“I really didn’t know what? Since His Majesty the Emperor is so busy, I figured he would be busy too! No, the emperor is busy working, but he becomes the crown prince and just plays around with it!”
… … The Empress truly hated him, without a doubt. I like it but pretend I don’t like it, that’s not the case.
“Are you going to a ball somewhere? “If I had known that would happen, I would have made the excuse that I was sick and just sent her a gift!”
Paresa, feeling embarrassed, consoled her.
“Well, isn’t it because the Marquis of Condor is an important person?”
“That’s right, but anyway, if you came, you could quietly attend the ball! No, there are a lot of people following me drooling over me saying they like me, so why are they clinging to me? “He asked me to dance, so I secretly declined, but he invited me again!”
“So did you dance?”
The empress’ voice soared upward.
“You danced! What could I have done? Do you know how cunning he is? By subtly pressuring me so that I can’t even refuse! If I say no, I’m sure everyone will think I ruined the atmosphere of the prom! It was near the Marquis of Condor! Everyone was happily saying congratulations there… … .”
Even as she spoke, the Empress’s eyes became red, as if the resentment from that time had returned.
But she didn’t manage to shed tears.
Because the awareness that one should not show one’s weakness in front of one’s inferiors was alive.
Paresa offered soulless consolation.
“I really hate it, but I was forced to dance. “You must have been very upset.”
I was forced to hold hands and dance with someone I hated like a cockroach… … , so angry and angry.
But it was a very pretty cockroach.
That maximized Paresa’s lack of empathy.
‘Yes, even if it’s a pretty cockroach, a cockroach is a cockroach. You may not like it.’
Even if the crown prince’s face was very attractive, it could have been unfavorable to the empress.
If he showed behavior that would be unfavorable to the Empress.
“Yeah, I was originally just going to say congratulations and leave quickly. That guy who showed up later than me. Ha, really… … . “What can I do by telling you?”
The Empress seemed to be relieved of her anger as she spoke, and shook her head.
“I want to go back and soak in a warm bathtub and relax.”
It was a weak voice.
“Sure, you’ll feel better if you rest. It’s a waste more than that. The way you dressed up was really beautiful… … .”
Paresa muttered as she placed the tiara on her lap.
It was also a bit calculated. Because the Empress likes to be told she’s pretty.
And the Empress simply seemed to feel better after hearing those words.
She spoke triumphantly to Paresa.
“I’ll see you as much as I can in the future, so there’s nothing to regret.”
In any case, it seems that there is no intention to cut Paresa right away.
Paresa was relieved to see that.
A peaceful yet eventful second day passed by.
* * *
Once I made up my mind and tried to learn it, many things became easier.
It’s like if you let yourself go with the current, it will just flow. Paresa was adjusting herself surprisingly well.
First of all, the number of times I hear a pounding has decreased significantly.
Following Anna’s advice, Paresa carefully observed the Empress’s reaction.
Fortunately, the Empress was not the type to hide herself very well. Rather, she would reveal her likes and dislikes, little by little, in small or big ways, through her facial expressions and gestures.
If I had a headache, I would rub my forehead, and if work wasn’t going well, I would bite my lip.
When I was tired, my eyes lowered, and my gaze focused deeply on things I was interested in.
If you pay attention, you can clearly see what she wants.
To observe and read a person in such detail? It was a rare experience for Paresa as well.
Paresa had good concentration and observation skills. So, after looking closely for several days, she was able to guess the Empress’s tastes and her true intentions.
However, because her picky tastes often changed, there were more and more things to memorize.
‘This is a bit tricky.’
Choosing a dress or accessory that matched the time, place, and trend was still a difficult task for Paresa.
Even as I watched the Empress, who had put herself in the background without any expectations, make a choice, I didn’t feel any better.
“How can I adapt it to Your Majesty’s taste?”
In response to Paresa’s question, Anna, a low-ranking maid, confessed.
“Actually, Her Majesty the Empress enjoys choosing her own dress. Even her old, low-ranking maids don’t quite suit Her Majesty’s tastes.”
But are you saying that from the first day, they told me, a beginner, to choose and gave me a thumbs up?
I felt cheated. It’s clear that he did it on purpose to find fault.
Anna laughed as if she were having trouble.
“Still, you need to develop the sense to select three or four options. “I have some resources that might help.”
After speaking, Anna handed Paresa a full booklet.
These were magazines that dealt with the latest trends in the recent institutional social circles. Dresses, accessories, interior design, etc.
It was something that noble ladies who were active in social circles would be interested in.
I have homework.
Even if you work hard on your homework, you don’t get paid. Still, I had to do it.
Studying in a field that I have never tried before.
Paresa accepted the booklet with some reluctance.
‘If you look at it, it will improve a little.’
