Vol 1 Chapter 3 (1/2)
On the day Altina declared she was ai to be the empress, the situation took an unexpected turn
The military administrative depart and submission of documents
Regis thought of this as a serious iment But the culprit Jerome was not bothered at all
”Hmmph To complain about such trivial matters like documentation errors, why don't they come and defend this fort themselves? There probably isn't anyone ould want to come to the north”
”It is i reply”
”If you don't like it, then do so about it yourself”
”Hah”
It was duis
Altina looked worried
”I knew things can't carry on this hen I arrived here threeI can”
”But aren't things still as bad”
”Ara, didn't I bring you in? I asked the military human resource for you after all”
”I get it now The human resource wouldn't tellto, now I knohy”
Regis would definitely be uneasy and anxious if he knew that he was the only admin officer
Altina asked worriedly:
”Did I trouble you?”
”Nope, being banished was already a foregone conclusion, there are harsher front lines than this out there Staying here isn't too bad Although being the only admin officer is a problem”
”I guess it's too much for you to handle alone”
”What choice do we have? Well, we can't just ignore all these issues, I will give it a shot”
And so, Regis started clearing off the administrative works
He wanted to be of use if Altina wanted to be the ee the empire
But the reality was as heavy and cold as snow piled up on the roof If Regis treated it carelessly, he would be crushed by it
The aiting for him to slowly resolve
Buried in is didn't notice Altinaher resolution
One week later, in the —
Regis had felt the roo when he saw it for the first ti was off But the roo no space for him to walk
Even the desk that was too big for his grade had turned narroith the piles of documents
Regis scanned through the report in his hand
” I see So that is the reason”
There were still proble of it
He was one step closer to finishi+ng the inspection of the documents
The candles flickered in the wind, the shadows of the objects it illuminated danced on the walls
Although oil lamps were mainstream in the empire, it was difficult to transport as it was a liquid So candles were used more often near the borders
Regis reached for the next document
At that moment there was a soft knock on the door
”Hmm? Ah, who is it? The door is not locked”
”Good is”
A woman with black hair entered Her skin was brown as if it was tanned and her eyesblack She earing black is
She bowed politely and entered the room
Regis greeted her in response
”Ah Miss Elin You are early today”
”They are setting up ato drop by and say hi I orried that Mr Regis is still asleep, but you are already up”
”No That's not it”
He had taken a short nap, but he was basically up all night That was how he had spent the entire week
Elin was ain Jerome's residence
After all the ader of the Margrave's residence had been ordered to handle the regiment's documents
Elin was fro and learned the Belgarian language after arriving in the Margrave's residence, now she could read and write in Belgarian
There was one more person —
A youth dressed like a butler entered He had black eyes and brown skin just like Elin
He was carrying a large wooden crate in his hands
”Hey, I' it in”
He threw it onto the bed casually and dusted off the wooden splinters on his clothes
Elin knocked the youth's head with her knuckles
”Hey Gösta! Mind your manners!”
”That hurts~ Don't hit ht? Why do we have to help?! This guy is also a co deal — it hurts~!?”
He was hit again
”What are you saying, if you treat others impolitely, Master Jerois, please don't get angry My brother is a newly minted butler”
”I am fine with it”
”Big sis, I am already 16! I am also the chamberlain's assistant! I am not a new—”
”You be quiet!”
Gösta as dressed like a butler was maid Elin's brother, currently the assistant of the chamberlain
As the work of the chamberlain involved all sorts of issues, he seldois becais still didn't knohy Elin always tagged along
Regis browsed through the docuht over
”Gösta is right I ais said as he confirmed the number of documents
”Please don't say that Just your job as a soldier is a great honor Aren't you protecting our way of life?”
”Big sis, this guy is an admin officer so he has never been deployed”
”Stop that, you!”
”Haha That's right As a soldier, I am unskilled with the sword and the lance”
Regis was bad in handling compliments
But Elin looked at him with passionate eyes
”You are too ent man like you is wonderful”
This was an era which required physical powers in order to survive Most wohtly different? Or was praising people part of the job description?
