After watching Fiona, Chloe, and Lily leave, Margaret let out a quiet breath.
For the briefest moment, calm returned to the air at the entrance.
She removed her shoes in the earthen-floored entryway, took them in hand, and stepped up onto the raised wooden floor. As she placed them neatly in the shoe rack, she murmured so softly that no one else could hear.
"Now then, I suppose I should inspect the rooms."
Straightening her back and putting her appearance in order, she headed for the Chamber of White Dew, the reception room just inside the palace.
The harem palace was laid out around a corridor that circled the entire residence. Just inside the entrance lay the Chamber of White Dew. To the left were the Chamber of Dawnlight, which served as Celine's office, and the salon used to entertain guests, the Chamber of Radiance. Farther in were the nursery and the chapel.
The corridor to the right led to the Chamber of Spring Breeze, where family and close friends were received, and beyond that the Chamber of Heavenly Blossoms, where royalty, high nobility, and senior clergy were entertained. Yuri and the others' dining hall lay before it. Beside that stood the Chamber of the Morning Star, a guest bedchamber where late-night visits were tacitly encouraged.
In the central garden stood a stage, visible from the Chamber of Heavenly Blossoms, the Chamber of Spring Breeze, and the Chamber of Radiance. Beyond the Chamber of Heavenly Blossoms were the kitchens, and farther still stretched the maids' living quarters.
At the deepest, most secluded end of the palace lay a closed-off living quarter reserved exclusively for Yuri. In addition to his bedroom and private room, it contained Celine's bedroom and sitting room, as well as the chambers the consorts used when they spent the night with him—the Chamber of Flower Mirror, the Chamber of Illusory Blossoms, and the Chamber of Hidden Blossoms. There was also a private open-air bath, a library, and a salon called the Chamber of Splendor. The entire area was furnished with every luxury.
To reach it, one had to pass through a passage room divided by sliding doors, and only a very limited few were permitted to enter or leave. Even within the harem palace, this section was managed with exceptional strictness. It was, in every sense, Yuri's place of rest—his absolute sanctuary.
At present, the harem employed a total of fifty-three maids. The grounds were vastly understaffed for their size, in part because the household simply could not afford more wages. Most of the women came from within the Reberk Barony. Some made the journey to the palace early each morning and returned home around sunset, while others had come from farther-off lands and lived within the harem itself.
The resident maids remained on standby at all hours so they could respond whenever needed. Those assigned directly to Celine and the others were, in particular, noblewomen of baronial, baronet, or knightly rank, and they took turns covering day and night duties.
The maids responsible for general chores, meanwhile, were commoners. They worked fixed hours and left the harem once the day's tasks were done.
After making a full round of the rooms, Margaret finally turned her steps toward Yuri's private sitting room.
Two soft carpets had been laid out in the spacious chamber. On one side stood a round table surrounded by single armchairs. On the other sat a low table and a three-seat sofa in subdued colors. The whole room was filled with a quiet sort of comfort.
There was no fire in the hearth yet, but everything was ready for it to be lit.
By the window, Lily hummed softly to herself as she carefully wiped down the lattice-paned glass. The light streaming through the panes made her movements look almost dreamlike.
Outside in the garden, Fiona was tending the flowers. Noticing Lily by the window, she waved cheerfully up at her. Lily smiled and gave a little wave in return.
Meanwhile, at a side desk beside the main writing table, Chloe was reviewing a copy of the inventory of gifts presented at the wedding. With a serious look on her face, she penned letters of thanks, and her brush never once paused.
Margaret laid a gentle hand on the sliding door that led to the Chamber of Dream Blossoms and opened it quietly. She slid it back and forth a few times to make sure it neither squeaked nor caught, then closed it again.
Next, she opened the door to Yuri's bedchamber and stepped inside. Her eyes went to the bed linens, and she smoothed away the wrinkles with her fingertips. Then she pressed lightly on the thick bedding and felt more than enough spring in it.
Only then did some of the tension leave her shoulders. Returning to the sitting room, she touched the furnishings one by one, shifting them ever so slightly until the balance of the room felt right.
Just then, the sliding door on the corridor side flew open, and a maid rushed in, breathless.
"L-L-Lady Margaret! It's terrible! Lady Celine and Lord Yuri have arrived!"
Red-faced and panting, the maid managed to deliver her report. Margaret froze in surprise.
"What...?"
