#702 The Farm Graduates’ Activities – The Merfolk’s POV

My name is Clam.

I hail from the distinguished Shell family, which has served the Mermaid Royal Family for generations.

Our lineage has dutifully occupied roles such as stewards and the lady’s attendants in the palace, ensuring the smooth running of royal life and administration.

I, too, strive to honor this role passed down from my esteemed ancestors and continue its legacy.

However, a grave situation has arisen, much to the concern of a person of my distinguished lineage.

A significant change has recently taken place in the royal family we serve. Mermaid King Nagus, renowned as a wise ruler, has ended his long reign and retired. In his place, his son, Lord Arowana, has ascended the throne.

Consequently, the Mermaid Queen’s position has transitioned from Lord Nagus’ beloved wife, Mahi Kanne, to Arowana’s wife, Puffer.

Unlike commoners’ wives, a Mermaid Queen has numerous public responsibilities.

She must manage the royal household, accompany the king to official ceremonies, and elevate the nation’s dignity by staying abreast of the latest trends...

In times of crisis, she might even assume the role of running the state.

In short, the Mermaid Queen’s role is one of paramount importance, often equal to that of the Mermaid King himself.

To fulfill this role, extensive knowledge of historical etiquette and impeccable refinement is crucial. 

It wouldn’t hurt if she possessed the visual characteristics commoners typically desire, too.

The current Mermaid Queen Puffer, although possessing a beauty that shimmers coldly like ice, was unfortunately born into a lowly social status. She hails from commoner roots and has no ounce of noble mermaid blood in her veins.

Moreover, she’s notoriously known as the Witch of the Bitter Cold.

As the head lady attendant, I was incredibly anxious about welcoming such a troublesome girl as the Mermaid Queen. However, surprisingly, she has performed her duties rather well since her inauguration, supporting King Arowana both in public and private affairs.

She even accomplished her most important duty as Mermaid Queen, giving birth to an heir without a hitch. The firstborn, Prince Moby Dick, is growing healthily and shows no signs of deficiencies.

Even amidst the drastic changes in their lifestyle after becoming parents, their marital relationship remains harmonious. It’s even said that the birth of their second child may be just around the corner.

As Clam, the head attendant of the Mermaid Royal Palace, who has served for many years, I think it’s time to admit it.

Perhaps Lady Puffer is indeed fit to be the Mermaid Queen of our time.

Given that, it seems fitting for me to stop observing and start duly serving her, fulfilling my duty as the head attendant.

First, I must select the attendants who will serve the Mermaid Queen...

Perhaps a team of... about fifty should suffice?

They will be selected from the elite young women of prominent families across the Mermaid Kingdom.

All of them shall be well-educated graduates of Mermaid Witch Academia, and I’m confident they’ll meet the standards expected for serving the Mermaid Queen.

Now, Mermaid Queen Puffer.

Please consider these attendants as extensions of your own hands and feet, and let them serve you to their utmost abilities!

***

“No, that’s fine.”

“Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?!”

Why?!

Your Majesty, why won’t you follow the rules of the palace? This is precisely why commoners will always be commoners...!

“Can’t you see how long ago I got married? When I was newlywed and unfamiliar with things, or when I was pregnant and suffering from morning sickness, that’s when I could’ve used some help. Now that I’ve somehow managed to get past those times, getting help now just seems... pointless.”

“What do you think attendants are, Your Majesty?”

“Aren’t they people who help out?”

Haa...

Again, this is exactly why commoners are...

Ahem, please listen carefully as I explain.

“A lady attendant isn’t just a helper. She plays a crucial role in the public duties that the Mermaid Royal Family cannot carry out. It’s precisely to fulfill these noble responsibilities that these attendants are necessary, Your Majesty.”

“Social standing does not apply to jobs.”

“The attendants I’ve prepared for Your Majesty are all young ladies who have received the finest education from birth. Eventually, they will marry noblemen and build noble families.”

“So what?”

“These families will play key roles in supporting the Mermaid Kingdom. Wouldn’t it be important to form connections with them? By training the brides-to-be under Your Majesty’s direct guidance and making them loyal to you, surely it will be beneficial in the future.”

“What nonsense. I don’t have time for that.”

Say whaaaaaat?!

Your Majesty, you’re mistaken!

I’m saying all this for your sake!

“Networking is cheap. Women should work. Real work is sweating and toiling.”

“That’s not the way of the royal family, Your Majesty!!!”

And yet, Her Majesty the Queen is personally feeding and changing the Prince while conversing with me. 

Such chores should be left to the attendants!

“What are you saying? What kind of mother leaves her child’s care to others? No matter how busy I am, I’ll raise this child with my own hands!”

“But the royal family is different, Your Majesty!”

Just as I feared!

