The Grand Duke's Maid Writes a Consultation Log Today - Chapter 16

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

The Maid of the Grand Ducal House Writes a Counseling Log Today – Episode 016
It had been a very long time since Sheila felt someone’s embrace.
‘So it was this warm.’
Right beside her, Joshua was wailing at the top of his lungs like a child who had lost his parents, but that crying wasn’t unpleasant to hear.
Elysia’s hand, still patting her back, was also gentle.
Though it hadn’t been intentional, the image of her looking straight into her eyes and speaking firmly even after being slapped was vivid.
If it had been her brother, he would usually have given her only a brief glance or let out a sigh.
He would have passed by, and if he were angry, he would have raised his voice and ordered her to be confined.
……Was she not angry?
Sheila, who had been burying her face in the embrace, peeked her head up.
At that moment, Sheila’s eyes widened.
Elysia looked as if she were about to burst into tears at any moment.
Recognizing that expression, Sheila could only part her lips wordlessly.
When their eyes met, Elysia managed a smile with her tearful eyes.
“I’m okay now.”
What exactly was okay with that face?
It would be better if she just cried to her heart’s content.
Her appearance of always saying she was fine actually made her look less fine than anyone else.
Sheila felt that this time, she might be able to utter the words she had swallowed so many times.
It was the moment her long-tightly closed mouth was about to slowly open.
Just then, someone knocked on the door.
“Excuse me.”

* * *
The three pairs of eyes turned toward the open door.
Standing outside were the other maids.
Judging by what they held in their hands, they seemed to have come to clean up the messy room.
“The Head Maid told us to clean the Lady’s room…….”
They were looking awkwardly at the uneasy atmosphere.
Elysia quickly wiped her eyes with her sleeve.
Then, catching on, she patted the children’s backs and explained.
“It seems they’ve come to clean. I’ll head down to the Dining Hall since the meal will need to be prepared again.”
“Sister, can’t I come with you?”
Joshua, still terrified, grabbed her skirt.
When Elysia showed a troubled expression, Sheila, who was next to her, followed suit and tugged at her clothes.
Anyone could see it was an intention to go together.
As if she had no choice, she took Joshua’s hand.
“Then together…….”
Elysia faltered, unable to finish her sentence.
It was because of the body heat she felt from her other hand.
When she looked down in surprise, Sheila was holding Elysia’s hand tightly while staring straight ahead.
“Sister! Aren’t we going?”
Only after Joshua shook her hand as if urging her could she snap out of it.
“We should go, let’s go. Shall we go together, Lady?”
Elysia smiled and held Sheila’s hand in return.
She nodded and walked matching the pace of the two.
Inadvertently, Elysia moved her steps with both hands tightly held on either side.
As if witnessing a rare scene, the maids who had come in to clean were busy exchanging glances with each other.
Elysia left the room with a nod of greeting.
It was then.
Someone called Elysia in a small voice from behind.
“Elysia.”
Silver hair cut into a bob just like Elysia’s, and purple eyes.
Her appearance was beautiful enough to stand out even among the same maids.
She approached carefully while scanning the inside of the room.
“I put a spare working uniform in your Quarters.”
It was close to a secret whisper, as if she shouldn’t be caught.
‘Come to think of it, she did say there was a spare.’
Elysia recalled the conversation she had with Greta about the working uniform.
“Ah, that…… thank you.”
“You don’t have to use honorifics. And…….”
She hesitated as if she had something more to tell her.
“Labiena! What are you doing outside instead of coming in?”
At the urging voice from inside the room, Labiena gasped in surprise.
“I’m coming now! Sorry, see you next time.”
Labiena dragged the heavy cleaning tools into the room with a groan.
From inside the room, a scolding voice directed at her for entering late could faintly be heard.
“The silver-haired sister.”
“Yes?”
Said Joshua, sniffing his nose which had turned red from crying.
“She must be super strong. She carried all the heavy things by herself.”
Come to think of it, the other maids were only carrying things like brooms or mops.
However, Labiena was different.
From a stone bucket filled with water to a cast-iron water container to wipe the food clean.
They were things that seemed far too burdensome for one person to carry.
When Elysia couldn’t take her steps as if it were strange, Sheila, unable to watch any longer, pulled her hand.
“Oh, my apologies. Shall we go quickly?”
Elysia snapped out of it and moved her steps.

