Chapter 20: Her Judgement

(Thank goodness the sheets were washed in time!)

Standing in front of the maidservants, Rishe was inwardly nervous, while being introduced by Oliver, Arnold's squire.

There had been so much to do this morning that she had to put off the laundry until later today. She exhaled softly so that no one would notice that she had just managed to get ready and come over.

Unaware of Rishe's musings, Oliver explained to the assembled girls.

"You were nominated as maidservant candidates because His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, has asked for people closer in age to help Her Royal Highness, Lady Rishe, who will be the future Crown Princess. Those chosen should bear this in mind."

As a matter of fact, this was the first time she has heard of this, but that has to be left aside for now. Rishe examined the faces of the girls gathered.

Elise's mouth was hanging open in obvious surprise. She seemed to have so much emotional ups and downs to the situation, but for once, it was understandable.

(Sorry. I thought the best way to get a genuine picture of your situations was to speak to you as the same handmaiden.)

The other new maidservants in the room were as stunned as Elise with their eyes shining as they looked at Rishe.

On the other hand, Dianna and the other senior maidservants looked terribly pale.

Some were shaking with their teeth clattering. Others were unable to utter a word, flapping their mouths open and shut. Some stood around with abandon, while others were on the verge of tears.

They were all the girls who had thrown harsh words at Rishe, who had been lurking as a maidservant.

Their leader, Dianna, held a hand to her mouth, to muffle her shriek just now.

"Well, then, Rishe-sama, please give them your instructions."

"..Okay."

After Oliver's introduction, Rishe stepped forward quickly.

"First of all, I'd like to apologize for what I have done. I'm sorry for the deceitful way I've met you. — But thanks to you, I was able to take a closer look at your work."

Oliver next to her was baffled. On the other hand, the newly recruited maid servants became jittery at once.

"...What should we do? Come to think of it, we had Rishe-sama help us with our laundry!"

"I'm sure to get fired for this! Without my salary, my brother won't be able to go to school..."

Perhaps, the newcomers could no longer control their anxiety, and they began to vent it in whispers. Hearing the buzz, Oliver whispered with a troubled look on his face.

"Rishe-sama, you mentioned something about your work a while ago... In fact, two-thirds of the people here are amateurs who have just been gathered from the castle grounds."

"Yes, I know."

"It's because there are hundreds of maidservants in the castle, but most of them are of advanced age. Normally, we should have chosen those who were excellent in their jobs... But His Highness Arnold asked us to make sure that the maidservants are around Lady Rishe's age so you could get along well with them."

"We'll talk more about that later."

Indeed, he thought it strange to hire newbies from the castle as candidates for Rishe's maidservant. But now wasn't the time to ponder over Arnold's intentions.

"I was told that choosing the maidservants was up to Rishe-sama, but no matter what, we can't have inexperienced maid servants for the future Crown Princess."

Oliver took out a sheet of paper from his pocket.

"I have a list here with the names of the new recruits. Please inform them that they haven't been selected. Let's fortify Rishe-sama's handmaidens with those with a little more experience."

"Oliver-sama."

"Let me start off with, Elise..."

"Miss Elise, Miss Nicole, Miss Hilde, Miss Margarette, Miss Rose..."

"Nah..."

Rishe named the girls' without looking at the paper, much less listening to what Oliver had to say, calling them by their names herself.

The eyes of the newcomers, whom Rishe named, rounded. All of them were faces she'd seen in the laundry area at least once.

"Miss Ericka, Miss Amelia, and..."

"Well, don't tell me you remember all of them?! You weren't even assigned to you. A mere servant's name..."

"I remember. Without these servants, we won't be able to keep our daily lives going."

After replying to Oliver, she called out the remaining names and then turned to the maidservants.

"That's all. I'd like to address the twenty."

The newcomers freaked out and tensed up.

Some of them shrank back and trembled. Dianna and the other maidservants, who hadn't been called by name, looked triumphant.

Facing them, Rishe announced.

"The twenty people whose names I have just called out will be my maidservants."

"...Uh...."

The air in the place froze, and Oliver let out a startled cry.

"R-Rishe-sama! Those names are the newcomers..."

"That's right. I would love for them to work here at the Royal Castle."

Even the newcomers who were supposed to be told that they weren't hired were in a state of disbelief, as if they had no idea what was going on.

"It's good to see you, Elise."

"Wha-at?! Um, yes, um, but uhm —"

Elise remained stuck there stammering. It was Dianna's trembling voice that rose before she could speak.

"Why, Rishe-sama! Rishe-sama must have seen them in action; how useless and inexperienced these newbies are! While we have done a lot of work in the shortest amount of time!!"

"Hey, you! You're being disrespectful to Rishe-sama!"

Even when Oliver rebuked her, Dianna continued desperately.

"I will be of good service to you, Rishe-sama! I'll do any job I can get my hands on! So, please...!"

"You, back away! Don't come any closer to Rishe-sama."

"Indeed, I was— I'm so sorry for being so rude to Rishe-sama! But I didn't know who you were!! But I promise I'll make it up to you, I'll make it right! So, please, please, look at my abilities as a maidservant!"

"..."

Rishe stared at her.

"Dianna, I want to ask you to do something for me."

"Ah~ Thank you very much Rishe-sama! When you say 'ask', you mean, I..."

Dianna breathed a sigh of relief, looking reassured.

However, Rishe continued to stare at her right in the eye.

"You are to resign as a maidservant, effective immediately."

"..Eh—"

Dianna's face quickly turned pale.

"Wha...why? I'm so much better than these slow working newbies! I'll do every job perfectly, I promise...! So, you must hire me!"

"Hey, Dianna—"

Rishe shed off the polite tone she'd been using on these girls and called calmly.

"Didn't you take notice? These newly hired girls weren't bad at their jobs."

"... What do you mean...?"

"So, can you remember? You were once new to the castle. What has ever troubled you?"

Bewildered, Dianna's eyes wandered as if to ask for help.

But soon enough, she looked at Rishe as if she had an idea, and slowly opened her mouth.