Oh, right, she mentioned her fiancé had died.
Even though several years have passed, it is still a sad story, so I hesitated to speak. However, Cynthia remained bright and cheerful, even while discussing the unpleasant parts.
“But a few days ago, my father told me to leave the house if I wasn’t going to get married.”
“Oh my god.”
“So… if I can become your aide, can I stay in that dormitory too?”
Cynthia’s eyes were filled with determination. It was the strong gaze of someone who had resolved to live their life on their own terms. I liked that very much.
“Why wouldn’t it be possible? Of course it’s okay, but you will be living with commoners and serfs.”
“I’m in a situation where I have nowhere to go anyway. What does it matter?”
“You won’t be able to receive any service…”
“I may be an aristocrat and educated, but my patriarchal father doesn’t allow me to work, so it’s useless. Those people who are working hard on their own are actually better off.”
Cynthia was certainly an enlightened noblewoman. This wasn’t a decision that could have been made easily.
“I’m going to leave the house.”
“Cynthia… … .”
“And like Her Highness the Archduchess, I’m going to live my own life.”
Cynthia’s expression was determined. I always thought she was kind and gentle, but she has changed a little. In a very positive and progressive direction.
“That’s right. I’m also going to prepare to publish my novel while writing short stories.”
Raziana encouraged Cynthia and told her of her plan.
“I’m going to write, and if I meet a man I get along with, I’ll have a sweet romance!”
“That’s right. If I find someone truly suitable, I’ll marry him; otherwise, I won’t. What’s wrong with living a single life? My aunt didn’t get married either.”
There was another person ahead of their time.
I brought Cynthia and Raziana’s hands together and squeezed them.
“It’s a really good idea, a wonderful idea.”
“A lot of thoughts came to me as I watched Your Highness, the Archduchess, accomplish everything with ease.”
“Me too. We only have one life, and I don’t want to die without being able to do what I want to do.”
Cynthia and Raziana smiled simultaneously. My friends, lady-in-waitings, and even aide. I felt like my fortune with people was bursting forth like fanfare.
* * *
The next day.
Lacius was still busy and went out early in the morning, and I was also having an early breakfast when I opened the newspaper.
“Pffff!”
I spat out the coffee I was drinking all over the newspaper.
“Keug, cough!!”
“Are you alright?”
“T-Theo, back! T-Tap me on the back.”
Keugh, ugh.
Theobalt patted my back anxiously, but my condition did not get any better.
“Is there a problem?”
In response to Theobalt’s question, I wordlessly held out the newspaper.
On the front page. In the most visible spot. Theobalt read the article.
“The first painting wizard guild is formed! Titania Oberon appointed as Guild Master…?”
Ah, princess-unnie!
* * *
The rumor that I had decided to become the ‘guild master’ of ‘painting wizards’ spread terrifyingly faster than a wildfire.
A few days after that, I was in my private office, made by combining two rooms in the mansion, wracking my brains.
“… … Well, in anticipation of you meeting me, I have prepared a small gift—this is basically saying, ‘I’m giving you a bribe; just open your mouth!’ right?”
In front of me, Cynthia, who had become my assistant, was reading in a sonorous voice what she called ‘letters that cannot be ignored.’ Because everything sent by people who can be ignored has already become kindling. All of the letters Cynthia was reading now were written by people living in aristocratic society.
“I can’t believe that the Marquess of Welken, known for his stinginess, would act like this. The painting wizard must be quite impressive.”
Cynthia neatly folded the long, snake-like letter and placed it in front of me. I looked at it with a complicated expression and shook my head once to the right and once to the left.
Shaking.
“Okay, then I’ll use it as kindling, and I guess I won’t need to write a reply!”
“Yes, I just read it. Next.”
“Okay, I’ll read the next one.”
Cynthia was indeed an orthodox noble. As soon as she took over the duties of an aide, she went through the documents on her own and rearranged the ledgers to make them easier for me to read. She even offered to take care of all the gifts and letters that came my way, picking out the ones to send back. This saved me a lot of time and allowed me to know who sent what.
“Oh, this is from Count Sofeil.”
“Who is that?”
“The editor-in-chief of the famous women’s monthly magazine <Terran Ladies>. They have introduced many handsome men so far, including the Archduke of Schweiden.”
I see, she’s one of the people who tormented Lacius in the past.
I twitched my lips and tried to spit out a refusal right away. But Cynthia was half a beat faster.
“But recently, their content has changed a bit.”
How much could it have changed? However, Cynthia’s cautious words made me swallow my sarcastic remark.
“My aunt used to have a section in <Terran Ladies> where she would share her delicious cake recipes, so I used to subscribe to it, but… It is definitely different now than it was then.”
“How so?”
“I can’t put my finger on it, but it’s become more progressive.”
Since I had never read it, I couldn’t know. Cynthia opened the letter, cleared her throat, and began to read.
“CEO of the dress brand ‘Titania’. CEO of comfortable underwear brand ‘Oberon’. Owner of a gambling house in the maritime resort city of Makarten. Owner of the Shay Island. Architect and owner of the first amusement park. And finally, the Guildmistress of the Painting Wizards Guild, Titania Oberon, I respectfully request an interview.”
… … It’s long.
Although Cynthia would have omitted all the unnecessary greetings on her own, the content was still long.
“I believe that the labor standards set forth in your establishment should be the standard for many more establishments in the future.”
“Right.”
“We feel that you can serve as an example to many more young people and would like you to be the cover model for our monthly magazine….”
“… Model for what?”
“The cover! They want to feature your vision on the cover!”
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