Chapter 05
When Edith left the Crown Prince’s office, she was half in a daze. It felt as if a storm had swept through her entire body.
She couldn’t even remember what state of mind she’d had when she faced the Crown Prince, nor how she’d managed to leave that room. All she could recall was that she’d nearly had her throat cut.
—
*”Don’t be too frightened. His Highness is not a man who disregards propriety.”*
The man who introduced himself as Dewis, the Chief Chamberlain—perhaps in his early fifties—soothed her in a gentle voice.
But Edith simply couldn’t muster any energy. His words didn’t quite register with her.
—
*”Not a man who disregards propriety?”*
A man who threatened to cut out her tongue?
Yet Dewis spoke calmly, as if nothing were amiss.
—
*”Still, you didn’t die, did you?”*
Edith was so dumbfounded that she pressed her lips firmly shut.
Were all people in the imperial palace this ruthless? It seemed that serving such a superior was the only way to survive here.
So this was why the knight who brought her here had warned her to watch every word. Edith inwardly nodded in understanding and squeezed her eyes shut. Dewis gave a faint smile.
—
*”Then, I shall explain about the military garrison where you, Healer-nim, will be stationed.”*
The military garrison referred to the public military facilities within the imperial palace. The place Edith had to go was the infirmary within that public zone.
—
*”As you are aware, healers are extremely valuable talents, so you will be the sole healer assigned to the military garrison.”*
*”……If it’s a public military facility, that means all the knights will come through there. Are you saying I alone am to be responsible for that place?”*
The Kesmel Empire was a nation with formidable military power. Accordingly, the number of knights was vast, and it was certain that many would be injured during training.
Moreover, hadn’t the northern war just ended not long ago? The number of wounded would undoubtedly be double the usual.
And she was to handle that alone. This was utterly absurd.
—
*”Do not worry. The imperial palace will dispatch auxiliary personnel to assist you.”*
Support wasn’t the issue.
Edith suppressed the words rising to her throat. A sense of unease bloomed within her—the fear that she would once again have to endure the overwork she’d suffered countless times in her past life.
—
*”Will the knights cooperate with someone like me, a young girl?”*
She was more worried they’d look down on her for being young and treat her high-handedly.
Of course, not all of them would, but surely at least half would. Edith lamented inwardly.
Dewis only gave her an evasive answer.
—
*”Well, I wonder. By the way, which field of healing are you proficient in, Healer-nim? According to the report, it seems you also have some knowledge of folk remedies circulating among the common people.”*
She didn’t want to answer. But she couldn’t just keep her mouth shut either, so Edith only said vaguely.
—
*”I just…… happen to have picked up a thing or two here and there.”*
*”I see.”*
Even so, Dewis did not press her. He simply nodded obediently and guided her to a room.
And this was that very room.
When Edith first entered this room, she thought she was dreaming. It was far too splendid and lavish. There wasn’t a single thing that wasn’t high-class. Even the meals were excellent.
Still, she managed to eat somehow, but the room was so overwhelming that she couldn’t relax and do anything freely.
Which was precisely why she was now laying a blanket on the floor like this. If she accidentally damaged something, she would surely have to pay compensation, and it was clear that even selling all her possessions wouldn’t cover the value of a single item in this room.
Edith stared at the high ceiling and tossed and turned. She knew she needed to sleep, but it wouldn’t come.
Still, she forced her eyes shut in an effort to court slumber. There was a bed beside her, but it was so luxurious and fine that she felt it would be presumptuous to lie on it.
—
*’What if…… they say they can’t change it?’*
The Crown Prince seemed like exactly the kind of person who would do that. He might even order her throat cut, citing the dignity of the imperial family.
*’God, please help me.’*
Edith prayed earnestly, over and over, until she fell asleep.
Fortunately, God did grant her wish. Though only half of it.
—
***
—
“His Highness the Crown Prince has said you may change rooms.”
