Chapter 21: Chapter 21.2: Let’s start all over again

“I’m sorry, guys. I thought I’d become someone who had nothing. I lost my home and fortune, my family’s backing and had to live on my own! I’ve made it this far from scratch, so it was unfair of me to presume that you weren’t up to the task…!”

Dianna’s shoulders shook from her crying, covering her face with both hands.

But it wasn’t! I had never started from scratch! Everything I’d been taught remained with me. Yet I didn’t even realize how blessed I was. Have I got carried away saying things I shouldn’t have?

“Diana-san…”

“I’m sorry. I’m really sorry…”

The newbies rushed over to her as she sat down, surprised by her outright apology.

“That’s not true, Dianna-san. We’re the ones who are sorry for being unreliable.”

“Rishe-sama, Dianna-san might be scary, but her work has always been spot on! So do the other seniors. So, please…”

“No. I deserved not being chosen as a maidservant. Because this…”

“Dianna.”

Rishe reached out to her and smiled softly.

“I told you. I have a favor to ask of you.”

“Huh?…”

“I want this Royal Castle to be a training ground for new handmaidens.”

When she said this, the maidservants on the spot buzzed. Not only them, even Oliver’s eyes rounded.

“Those of you who have no experience will learn the work of a maid here. Of course, not with the ‘watch and learn’ method, but with close guidance. You can ask questions as frequently as you want until you learn. Once you have mastered the skills of a maid, you will be promoted to the Main Castle, where the Royal Family resides.”

The problems that Dianna, Elise and the others have run into were the same ones that were happening in other castles and noble residences.

Those doing daily work didn’t have the time to teach the newbies, so they had no choice but to acquire skills in their respective ways or quit the job because it wasn’t working for them.

Perhaps those who quit under such circumstances could have performed to their full potential if only they had been taught properly.

Conversely, it was also possible for those who have learned through self-study or mimicry to commit crucial mistakes.

However, if they were trained properly somewhere, this problem would be solved.

And this could be done in Rishe’s castle.

“As Dianna said, once you’ve acquired a skill, it will be an everlasting asset. You have to learn to read and write, perform your jobs, and commit your tasks to memory. Once you’ve acquired them, they are a weapon you can use wherever you go. When you’re about to be kicked out of a workplace, or have to live a different life, I’m sure they will come in handy.”

The eyes of those maids, who were scared of being rejected in this castle earlier, sparkled at Rishe’s words.

“So the twenty newbies will be my handmaidens. — And Dianna, I’d like you to be my assistant in teaching them.”

“I’ll be Rishe-sama’s assistant?”

“From now on, all maids who come to the castle will study for an hour or so a day. I want Dianna and your friends to play the role of teachers and to prepare teaching materials for their studies. I also need you to make a work manual for when they learn to read.”

“We are the teachers… make teaching materials… and manuals?”

Dianna gawped.

She looked like she couldn’t think straight after being given a choice that she had never ever imagined. Rishe gently took out Dianna’s notes, which she had kept in her pocket.

“This, I’ve seen it.”

“H-How did Rishe-sama find that?”

I will keep my mouth shut on that question. I can’t tell you that I joined the maidservants cleaning up the main castle this morning to find your notes.

“You’ve got the gist right down to it, and the writing is clean and clear. If you have the talent to write down what you’ve seen and heard and memorized so well, I think you’re the right man for the job of making teaching materials.”

“…..”

When she told her that wholeheartedly, Dianna’s face, which had been abashed until now, turned flushed red.

“W-Why are you praising me so after all those insults I’ve hurled at you?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Dianna bit her lips tightly and took the hand that Rishe offered her.

Standing up, she bowed her head deeply and said.

“I will continue to do my best.”

“I’m counting on you.”

Rishe then turned to Elise and the other new handmaidens.

“I’m sure you all have a lot to learn for a while, too. If things get too hard, you can always talk to me.”

“…Yes!!”

*****

When Squire Oliver returned to the main castle, his master, Arnold, who was at his desk in his office, said without even looking at him.

“Has Rishe decided on her handmaidens?”

“About that, my lord.”

Oliver walked over to his master.

“Do you remember? There used to be a problem in the castle – prone to being understaffed – because of the quick turnover in new servants.”

“Yeah. We have raised wages to reduce the turnover rate. Even so, the current situation is only slightly better than it was then.”

“Perhaps Rishe-sama will eventually come up with a permanent solution.”

Arnold looked up from his papers at his response.

“She found a talented woman among the handmaidens to create teaching materials and declared that she would establish a training system centered on new recruits. Moreover, she charmed the newcomers into learning by saying ‘the skills you acquire will be an everlasting asset’.”

“…”

“The maids were so moved and delighted. I thought there was a faction between the newcomers and the senior handmaidens, but today, they were holding each other’s hands.”

“…Ah. I see.”

Arnold laughed with satisfaction and continued to move his pen again.

“Well, have you expected this? You don’t seem too surprised, though.”

“Is this something I could predict. Well, I was expecting her to do something hilarious.”

“It would be disrespectful to your future wife if you were too blatantly amused…”

Oliver shrugged and then blurted out.

“But, I’m sure I’ll have fun, too. I wonder what feats she could accomplish in the future.”

“Oliver~”

Arnold lowered his eyes and said in a voice slightly lower than usual.

“Rishe isn’t a wife brought in for the benefit of the royal family or the national interest.”

“…”

After sighing, Oliver replied, “I understand,” and resumed helping his master.