NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 16
Chapter 16 Erinne’s full name is Erinne Robane. I had never heard of such a family either.“Isn’t it the aristocrats with a small land in the corner of the empire?”The Violet doll snapped, obviously overwhelmed.‘But the way she does things like that is luxurious.’“Actually, I heard somewhere…”Yellow rattled off. It was a rush, like she was about to tell a secret, but her voice was loud for everyone to hear.“Apparently, they were a very prominent noble family in the Heisen Empire.”“The Heisen Empire?”The Heisen Empire was an empire separated by a river, and they were not on good terms with our empire.Without realizing it, I intervened and asked Yellowy.“Really? Why did she come all the way from there?”“Right, why? Political asylum?”“Hmm, it’s obvious. She must have committed some great sin, or else why would a prominent nobleman leave the Empire?”Violet’s words made sense. Leaving the Empire was a great risk. It was not something one would do for no reason.“Or maybe it’s all a lie. Who knows?”Yellow and Violet giggled. I looked over at Yellow and Violet, who were gossiping excitedly about Erinne, and asked.“But where did you hear that rumor?” ***** Erinne was strangely good at her job. After a few conversations, she told me she had never worked in the Imperial Palace.But she was good at everything. Even Yellow couldn’t deny the difference between her anymore.So Yellow’s gossip changed a bit.‘Heh, she must have been doing this kind of job in the Heisen Empire. How else could she be so good at her job?’The only one who agreed with her was now Violet. Most of the other maids had taken a liking to Erinne because of her exceptional abilities.But it wasn’t just her abilities; she was also a very beautiful woman, and even if she wasn’t, she exuded grace from head to toe. She had an aura that was not to be messed with.Whatever she was, there was no doubt that she was very well educated.I was nervous about myself. There was already a subtle ranking among the apprentice maids, though it wasn’t overt.Erinne was at the top of the list. She had beaten out all the veterans.It is said that only the top five can become the Crown Prince’s exclusive maid, and some of the lowest-ranking ones are sent back home…Such rumors were floating around. And I went back and forth between 5th and 6th place.‘This is dangerous…’The promised week now has only one day left. If I made a mistake, I could be in the same palace as the Crown Prince and could not even speak with Caesar.“Now, gather round.”The head maid clapped her hands and called us together. The Crown Prince’s tutors had gathered to learn about the educational schedule.“Tomorrow is the last day. We all know that rumors are circulating among you. As I said on the first day, as long as you don’t make any big mistakes, it won’t be difficult to become a full-time maid.”She smiled slightly.“So maybe everyone here can become a full-time maid. If you just work harder tomorrow, just one more day.”It was somehow meaningful. Maybe something will happen tomorrow?It seemed I wasn’t the only one who thought so. The maids chattered.“Is something happening tomorrow?”Erinne was the first to raise her hand. The handmaiden gave her a quick smile and said,“The Crown Prince will come and see you in person.”What?“His Highness himself has expressed his intentions, and on the first day here, someone said something like, I wonder if intimacy with His Majesty is important. I thought it made sense.”Gossips, a mixture of anticipation and anxiety, erupted among the maids. Perhaps it was an opportunity that had nothing to do with the work skills they had shown so far.As long as you look good to the Crown Prince!“So His Highness himself will be evaluating us?”“Yes, he does. He’ll probably have the most influence.”This shouldn’t have been good news for Erinne, since she’d been at the top of every class, but she kept her composure.In fact, she seemed pleased.“Why is she confident?”Yellowy next to me grumbled in a low voice.‘Yeah, she’s confident.’“I wonder if she has any connection to the Crown Prince. She seems to have a special relationship with the head maid.”Yellow looked at me for agreement, but I didn’t speak.The head maid favored Erinne because she was good at her job, not because she seemed to be cheating or doing anything wrong.‘In the first place, the head maid is not a person like that.’Having worked together at the Imperial Palace, I knew her personality well.