The Romantic Trials Of A Transmigrated Empress-Chapter 26: VA is scheming again.

Inside, Sigrid chuckled at the look of struggle on Mirena’s face, if she said no, everyone would think her unappreciative considering the fact that she was being offered a house and a year’s worth of gold. However, if she said yes, then they would ask her why she was clinging onto the duchess, after all the things she was being offered were far beyond generous. Which servant of a noble was given all that gold and a house without any expectations in return?

This was something usually done for mistresses being kept by noble or wealthy men.

Mirena swallowed and begrudgingly answered, "The duchess is generous."

Sigrid peeked at the list of servants being terminated and how much they would be getting. "Excellent, so Mirena gets a house and one thousand gold coins, wow!" Sigrid exclaimed loudly. "Grandmother, one thousand gold, my God, this is not a years worth of salary it’s at least ten years worth."

She was genuinely surprised, she thought Mirena would be paid in silver coins, not gold. This generosity was beyond what she had in mind and she had absolutely no plans of allowing Mirena leave Doria with that gold, half had to be reclaimed.

The reaction Sigrid had been going for was received, the servants were excited, those that were leaving and the ones that were staying. The duchess had even invited over shop keepers that worked for her father to witness the moment.

"One thousand gold, I could live on that forever."

"It’s too much, the duchess really dotes on Mirena."

"I wonder if the rest of us are going to get as much, I was worried about being let go of but now I am excited."

"Why is Mirena still on her knees, she should be kissing the duchess’s feet for her generosity. I would give anything to get all that gold and a free house."

"Did you know that Mirena had a daughter?"

The whispers which were a little too loud to be considered whispers only made Mirena’s face turn ugly in displeasure.

"Crown princess, even though the offer is generous....." Mirena started.

Sigrid uncrossed her legs and held her hand up, commanding Mirena to stop talking. "Speaking of children, I heard in passing from one of the cook’s that you gave birth to a daughter. If I am right she should be around my age, is that correct?"

Mirena nodded.

Sigrid scratched her chin as if she was thinking deeply and she smiled. "I seem to be suffering from a lack of ladies in waiting, your daughter, if she is of noble blood, I am willing to consider her."

Mirena’s eyes lit up, the thought of her daughter climbing to a a position higher than the one she climbed thrilled her. Moreover, as a lady in waiting, her Emmah would be in close contact with the princes, even the crown prince himself.

As long as the crown prince or the king decreed it, her daughter could be made a secondary consort, if she won the heart of the crown prince, she could live like consort Rina. Who in the kingdom did not know that the king was in Rina’s pocket?

If she was the mother of the secondary consort, would she have to kneel and beg for a duchess? They would be the ones kneeling before her.

Iryne gasped loudly. "Sigrid, I mean, Crown princess no." she said sternly. "We have received more than thirty offers from noble houses that are willing to send their daughters to occupy those positions. Now as much as I like Mirena, I do not think that this is a good idea, her daughter lacks the background and upbringing of a noble lady."

"I agree." The duchess said, "Not only was that child born out of wedlock but Mirena refused to name the father. If you have a lady in waiting whose background is questionable your decision making will be frowned upon and your position in the king or queen’s court will be undermined."

"I guess I have to reconsider it then," Sigrid replied. She looked at Mirena. "Unless....."

"Unless what?" Mirena asked eagerly. fгeewebnovёl.com

"Unless you are willing to divulge the identity of the man that fathered your daughter. If he is from a noble family then I can use my influence to change her status. I am not doing this out of the goodness of my heart, I am doing it because my grandmother loves you so much, you have served her well over the years."

The conflicted expression once again returned to Mirena’s face, she obviously didn’t want to reveal the identity of Emmah’s father but on the other hand, a position of lady in waiting and the chance to climb the social ladder was so tempting.

She could hear the murmurs and whispers of the other servants, praising the duchess and crown princess. They were filled with envy for her good luck, wishing they could be in her position.

"Mirena, what are you waiting for?" The cook asked.

"Yes, this opportunity does not come along many times for people like us."

"I really wish i was in her shoes right now."

More and more, the others continued to talk while she struggled with the decision. If she revealed who he was, Emmah’s reputation would die completely as would hers. People did not look kindly on women that dallied with married men, especially those that had already filled both positions of main wife and secondary wife.

She curbed her greed and shook her head. "He was nobody crown princess, a commoner that worked as a butler and unfortunately he passed."

Duchess Mila scoffed and rolled her eyes, the so called dead commoner butler was Lord Derrick Fairfax, the eldest son of Count Jameson Fairfax IV.

If the news of the dalliance between him and Mirena was spread, his two wives would not spare her, especially because she had given birth to a child, living undeniable proof of the affair. Derrick Fairfax’s secondary wife had lost a daughter at birth around the same time when Mirena also gave birth. If she heard the news, she would drag Mirena and her daughter through the streets of the capital.

"What are you up to RV?" Cosmos asked. His laughter filled voice was heard only in Sigrid’s mind.

She did not respond, she was scheming to send Emmah’s life in a whole other direction.

"That’s regrettable, since I cannot make her my lady in waiting then perhaps I can help her find a good marriage. She will soon be five and twenty, am i correct in assuming so?" Sigrid picked up the cup and smiled.

The tea had gone warm so she put it down as she waited for Mirena to respond. It seemed, to Sigrid that Mirena was very reluctant to do so but she was also determined to have her way.

"Well, as your daughter is a commoner, I cannot pick a husband for her from the noble sons or else I will be frowned on.

Of course, we have many eligible young men on the duchy that could marry her but I doubt they have the resources to take care of your daughter and enable her live in comfort which is what we all desire.

However, one of our shopkeepers, mister Bumblebert lost his wife two years ago and he has not remarried, he is only nine and thirty so I do not think that he is too old for her."