“Then what about Sir Silenster?”
Kaela asked Sir Renard about various people while having him seated. Sir Renard was impressed that the Grand Duchess, who hadn’t been in Lusenford for long, remembered so many names after meeting the noblewomen just once.
“He’s a man of integrity. A true knight among knights. He’s highly respected. However, he dislikes putting himself forward and abhors flattery, so his promotions are slow.”
Peon looked at Sir Renard as if hearing this for the first time. Indeed, those at the very top are bound to be unaware of some things.
“That’s why I’m asking you. Is his wife the same?”
“Ah, I believe they married for love. Sir Ferweding’s was a political marriage between families. Sir Silenster, though he doesn’t show it openly, is deeply in love with his wife. He always returns home quickly and never stays out drinking with the other knights. That’s another reason why his promotions are slow, but he doesn’t mind.”
“Promotions are slow if one doesn’t stay for drinks after work?”
Peon reacted sharply. Such things shouldn’t happen in Lusenford. With so many immediate enemies, it was skill, not socializing, that should determine who gets promoted.
“Your Highness, you know how powerful recommendations can be. Of course, in Lusenford, recommendations are entirely different and must be proven by ability, but still, to quickly get close to Your Highness, one needs to socialize a bit.”
Peon, who had been keeping an eye on Silenster but hadn’t thought much of it, put his hand to his forehead.
Kaela understood why he was frowning, despite his usually expressionless face. Sir Renard also fell silent when Kaela stopped urging him to say more while looking at him.
What should she do? She knew it was best not to interfere with Peon’s affairs.
And he had never allowed her to interfere. It would be overstepping. But there were many watching eyes here, and Peon’s face was set in a very serious expression. He looked almost pained.
“Your Highness. Lusenford is a large and vast palace.”
Kaela reluctantly spoke up.
“It’s impossible for Your Highness, who has so much to oversee, to perfectly grasp everything.”
“But I must.”
His words were full of self-reproach. Although it’s common for a Grand Duke to overlook talented individuals among his subordinates, he was deeply troubled by it.
It felt like all the mistakes he had made before regressing, the cause of everything heading towards catastrophe.
“In this world, many talented individuals disappear without ever shining. Is that all Your Highness’s fault? Of course not. Shouldn’t you be happy that you’ve discovered a new talent this time?”
The Grand Duchess’s calm words were absolutely right.
“Don’t grieve for the people you lose without knowing, but rejoice in the one person you’ve come to know.”
Peon raised his head and looked at Kaela sitting across from him. She was gazing straight at him with her hands folded neatly on her lap.
Her honest, unadorned gaze never avoided his. Even if he were to draw his sword and point it at her now, she wouldn’t avert her eyes. Her noble and unblemished attitude was admirable.
“That person will surely bring more talented individuals to Your Highness.”
“The Grand Duchess’s words are correct.”
Peon nodded quietly. Kaela turned to Sir Renard.
“Tell me more about Sir Silenster’s wife.”
“I don’t know much about the affairs of the noblewomen, but…”
“Just tell me what you know.”
“From what I’ve seen, she’s a quiet person. Opinions about her are somewhat divided. Some ladies say she’s proper and kind, while others say she’s haughty and unapproachable.”
Kaela stared at Sir Renard. The maids did the same, as did Peon.
“Why… why are you looking at me like that?”
“You said you didn’t know much, but you seem to know quite a lot.”
Peon’s words made the maids nod in agreement.
“Anyone who pays a little attention to the ladies’ conversations can know this much.”
“No, most men don’t know at all.”
“That’s because they don’t try to listen.”
Sir Renard felt very wronged. He just had too many stories he wanted to hear!
“Then you must know this too. What kind of ladies praise Sir Silenster’s wife as proper and kind, and what kind of ladies call her haughty?”
After thinking for a moment, Sir Renard answered with a slightly surprised expression.
“The former are often the wives of humble and relatively poor knights. The latter… may I mention actual family names?”
“Go ahead.”
“Mainly the wealthy ladies from mainstream families like Rulmon or Windgood… that’s how it is.”
“In other words, Lady Silenster is closer to the poor and humble side than the mainstream families.”
“Not that close either. I didn’t get the impression she was particularly close to any lady, but Sir and Lady Silenster are known for often sharing food and other things with their poorer colleagues.”
Kaela nodded. She clearly remembered how Lady Silenster had trembled yet greeted her politely when Kaela randomly called on her during her first meeting with the noblewomen.
“Your Highness. I would like to appoint Lady Silenster as the head maid.”
“Do as you wish, Grand Duchess. You don’t need my permission for this.”
“Even so…”
Still, it was advantageous for Kaela in many ways if the Grand Duke knew about this beforehand, before the butler would jump in surprise upon hearing the news later.
Affairs in Lusenford always had to be handled meticulously, with one’s mind working at full capacity. No, even then, something would go wrong somewhere. It must be because the mind working at full capacity wasn’t smart enough to begin with.
“It seems like a good choice.”
Looking at the smiling Peon, Kaela thought she was lucky this time. The issue of the head maid might be resolved unexpectedly well.
But would she be this lucky next time? She decided to write an invitation to Lady Silenster without expecting anything.
Suddenly, there was a cracking sound. Kaela, who had been composing her expression, looked up.
“Oh my.”
Peon muttered indifferently as he watched the back of the tacky floral-patterned sofa, which had been creaking unsteadily, snap backwards.
“I apologize, Grand Duchess. I’ve done it again. Please buy a prettier sofa.”
What kind of back muscles would one need to break a sofa’s backrest just by leaning back? Kaela didn’t want to imagine, but somehow she felt satisfied that the ugly sofa was broken.
****
The appointment of Fabiola, wife of Knight Alfred Silenster, as the head maid happened remarkably quickly compared to how the Grand Duchess had been dragging out the issue.
Fabiola, who came to the palace grumbling about the Grand Duchess’s urgent summons without knowing why, was very flustered when she faced the Grand Duchess.
She had been worrying about what to buy for dinner, and suddenly she was to be the head maid?
“I look forward to working with you. You’ll start tomorrow.”
“Um, Your Highness.”
“I hope you won’t refuse. I believe you’re the right person for this role.”
Fabiola, merely the wife of a poor knight, found the Emperor’s niece, who was wealthy and well-bred but somehow looked tired, quite intimidating.
“I’m grateful that you see me that way, but I’m not sure why I’m the right person. I have many shortcomings.”
“That’s exactly why you’re the right person. What were you doing at home?”
