I boarded a small carriage and switched to another one along the way. Finally, I arrived at a house deep in the mountains where Cafetti was waiting for me at the front entrance.
“You’ve had a long journey, Riccie Rouen. Welcome to your new place of work,” Cafetti told me after I’d climbed out of the carriage.
“Yes, Miss Cafetti.”
The house was a cozy little place. It was well looked after, with walls so white they looked like they’d been repainted just yesterday. A storage space next to a chopping block was piled high with logs ready for use as firewood. It was like something from a fairy tale. I’d spent my whole life in the city of Kalakumo, so remote places like this were completely new to me.
After Cafetti had said a few words to the knight, he left with the carriage.
“First, I’ll introduce you to the person you’ll be serving,” Cafetti said. “Follow me.”
She entered the house through a small door and left her shoes side by side at the entrance. To avoid being rude, I did my best to copy her as I followed behind.
Cafetti headed straight upstairs without so much as looking at the kitchen or anything else. Once she reached the top of the newly constructed staircase, she opened the door to a room.
It looked like everything in there had been recently replaced, and there was a faint smell of fresh wood. A woman lay in the bed. Her hair was the color of straw, and she was looking at me with beautiful blue eyes.
“Lady Carol, this is Riccie Rouen. She’ll be working here from today. Riccie, introduce yourself.”
I was so nervous that my voice came out sounding unusually high-pitched. “Um... I’m Riccie, a maid-in-training. I’m at your service.” I bowed my head.
When I looked up again, the blue-eyed woman was looking at me and smiling. “I’m Carol Flue Shaltl. Nice to meet you, Riccie.”
When she said my name, I felt my heart flutter. I’m going to be serving her? This feels like something out of a wonderful fairy tale.
“I would like to give Riccie a tour of the house,” Cafetti said.
“Sure,” Lady Carol agreed.
“Riccie? Come on.”
“Oh...? Ah. Yes, Miss Cafetti!” I replied, flustered.
After bowing to Lady Carol, I followed Cafetti out of the room.
We went back down to the first floor and to the rear of the house. By the back door, there were two pairs of wooden sandals—one large, one small.
“The small ones are yours. Put them on and follow me.”
Cafetti put on the other pair of sandals, opened the back door, and stepped outside. I saw a pole for drying laundry. It held sheets and clothing that were swaying in the chilly spring wind.
The room where I’d met Lady Carol a few moments ago was at the front of the house. That meant she wouldn’t be able to hear us while we talked here. I guessed that Cafetti had brought me here to say something in private. And sure enough, she had.
“Riccie, do you know anything about the person you just met?”
“Yes. Um...I believe she’s a princess.” Blonde hair and blue eyes were both signs of royal blood. Even I knew that much.
“Not quite. Our former queen was poisoned and is no longer with us. She passed away. You just met Her Majesty—the new queen of this kingdom.”
“Oh... R-Really?” This was too much to take in at once. That was Her Majesty the Queen? I never thought I’d meet anyone so important my whole life.
I had a feeling there was a special name for this sort of meeting—an “audience,” maybe. Though I’d always thought such events only involved important people like Lord Rook, and that they happened in magnificent castles with Her Majesty the Queen sitting on a throne. The meeting we’d just had didn’t fit with any of that, but it counted as an audience with the queen nonetheless.
“Lady Carol was present when our former queen, Lord Rook, and Lady Suzuya were poisoned. She only consumed a small amount of poison, but it was enough to leave her ill. What’s more, she’s with child. There’s a baby growing in her stomach. Do you know what that means?”
I responded with my honest thoughts. “It means she’s in a terrible way.”
Although I’d never cared for women who were pregnant or giving birth, I’d heard how difficult it could be. Lady Carol was unwell because of poison at the same time, so I knew that had to be really bad. It was a terrible combination.
“Well...essentially, yes. I think your impression is accurate. Her life will be at risk during the birth.”
“I see.”
“I’d like you to do whatever you can to help care for her.”
I felt a chill run down my spine. What an important task. Assisting Lady Satsuki had been enough to make me nervous, and now I’d be taking care of Her Majesty the Queen. I didn’t think I was cut out for it.
When Cafetti saw how scared I was, she knelt down and put her hand on my shoulder. “Don’t worry. She won’t demand perfect etiquette. Just carry out the same tasks you did in the manor, and you’ll have no problems.”
“A-All right...”
Although I’d only spent one day with Cafetti in Kalakumo, I felt I could trust her. For all I knew, she might have been the sort of person who’d simply say kind things to make me relax, but yell at me later if I did anything even slightly impolite. But I didn’t think that would be the case.
I’ll just do things the way I always have, I reassured myself as I took a deep breath.
“But there is one thing that you absolutely must not do,” Cafetti warned.
“I mustn’t make any loud noises? I’m sorry. I’ll do my best from now on.”
Back when I’d gotten lost in thought in Lady Carol’s room, I’d replied to Cafetti’s beckoning a little too loudly. Giving loud and clear responses was a habit I’d developed while working in the manor. I knew I’d surprised Lady Carol from the way her face had twitched.
“Yes, do try to remember that. But that wasn’t what I was going to say.”
“Oh. If there’s something else, I’m not sure what it is.”