Probably the latter — Regis felt
Misunderstanding things because of so Focus on work and don't think of needless stuff, Regis thought as he arranged the documents
”Okay~ there are no problees I will verify the contents later, thank you The correspondence regarding the improved format for future paperwork is here I have included it in this letter, please deliver this to Mr McClane”
”We will”
Elin accepted the letter politely Gösta as co that it was a hassle was punched by Elin
It was iis to coi to help with the paperwork The chamberlain McClane was a veteran in the field of taxation and trading documentation There were no errors on those parts, which was a big help
The military action report and the supply requisition forms had formats unique to the military, so McClane had a hard time with them and was reprimanded by the military administration department
Regis checked through those documents before submission and corrected all the mistakes and handled the difficult parts After much work, they finally put most of the papers in order
”I would like Mr McClane to handle these docus to write are a bit much”
Regis placed the docu to McClane into the crates
”ThisMr McClane has work to do in the house too!?”
”I arateful This is for Sir Jerome's sake, so please lend me a hand”
”Hmmp! There's no need for you to say that!”
Gösta lifted the crate as he spoke
The crate full of papers should be very heavy, but Gösta had a strength that was disproportionate with his skinny built As expected of a butler
Regis extinguished the candles on his desk and walked carefully to the door and opened it, taking care not to disturb the mountain of papers on his bed
” I will see you off to the carriage I have some chores to run outside anyway”
Gösta didn't reply, but Elin shtly
”Thank you Mr Regis”
”I feel bad that sending off is the only thing I can do for you”
Regis was planning to get so hall
Coffee was a coe like wine and beer, even commoners could afford them
Frankly speaking, he needed some sleep more than he needed coffee — But he had to finish some of the documents by today to meet the deadline, so it couldn't be helped
Because the periodic courier that sent letters and docuht
He entered the corridor
It was dark out here
There was not
The stone walls were pitch black In the homes of nobles in the capital, there would be candlesticks on the wall
Regis had gotten used to this and walked along the passageith one hand on the wall
Their footsteps echoed through the corridor
” Is the carriage parked near the south gate?”
”Yes It will take soate”
”That's right”
The ate that controlled the entry and exit of the arate at the back of the fortress just needed the two guards on duty to open it
The south gate was barely big enough for a carriage to pass through, but it was closer if you wanted to go to town
The Jerome residence was located in Tuonvell
The flow of people, cargo and information were centered around the streets of the town It was inconvenient to e the territory from within the fortress
Regis and the others met anothertowards the carriage parked in the backyard
The maid had brown hair and hazel eyes, dressed in a red maid attire
She was pushi+ng a cart filled with sacks froe
This maid was Clarisse
””
She bowed expressionlessly to the others As usual, she didn't smile or talk much when other people were around
Gösta straightened his back while hugging the crate
”Ah!? Miss !”
” Good ”
”The the, weather is great today!”
Regis and Elin beside the up, but it was rather cloudy
Clarisse si else
Regis asked Elin softly
” I think Gösta is acting weird?”
” Aha,for Miss Clarisse”
” Eh?”
Even though Clarisse was a maid, she was still the handmaid for the princess, so she had an air around her different from other house help Clarisse was also a beauty, her pretty hair and skin were really char
On top of that, she had voluptuous breasts that were obvious even with her apron on
But she was like a doll when facing Gösta, not changing her expression at all Her only replies were ”yes” and ”is that so”
Women who are beautiful but with bad attitudes were evaluated poorly in this era It takes time, but others would dislike her like they would an untamed horse
Elin sighed
” My brother has unique taste, a weirdo That worries me”
” Well, there is a trend that advocates respecting one's personality”
”As for entle, has a stable income and is not in a career where he will risk his life in battle”
”Ugh, I see Having a stable inco”
Regis nodded
Elin gazed at Regis, her unwavering eyes filled with passion
— What's up with her?
Clarisse respectfully lowered her head
”I still have chores to do, I will take my leave”
”Ah, ahah that's right! Sorry for stalling you!”
””
It was regrettable, but there was al respect for Gösta's personality
After breaking off her conversation with Gösta, Clarisse looked at Regis with a bright se in personality made others doubt if she was possessed by the fairies
”Good is”
”Eh? Ah, ”
”Are you planning to go out later?”
”No I a theh”
”I see Can I brew so hall for you?”
