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chapter 67
Roselina’s life as an apprentice maid flowed quietly and uneventfully. Her daily tasks were repetitive, and she found satisfaction in that calmness.
Receiving regular medical care turned out to be better than she had imagined. Roselina’s body was healing quickly. Since she was naturally well-trained physically, as long as she received proper treatment, she could recover well.
Even Mrs. Vanessa, who oversaw her treatment, was quite surprised at her progress. The more she healed, the more diligently she worked. Her diligent, unpretentious manner earned the favor of those around her, and Roselina quickly blended in with the other maids.
“Why are we suddenly using the royal banquet hall? Only the Griffin household’s servants and maids will be excited. We don’t even have to clean it like this.”
Maxi muttered as she polished the intricate patterns of the banquet hall. The large royal hall was decorated with elaborate wall ornaments. The delicate curves of the carvings looked almost like folds in fabric. The only problem was that dust tended to accumulate in every corner.
Even though each maid cleaned their assigned area daily, special places like the banquet hall required all hands whenever there was an event. Especially since Mrs. Vanessa was in charge of the banquet, all the maids under her were called to the hall.
Even apprentice maids like Roselina were no exception. She was helping Lexi hang new curtains. The reason was simple: she was taller than the other maids and had longer arms.
Sitting at the end of the ladder, she replaced the old curtain with the new one. Originally, it had been red, but due to the execution of Roberto Brida, that color was forbidden. The new curtains were a dazzling gold. Tassels hung from the bottom, and tiny embroidered patterns could be felt by hand, stitched densely across the fabric.
They were quite heavy, so a few maids held the fabric from below. Sophie, who was holding the curtain beneath Roselina, grumbled:
“My arms feel like they’re going to fall off. Why do we have to hang such heavy curtains?”
“They’re pretty, aren’t they? Mrs. Vanessa picked them carefully.”
“Mrs. Vanessa would do anything to torment us. Hey, apprentice! Are you actually working?”
“I’m sorry. Just a little more to go.”
Roselina replied calmly. Compared to others, she worked quite quickly. She inserted the remaining pins a bit faster. Since the fabric was heavy, it had to be secured properly; otherwise, it could fall and injure someone.
“Ugh, my arms hurt.”
“Sophie, you’re not even holding it properly.”
“I am! I’m holding it properly!”
“When you’re done here, go to another spot. You’d be better working with Maxi.”
“Why? I’m doing fine here.”
Sophie bristled. She knew that going to another spot would be more exhausting and take longer. Roselina learned everything quickly and calmly. She never complained, even when given harder tasks, nor did she boast about doing more work than others.
Like the “ghost-like maid” Mrs. Vanessa had described, she moved silently. Yet she didn’t distance herself from the other maids and was fundamentally kind to everyone. Even Sophie, who often complained and was disliked, was treated the same way.
It was clear to everyone within a few days, and many maids envied Lexi and Maxi, who were in charge of supervising such a diligent apprentice. Sophie was one of them. Though she seemed annoyed with Roselina, she lingered around, wanting to work alongside her.
“Lexi, will we get to enter here that day too?”
Maxi asked, trying to ease the tense atmosphere between Sophie and Lexi.
“A few of us might. We’ll still have to carry the drinks and desserts… I hope it’s not me. I hate catering to young ladies.”
Lexi shivered at the thought. Maxi seemed to agree. Sophie shook her head and expressed something she disliked even more.
“I hate that we’ll all be wearing the same dress among those beautiful gowns. Actually, I might look prettier in the same dress!”
“That’s not true. We’re different from the noble young ladies.”
Listening to Lexi and Sophie bicker, Roselina fastened the last curtain pin. As she slowly descended the ladder, Sophie dropped the curtain and lifted her skirt slightly, striking a pose.
“Who knows? Maybe a knight will fall for my radiant appearance even in this outfit?”
Roselina liked Sophie’s innocent cheerfulness. She was bright and good-natured. Lexi shook her head, seemingly unable to understand Sophie.
“It should have been Sophie who got dragged by Mrs. Vanessa, not us…”
“What?”
“Did I say something wrong?”
As their childish quarrel continued, a maid came rushing through the back door of the banquet hall.
