The new Rosenberg mansion, located in their duchy, was very busy this morning.
"Hurry up!"
After paying their debt to the palace, its restoration began.
The administrator of the mansion and employees was Glenn.
His workload increased, but he didn't mind, as the house he served had returned to normal.
Now he was introducing himself to the new servants.
"Welcome, everyone. My name is Glenn; I am the head butler and right-hand man of the duchess. Address me however you please; after all, I am just another employee."
Different groups of people were gathered inside a large room of the mansion. The size was equivalent to a stadium; despite its size, it was still small compared to other mansions that looked like castles, or rather, were castles.
"This is your first day here; you were all selected by the palace."
After what happened with the Rosenberg Household, the palace decided to help them slightly. Those who did so were people grateful to them for getting rid of the third prince, or perhaps it was to celebrate the new third prince; the reason varied, but the honesty was the same.
"I was informed that Lady Elize, the heir of the duchy, her fiancé, Baron Razel, her younger sister, and other guests will be arriving."
Among the new employees are butlers, maids, cooks, gardeners, and knights.
A maid raised her hand.
"I have a question."
"Go ahead." Said Glenn.
"Head butler, you mentioned something that caught my attention. Does Lady Elize have a younger sister?"
The employees began to murmur among themselves.
"I thought she was an only child?"
"Is she perhaps a secret daughter?"
"Silence."
Glenn shut them all up.
"The long-serving servants and employees know, so it's normal that you don't. Listen carefully because I'll only say it once."
"Lady Lily is of commoner origin, but even so, she is Lady Elize's adopted younger sister."
Everyone was astonished to hear that a commoner was the adopted sister of a duke's daughter.
"What is the duchess thinking, adopting a commoner."
Glenn, hearing that murmur, said.
"It's also a good opportunity for you to vent right now. I'll say this not as part of the job, but as a favor to you."
"...?"
"Lady Lily is Lady Elize's best friend; she was her main emotional support during the chaos with Prince Regulux. The duchess found out about that and personally asked her to be her daughter. She is also the concubine of Baron Razel, the future duke and head of this house. If you don't want to lose your job or worse... I suggest you be professional."
Everyone fell silent, but only one person timidly raised their hand; it was another maid.
"Excuse me, head butler."
"Yes?"
"The future duke... Baron Razel, is he that kind of man? The kind who puts his hands on maids?"
The maids nodded as if to say. –That's what we wanted to know too. But none of them did.
Things like putting hands on female knights or maids of a noble house were normal. That's why low-ranking nobles or commoners with higher status than other commoners would send their youngest and most beautiful daughters to be taken as concubines or lovers.
Such a question was something that needed to be known as a priority.
Glenn sighed a little, and after catching his breath, said.
"You don't need to worry. The baron is not that kind of man; he already has not only a legal wife but also other concubines. Now, if any of you wish to be one, you should speak with the duchess, not with me."
The maids fell silent out of embarrassment for asking. –When could we speak with her?
"Good, if that's all. All who are not maids may go to their workstations."
The maids stayed while the other employees went to work.
"I asked you to stay for a moment because of her. Please, introduce yourself."
Glenn pointed to a door, and upon it opening, a beautiful woman came out.
She walked with an elegance that made the other maids feel ashamed.
Her hair was long emerald green, tied in a refined ponytail, fastened with a donut-shaped braid and two braids extending from her ears to that donut of hair.
She wore glasses, but even with them, her beautiful light green eyes were bright.
The detail that made her stand out the most was not her elegance or beauty, but two large fleshy lumps hanging from her chest, which bounced lightly as she walked.
The woman stood near Glenn and spoke to the maids.
"Good morning to all of you. Allow me to introduce myself; I am the eldest daughter of Viscount Evans, Cordelia, the head maid. A pleasure to meet you."
Cordelia greeted them by lifting the edges of her skirt and bowing her head slightly; the other maids did the same.