”Eh? Well, actually I should be the one requesting this favor from you”
Regis was at a loss, not knowing how to handle the strangely gentle Clarisse
”Hht time We just received a fresh order of coffee beans thisAllow me to brew some delicious coffee for you”
Clarisse pointed at the sack on her cart
Regis was happy that Clarisse illing to brew coffee for him
But Gösta's glare was poking at hi with a scary expression
Regis frowned and asked Clarisse in a low voice:
” Are you playing a prank on me?”
”What are you talking about?”
Clarisse's bright se, just like a mask
Gösta was grinding his teeth loudly His hand holding the docu
He was definitely unhappy
Regis broke out in cold sweat
” Clarisse, please don't worsen my work environment”
”Ara? I don't get what you is?”
”You are definitely doing this on purpose”
”Hufufufu”
In the end, Gösta ran towards the carriage after spitting out ”Don't think that you have won!” Elin was sis farewell, but her eyes were not s
The carriage drove off froate
Regis sent them off out of the fortress as he promised
”Hah Clarisse, please don't joke like that Without their help, the work in processing the documents will be delayed”
”Aren't you charmed by Miss Elin?”
”Hmm? What do you mean? Gösta really likes well, that's not for me to say”
” Elin was leering at you all this while”
”Huh?”
”No, it's nothing Mr Regis, coffee alone won't fill your stomach They sent us ham and cheese too Would you like them for breakfast?”
”Oh, I arateful”
”You want to eat”
”Yeah”
”I will need tohall♪”
”I kneas going to be like this Really”
After that, Regis and Clarisse ferried food ingredients for several people
In the residence of aristocrats, there werechores for their master
They made breakfast before dawn, cleaned the house, did laundry and prepared for dinner
But the chores in the fortress were handled by the soldiers, so there were just a few maids here
A them, Clarisse was the handmaid of the princess, so she had more freedom to move around
When otherbreakfast for the troops, she was preparing ha the cut cheese
Regis sat at a corner of the officers’ dining hall and ate his early breakfast
” A a bother?”
”Ara, why do you say that Mr Regis?”
”Because this is the officers’ dining hall and I am a non commissioned officer”
”It's too late for that Didn't you use this place several tirave coainst you eating here”
”That's good But even so, don't you have other chores to do Miss Clarisse?”
Regis felt apologetic and grateful towards Clarisse for preparing breakfast for hi
”My real job is taking care of the princess So I a out when I do other chores”
As the handmaid of the princess, she was closer to a personal assistant than doing odd jobs
Regis withdrew his sympathy
He n of the cross over his shoulders and reached for the cheese
” There are hardshi+ps when you are in such a position too”
”How unexpected ‘That bitch, what a distinguished position with sothat?”
”I wasn't thinking about so so mean!? Well most people will think that way That's why it's hard to be in an advantageous position The jealousy of others are horrible”
””
Clarisse looked at him
He was being looked at allDid he have ink on his face?
Regis lowered his head and looked at the food he was holding
”Hmm? You want to eat the cheese?”
”I will help myself then”
Clarisse took the cheese frois, pinched off a small piece and put it in her mouth
There were still plenty of it left on the plate
What a strange thing to do, Regis thought as he took the other food
Both ha term preservation, but the fresh batch was certainly tasty
The coffee tasted better than he expected
Clarisse asked:
”Mr Regis, did it not cross your mind?”
”Hmm? About what?”
The thing he iht of about was Altina
What could he do to help her become the empress?
She had told Regis who didn't have the confidence to be a strategist “For the portion that you can't believe in yourself, I will believe for you in your stead” He didn't plan to becoist because of these words
But he was still thinking about what he could do for her
”Well, just thinking about it is pointless, I don't really get it myself”
”Do you plan to act?”
”That I don't plan to end as just words in a dream”
”I understand that you don't have confidence in yourself, but I didn't think you would treat doing so so trivial, as words that are uttered in a dream”
”No, it is a really big thing right? It can change history”
”Is it that big?”
”Definitely This is big enough to shock the whole nation and be chronicled in thousands of books”
”So it is so”
”Yes, I think that's how big it is”
”Mr Regis' wedding ceremony”
”That's right, my Huh?!”
Regis straightened his back unknowingly
Clarisse squinted her eyes
”I' you 'has it crossed yourabout?”
”Oh shi+t”
He was careless because Clarisse was trusted by Altina
He couldn't say anything more, he needed to watch himself
”Are you not planning to is?”
”That I how could I marry”
”You are an adult when you are 15 in the empire Don't most people marry before they are 20?”
