“What about Sir Sirenster?”

Kaella sat Marquis Renar down and asked about various people. Marquis Renar was amazed that the archduchess, who had not been in Lucenport for long, remembered so many names after meeting the noble ladies only once.

“He is an upright person. A knight among knights. He is the one who is truly well-respected. But he dislikes putting himself forward, and detests flattery, so his promotions are slow.”

Peon looked at Marquis Renar as if he was hearing such words for the first time. That’s right. There are definitely things that the person at the very top doesn’t know.

“That’s why I’m asking the Marquis. Is his wife the same?”

“Well, as far as I know, they dated and got married. Marquis Perwedding’s was a strategic marriage between families. Sir Sirenster, though he doesn’t show it, is a man who deeply loves his wife. He always returns home quickly and never stays out late drinking with the knights. That’s another reason his promotions are slow, but he doesn’t care.”

“Promotions are slow if you don’t stay out drinking after work?”

Peon reacted sharply. Such things shouldn’t happen in Lucenport. There are so many enemies to face right now. It should be the most capable who are selected, not based on personal connections.

“How much influence do personal connections have on recommendations? Of course, recommendations in Lucenport are entirely different from other places and have to be proven through ability, but still, you have to drink a little to quickly get close to His Highness.”

Peon, who had been keeping an eye on Sirenster but hadn’t thought much of it, put his hand to his forehead.

Kaella knew why he was frowning with hardly any change in expression. Marquis Renar also naturally closed his mouth when Kaella no longer looked at him, urging him to say more.

What to do. She knew it was better not to interfere in Peon’s affairs if possible.

And he had never allowed her to interfere. It was an overreach. But there were many eyes here, and Peon was very seriously stiffening his face. He almost looked anguished.

“Your Highness. Lucenport is a large and vast castle.”

Kaella had no choice but to speak.

“Your Highness, who has so many things to take care of, cannot perfectly grasp everything.”

“But I have to.”

Those words were full of self-blame. It was a frequent occurrence for the archduke to overlook capable people among his subordinates, but he was very distressed by it.

Because it all felt to him like the mistakes he had made before going back in time, the reasons that had led everything to catastrophe.

“In the world, there are many cases where many talented people disappear without seeing the light. Is that all your fault, Your Highness? It is not. Since you’ve learned of a new talented person this time, shouldn’t you just be happy?”

The archduchess’ calm words were absolutely right.

“Instead of grieving those you lose unknowingly, just rejoice in the one you’ve come to know.”

Peon raised his head and looked at Kaella sitting across from him. She was quietly looking straight at him with her hands folded on her lap.

Her unadorned, honest gaze never avoided him. Even if he were to draw his sword and point it at her now, she would not look away. That noble, shameless attitude was admirable.

“That person will bring Your Highness another talented individual.”

“The archduchess is correct.”

Peon quietly nodded his head. Kaella turned to Marquis Renar.

“Tell us more about Sir Sirenster’s wife.”

“I don’t really know the stories of the noble ladies in detail.”

“Just tell us what you know.”

“In my view, she is a quiet person. The opinions were a bit mixed. There are ladies who say she is considerate and kind, and there are ladies who say she is stuck-up and aloof.”

Kaella stared intently at Marquis Renar. The maids and Peon also did the same.

“Why…, why are you all doing that?”

“You say you don’t know much, but you know quite a lot.”

At Peon’s words, the maids also nodded their heads.

“This much can be known just by paying a little attention to what the ladies are saying.”

“No, usually men don’t know at all.”

“That’s because they don’t bother to listen.”

Marquis Renar felt very wronged. He just wants to hear too many stories!

“Then you must know this too. What kind of ladies refer to Sir Sirenster’s wife as considerate and kind, and what kind refer to her as stuck-up?”

Marquis Renar thought quietly for a moment, then looked at Kaella with a slightly surprised expression and answered.

“The former are mostly wives of humble and relatively poor knights. The latter are…, may I actually name the families?”

“Go ahead.”

“Wealthy ladies from mainstream families like Rulemon or Windgood are mainly…, like that.”

“In other words, Lady Sirenster is closer to the poor and humble rather than the mainstream families.”

