room and pressed her ear against the wall.
“How can we trust the fake made by those Peregrine bastards?”
“Your Majesty, only a Peregrine native can perfectly reproduce that statue. That’s why we didn’t even ask for your permission in advance.”
Estribal’s voice was as calm as ever, but it was slightly shaking. Ciello bit her lip anxiously. But the Emperor was relaxed.
“Hmm, is that so?”
‘Why is he being capricious all of a sudden!’
Ciello screamed silently, stomping her feet.
“Yes, don’t worry and see for yourself.”
“Well…”
The Emperor trailed off his words with a hum. It was a pointless quibble to anyone who heard it. Ciello pounded her chest. The Emperor’s voice was heard again.
“Well, since it’s a command given by a fellow Peregrine, they must have made it properly.”
Ciello, who had been jumping up and down in frustration, froze in place.
‘The same…Peregrine? The words the Emperor just said to the Duke…’
Ciello’s eyes wavered. But without time to worry, the Emperor’s words continued.
“So, I need to test your loyalty once more.”
The Emperor sounded pleased, and the sound of him snapping his fingers was heard.
“Kill the princess. It’s an order.”
