Chapter 06: Where Loyalty Becomes Family.

With that, the maids scrambled toward their rooms, hurriedly packing their belongings. Panic radiated from them, their faces ghostly pale, hands shaking like leaves in a storm. I couldn’t help but smirk. Their fear spoke louder than words ever could—but truthfully, I didn’t care. They had brought this on themselves for the cruelty they did to Towa.

“Y-Y-Your Majesty… What about us?”

The familiar voice cut through the chaos. Rose stood before me, her expression worried, the desperation barely hidden beneath the surface.

I fixed her with an unwavering stare, and her lips trembled, as if even the shadow of my wrath might strike her down.

“Please, Your Majesty… this job—it’s the only way I can provide for my family. If I lose it… our debt will grow, and my family…” Her voice faltered, cracking under the weight of her fear. “…we’ll become slaves.”

The word landed like a jagged blade against my chest, slicing through the air and embedding itself in my mind. It lingered there, sharp and unyielding, demanding acknowledgment.

“To those I called forward, you’ll be assigned major roles within the palace. Rose,” I said, letting my tone linger on her name, “you will become head of the maids and my personal attendant. The rest of you will oversee key departments—cleaning, laundry, dishes, guest services, and the instruction of newcomers in proper etiquette and manners.” I paused, watching their eyes widen with disbelief. “By the end of the day, letters detailing your new positions will arrive.”

They froze, the shock written plainly on their faces. I allowed the silence to stretch, savoring the weight of the revelation.

“Oh, and one more thing,” I added, letting the words carry a note of finality. “From now on, each of you will have comfortable, luxurious rooms. Meals prepared by the palace chef—just as I enjoy—will be yours as well.”

Their stunned expressions gave me a small, private satisfaction, particularly when I glanced at Rose. Relief, mingled with cautious hope, softened the tension in her shoulders.

Lucas’s investigation had uncovered the truth of Rose’s plight. A commoner, forced into servitude to repay her father’s gambling debts, she had endured cruelty at the hands of the noble who held them. This promotion—her hard-earned chance—meant freedom from oppression and the opportunity to finally reclaim her life.

Before I could dwell further, Leo’s voice cut through my thoughts.
“Your Majesty, it’s time for the tour.”

“Ah… it’s already that time,” I said, forcing a polite smile as I began to turn.

But Rose stepped forward, her hands clasped tightly before her.
“Your Majesty, wait!”

I halted. “What is it?”

Her eyes met mine, earnest and determined. “Since you’ve dismissed most of the maids, it’ll be impossible for the remaining fourteen of us to manage all the work.”

I paused, the truth of her words striking me. My impulsive decision this morning had left a gap I hadn’t fully considered. Then an idea sparked, and I turned to Leo, a sly grin tugging at my lips.

“You’re a general, aren’t you? That means you have soldiers under your command.”

“Yes, I do. Why?” he asked, curiosity flickering across his features.

I glanced back at Rose, my smile sharpening. “Come with me, Rose. Leo, take me to your men.”

After we arrived at the area where Leo's subordinates were stationed, I turned to him, voice calm but edged with authority.
“Gather all your men at once. I have something urgent to discuss with them.”

Leo’s sharp gaze met mine, the slight tightening of his jaw betraying that he already understood my plan. Within moments, his men appeared, lining up with practiced precision, their expressions a mixture of confusion, curiosity, and the faintest flicker of apprehension.

I let my eyes sweep over them, noting the rigidity of their stance, the subtle tension in their shoulders, the way some gripped their weapons a little tighter than necessary. Each one of them felt the weight of my presence, even if they didn’t yet understand why.

Taking a slow, deliberate breath, I addressed them, letting each word hang in the air like steel.
“I have an urgent order for you, gentlemen. But before we begin, hear me clearly: this task is crucial, and it is one that only you can accomplish. That is why I have entrusted it to you. I have faith in each of you.”

The pause that followed was heavy, charged with the unspoken understanding that this was no ordinary command. Every man shifted slightly, acknowledging the gravity of the moment without a single word spoken.

A sly smirk tugged at my lips as I let the words fall like a hammer.
“It’s—CLEANING,” I declared, my voice sharp and unyielding. The force behind it startled not only them, but even me, a sudden surge of energy that felt so uncharacteristic for Towa. Yet I knew this would keep them from questioning anything—at least, for now.

Silence followed, heavy and taut… until it shattered. A unified, incredulous shout erupted from the group:
“WHAAAAAAAAAT?!”

