The following day was exceptionally quiet in the Royal Palace.

It was too quiet.

Jennie had been living in the palace for five years.

During that time, she’d learned an important lesson.

Whenever the palace became this quiet...

Something bad would happen.

Something usually involving Princess Lilia.

Carrying a silver tray through the eastern corridor, Jennie headed toward the King’s study.

The King had asked her to bring him some fresh tea and official papers for reading.

Another normal day.

At least, that was what she hoped.

Inside the King’s study...

King Aldric sat in a chair by the side of Queen Celestine.

Arthur Queens was standing there dressed up in his ceremonial clothes.

Martha Morius was calm as always.

Several ministers and high-born nobles were summoned.

Lucas was among them.

The atmosphere there was much more serious than usual.

Jennie bowed politely.

"Your Majesty, your tea."

King Aldric smiled cheerfully.

"Perfect timing."

Something in her inner voice immediately told her...

This smile never meant anything good.

"Remain here for a while."

"...Yes, Your Majesty."

As she poured tea into the cups, the meeting started.

One of the ministers stepped up.

"Your Majesty, preparations for Princess Lilia’s admission to the Royal Academy have been completed."

"Excellent."

"Also, the academy asked us for information on her personal attendants."

Jennie kept pouring tea.

It wasn’t her problem, right?

Then...

Lilia raised her hand.

"I already chose one."

King Aldric nodded with understanding.

"We know."

The minister smiled politely.

"Who will be honored to serve the princess?"

Lilia immediately pointed her finger.

Straight to Jennie.

"Her."

All eyes in the room turned to Jennie.

Looking behind herself, Jennie saw...

Nobody.

Unfortunate.

"...Princess."

"Yes?"

"I think you’ve chosen wrong."

"No."

"I’m just a maid."

"Exactly."

"I work here."

"You’ll work there."

Jennie immediately started feeling a headache coming.

One of the elders frowned.

"It’s impossible."

Silence filled the room.

"Royal Academy has never accepted regular servants before."

"Yeah."

"The academy is for nobles and talented commoners."

"A maid cannot be a student."

Ministers nodded quietly.

Jennie finally found reasonable people.

King Aldric was calm as usual.

"I know."

Drinking a little bit of tea, he looked at Martha.

"Lady Martha."

The Head Maid came forward.

Without a word, she put the thick and ancient book on King’s table.

Dust was flying into the air.

Leather cover seemed like it was hundreds of years old.

Golden letters decorated its surface.

Founding Laws of the Royal Academy.

King Aldric opened the ancient tome carefully.

Pages were yellowing with age.

They were carefully preserved by kings of many generations.

King Aldric flipped through the pages for a few moments.

Then he smiled.

"There it is."

Jennie felt very bad.

King started reading aloud.

His voice echoed through the room.

«"Article Twenty-Seven."»

"Any member of the Royal House, enrolled in the Royal Academy, is entitled to appoint one personal royal attendant."

Ministers frowned.

King Aldric read on.

"Said attendant shall have permission to live inside the academy’s territory and accompany the student through the whole period of studies."

Silence filled the room.

King Aldric closed the book with a gentle thump.

"It seems the founders foresaw such a situation."

The elder quickly protested.

"Your Majesty, surely this law speaks about royal knights."

King shook his head.

"It says ’attendant.’"

"It does not say ’knight.’"

"It does not say ’noble.’"

"It does not say ’gender.’"

"It simply says..."

King smiled at Jennie.

"...personal royal attendant."

All ministers fell silent.

Jennie wished she slept that day.

Arthur coughed awkwardly.

"My daughter is... indeed Princess Lilia’s officially appointed maid."

Martha nodded.

"That is correct."

Queen Celestine spoke softly,

"Therefore, the law applies."

Jennie looked from face to face.

Slowly.

Cautiously.

King.

Queen.

Arthur.

Elena.

Martha.

All the ministers even stopped arguing.

Traitors.

Every one of them.

In her mind, Excalibur was speaking.

"Master looks to be surrounded."

"I noticed."

"Escape seems to be impossible."

"I noticed."

Lilia could no longer stay calm.

Jumping from the chair, she exclaimed.

"See?"

"I won!"

With pride, she hugged Jennie by her shoulders.

Jennie stood motionlessly.

Just like a statue accepting her destiny.

"I didn’t agree to that."

"You don’t have to."

"...That’s scary."

"I learned that from Martha."

Adjusting her glasses, Martha said,

"I take no responsibility for it."

Nobody believed her.

Jennie sighed heavily.

She killed dragons.

Fought against armies.

Survived Martha’s maid training.

But somehow...

An unknown law defeated her.

King Aldric walked toward her.

His face was smiling.

"Jennie."

Respectfully, Jennie bowed.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"I know this is not what you wanted."

Jennie valued this honesty.

"You served this palace faithfully for many years."

"You saved my daughter more times than I can count."

"You have become a part of this family."

King’s smile widened.

"I trust nobody as much as you to protect Lilia."

Jennie looked at the princess.

She smiled brightly.

Totally oblivious of the mess she made.

Jennie closed her eyes for a moment.

Then exhaled quietly.

"...Very well."

Lilia’s eyes sparkled.

"Really?"

"I’ll go."

Before someone could start rejoicing, Jennie added coldly,

"But if you skip classes, I’ll drag you there."

"If you neglect your homework, I’ll make you do it."

"And if you create any problems, I’ll tell everything to Queen Celestine."

Lilia puffed out her cheeks.

"But you have to help me!"

"You do."

"This isn’t helping."

"This is responsible help."

Laughter filled the room.

Even Arthur smiled.

Queen Celestine was relieved.

King Aldric whispered a prayer of thanks to the Goddess.

And after many years...

Even Martha allowed herself the slightest smile.

Very faint.

Almost invisible.

Her best student was leaving the palace.

Proud of her...

Jennie closed her eyes once again.

For the first time in years...

She was outside of the palace walls.

Wind of spring was blowing outside.

Far away from the capital, the Royal Academy was waiting.

There was a lot of talented nobles.

Geniuses hiding somewhere.

Heroes of tomorrow.

Villains of tomorrow.

And many secrets hidden under centuries of history.

Jennie wanted nothing more than a peaceful life.

But...

She was heading to the stage where the destiny of the next generation will unfold.

Little did she know...

Pretty soon everyone in the academy would hear about the beautiful white-haired maid with a sword of king hidden behind a smile.