Don’t Concern Yourself With That Book

“What’s going on? Do any of you actually have the time to sit around like this?”

The maid with hair the colour of water looked at the rest with a sneer as they scrambled to their feet.

“Oh man. We’ve been resting for too long.”

Everyone fidgeted and looked away.

“Lena, you’ve been working for long enough by now, so, what do you want to do with the newbies?”

“You’re acting too stiffly, René!”

Lena flinched like a man who had just gotten stabbed.

“You must have been so busy you barely had time to rest in the place you previously worked in, the Teret Palace, but that’s not how things work around here.”

The maid with water-coloured hair snorted.

“Should I relay whatever you just said to the Head Maid word for word?”

Lena’s shoulders shook in response as she hurriedly lifted the broom.

“I was just planning on starting work. Pour me some water!”

“I keep telling you not to treat people like human wells, haven’t I?”

“Tch, when have I ever? You’re a templar, aren’t you?”

Lena pouted her lips as she retorted. Lena and René. The maid with water-coloured hair and a name similar to that of Lena was actually a maid from another palace.

“She was reassigned because the Teret Palace is now empty but she really is draconian.”

The Teret Palace that was once occupied by the former 4th Prince was now empty. As its master was no longer here.

“Why did the former 4th Prince suddenly disappear?”

There was some talk amongst the maids about where he could have disappeared to but no one knew the exact truth.

“Do you perhaps know what he looks like?”

“No?”

“I heard that he was unsightly.”

“Aren’t those just rumours?”

Moreover, the owner of the said palace rarely showed his face so no one knew what he looked like.

‘I’m sure that man and Her Majesty…’

Only Hannah could recall the beautiful yet feisty prince who would come visit the emperor’s residence every night. However, even the emperor remained silent regarding the disappearance of the former 4th Prince.

“René, have you also heard about the lady-in-waiting?”

Lena, who was holding a broom, chased after René’s footsteps before asking.

“Us maids were just talking about whether or not she was going to marry the 6th Prince.”

René snorted.

“You should be wary of gossiping about the mistress you serve.”

René did not particularly dislike the friendly Lena but she was uncomfortable around her. Because she reminded her of a close friend that had died because of the Crown Prince’s massacre. However, though she had no idea whether it was because of her own nature, René was unable to shake Lena off.

“If you’re referring to the former 6th Prince, you must be talking about the man who keeps scrounging from the lady-in-waiting?”

“Mhm!”

“I have no idea whether or not they’re going to get married. But I did see him proposing to her on the first floor.”

After agonising over it, René spat out cordially.

“Huh? Guys, did you hear that? Let’s go watch!”

“You girls!”

But by the time René turned around fiercely, it was already too late. She found the rest of the maids leaving their brooms behind and dispersing. Even the meek girl, Hannah!

‘Her Majesty really needs to give them a good scolding one day.’

But the emperor was exceptionally kind to her maids.

Sighing and clicking her tongue, René lifted her broomstick.

***

The sunny weather in the Empire was a blessing to its people. It provided farmers with ripe fruit and merchants with smooth travels.

After experiencing such an upheaval, the people of the Empire admired and sang praises to the emperor for bringing them the blessing of clear and sunny skies.

They were also extremely delighted to see that the princess who performed the Primo Salvatio, which they looked back on with fond memories, became the emperor.

In fact, it was only the old templars obsessed with stifling traditions who were displeased with the accession of the Imperial daughter Ashley Rosé.

Having survived the war and the former Crown Prince’s subsequent attack on the Imperial Palace, the templars seemed to have come together but deep-rooted dissatisfaction was still present in some minds. And during these times of peace, they dared to air their motives and expose their true feelings.

‘They’ve brought me more nonsense to read through.’

That was why the proposal detailing the plans for workforce reforms submitted by those old geezers wasn’t the most pleasant to read through. It was clear they were trying to act up through this proposal.

Nevertheless, the emperor, Ashley Rosé’s, expression remained calm.

“Soricks, is this all the data?”

“Yes!”

Soricks, who was assisting her on Rebecca’s behalf as she would be on leave for a while, quickly nodded. In the meanwhile, Ashley nodded her head indifferently.

“Gather everything from here to there.”

“Yes.”

“Shred them.”

At her calm voice, Soricks accepted her command brightly without even questioning it.

“Yes!”

Rather, he sounded as though he was excited to do so.

“Trash belongs in the trash can. And garbage that only continues to take up space deserves to be incinerated.”

This reform plan which those old templars must have written with gritted teeth had been confirmed to serve as fuel for the fireplace.

“Your Majesty, the following is a report submitted by the 6th Administrative Office.”

“What is this about?”

“It is a proposal regarding the organisation of the non-templars.”

As he spoke, Soricks tilted his head. He then spoke warily

“Your Majesty, can things continue like this? Today’s the coronation…”

Glance. Soricks stared out the window. Upon first glance, he spotted the colourful banners. He could also hear the cheers and the sound of music.

“Well, it cannot be helped. We are busy.”

After staring at Soricks for a while, Ashley shrugged her shoulders.