“She’s not that close either. I didn’t get the impression that she was close with any particular lady, but still, Sir Sirenster and his wife are well-known for frequently sharing food and various things with their poor colleagues.”

Kaella nodded her head. She vividly remembered how Lady Sirenster, whom she had randomly called upon at the first meeting with the noble ladies, had trembled but politely greeted her.

“Your Highness. I would like to appoint Lady Sirenster as the chief lady-in-waiting.”

“Do as you wish, Archduchess. It’s not something you need my permission for.”

“Still.”

Still, it would be advantageous for Kaella in many ways if the archduke knew in advance before the steward jumped up and down upon hearing this news later.

Affairs in Lucenport always had to be handled meticulously, turning the mind to the fullest to avoid any gaps. No, even then, troubles arose from somewhere. Probably because the mind being turned to the maximum wasn’t smart enough to begin with.

“It seems like a good choice.”

Seeing Peon smile, Kaella thought she was lucky this time. The issue of the chief lady-in-waiting might unexpectedly be resolved well.

But would she be this lucky next time too? She decided to write the invitation to Lady Sirenster without any expectations.

Somewhere, a thud was heard. Kaella, who was composing her expression, raised her head.

“Oh dear.”

Peon muttered dispassionately, looking at the backrest of the shabby flowery sofa that had been creaking anxiously as it flopped backwards.

“I apologize, Archduchess. I’ve done it again. Buy a prettier sofa.”

What kind of back muscles does one need to have to lean back and break a sofa backrest? Kaella didn’t even want to imagine, but she felt oddly refreshed that the ugly sofa was broken.

*

The appointment of Fabiola, wife of knight Alfred Sirenster, as the chief lady-in-waiting was carried out very swiftly compared to how the archduchess had been dragging out the issue.

Fabiola, who came to the castle grumbling about the archduchess’ urging to come quickly without knowing why, was very flustered upon facing the archduchess. She had been pondering what to buy for dinner, and suddenly she was the chief lady-in-waiting?

“I’m counting on you. The work starts tomorrow.”

“But, Your Highness.”

“I’d rather you not refuse. I saw you as the right person.”

Fabiola Sirenster, who was just the wife of a frugal knight, found the Emperor’s niece, who was wealthy and delicately raised but looked somewhat tired, quite daunting.

“Thank you for seeing me that way, but I’m not sure why I’m the right person. I have many shortcomings.”

“The fact that you react this way is why you’re the right person. What were you doing at home?”

Fabiola hesitated for a moment before answering honestly.

“I was pondering what to prepare for dinner.”

In other words, Fabiola’s household was not affluent enough for her to directly think about housework. Considering the illustrious background of the banished former chief lady-in-waiting Doris Windgood, Fabiola Sirenster was really nothing.

Still, she straightened her shoulders with dignity. It was not shameful that her husband was frugal and their circumstances were not good. Fabiola raised her brown eyes to look at the archduchess, who had probably never agonized over what to serve for dinner.

“Pondering what meal to serve each day is a headache. Have dinner with Sir Sirenster and me at the castle tonight. I heard your children are studying at a nearby school. I will send a knight to bring them.”

“Pardon? But…”

“As it happens, the archduke also said he has many things he wants to discuss with your husband, Sir Sirenster. I also have much to say to you.”

Will Fabiola Sirenster be roasted by the steward or not. How much should Kaella give up. As the archduchess, Kaella had to quickly figure it out.

Her absolute bottom line that she could never compromise on was sending back the maids she had brought from Austein. She didn’t expect much. As long as the chief lady-in-waiting didn’t prevent that.

At least the conviction that Fabiola Sirenster would not do so could be gained from the steward’s expression upon receiving the notification about the new chief lady-in-waiting.

“Pardon?”

“I said Lady Sirenster is the new chief lady-in-waiting.”

“But…”

The steward, who was about to say something, closed his mouth when the gazes of both the archduchess and Fabiola Sirenster simultaneously turned to him.

“No, Your Highness. You did well. What a relief.”

‘Since Fabiola Sirenster is not from such a powerful family, we can rather maneuver her as we please. Her husband is a bit annoying, walking around with his head held high, but this is strictly a larger-scale matter.’

