The thread was also different. Specifically, the number of colors was different. In Faye’s sewing kit, for example, she had white—actually closer to a very light yellow—and black—which also wasn’t black, strictly speaking. Rebecca and Elvira, though, had red, blue, green, yellow, and other colors besides. They even had the luxury of sewing repairs in thread close to the garment’s original color so the repair didn’t stand out; that’s how cheap dyed thread was sold. Of course, they would be out of reach for the general public in the Northern Continent, but even the lower nobles would be able to afford it.
In terms of pure strength and economic power, Capua outstripped Uppasala by far, but Uppasala was far ahead of Capua in mass-producing such things.
“You’re really informed about the rest of your continent, though,” Dolores said. “Are maids usually taught that much in Uppasala?”
Elvira carefully modulated her voice so she wouldn’t sound too proud of herself as she answered. “Knowing that much isn’t particularly common. I attended a lot of lectures at the capital’s university, mainly focusing on law and logic, so I have a little more knowledge than average.”
“A university?” Faye asked.
“What’s a university?” Letti echoed.
“Umm, it’s an organization that gathers knowledge and history and conducts research. Every country on the Northern Continent has one, I think?” Dolores answered, using what she’d picked up on her travels.
“Dolores’s explanation is fairly accurate. If I was going to add to it, I’d say that they also exist to provide education and cultivate intellect. For state- and church-sponsored universities, they also train the people needed to run those institutions.”
“Wow.”
“That’s amazing.”
“The Northern Continent’s really impressive. You said you went to one... So women can attend?”
The three of them marveled over the existence of such an organization. Dolores’s question prompted a regretful look from Elvira.
“No, women can’t enroll in the university in Uppasala. Attending lectures like I did is the closest we can come.”
There were universities in countries like Złota Wolność and Emilia where women could attend, but even those usually had one female student a year at most. At present, the world of academia was even more dominated by men than the military. With that in mind, Elvira making the effort to go to a university made her a superlative maid, but definitely not a normal one. Still, she definitely had some similarities to a general maid. For example, she enjoyed romantic gossip.
“Oh, Elvira, did you hear about Mirella changing posts? She’s moving from the main building with Queen Aura to the annex with Lady Freya. She was one of the maids who went to the welcome event for Prince Yngvi, right? It’s what I think it is, isn’t it?” Dolores said suddenly.
Elvira was rather interested in the topic herself. “I think so too. Mirella will be his partner, at least tentatively. Fortunately she’s one of us, so Her Majesty can reassign her to get her used to how things are in Uppasala and the laws before she actually gets married.”
There might have been slightly too much politics in there for pure romantic gossip, but such things were usually what made their way to noble girls. In fact, such politics were often used to liven things up as obstacles to overcome, or “paths of destiny.”
“Which means that Mirella’s basically getting a crown princess’s training there. Ah, that sounds difficult,” Faye commented.
Faye knew that the more highly ranked you became, the more bothersome your duties became and the harder it was to protect yourself, so she couldn’t help but sympathize. It probably wasn’t necessary for Mirella, though. Mirella was someone who would see marrying a person more highly ranked than herself as a victory.
Dolores knew that and directed a lidded, exasperated look at Faye. “Mirella isn’t like you. She’s probably over the moon about it.”
“That sounds like her,” Letti agreed with an amused laugh.
“Well, it’s probably still tough,” Dolores admitted. “I was only there for a little while as a guest, so all the new sights were fun, but there were so many differences in life over there that I think it’ll be a struggle.”
Spending a short time in a different culture was very different than moving into it permanently. Despite showing that concern, though, Dolores wasn’t overly worried. She knew that Mirella was strong to her core and had been raised as the model noblewoman. She wouldn’t shy away from adapting to her new environment. As long as she could somewhat get along with her spouse, Mirella would be fine, at least in Dolores’s opinion.
Letti seemed to have come to the same conclusion, but there was a hint of concern in her voice as she picked up the conversation. “Mirella will probably be okay, but I wonder what kind of person Prince Yngvi is.”
