I woke up fully refreshed after one of the best nights' sleep that I had ever had since I came to this novel world. The Duke was definitely not lying when he said that his beds were more comfortable than the ones in the inn. I hope the beds in Kanta are good. If not, we may need to trade with Duke Orla.
I was in a good mood until I heard a knock on the door. "My lady, the Duke sent me to help you get ready." A timid female voice carried through the heavy Oak door. "Um, no, thank you. I don't need any help to get ready." I responded. I was perfectly capable of bathing and dressing myself. My dress was not that complicated to need help with.
"The Duke insists that I assist you, my lady, please!" She was scared that if she disobeyed a direct order from the Duke, she might be punished. That was barbaric to me, but I guess this time period had different rules. I sighed as I got out of bed and put on the thick house slippers that were in my room yesterday.
I shuffled slowly towards the door. I was never a morning person, and I had to pee. I did not have time to argue with someone, no matter how well-intentioned she was. I opened the heavy door with a huff. "Uh, hi, what is your name?" I asked her quickly, so I could get this over with and relieve myself.
"Good morning, my lady, my name is Heidi, but you may call me any name that you like." She lowered her head as she replied to my question. This poor girl has no self-esteem. I was always the type of person who believed that everyone is equal, no matter their social class. How a person treats someone who serves them says a lot about their character.
I didn't want her to get in trouble if she returned too quickly, but I wasn't going to let her help me bathe or get dressed. She could clean the room while I got ready. She would probably have to do it later anyway, so this would save her some time later.
"Come in, Heidi." I waved her inside the room and closed the door after I noticed no one else was waiting outside. "I do not require any assistance getting ready, but you can start to clean the room while I get ready," I explained as I gestured to the messy sheets on the bed.
She tried to argue with me to let her help me, but I cut her off and started to go towards the bathroom. "I need to relieve myself. Just stay out here, please!" I frantically shuffled to the bathroom and closed the door behind me.
Heidi was stunned in her place for a minute until she started to tidy up the room. Usually, the room would be cleaned by a housemaid, but she wasn't offended. It wasn't too messy, but the Duke and Duchess had high standards. The sheets would be washed after every use!
After I finished my morning routine, I dressed myself and brushed my hair. This long hair was a little bit harder to deal with than my shoulder-length hair had been in my previous life. I may cut it later, but first, I wanted to reach Kanta as soon as possible.
I exited the bathroom to find the bedroom perfectly made, as if no one had slept in the bed. She was good! Heidi waited for me with her hands together in front of the white apron of her maid's outfit. She looked like a Victorian lady's maid in her black long-sleeve dress and white apron. Her blond hair was braided underneath her head covering. She had freckles and blue eyes.
"My lady, you look as lovely as a fairy, but if I may be so bold as to offer to do your hair." She blushed as she looked down. She didn't want to offend me, but she was right, my hairstyle was a little bit plain. I thought about it and decided it might be fun to try a new hairstyle while I was here.
"Thank you, Heidi. I would be happy if you could help me fix my hair. Your hair looks lovely." I complimented her, and she blushed harder. You would think that she had never been complimented before, which was crazy to me! She was gorgeous, and in my world, could easily be an actress or a model!
This world was different, and people relied too much on the status they were born with. I believed that people should not have titles just because of their luck of being born into a wealthy family. America was founded on the idea of the American Dream, that a person could earn more based on their talent and hard work.
It didn't always work out that way, and people still used resources and family connections to get ahead, but I knew many people who had worked their way up from poverty to become successful business owners. They educated themselves and worked hard to claw their way up to a better life. It wasn't easy, but they could do it!
The only way to advance in this kingdom was by marrying higher than your status, but that did not happen often. It was one of the ideas the original novel was based on, that a pastry chef, born outside of the nobility, was able to marry a prince and become a princess.
That was a step in the right direction, but they still had a long way to go. Katie had changed the novel, and her influence helped Queen Mariela to get closer to King Franz and share her political knowledge from her home. The women in Shibatsu had more rights and could become female warriors and advance through the ranks of nobility by their own merit.
Annalaias had taken a step in the right direction by allowing the commoners to have representation in the government, but they still had a ways to go before there was equality between the genders.
I know that Katie and Abby are trying to make Kanta a more equal nation, and that is one of the main reasons that I decided to move there. I know that I can't fix everything in this world, but I can try to fix injustices where I see them and be nice to people who deserve it, one compliment at a time!
Heidi finished my hair into an elaborate updo. It was beautiful, and I told her so, but I felt a little too fancy for breakfast. Oh, well, it's just for today. Maybe it will get less tangled on the ride later.