I was the one who got stopped by my close aides when I tried to destroy a criminal organization. Good morning.
Did I really look that hot-headed? Maybe speaking on the premise that I would personally go in was the mistake.
"It is time to rise, Your Highness the First Prince."
"Good morning, Nomariola."
I had already sat up in bed before the maid called out to me. Once I respond, she immediately prepares the grooming tools and leaves the room.
Nomariola is a maid who was dispatched at the same time as Wald. She has deep red hair that appears blackish in dim light, and blue eyes. She is a maid prepared by the Consort, likely a daughter of nobility with connections to Duke Lucaios's family.
At first, it seemed three would be sent in for the time being. So I directly told the Consort the somewhat pathetic excuse that I wasn't used to women, and had her reduce it to one.
*(Sephira Sephiroth. How is Nomariola's condition?)*
While washing my face and changing clothes myself, I took advantage of being unseen to monitor her via Sephira. I did the same with Wald, and since I judged there was no danger, I showed my true self. I haven't obtained such confirmation with Nomariola yet. Or rather, since she doesn't move around as much as Wald, it's difficult to judge.
*(As ordered, she waits in the Red Room during the day. She prepares meals and baths on schedule.)*
*(There's also the matter of the criminal guild, so I want to eliminate any sources of concern while I can. Is she contacting anyone?)*
*(She records daily work contents, notes if there are visitors, and records anything unusual. She hands this to the Consort's attendant connected to Duke Lucaios's family. From the attendant's hands, it is sent not to the Consort but to Duke Lucaios's private residence.)*
*(Even though she's practically confined to the Red Room, she has things to write? So that's her only contact? What about fellow maids?)*
Since Wald comes from the Finance Ministry every day, he also exchanges words with people from there. However, as far as Sephira observed, aside from being bothered because he was assigned to a trivial post, he ended up hearing about the harshness of the palace's career competition.
*(There is none. Except for contacting the attendant on her way back, she has minimal interaction with the servants of the Left Wing Building.)*
I want to believe it's only within the palace. Apparently Wald has friends outside of work that he properly goes drinking with.
Furthermore, Nomariola, who simply carries out her duties indifferently, doesn't even complain or express dissatisfaction about becoming my maid. Or rather, she doesn't talk more than necessary in the first place. Apparently that doesn't change even when she meets with people from Duke Lucaios's side. It seems she's quite the cool type.
"Nomariola, have you grown accustomed to the work here?"
Since there's no reason to dismiss her, I decided to ask directly. Yeah, actually I want to crush the criminal guild, so I might have become a bit impatient.
The location is the Blue Room, and inside are me and Ikuto.
"Yes, thanks to Your Highness the First Prince."
"Though I haven't done anything."
I can change clothes myself, and for meals it's only serving and clearing, with minimal contact with me. I feel a bit guilty that she might be bored with nothing to do, confined to the Red Room.
And I was also concerned that Nomariola responds without meeting my eyes. This is natural etiquette for a servant, but she's a lady's maid.
*(For a maid who is higher in status than a servant to act like this, does this mean she was brought from a place of low importance by the Duke Lucaios's side after all?)*
For example, Revan was a trusted retainer to the extent that Marquis Stratege protected and apologized for him. If he had been so inclined, he could have pinned everything on Revan alone and gotten away with pretending he knew nothing, without owing me a debt.
Nomariola shows no reaction to being summoned like this.
Yeah, the period for observing reactions is over. Since there was a real attempted assassination, rather than playing defensively for self-preservation, let's go head-on.
"Why did you come to me, Nomariola?"
"Because Duke Lucaios ordered me to grasp and report all suspicious movements of Your Highness the First Prince."
She answered directly.
"Is it okay to say that? Won't you be scolded, Nomariola?"
"To remove me, Your Highness needs a proper reason. However, if you dislike being investigated, Duke Lucaios would likely give me a reward and send someone more suitable."
"In other words, it's better for me to keep you on as a maid? That's quite the attractive sales pitch."
When I express admiration, Nomariola's expression finally moves.
"Do you not demand loyalty?"
"When I haven't done anything to warrant a vow of loyalty? Would that even mean anything? Besides, it doesn't seem like you've sworn loyalty to the Duke either."