Their voices collided in chaotic disarray, almost theatrical in its volume and panic. I couldn’t help the tiny, victorious smile that played at the corners of my mouth.

Rose, standing quietly at my side, blinked several times as if to confirm she’d heard correctly.
“Pardon me, Your Majesty… but do you truly mean that?” Her voice trembled with disbelief.

I gave her a serene nod, the faintest smile curving my lips.

One soldier, still wrestling with the absurdity of my order, stammered, “Your Majesty! What if we—what if we break something expensive? We’re not trained for this kind of work!”

I lifted a hand, and the chatter died instantly.
“You don’t need to worry about the small things,” I said, my tone calm, almost reassuring—though we all knew there was nothing ‘small’ about this. “The maids are short-handed today because I dismissed most of them. That’s why I’m asking for your help. Just for today.”

A ripple of disheartened murmurs passed through the ranks.
“Small things…?” one man muttered under his breath, his doubt plain as day.

I allowed myself a wry smile. “Yes. And we have Rose here—an expert in all household matters—plus thirteen other maids who will guide you. So truly, nothing to fear. If anything breaks…” I let a playful lilt enter my voice, “…I’ll take full responsibility.”

A soft, almost teasing giggle escaped my lips, but deep down, I knew full well this was no simple request.

Suddenly, Leo’s voice cracked through the air like a whip.
“Enough with the complaints.” He stepped forward, his eyes narrowing into a glare so sharp it could have carved stone. “Her Majesty has given you this task because she trusts you can handle it. And this—” his gaze swept over them like a blade “—is how you respond? Are my men truly this incompetent?”

The soldiers flinched as if struck. Whatever lingering hesitation they had dissolved under the sheer weight of his presence. Spines straightened. Faces hardened.
“Y-Yes, Your Majesty,” they muttered, the words clipped and uniform now, like soldiers who had just remembered who they were speaking to.

I clapped twice, the sound snapping through the tension like a pebble breaking still water. Turning to Leo, I offered a knowing smile.
“Thanks for stepping in, but… loosen up and smile once in a while. You’ll catch more flies that way.”

The corner of his mouth twitched—almost imperceptibly—but he quickly buried it beneath his usual granite expression.
“This is our normal way of interacting,” he replied evenly, though I caught the faintest trace of amusement in his voice.

I turned my gaze back to the soldiers, letting my voice soften just enough to draw them in.
“Think of this as a chance to connect with the people who keep this palace alive. We’re the gears that make it turn, day after day. We’re a family here.”

At that word—family—something shifted. Subtle, but there. A few eyes darted toward me, their guarded expressions faltering for the briefest moment. I recognized it instantly. Many of these men had grown up in orphanages, never knowing the comfort of belonging. The word had touched a place they rarely let anyone see.

“Instead of fighting to outdo each other,” I continued, “why not work together to make this place more than just a palace? Make it a home. A place where we all belong.”

A tense beat passed before one soldier scoffed, his gaze flicking away.
“This is still a palace,” he muttered. “Royals can do whatever they please without consequence. But for us… one wrong move could cost us our lives.”

The bitterness in his voice was sharp enough to cut the air, and it sank into me like a stone slipping beneath still water. I knew that weight—the quiet suffocation of walking on a blade’s edge, where a single misstep could end you.

A small chuckle escaped me, low and almost intimate. There was no mockery in it, only a thread of understanding.
“Have you forgotten that I am your queen?” I asked, my smile warm but steady. “I care little for minor mistakes, so long as your intentions are pure. Even I do not claim the authority to pass judgment on your worth.”

Something flickered in their eyes. The wariness hadn’t vanished, but it shifted—softened—just enough for trust to slip in through the cracks.

“Now,” I said, clapping my hands once more, the sharp sound breaking the heavy air, “we begin after lunch. Rose, I’m placing this in your hands.”

Rose straightened, her earlier tension melting into a calm smile.
“Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty.”

I clapped Leo lightly on the back, a faint grin playing on my lips.
“Let’s go.”

His voice carried an undercurrent of admiration, almost reluctant.
“I’m impressed. You earned my men’s trust in less than an hour.”

I gave a small nod, accepting the praise with a polite smile.
“Thank you for the compliment.”

But as my gaze drifted away, my thoughts darkened. Sorry, Leo… for the lie.
Some truths were luxuries I couldn’t afford. If winning loyalty meant masking my own doubts, then so be it. I buried my conscience deep, letting it dissolve into silence, and stepped forward without looking back.