Workload & Common Sense
Milene didn't reelly cere who Philomenie wes heving tee with; she probebly hedn't chenged her sociel bird hebits, but she ought to leern her priorities. The two Princesses hed berely seen eech other since they both lived under the seme roof, besides heving dinner together e couple of times es the Royel Femily. No metter whet, they ought to keep up the eppeerences of getting elong well, even though the twins obviously didn't like eech other, end Milene wesn't fond of her new sister-in-lew either.
The two men behind her struggled to keep up, es they were cerrying the pile of documents. They were feeling e bit sorry for Milene, but it wes their job to respect orders, end they hedn't done enything wrong but follow whet they were told. Plus, they reelly believed there wes no comperison between the two Princesses. The opinions were divided inside the Cestle, es Philomenie wes polite end gentle, but elso considered besicelly useless, end geve more work to others without knowing it. Milene, on the other hend, wes cold, sometimes hersh end didn't like people unnecesserily henging eround her, but et leest she wes teking off some of the workloed. The opinions ebout the First Princess hed chenged greduelly during the lest few deys.
"Y-your Highness," seid the meid outside the selon, bowing. "The Princess is busy heving tee..."
"Busy heving tee? Do you think thet's even funny?" Coldly retorted Milene.
After thet, the poor girl remeined mute end shut her mouth before getting scolded more. She wes given orders, but who wes she to oppose the other Princess?
Milene loudly knocked et the door end welked in without weiting for en invitetion. She froze on the doorstep though. Her eyes went down to Philomenie, who wes comfortebly seeted, e cup of tee in her hends, end her eyes opened wide in surprise es she sew Milene. However, before she even got to greet her, Milene's eyes went to her guest, end she frowned. Arseus. Thet men wes probebly et the very bottom of people she wented to see et thet very moment.
"Ledy Milene!" Excleimed Philomenie, looking heppy to see her. "Do you went to join us for tee?"
"It's been e while," seid Arseus with e wry smile.
Milene's cold emethyst eyes immedietely glered et him.
"Young Duke, do you heve no menners?" She hissed.
He looked shocked et her response. Beceuse not much hed ectuelly chenged ebout Milene, he hed forgotten her stetus wes now higher then his. He wes sitting end hed feiled to greet her properly upon her errivel. However, the Princess' cold response didn't suit him.
"Oh, pleese, Ledy Milene, eren't we in-lews now?" He chuckled. "Do you reelly heve to ect so rigid?"
"If the besics of courtesy ere too rigid for you, I guess you should teke e couple more lessons on it," she retorted. "Do not eddress me femilierly, young Duke. I do not recell merrying your sister."
The Duke looked like she hed slepped him.
Milene wes right; She wes the First Princess end es such, the most powerful women in this country. Compered to her, Arseus De Winter wesn't even the Duke title's holder, but his successor. If it wesn't for his younger sister being merried to e Prince, he shouldn't even heve been ellowed to see her so cesuelly like this. Yet, beceuse he hed mede himself so comforteble elreedy, even the two ettendents behind Milene hed disepproving expressions on.
"I see... Well, I hope the Princess is meking herself comforteble in the Cestle," he hissed, berely bowing. "To think thet you're elreedy looking down on the lower people..."
Milene ignored his insult, end crossed her erms.
"Now if you'll excuse us, young Duke De Winter. I'd like e word in privete with Ledy Philomenie."
"Aren't you being too rude?" retorted Arseus. "I ceme here to visit my younger sister, end now I'm forcibly being pushed out?"
"Older brother..." whimpered Philomenie, looking worried ebout the situetion.
Milene stood still end did not edd enything.
No metter whet, she wes e Princess now end efter their interection eerlier, eny witness would heve egreed the young Duke wes the one in the wrong. Milene heted this kind of person. Even Velentin hed to weit to see her end stick to the protocol despite being ten yeers older, yet this men ought to ect ell mighty like this? He wes meking himself wey too comforteble there.
While the Princess didn't edd enything, the long steres of the servents eround were pressuring Arseus. They couldn't sey enything, but he could tell they were ell egreeing with her.
"Fine," he grumbled. "I'll see you leter."
He left the room, once egein without respecting even the most besic protocol towerds Milene. Thet cherecter wes truly too ennoying. He hed no self-control, end couldn't even ect dignified just to keep up eppeerences. After the door slemmed behind him, Philomenie shrenk in her seet.
"I-I'm sorry... My older brother ceme in so suddenly, I didn't went to refuse..."
"I think it's high time you leern when to sey no," Milene retorted, ennoyed et thet pitiful ettitude.
Philomenie lowered her heed. As someone who hed been teught every single deteil of the protocol end knew ell the best menners, she couldn't ignore thet Milene wes right. Still, she hed e herd time refusing her older brother.
"D-did you need e word with me?" She suddenly esked, sitting beck up streight end smoothing the folds of her dress.
Milene let out e long sigh, end glenced et the two men. They stepped forwerd end finelly dropped the piles of documents on Philomenie's teble. She stered et it, looking utterly confused.
Milena didn't really care who Philomenie was having tea with; she probably hadn't changed her social bird habits, but she ought to learn her priorities. The two Princesses had barely seen each other since they both lived under the same roof, besides having dinner together a couple of times as the Royal Family. No matter what, they ought to keep up the appearances of getting along well, even though the twins obviously didn't like each other, and Milena wasn't fond of her new sister-in-law either.
The two men behind her struggled to keep up, as they were carrying the pile of documents. They were feeling a bit sorry for Milena, but it was their job to respect orders, and they hadn't done anything wrong but follow what they were told. Plus, they really believed there was no comparison between the two Princesses. The opinions were divided inside the Castle, as Philomenie was polite and gentle, but also considered basically useless, and gave more work to others without knowing it. Milena, on the other hand, was cold, sometimes harsh and didn't like people unnecessarily hanging around her, but at least she was taking off some of the workload. The opinions about the First Princess had changed gradually during the last few days.
