Madeleine had climbed the ranks from a fourteen-year-old maid to the esteemed position of chief maid. But no matter how long she served, she remained a commoner. It wasn’t a source of bitterness, though. Her true admiration lay with Baroness Robert, the picture of aristocratic refinement. The woman’s neat hair, unflinching gaze, and elegant voice exuded nobility. Sure, she might lose her cool in a rare burst of excitement, but that just added a touch of humanity.
“Madeleine,” the baroness called out.
“Yes, madam?”
Even the way the baroness said her name sounded dignified! Madeleine vowed to use it on the other maids the next chance she got.
“I heard you met with the princess.”
“Yes, briefly earlier.” Madeleine’s mind drifted back to that morning. Princess Ingelos, the young lady from their enemy house, defied expectations. Gentle and friendly, Alessia spoke with a sweetness that disarmed any coldness.
No, it wasn’t just because the princess showered her with compliments! Madeleine assured herself. It was her genuine smile and attentive nature that warmed Madeleine’s heart. Three years had passed since the Duchess Ferdinand passed, three years since the sweetest soul had left the mansion. Princess Ingelos, with her kindness, somehow filled that void.
“She doesn’t seem like the useless baggage we thought she’d be,” the baroness conceded cautiously. This acceptance didn’t extend to Kaon, whom Madeleine considered practically a son. The arranged marriage still reeked of a wasted future.
“She seems to respect the household name at least,” Madeleine added. Turning hostile towards someone so kind felt wrong. Besides, wouldn’t it be cruel to treat Kaon’s fiancée as an enemy? Plus, Alessia, with her youthful face barely out of childhood – the same age as Madeleine’s own second daughter – looked pitifully frail. Motherly instincts wouldn’t allow Madeleine to be heartless.
“Respect?” Baroness Robert scoffed, placing a hand on her temple. “Respect this, respect that – what magic words did she use to bewitch you, Madeleine?” Her voice was sharp, her eyes narrowed.
Madeleine felt a pang of regret. She’d clearly misspoken, and now the baroness was offended. “Ingelos isn’t exactly known for respecting others,” the baroness continued, her voice colder than usual. “That much I know for certain.”
Everyone in Ferdinand harbored a historical grudge against Ingelos, but the baroness’ hatred seemed particularly potent. It was worse than Madeleine had imagined.
“Perhaps I’ve spoken out of turn,” Madeleine admitted, deciding to back down. The baroness, the person she had always greatly respected, must have had a good reason for reacting this way.
The baroness fell silent, her eyes closing slowly. Wrinkles deepened around her mouth. “My younger brother passed away when he was only twenty.”
“Oh no.” A flicker of tears welled up in the old woman’s eyes. Even after decades, the memory still choked her heart.
“He told me not to worry about the monsters.”
A beat of silence washed over them.
“But he never came back.”
He’d been a proud knight, the family’s pride and joy. That day, the monsters’ behavior was erratic. Hundreds were injured, dozens – including her brother – perished. The woods became his final resting place, claimed by a rogue monster.
“It was all too sudden,” the baroness continued, her voice trembling slightly. “Monsters are always vicious, unpredictable, but that day… it was different.”
The screams and cries of that day often haunted her dreams, shattering her peace.
“You’ve been here a long time, Madeleine,” she said, forcing a calm tone. “You know how hard the previous Duke worked.”
His focus had been on recruiting a talented mage to protect their young knights. Mages were a royal resource, making it difficult to find one who wasn’t already employed. They typically came from the king, a mage family, or the Magic Tower. The king used them to bolster his power, and thus mage families were arrogant and aloof, and the mages from the Magic Tower were practically seen as thieves in mage robes.
“Few know this,” the baroness continued, “but he even considered an alliance with Ingelos. He was willing to let bygones be bygones, because he valued every life.”
“The master?” Madeleine gasped.
“Yes.”
In the face of such desperation, the former Duke had understandably sought cooperation. Despite the old grudges, Ingelos remained the best choice among mage families.
“And they laughed in his face,” the baroness’ eyes reddened.
Duke Ingelos, notorious for missing spring banquets, had declared, “Centuries of monsters plaguing the land, and the knights still can’t handle it themselves? Then what purpose do they serve?”
Baroness Robert’s jaw clenched tight. The memory of Duke Ingelos’ callous words burned in her mind like a brand. He knew they were desperate, yet he mocked them in public with such cruelty. It was an insult she’d never forgive, a wound that festered alongside the grief for her brother. He had bravely faced the monsters, a shining star cut down in his prime.
“The princess may have seemed sweet,” the Baroness said, her voice laced with ice, “but don’t be fooled. She always has an ulterior motive.”
For Baroness Robert, all members of House Ingelos were tainted. Their fiery red eyes mirrored the flames that had consumed her brother, a constant reminder of the family’s callous rejection. All she had received back was his bloodstained scabbard – no body to bury, not even a proper goodbye.
“Yes, madam,” Madeleine mumbled, chastised. “I shouldn’t have let my guard down.”
“Be careful, Madeleine,” the Baroness warned. “Don’t let kindness cloud your judgment.”
The question hung heavy in the air: could an Ingelos ever truly belong in Ferdinand?
***
Peeking through a gap in the lace curtains, Kaon wrinkled his nose at his sleeve. “Ugh, not sweaty, right?” he muttered. After a grueling training session, a quick bath was all he could manage, but now even soap seemed…insufficient. He wasn’t usually so self-conscious, but today was different.
Kaon fretted for a moment, then decided a fresh change of clothes wouldn’t hurt. After all, he had to show Alessia around eventually – and calm his own nerves down. With a deep breath, he smoothed out his clothes and knocked on the wall.
A small silhouette appeared behind the lacy barrier. He playfully extended his hand, curious if it could cover the entire figure. It almost did.
“Kaon?” Her voice, he thought with a jolt, was incredibly sweet. This – an Ingelos and a Ferdinand being friendly? Unheard of.
Clearing his throat, he replied, “Sorry I’m late, I just finished training. Up for a tour of the estate?”
“Absolutely! Let’s go!” Alessia’s enthusiasm was infectious.
“Yeah, about that…” Kaon started, about to mention his plans to have the lace curtains replaced when they whooshed open. A wave of flowery perfume hit him, followed by the sight of Alessia in a white dress. The lacy curtains parting behind her for a moment made it seem almost like a bridal veil…
He quickly blinked, snapping out of his daze. Obviously, it was just a simple dress, a far cry from a wedding gown.
‘Bride? Seriously, Kaon, the heat’s messing with you.’
Training under the relentless sun all morning could mess with anyone’s mind. ‘Okay, maybe not that bad,’ he thought to himself, dismissing the ridiculous notion.
“It’s good to see you too,” he finally managed, his racing heart more likely a result of the heat than her playful smile.
🍉🍉🍉
