How dare she try to subtly act as head maid and have her close associates and friends greet first as she pleased.
Those who greeted the Grand Duchess first had an advantage. The later one went, the more perfunctory the recipient’s response would become.
No matter how little will she had, she didn’t want to just let such a weak attempt slide.
If Yolnes Pare were to roll her eyes and laugh at her again, she’d have her hanged on the execution stand just the same. Kaela, freshly angered by her past experiences of being disregarded, opened her eyes wide and spoke firmly.
The response was only silence. The large-bodied Yolnes Pare hesitated at the Grand Duchess’s strong rebuke, looking around uncertainly. Having tried to casually brush it off but caught off guard, she couldn’t immediately speak.
Good. Having confirmed that she held the initiative, Kaela immediately shifted her gaze from Yolnes Pare to the opposite side, pointing to where people distant from the Pare family were gathered.
“There, let’s start introductions from that side. Yes, you at the very end.”
The plain-looking lady sitting quietly against the wall was startled when singled out. She seemed naturally timid, hesitating as she looked around at others.
“Come on,” Kaela urged.
No matter how much she had been disregarded, Kaela was still the Grand Duchess who maintained her dignity and never lost her authority to the end.
She was well-practiced in speaking clearly and distinctly with her shoulders back and chin slightly tucked. This time too, her short, strong prompt made the indicated lady hurry forward and bow.
“It-It’s an honor to meet you, Your Highness.”
Though her voice trembled and was soft at first, she quickly regained her composure.
“I am Fabiola, wife of Knight Alfred Sirenster. Congratulations on your marriage, and welcome to Lusenford.”
The greeting started by the first person is usually followed by others. Kaela received congratulations on her marriage and welcomes to Lusenford from each of the ladies she already knew.
The women from the Pare, Rulmon, and Duncaster families, who had held tight control over Lusenford until five nobles were executed recently, behaved exceptionally courteously to the Grand Duchess. They bowed deeper and even said they were “overjoyed” that the Grand Duchess had come.
‘Words they don’t mean at all.’
Kaela knew these words were all blatant lies. These were the very families who had despised her polite words during her initial days as Grand Duchess and had led the way in disregarding her, following the Grand Duke’s example.
They must have played a significant role in slandering her and having her confined. This time, she’d die before letting that happen again. Not being victimized was too positive and dreamlike a goal for her to hold.
“I am Merma, wife of Knight Hugo Ferweding. I’m truly glad and happy that Your Highness has recovered your health. I pray that you will only have joyful experiences in Lusenford from now on.”
Of course, there were those who spoke so boldly, judging this to be an opportunity.
The already tense atmosphere froze, and members of the families of those recently executed, including Yolnes Pare, as well as members of the Windgood family related to the former head maid Doris, immediately glared at Merma Ferweding.
Come to think of it, Sir Hugo Ferweding had a very brave and upright character. Couples tend to resemble each other. Or perhaps Merma Ferweding had hidden ambitions.
In any case, everyone knew that this gathering was both the Grand Duchess’s first public appearance after her recovery and an opportunity to scout for a replacement for the banished Doris Windgood as head maid.
“Thank you,” Kaela said.
So, unlike her previous nods in response to greetings, Kaela replied for the first time. The fact that the unsmiling Grand Duchess had responded was significant enough. The Grand Duchess would thoroughly exclude those who had hurt her.
****
Why did she remember the first day of performing her duties as Grand Duchess? It was an unremarkable day. On the surface, everything seemed fine, and Kaela had felt proud of herself for doing a proper job. It was a day when even the maids had rejoiced with her.
Today, rather than joyful, she felt indifferent. The ladies greeted the Grand Duchess, enjoyed the refreshments she provided, and then left.
In the past, she had put effort even into the refreshments, naively thinking that introducing elements from Ostein or Crania would intrigue the ladies, but this time Kaela paid no attention to the refreshments.
Every time she faced them, their words, expressions, and gazes from the past – which no longer existed in reality – came alive and stabbed at Kaela. She didn’t want to attach meaning or put effort into what went into the mouths of such people. It wasn’t worth it.
“Are you feeling good, Your Highness?”
Denise, the maid following her, asked with a bright smile. Feeling good?
“We’re feeling very good too. It was so satisfying to see them bowing their heads and not daring to make a peep in front of our Grand Duchess.”
“Lower your voice, Denise. Someone might hear,” Cecile admonished, glancing at the Lusenford knights Peon had assigned to Kaela, but a smile played on her lips too.
“So what if they hear? It’s about time proper order was established. How dare they behave so… so barbarically in front of our Grand Duchess? I felt so relieved today.”
It was all true. But was it okay to say such things so openly? Kaela’s heart sank momentarily, and she was about to restrain Denise.
“I’m just glad our Grand Duchess’s expression brightened a bit and she even smiled a little.”
Smiled? Kaela unconsciously touched her lips. That couldn’t be right. Just then, the chattering maids, including Denise, looked behind Kaela’s back, startled, and hurriedly stepped back. What was going on?
“Are you just returning now?”
The knights escorting Kaela stood at attention and bowed their heads, as did the knights escorting Peon, all bowing to Kaela.
The tall Grand Duke was already standing three steps away. When had he approached? Kaela, her eyes wide with surprise, barely managed to answer.
“Yes.”
“How was it?”
“Oh, nothing special happened.”
“No, not that.”
Peon, who had placed his confidants around Kaela to be his eyes and ears, wasn’t curious about what had happened.
“Please tell me how you felt there, what you were thinking.”
“It was fine—”
“Don’t say it was fine.”
Peon smiled kindly, though with a slight frown. Somehow, he seemed to be making an effort to smile.
“Don’t use that word. Use a different one.”
But it really was fine. She hadn’t felt irritated or hurt in her pride, and there were no strange people looking down on her or picking fights.
Rather, as Denise had said, seeing them maintain their manners without daring to make a sound was quite fine and made her feel good.
Kaela hesitated.
‘Feel good?’
Yes. To be precise, it was satisfying, gratifying, and relieving. That’s why it felt good.
Absurdly, there was something in Lusenford that made her feel good.