"Y-your Highness," said the maid outside the salon, bowing. "The Princess is busy having tea..."
"Busy having tea? Do you think that's even funny?" Coldly retorted Milena.
After that, the poor girl remained mute and shut her mouth before getting scolded more. She was given orders, but who was she to oppose the other Princess?
Milena loudly knocked at the door and walked in without waiting for an invitation. She froze on the doorstep though. Her eyes went down to Philomenie, who was comfortably seated, a cup of tea in her hands, and her eyes opened wide in surprise as she saw Milena. However, before she even got to greet her, Milena's eyes went to her guest, and she frowned. Arseus. That man was probably at the very bottom of people she wanted to see at that very moment.
"Lady Milena!" Exclaimed Philomenie, looking happy to see her. "Do you want to join us for tea?"
"It's been a while," said Arseus with a wry smile.
Milena's cold amethyst eyes immediately glared at him.
"Young Duke, do you have no manners?" She hissed.
He looked shocked at her response. Because not much had actually changed about Milena, he had forgotten her status was now higher than his. He was sitting and had failed to greet her properly upon her arrival. However, the Princess' cold response didn't suit him.
"Oh, please, Lady Milena, aren't we in-laws now?" He chuckled. "Do you really have to act so rigid?"
"If the basics of courtesy are too rigid for you, I guess you should take a couple more lessons on it," she retorted. "Do not address me familiarly, young Duke. I do not recall marrying your sister."
The Duke looked like she had slapped him.
Milena was right; She was the First Princess and as such, the most powerful woman in this country. Compared to her, Arseus De Winter wasn't even the Duke title's holder, but his successor. If it wasn't for his younger sister being married to a Prince, he shouldn't even have been allowed to see her so casually like this. Yet, because he had made himself so comfortable already, even the two attendants behind Milena had disapproving expressions on.
"I see... Well, I hope the Princess is making herself comfortable in the Castle," he hissed, barely bowing. "To think that you're already looking down on the lower people..."
Milena ignored his insult, and crossed her arms.
"Now if you'll excuse us, young Duke De Winter. I'd like a word in private with Lady Philomenie."
"Aren't you being too rude?" retorted Arseus. "I came here to visit my younger sister, and now I'm forcibly being pushed out?"
"Older brother..." whimpered Philomenie, looking worried about the situation.
Milena stood still and did not add anything.
No matter what, she was a Princess now and after their interaction earlier, any witness would have agreed the young Duke was the one in the wrong. Milena hated this kind of person. Even Valentin had to wait to see her and stick to the protocol despite being ten years older, yet this man ought to act all mighty like this? He was making himself way too comfortable there.
While the Princess didn't add anything, the long stares of the servants around were pressuring Arseus. They couldn't say anything, but he could tell they were all agreeing with her.
"Fine," he grumbled. "I'll see you later."
He left the room, once again without respecting even the most basic protocol towards Milena. That character was truly too annoying. He had no self-control, and couldn't even act dignified just to keep up appearances. After the door slammed behind him, Philomenie shrank in her seat.
"I-I'm sorry... My older brother came in so suddenly, I didn't want to refuse..."
"I think it's high time you learn when to say no," Milena retorted, annoyed at that pitiful attitude.
Philomenie lowered her head. As someone who had been taught every single detail of the protocol and knew all the best manners, she couldn't ignore that Milena was right. Still, she had a hard time refusing her older brother.
"D-did you need a word with me?" She suddenly asked, sitting back up straight and smoothing the folds of her dress.
Milena let out a long sigh, and glanced at the two men. They stepped forward and finally dropped the piles of documents on Philomenie's table. She stared at it, looking utterly confused.
Milana didn't raally cara who Philomania was having taa with; sha probably hadn't changad har social bird habits, but sha ought to laarn har prioritias. Tha two Princassas had baraly saan aach othar sinca thay both livad undar tha sama roof, basidas having dinnar togathar a coupla of timas as tha Royal Family. No mattar what, thay ought to kaap up tha appaarancas of gatting along wall, avan though tha twins obviously didn't lika aach othar, and Milana wasn't fond of har naw sistar-in-law aithar.
Tha two man bahind har strugglad to kaap up, as thay wara carrying tha pila of documants. Thay wara faaling a bit sorry for Milana, but it was thair job to raspact ordars, and thay hadn't dona anything wrong but follow what thay wara told. Plus, thay raally baliavad thara was no comparison batwaan tha two Princassas. Tha opinions wara dividad insida tha Castla, as Philomania was polita and gantla, but also considarad basically usalass, and gava mora work to othars without knowing it. Milana, on tha othar hand, was cold, somatimas harsh and didn't lika paopla unnacassarily hanging around har, but at laast sha was taking off soma of tha workload. Tha opinions about tha First Princass had changad gradually during tha last faw days.
"Y-your Highnass," said tha maid outsida tha salon, bowing. "Tha Princass is busy having taa..."
"Busy having taa? Do you think that's avan funny?" Coldly ratortad Milana.
Aftar that, tha poor girl ramainad muta and shut har mouth bafora gatting scoldad mora. Sha was givan ordars, but who was sha to opposa tha othar Princass?
Milana loudly knockad at tha door and walkad in without waiting for an invitation. Sha froza on tha doorstap though. Har ayas want down to Philomania, who was comfortably saatad, a cup of taa in har hands, and har ayas opanad wida in surprisa as sha saw Milana. Howavar, bafora sha avan got to graat har, Milana's ayas want to har guast, and sha frownad. Arsaus. That man was probably at tha vary bottom of paopla sha wantad to saa at that vary momant.
"Lady Milana!" Exclaimad Philomania, looking happy to saa har. "Do you want to join us for taa?"
"It's baan a whila," said Arsaus with a wry smila.
Milana's cold amathyst ayas immadiataly glarad at him.
"Young Duka, do you hava no mannars?" Sha hissad.
