I’m the Only One Who Can Guide the Tyrant to Sleep - Chapter 31

Arinna’s full name is Arinna Robane. I, too, have never heard of such a family.

“Is it one of those noble families that claim to be nobles and go around with a tiny piece of land in some remote corner of the empire?”

Purplehead said this with a hint of sarcasm, perhaps because she had a lot to say.

“But her demeanor seems quite sophisticated for such a thing.”

“To be honest, I’ve heard of it somewhere…”

Yellowhead began hesitatingly. It seemed like she was about to reveal a secret, but her voice was loud enough for everyone to hear.

“It’s a fairly successful aristocratic family in the Heisen Empire.”

“The Heisen Empire?”

The Heisen Empire was a distant empire with a river separating it from our empire, and relations between the two empires were not very good.

Without even realizing it, I chimed in, asking Yellowhead,

“Really? Why did she come all the way here from there?”

“I don’t know. Well, maybe it’s something like… political exile?”

“Hmm, that sounds about right. Wouldn’t it be because she fled? Committed a grave crime or something. Otherwise, why would a well-off noble leave the empire?”

Purplehead’s words made sense. Leaving the empire was a risky endeavor, usually not undertaken without a good reason.

“Or maybe it’s all a lie. Who knows?”

Yellowhead and Purplehead chuckled. I looked at them and asked,

“But where did you hear this rumor?”

***

Arinna seemed strangely good at everything she did. After a few conversations with her, she claimed that she had never worked in the palace before.

However, despite that claim, she excelled at everything. Even Yellowhead couldn’t deny the difference between her and the rest of us.

So, Yellowhead’s gossip took on a slightly different tone.

“Hmph, she must have done something shady in the Heisen Empire to come here like this. Otherwise, how could she be so good at everything?”

Like that.

Now, the only one who agreed with these words was Purplehead. Thanks to Arinna’s outstanding abilities, most of the handmaids had a favorable opinion of her.

It wasn’t just her skills, though. She was an incredibly beautiful woman, and even without that, she exuded elegance from every pore. You might say she had an aura that you couldn’t casually approach.

Regardless of her true identity, she had clearly received an excellent education.

I was getting nervous. It wasn’t stated explicitly, but there was already an implicit ranking among the apprentice handmaids.

Only the top five could become the Crown Prince’s exclusive handmaid. The lowest-ranked few would be sent back home entirely…

Such rumors were circulating. And I was teetering between fifth and sixth place like a seesaw.

‘This is dangerous…’

The promised one-week training was now down to just one more day. If I made a significant mistake, I might end up in the same Crown Prince’s Palace but unable to speak a word to Caesar.

Clap!

“Now, gather around.”

The handmaiden who had clapped her hands called us together. She had also called in the tutors who will be in charge of the Crown Prince’s education.

“Tomorrow will be the last day. I know that various rumors have been spreading among you. As I mentioned on the first day, becoming a full-fledged handmaid won’t be difficult as long as you don’t make any major mistakes.”

She smiled slightly.

“So, most likely, everyone here can become a full-fledged handmaid. If you work hard for just one more day tomorrow.”

It seemed meaningful. I wasn’t the only one who thought so. The handmaids exchanged uneasy glances.

“What’s happening tomorrow?”

The first to raise her hand was Arinna. The handmaiden smiled at her and replied,

“His Highness, the Crown Prince, will personally come out to meet all of you.”

What?

“His Highness has personally expressed his desire to do so. And on the first day, someone mentioned such a thing—that familiarity with His Highness is important. I thought it made sense.”

Among the handmaids, a mixture of anticipation and anxiety erupted. This opportunity might have nothing to do with the job skills they had displayed so far.

As long as they looked good in front of the Crown Prince!

“So, His Highness will personally evaluate us?”

“Yes, that’s correct. It will probably have the most significant impact.”

Arinna, who had been consistently ranked number one in job skills, didn’t show any displeasure at this news.

In fact, she seemed rather pleased.

“Confident, aren’t you?”

The handmaid with short yellow hair, who was standing next to me, muttered softly.

‘Yeah, does she have confidence?’

She looked at me as if seeking agreement, but I didn’t respond.

The reason was that the Chief Handmaid’s favor towards Arinna was purely because of her job performance, and it didn’t seem like she was using any unfair methods.

‘In the first place, the Chief Handmaid isn’t that kind of person.’

Having worked with her in the Imperial Princess’s Palace, I knew her temperament well.

‘And I don’t think Arinna would do that. But…’

There is a separate issue. The fact that the Crown Prince is coming in person, and everything could change according to Caesar’s opinion.

That’s the problem.

‘Because… over the past few days, I had deliberately been ignoring Caesar!’