“His Majesty is coming to inspect the hall!”
“His Majesty? What does that even mean?”
Maxi stepped closer, asking again. The maid, catching her breath, hurriedly continued.
“He’s planning to come with Miss Demeteria.”
“They’ll probably come once before the banquet. When exactly are they coming?”
Lexi said as if it weren’t a big deal. The other working maids were focused on their conversation.
The maid, still trying to catch her breath, shook her hands emphatically. She drank a sip of water brought by a colleague and continued urgently.
“No, they’re coming now!”
“What?”
“Now! Miss Demeteria and Sir Griffin are coming together!”
Roselina’s gaze naturally drifted toward the banquet hall entrance. She imagined the beautiful couple who would soon appear behind the firmly closed doors.
Lexi, misreading Roselina’s stern expression, took her hand.
“It’s okay, Lina. This time, Mrs. Vanessa won’t call you over.”
Lexi’s reassurance reminded Roselina of her position. Even though she was curious to see Demeteria Peril and Dantes together, she had to remain a ghost.
Curiosity was there, but she swallowed it firmly.
The maids, briefly stirred by the news, scattered. Those who had been copying manuals recently were not keen on seeing the Emperor. They hurried to press themselves against the walls, staying as far from the banquet entrance as possible.
Marco deliberately stopped by the garden on the way to the banquet hall. Amid the blooming flowers, Demeteria Peril smiled brightly and said:
“I’m glad to stroll through the palace with His Majesty.”
“……”
“When I was young, there were many days like this. Empress Dowager really doted on me.”
Hearing her speak nostalgically, Dantes recalled the past. His father and mother maintained a formal marriage but had excellent political harmony. While his father drew strict lines with ministers, his mother invited the wives and children of high-ranking nobles in conflict with the palace to play and be entertained, soothing tensions.
It was a good way to manage conflicts without escalation. The couple maintained balance well. Demeteria’s many memories of this palace implied numerous conflicts with the Peril family.
‘Her words likely have two meanings: to flatter me with memories, and as a warning that if she loses herself, I will have to deal with all those conflicts.’
She was politically sharper than Dantes’ mother, likely taught by the Duke of Peril.
Yet Dantes showed no reaction. Whatever he did, he would return to the Duke’s house and discuss matters with his father.
Marco tapped the nearly blooming flower buds, filling the silence.
“The royal gardens are beautiful, but the Peril gardens are magnificent too. Your Majesty, the most extravagant flowers sent to Senreita always come first from the Peril family.”
“I’m not knowledgeable about flowers, so I didn’t know.”
“Flowers are mostly of interest to women.”
Hearing “women,” Dantes thought of Roselina. During his days as a trainee knight, she would observe small trees with few flowers rather than showy blooms.
“Why do you focus on weak little trees instead of the fully blossomed ones?”
Dantes remembered her answer clearly:
“They seem more in need of me.”
Dantes found the tree with the fewest flowers. Even the small tree he saw just before entering the banquet hall had moist soil at its base. Someone had watered or cared for it more attentively. For some reason, he felt it must have been Roselina.
As Dantes stopped and looked at the tree, Demeteria spoke:
“Your Majesty, do you like small flower trees? But this one seems like it might die soon.”
Dantes smiled faintly and replied:
“That’s why I like it.”
“Excuse me?”
“Because it feels like it needs my care more.”
Demeteria smiled faintly, not understanding his meaning. Then Marco joked:
“It’s natural Miss Demeteria doesn’t understand. Only someone who has felt desperate for help can see it, so it sounds strange when His Majesty says it.”
“Are you teasing me?”
“No. I just remembered something someone told me.”
Marco smiled bitterly at Dantes and walked toward the banquet hall. Dantes followed silently. Demeteria bit her lower lip slightly as she followed.
Even without a subject, it was clear who they were speaking about. The Emperor had always been obsessed with only one person.
“Roberto, that bastard. Even in death, he interferes with me.”
Demeteria was sharp enough to notice. Though annoyed that he spoke so freely in front of her because she was not a woman, she had to pretend not to notice.
Hearing but pretending not to hear—recalling her father’s advice as the greatest virtue of an Empress—Demeteria kept pace with Dantes.
