Trapped in Another World With No Magic

Chapter 136: Looking for Staff

Daniel collapses into a seat in the airship lounge to rest. It's been a taxing day. Of course, he is quickly piled on by Hekate, Ryuogriar, Reignleif, and Geirahoel, who all zealously try to cling to him every chance they get, as if he'll vanish into thin air before their eyes. The others find seats around the lounge, and shortly after, Grand Duchess Aramellianna enters the lounge.

"Your Imperial Majesty, I, the Grand Duchess Aramellianna kos Stalvaltan warmly greet the great Empress of the Fievegal and her husband..."

"Mother..." states Daniel dryly, and she smirks.

"Let her do it," whines Hekate. "I kind of like it!"

"Isn't it exhausting, though? I'd rather be accomplishing something than having my ego stroked for accomplishments already... accomplished."

Aramellianna giggles as she approaches and takes her usual seat, which is near Daniel's lounge sofa. "That is one of your most endearing traits, Daniel, though I must insist that you respect at least some traditions of nobility. You may hope and believe that you can communicate with your subjects on their level until the end of your days, but relaxing the etiquette and expectations can cause dissent and the rise of schemers and traitors."

"I do understand, Mother, but that very same coin has a second face. And, that face is resentment because of the elitism. Many of my country's most effective leaders were absolutely hated by the united machine of propaganda, and instead, loved by the people because they actually walked the same streets as the people, went to the same churches and schools to see with their own eyes. In a perfect world, there is no 'us versus them'." He laughs lightly at himself. "And, no matter what, I don't want to forget where I come from. I was no one special on Earth. Anyone could be here, doing these things instead of me."

"Thankfully," starts Aramellianna as she relaxes in her chair. "We got you instead." She then returns to business, "Now, if you don't mind, as promised, I have gathered a great deal of candidates for servants and ladies-in-waiting that I hope you will be pleased with. You may regard them with suspicion, but most of them are not directly from my household."

Daniel nods in understanding, and Hekate states, "Even if they were, you already have a high-ranking spy among us."

"I'm not a spy!" complains Wenlianna passionately. Hekate and the others snicker playfully at her, while the Grand Duchess simply smiles. "I am confident that the secrets that I would truly want, I would simply need to ask for. Everything else, I can live without." She then smiles. "Now, may I have your permission to introduce you to the candidates? I'll not speak for your Graces, but I do hope you will consider each and every one of them."

Hekate looks at Daniel, and he nods. She says, "Please do bring them in, your Grace."

"As you wish, your Imperial Greatness." Aramellianna waves her hand, and her own lady-in-waiting nods, opening the door to invite the candidates in.

Daniel watches, but something immediately strikes him as unnerving as the candidates walk in, starting with female candidates, and then males.

Most of the servants, as evidenced by little more than rags for clothes, are children under the age of fifteen.

Aramellianna adds softly, "I can spare some of my staff for training, but many of them do not wish to reside in the Fievegal, so far away from home. These are the most promising candidates that are willing to move, your Greatness, your Graces."

"Th-They're... children..." murmurs Geirahoel, being the first to state the obvious.

Daniel looks at Aramellianna, and she gives him an apologetic look. He realizes at once what he's looking at.