Blind speculation is troublesome, and the bad rumors surrounding me now seem to stem from that. Duke Lucaios is the type to use whatever is useful, and he spreads slander against me who lacks substance. However, it's the surrounding nobles who speculate and speak out, and apparently the Duke maneuvers so that he can cut them loose with no damage to himself. So with Terry he disparaged me, and with Fer he incited the surroundings and displayed bold cunning in trying to falsely accuse me before the public eye.
"There may be family connections, but if Nomariola has no complaints about the current situation, then as things are..."
"It's for the money."
As if denying my words, she asserts that she is spying for Duke Lucaios for money. Even when I look at her, her gaze remains lowered. However, to the extent of correcting herself, I felt a strong will to deny that it was for the family.
"Are you in need of money? Hmm, in that case, if you leak some information about Duke Lucaios's movements to me, I could pay you an information fee each time. At least tell me the reason you want money?"
"Let me tell you."
Wow, a positive reaction unlike anything before. I thought she was cool/calm, but apparently she simply had no real interest in me or my surroundings.
"My mother was Count Galadiora's third wife. She gave birth to my younger sister and me, but passed away due to poor recovery after childbirth. The current Countess is the fourth wife, and she has borne a son, so the value of us sisters is very low."
Quite a complicated story has begun. However, that's exactly why I understand she doesn't want to be thought of as doing this for the Galadiora family. Also, there are many people who die in childbirth, huh. My mother too, but I guess childbirth is difficult even with magic.
"My younger sister was born with weak lungs. However, we cannot receive proper treatment fees. Therefore, I work to cover the treatment costs. I was originally a servant belonging to the palace. From there, I was approached by Duke Lucaios's side to serve as a maid."
I thought she was related to the ducal family from the start, but apparently the Consort chose someone with no connections in that regard. But she's already being manipulated by her family home like this.
"I seek only money. I will do any job that comes with compensation."
"So now you have your salary as a maid, and information fees from Duke Lucaios. And if you pass information to me this time, compensation from me?"
"How much for the current information?"
Oops, she doesn't miss a thing. And those blue eyes that have somehow lifted to meet mine are serious.
"I don't have money on hand that I can give immediately. Ah, if I give you Dink wine, can you convert it yourself?"
"Your Highness Asha, that is somewhat problematic—"
Ikuto interjects with an objection. Nomariola was also dumbfounded.
"I will examine the information and calculate appropriate compensation. You don't mind payment after verification, do you?"
"Please pay half in advance. The portion that serves as the impetus for examination counts as work done."
"That is reasonable. What do you think, Your Highness Asha?"
"Yeah, that's fine."
With my consent, Ikuto presented twenty silver coins. If this is the advance payment, does that mean forty silver coins total?
The Empire's currency exchanges at twenty-four silver coins for one gold coin, and four hundred eighty copper coins for one silver coin. This range exists because the amounts used by commoners and nobles differ greatly. One could say the currency itself they use is different. In other words, at noble prices it's silver coins, but information not worth about two gold coins.
"Ah, Dink wine is worth less than ten gold coins."
"That is also true, but if a woman alone tries to sell Dink wine, which is currently booming in popularity, unscrupulous people might appear trying to steal it."
"Eh, scary. Is alcohol really that dangerous? Sorry, Nomariola."
"N-no."
Her expression is as expressionless as usual, but Nomariola's voice trembled. So she's not someone without emotions, nor is everything calculation. If she values money and family, she won't fabricate things or act recklessly, nor will she try to probe forcefully.
"Yeah, I'm glad a good person came. Please continue to take care of me from now on."
When I asked her again, Nomariola's eyes widened in surprise.
Regular Update
Next: The Cool Maid 2
Wait, I need to check the formatting. The user wants the output ONLY, no notes. I should maintain paragraph structure.
Also, "第一皇子殿下" - First Prince is fine, but "Your Highness the First Prince" or "First Prince Your Highness" - I'll use "Your Highness" or "First Prince" depending on flow.
"アーシャ殿下" - Prince Asha (the protagonist's name seems to be Asha).
"イクト" - Ikuto.
"ノマリオラ" - Nomariola.
"ウォルド" - Wald.