Although Dolores had met him on the Northern Continent and Faye had participated in the welcome party, it was hard to say that either of them really knew him. Inevitably, all three of them turned to Elvira. She didn’t flinch even slightly at the intensity of their looks, just offering them a reassuring smile as she answered smoothly.
“I believe he is very well matched with Mirella. He speaks and makes decisions very rationally and also likes to take the initiative in his personal life as well.”
Whether it was her original disposition or a result of her education, Mirella tended to want the man in a relationship to take the lead. With Yngvi’s preference to do exactly that, it certainly did sound like they were well matched.
“Lady Freya is naturally more familiar with him,” she continued. “With her personally telling Mirella about him, I’m sure she will be able to adapt. Lady Ragnhild is part of the annex as well, so if Mirella can win her favor, I’m sure she will write to Lady Felicia.”
Ragnhild was the older sister of Felicia, the second queen, who was also Freya and Yngvi’s mother. Additionally, she wasn’t here solely due to the blood relation, but as a minder, so Uppasala clearly put a lot of trust in Ragnhild. A missive from her that praised Mirella would have a good influence on not just Felicia, but on King Gustav as well.
“Shall we tell her, then? That she should work hard in the annex to get Lady Ragnhild’s approval, I mean,” Letti suggested.
It was well meaning, but Elvira immediately shook her head. “You shouldn’t. It will definitely have the opposite effect.”
“Huh?”
Dolores then suggested something very close to the truth. “Oh, is Lady Ragnhild someone who doesn’t recognize efforts when they’re just for a reward?”
Such a point of view wasn’t rare. People made judgments based on a person’s normal conduct, and if a person only put the effort in when there was some reward to be had, those judgments were not good. It was a logical way of thinking.
Elvira offered a small nod. “That’s half correct. She wouldn’t completely discount it, but acting like that for a visible reward would be less worthy. In other words, if we were to let Mirella know there was the chance for a letter like that, it could make her efforts need to be that much higher. Don’t worry, Letti. Mirella’s usual efforts will be enough to pass muster with Lady Ragnhild.”
There was no “should” or “I think” in her statement. It was just a confident “will.” Her casual judgment was just like her easy smile; it gave an odd amount of persuasiveness to her words.
“Right. I hope she’s happy,” Letti said.
“Me too,” Faye agreed.
“That would be the best. If she is, then both countries will benefit from it,” Dolores added.
The conversation broke off, but it was a comfortable silence between the four of them. It was broken by the door to the room opening.
Another group must have finished their work for the day. Several maids came in, chattering away. Among the gaggle of darker-skinned and dark-haired maids, one with pale skin and long, straight blonde hair—Rebecca—stood out the most. She noticed them and strode over.
“Elvira, good work today,” she said. “Faye, Dolores, Letti, did you learn how to treat the glass already?”
As she spoke, she took an empty seat and flopped down into it. She always acted so familiar and cheery with them. Unlike Elvira’s immense skill, Rebecca’s disposition was much closer to the problem maids’ despite also coming from Uppasala. Because of that, despite how little time they’d spent together, Rebecca had gotten to the point where she was happy to almost mock them like this.
“It’s not that hard.”
“That’s right, Elvira’s a really good teacher.”
“Well, it might’ve been another story if you were the one teaching.”
Rebecca obviously laughed at their answers, but so did Elvira.
“You’re right. It’d probably take more than a day for me to teach you three. I can’t match Elvira’s teaching.” The faux modesty she used to mock the three of them prompted the problem maids to fire back their responses.
“Just in teaching?”
“Is there anything you can beat her in?”
Indeed, in all areas of being a maid, Elvira was better than Rebecca. Despite Faye and Dolores needling her, she purposefully didn’t make a sign, simply flexing her right arm.
“A fight, of course!” she said confidently.
“Rebecca...”
“That’s not a thing, Rebecca.”
“I’m pretty sure you’re not supposed to be proud of that.”
While the three problem maids looked on in exasperation, Elvira laughed in amusement.
✦ ✦ ✦