‘And I don’t think Erinne would do that. However…’The problem was different. The fact that the Crown Prince would come directly, and that everything could be changed according to Caesar’s opinion. That was the problem.‘Because… I have deliberately ignored Caesar the last few days!’After coming to the Crown Prince’s Palace and becoming an apprentice maid, there were quite a few opportunities to stumble upon Caesar.Each time, he would make eye contact with me or smile in greeting, but I, like the other maids, would simply bow and greet him politely.As if I had never known him before. As if everything I said about saving his life or something was a lie.‘That’s unavoidable from my point of view.’On the first day I was assigned to the Crown Prince’s palace, we parted like that, and one day I wanted to explain things, but it was difficult.It was because of the unexpected story of choosing an official maid. If her friendship with Caesar was discovered, she would be in even more danger.Especially considering the personalities of Yellow and Violet, it was natural. Because they were mocking Erinne, who had done nothing wrong, for taking advantage of them.Worst of all, no matter how talented I was at work, they could have knocked me down.So, thanks to that… Caesar was pissed off at me.I didn’t talk to him, but I could tell.The first time, when he tries to call me, I ignore it. Second, he smiled brightly, I pretended not to see it. The third time, he waved and I ignored it…The fourth time we met, he ignored me first.‘Is that Caesar coming tomorrow?’Caesar is unaware of the seriousness of my search for a guide. He doesn’t realize that I only have a little over a month left.No, would he believe me now in the first place? Originally, I had planned to meet him after the probationary period was over to explain, but how did things turn out like this?I remembered Caesar’s chilly look as he walked past me on our fourth meeting.There was a good chance he’d be vindictive and drop me. ***** I somehow tried to meet with Caesar tonight, or tomorrow morning, before Caesar himself came to evaluate the apprentice maids.I wandered around near his bedroom and waited at the flowerbeds where we first met, but in vain.Is it possible for a mere maid to meet the Crown Prince?If I had had a little more time, things might have been different. She could have asked Floria for a favor and arranged a meeting, or she could have found out his official schedule and somehow created a chance encounter.‘After that, all I have to do is explain.’I could have let him know that I wasn’t ignoring him because I wanted to ignore him.Having failed to explain, I was forced to stand before Caesar with the other apprentice maids, helpless.Caesar had only one aide by his side. It was the knight who had been at his side whenever I had played ball with Floria.‘Are you two pretty close?’It was fortunate if Caesar had at least one close friend in the imperial palace where he had no place to put his heart.‘Now is not the time to worry about others.’I’m an idiot who worries about others even when I’m in danger of being cut off.As I shook my head, my eyes met with Caesar, who was looking at me.‘Ugh. I have to say something…!’I froze in shock, and by the time I could stammer out the words, Caesar had already looked away. It wasn’t like I had telepathic or anything, and it didn’t look like I’d be able to explain with my mouth in the first place.“Okay, now that we’re all gathered, let’s start with a brief explanation.”The head maid in front of us bowed at Caesar.“It is a great honor for the Crown Prince himself to appear here.”Caesar nodded slightly.A solemn atmosphere was created. No maid would dare to act impiously in front of him, even if it was the Crown Prince who’s not have strong allies.Perhaps it was because they were royalty, or perhaps it was because what they saw up close was not what they had imagined.Caesar was far from the weak and foolish Crown Prince like the rumor.“Today is the last day of the probationary period. It is also the day when it is decided whether or not you can become an official maid, and if so, what kind of job you will be assigned. And the final test to make that decision will be handed down by the Crown Prince himself.”The head maid bowed her head once more and stepped back. Caesar took a step forward.The sun, just in time to emerge from behind the clouds, poured over his head.I hadn’t seen him for a few weeks, but Caesar had grown up. Not just his height, but the overall atmosphere.‘He’s growing up so fast.’“The last test….”Caesar opened his mouth slowly. Even his voice sounded a little lower.“Is to guess my preference.”