I Raised Snow White!

“…Ainsel, want to run away with me?”

Though I was dying to escape from this castle, escaping with this body was far from easy. I couldn’t even step outside the castle without an escort.

Practically speaking, I was under constant surveillance the moment I left the room. Ever since I possessed this body, I hadn’t been alone outside my room, not even once.

Even if I tried to go for a short walk, the maids would follow me, and if I tried to visit the garden, they would trail after me. Eventually, I gave up. I suppose real queens have many responsibilities… but somehow, I had none.

-Where would you go if you escaped? And if you do plan on running away, I can’t help you. Did you forget? I said I had things to do in the royal castle.

…Now that she mentioned it, I did remember.

-Anyway, even once I finish, I’m planning to leave for another place. Even if you leave the castle, I won’t be helping you.

“Wow… you’re really cold-hearted.”

-What can I do? It’s not as if you and I have a ‘contract.’

“A contract?”

-A familiar contract. After Vivian’s death, my contract with her was severed. So the reason I’m helping you is just an extra, ‘as a bonus’ for my own matters.

“Then how about a contract between us-”

-Come back once you fix that face of yours, then I’ll think about it.

Ainsel flatly refused, looking down at me with clear disdain. So, what now? My escape plans were pretty much blocked. Although I knew a fair amount about this world from the game…

That was just game content—reality was a whole different matter.

“Then… if I help you with that task? Could you help me a bit more?”

-…Sorry. To be honest, I have no idea when my task will end. And I still don’t fully understand ‘what problem’ is causing all of this.

“What kind of problem is it, exactly?”

-…I can’t tell you yet. It’s only a ‘hunch’ for now. But, if you stay here long enough, you’ll eventually come to know. You’ll learn what’s happening here.

I was entirely blocked in.

I couldn’t escape this place without someone’s help, my slim hope, the king, was a shut-in, and I had zero confidence in winning over those old men on the Council of Elders.

“Hehehe.”

I hadn’t even wanted this marriage, but now I was struggling to avoid divorce. I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of the situation.

‘…Even if I can’t win over the old Council members, I should at least do the bare minimum.’

Lying down on the bed, I glanced over at the vanity beside me. Though I couldn’t be sure, it looked filled with luxury cosmetics and jewelry, scattered about carelessly.

“Yes, showering them with gifts is the best way to win favor.”

-Pardon?

“At the very least, I need to improve Vivian’s reputation, even if they don’t end up on my side.”

In reality, just as in games, offering pricey gifts was the fastest way to increase favorability. After all, who wouldn’t be pleased with an expensive gift?

“Let’s start… with Ellie.”

*

Ellie was utterly bewildered.

‘I’m full, so share this with the other maids.’

‘Pardon..?’

‘Do I have to repeat myself?’

‘Oh, no! I… I’ll gladly eat it!’

It was hard enough to simply avoid getting hit when leaving the Queen’s chambers. But now she was walking out carrying luxury treats even nobles rarely tasted. Ellie struggled to process this new reality.

Standing outside the Queen’s room, Ellie stared at the cake pieces on her plate. One, two, three. Each cake slice corresponded exactly to the number of times she’d hit her head.

“Is this a dream..?”

When she tugged her cheek, it hurt. This wasn’t a dream; it was real. Could such things actually happen? A smile spread across Ellie’s face, reaching sky-high.

Though she wanted to eat them all herself, she feared the backlash from her colleagues if they found out later. Including her, there were five maids serving the Queen.

Deciding they could each have a bite, Ellie skipped happily toward her fellow maids. A day this good needed to be shared!

They split the cake and ate it, and one day, two, then a week passed.

Ellie and her fellow maids came to realize: the Queen had gone insane after nearly dying. There was no other explanation.

One day it was perfume.

‘I’m tired of this scent, so you take it.’

Another day it was bath salts.

‘I bought something else, so you take it.’

One day it was even jewelry.

‘It’s out of fashion, so you take it.’

This wasn’t happening to just one of them; every maid was receiving gifts. It even got to the point where they’d argue over who got to serve the Queen.

A week ago, this would have been unimaginable. With the extra money, the maids experienced spending on themselves for the first time.

This included Ellie. Until now, her wages had been seized by her family due to debts, but for the first time, she could go to a boutique and order herself a dress.

The clothes she wore had always been hand-me-downs from her older sister. The satisfaction of buying a new dress with her own money was beyond words.

