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Episode 5
At that point, the senior administrator decided that tomorrow’s lesson would end early. The emperor’s stress levels looked dangerously high.
Emilia, of course, had also noticed that the emperor was in a bad mood.
She stepped up to the desk and spoke calmly.
“Your Majesty.”
With her face lowered before him, it was clear that what had just happened was weighing on her as well.
“Your Majesty, I take my duties very seriously. If I am lacking in any way, I will do my utmost to correct it, so please forgive me.”
The senior administrator beside her tried to jump in with a hearty laugh, but Clayden cut him off sharply.
“Lacking? No. There’s nothing like that. You may leave.”
Emilia’s lips parted slightly, but she withdrew without another word.
The senior administrator, looking deeply moved, said,
“Your Majesty’s mercy is as vast as the sea.”
“You too, Senior Administrator. Leave.”
Clayden replied with a smile that looked almost predatory, and the senior administrator exited with an awkward expression.
Almost as if taking his place, the chief steward entered and said with a smile,
“You worked hard today, Your Majesty. Shall I have a snack brought in?”
Clayden thought it wasn’t a bad idea.
But then he realized that would mean calling Emilia back instead of letting her rest, so he dropped the idea.
“I’ll return to my chambers for today.”
Watching the emperor’s expression carefully, the chief steward asked,
“It was your first day—how was the maid? Did she displease you?”
At the mention of Emilia’s name again, Clayden pressed his lips tightly together.
Displease me?
It was true that his mood had been disturbed—but saying that she had disturbed it felt… inaccurate.
That was Emilia Valetta’s problem. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it.
Hiding his irritation, Clayden replied vaguely,
“She’s fine.”
Only then did the chief steward start chatting more freely.
“Ah, I see. That’s a relief. I was worried about Lady Rorigard, who was originally assigned to the study, but Lady Emilia as well”
Clayden whipped around as if to say Emilia, what about her?”
The chief steward, embarrassed, continued,
“She’s from the North, after all. It’s a bit too quiet for life in the capital.”
“Hmph. Isn’t that a major advantage in the palace?”
“Well, it does help keep one’s head attached, yes, but…”
Staring at the door Emilia had just left through, Clayden said through clenched teeth,
“She’s nothing but advantages. It’s not just one or two.”
Unable to tell whether that was sarcasm or not, the chief steward just blinked.
Meanwhile, Clayden was muttering inwardly.
That’s exactly why she’s annoying.
The chief steward headed straight for Emilia’s room.
The strange attitude Emperor Clayden showed toward the maid unsettled him.
As he walked down the corridor, he anxiously wondered whether Emilia might be crying—or packing her things.
Old memories resurfaced.
The maids assigned to Crown Prince Clayden’s quarters had always run out screaming or in tears on their first day.
Few people knew how easily one could find frogs or centipedes even within the imperial palace.
It had been a mistake to relax just because the emperor, returned from exile, seemed more dignified and reliable than before.
To let his guard down even while knowing why the emperor had made Emilia his study maid
Scolding himself, the chief steward knocked on her door.
The old wooden door opened at once.
“Chief Steward?”
“Lady Emilia, do you have a moment?”
“Of course. Please come in.”
Emilia welcomed him with a smile.
Entering the room, the chief steward carefully looked her over from head to toe.
She was as she always was—polite, smiling.
None of the arrogance or sugary, insincere speech was common among noble young ladies who frequented the palace.
It had been a long time since he’d met a maid who focused on her duties rather than trying to curry favor with the emperor or extract information for her family.
The chief steward remembered how the emperor had clenched his teeth while talking about her “advantages.”
So that’s it, then.
When you can’t find a single fault in someone you dislike, irritation is inevitable.
But if you do find a fault, that only makes them more irritating.
Emilia Valetta had no escape route.
Forcing a smile, the chief steward said,
“I heard you did well today, even though it was your first day.”
She shook her head heavily.
“I don’t think so.”
Seeing the worry on her face, the chief steward fell silent.
Telling her that she was the first maid not to run screaming from Clayden A. Locarso on day one didn’t feel comforting at all.
Instead, he spoke gently.
“I know you worked hard.”
“Thank you, Chief Steward.”
Her short reply was sincere, but the chief steward still felt there was an issue.
People in the capital were expressive—especially the emperor, who was used to elaborate praise. Emilia’s northern bluntness could easily be taken as rudeness.
Carefully, he said,
“It’s better not to be too tense. If you’re tense, Your Majesty will feel it too.”
After hesitating, Emilia asked,
“Was His Majesty angry? Earlier, it seemed like”
“If he were, I would have told you first.”
