TIDP 12

“So you’re saying you’re not that young, which means I don’t have to let this slide. Brother Darius? You should correct Miss Temeri’s way of speaking first. What exactly is the relationship between Miss Temeri and His Grace the Grand Duke?”

“You—!”

I snatched Rose Temeri’s fan and snapped it open.

Oh, a feathered fan. Not bad—quite proper, actually.

Tilting my chin lazily upward and hiding part of my face behind the fan, I completed the perfect image of a painted villainess.

“Such, such impudence again. I am the Grand Duchess, am I not? Don’t take me lightly just because I arrived today. If you continue speaking so rudely, I will forbid your entry to the Grand Duke’s residence.”

“Who do you think you are?!”

“Haah… As punishment for your offensive remarks, Miss Temeri is forbidden from entering the castle for one week. Return home and reflect on your behavior. Next time we meet, I hope you’ll speak like a proper young lady.”

I reached for the bell pull to summon a maid. That was when—

“Lady Anette, please forgive Miss Rose’s rudeness.”

Bang—the door swung open, and a woman entered with a gentle expression.

“Lady Igrit!”

“I apologize for greeting you like this. My name is Igrit. I assist His Grace, who is busy managing affairs alone, and oversee the administration of this castle. Please feel free to call me Lady Igrit, Lady Anette.”

Oh? Look at that timing.

As if she had been waiting for the perfect moment, her entrance made the tearful Rose perk up as though reinforcements had arrived.

“Yes, I’ve heard about you.”

Lady Igrit looked to be in her thirties or forties, though her refined beauty made it hard to tell her exact age.

When Darius became Grand Duke, his relatives appointed a guardian, claiming he was too young. Igrit had been chosen at that family council and had since managed the household in his stead.

In stories, when a lonely northern duke brings a warm, sunshine-like heroine into his castle, characters like her usually say things like:

“I always believed my lord had a warm side. You’ll be the one to find it. Please bring spring to this cold castle!”

They’re supposed to support and encourage the heroine.

…But she doesn’t look like that type at all.

Look at how she showed up the moment Rose was cornered.

She probably sent Rose here to provoke me and was watching from the sidelines.

Well, appearance aside, in the original story this woman…

Ah, spoilers.

“Miss Temeri has long been cherished in this castle, which lacks daughters. She is still young and immature. I will properly guide her, so please show leniency, my lady.”

“Miss Temeri may be young, but you are older than I am, and yet you’ve forced me to say something unpleasant to an elder.”

Did she think I’d bow my head like a newlywed and say, “Yes, of course”?

Lady Igrit’s face stiffened.

“The servants are watching. This is an important moment when they will judge what kind of person their new mistress is—especially her authority. Miss Temeri openly undermined mine. My first order after arriving was for her to reflect on her actions, yet now you ask me to withdraw that order.”

I lowered my gaze as if disappointed.

“His Grace said you would help me, Lady Igrit… but that doesn’t seem to be the case at all.”

“Lady Anette, that’s not true.”

“Not true? You didn’t even consider my damaged authority and immediately asked for Miss Temeri’s forgiveness.”

“I first apologize for causing you concern. And I will accept punishment alongside Miss Temeri.”

“L-Lady Igrit?”

As expected of a smarter villain than Rose, I thought, slightly impressed. Words alone don’t make a real apology.

“As I work within the castle, I cannot be punished by being barred like Miss Temeri. It seems I’ve forgotten proper etiquette, so as repentance, I will copy an etiquette book and submit it to you.”

Then she turned to Rose with a gentle smile.

“Miss Rose, I won’t force you, but if you copy the etiquette book alongside me, it will help cultivate your mind and character.”

“B-But…!”

At an age where sitting at a desk was the last thing she wanted, Rose looked miserable—like she’d tried to remove one burden only to gain another.

Trying to burden me emotionally by volunteering an even heavier punishment than the one I gave?

“From my very first day here, you’re making me seem like an excessively strict mistress. If word spreads that I made the lady who’s been managing this estate copy etiquette books, what will people say about me?”

“That’s not the case. Regardless of status, one must reflect on one’s mistakes.”

“Is that so?”

