The Maid of the Cursed Princess

“We meet for the first time, Princess.”

The one who arrived at the High Tower the day before the Heroes’ Festival to escort the Princess was not the chamberlain, but a carriage led by someone else.

“Antoine Mancini, working as a lowly servant in the royal palace.”

A young servant whose face seemed to say ‘A blunt, unlucky stickler for rules and principles if there ever was one.’

“Did the chamberlain send you?”

“Yes. The chamberlain had intended to personally attend to the Princess, but he is leading such a grueling life lately with the Heroes’ Festival preparations that he can’t even sleep two full hours a day. Thus, I have come in his stead.”

“I see… no wonder he is so busy.”

The position of the Kingdom’s chamberlain was an extreme occupation that entailed handling numerous tasks even in ordinary times – to put it rather dramatically, a constant cycle of work, work, and more work around the clock every single day.

The chamberlain’s office was akin to a crematorium just shy of having a servant accompany the deceased, constantly teetering on the line where the living entered before the dead were carried out.

An already work-consumed role, made even more arduous by having to prepare for the once-a-decade Heroes’ Festival.

“I see. Convey my… no, never mind, I’ll meet him at the palace anyway.”

She would likely encounter the chamberlain frequently once at the royal palace, so she could pass along her regards then.

“Dorothy, and you… Antoine Mancini, was it? May I address you as Mancini?”

“Yes, please feel free to address me however you wish.”

“Very well…”

As Sibylla moved to board the carriage with one foot on the step, she abruptly froze.

If she boarded this carriage, she would go directly to Hyperion, forced to reveal her unsightly, repulsive form before the masses.

“…Alright, let’s go.”

But in the end, Sibylla overcame her fear and entered the carriage.

For she had received that promise:

-I shall be your shadow.

* * *

No words were exchanged inside the carriage.

The young servant, not one to readily show his inner thoughts, fixed his gaze outside to conceal any instinctive fear and revulsion toward the cursed Princess. Sibylla herself wasn’t one to initiate conversation.

And Dorothy, tense enough already, didn’t speak either to Sibylla or the servant she would likely never meet again.

Thus, the carriage merely rattled onward toward Hyperion accompanied only by the sounds of clopping hooves and turning wheels.

“…I would like to inquire about the proceedings of the Heroes’ Festival.”

The one who broke that silence first was Dorothy.

“…Do you mean an Orléans native is unaware of how the Heroes’ Festival unfolds? You seem old enough to have experienced it before…”

“No, I am aware of how it proceeds from the second through sixth days.”

While a grand celebration inviting dignitaries from around the world, at its core the Heroes’ Festival during the Argo Period was an Orléans national holiday commemorated and enjoyed by all Orléans citizens regardless of status.

Thus, aside from the first day’s events held within the palace and the seventh day’s events spanning outside and within, any penniless commoner could partake in the festivities from the second through sixth days.

And while far more modest in scale compared to the Heroes’ Festival, the basic premise of the events held nationwide during the Argo Period was similar.

“However, as a newly appointed maid to the palace, I am unfamiliar with the events of the first and seventh days.”

Dorothy had experienced two Heroes’ Festivals since birth and the Argo Period annually, so she knew of the festivities spanning the entire city from the second through sixth days.

But she was unaware of the first and seventh days, particularly the palace events, for she was but a lowly commoner – not palace staff, nor noble, nor capitalist.

“The first day will have the current King’s opening address and a palace banquet. However, as the arrival times of the foreign dignitaries will vary, and there is no need for the Princess to make an appearance from the very first day, Miss Gale need only attend to the Princess.”

With the current King having gone mad, the address would likely be given by the Crown Prince or Queen instead, but the overall proceedings wouldn’t change much. It was customary during the first day to turn a blind eye even if the royals were absent due to their unsound states, so the servant judged that the Princess could remain in her room.

“But from the second day’s events onward, you must attend without fail, so Miss Gale will be kept quite busy as well.”

“Yes, I am aware.”

The outdoor events from the second through sixth days had the royals viewing the Heroes’ Festival from the reserved VIP seating area.

In her childhood, Dorothy had witnessed the current King, Queen, and Second Prince in attendance.

“And on the seventh day, there will be a closing ball to mark the end of the Argo Period. Like the first day, it will be chaotic with many foreign guests departing for their homelands, but unlike the first day, you cannot be absent from your seat.”