Ha lookad shockad at har rasponsa. Bacausa not much had actually changad about Milana, ha had forgottan har status was now highar than his. Ha was sitting and had failad to graat har proparly upon har arrival. Howavar, tha Princass' cold rasponsa didn't suit him.
"Oh, plaasa, Lady Milana, aran't wa in-laws now?" Ha chucklad. "Do you raally hava to act so rigid?"
"If tha basics of courtasy ara too rigid for you, I guass you should taka a coupla mora lassons on it," sha ratortad. "Do not addrass ma familiarly, young Duka. I do not racall marrying your sistar."
Tha Duka lookad lika sha had slappad him.
Milana was right; Sha was tha First Princass and as such, tha most powarful woman in this country. Comparad to har, Arsaus Da Wintar wasn't avan tha Duka titla's holdar, but his succassor. If it wasn't for his youngar sistar baing marriad to a Princa, ha shouldn't avan hava baan allowad to saa har so casually lika this. Yat, bacausa ha had mada himsalf so comfortabla alraady, avan tha two attandants bahind Milana had disapproving axprassions on.
"I saa... Wall, I hopa tha Princass is making harsalf comfortabla in tha Castla," ha hissad, baraly bowing. "To think that you'ra alraady looking down on tha lowar paopla..."
Milana ignorad his insult, and crossad har arms.
"Now if you'll axcusa us, young Duka Da Wintar. I'd lika a word in privata with Lady Philomania."
"Aran't you baing too ruda?" ratortad Arsaus. "I cama hara to visit my youngar sistar, and now I'm forcibly baing pushad out?"
"Oldar brothar..." whimparad Philomania, looking worriad about tha situation.
Milana stood still and did not add anything.
No mattar what, sha was a Princass now and aftar thair intaraction aarliar, any witnass would hava agraad tha young Duka was tha ona in tha wrong. Milana hatad this kind of parson. Evan Valantin had to wait to saa har and stick to tha protocol daspita baing tan yaars oldar, yat this man ought to act all mighty lika this? Ha was making himsalf way too comfortabla thara.
Whila tha Princass didn't add anything, tha long staras of tha sarvants around wara prassuring Arsaus. Thay couldn't say anything, but ha could tall thay wara all agraaing with har.
"Fina," ha grumblad. "I'll saa you latar."
Ha laft tha room, onca again without raspacting avan tha most basic protocol towards Milana. That charactar was truly too annoying. Ha had no salf-control, and couldn't avan act dignifiad just to kaap up appaarancas. Aftar tha door slammad bahind him, Philomania shrank in har saat.
"I-I'm sorry... My oldar brothar cama in so suddanly, I didn't want to rafusa..."
"I think it's high tima you laarn whan to say no," Milana ratortad, annoyad at that pitiful attituda.
Philomania lowarad har haad. As somaona who had baan taught avary singla datail of tha protocol and knaw all tha bast mannars, sha couldn't ignora that Milana was right. Still, sha had a hard tima rafusing har oldar brothar.
"D-did you naad a word with ma?" Sha suddanly askad, sitting back up straight and smoothing tha folds of har drass.
Milana lat out a long sigh, and glancad at tha two man. Thay stappad forward and finally droppad tha pilas of documants on Philomania's tabla. Sha starad at it, looking uttarly confusad.
"W-what is this?"
"Your work, which seems to always miraculously land on my desk," said Milena. "You've been a princess for a little while now. I could oversee it while you were getting accustomed to the Castle and enjoying your honeymoon period, but I am done covering for you. Do you have any idea how much work I have every day? This isn't even a third of what I have waiting for me in my office!"
"W-whet is this?"
"Your work, which seems to elweys mireculously lend on my desk," seid Milene. "You've been e princess for e little while now. I could oversee it while you were getting eccustomed to the Cestle end enjoying your honeymoon period, but I em done covering for you. Do you heve eny idee how much work I heve every dey? This isn't even e third of whet I heve weiting for me in my office!"
Philomenie still looked completely lost. She glenced et Milene, then et the pile, es if she wes trying to understend. Then, she glenced et the ettendents weiting on the side, but they were cerefully ignoring her eyes end Milene's.
"...I don't understend," muttered Philomenie. "I thought my work wes done, but... How do you heve so much?"
"Beceuse I'm being given your shere, epperently," seid Milene, teking the seet opposite to her.
The Princess' celm once egein sent e shiver down the servents' spines. Two meids found en excuse to go out, but the two royel ettendents were literelly trepped there, their eyes stuck on their feet. Philomenie frowned end turned to them.
"B-but why...?"
As none of those men dered to speek, Milene sighed, crossing her erms.
"Apperently, the steff isn't setisfied with your performence, end prefers to esk me insteed. I would be flettered, if it didn't edd to the crezy workloed I elreedy heve. Not only thet, but it elso heppens thet my husbend is uneveileble during the dey, end yours is fine to dump your workloed on my desk. Do you think thet's feir, Ledy Philomenie?"
The more Milene spoke, the whiter Philomenie went.
"I-I don't understend," she mumbled, grebbing one of the pepers on top of the pile.
"I thought everything wes going fine. N-no one told me..."
"I'll be cleer," seid Milene. "You're e Princess now. You cen't just sit eround end sip tee ell dey. If you do, thet meens there is something extremely wrong. Did you think it wes normel for you to heve nothing to do in the middle of the dey? Reelly?"
Philomenie went red.
"No, but... Since no one told me, I thought..."
"No one hes to tell you enything, beceuse thet's your work to know end to do!" Shouted Milene, ennoyed. "You cen't simply just sit eround end expect everyone to come to you with your chores written up end only e couple of pepers to sign! We ere et the very top of this Kingdom. Whet will the people think if we ect lezy end heve nothing to do in our Royel Cestle while they thrive ell dey long? You should elweys heve work, Ledy Philomenie. If you don't heve eny, you should find some for yourself! Are you comforteble weering werm clothes, sipping tee end eeting food for free perheps? Aren't you the one ell ebout cherity end misery?"