”Indeed, e soon That's troubling”
”You have an elder sister?”
”Yeah, shein Luen city I think she has two kids now”
”You think?”
”I haven't seen e and traveling long distance with a young child is dangerous I could go over to her side too But I was employed as a staff of a noble back then It is i apprenticeshi+p”
”The aristocrats travel frequently with their servants I think you would still have a chance to meet them even with your appointment Luen city and the imperial capital are not that far apart”
”Ah, that's because Marquis Thénezay was rather advanced in age, so he wouldn't make unnecessary travels”
”I see”
”But we do write to each other Ah, I promised I would send a letter when I reached the fortress this is bad”
”You haven't mailed her? It has been alis”
”It, it has been about half a month I will mail her today”
”That should be fine What kind of person is Mr Regis' sister?”
Regis took a breath and recollected his past
Regis' sister was said to be a gentle and mature lady when she was quiet But in the eyes of her brother, she was only quiet when she slept
”Well, I think she is the type of person to take the initiative herself Three years ago,near the imperial capital”
”Yes, when Mr Regis was still a student”
”Yeah,from home One day, a blacksmith from Luen city set up shop at a market nearby to sell his pots and kitchen knifes My sister married that person”
”A maid from the imperial capital and a blacksmith from Luen They don't seem to have much in common”
Clarisse seemed interested in the story
She was listening quietly and not joking for once
”My sister was on the way to the market to buy a pair of tailor scissors on the madam's instructions She met the blacksmith there”
”Even so, the two of them are just a seller and a customer Isn't that the limit of their relationshi+p?”
”That's the case norht there”
Clarisse eyes greide
That was really abnoris' sister
”That surprised me The blackse for the s”
”Haha He was definitely surprised Even though the wo proposed in such a way is definitely shocking”
”But he didn't reject her right?”
”He was suspicious of it, wondering if it was a prank or a sca”
”That is natural”
”In order to prove her identity, ht the blacksmith back to the noble's residence The madam must have been shocked too”
She sent her house help to purchase tailor scissors, but she brought a blacksmith back as her husband to be
”Her actions must be without precedents”
”Yeah, since she doesn't care about others once she sets a goal”
”The two of you are siblings indeed”
” What do you ht? Well, because my sister married off to Luen city, the skilled blacks in Luen city too My brother-in-law has a large workshop and five apprentices there”
”I see He is doing quite well”
”The ht be a bit crude, but I don't think anyone will dislike being confessed to”
Clarisse nodded
And confessed passionately:
” I like you Please is”
”I see now, you are joking I can tell that without a doubt”
”How arded the common sense of the world and proposed to you”
”It is definitely weird for the girl to propose”
Regis envied his sister's initiative
Clarisse smiled and said:
”That depends on the person I think so that lacks common sense”
”No one wanting to marry me is now a common sense?! I am not very confident with myself, but my assets are not that low”
”You think you are that bad?”
” There is still a need to save money for the future”
Regis gave up on this topic with a sigh
Clarisse took the cheese on the plate
”Why didn't your sister leave even one-tenth of her enthusiasm to her brother?”
”Even if you tell me that”
”What do you think about taking the initiative sometimes?”
”I think I am quite enthusiastic about my administrative work”
”The princess is still sleeping, it is about time to wake her”
Clarisse looked at the clock on the wall
Altina had always been getting up early, finishi+ng breakfast before the dining hall got crowded
”Waking Altina is your job Are you planning to let me into the princess' quarters?”
”I aot about just now”
”You said you are only helping when perfor other chores”
”I understand I will tell all the officers their breakfast is late because I have to prepare breakfast for Mr Regis—”
”Was that your plan all along?!”
Regis kept co, but he admitted defeat and stood up from his seat
Clarisse nodded with a satisfied expression
”The princess needs a kiss from a prince in order to wake up Do you want to try?”
”You want me to die by capital punishment? And I am a commoner anyway”
”Then please wake her up from outside the door”
”Ah, I was planning to do that”
”Please address her as 'Arurun♪' okay”
”I will be convicted of disrespecting royalty!? Do you have a grudge against me?!”
Regis looked angrily at Clarisse as enjoying herself, and left fro hall
The third level of the central tower had more hich ider than those on the first level
There was a door that was painted black that has been decorated
Altina's room was behind this door