It is not the spirit of an exclusive maid to leave it entirely to the empress or lower-ranking maids.
Basic knowledge had to be mastered. Etiquette appropriate to the time and place also includes attire.
It’s enough for me to just wear my exclusive maid’s uniform, but the Empress has to wear everything perfectly from the beginning every time.
It is the role of the exclusive maid to help with that.
‘You are making professional progress as a dedicated maid.’
As if the newly acquired job was a calling, Paresa’s abilities were increasing day by day.
Of course, it was still not enough. Because she only accompanied the Empress’s daily life and had not had much experience yet.
Paresa’s goal was simple.
‘Get a compliment from the Empress once a day.’
Just once, no more, no less.
The difficult empress does not give praise unless it is sincere. It won’t be easy even once.
However, as a few days passed, the Empress said about once every two days, “The scent of tea is fragrant today.” Or, she ended up saying, “How do you peel apples so nicely?”
‘I’m pretty good at peeling apples.’
Apples are also cut with a knife. And Paresa is good with his sword.
It was one of Paresa’s organs. And it was also an organ that worked very well for the Empress.
“The apples you peeled taste strangely good.”
The Empress tilted her head.
A crunching sound was heard, and soon a happy smile slowly graced the corners of his mouth.
Watching that was a little bit of fun for Paresa.
The Empress loved fruit. I got the impression that she liked pomegranates or grapes, but she especially liked apples.
Jonathan. Red apple. It suited the Empress’ taste to cut it into pretty and small pieces rather than biting it off.
Paresa sliced the apples thinly, leaving almost no skin behind, to create smooth, round apples. It looks amazing.
She cut it into six or eight pieces, placed them on a pretty plate, and presented them to the Empress with a fork.
The apple that Paresa cut had a vivid cross section and was just the right size to fit into the mouth.
The Empress, who changed 22 maids because she did not like them, briefly considered settling down for the first time since Heidi.
I will stay in a new nest called Paresa. Above all, because she is good at peeling her apples.
Since the apples were first introduced, the number of bruises has decreased significantly.
Also, losing your temper. Paresa clearly felt the change in the empress.
‘Now you have almost mastered the Empress.’
It seems like they go through a process to perfectly target one person.
The empress may have been popular in her youth, but no man would have put as much effort into her as he did.
No matter how much he was paid, Paresa worked too hard for him to even think about it.
As if I really want to be recognized. As if burning the will to be recognized.
‘huh? Could this be the empress’s big picture?’
Perhaps the Empress is a very weak person and may have tamed her exclusive maid in this way… … No, that can’t be possible.
Despite her appearance, the Empress is more of a bear than a fox.
Paresa brought simple refreshments for the Empress, who was reading.
It suddenly got chilly today, so what she prepared was warm herbal tea.
The Empress had her head tilted to one side and her temple resting on her fist.
Her long, petal-like pink hair hangs down and touches the desk.
The pensive look in his eyes was quiet yet fascinating.
The Empress exudes a unique aura just by standing still. It was definitely better when I kept my mouth shut.
Paresa, who approached her cautiously so as not to disturb her, felt suspicious.
‘The bookshelf won’t move over?’
Are you dozing off? no.
‘also… … ‘That’s the look.’
One more thing I found out about her. Her Empress sometimes looked blankly lost in thought with a shadowy expression, and occasionally looked out her distant window.
As if I wanted to open that window and become a bird flying away. She looked like a bird in a cage.
‘They said a lot of money doesn’t necessarily mean happiness.’
Was the empress who said that unhappy?
‘Not only are you known everywhere as an evil woman, but you look bored.’
Surprisingly, the Empress did not have a single noble lady who was close to her.
Her young children. When the two twins entered the academy, they ended up living in a dormitory.
It’s not far from the imperial palace, so it seems like he comes back and shows his face occasionally when he has a long holiday, but he doesn’t seem to have the time to do that these days.
‘Unless you go to the dance sometimes, you don’t interact with anyone.’
I’ve only been to that prom once so far. Because it was the birthday of an influential nobleman called the Marquis of Condor.
As I watched, I realized that the Empress’s drawing skills were unexpected. Her piano playing was also top-notch.
These are completely unknown advantages due to the Empress’s notoriety.
Although the Empress’s hobbies are not subject to evaluation, it is as if she herself has never shown them to others.
But Paresa had the eye to recognize that excellence.
‘It would be nice to present it at a tea party or something.’
It’s a skill worth bragging about, so you’ll be praised.
As Paresa knows, the ladies of the social world hold a tea party at their mansion about once a month.
Not only for socializing, but also to show off one’s well-maintained mansion or garden and one’s talents.
If you show off your talents with this beautiful empress at the tea party, the empress’ notoriety will change as if washed away by a new impression.
‘It’s time to change the rumor.’