"I was personally sent by the palace to instruct you; I will make sure to turn you into maid's worthy of a ducal house."
"Please, go to the reception for a quick introductory briefing."
The maids left politely.
Before Cordelia could continue on her way, Glenn stopped her.
"The palace has certainly been very generous with us after what happened."
She stopped.
"Isn't that a good thing? It shows they want the Rosenberg Household to be worthy again as before. That's why they're giving us a little help. With your permission, I must—"
"That sounds very nice, but no one would believe it."
Cordelia's feet stopped.
"So many years being ignored and treated like trash, and now they're interested in us. I may be a decrepit old man, but I'm not a fool, Head Maid."
"I don't know what the palace has up its sleeve, but the Rosenberg Household will not hit rock bottom again. There is already someone who brought us back to life after nearly a decade of darkness. I won't let those old fox ministers do as they please."
"That's fine with me; I only need to send a monthly report to those associated with the prime minister."
"Now, with your permission."
Cordelia walked towards the reception; despite her slow steps, her enormous breasts bounced a little higher than normal.
(They don't need to know why the palace is helping them, just accept her; they've extended their hand for a reason.)
Cordelia remembered a meeting she had with the prime minister before coming.
◇◇◇
Cordelia was sitting on a sofa in a large office, similar to the meeting room of a multi-million-dollar company.
At a wide brown desk sat a muscular man with long blonde hair, closed eyes; on one shoulder he had the mantle of the imperial crest, and on the other, a band that said Prime Minister.
His name was Rudolph Alan von Bryes, the emperor's younger brother and the only grand duke of the empire.
Cordelia was sweating a lot.
She was just another maid among many.
She wasn't the best, nor the worst, nor the most popular. But being summoned by the second most important man in the country was something that would make anyone sweat.
She didn't speak, afraid of interrupting the work of running the empire.
After finishing signing some papers, he finally spoke to her.
"I'm very sorry to keep you waiting so long, but these papers were very urgent."
Said the prime minister, getting up with a manila envelope where he had stored some documents.
He sent them through a tube that connected to another room.
"Now, to the reason you came."
Cordelia sweated more; she still couldn't speak.
The prime minister sat on a sofa near her.
"I know you must be wondering why you're here; don't worry, it's nothing bad. In fact, it's a job that only you can do."
"Me?" Said Cordelia, surprised.
"Yes. Only you. The reason is that your house is a low-ranking one within the palace; in other words, it's a house that is in no way suspicious."
The Evans family, from which Cordelia came, was a normal viscount household; they had no problems with anyone as they were simply vassals of the imperial palace.
"I'm sure you must know about the situation of the Rosenberg Household."
"Of course. It's news everyone should know, as it involves the dismissal of the third prince in the line of succession and his replacement by another."
"Correct, my nephew deserved it. But leaving that aside, you have been selected to be the new head maid of the Rosenberg Household."
"M-Me!"
Cordelia couldn't believe what she was hearing; being considered at the age of 24 as a head maid, and for a ducal house, was unimaginable.
"The duchess is a woman who shouldn't trust us; I don't blame her. I am aware of the corruption and pests we have among us."
Cordelia knew a little about that darkness, but that the prime minister himself was aware that they were surrounded by wicked people left her amazed at how calmly he took things.
(He is undoubtedly the empire's prime minister! Only he and His Majesty the emperor must know that they can't eliminate that darkness alone; surely he's trying to make peace with the Rosenberg Household to have more allies.)
"For that reason, I will send you to them. You will give me a monthly report on what happens in the mansion and with the duchess, her daughters, and the baron."
"Excuse me, but, the baron?"
"Don't you know? The duchess's daughter's fiancé is one of the heroes who saved the capital from that creature."
"Really!? I didn't know that; I only read in the newspaper that the creature was defeated by Prince Cidfert and someone else they didn't mention."
"That's understandable, since some of us can't believe it and others, myself included, denied his participation."