"ルカイオス公爵" - Duke Lucaios.
"ガラジオラ伯爵" - Count Galadiora.
"レーヴァン" - Revan.
"ストラテーグ侯爵" - Marquis Stratege.
"妃殿下" - the Consort.
"侍従" - attendant.
"赤の間" - Red Room.
"青の間" - Blue Room.
"左翼棟" - Left Wing.
"ディンク酒" - Dink wine.
"セフィラ・セフィロト" - Sephira Sephiroth.
I think I have everything. Let me format the final output. I was the one who got stopped by his close aides when trying to destroy a criminal organization. Good morning.
Did I really look that hot-headed? Maybe speaking on the premise that I would personally go in was the mistake.
"It is time to rise, Your Highness the First Prince."
"Good morning, Nomariola."
I had already sat up in bed before the maid called out to me. Once I respond, she immediately prepares the grooming tools and leaves the room.
Nomariola is a maid who was dispatched at the same time as Wald. She has deep red hair that appears blackish in dim light, and blue eyes. She is a maid prepared by the Consort, likely a daughter of nobility with connections to Duke Lucaios's family.
At first, it seemed three would be sent in for the time being. So I directly told the Consort the somewhat pathetic excuse that I wasn't used to women, and had her reduce it to one.
*(Sephira Sephiroth. How is Nomariola's condition?)*
While washing my face and changing clothes myself, I took advantage of being unseen to monitor her via Sephira. I did the same with Wald, and since I judged there was no danger, I showed my true self. I haven't obtained such confirmation with Nomariola yet. Or rather, since she doesn't move around as much as Wald, it's difficult to judge.
*(As ordered, she waits in the Red Room during the day. She prepares meals and baths on schedule.)*
*(There's also the matter of the criminal guild, so I want to eliminate any sources of concern while I can. Is she contacting anyone?)*
*(She records daily work contents, notes if there are visitors, and records anything unusual. She hands this to the Consort's attendant connected to Duke Lucaios's family. From the attendant's hands, it is sent not to the Consort but to Duke Lucaios's private residence.)*
*(Even though she's practically confined to the Red Room, she has things to write? So that's her only contact? What about fellow maids?)*
Since Wald comes from the Finance Ministry every day, he also exchanges words with people from there. However, as far as Sephira observed, aside from being bothered because he was assigned to a trivial post, he ended up hearing about the harshness of the palace's career competition.
*(There is none. Except for contacting the attendant on her way back, she has minimal interaction with the servants of the Left Wing Building.)*
I want to believe it's only within the palace. Apparently Wald has friends outside of work that he properly goes drinking with.
Furthermore, Nomariola, who simply carries out her duties indifferently, doesn't even complain or express dissatisfaction about becoming my maid. Or rather, she doesn't talk more than necessary in the first place. Apparently that doesn't change even when she meets with people from Duke Lucaios's side. It seems she's quite the cool type.
"Nomariola, have you grown accustomed to the work here?"
Since there's no reason to dismiss her, I decided to ask directly. Yeah, actually I want to crush the criminal guild, so I might have become a bit impatient.
The location is the Blue Room, and inside are me and Ikuto.
"Yes, thanks to Your Highness the First Prince."
"Though I haven't done anything."
I can change clothes myself, and for meals it's only serving and clearing, with minimal contact with me. I feel a bit guilty that she might be bored with nothing to do, confined to the Red Room.
And I was also concerned that Nomariola responds without meeting my eyes. This is natural etiquette for a servant, but she's a lady's maid.
*(For a maid who is higher in status than a servant to act like this, does this mean she was brought from a place of low importance by the Duke Lucaios's side after all?)*
For example, Revan was a trusted retainer to the extent that Marquis Stratege protected and apologized for him. If he had been so inclined, he could have pinned everything on Revan alone and gotten away with pretending he knew nothing, without owing me a debt.
Nomariola shows no reaction to being summoned like this.
Yeah, the period for observing reactions is over. Since there was a real attempted assassination, rather than playing defensively for self-preservation, let's go head-on.
"Why did you come to me, Nomariola?"
"Because Duke Lucaios ordered me to grasp and report all suspicious movements of Your Highness the First Prince."
She answered directly.