Now, serving the Queen had become something to look forward to.

People are greedy, so she couldn’t help but think, ‘What gift will she give today?’ But even if she didn’t receive anything, it would be fine. The Queen no longer commanded her to bang her head against the floor.

For the first time, she felt like a true “Queen’s maid,” and with a skip in her step, Ellie headed for the Queen’s room. She warmed a basin of water and knocked gently, opening the door.

Upon entering, she saw the Queen peacefully asleep. Ellie smiled and approached, whispering softly.

“Your Majesty, it’s time to wake up.”

Vivian frowned as she opened her eyes, looking annoyed. That expression still made Ellie nervous, but the feeling didn’t last long.

“…Good morning, Ellie.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Of course, she no longer cursed me for waking her up!

*

My favorability gift strategy was a huge success, to say the least. Now, the maids not only followed me but practically idolized me. Gifts really were the best approach.

In games, favorability gifts were always effective. Giving certain NPCs specific gifts could greatly boost favorability, while giving the wrong ones lowered it.

Giving NPCs gifts they wanted maxed out their favorability… In any case, this kind of system existed. For instance, wasn’t that bald Bainshaw’s desired gift a wig from the princess? I think so.

Judging by how the princess gifted him a wig instead of hair restorer, it seemed that even in this magical world, hair loss was incurable. Poor Bainshaw.

Anyway, this past week, I’d focused on gifting the maids. I asked Bainshaw, the Chancellor, to spend my ‘dignity maintenance expenses’ on items the maids would like.

Creams to prevent chapped hands, perfumes with lovely scents, jewelry with gemstones—anything valuable enough to resell. I gave them out as often as I could.

With this gift barrage, the maids’ attitudes flipped in no time. At present, money was the only way I could manage to win them over.

I could definitely call this a massive success.

“Your Majesty, what are you thinking so deeply about?”

“Hehe, it’s nothing. Do I have any appointments today?”

“No, none for today. Since the weather’s so nice, how about a stroll in the garden? The rose scent fills the air.”

See that? Even Ellie, who used to tremble at the sight of me, now suggested we take a walk. Amused by this change, I glanced at Ainsel beside me.

Ainsel didn’t seem to appreciate the maids’ change in attitude. Pouting, she muttered in a grumbling tone.

-What’s so good about those bats who change sides so easily… Get close to them, and they’ll betray you someday…

Mumble, mumble.

Just what was bothering her so much? I started to worry she might really get mad and leave me behind, so I decided to cheer her up.

I smiled brightly at Ellie, who had carefully arranged my hair. When Ellie saw my smile, she blushed and lowered her head, clearly flustered.

“As expected, you’re trustworthy enough to be my ‘second most’ reliable person. I truly like you.”

“Second..? I’m not your first? Who’s the Queen’s number one, then?”

“You wouldn’t know the name. There’s someone I trust most—Ainsel.”

Ellie tilted her head, puzzled, but in the mirror, Ainsel’s smile seemed like it was about to burst from sheer happiness.

Honestly, she’s such an easy mirror.

-Hmph, nothing’s going to come out of you saying that, you liar! Ehehehe!

Even though she said that, Ainsel was humming happily. With her spirits lifted and the nice weather, a garden walk sounded good.

“Let’s go for a walk, as you suggested. Will you come with me?”

“Of course! I’ll bring your parasol right away!”

While Ellie went to fetch the parasol, I took a pair of earrings from the vanity drawer and put them on. They were shaped like Ainsel’s full-length mirror, only smaller than my palm.

-Sounds great! Let’s go on a walk!

As soon as I put on the mirror-shaped earrings, Ainsel’s voice echoed in my ear. When I looked into the mirror, there she was, peeking her little head out.

These earrings, which Vivian always wore when going out, allowed Ainsel to accompany me outside. The earrings were heavy and painful to wear, but…

The last time I went out without them, Ainsel cried so much that I couldn’t help but feel bad. She sobbed so pitifully that I almost felt guilty watching her.

“I’ve got the parasol!”

“…All right, let’s go.”

-Off we go!!

Ainsel seemed thrilled about going out. Come to think of it, this would be my first time stepping outside since arriving in this world.

Though it was just a garden I could see from my window… I couldn’t help but feel excited. Watching Ellie, who was now walking eagerly beside me, I took a step outside the room.

…Unaware of the encounter awaiting me.

Just with a heart filled with excitement.