"You? But wouldn't it be better for the population to know that the future duke of the Rosenberg's is a hero?"
The prime minister's smile disappeared.
"We are fighting a war both outside and inside the empire. The Ideal Empire hasn't attacked our borders for years, and the situation with the Black Crows is getting worse."
(The Black Crows... my father told me they are a very wicked clandestine organization. Their existence is a rumor or just tales to scare children, but for the prime minister to mention them... undoubtedly, the empire is going through something big in the shadows.)
"Fortunately, we have our defenders who don't fall into darkness."
"Defenders?"
"They are different people or organizations."
"The holy mages and the ministry of magic, the guild leader Jerome, the academy director, the sword saints and candidates for the next. And, although I don't like to say it, those three as well."
"Those three?"
"Oh, I almost forgot."
A smile appeared on the prime minister's face.
"Our new bait."
But it was a wicked one.
"B-Bait, you said?"
"That's right, I'm talking about the Rosenberg Household."
"Eh!?"
"After what happened with Regulux, I discovered that many who supported him were people of horrible origin with dirty hands."
"Their hopes of using him collapsed thanks to Cidfert, the baron, and the Rosenberg Household."
"But... those people who desire revenge are obvious. Their dark desires arose when His Majesty mocked them and made them pay for the engagement ceremony."
"Then that was...!"
"That's right, the trap. We found our bait to catch those vermin."
The prime minister's hands clenched tightly as he declared that the Rosenberg family was a scapegoat.
"I feel sorry for them, but I'm sure the duchess must know that there is already an anti-Rosenberg faction."
"Anti-Rosenberg faction?"
"The darkness of the palace is showing its fangs at that house. It's our opportunity to discover who they are and destroy them; Minister Olgren also knows about that faction and will help me as much as he can."
"It's a bit annoying that Blake is acting like a child just because he found rats under his bed and doesn't want to help me. Sirius is a separate case; his head is in the clouds after what happened with his mother."
Cordelia showed her resolve by standing up. Her enormous breasts bounced with happiness like her.
"In that case, I'll make sure to inform the duchess about this too! Don't worry."
"I suggest you don't. It's not the same knowing something is wrong as actually discovering that it is."
"I understand."
"You may leave and start packing your bags."
"Yes."
Cordelia left the room determined to fulfill her duty.
As she was leaving, the prime minister thought.
(I'm very sorry, Duchess; I'll support your house as much as I can, but the darkness wants to get rid of you, and I'll use you to discover who they are. If, by chance, you manage to eliminate that darkness for us... the Rosenberg Household will undoubtedly be the greatest enemy we could have created.)
For the prime minister, eliminating the intruders they had in their own house was important, but accidentally creating a new enemy in exchange for getting rid of another was something they didn't want to think about.
◇
Once we arrived at the outskirts of the new Rosenberg mansion.
Some knights approached us and asked to verify our identity. Upon seeing Eli, they opened the gate for us to enter.
After a timed five-minute drive through the garden to reach the entrance, other knights were waiting for us.
Upon opening it, I was surprised by what I saw.
"Welcome, Elize ojou-sama, Baron Razel-sama, Lily ojou-sama, and other guests."
A large group of maids was waiting for us at the entrance.
It was a unique sight that I could only dream of seeing in fantasies and anime.
"Thank you." Said Eli as she entered.
"Thank you." Added Lily, following Eli.
Cid also entered, and the maids were surprised to see him. After greeting him, he raised his hand to say he was fine.
Before I followed as well, my new concubines entered.
"Uhyo! This place is huge! Rich people really are different from us poor folks."
Said Celia, admiring the place.
"Ah, nice to—! My tongue..."
Said Evelyn after biting her tongue for the ninth time that day.
They walked behind Cid.
Some knights entered with our luggage.
I walked behind Evelyn since I hadn't come to this place before.