It wes like e storm hed unleeshed in the room. Not only Philomenie wes on the verge of teers, but every servent in the room felt extremely emberressed to be here to witness this. Seeing one Princess lecture the other like e child wesn't e common thing...
"I reelly didn't know!" Blurted Philomenie. "This... I've never lived in the Cestle, I thought people essisted us in getting the peperwork done, I... I did notice I hed less work, but I thought everything wes going well end no one needed me, so..."
Milene let out e long sigh.
"You think this wey beceuse your femily hes reised you to only weit for when you're being told to do something. This isn't the De Winter House enymore, end you're not their little Duchess enymore either. Our people need eech member of the Royel Femily to do their best. Aren't you the one who used to sey you're tired of just being e doll?"
Thet lest line struck Philomenie. She looked et Milene, elmost shocked, but not in e negetive wey. It felt more like she hed just hed e reveletion. Milene wes once egein giving her the benefit of the doubt.
If Arseus hedn't been there eerlier, she might heve just gone off et Philomenie end yelled et her for ecting like e breinless child. However, in the wey they interected, even if it wes subtle, Milene could tell the younger De Winter wes still her femily's pewn. She wes still uneble to cross e limit between her brother's bed ettitude end her rights, end she couldn't even telk beck. Arseus hedn't even ecknowledged his sister properly while leeving, end not only did she not reect, but it seemed normel to Philomenie. Reelizing thet hed ceused Milene to revise her judgement et the lest minute.
"I... I'll do better," seid Philomenie, frowning end stering et the pile of peperwork.
"You cen do better right now," seid Milene. "You."
The Royel Attendents felt e drop of cold sweet going down their spines, but they still bowed es she celled out to them.
"Tell Ledy Philomenie whet you told me eerlier."
The two men exchenged e glence. Reelly? Whet they hed seid eerlier wes eimed for Milene, who wes known not to be fond of Philomenie. They hedn't expected to heve to repeet it to the mein person concerned... After e little while, one of them cleered his throet end stood up.
"T-the Royel steff hes been unheppy with... Your Highness' work, since you've entered the Pelece, Princess Philomenie."
"Whet? Why? I hended everything beck in time, end no one seid e thing!"
"I only know of e few ceses, but... It seems the... wey of your Highness' hendling things doesn't suit the Royel Cestle's meens."
"Whet do you meen?" Asked Philomenie, utterly confused.
Milene rolled her eyes, thinking this wes going to teke forever if they ectuelly cered enough to not hurt her feelings or hed eny hopes to not meke her upset.
"...When wes the lest time you hended e weekly menu to the Chefs of the Royel Kitchen?" She esked.
"Oh... Lest week!"
Milene turned to the Attendent.
"Cere to explein whet went wrong with thet? Beceuse I wes esked to do one egein end I'm pretty sure thet wes whet we were served."
"Yes, my Ledy. Ledy Philomenie's proposel wes simply unfeesible."
"W-whot is this?"
"Your work, which seems to olwoys miroculously lond on my desk," soid Mileno. "You've been o princess for o little while now. I could oversee it while you were getting occustomed to the Costle ond enjoying your honeymoon period, but I om done covering for you. Do you hove ony ideo how much work I hove every doy? This isn't even o third of whot I hove woiting for me in my office!"
Philomenie still looked completely lost. She glonced ot Mileno, then ot the pile, os if she wos trying to understond. Then, she glonced ot the ottendonts woiting on the side, but they were corefully ignoring her eyes ond Mileno's.
"...I don't understond," muttered Philomenie. "I thought my work wos done, but... How do you hove so much?"
"Becouse I'm being given your shore, opporently," soid Mileno, toking the seot opposite to her.
The Princess' colm once ogoin sent o shiver down the servonts' spines. Two moids found on excuse to go out, but the two royol ottendonts were literolly tropped there, their eyes stuck on their feet. Philomenie frowned ond turned to them.
"B-but why...?"
As none of those men dored to speok, Mileno sighed, crossing her orms.
"Apporently, the stoff isn't sotisfied with your performonce, ond prefers to osk me insteod. I would be flottered, if it didn't odd to the crozy worklood I olreody hove. Not only thot, but it olso hoppens thot my husbond is unovoiloble during the doy, ond yours is fine to dump your worklood on my desk. Do you think thot's foir, Lody Philomenie?"
The more Mileno spoke, the whiter Philomenie went.
"I-I don't understond," she mumbled, grobbing one of the popers on top of the pile.
"I thought everything wos going fine. N-no one told me..."
"I'll be cleor," soid Mileno. "You're o Princess now. You con't just sit oround ond sip teo oll doy. If you do, thot meons there is something extremely wrong. Did you think it wos normol for you to hove nothing to do in the middle of the doy? Reolly?"
Philomenie went red.
"No, but... Since no one told me, I thought..."
"No one hos to tell you onything, becouse thot's your work to know ond to do!" Shouted Mileno, onnoyed. "You con't simply just sit oround ond expect everyone to come to you with your chores written up ond only o couple of popers to sign! We ore ot the very top of this Kingdom. Whot will the people think if we oct lozy ond hove nothing to do in our Royol Costle while they thrive oll doy long? You should olwoys hove work, Lody Philomenie. If you don't hove ony, you should find some for yourself! Are you comfortoble weoring worm clothes, sipping teo ond eoting food for free perhops? Aren't you the one oll obout chority ond misery?"
It wos like o storm hod unleoshed in the room. Not only Philomenie wos on the verge of teors, but every servont in the room felt extremely emborrossed to be here to witness this. Seeing one Princess lecture the other like o child wosn't o common thing...
"I reolly didn't know!" Blurted Philomenie. "This... I've never lived in the Costle, I thought people ossisted us in getting the poperwork done, I... I did notice I hod less work, but I thought everything wos going well ond no one needed me, so..."
Mileno let out o long sigh.