“I see.”

In other words, the only relatively comfortable day would be the first, while the remaining six would be an unrelenting grind to properly guard and attend to Sibylla.

It wouldn’t be an easy journey, Dorothy inwardly reflected.

“We will soon enter Hyperion. Prepare yourself to attend the Princess, Miss Gale.”

“Yes.”

While instructing her to attend the Princess, the servant continued averting his gaze, a rather unsightly sight, but Dorothy obediently followed his orders regardless.

Humans were inherently selfish creatures, after all.

* * *

The Soleil Palace, the royal palace within the capital Hyperion.

While Orléans didn’t have just one royal palace, ever since the Bourges Palace was demolished three centuries ago, the Soleil Palace had been Hyperion’s sole remaining palace.

Dorothy had occasionally passed by the Soleil Palace’s majestic exterior vista – radiant enough to dazzle the eyes, imposingly grand from every angle.

But this would be her first, or rather second time entering the palace interior, for her previous visit had been brief, merely resolving her errand before departing. So this could be considered her first proper look inside.

Upon entering the palace grounds, the sounds of servants busily preparing for the Heroes’ Festival could be heard from all directions. But by deliberately having the carriage approach from the relatively secluded rear entrance, Sibylla’s party managed to keep some distance from the commotion.

“Proceed to the fifth floor. The Princess’s guest chambers are there.”

Following the young servant’s guidance, Sibylla and Dorothy ascended the stairs while avoiding prying eyes.

In truth, Sibylla couldn’t climb all the stairs herself, only making it to the third floor before Dorothy had to carry her the rest of the way due to her abysmal stamina.

There were two minor incidents where the guiding servant was taken aback – first by Dorothy’s unrestrained physical contact with the Princess, and again by her carrying a person up the stairs with apparent ease. But.

“From here, we will take over attending the Princess.”

As Dorothy reached the fifth floor carrying Sibylla, other servants approached them.

“…”

Dorothy briefly hesitated, uncertain if she should hand Sibylla over just like that.

Among them could very well be assassins who had targeted Sibylla’s life, or even those manipulating such assassins from the shadows – she couldn’t claim with certainty that none existed. Would it not be safer to remain by her side?

“They are trustworthy individuals, Miss Gale.”

While Dorothy was deliberating, a familiar elderly voice came from behind her.

“Chief Chamberlain.”

“They are all loyal servants who pledge allegiance solely to the royal family, uninvolved in any political machinations. You can entrust the Princess to them without issue.”

“But…”

The royal palace servants would undoubtedly be better versed in court etiquette and protocols, yet Dorothy found herself unable to leave.

“I will summon you once the preparations are complete. Until then, please rest yourself.”

“…”

If the chamberlain trusted them, she could likely entrust Sibylla to them as well. But to be prepared for any contingencies, it might be better to remain by her side.

“You may enjoy a short break as well.”

“…Princess?”

However, upon the Princess’s command, Dorothy had no choice but to obey.

“But only briefly. Once the preparations are complete, I will summon you again. And then, I won’t grant you even a moment’s rest.”

“…As you command.”

Watching Sibylla’s retreating form after leaving what sounded like a personal remark, Dorothy exited the palace and returned the way she came.

If she lingered inside, she would undoubtedly be constantly summoned here and there just for being dressed as a maid, with no chance to truly rest.

“But that said…”

The problem was that there might not be anywhere suitable near the palace to take that rest.

She couldn’t stray too far from the palace grounds, yet finding a spot to relax in front of the noisy palace gates with carriages and automobiles constantly coming and going would also be difficult.

“…?”

Then an odd sight caught Dorothy’s wandering eyes.

A young man clearly of common origin playing pétanque against children by the palace walls – a scene wholly unsuited to palace grounds.

It wasn’t so strange for commoner children to be near the palace, especially during the Argo Period.

But the young man frolicking with them made this otherwise ordinary scene extraordinarily unnatural.

Blonde hair tied back, blue eyes.

Similar to Sibylla’s yet more radiant golden hair, comparatively bright blue eyes.

He was royalty – moreover, a Prince.

Louis Ferdinand d’Orléans, the Second Prince of the Kingdom of Orléans, was merrily enjoying traditional games with the commoner children.

“…Won’t you yield, just this once?”

He was even losing to them. Quite miserably, at that.

“…”

This was… a Prince?