“You’re still young, so it’s okay. I’m sure all the other maids will understand. You can start working after you grow up a little bit..”
“No, Her Majesty.”
I shook my head.
Her Majesty perked her eyebrows at my objection.
I concluded my words in a firm tone, “I only do what the Empress cares for me.”
I meant it, it was sincere.
I didn’t want to get preferential treatment because of her favor.
I had been doing well with other maids, and I had been feeling a sense of incompatibility because of the privilege.
Meanwhile, I stiffened my shoulder.
Because of the sense of incompatibility, there was one problem that bothered me.
“Her Majesty.”
At my respectful call, the Empress glanced up.
Hmm, I had been calling the Empress at best, but… I don’t know how to bring it up.
I wiggled my fingers for no reason, so I took a deep breath and opened my mouth.
“Well, did you become an official maid this time?”
“Yes, I did. Why is that?”
….will it work?”
To my question, the Empress raised her eyes thinly.
“Why do you think that?”
“I’m very happy with Empress’s affection for me, but….”
I glanced at the Empress.
“I’m a little worried about the trouble I caused.”
“Trouble? What are you talking about?”
The Empress’ expression darkened.
I gulped nervously.
“Honestly, I’m a little worried if someone else is going to hate me for this favor..”
When I first stepped into the palace, I still could hear the voices of the maids who were jabbing at me.
‘No matter how cute the Empress is, isn’t it too much?”
‘As soon as you come to the palace, you’re promoted to an official maid, don’t you?”
“What if they try to match us and other maids?”‘
…of course, the maids were long gone, but the words were burned into my memory.
Their hostility and ridicule towards me as well as my helplessness.
“If I get promoted too quickly, there will be many problems…”
“Charlize,” the Empress called me in a determined tone.
Surprised by her voice, I immediately raised my head.
The dark green eyes that looked at me, they were still.
“Why do you think you got promoted ‘too fast’?”
“Pardon? Well, that’s…”
“I know the rules when a probationary maid is promoted to an official maid.”
Unlike just before, the empress seemed subtly subdued. downcasted?
Uh, what’s wrong with you?
“The maids, one with sufficient skills would be selected, with a training period of more than one year.”
The Empress didn’t make even a single mistake in the promotion code’s contents.
“After that, selected maid-in-training maids are promoted with permission from their superiors. Am I right?” she continued.
“Yes, as soon as possible.”
I nodded dazedly.
The Empress continued with a long sigh, “First of all, you’ve been a maid-in-training since you were born, so you’ve already met the requirements of the probationary period.”
Uh, was that what happened?
I stared blankly at the Empress.
“And your ability as a maid has already been investigated.”
What?
I opened my eyes wide.
When and how did you investigate?
How come I didn’t know anything about it until now?!
“I asked the head of the education center about your work ethic and your skills. She said it was very good,” the Empress spoke as she leaned on the sofa.
“That’s why I promoted you. I’ve been watching you working at the Imperial Palace as well.”
His Majesty the Empress.”
“Hayden and Senior Maid Webber. According to them, you’re very good at your job.”
The empress shrugged lightly.
“Even the new maids think the same.”
At that remark, I felt somehow the tip of my nose tingles up.
I see, everyone was aware of my efforts.
I thought I was the only one moving around.
Then, the Empress said in a calm voice.
“You’ve been such a capable maid from the start that you could be a full-time maid.That’s why I promoted you.”
“….
“But why are you so depressed, just watching other people’s eyes?”
The Empress words were right and I was at loss at her explanation, I could only bite my lips in reply.
The Empress narrowed her eyebrow.
“Actually, I don’t like that you worry about this.”
“Well, you know… I….”
“Charlize, you’re still young. It’s enough for a child to only focus on a day-to-day life.”
The Empress sighed as she reached out and patted me gently.