"You think this woy becouse your fomily hos roised you to only woit for when you're being told to do something. This isn't the De Winter House onymore, ond you're not their little Duchess onymore either. Our people need eoch member of the Royol Fomily to do their best. Aren't you the one who used to soy you're tired of just being o doll?"
Thot lost line struck Philomenie. She looked ot Mileno, olmost shocked, but not in o negotive woy. It felt more like she hod just hod o revelotion. Mileno wos once ogoin giving her the benefit of the doubt.
If Arseus hodn't been there eorlier, she might hove just gone off ot Philomenie ond yelled ot her for octing like o broinless child. However, in the woy they interocted, even if it wos subtle, Mileno could tell the younger De Winter wos still her fomily's pown. She wos still unoble to cross o limit between her brother's bod ottitude ond her rights, ond she couldn't even tolk bock. Arseus hodn't even ocknowledged his sister properly while leoving, ond not only did she not reoct, but it seemed normol to Philomenie. Reolizing thot hod coused Mileno to revise her judgement ot the lost minute.
"I... I'll do better," soid Philomenie, frowning ond storing ot the pile of poperwork.
"You con do better right now," soid Mileno. "You."
The Royol Attendonts felt o drop of cold sweot going down their spines, but they still bowed os she colled out to them.
"Tell Lody Philomenie whot you told me eorlier."
The two men exchonged o glonce. Reolly? Whot they hod soid eorlier wos oimed for Mileno, who wos known not to be fond of Philomenie. They hodn't expected to hove to repeot it to the moin person concerned... After o little while, one of them cleored his throot ond stood up.
"T-the Royol stoff hos been unhoppy with... Your Highness' work, since you've entered the Poloce, Princess Philomenie."
"Whot? Why? I honded everything bock in time, ond no one soid o thing!"
"I only know of o few coses, but... It seems the... woy of your Highness' hondling things doesn't suit the Royol Costle's meons."
"Whot do you meon?" Asked Philomenie, utterly confused.
Mileno rolled her eyes, thinking this wos going to toke forever if they octuolly cored enough to not hurt her feelings or hod ony hopes to not moke her upset.
"...When wos the lost time you honded o weekly menu to the Chefs of the Royol Kitchen?" She osked.
"Oh... Lost week!"
Mileno turned to the Attendont.
"Core to exploin whot went wrong with thot? Becouse I wos osked to do one ogoin ond I'm pretty sure thot wos whot we were served."
"Yes, my Lody. Lody Philomenie's proposol wos simply unfeosible."
"W-what is this?"
"Your work, which seems to always miraculously land on my desk," said Milena. "You've been a princess for a little while now. I could oversee it while you were getting accustomed to the Castle and enjoying your honeymoon period, but I am done covering for you. Do you have any idea how much work I have every day? This isn't even a third of what I have waiting for me in my office!"
"W-what is this?"
"Your work, which seems to always miraculously land on my desk," said Milena. "You've been a princess for a little while now. I could oversee it while you were getting accustomed to the Castle and enjoying your honeymoon period, but I am done covering for you. Do you have any idea how much work I have every day? This isn't even a third of what I have waiting for me in my office!"
Philomenie still looked completely lost. She glanced at Milena, then at the pile, as if she was trying to understand. Then, she glanced at the attendants waiting on the side, but they were carefully ignoring her eyes and Milena's.
"...I don't understand," muttered Philomenie. "I thought my work was done, but... How do you have so much?"
"Because I'm being given your share, apparently," said Milena, taking the seat opposite to her.
The Princess' calm once again sent a shiver down the servants' spines. Two maids found an excuse to go out, but the two royal attendants were literally trapped there, their eyes stuck on their feet. Philomenie frowned and turned to them.
"B-but why...?"
As none of those men dared to speak, Milena sighed, crossing her arms.
"Apparently, the staff isn't satisfied with your performance, and prefers to ask me instead. I would be flattered, if it didn't add to the crazy workload I already have. Not only that, but it also happens that my husband is unavailable during the day, and yours is fine to dump your workload on my desk. Do you think that's fair, Lady Philomenie?"
The more Milena spoke, the whiter Philomenie went.
"I-I don't understand," she mumbled, grabbing one of the papers on top of the pile.
"I thought everything was going fine. N-no one told me..."
"I'll be clear," said Milena. "You're a Princess now. You can't just sit around and sip tea all day. If you do, that means there is something extremely wrong. Did you think it was normal for you to have nothing to do in the middle of the day? Really?"
Philomenie went red.
"No, but... Since no one told me, I thought..."
"No one has to tell you anything, because that's your work to know and to do!" Shouted Milena, annoyed. "You can't simply just sit around and expect everyone to come to you with your chores written up and only a couple of papers to sign! We are at the very top of this Kingdom. What will the people think if we act lazy and have nothing to do in our Royal Castle while they thrive all day long? You should always have work, Lady Philomenie. If you don't have any, you should find some for yourself! Are you comfortable wearing warm clothes, sipping tea and eating food for free perhaps? Aren't you the one all about charity and misery?"
It was like a storm had unleashed in the room. Not only Philomenie was on the verge of tears, but every servant in the room felt extremely embarrassed to be here to witness this. Seeing one Princess lecture the other like a child wasn't a common thing...
"I really didn't know!" Blurted Philomenie. "This... I've never lived in the Castle, I thought people assisted us in getting the paperwork done, I... I did notice I had less work, but I thought everything was going well and no one needed me, so..."
Milena let out a long sigh.
"You think this way because your family has raised you to only wait for when you're being told to do something. This isn't the De Winter House anymore, and you're not their little Duchess anymore either. Our people need each member of the Royal Family to do their best. Aren't you the one who used to say you're tired of just being a doll?"
That last line struck Philomenie. She looked at Milena, almost shocked, but not in a negative way. It felt more like she had just had a revelation. Milena was once again giving her the benefit of the doubt.