Celine and the others were not due for another four days. Faced with the unbelievable news that they had arrived without warning, Margaret's eyes widened. Chloe and the others, too, stared back in the same astonishment.
"That is not all. Beside Lord Yuri... there is a woman..."
At those words, the air in the room went taut in an instant.
"Not just Lady Celine, Lady Lieselotte, and Aina? That should make three."
"Yes, four. There is someone none of us know... and a black cat as well."
For a moment, Margaret tipped her head back as though appealing to the heavens, then covered her eyes with one hand and sighed. But she immediately composed herself and began issuing orders in a clear, firm voice.
"Chloe, inform the other section heads at once. Lily, find out whether the Chamber of the Morning Star or the Chamber of Morning Dew is available for lodging, and have whichever room is usable prepared. Fiona, have one additional meal made ready. I am going to the entrance. You are coming with me."
Chloe and the others answered promptly and hurried out of Yuri's private room.
"Do not run!"
When Margaret called after them, the girls lifted their skirts just a little and made off at a brisk pace instead.
"Now then, let us go receive Lord Yuri as well."
Ushering along the maid who had brought the message, Margaret hurried toward the entrance.
By the time she arrived, Celine was standing in the earthen-floored entrance hall, looking around her with open curiosity. The unfamiliar man at her side was the one whose arm she had firmly entwined with hers.
Margaret let her gaze rest on him for a brief moment. Behind them stood Lieselotte and Aina, with one more unfamiliar woman beside them. At the man's feet sat a pitch-black cat in perfect stillness.
Surely that gentleman is Lord Yuri...
It was all Margaret could do to infer as much. Celine was clinging to his arm in obvious familiarity, yet made no move whatsoever to introduce him to Margaret. Watching her stand there as though everything were perfectly natural, Margaret could not help wanting to sigh.
You seem unusually giddy today... though I have yet to see my lord's face for myself...
She was used to Celine's innocent impulsiveness, but when Celine ignored proper procedure like this, Margaret could not simply let it pass in the course of her duties.
"Lady Celine, you have arrived early."
Burying the feelings she could not voice, she gave a polite bow as she spoke.
You were supposed to arrive four days from now...
The words she could not say aloud remained in her thoughts.
"We came early."
Celine answered with a mischievous smile. Hearing it, Margaret let out a deep sigh inwardly.
Honestly, this lady...
"Lady Celine, I warned you often enough during your days as the Virtuous Consort. Just because you were married out of the palace, have you already forgotten?"
Margaret kept her voice low and composed, but there was a trace of exasperation in it. How many times had this happened now? She had no intention of truly scolding her, but if she let this pass, Celine would do as she pleased all over again.
"M-Margaret?"
Celine looked at her in surprise, a faint hint of panic flickering across her face.
"I told you, over and over and over and over again, not to disregard procedure, did I not?"
Margaret's voice remained calm. It carried not so much anger as the weariness and resignation that came from long acquaintance. Each time Celine behaved with that same innocent freedom, Margaret was reminded of all the years she had spent quietly putting things in order behind the scenes.
"I-I'm sorry..."
Celine apologized in a wilted little voice, but in the same instant she darted behind Yuri, using him almost like a shield.
Margaret let out another small sigh.
Good grief. To drag Lord Yuri into it as well...
Though inwardly exasperated, Margaret let none of it show. She recovered her composure at once and bowed deeply.
"Please forgive me. I am Margaret von Predi. It was terribly discourteous of me not to be here to receive you."
Her apology was impeccably polite. Even so, it was obvious that this situation had been caused by Celine acting in a way no one had been given the chance to prepare for.
"No, no. We are the ones who arrived ahead of schedule. I ought to be the one apologizing. I am Yuri von Strauss."
Though still a little flustered, Yuri responded with perfect courtesy.
So it is indeed him... Lord Yuri.
With that certainty in her mind, Margaret shifted her gaze to Celine. There was no question that Celine's behavior lay at the heart of all this. No doubt she had wanted to surprise Margaret. Closing her eyes briefly, Margaret continued in her usual even tone.
"To receive an apology from you, Lord Yuri, would be far too much. No doubt someone said something like, 'Let us arrive early and surprise her,' did she not?"
There was the unmistakable weight of long experience behind Margaret's words. Yuri's eyes widened in astonishment, and she saw him swallow.
"You guessed it almost word for word..."
Hearing his amazement, Margaret allowed herself a wry inward smile.
"We have known one another a long time."
