38 — Chapter 38

I want to go out on the town.

The lace-trimmed handkerchiefs were more profitable than darning socks, and that success set my desires ablaze.

“If I stay here without knowing what life in this other world is actually like, I’ll never know where the real profit lies.”

Since arriving in this world, I’ve only been to the manor, the church (once), the Academy, and the Royal Palace a few times. As for the Palace… on the way there, I’m just walking behind Princess Margaret, and on the way back, I’m just being guided to a carriage by a maid. I know meeting the Queen isn’t an everyday occurrence, but that’s not the point.

“I want to go into the city!”

The manor and the Academy are both spacious. But in my previous life, I went wherever I wanted, whenever I wanted. This feeling of being a caged bird is so stifling I can hardly breathe. It’s likely because spring has arrived; back in winter, I didn’t want to move from the front of the fireplace.

“Is there any way around this ‘Lady’s Maid System’?”

Even in the poverty-stricken House of Granger, Mary must accompany me whenever I go out.

“When I ask Mary, she buys seedlings and seeds almost immediately. There must be shops within walking distance. Plus, she’s the one going out to sell the handkerchiefs.”

I can’t go on a shopping spree since I have no money, but I want to see the city with my own eyes. After all, there’s nothing in Patience’s memories about it. Research is vital!

Despite my enthusiasm, getting to the city was a distant prospect. Not in terms of physical distance, but in terms of how “far” a noble lady is permitted to go.

Then, I happened to overhear some girls in the dormitory chatting excitedly.

“That ribbon is lovely. The Royal Capital truly does have many wonderful shops.”

“Indeed, you simply can’t find things like this in the countryside.”

The girls in Class A generally don’t stay in the dorms. That meant these were likely girls from Class B or C. They were probably daughters of lower-ranking provincial nobles or wealthy families who stayed in the dorms because they lacked a mansion in Romano. This meant they were going out without personal maids!

What a total fool I am! I had been bound by “Patience’s common sense.” The Academy gates aren’t locked; I was just cursed by the Lady’s Maid System. Patience’s voice is shouting, “No!” in my head, but I persuade her that I need to go out.

I need to go out and see what’s actually selling. My brothers will eventually need horses. And I want them to learn swordsmanship formally. Henry, in particular, will likely take the Knight Course. Horsemanship is mandatory there. It seems students bring their own beloved horses, and there’s armor to be bought. I plan to be graduated and working by then, but I want Nasius to go to University. You can never have too much money. My headache finally subsided.

“I’ll head out on a Monday, Wednesday, or Friday.”

I formulated a plan while looking at my schedule. Tuesday and Thursday are out because of the Music Club; if I’m late, Princess Margaret will scold me. On Mondays and Wednesdays, I only have the 4th period free. After school, I have to be in the Princess’s room for my lady-in-waiting duties. I could manage being a little late, though—I could just apologize and say I was at the library.

“The best day is Friday, when Princess Margaret returns to the Palace. Since she also has a certificate for Music, she leaves as soon as the 3rd period ends.”

I’ve been taken to the Palace a few times, but not every week. And she always tells me at least a day in advance—usually to make me practice a new Hanon piece.

“On a Friday, I just need to be back at the dorm by dinner.”

Since I wasn’t told on Thursday that we were going to the Palace, I settled on Friday.

I’m still eating in the High Hall (Salon) with Prince Richard and Prince Keith. I feel like it’s about time I stopped, but since it’s an order from Queen Victoria, I have no choice. I expect that once Prince Richard graduates at the end of the year, we’ll start eating separately. Though, eating with Princess Margaret’s schoolmates sounds like it would be just as nerve-wracking.

The reason I was thinking about this was, as usual, because Prince Keith was busy annoying Prince Richard.

Prince Keith really has a talent for stepping on landmines. This is no time to be impressed, though; Princess Margaret is signaling me with her eyes to “do something.” I wonder how many lunch-time disputes I’ve mediated in these three months… let’s see, what landmine did he step on this time? The Aoba Festival. As he mentioned in his self-introduction, Prince Keith is in the ‘Knight Club.’ However, he was complaining that he can’t participate in the matches because he’s only in the Elementary section, and was pestering Prince Richard to do something about it since he’s the Student Council President.

“Club operations are decided by the captains. Do you not understand that the Student Council cannot simply force its way into their affairs?”

He’s genuinely angry. Prince Richard isn’t wrong; he’s quite dignified. But I can understand Keith’s frustration, too.

I signal to Princess Margaret with my eyes that it’s impossible for me to intervene, but she won’t let me off the hook.

I’m too scared to talk to Prince Richard, so I’ll talk to the Princess instead.

“What exactly takes place during the Aoba Festival?”

“In the Music Club, we hold recitals for new pieces in the auditorium about three times a day. There are also performances by the Drama Club and the Chorus Club in the auditorium, so I’m looking forward to it.”

“My friend Louise is in the Chorus Club. I wonder if even first-years can participate?”

“I’m not sure; I don’t know much about the Chorus Club. If Louise is talented enough, perhaps she will stand on stage. You’re only a second-year, yet you’re announcing four new pieces, aren’t you?”

Our leisurely conversation seemed to lower the voltage of Prince Richard’s anger.

“Louise mentioned she would be performing in the Chorus Club recital,” Keith added. I’m glad his mind was diverted too.

“Patience, you composed four new pieces?” Prince Richard praised me. Honestly, pay more attention to your brother than to me.

“That’s right. Albert was so enamored with Patience’s talent that he actually proposed to her. Naturally, I turned him down flat on her behalf,” Margaret said.

I turned bright red. You didn’t have to bring that up here!

“That eccentric Albert proposed?”

Prince Richard burst out laughing. I succeeded in distracting him, but at the cost of being horribly embarrassed.

“Hmph. Only an eccentric would propose to someone like you,” Keith muttered.

Hey! Stop stepping on landmines again!