The Opposite Of Indifference - Chapter 23

*Corrected per a reader’s opinion *

 

 

Unfortunately, Millicent moved away from Adriana Beasley’s neck.

 

Servants still clung to Adriana’s side as she pretended that her broken leg hadn’t healed, Frederick still escorted her home, and the security of the Count Arlans’ mansion seemed to continue to be ironclad.

 

On top of that, there was another situation.

 

The king himself was scheduled to participate in the jousting tournament, which kept the royal kitchen busy. The end of the tournament naturally meant a banquet, and in order to make the banquet a success, the maids had to split up.

 

By the way, do you know what a jousting match is?” asked Tracy, who was up to her elbows in flour and kneading.

 

“I know as much as people do.”

 

Millicent replied bluntly. Why, as the days went by, everyone seemed to think she was an idiot who didn’t know things, as if it was natural.

 

“Oh, what? Explain it to me.”

 

Sure enough, Tracy chuckled.

 

“Two knights, facing each other from opposite directions, driving their horses and competing for victory by striking each other with large lances.”

 

Millicent explained, waving her hands lightly.

 

In fact, the last time she actually watched a jousting match was when she was a child. That was when her father was still alive.

 

It seemed that she gave her father, who was competing in heavy armor, a handkerchief to wish him good luck. Her handkerchief was tied to her father’s armor breastplate and her mother’s handkerchief was tied to the end of the lance he held.

 

Her father was not very good and his winning percentage was low. “Still, it’s a talent to be defeated without getting hurt every time,” her mother rejoiced.

 

“You two there, be quiet!”

 

Mrs. Galbraith, the palace’s head maid, glared at Millicent and Tracy.

 

“There’s a lot of stuff to prepare!”

 

She exclaimed as if she had crossed the river of death and stood before the gates of hell.

 

“Stop kneading and start sorting out the cellar, Millicent!”

 

“All right.”

 

Millicent quickly stood up, rubbing her hands on her apron.

 

“Don’t be lazy, Millicent!”

 

“No, I’m doing as I’m told. And I still haven’t done anything….”

 

“Don’t be lazy, Millicent!”

 

Mrs. Galbraith didn’t even listen.

 

Caught in the cellar, Millicent worked reasonably hard to renew her brand of laziness. But after carrying about 100 heavy meat boxes, her head became paralyzed.

 

Confused as to whether she was the meat box or the meat box was her, and about the time she reached a point where she figured it out, Mrs. Galbraith again cracked the whip.

 

“Hold it tight and don’t shake, Millicent!”

 

Thus passed a sadly overworked week. After all the twists and turns, the day dawned for the jousting match, and she even felt glad that it was about to be over.

 

“It’s better to finish quickly.”

 

Tracy seemed to feel the same way.

 

“Millicent!”

 

Mrs. Galbraith yelled again from a distance. Millicent reflexively jumped back.

 

“Go to the queen’s tent.”

 

Fortunately, it seemed to be a non-trivial errand.

 

“The tent?”

 

“It’s a temporary space set up near the stadium to avoid the sun and relax before the game starts.”

 

Mrs. Galbraith snapped.

 

“I believe His Majesty the King will be stopping by to receive the Queen’s blessing before he competes.”

 

Then she handed her a bottle of wine and refreshments.

 

The word was treat, and it was a delicious and sumptuous dessert. There was a three-tiered tray made of gold and filled with something.  Strawberry jam, mashed custard pudding, crusty bread, cookies with nuts…

 

“Stop drooling, Millicent!”

 

Mrs. Galbraith did not even allow her to admire.

 

“Don’t sneak off and steal the food on your way there! Because when you look at the food, your eyes change like a newborn piglet….”

 

She clicked her tongue.

 

” Her Majesty the Queen likes you! You have to act right.”

 

“She likes me?”

 

“Of course. The Queen always asks you to serve her whenever possible. I guess you are good at your job.”

 

Mrs. Galbraith snorted as if not it was funny.

 

Millicent shrugged her shoulders expressionlessly. As with the removal of Charlotte Brennan, Queen Jadalin seemed intent on helping in her own way as a client.

 

Slowly, impatience took over her.

 

Although she did not say exactly what her second target was Adriana, Jadalin would have guessed. And she would have seen through the fact that Millicent had found no way to approach Adriana.

 

“You’ve managed to win the favor of the King and Her Majesty the Queen, despite being a lazy person.”

 

Mrs. Galbraith said absurdly.

 

“Because it’s important for people to be able to walk the rope well.”

 

After being treated like an idiot lately, now she had a chance to show off, Millicent lifted her nose high.

 

“Or move fast before you get hit with a broom.”

 

And Mrs. Galbraith broke her daydream mercilessly. She had no sense of humor. Millicent quickly grabbed the tray and wine bottle and ran.