* * *
“Currently, I have ordered them to be confined to their respective quarters with guards attached so they cannot communicate with each other.”
Hilmaiten swallowed his dry saliva after finishing his report on the commotion caused by the maids.
The atmosphere around Yulias, who was sitting in the Office, was unusual.
It wasn’t a sudden monster attack, nor was it a scheduled mission.
He had suddenly gone out to the Capital because of an imperial command.
Yulias, holding his pen, sighed as he looked at the bloodstains on his hand.
When he tried to ignore it as if it were a nuisance, Hilmaiten, catching on, approached and handed him a handkerchief.
“I understand that the imperial command was issued because of a gap that formed in the Fortress.”
Yulias caught the words he omitted and let out a scoff.
It meant that it wasn’t simply because of that matter.
“If it were for that reason, it wouldn’t even be annoying.”
Yulias rose from his seat, wiping the bloodstains with the handkerchief.
Moving his body to the sofa, he let out a exhausted sigh.
“They say they want to re-verify the bloodline of the Demint Family.”
“……Pardon?”
For a moment, Hilmaiten doubted his ears, thinking he had misheard.
On the other hand, Yulias stroked his own chin as if his reaction was amusing.
“Hilmaiten.”
“Yes, yes.”
Hilmaiten, who had been zoning out for a moment, answered flusteredly.
“In your eyes, what kind of place is the Demint Family?”
He was from a family that had assisted the Demint Family for generations, so there was no way he didn’t know.
“……There is my subjective opinion and the knowledge I learned from my parents.”
“Tell me both.”
Truly, that temperament of his.
To demand a workplace evaluation from a subordinate.
It would have been better if it were a private drinking session.
“Then, if I may speak first of what I learned at home from my parents……. Historically, isn’t the Demint Grand Ducal House known to exist to protect the Empire?”
Hilmaiten spoke calmly and received back the handkerchief he had offered.
“In the Askilla Empire, which values bloodline, the fact that they want to re-verify the Grand Duke’s bloodline seems to mean that doubts have arisen about the family itself.”
“It’s not doubts, it’s suspicion.”
“Subjectively…… I think it goes beyond suspicion to distrust. His Majesty the Emperor wouldn’t do that……. Don’t tell me.”
Hilmaiten furrowed his brows as if a specific person had come to mind.
Yulias’s gaze also remained on the table placed in front of the sofa, but he thought of the same person.
“Isn’t it obvious? The Emperor’s children.”
“Weren’t you on friendly terms with them? Moreover, the twins belong to the same Academy as the Lady…….”
“That’s why it’s more of a problem. Even the Emperor seems completely troubled, as if he cannot escape child problems.”
“Grand Duke, if it is something I must know as well, please explain.”
Hilmaiten wore an expression that showed he couldn’t understand.
“First, call the Head Maid.”
While he left his seat, Yulias pressed his temples hard as if his thoughts were deepening.
‘As you well know, it’s because she has a deep connection with your sister and personally cherishes and worries for her. It’s because they have a close relationship, after all.’
A child who, at ten years old, had a young face and smiled brightly with a physique that required one to look far down at.
She was the Third Princess, whom the Emperor kept by his side and handled like glass, cherishing her to no end.
‘To say the reason he made even the Knights Order drag all the way to the Capital was simply out of worry for Sheila.’
It was when his speculations, whose intentions were unknown, were deepening.
Hilmaiten and Greta entered the Office.
Yulias folded his endless thoughts and changed the subject.
“Before we talk, I have heard a report. What is Sheila’s condition?”
If it went according to his expectations, she would be holed up in her room after throwing a tantrum at the maids.
Since similar situations had happened once or twice, he was used to it.
“She went to the Dining Hall together with Elysia, who is in charge of her, and her younger brother, Joshua.”
“Right, together in the Dining Hall……. What?”
“She is in the Dining Hall together with the two of them.”
At the unexpected report, Yulias blinked his eyes.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————