The steward quickly finished his calculation and tried to put on a smiling face.

“It will lessen a great burden.”

Fabiola Sirenster clearly read in that face that he was looking down on her. She had never liked that Rolf Anderson, the viscount, from the beginning. How dare he say ‘you did well’ to the archduchess – that was no different from talking down to her.

The young archduchess had come and nearly died, and now had to suffer this from such an impudent steward.

Fabiola was not the type to tolerate such a thing. She intently stared at the back of the head of the steward who was leaving, saying he had much to do. No, she glared at him.

“We also have much to do.”

Kaella muttered, looking at that gaze.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Fabiola Sirenster no longer made any mention of declining the position of chief lady-in-waiting. The conversation that came out at the dinner where the archduke and archduchess dined together with the Sirenster family was just the kind of conversation the chief lady-in-waiting couple would have with the archduke couple.

“Congratulations on your marriage, though much belated, Your Highness. Welcome to Lucenport, Archduchess.”

Fabiola’s husband, Sir Alfred Sirenster, was a very gentle knight, and though his hair had thinned a bit as he reached middle age, he was quite handsome.

“You can’t imagine how happy we were to hear the news that the archduke was getting married. Archduchess, have you been to Luyannes? The waterfall there is so beautiful.”

Fabiola was a delicate beauty, a dignified middle-aged lady with intelligent brown eyes and brown hair.

Kaella, who had never interacted with this couple before her death, found the conversation in Lucenport unexpectedly enjoyable.

At least the Sirenster couple and their children did not giggle among themselves like the Lucenport people did when Kaella spoke.

“The archduchess has not yet sufficiently recovered, so we have not attempted any outings.”

“I was just wanting to ask how your health has been these days. I was relieved to see the archduchess looking well today.”

Despite being known for being aloof, Fabiola was unexpectedly a sociable person. She clearly showed genuine concern for Kaella.

“I can walk around and work now.”

“Thank heavens. I’m so relieved. Actually, when I saw you at the previous gathering coming in leaning on the archduke, my heart was really anxious. Even then, you looked so pale that I was very worried.”

Fabiola Sirenster sighed with relief.

“So I thought, that’s why His Highness accompanied her.”

“No, that wasn’t the reason.”

Then, unexpectedly, Peon chimed in.

“Isn’t it a husband’s duty to accompany his wife wherever she goes?”

Kaella had no idea who the man sitting next to her was. But at Peon’s words, the taciturn Sir Alfred Sirenster surprisingly strongly agreed, not giving her a chance to look at him.

“That’s right, Your Highness. Isn’t that really a given?”

“It’s a given.”

“In Lucenport, there are people who treat accompanying your wife like it’s some saintly act, but I personally think people who think that way are the real saints. How can they walk through the muddy roads in this cold weather wearing such long skirts? Women are already much weaker than men, and don’t they get even weaker after having children? What’s the big deal about accompanying them.”

Sir Sirenster shook his head as if displeased. In his every word, his heart that cherished and cared for his wife could be felt.

Fabiola quietly smiled by his side. She had the peaceful face full of the sense of stability unique to a wife whose family was harmonious and had a good relationship with her husband, shining bright like the moon.

Kaella was truly envious of her. She had once hoped to become like that but was frustrated, so she was very envious.

“Accompanying them is nothing to make a fuss about.”

“Yes, that’s right, Your Highness. Now that you think that way, the day that the thinking of all husbands in Lucenport changes is not far off.”

“Is that so?”

“Of course, Your Highness. In fact, all the ladies were surprised to see you accompanying the archduchess and it became the talk of our ladies’ gatherings. They must have each said something to their husbands when they went home.”

Fabiola brightly smiled and chimed in.

“Now that the archduchess has come, it seems the atmosphere in Lucenport will change dramatically. I hope you fully recover your health, share lots of good news, and live happily for a long, long time.”

It is said that the words of blessing from a lady who has had a long and happy married life are a precious gift to newlyweds.

So in many cases, such ladies are deliberately selected and invited to weddings. Kaella smiled at the blessing that didn’t apply to her at all.

“Thank you.”

The smile bloomed slightly, then quickly faded away.