 

A short distance from the stadium. There was the queen’s green tent under the blazing sun.

 

It was hot for early summer. Jadalin, dressed in a thin silk gown, sat on a wooden chair, and the ladies in waiting took turns fanning the queen.

 

“Give me a glass of wine.”

 

Finding Millicent, Jadalin beckoned.

 

“I hope it’s cool.”

 

But when the glass she actually received was lukewarm, she looked disgruntled.

 

“Welcome Your Majesty the King!”

 

Fortunately, Jadalin didn’t have time to complain. It was thanks to the loud voice of  the proclaimer outside the tent. By a small margin, Frederick also came to visit the Queen.

 

The greatest king on five continents, the protector of the Holy Kingdom of Kintland, and the darkest gray of the Grechis

royal family…”

 

“I wouldn’t have any wishes if I didn’t hear those words.”

 

Jadalin mumbled with a disgusted look on her face.

 

“My queen.”

 

As the proclaimer’s heroic march was announced, Frederick strode into the tent.

 

 

The moment he appeared, the atmosphere changed. It was as if the night had passed and the sun had arrived. No matter how many times they experienced this, he was always a truly mysterious presence.

 

“I have come to receive your blessing prior to the match, my queen.” Frederick said softly.

 

But Jadalin was not at all affected by his easily loved presence, nor by his sweet tone. Even though the ladies in waiting standing next to her were already entranced.

 

Instead, she moved with a look of utter unwillingness. Slowly, she kissed Frederick’s right and left hand alternately.

 

“May you always triumph.”

 

Jadalin said. Even a person who had a fish bone in his throat seemed happier than her.

 

“And may you please return to me safely.”

 

She was ready to take an ax to chop him if he returned safely and alive.

 

“…my dear king.”

 

Jadalin added as if she was chewing on a sharp piece of glass. She then gulped down the wine with a look of helplessness on her face.

 

“My queen’s blessings are always thoughtful.”

 

Frederick smiled. For a man accustomed to being praised by all, he did not mind Jadalin’s disgust.

 

“For the handkerchief….”

 

He said.

 

“Since I have received so many blessings, there’s no need for it to come from the Queen.”

 

No, he must have decided to retaliate against Jadalin’s disgust.

 

“It would be fine if it belonged to a lady who might be chosen as a Royal Mistress.”

 

A shudder ran through the ladies in waiting at the moment.

 

“Because the Royal Mistress is the best lady who will stand by the Queen in the future.”

 

Frederick examined the queen’s ladies in waiting one by one with a gaze as sweet as honey.

 

It was too intense a look to receive directly. None of them could keep their composure. Adriana, in particular, trembled, and Ophelia’s knees bent.

 

“Isn’t that right, queen?”

 

He dared to ask as if he was stabbing a knife into Jadalin’s pride.

 

“…Of course, Your Majesty.” Sparks flared from Jadalin’s eyes.

 

“Let’s see.”

 

Frederick walked slowly among the royal maids with his hands behind his back. His expression was playful as he scanned each of them.

 

But the atmosphere was not light because of his presence. No one dared to raise their heads and look at him.

 

“…Millicent.”

 

Wondering how to sneak out without attracting attention, Millicent was startled by a sudden shadow cast in front of her.

 

“Millicent!”

 

She looked up and saw Frederick standing in front of her. She didn’t seem to hear him, but there was a smile on his lips as he called her name again.

 

“Will you give me your handkerchief to bless me?”

 

It was a natural question, but everyone froze except him.

 

Couldn’t blame them. It was too serious an insult to Jadalin to take the handkerchief of a maid instead of the queen.

 

Millicent wished someone would stop him, but no one came forward. Neither the royal maids nor the vassals who followed the king dared to look at the queen.

 

Their eyes, which showed a clear sign of panic, were fixed on the floor. They pretended to be unaware of the queen’s humiliation.

 

Surprisingly, however, Jadalin’s face had recovered from her earlier anger. She was staring only at Frederick and Millicent with an inquisitive expression.

 

“I am a maid and I don’t have a handkerchief.”

 

Millicent, feeling like she was sitting on a thorny cushion, opened her mouth distantly.

 

“All I have is a rag.”

 

She pointed to a gray object protruding from her apron pocket. It was dirty because she had wiped up the evening primrose flower oil she had spilled from the kitchen earlier.

 

“…How dare you speak of rags to His Majesty the King!”

 

Suddenly the solemn royal maid Elizabeth became angry. Sure enough, the people who had been silent when Jadalin was humiliated were all indignant at once.

 

“What an impudent maid!”

 

Jane, in particular, raised her voice hoarsely. However, the denouement was quickly blocked. The only thing that could stop them was Frederick’s laughter.

 

***