Chapter 302.1

T/N: This is an extra chapter that takes place after the Stuarts' second tea party (before the local barrier hazard)

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Extra Chapter - Birds of a Feather [Part 1]

Rose's Handmaid, Meg's POV

"Rose-sama, you will have to depart soon..."

It would take several hours to reach Palace County, even on a horse carriage. Even so, Rose-sama was still enjoying her black tea elegantly. Unable to look on in silence, the butler reminded her timidly, but it didn't seem like she would get up from her chair anytime soon.

After the king gave Rose-sama a holiday, she had been living her days as she pleased in her parents' house in the Marquisate of Valerie.

"At least keep your willful acts inside our territory only..." the request from her father, Lord of Valerie, went futile as Rose-sama had been participating in tea parties while hiding her identity. She terrorized many gatherings as she enjoyed the bewildered looks of the hosts and invitees.

Only a few people could see the Royal Family in this land far from the Royal Capital. Welcoming the royal concubine and the black-haired prince and princess without any prior mental preparation would simply be hell for those people.

"So fun, how fun." Rose-sama smiled with vacant eyes.

As a maid under Rose-sama, it pained me to see her having that kind of expression. In my eyes, she appeared to be in pain and seeking help.

"The former her wasn't someone who would make that kind of smile..."

The butler, who had been working in House Valerie since Rose-sama was little, sighed sadly and frustratedly.

Did marrying into the Royal Family make her suffer this much?

I, who was a newcomer among the royal concubine's dozen other handmaids, followed Rose-sama to the Marquisate of Valerie from the Royal Capital with several other senior maids.

I was born into a Viscount household, which allowed me to attend the academy and get married right after graduating. After I got divorced, I had no where I belonged. There wasn't even a place for me in my own family, but I was lucky enough to land a job as a maid in the Royal Palace.

"Rose-sama..."

I knew my beautiful mistress was an earnest, kind, and hardworking person. During the cold winter days, Rose-sama saw my rough, dry hands and gave me her outrageously expensive hand cream.

"You will scratch my skin if you touch it with those rough hands."

Some might take her words as harsh.

But I didn't miss the delighted chuckle that escaped her mouth for a second when she saw how my hand had turned smooth thanks to the cream she gave me.

Perhaps before marrying into the Royal Family, she used to be someone who would smile softly and kindly.

A mere maid like me couldn't protect her.

A mere maid like me couldn't save her.

Someone, please help her.

Please, please save Rose-sama. All I could do was pray in my heart.

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It seemed that god truly existed.

Rose-sama's aura incredibly softened that day when she returned home from the tea party.

"Count Stuart is a rich and nice man, so she must have been thinking of having an affair, right?"

My seniors, who also followed Rose-sama here to Valerie from the Royal Capital, were gossiping about her thoughtlessly.

Having an affair...? Would Rose-sama really be saved because of such a thing?

"The black tea is really fragrant. The cookies are very delicious too. Thank you."

Ever since the three Stuart siblings started coming to Valerie to play, Rose-sama's expression had softened up even more.

When I refilled their cups of black tea, they would thank me, a mere maid, with a smile.

I was surprised at first and refused to accept their gratitude by saying there was no need to be considerate of me. But even after that, they didn't stop saying those words of thanks that seemed to come out of their mouth so naturally.

To entertain the three siblings from the House of Count Stuart, we needed to prepare all sorts of recreations. We called in jewelers at first, but their play turned out to be far different from any noble's play until now.

They played hide-and-seek, tag, and playing house, exactly as the names suggested, to cater to Jadwiga-sama's liking.

The three siblings also involved Rose-sama in their games and seemed to enjoy them earnestly.

The entire House Valerie was brightened by the mother and daughter's relaxed expressions, a look I had never seen when we were in the Royal Capital.

I was sure Valeries' servants wouldn't even be surprised even if someone told them that those three siblings were magicians.

It was that much of a miracle.