Chapter 29

Being a lady-in-waiting is truly difficult.

Princess Margaret is quite the handful. As soon as I went to her room after school, she immediately started assigning me tasks.

“I have so much math homework.”

There were several problems on the printout, but it was only a single sheet. Is that really “so much”? It would be faster to just give her the answers, but that won’t do. I had her solve them herself, offering hints about which formulas to use whenever she got stuck. It took a considerable amount of time, but she finished every question.

“Patience, I’m tired. Brew some tea. Make some for yourself as well.”

The special suite comes with a mini-kitchen. I brewed tea using the gold-rimmed tea set that Sophie, the maid, had set out. I loved tea in my previous life, and since these were high-quality leaves, I was able to brew a very fragrant cup.

“You’re good at brewing tea. Do you brew it yourself at the Granger house?”

At home, I only drink Eva’s watery tea. I haven’t been able to “improve” our life as far as tea leaves yet—luxury items are low on the priority list.

“No, but I know how to brew it as a matter of refinement.” (It’s not a lie; it’s just from my past life.)

“Oh, and practice this piece.”

She handed me some sheet music. It seemed to be a song even Patience didn’t know.

“Is this a new composition?”

“Yes, the Music Club creates new pieces. Isn’t it wonderful? I’ll have you compose a new song eventually, too.”

The notation is slightly different from the music in my previous life, but I played it while reading along using Patience’s knowledge.

After eating dinner together, it was time for a book reading. Since it was night, it seemed playing the Hanon was ruled out as a courtesy.

I miss my CD player and TV. Sigh.

The next morning, I woke up before the bell. This is because I have to wake Princess Margaret and help her get ready.

“Lady Margaret, please wake up.” No matter how many times I said it, she wouldn’t budge. I wondered if I could wake her with Household Magic. I pulled a memory from my past life: being a “low blood pressure” person who is bad in the mornings is caused by poor blood circulation.

Wake up!

I chanted it as a last resort, visualizing her blood flow improving. She actually woke up.

“Good morning.”

“Morning… Patience, what did you do? I feel so refreshed.”

Despite saying that, she just lounged in bed. I remembered those British period dramas where the maid brings “morning tea” to the bedside. I decided to try waking her body up with a warm drink.

To save time, I chanted “Produce hot water!” and poured it into the pot. Ah, good tea leaves really do smell divine. From tomorrow on, I’ll brew the tea before waking her.

“Lady Margaret, please drink this.”

While she sat in bed drinking her tea, I cast “Be cleansed!” on her with Household Magic.

“Please change once you’ve finished your tea.”

“I wish I could change clothes using Household Magic, too,” she grumbled, but after finishing the tea, she hopped out of bed looking quite sharp and got dressed. Good grief. Now all I have to do is fix her hair.

Clang! Clang!

I felt relieved that she was ready before the breakfast bell rang this morning.

“I’m actually quite hungry. Is it because of the tea? How strange.”

“A warm drink simply woke your body up.”

Princess Margaret, who had barely touched her breakfast yesterday, ate almost all of it today. I, of course, finished mine.

“Since today is Music Club, come to my classroom after lessons are over.”

I want to complain that she’s a slave driver, but I’m doing this for my “Angels.” I wonder why Father was dismissed. The teachers seem to hold him in high regard, and even the Queen made me a lady-in-waiting, so she probably doesn’t think ill of him. Well, maybe that’s just because I was the only girl in the dorms from a Viscount family or higher.

Tuesday is Classics, Math, Magic Theory, and Dance. I need to study Classics a bit more. Patience is seriously brilliant, but it’s pathetic to rely on her for everything. I want to get that Math certificate as soon as possible.

At lunch, even Prince Keith chose the fish for some reason. Did he copy Prince Richard? Naturally, I chose the fish, too.

“Fish isn’t entirely inedible,” Prince Keith remarked. What a cheeky brat. He actually has a rather cute personality. I’m glad everyone gave it a high rating. It’s painful to have people think I’m eating something gross just because I’m saying “It’s delicious!”

Many students had skipped a grade for Magic Theory—both first and second years. I wonder if they need to change the curriculum? I thought about that and other things… like sweets. Today’s dessert was so sweet that even I had to give up on finishing it. What a waste of expensive sugar and eggs. I want to eat cookies or cakes made to my own taste. I think Eva would make them if I gave her the recipes, but that takes money.

As for Dance… I don’t even want to talk about it. Now that I’m in the second year, I don’t have any close friends among the students. Well, I wasn’t that close with anyone in the first year, either. Louise, who also skipped ahead, was popular here as well. I’m just the short, nerdy girl. Since there are fewer girls, I at least had a partner, but I couldn’t pair up with anyone skilled. It was disastrous. Dancing can usually be managed if the lead is good, you see. I said I didn’t want to talk about it, but I ended up venting anyway.