As a commoner-born Queen Puffer, she’s disrupting the harmony by failing to understand the ways of the royal family.

I must guide her toward becoming a true Mermaid Queen.

“Your Majesty, the royal family’s way of life is completely different from that of ordinary commoners. You should leave mundane chores to lowly attendants and focus on preserving the royal dignity.”

“Preserving dignity, you mean, attending balls and increasing my followers with flattering words? That’s nonsense. What kind of trust is there in authority that can be maintained like that?”

What?!

“Those who flock to such power will leave like the tide when times get tough. It’s a waste of time and effort to flatter such people and make obligations without even knowing if they will return the favor. If you're seeking a return on that investment, there's nothing more wasteful than your time and effort.”

“W-With all due respect, Your Majesty, faction-building is necessary for the Mermaid Royal Palace to survive! Especially for a common-born like you, Lady Puffer, who lacks any backing, you should be more eager to build connections...”

“Lampeye and Zoth Syra are enough for me.”

Gah! Of course, they areeeeeeeeeeee!

This woman, despite being a commoner, has compelling connections. She’s in a mentor-student relationship with the current Mermaid Prime Minister, Zoth Syra, and also has a close relationship with the former imperial guard, Lampeye.

Moreover, Lampeye is married into the Betta family, a military family feared as Fighter Fishes. At this point, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that she has control over the literary and military powers in her hands!

How could a mere commoner have such strong connections?

“Don’t underestimate a witch. The bonds between us, who have clashed in a world where only strength matters, are stronger than any barnacles. If it comes to it, I, Lampeye, Zoth Syra, and even Platy will turn the enemies of the Mermaid Kingdom into seaweed.”

Wait, even Princess Platy, who’s hailed as the genius of the Mermaid Palace since its inception...?!

Why do you have so many powerful connections, Your Majesty?

Is it because you’re a witch?

“Powerful people have powerful connections. Unlike the titles handed down from parents, these are the strengths I’ve cultivated with my own hands.”

“B-But that doesn’t mean you can neglect your duties as a queen, Your Majesty. The queen has a duty to raise ladies who can hold their own in the social circles of the Mermaid Kingdom. Please set aside your unnecessary stubbornness and kindly accept the attendants I’ve prepared for you.”

And then the ladies who’ve received direct guidance from the Queen herself would become popular among the young mermen looking for spouses!

Then, my reputation would increase for having chosen and introduced such ladies to the Queen!

“Indeed, nurturing talent in the Mermaid Palace is an important part of my job as queen.”

“Very much so, Your Majesty!”

Finally, the commoner is ready to listen to me.

“As such, I’ve already prepared a group of talented individuals.”

“Huh?”

***

And then, many mermaid maidens were brought into the Mermaid Royal Palace under the queen’s instruction.

Who are these girls?!

“They’re the graduates of this year’s Mermaid Witch Academia Farm Branch School.”

Farm Branch School?!

What is that?!

“Well, it’s not surprising you don’t know. It was only an experimental operation, but it’s basically a nursery for geniuses who received rigorous education on land. I have conviction they’re more capable than the girls you’ll introduce.”

“What?!”

“After all, they’ve been thoroughly trained in the handling of magic potions by me, Platy, and Lampeye. In fact, they even received teachings from the powerhouses on land, so their knowledge is at the level of merfolk who have migrated there. They also have connections with the human and demon students who studied with them.”

What?! Such rare talents exist without my knowledge?!

I, who serve in the Mermaid Palace and have connections with all nobles, didn’t know about these talents. This is unacceptable!

“This year, they were finally recognized as full-fledged individuals and graduated, so I wanted to have a few of them work under me. In short, they will be my attendants. Feel free to dismiss the ones you’ve selected for me.”

“I can’t accept that, Your Majestyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!”

Deciding who will serve as a prestigious Mermaid Queen’s attendant without my consent?

I cannot tolerate such a disaster happening!

Your Majesty, are you not trampling over the order of the Mermaid Palace?!

I’m the head of the Palace’s attendees! The palace’s peace is preserved only when I’m in charge of them!

Please just employ the maidens I’ve selected!

“Oh, I know, Your Majesty! I’ve come up with a good idea. Why don’t we make it clear who’s suitable to be your attendants?!”

“Hm?”

“I propose a contest, Your Majesty! Let’s see who’s superior: the maidens I’ve recommended or those boneheads from who knows where trying to get into Your Majesty’s good graces.”

“Oh?”

You look like you’re up for this, Your Majesty.

As I thought, the common people tend to be responsive to such straightforward proposals!

“I see you’ve come to understand my preferences. Fine, the strongest shall win; there’s no simpler way to settle things. I’ll make you realize the abilities of the little witches I’ve personally trained and nurtured.”