Fake Cinderella

The luncheon was fine, and it was over safely. -That's right. Except you did a lot of physical damage to my stomach!

I was a lot nervous at first, but it was more like getting used to it than learning, and it wasn't even an outing. Maybe I'm thick as a guide.

"... hungry"

"... my princess... I wish I had left you"

"You can't leave something you know is delicious!

"Princess, your stomach is not that big..."

He's looking at me with the eyes of a child Lilia can't help.

"I know. I know, but!... because it was delicious..."

I guess I feel guilty about leaving what was served on the plate because of the strong feeling of Maye.

I know what I left behind won't be in vain, but I still learn to resist leaving it.

(Besides, it's not that it's bad and I can't eat it, but rather it's amazing and delicious)

Besides, everything on the menu today was a painful achievement with the head chef and Viscount Lada. There's no way I can stay.

"Lilia"

"Yes."

I looked at Lilia in the face, sipping tea to soothe my stomach, where Alice was.

Unlike His Highness Nadir, who watched the meeting until the night club began, I am told to rest in my room. We'll have some time to spare.

"... so? Why was my plate so grand?

Even if it's a big deal, that means, for me.

I don't want to grow up, but unfortunately my stomach isn't that big and I can't eat the amount.

So anything that serves me is more or less half the amount His Highness serves at any time... except sweets.

(And yet, I usually came alone)

"... unfortunately, I don't know"

Lilia shakes her neck sideways as she sighs.

"To the best of my knowledge, it was the waiter who made the mistake. … everything that was supposed to be transported to Her Royal Highness was turned to storage"

"Storage? What kind of stuff is that?

"Meals prepared for royalty in the Royal Palace will always be made and stored in excess of one or more meals. Storage period is two days. This is for investigative purposes in the unlikely event of poisoning."

"Yes. Who was directing me to serve today's luncheon?

It's Elinia.

"Eri ah?

"Elinia-Nerke. She's a junior lady in the palace and a civilian."

"What about the guarantor?

That's what I asked, because you can't work just civilians in the royal palace.

"I'm Viscount Nastia. Viscount Nastia works for the Law Court and Elinia will be his concubine daughter"

Only civilians who can receive the assurance of nobility can serve in the royal palace. But nobility is not so easily a guarantor of the civilian population.

(But if that's my own kid, it's not a story)

"Yes."

And, in fact, even with a guarantor, civilians cannot rightly be samurai or female officers.

Lilia said junior female officers, but there is no such position. Women are only women, and there is no distinction between lower and higher ranks.

However, when a civilian, but recognized for his or her abilities, is to do a job that is not specifically supposed to be left to the civilian population, the person is given the status of being said to correspond to a female official. I call it a junior female officer to distinguish it from a normal female official.

That is true of Elinia.

"So Viscount Nastia has something to think of me? Or does Elinia have herself? It'll look into it and tell you."

"... Yes"

There was some time. Maybe it's Lilia's acquaintance.

"... Your Highness thinks that Elinia did this deliberately?

The expression is a little stiff.

"You know, Cutlery wasn't mine either. … I think that if it's one thing, it can be a mistake, but I think it's strange that it's both a mistake"

My hands are small. And I don't have much power. That's why regular cutlery is heavy. In the beginning I used normal things, but since I started having breakfast with His Highness, I have started using a dedicated cutlery with His Highness's consideration.

(I don't think a civilian but capable enough to be a junior female officer would make a simple mistake)

"... Yes"

Lilia nods. He seems a little hesitant in his faceless... or unconvinced.

(Lilia is perfectly understandable compared to His Highness)

His Royal Highness's poker face is a few times higher than Lilia's.

"Lilia, I know you misunderstand that face, but I didn't say Elinia-Nelke did it in bad faith."

"Your Highness?"

"There was something wrong with your personal dish, so maybe I made it normal....... maybe there was something about cutlery not being available in the same way. I don't want to punish her.... I just want to know why."