“Really?!”
At the words Dewis delivered early in the morning, Edith broke into a bright smile. She hadn’t expected the Crown Prince to so readily allow her to change rooms.
“This way, please.”
Dewis bowed his head and guided her to the smallest room.
Edith followed him with a sense of relief—until she realized she’d misspoken.
“This is the smallest and most modest of the guest rooms.”
Edith looked around with a bewildered expression. What Dewis called ‘small and modest’ was clearly on a completely different scale from what Edith understood.
The bed didn’t have a lace canopy, the furniture was certainly reduced, and there was no tea table like in a reception room—but it was still just as lavish.
“Um, is there no place smaller and less ornate than this?”
At that, Dewis spoke with a troubled expression.
“I apologize, but if you are asking for a room smaller and plainer than this, that would be the quarters used by lower-ranking maids or servants.”
“That would be fine too.”
Rather than use such an undeserved room, a maid’s quarters would surely be better. At the very least, there was no doubt it would be nicer than where she’d lived before.
But Dewis shook his head.
“I’m sorry, but that would be rather difficult.”
“……”
“An imperial healer receives treatment equal to that of high-ranking nobles. If I were to give you such a room, the dignity of the imperial family would be compromised.”
At Dewis’s words, Edith was at a loss. Judging by his expression, it seemed unlikely he would yield even if she insisted further.
When Edith reluctantly nodded, Dewis pulled a bell cord. At that, eight maids filed in one after another.
“These are the maids who will attend to you from now on, Healer-nim.”
“Maids?”
Dewis nodded and pointed to the maid standing at the far left.
“This is Luddia. She has spent a long time in the imperial capital, so she will be able to instruct you well on the rules and etiquette of the palace.”
“Hello, Healer-nim. My name is Luddia.”
A maid named Luddia stepped forward and offered Edith a formal greeting.
Luddia, with her brown hair neatly braided, looked the youngest among them—yet her demeanor was entirely different. She exuded far more seasoned composure than the others. Dewis’s words about her long service in the palace seemed no empty claim.
“Oh, hello. I’m Edith.”
Edith bowed her head awkwardly. Luddia smiled in response.
“I look forward to working with you.”
“We look forward to working with you, Healer-nim!”
At Luddia’s words, the maids behind her chimed in unison, bowing their heads.
Edith felt a strange unease at the sight.
“There’s no need for so many people to assist me.”
Honestly, even one was burdensome. She had never been attended to by anyone in her entire life. She understood that an imperial healer received treatment equal to high-ranking nobles, but this felt excessive.
Yet Dewis shook his head again.
“I’m sorry, but that would be rather difficult.”
Again?
Edith made a pitiful face.
“Um, I’m sorry, but—”
Edith suppressed the urge to sigh and spoke.
“I’ve never been attended by anyone before, so…… it feels a bit overwhelming.”
If she absolutely had to accept attendants, she wanted to ask if just one maid would suffice. But before she could speak, Dewis shook his head.
“I understand your circumstances. However, there is the matter of the imperial family’s dignity, and more than that, these girls are also the auxiliary personnel who will assist you.”
Auxiliary personnel? These girls?
As Edith looked at the maids with a puzzled expression, Dewis explained patiently.
“Since you use medicinal herbs and have knowledge of folk remedies as well, I specially arranged for girls who are familiar with those areas.”
“Hmm……”
“All personal attendance will be handled by Luddia alone. You can think of the other girls as closer to auxiliary staff than attendants.”
With him saying this much, she had no choice but to accept. Yet somehow, she felt an ominous premonition.
*’Even excluding Luddia, that means seven maids will follow me as auxiliary staff?’*
Was it really about the imperial family’s dignity, or was the work truly that daunting?
She suspected the latter, and Dewis hinted at it subtly.
“More importantly, I believe it’s about time you prepared to head to the military garrison, Healer-nim.”
