Kalin’s eyes widened, and Misha slightly bit the flesh inside her mouth to maintain her expression.

“How dare you say that! Who talked like that in front of the princess?”

“No, Her Highness wasn’t there at the time. It was Lady Keril of Lysenga. She humiliated my conduct and belittled the party. Who knows what would have happened if Her Highness hadn’t appeared.”

“Keril Lysen did that…?”

Misha turned her head, shedding tears, and Kalin seemed to make a resolution, closing her mouth.

Misha couldn’t remember exactly because she hadn’t paid attention to others’ conversations at the party that day, but Lord Ankart had business ties with Lysenga and had influence there. Keril had come to the party following her father.

Misha was convinced that her revenge was complete with a fleeting look at Kalin.

“Let’s go back. Hearing such things, even you, Misha, haven’t done well.”

Kalin expelled Misha, but as she left the mansion, she wore a smile.

After the princess tried to use Misha to drive me away, I was troubled. It was that important for Her Highness Milliora to get rid of me.

I should at least talk to Her Highness to figure something out, but that wasn’t easy either.

Today, I went to Her Highness’s reception room with a heavy heart. I instinctively turned away, knowing I’d be dismissed, but Eria said,

“Please come in.”

“Huh? Oh!”

When I entered the reception room, Her Highness was alone today. Her unaccompanied figure seemed strange.

Her Highness opened a small ring box, trying on rings alternately. When she saw me, she closed the box with a thud.

Her glance at me was quite charming. Her long, flowing silver hair made her appear slightly inhuman and much more mysterious.

“Lorisha Loar greets Her Highness.”

“You’ve come? My maidservant.”

So it begins.

Her Highness’s tone was full of hostility. But the relationship between her and me was just starting.

My relationships usually start with hostility, so it’s okay. I can handle it.

“Yes, Your Highness. This is the first time we’re meeting alone.”

She closed the ring box and pushed it toward me.

“Would you like to pick one? You said you’re my maidservant, after all.”
Inside the box, dazzling rings were neatly lined up.

What would I know about jewels? To my eyes, all I saw were rings and more rings.

“I’m not well-versed in jewels, Your Highness.”

“What use are you to me if you can’t even choose a ring?”

Ah, really.

I stumbled through my words, counting on my fingers.

“I can speak Agaelian fluently and am intermediate in Smairlian and Goldranian. I’ve studied math, history, and imperial law, and a bit of pharmacology and botany….”

“Enough! Who wants to know all that?”

Milliora gave me a look that screamed incredulous. I discreetly clenched my remaining fingers into a fist, avoiding her gaze.

“My point is, Your Highness, you may know about jewels, but I don’t, and what you may not know, I could. We could help each other.”

“Isn’t she amusing?”

She leaned back, propped up her chin, and looked at me askew.

“What use would math be to me? You think they’ll ask me to solve math problems in a competition?”

“Lucky for you, there are plenty of people who are better at math than me. But none would be as devoted to serving Your Highness as I would.”

“Are you speaking Agaelian now? What nonsense are you saying?”

You can’t please everyone from the start.

“Please give me a chance, Your Highness.”

“Blah blah, blah blah. How presumptuous for a bastard!”

“About that, there’s nothing I can do. It wasn’t my choice to be born this way. But I apologize if it’s a concern for you.”

“What… this is…”

Milliora closed her mouth in disbelief, then firmly pressed the corner of the ring box with her fingertip.

Thanks to Misha, I knew exactly what that gesture meant. She was preparing to throw it at me.

This is insane.