Was there a reason or a flaw...... I don't mind if it was purely a mistake, and even if it was harassment, that's it. I simply want to know the causality.

"Your Highness..."

"Even if it's harassment, I'm not going to dispose of it with this much."

It's a lot of whispering, even if it's harassment, and the damage is enough to physically fill my stomach. I don't have enough to blame.

If you mean harassment, I think there was more harassment than there used to be.

(... I just heard the story, I don't remember)

For now, there's nothing so life-threatening you won't have to worry about.

Lilia praises with a relieved look and tries to leave.

"Oh, wait. I want to hear about other people."

"Others, is it?

Of course, the rough profile of the Four Dukes is on my mind before luncheon.

But there are a few things I'd like to make sure you ask.

"Yes. As to leave your troublesome father... first, the Duke of Grachez. Sounds harsh as I heard beforehand, but sweet for your wife, huh?

The first impression of the Duke of Grachez is that he is skinny and soothing. In a nutshell, it's like thinking a child is scared at a glance.

"Yes. The Duchess says Elaine-Sephila. As you know, Master Elaine was born in Elsevelt and will be his second wife for the Duke of Grachez. The Duke welcomed his seven-year-old wife when she was twelve, and after losing that first wife at fifteen, she remarried after thirty. Master Elaine was fifteen at the time.... you are just the same age difference between Your Highness and Her Royal Highness. Before marriage, she said she had a side woman, but after marriage, Lady Elaine was protecting one of you."

"Wasn't it a political marriage?

"It's a political marriage, but because of the age difference, the Duke seems to feel like Elaine's guardian. Always a knight of refuge, protecting Lady Elaine, who grew up boxed as the Duke of Elsevelt."

Probably almost fifty years of marriage. I can't imagine fifty years from now, far away, but I envy that rapprochement.

(... just, you know, you felt a little dreamy)

I was the Duchess of Grachez, who had such an atmosphere as a very elegant Madame, but I felt there was something about not reading the air, probably not because of my chi.

"The Dukes of Ferdis don't have a very strong impression..."

"The Duke of Ferdis is only about three years old when he comes to the position of Duke. I was succeeded by a father my age from the North Lord, but my predecessor Lord Ferdis had a very strong personality, and I am told that your son did not resemble him at all."

(Oh, yeah. I know. You've been held back for a long time.)

But that's probably why I'm wrong to think he's just a mild person with a faint impression.

(Something you shouldn't have done if you had succeeded Ferdis the Merchant)

"Which one is your wife?

"It's Alhan. We will not inherit Alhan's redhead, but we will bequeath the late Duke and his half-sister princess."

"The Duke of Alhan seemed to like eating."

"Yes.... but it doesn't mean you're very loud about the flavor. He is not His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, because he is a born soldier, but he does not complain about the continuation of portable food."

I take off my gown while Milady helps me and change into a room.

"How long has your wife been dead?

"Will it be about seven years... he was a royal bloodline princess"

"Is the young lady her child?

"Yes, the children of the Duchess of Lennate, who were with you today with your successor, Leon."

"Your daughter also likes to eat."

"Alhan's clan tends to be awkward. Maybe it's because of so many samurai."

Speaking of which, His Royal Highness Nadir once told me that eating is one of the training of the Duke of Alhan family to make a body.

"I don't know about your son, but are you a soldier?

"No.... Master Leon does not work for the military. He was born in Alhan and has a strong civilian temperament, and there are often rumors of obsolescence."

"Why?"

Then climb up to bed as Margot prompted.

I can't believe I'm napping at this age! I think so, but I can't help it because it's recommended.

"There are some places where evil stands out because Master Renate's reputation is too high"

"Hmm."

Lilia turns the top hanging and just asleep to make a place.

"See you, Your Highness. Sleep for about two hours."

"... yeah"

I'm not very sleepy, but I close my eyes even though I think.

Maybe I was more tired than I thought.

Less than three minutes after my vision closed, I fell into a deep sleep.