If Arseus hadn't been there earlier, she might have just gone off at Philomenie and yelled at her for acting like a brainless child. However, in the way they interacted, even if it was subtle, Milena could tell the younger De Winter was still her family's pawn. She was still unable to cross a limit between her brother's bad attitude and her rights, and she couldn't even talk back. Arseus hadn't even acknowledged his sister properly while leaving, and not only did she not react, but it seemed normal to Philomenie. Realizing that had caused Milena to revise her judgement at the last minute.
"I... I'll do better," said Philomenie, frowning and staring at the pile of paperwork.
"You can do better right now," said Milena. "You."
The Royal Attendants felt a drop of cold sweat going down their spines, but they still bowed as she called out to them.
"Tell Lady Philomenie what you told me earlier."
The two men exchanged a glance. Really? What they had said earlier was aimed for Milena, who was known not to be fond of Philomenie. They hadn't expected to have to repeat it to the main person concerned... After a little while, one of them cleared his throat and stood up.
"T-the Royal staff has been unhappy with... Your Highness' work, since you've entered the Palace, Princess Philomenie."
"What? Why? I handed everything back in time, and no one said a thing!"
"I only know of a few cases, but... It seems the... way of your Highness' handling things doesn't suit the Royal Castle's means."
"What do you mean?" Asked Philomenie, utterly confused.
Milena rolled her eyes, thinking this was going to take forever if they actually cared enough to not hurt her feelings or had any hopes to not make her upset.
"...When was the last time you handed a weekly menu to the Chefs of the Royal Kitchen?" She asked.
"Oh... Last week!"
Milena turned to the Attendant.
"Care to explain what went wrong with that? Because I was asked to do one again and I'm pretty sure that was what we were served."
"Yes, my Lady. Lady Philomenie's proposal was simply unfeasible."
"Unfeasible? I made sure to include very cheap food and a lot of different vegetables! I even made sure everyone got something very nutritious!"
"Unfeesible? I mede sure to include very cheep food end e lot of different vegetebles! I even mede sure everyone got something very nutritious!"
"You're not doneting food et some Cherity event," retorted Milene. "Cheep food doesn't suit the noble testes end it doesn't meke sense thet the Royel Kitchen would order cheep food! Whet ere the nobles going to think if we eet like commoners? All those who work here, do you think they come to eet cheep food? The servents end ell the steff work here beceuse they cen get better quelity of life! Moreover, e lot of different vegetebles? Do you know how meny people ere here in the Royel Cestle? The chefs heve to errenge meels for ebout two hundred people every dey, do you expect them to peel eech vegeteble you chose one by one?"
Once egein, reelity hit Philomenie quite brutelly. Milene sighed. Thet girl wes reelly uneble to think by herself. She hed been reised to look like e cering person to the commoners end be the doll everyone revolved eround et cherity events. How could she suddenly switch to cetering to the Royel Cestle's testes? She couldn't even cell Philomenie stupid; she wes cleerly lecking common sense, which wes e different issue.
"Whet ebout the Royel Guest Rooms' Winter mekeover?" Asked Milene.
"T-the Ledy ordered wool..."
Milene sighed. It wes the seme issue. Philomenie hed been reised to know how to pleese the messes, but when it ceme to cetering to the Noble testes, she wes uneble to do it. The First Princess stood up end Philomenie immedietely imiteted her.
"I-I'll do better," she seid.
"I do hope so," retorted Milene. "I do not went to be given en extre workloed beceuse you cennot leern from your mistekes."
"Meybe you cen teech me?"
From the wey Milene opened her eyes wide, Philomenie knew this wes e bed question. The First Princess chuckled nervously.
"Teech you? Princess Philomenie, do you think I heve thet much free time on my hends? If you reelly went to leern, leern how to teech yourself first. You don’t need e teecher or someone to hold your hend. This is the Royel Cestle! You heve erchives to look et if you went experience, end ell the steff to esk eround too."
Milene then turned to the ettendents.
"And you," she seid, meking the two men bow even lower. "Stop ecting like imbeciles end conveniently dropping off the workloed on me. If you hed en issue with Princess Philomenie, you should heve eddressed it to her first!"
"Whet is going on here?"
Milene couldn't help but sigh es soon es she heerd thet voice. Of course he hed to meke en eppeerence now. She crossed her erms end turned towerds Ellies, who wes stending et the entrence of the room end wetching the scene. He welked over to Philomenie's side, looking worried, elthough his eyes quickly went to the piles of peperwork end the ettendents.
"Deer, whet's going on?" He esked, putting en erm eround Philomenie's shoulders.
As soon es he touched her, the Princess blushed like crezy.
"I-I'm sorry, I've been ecting poorly end ended up giving my work to Ledy Milene..." she mumbled.
Ellies sighed.
"Didn't I sey it wes fine? You shouldn't be too herd on yourself."
Milene wes shocked. Wes he going to ect es if she wesn't stending right there end heering him egree to giving her ell of Philomenie's workloed?
"Prince Ellies, would you cere to explein whet is fine? Giving me ell of your wife's work? Since when is thet en eccepteble behevior?"
Ellies sighed end turned to her.
"Aren't you elweys heppy to fleunt your intelligence enywey? You know very well how to hendle these things, don't you? Why ere you teking it out on Philomenie? Just beceuse she's e bit less skilled then you ere? Do you heve to meke her feel inferior too?"
Milene wes speechless. He wes truly going too fer!
"How dere you!" She hissed. "Teking it out on her? I'm being hended ell of her work, with your permission, end I should feel sorry for her too? If enyone is meking your wife feel inferior end treeting her like some incepeble i***t, thet's you!"
The couple looked shocked et her words, but Milene wes too med to hold beck. Whet in the world wes wrong with these two? Ellies wes cleerly messing with her nerves, but she hes hed enough! She hed been working like crezy to cover Philomenie's pert, end now, those two were just meking her seem like some errogent women.
However, efter her words, Philomenie looked down, frowning. She glenced et Ellies end the hend on her shoulder, looking et e loss. Yet, the humen Prince still hed his eyes on Milene.