We arrived at the reception room because Eli wanted to tell us something.
"It was unannounced, Prince Cid's participation in our vacation, but please, make yourself at home. It's the least I can do after you helped us."
"It's okay, Elize. May I call you by your name?"
"Of course." Said Eli with a smile.
"I'd like to go out and explore the place alone."
"Would you not like an escort?"
"I always went out alone for walks. I like it that way; besides, I doubt anyone would want to mess with the one who killed a gigantic monster?"
(Apparently, Cid is enjoying being the empire's hero. Good for me; he gains more self-confidence, and his chances of becoming the bearer of the sin of envy decrease further.)
(Cid, keep showing off for your own good.)
"Good, regarding you all..."
Eli's eyes looked at Celia and Evelyn like pests.
"The maids are preparing a room for you; in the meantime, feel free to explore the mansion. After all, your children will be relatives of this house."
A blue vein appeared on her forehead; Lily showed a cold look.
(It seems they really are bothered by this. I'm very happy to hide from them that I have two secret lovers.)
(Leila doesn't count since I don't know if she just wants to play at killing criminals or running through the mountains?)
(Come to think of it, what are they doing?)
◇◇◇
A large group of people was lining up.
A new branch was opening.
For a few days now, this branch has been charming different groups of customers.
Its products were not only varied. They were fine and cheap.
Both commoners and nobles could buy them.
Of course, the nobles wanted to use their status to skip the line and get a discount.
But there was something preventing them from doing so.
"Form a line like everyone else!"
A girl in uniform was kicking a group of nobles out.
Her hair was long and black, her ears pointed, she had a tail, and her eyes were golden like the glow of the moon.
She was Leila, a former slave whom Razel and Amy saved some time ago.
She was in charge of security.
She was also the only employee.
When a customer left, she let another in.
Commoners and nobles were mixed together; you couldn't tell them apart.
This was on purpose to annoy them.
The owner was Amy, in disguise.
After the successful sales of her books as the most awarded novice author so far this year, she decided to financially help Razel.
She earned a lot of money, but he needed more.
Razel refused to accept money from her; he didn't want to be a bother, so Amy decided something without consulting him.
(I'll create a multi-purpose company and make the Rosenberg Household its ally!)
Upon learning of his engagement to Eli, she was happy and a little sad. She was woman #1 but had nothing to certify it.
Saying it was easy, but doing it was different.
The Rosenberg Household would be on guard, so Amy had to think of something to help make her plan a reality; that's why she first created this small branch, which has customers daily.
In fact, business hours are from 10 in the morning to 6 in the afternoon.
When a new customer entered, a beautiful woman approached her.
Her flaxen-colored hair was tied in a braided bun with a wavy side fringe.
Her beautiful hazel eyes showed a mysterious confidence.
Her body was hidden in a blue and white stewardess uniform.
A red scarf around her neck, and her skirt was extremely short, showing the shape of her bottom.
Since it was a disguise, she didn't care if someone looked at her with desire. That made profits increase even more.
"A pleasure to meet you. My name is Monika Gramheart, the owner of this store, the Valentine Company."
Amy, disguised as Monika, greeted the customer who entered.
A beautiful woman.
"A pleasure to meet you. I am the Duchess Rosenberg. I would like to buy a few things."
Monika's eyes widened; in front of her was the mother of the woman who was the legal wife of her beloved.
But there was a problem.
(Why does this woman have the scent of Razel-sama on her body?)
Barbara was puzzled by Monika, who was looking at her with strange, expressionless eyes.
But Monika wasn't the only one doing it.
(The Valentine Company is a small branch that opened recently. Having a sponsor or benefactor is very necessary for our house. Some servants came and reported that despite having low prices, their sales are wholesale. That is, they generate a lot to sell it so cheaply.)
(I have to get them to join us. For the sake of my house and Razel-kun.)
Neither of them knew that they had the same goal, as well as the same romantic interest.