The day Ashley ascended the throne was the same day the Crown Prince took the palace by storm after the late emperor died. The war broke out immediately afterward too.

So, today, the coronation for Ashley Rosé, who had yet to be officially crowned, would be held.

However, there were many other things she still had to deal with, like the aftermath of the 2nd Prince’s coup, the war and the explosion, and the subsequent slaughter carried out by the former Crown Prince to mention a few.

That was the reason why she had only been looking at reports since she woke up earlier the same morning.

“If you could allow me to be honest, please stop and even if you didn’t, please just stop.”

Rebecca, who had just entered the room, heard what Ashley just said before staring back at her coldly. When she noticed her arrival, Ashley quickly adjusted her tune.

“… No, that’s not what I meant. It’s just such an important event. Alas, I just can’t wait to receive the crown.”

“Your Majesty.”

“Ahem, I haven’t said a word.”

After snatching the report away from Sorick’s hand, Ashley quickly replied. Of course, that was just an excuse that would never work on Rebecca.

But Soricks noticed. As soon as she saw Rebecca, Ashley had realised. Her expression of focus–that also looked slightly bored–that had only been directed towards documents thus far was nowhere to be found now.

“Where have you been, Rebecca?”

“I went to retrieve something I had left at the palace. I went to get it myself… but that seemed to have been a mistake.”

“A mistake?”

Seeing Rebecca’s fine face frowning, Ashley was reminded of something. She asked gingerly.

“Fleon?”

Then, Rebecca’s expression crumpled. Ashley laughed as though she found this fun.

“What’s wrong? Did he ask you for your hand in marriage?”

“…..”

Ashley’s smile hardened slightly. Wait, seriously?

“Oh my god. Is that true?”

“… I haven’t said anything yet.”

“I’m right! I was right!”

Ashley slammed the palm of her hand against her desk before she began pounding it.

‘How many steps did he skip if he hadn’t even asked her out yet?’

“Isn’t this going into the trash?”

He turned his head away and pretended to not have heard anything. ‘I did not hear anything.’ As he let out a dry cough.

Ashley was left in awe.

“He hasn’t done anything with you, much less asked you to date him, but he asked you to marry him?”

Fleon had returned a month ago. As was stated in my wish. However, shortly after returning alive, Fleon had been a nuisance, especially to his residence.

‘That damned brother of mine. I saved him but he’s making me regret it, he really is.’

There were many who witnessed his execution. The god did not help resolve any issues that would pop up after reviving them. Ashley had been unimaginably busy trying to patch things up.

“Why must I change my last name?”

Rebecca asked with her eyes gracefully downcast. Then, Ashley frowned and retorted as though she was wondering why Rebecca was asking in the first place.

“Of course, you must feel as though you’re being robbed.”

“Huh?”

“He’d be a waste for you, wouldn’t he, Rebecca?”

What was there to the former 6th prince who barely returned alive? He had been tagged as a rebel and was no longer a royal. And his personality was as foul as failure. Of course, he still had Vulcanus to his name but it was not enough. Rebecca would be taking Fleon as a mere trophy husband.

“He might be my brother but he is very lacking.”

Ashley felt like a parent handing over their spoiled child to a well-standing person.

“Should I go tell him off?”

“… What do you mean?”

“Till the day dirt is shovelled onto my eyes, I will not accept this!”

Rebecca looked down at Ashley’s sparkling eyes coldly.

“I have really wanted to say this for a while now.”

“…..”

“What if I were to bring you soil?”

Ashley tilted her head.

“He is a decent man but you wouldn’t do that to me, would you?”

“If not?”

“Well, I’ll imprison you for murdering the emperor.”

She shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly.

“… If this gets taken into trial, he will be severely punished. Because he’s been tried before.”

Fleon was someone who had been accused of being involved in a coup before anyway. Ashley laughed heartily.

“Should I? Then, should I have you taken away now?”

Having served her for a long time now, Rebecca could tell Ashley was now very interested in her.

“Why are you staring at me?”

“It is not very kind of you to tease me like this.”

“Aw, you’re being mean. I might seem like I’m joking but I mean it.”

Ashley’s beautiful eyes flitted. The eyes that seemed to hold shards of crystal glistened under the light.

“Seriously, do you want me to go tell him off for you?”

“Huh?”

Ashley, who had got up unexpectedly, reached out to grab Rebecca’s hand.

“I seduced you first.”

She whispered softly as though she was flirting with an escort. Rebecca stared back at Ashley in amazement but shook her head.

“You will make him very upset.”

“Right? I want to see it.”

“Well… I wish I could allow you to too.”

With her head down, Rebecca flashed a small smile.

From some point, her mistress began to smile little by little. Unlike how she never smiled before and unlike those warring times where she would only flash empty smiles.

Since when did she start changing?

It must have been from the moment she learnt that the people that died would come back alive.

Rebecca did not believe in miracles but she decided to believe in them from that day forth.

“In any case, you have to get changed now.”

Because the miracle that was Ashley was standing right before her.

“Let us go prepare for your coronation.”