“…I see. Please do.”
As her face grew gloomier, the chief steward couldn’t help asking,
“Are you worried that His Majesty might hold a grudge against the Margrave of Valetta?”
Emilia pressed her lips together and turned her head away, hiding her concern.
The chief steward awkwardly continued,
“His Majesty is more petty than he looks—but also more broad-minded than he seems. Or rather… it’s closer to indifference toward others, but anyway.”
At that, Emilia turned back with a face that looked on the verge of tears.
Given her position, it was only natural for her to expect to face the emperor’s pettiness. Realizing his mistake, the chief steward shut his mouth.
Emilia changed the subject instead. She couldn’t continue listening to criticism of the emperor.
“And he’s wiser than he looks. Earlier, I saw him identify a problem no one else had noticed—just by looking at the reports.”
“Is that so?”
“It was truly impressive. His Majesty will become a great emperor.”
The chief steward cautiously revealed his real intent.
“If you felt that way, did you offer him praise? Showing a more human side isn’t a bad thing. Pleasing His Majesty is also a form of loyalty we can give.”
Emilia’s expression hardened, and she shook her head.
“If His Majesty is to rule wisely, those who serve him must first discipline themselves and fulfill their responsibilities. We must never cloud his judgment with emotion or personal ties. Isn’t that so?”
“Well… yes, that’s true, but…”
“As a study maid, I will prove my loyalty—and that of the Valetta family—by helping His Majesty focus fully on state affairs.”
“…That is admirable.”
Faced with this stubborn northern woman, the chief steward simply could not bring himself to say, “Please try to flatter the emperor a little.
To think there was someone as hard to deal with as Emperor Clayden himself.
For today, the chief steward decided to give up.
“Get some rest. Tomorrow will be another long day.”
“Thank you for coming to see me, Chief Steward.”
The chief steward froze at her smile.
Like late spring sunlight already filling the room, warmth spread from Emilia’s gentle expression.
It was a sincere smile of gratitude for his concern.
So she can smile like this…!
“Chief Steward?”
“Ah—no, it’s nothing. I’ll be going now.”
Emilia smiled again as she saw him out.
The next day, the lessons continued.
Pretending to check whether anything was needed, the chief steward observed Emperor Clayden and Emilia.
Once again, the emperor was glaring at the senior administrator as he lectured—whether from focus or personal irritation, it was impossible to tell.
Emilia, meanwhile, was intensely focused on the senior administrator’s words. Yesterday’s experience had clearly steeled her resolve.
Watching closely, the chief steward noticed that the stacks of files the administrator had brought were arranged in a specific order.
Emilia had organized them.
That’s… almost too much effort. Though… necessary.
From his conversation with Emilia yesterday, the chief steward had learned something new.
Contrary to expectations, she didn’t seem to despise Emperor Clayden.
Compared to the maids traumatized by the young crown prince’s frog-in-the-clothes antics, Emilia was closer to caring about him.
The emperor, on the other hand, was clearly in a foul mood.
But it didn’t seem fatal—less like hatred, more like sulking. His thirty years of experience told him so.
If things go well, the two might even reconcile.
The chief steward resolved firmly.
No—they must reconcile.
Otherwise, he would be the one suffering most.
The Margrave of Valetta needed to focus on monsters at the border, not worry about his daughter in the palace.
Thankfully, Senior Administrator Clanel remembered his decision from yesterday and ended the lesson early.
After Emilia helped the administrator carry the documents out, only Clayden and the chief steward remained in the study.
The chief steward edged closer to the desk and said,
“Your Majesty looked so dependable today while focusing on the lesson. Do you remember your days as crown prince? Tutors used to complain that they couldn’t concentrate when they made eye contact with you—their hearts would start racing.”
“Tsk.”
Clayden clicked his tongue irritably, and the chief steward fell silent.
The emperor didn’t enjoy all praise—especially not from men.
Choosing his words carefully, the chief steward continued,
“Lady Emilia also looked much more at ease today. That’s remarkable progress in just one day.”
“I suppose it’s something to look forward to.”
Clayden’s reply was cold, but the chief steward smiled as if oblivious.
“I’m glad you see it positively! Maintaining a smooth relationship with the person closest to you is essential for effective governance, as you well know.”
This was new to Clayden. Coming from a man who had served emperors all his life, it had weight—but hearing it still annoyed him.
Get along with a woman who clearly dislikes me?
She should be the one getting along with me!
Calmly, the chief steward added,
“Lady Emilia also praised you highly. She was impressed by how wisely you handled matters during yesterday’s lesson.”
One of Clayden’s eyebrows twitched.
“…She never said that to me.”
