Chapter 33

On Friday, just as Mr. Kepner and Princess Margaret had predicted, I received my Certificate of Completion for Music. Mozart truly was a genius. I felt a bit like I was cheating as the teacher showered me with praise.

The Art teacher also told me that they might give me a certificate if I learned how to use the paints a little better. Since the Granger family didn’t have the money to buy paints, “Patience” wasn’t accustomed to them. I wasn’t used to the paints of this world either. They are similar to oil paints, but you have to grind stones; they are also similar to iwa-enogu (mineral pigments). They might be close to historical oil paints.

The reason I’m indulging in this escapism is that I’m currently in a carriage with Princess Margaret and her maid, Sophie, heading to the Royal Palace. The Palace is our neighbor. We arrived in no time. And yet, the carriage still isn’t stopping. I wondered if the members of the dismissed House of Granger weren’t allowed to enter through the front.

“Patience, you’re making a strange face. The front of the Palace is for administrative business. We live in the detached palace at the back.”

After circling halfway around the grounds, the detached palace came into view. It was a smaller but still magnificent building. My heart was pounding. Trusting in “Patience’s” manners, I walked behind the Princess.

I wanted to look around at the interior, but looking around restlessly is apparently a breach of etiquette. We headed for the Queen’s chambers.

“Mother, I’m home. This is my lady-in-waiting, Patience Granger.”

I pinched the skirt of my uniform and performed a deep bow. “Patience” was shouting in my head that I mustn’t raise my face until I was addressed, and the noise made my head ache.

“Patience, raise your face.”

I was finally released from the bow. I looked up and saw Queen Victoria. “Noble beauty” is a phrase made for someone like her. She looked so young and beautiful that it was hard to believe she had given birth to five children.

“I am Patience Granger.”

After I greeted her, I was offered a chair. I suppose it’s okay to sit? Princess Margaret nodded, so I sat down with perfect posture.

“Patience, your mother, Julianne, and I were friends at the Royal Academy.”

Since nobles are obligated to attend the Academy, that wasn’t surprising.

“Mother, is that why you chose Patience to be my lady-in-waiting?”

At Margaret’s question, Queen Victoria smiled and asked a question in return.

“Margaret, how do you find having Patience as your lady-in-waiting?”

Answering a question with another question is technically a breach of etiquette. But they are mother and daughter, and it’s not my place to comment.

“Patience is an excellent lady-in-waiting. Even setting aside the matter of her mother.”

The Queen nodded satisfactorily, as if to say, “That will do.” At that signal, tea and cake were placed before us.

I waited for the Queen and Princess to take a sip before drinking my tea. As expected, the high-quality leaves were wonderfully fragrant. As for the cake… even in the Palace, the sugar is gritty. The only difference from the High Hall (Salon) was that it was cut into bite-sized pieces. I can manage to eat this much.

A lady-in-waiting must not interrupt a conversation between family members, so I listened in silence.

“Are you waking up properly in the mornings? You must eat your breakfast.”

“Yes, I am eating quite well.”

That’s right—because I wake her up and help her get dressed so she can make it to breakfast.

“My, what wonderful progress. Alfred will be pleased as well.”

In other words, Princess Margaret used to oversleep even here at the detached palace. The court ladies must have struggled.

“Studies are important. You must learn diligently.”

“Yes, I am learning quite well.”

I help a bit with the math homework, but she solved all the problems herself.

“More importantly, Mother, Patience has a talent for music. Come, play the Hanon.”

It seemed Princess Margaret didn’t want to talk about school life with her mother any longer. I was ordered to play as a way to change the subject.

I played the Mozart sonata.

“Wonderful. Julianne was also good at the Hanon, but yours is exceptional.”

I felt a little guilty being praised so highly, but since I haven’t received any other “cheat” abilities, I’ll take this as a win. Though, I suppose my slightly strange Household Magic might count as a cheat, too.

After that, I played several new songs from the Music Club, and it seemed the meeting with the Queen would end safely.

“Patience, I must give you a reward for such a wonderful performance on the Hanon.”

I was asked if there was anything I wanted. “Patience” was being noisy about how I mustn’t say I want money.

“No, I couldn’t…” Following “Patience’s” lead, I declined once as a matter of etiquette, but the Queen would not take no for an answer. “Patience” then started checking off various items, saying expensive things were forbidden.

“Then… I would be happy if I could have some eggs, butter, sugar, and a little fresh cream.”

Both Queen Victoria and Princess Margaret made confused faces.

“That is easy enough, but I wonder why you want those?”

“I want to make some sweets for my brothers.”

The Queen likely guessed that the House of Viscount Granger was struggling financially since his dismissal, but she hadn’t imagined that a noble daughter would stand in the kitchen herself.

“So much so that…”

“No, I used to make snacks with my late mother several times. My brothers likely don’t remember, so I want to make some for them to eat.”

In reality, we are even poorer than the Queen imagines, but that isn’t something I should say. The House of Granger is proud.

“My, what a lovely memory. Indeed, your brothers are young and likely do not remember their mother clearly. You must teach them the taste of their mother’s cooking.”

It’s not usually praiseworthy for a lady to stand in the kitchen, but making sweets with one’s mother seems to be an exception. With this, I can finally eat the sweets I like with my brothers.

Finally, the meeting was over, and I was sent back to the manor in a magnificent Royal carriage. The accompanying maid carried a basket filled with eggs, sugar, butter, and cream. On top of that, I get to see my brothers a day early. I’m so happy!