Well, if she insists…

I wasn’t even planning to punish her…

“I cannot ignore your sincerity for the sake of my pride. Even if I end up being criticized, I will accept your etiquette copies.”

I tapped the villainess fan in my hand.

“For your self-discipline, I’ll make sure to choose the thickest etiquette book possible. Ah, looks like I’ll be buried in books from the moment I got married.”

You thought I wouldn’t punish you? Think again.

“Miss Rose?”

Just as she was tiptoeing toward the door to escape, Rose froze and turned stiffly at my call. Her face clearly read:

If Lady Igrit has to copy a thick book… what about me? I can’t even enter the castle, and I have to copy it at home too?!

Oh? You thought running away would make this disappear?

Children never realize that lectures delivered at home are even scarier.

“At first, I was angry at you, Miss Rose. But Lady Igrit here is asking for your forgiveness, and you’re still young—you deserve a chance to reflect. I could remove your punishment.”

Rose’s eyes lit up with hope.

“Instead, you should apologize, right?”

That hope vanished instantly.

“Thank you, Lady Anette. Miss Rose, what are you waiting for? Apologize and thank her for her mercy.”

“A lady must not speak unpleasantly. Apologize for your rude words—especially for speaking that way to me, the Grand Duke’s wife. If you sincerely reflect, I can cancel both the ban and the copying punishment.”

“Apolo—”

Rose lowered her head, her face flushed red, forcing out the words.

Even without seeing her face, I knew exactly what she was thinking:

I hate that woman… but I also hate being banned and punished!

I don’t want to be banned from the castle—I won’t be able to see Brother Darius!

But I don’t want to apologize either!

If I’m not here, she might completely win him over!

But apologizing means admitting her!

“Apolo—apo—”

“My, Miss Rose. I can’t quite hear you.”

“…ry.”

Gritting her teeth, Rose shouted:

“Forget apologizing—I just hate you!”

Lady Igrit’s face hardened, and I smiled brightly.

“Yes, lying is bad, after all.”

The honest little Miss Rose’s punishment was decided: copying one etiquette book every day for a week—seven books in total.

* * *

“I-It’s an honor to meet you, my lady! Truly an honor—n-no, I mean, it’s an honor to my entire family! I will serve you with all my devotion, my lady!”

Freckles. A low nose. Hair tied up neatly.

This maid looked like she could win first place in a “romance-fantasy maid” competition.

In other words—plain, warm, and perfectly suited for a maid’s role.

“There’s no need to be so nervous. Are you alone? Where are the others?”

“The senior maids are busy preparing the bridal chamber for you and His Grace, so I came alone.”

“How long have you been working here?”

“Not long! A maid suddenly quit, so I got lucky and took her place!”

Not long, huh.

Given the hostile northern environment, I expected any maid assigned to me to be a spy.

But it seems they dislike me enough to send a newcomer instead.

Even if the ducal household was poor, assigning just one maid to the Grand Duchess was absurd.

The experienced ones must have avoided me—and this clueless girl doesn’t even realize it.

Still, she seemed kind.

“What’s your name?”

“My lady asked my name…! Oh—! I mean—my name is Apple Green, my lady.”

“Apple? Like the fruit?”

“Yes! I thought it’d be easy to remember!”

Her voice trembled, but she was cheerful.

Though… commenting on her parents’ naming sense right away would be rude.

“…Anyway, Apple, I didn’t bring any maids from the south.”

“Yes, I see!”

“‘I see’? Think about it. When I wash and dry my hair, who helps me? What about my morning preparations? Receiving guests?”

“I and the other maids will do our best to assist you so you won’t feel any inconvenience!”

“Yes, yes. You can help with most things, but I can’t entrust just anyone with my most personal matters. For example, managing my jewelry box—things like that require someone trustworthy, don’t they?”

Attention to all maids in the castle:
The Grand Duchess is currently recruiting a head maid. Multiple maid positions are also open.

Applications are encouraged from those who know how to seize an opportunity. Recruitment will close once positions are filled.

“Make sure you tell the others about this, alright?”

I smiled and lightly patted Apple’s shoulder.

After all, a romance-fantasy heroine—or at least a Grand Duchess—should have a loyal head maid who acts like her right hand.

Though judging by appearances… Apple already looks like she was born to support a heroine.