Chapter 47

It wasn’t that she lacked the skills. Her abilities were practically superhuman. Maybe her interests just didn’t match her strengths. She must’ve been silently struggling.

“Why are you shaking so much, Mary? There’s no need to be nervous.”

“Your Highness, there’s no need to be so formal with me. Please, you may speak casually.”

“Ah, well, all right…”

Perhaps it was because she had just recently escaped a life of servitude, but Daisy still found it unnatural to look down on others.

“I’ll do my very best! P-please, call me Mel… yes, just Mel’s fine!

“Mel?”

“Yes! It’s embarrassing, but I’ve always dreamed of having a nickname!”

…Well it’s her wish. Using it once won’t hurt.

“Mel. It’s a lovely nickname. It suits you well.”

When her mistress spoke it aloud, Mary Gold’s face lit up with emotion.

“Then I look forward to working with you. I’ll be counting on you.”

Sooner or later, Daisy knew she’d have to find another job herself soon, but while she was in her care, she intended to treat her kindly.

And so began the uncomfortable cohabitation of two fake maids and a fake Grand Duchess.

༺♰༻

After arriving in the capital, Maxim went straight to the royal palace to report his safe return.

The king was not pleased that Maxim had delayed his formal return, yet with public attention fixed on the hero of the hour, he could not openly show his displeasure.

In the central plaza, where the capital’s main administrative offices stood, plans were underway to build a triumphal arch to commemorate Maxim von Waldeck’s grand victory.

Naturally, the eyes of the people and the press fell upon the war hero and his every move.

And nothing attracted curiosity more than gossip about his wife, “Daisy von Waldeck.”

Rumors spread that it was because of her that the miraculous hero had delayed his triumphal entry into the capital.

Meanwhile, the royal ball hosted by the monarchy to celebrate his return and monumental victory was drawing near.

It would be the moment for the veiled war hero’s wife to finally step into the light.

“Um, Aunt… isn’t this shop far too expensive?”

Glancing around the luxurious boutique, Daisy whispered to the former Grand Duchess.

She owned only a handful of modest indoor dresses. Dragged here by force, she had little choice.

The Head of House Waldeck had ordered her to choose gowns suitable for the important social gatherings she would now be expected to attend.

Rose and Mary Gold were half-dazed by the splendor of the boutique, staring as if they had stepped into another world.

The only person Daisy could even remotely talk to—her only ally in this divorce operation—was her aunt-in-law, the former Grand Duchess.

“It is expensive, yes. But this is the only place available at such short notice.”

“But I’m getting divorced anyway, remember?”

What use were these dresses after that? After the separation, she would soon live among nuns at the convent.

And being custom-made, they would be nearly impossible to resell.

The expense felt like a heavy burden.

“You’re right,” the former Grand Duchess agreed. “But you can’t very well attend the ball naked, can you? We’ll choose the bare minimum.”

“…Alright.”

Well, she wasn’t wrong. If even this strict old woman insisted, then it must really be unavoidable. Maybe Daisy didn’t have to feel bad after all.

So she held her tongue.

“Above all else, don’t go embarrassing yourself. Do you understand?”

“About that. How exactly am I supposed to not embarrass myself? Any tips…?”

“The first rule of nobility is to pretend to lack what you have, and to pretend to have what you lack.”

“Mm… forgive me, but could you be more specific? I’m from the slums, so I don’t really get it when things are said so… elegantly.”

The former Grand Duchess sighed deeply and leaned close to whisper in her ear:

“Don’t let them see you visibly panicking over the prices. Simply let them dress you and undress you however they like. Understood?”

“…Yes.”

Good Lord. So she wasn’t even allowed to change on her own?

Well, they hadn’t let her bathe alone either.

These upper-class folks, what were they? Infants? Incapable of doing anything on their own?

Daisy was accustomed to fending for herself and found such pampering unbearable.

‘Oh, crap. The gun…’

She remembered, unfortunately too late, the revolver Maxim had given her was strapped to her thigh.

If they found it while dressing her, it would certainly cause alarm, and suspicion she didn’t need.

‘I’ll have to hide it somewhere in the fitting room.’