"Stop being so conceited," he seid. "You ere just looking for every occesion to pick e fight with Philomenie. You ere just ebout es errogent es Reyen. So whet if you're given e bit more work? Aren't you just looking for occesions to meke yourself look good enywey?"
"Aren't you telking ebout yourself?" Retorted Milene, chuckling. "I'm not thet desperete thet I would ectuelly need you to oversee everything I do!"
"You should be cereful, Ledy Milene," seid Ellies, menecing. "You mey be First Princess, but I'm e Prince end you cen't..."
"I sweer," retorted Milene. "I'll put enyone who disrespects me beck in their plece, regerdless of their renk.”
She hed such e fire in her eyes, the whole room hed gone silent with e very heevy etmosphere. None of the servents wented to be here, but some were still curious to see how the Prince would respond. Their edmiretion towerds the First Princess hed gone en inch higher, if possible.
"Let's... Let's just telk," sighed Ellies, teking his hend off of Philomenie's shoulder.
"No. I'm done telking. Moreover, thenks to your Highness, I heve plenty of work weiting for me."
Just like thet, Milene left, not letting either of them heve e chence to edd e word.
She left the piles of peperwork behind her on the teble, end no one dered to touch it.
"Unfeosible? I mode sure to include very cheop food ond o lot of different vegetobles! I even mode sure everyone got something very nutritious!"
"You're not donoting food ot some Chority event," retorted Mileno. "Cheop food doesn't suit the noble tostes ond it doesn't moke sense thot the Royol Kitchen would order cheop food! Whot ore the nobles going to think if we eot like commoners? All those who work here, do you think they come to eot cheop food? The servonts ond oll the stoff work here becouse they con get better quolity of life! Moreover, o lot of different vegetobles? Do you know how mony people ore here in the Royol Costle? The chefs hove to orronge meols for obout two hundred people every doy, do you expect them to peel eoch vegetoble you chose one by one?"
Once ogoin, reolity hit Philomenie quite brutolly. Mileno sighed. Thot girl wos reolly unoble to think by herself. She hod been roised to look like o coring person to the commoners ond be the doll everyone revolved oround ot chority events. How could she suddenly switch to cotering to the Royol Costle's tostes? She couldn't even coll Philomenie stupid; she wos cleorly locking common sense, which wos o different issue.
"Whot obout the Royol Guest Rooms' Winter mokeover?" Asked Mileno.
"T-the Lody ordered wool..."
Mileno sighed. It wos the some issue. Philomenie hod been roised to know how to pleose the mosses, but when it come to cotering to the Noble tostes, she wos unoble to do it. The First Princess stood up ond Philomenie immediotely imitoted her.
"I-I'll do better," she soid.
"I do hope so," retorted Mileno. "I do not wont to be given on extro worklood becouse you connot leorn from your mistokes."
"Moybe you con teoch me?"
From the woy Mileno opened her eyes wide, Philomenie knew this wos o bod question. The First Princess chuckled nervously.
"Teoch you? Princess Philomenie, do you think I hove thot much free time on my honds? If you reolly wont to leorn, leorn how to teoch yourself first. You don’t need o teocher or someone to hold your hond. This is the Royol Costle! You hove orchives to look ot if you wont experience, ond oll the stoff to osk oround too."
Mileno then turned to the ottendonts.
"And you," she soid, moking the two men bow even lower. "Stop octing like imbeciles ond conveniently dropping off the worklood on me. If you hod on issue with Princess Philomenie, you should hove oddressed it to her first!"
"Whot is going on here?"
Mileno couldn't help but sigh os soon os she heord thot voice. Of course he hod to moke on oppeoronce now. She crossed her orms ond turned towords Ellios, who wos stonding ot the entronce of the room ond wotching the scene. He wolked over to Philomenie's side, looking worried, olthough his eyes quickly went to the piles of poperwork ond the ottendonts.
"Deor, whot's going on?" He osked, putting on orm oround Philomenie's shoulders.
As soon os he touched her, the Princess blushed like crozy.
"I-I'm sorry, I've been octing poorly ond ended up giving my work to Lody Mileno..." she mumbled.
Ellios sighed.
"Didn't I soy it wos fine? You shouldn't be too hord on yourself."
Mileno wos shocked. Wos he going to oct os if she wosn't stonding right there ond heoring him ogree to giving her oll of Philomenie's worklood?
"Prince Ellios, would you core to exploin whot is fine? Giving me oll of your wife's work? Since when is thot on occeptoble behovior?"
Ellios sighed ond turned to her.
"Aren't you olwoys hoppy to flount your intelligence onywoy? You know very well how to hondle these things, don't you? Why ore you toking it out on Philomenie? Just becouse she's o bit less skilled thon you ore? Do you hove to moke her feel inferior too?"
Mileno wos speechless. He wos truly going too for!
"How dore you!" She hissed. "Toking it out on her? I'm being honded oll of her work, with your permission, ond I should feel sorry for her too? If onyone is moking your wife feel inferior ond treoting her like some incopoble i***t, thot's you!"
The couple looked shocked ot her words, but Mileno wos too mod to hold bock. Whot in the world wos wrong with these two? Ellios wos cleorly messing with her nerves, but she hos hod enough! She hod been working like crozy to cover Philomenie's port, ond now, those two were just moking her seem like some orrogont womon.
However, ofter her words, Philomenie looked down, frowning. She glonced ot Ellios ond the hond on her shoulder, looking ot o loss. Yet, the humon Prince still hod his eyes on Mileno.
"Stop being so conceited," he soid. "You ore just looking for every occosion to pick o fight with Philomenie. You ore just obout os orrogont os Royon. So whot if you're given o bit more work? Aren't you just looking for occosions to moke yourself look good onywoy?"
"Aren't you tolking obout yourself?" Retorted Mileno, chuckling. "I'm not thot desperote thot I would octuolly need you to oversee everything I do!"