"Is it okay to say that? Won't you be scolded, Nomariola?"
"To remove me, Your Highness needs a proper reason. However, if you dislike being investigated, Duke Lucaios would likely give me a reward and send someone more suitable."
"In other words, it's better for me to keep you on as a maid? That's quite the attractive sales pitch."
When I express admiration, Nomariola's expression finally moves.
"Do you not demand loyalty?"
"When I haven't done anything to warrant a vow of loyalty? Would that even mean anything? Besides, it doesn't seem like you've sworn loyalty to the Duke either."
Blind speculation is troublesome, and the bad rumors surrounding me now seem to stem from that. Duke Lucaios is the type to use whatever is useful, and he spreads slander against me who lacks substance. However, it's the surrounding nobles who speculate and speak out, and apparently the Duke maneuvers so that he can cut them loose with no damage to himself. So with Terry he disparaged me, and with Fer he incited the surroundings and displayed bold cunning in trying to falsely accuse me before the public eye.
"There may be family connections, but if Nomariola has no complaints about the current situation, then as things are..."
"It's for the money."
As if denying my words, she asserts that she is spying for Duke Lucaios for money. Even when I look at her, her gaze remains lowered. However, to the extent of correcting herself, I felt a strong will to deny that it was for the family.
"Are you in need of money? Hmm, in that case, if you leak some information about Duke Lucaios's movements to me, I could pay you an information fee each time. At least tell me the reason you want money?"
"Let me tell you."
Wow, a positive reaction unlike anything before. I thought she was cool, but apparently she simply had no real interest in me or my surroundings.
"My mother was Count Galadiora's third wife. She gave birth to my younger sister and me, but passed away due to poor recovery after childbirth. The current Countess is the fourth wife, and she has borne a son, so the value of us sisters is very low."
Quite a complicated story has begun. However, that's exactly why I understand she doesn't want to be thought of as doing this for the Galadiora family. Also, there are many people who die in childbirth, huh. My mother too, but I guess childbirth is difficult even with magic.
"My younger sister was born with weak lungs. However, we cannot receive proper treatment fees. Therefore, I work to cover the treatment costs. I was originally a servant belonging to the palace. From there, I was approached by Duke Lucaios's side to serve as a maid."
I thought she was related to the ducal family from the start, but apparently the Consort chose someone with no connections in that regard. But she's already being manipulated by her family home like this.
"I seek only money. I will do any job that comes with compensation."
"So now you have your salary as a maid, and information fees from Duke Lucaios. And if you pass information to me this time, compensation from me?"
"How much for the current information?"
Oops, she doesn't miss a thing. And those blue eyes that have somehow lifted to meet mine are serious.
"I don't have money on hand that I can give immediately. Ah, if I give you Dink wine, can you convert it yourself?"
"Your Highness Asha, that is somewhat problematic—"
Ikuto interjects with an objection. Nomariola was also dumbfounded.
"I will examine the information and calculate appropriate compensation. You don't mind payment after verification, do you?"
"Please pay half in advance. The portion that serves as the impetus for examination counts as work done."
"That is reasonable. What do you think, Your Highness Asha?"
"Yeah, that's fine."
With my consent, Ikuto presented twenty silver coins. If this is the advance payment, does that mean forty silver coins total?
The Empire's currency exchanges at twenty-four silver coins for one gold coin, and four hundred eighty copper coins for one silver coin. This range exists because the amounts used by commoners and nobles differ greatly. One could say the currency itself they use is different. In other words, at noble prices it's silver coins, but information not worth about two gold coins.
"Ah, Dink wine is worth less than ten gold coins."
"That is also true, but if a woman alone tries to sell Dink wine, which is currently booming in popularity, unscrupulous people might appear trying to steal it."
"Eh, scary. Is alcohol really that dangerous? Sorry, Nomariola."
"N-no."
Her expression is as expressionless as usual, but Nomariola's voice trembled. So she's not someone without emotions, nor is everything calculation. If she values money and family, she won't fabricate things or act recklessly, nor will she try to probe forcefully.
"Yeah, I'm glad a good person came. Please continue to take care of me from now on."
When I asked her again, Nomariola's eyes widened in surprise.
Regular Update
Next: The Cool Maid 2