But today, there was a different matter to address as well. Margaret turned her eyes to the unfamiliar woman and lowered her voice a shade.
"And now, Lady Celine. It seems there are more of you than I was led to expect?"
The edge in her words was slight, but unmistakable. She saw Celine's shoulders twitch, yet kept her own expression perfectly composed.
"Eep..."
A small, frightened squeak came from behind Yuri. Margaret felt that same inward exasperation again, though she showed none of it. As if such a timid little noise could possibly hide anything.
"This is my wife, Ophelia."
Yuri introduced the black-haired beauty beside him.
"It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Ophelia. I hope we shall get along well."
As Ophelia dipped her head in greeting, Margaret bowed neatly in return.
"Yes. The pleasure is mine."
Then Margaret turned her gaze back to Celine.
"And now, Lady Celine, why did you not send word?"
Margaret's tone was calm, but there was still that faint sharpness beneath it.
"N-no, that part truly was not my fault. Even I didn't expect this. Her Majesty the Queen Dowager forced her into the party at the last possible moment!"
Celine rushed to explain herself. Margaret closed her eyes for the briefest instant and accepted the explanation in silence. She understood immediately. She had suffered often enough, in the old days, from the heavy-handed ways of the Queen Dowager, formerly the Noble Consort.
"Haa... to wait until the very last moment to say anything. That is exactly the sort of harassment one would expect from the Noble Consort."
Margaret sighed as she answered. Weariness and resignation clung to her voice in a way she could not fully conceal. No matter how often she warned Celine, Celine had always been like this.
"You endured that sort of thing time and again back in the harem. Could you not at least have guessed the sort of thing the Noble Consort might attempt?"
Margaret's tone sharpened just a little more. Celine peeked out from behind Yuri's shoulder, tapped her own head lightly with a smile, and stuck out the tip of her tongue like a child.
"I just got a little carried away... teehee."
Good grief... you truly have not changed at all.
Margaret suppressed the urge to sigh again, keeping it off her face. Calmly, but with firm authority, she gave Celine a single pointed address.
"Your Ladyship."
That stern word alone made Celine shrink at once.
"I-I'm sorry. I won't do it again..."
Celine apologized meekly, even as she slipped back behind Yuri once more.
"Haa. Ladies do not stick out their tongues in front of gentlemen."
Margaret corrected her properly despite her own weariness. If she did not say it, Celine would surely only get carried away again.
"Yeees, I'm sorrry."
Celine's drawn-out reply made Margaret knit her brow for a moment.
"Do not drag out your answer."
Prompted by Margaret's unyielding tone, Celine finally grew a little more serious and corrected herself.
"Yes. My apologies."
Hearing that, Margaret relaxed a fraction. Even so, deep down she knew full well that one day the same thing would happen again, and she had to suppress yet another sigh.
Then she noticed Yuri's expression. He had been watching the exchange between her and Celine the whole time, still plainly astonished.
"Is something the matter?"
When Margaret asked in a composed voice, Yuri answered, still sounding slightly bewildered.
"No, it's just... I've never seen Celia get scolded like this before."
There was genuine confusion in his voice, the bewilderment of someone seeing a wholly unexpected sight. Margaret gave another inward, wry smile.
That is only natural. Lady Celine was the Virtuous Consort, after all. The only women who could speak to her so sternly would have been other high-ranking consorts of comparable standing.
To Margaret, scolding Celine was practically an everyday occurrence. To others, however, it must have looked positively novel.
At that, Ophelia gave a small shrug and remarked with a certain satisfied air,
"After the terror of that night, I daresay it serves her right."
At those words, Lieselotte smiled quietly and inclined her head with graceful agreement.
"Hehe, yes. Somehow this feels just like when we were living in the harem in the royal capital."
Lieselotte's words drew Margaret's thoughts naturally back to those days, to the time when Celine had been the Virtuous Consort. Back then as well, Celine would act as she pleased, be corrected for it, and the same sort of exchange would follow. Thinking back on it, Margaret could not help feeling faintly exasperated at how little the present differed from those days.
Honestly, you truly have not grown at all... And yet... the fact that I rather enjoy seeing Lady Celine react this way—that will remain my little secret.
The thought of how unchanged Celine remained made Margaret strangely glad. As she imagined the days ahead, still spent guiding and admonishing her like this, a smile came naturally to her lips.
It seemed that life here in the harem would continue to be quite lively.
With that quiet premonition in her heart, Margaret led Yuri and the others inside.