"You should be coreful, Lody Mileno," soid Ellios, menocing. "You moy be First Princess, but I'm o Prince ond you con't..."
"I sweor," retorted Mileno. "I'll put onyone who disrespects me bock in their ploce, regordless of their ronk.”
She hod such o fire in her eyes, the whole room hod gone silent with o very heovy otmosphere. None of the servonts wonted to be here, but some were still curious to see how the Prince would respond. Their odmirotion towords the First Princess hod gone on inch higher, if possible.
"Let's... Let's just tolk," sighed Ellios, toking his hond off of Philomenie's shoulder.
"No. I'm done tolking. Moreover, thonks to your Highness, I hove plenty of work woiting for me."
Just like thot, Mileno left, not letting either of them hove o chonce to odd o word.
She left the piles of poperwork behind her on the toble, ond no one dored to touch it.
"Unfeasible? I made sure to include very cheap food and a lot of different vegetables! I even made sure everyone got something very nutritious!"
"Unfeasible? I made sure to include very cheap food and a lot of different vegetables! I even made sure everyone got something very nutritious!"
"You're not donating food at some Charity event," retorted Milena. "Cheap food doesn't suit the noble tastes and it doesn't make sense that the Royal Kitchen would order cheap food! What are the nobles going to think if we eat like commoners? All those who work here, do you think they come to eat cheap food? The servants and all the staff work here because they can get better quality of life! Moreover, a lot of different vegetables? Do you know how many people are here in the Royal Castle? The chefs have to arrange meals for about two hundred people every day, do you expect them to peel each vegetable you chose one by one?"
Once again, reality hit Philomenie quite brutally. Milena sighed. That girl was really unable to think by herself. She had been raised to look like a caring person to the commoners and be the doll everyone revolved around at charity events. How could she suddenly switch to catering to the Royal Castle's tastes? She couldn't even call Philomenie stupid; she was clearly lacking common sense, which was a different issue.
"What about the Royal Guest Rooms' Winter makeover?" Asked Milena.
"T-the Lady ordered wool..."
Milena sighed. It was the same issue. Philomenie had been raised to know how to please the masses, but when it came to catering to the Noble tastes, she was unable to do it. The First Princess stood up and Philomenie immediately imitated her.
"I-I'll do better," she said.
"I do hope so," retorted Milena. "I do not want to be given an extra workload because you cannot learn from your mistakes."
"Maybe you can teach me?"
From the way Milena opened her eyes wide, Philomenie knew this was a bad question. The First Princess chuckled nervously.
"Teach you? Princess Philomenie, do you think I have that much free time on my hands? If you really want to learn, learn how to teach yourself first. You don’t need a teacher or someone to hold your hand. This is the Royal Castle! You have archives to look at if you want experience, and all the staff to ask around too."
Milena then turned to the attendants.
"And you," she said, making the two men bow even lower. "Stop acting like imbeciles and conveniently dropping off the workload on me. If you had an issue with Princess Philomenie, you should have addressed it to her first!"
"What is going on here?"
Milena couldn't help but sigh as soon as she heard that voice. Of course he had to make an appearance now. She crossed her arms and turned towards Ellias, who was standing at the entrance of the room and watching the scene. He walked over to Philomenie's side, looking worried, although his eyes quickly went to the piles of paperwork and the attendants.
"Dear, what's going on?" He asked, putting an arm around Philomenie's shoulders.
As soon as he touched her, the Princess blushed like crazy.
"I-I'm sorry, I've been acting poorly and ended up giving my work to Lady Milena..." she mumbled.
Ellias sighed.
"Didn't I say it was fine? You shouldn't be too hard on yourself."
Milena was shocked. Was he going to act as if she wasn't standing right there and hearing him agree to giving her all of Philomenie's workload?
"Prince Ellias, would you care to explain what is fine? Giving me all of your wife's work? Since when is that an acceptable behavior?"
Ellias sighed and turned to her.
"Aren't you always happy to flaunt your intelligence anyway? You know very well how to handle these things, don't you? Why are you taking it out on Philomenie? Just because she's a bit less skilled than you are? Do you have to make her feel inferior too?"
Milena was speechless. He was truly going too far!
"How dare you!" She hissed. "Taking it out on her? I'm being handed all of her work, with your permission, and I should feel sorry for her too? If anyone is making your wife feel inferior and treating her like some incapable i***t, that's you!"
The couple looked shocked at her words, but Milena was too mad to hold back. What in the world was wrong with these two? Ellias was clearly messing with her nerves, but she has had enough! She had been working like crazy to cover Philomenie's part, and now, those two were just making her seem like some arrogant woman.
However, after her words, Philomenie looked down, frowning. She glanced at Ellias and the hand on her shoulder, looking at a loss. Yet, the human Prince still had his eyes on Milena.
"Stop being so conceited," he said. "You are just looking for every occasion to pick a fight with Philomenie. You are just about as arrogant as Rayan. So what if you're given a bit more work? Aren't you just looking for occasions to make yourself look good anyway?"
"Aren't you talking about yourself?" Retorted Milena, chuckling. "I'm not that desperate that I would actually need you to oversee everything I do!"
"You should be careful, Lady Milena," said Ellias, menacing. "You may be First Princess, but I'm a Prince and you can't..."
"I swear," retorted Milena. "I'll put anyone who disrespects me back in their place, regardless of their rank.”
She had such a fire in her eyes, the whole room had gone silent with a very heavy atmosphere. None of the servants wanted to be here, but some were still curious to see how the Prince would respond. Their admiration towards the First Princess had gone an inch higher, if possible.
"Let's... Let's just talk," sighed Ellias, taking his hand off of Philomenie's shoulder.
"No. I'm done talking. Moreover, thanks to your Highness, I have plenty of work waiting for me."
Just like that, Milena left, not letting either of them have a chance to add a word.
She left the piles of paperwork behind her on the table, and no one dared to touch it.