“Ugh! I’m so annoyed!”
Leticia threw the fan she was holding for her child on the floor of the carriage, showing her temper.
Her father, Lord Jude, who witnessed this, was not pleased.
“Leticia, can’t you behave yourself?”
“But this isn’t the dress I wanted!”
“Someone else already bought it, what do you want me to do about it?”
“You should have bought it sooner!”
Lord Jude gritted his teeth as Leticia continued to roll her eyes and complain.
Would such an expensive dress be reasonable for my family’s circumstances!
The Marquis, who had been eyeing his youngest daughter, even though he didn’t need any more trouble, softened his harsh words and said:
“At that time, did you expect the doors of the Duke’s Palace to open? I thought you would quietly go up to the capital, since Your Highness dislikes the party. If I had known that the party was happening, I would have bought it for you sooner.”
But Leticia, on the contrary, jumped up and shouted:
“You can’t buy me that dress if it’s not a party at the Duke’s Palace? I hate you, Dad!”
Seeing his daughter even more agitated, the Marquis put his hand on his forehead and shook his head firmly.
“Leticia, stop talking like that and get yourself together quickly. You have to show yourself well to the young ladies. This is an opportunity that won’t come again!”
As several visiting families including count Valerie and his entourage were settled, several vacancies opened up in major visiting positions at the Duke’s Palace.
If my family could fill just one of those positions, which was not in good financial condition, we might be able to settle all the troubles we’ve had so far.
“Your Highness, since you cherish your youngest daughter, if you do well, our family can survive. Do you know what I mean?”
“Hmph!”
As Lord Jude watched Leticia turn her head, he couldn’t bear it any longer and became angry.
The Viscountess quickly opened her mouth to liven up the mood.
“Well, the incident began with a word from the young maid that Miss cares for.”
“That’s just stupid. Don’t you know that His Excellency was uncomfortable with Viscount Valery, who held the power of the Council of Elders? They are just a loyal family, and they have been gaining power for a long time, so it wasn’t easy to deal with them.”
As Lord Jude ignored her and kept his tongue, the Viscountess continued with a bitter smile.
“But according to rumors, both Miss and Lady Marquis also seem to care for that commoner child. And there’s even talk of a rare herb that the child discovered as a legend. Maybe she’s a remarkable child who might even receive sponsorship…”
“Hmph. A child who hasn’t properly learned anything will receive sponsorship from the aristocracy just because she has some talent? It’s all just rumors.”
In the end, Lord Jude shrugged off the idea that they only cared for the child because she was cute.
In fact, the incident of Diana’s disappearance had been tightly monitored by the aristocracy to prevent any leaks.
The key members of the Council of Elders knew everything, including the details, but they didn’t disclose any information about the disappearance to other aristocrats, especially those in other regions.
So Lord Jude, a low-ranking aristocrat, didn’t know how Lia was treated within the aristocracy.
Similarly, Leticia, who didn’t know much about Lia, silently nodded her head at Lord Jude’s words.
Recently, at a salon where young nobles and their children gathered, there was a lot of talk about a commoner maid who had been picked up outside and was said to be very pretty by the youngest daughter of the aristocrat.
They all remembered the youngest daughter of the aristocrat, who was very picky and used to say, “You look scary! You’re not worth playing with!” to them.
They were all curious about how pretty the girl must be if she caught the eye of such a demanding young lady.
Although she was said to be the same age as me, Leticia was very jealous of the young lady who was enjoying herself freely.
“I tried to capture the young lady’s heart this time.”
She was disappointed that she missed the dress she had chosen for that purpose, and felt sad and frustrated when her dad, who didn’t even know her heart, would be upset.
Leticia’s eyes widened when she heard the news of her arrival and got off the carriage.
The Duke’s mansion, which she visited after a long time, was still splendid and beautiful.
Feeling excited, Leticia entered the ballroom alone and spotted it.
“That dress!”
It was the very dress she had been longing for months.
It was clear that the girl had taken the dress that she had marked to look good for the young lady at the party today.
Tap Tap.
“…?”
When the child approached and lightly tapped her shoulder with a fan, the girl with a disheveled appearance turned her head.
Although her pure brown eyes blinked cutely, she was not very pretty.
Secretly relieved, Leticia raised her chin and asked haughtily, “Which noble family are you from?”
***
I couldn’t imagine how busy I would be on the day of the Duke’s banquet.
Having stayed up late the night before thinking about the events in the capital, I was startled awake by the touch of maids who came in the early morning.
Diana is still young, so she wouldn’t have to prepare like the other noble ladies.
I was bewildered and disoriented as the maids suddenly washed and dressed me up.
They weren’t employees of a clothing store, and the Duke’s household maids who live with me wouldn’t confuse me with Diana.
So why are they dressing me up like this instead of Diana?
I looked at them blankly, unable to understand a word, but the maids just smiled knowingly and didn’t say anything.
Until I finally found the dress that had been delivered to the dressing room.
“We worked hard to make it for you until the day of the banquet, with the same design as the Duchess.”
When the party started, the Duke and Duchess, Allen, and Diana, the Duke’s direct family, should all appear together, but I didn’t even think of squeezing in there without realizing it.
However, young Diana couldn’t accept the fact that she had to stay away from me and pouted her lips.
After a while, Diana finally took the Duchess’s hand and turned to face me.
Then I headed to the banquet hall alone with the maids.
Since I couldn’t work while wearing a dress like Diana’s and a front apron, I awkwardly stood against the wall and looked around the lavishly decorated hall.
The space that the Duchess and the butler struggled to decorate for several days was truly beautiful.
‘When I go to the capital, this place won’t be used for a while.’
Maybe even longer.
In her past life, after the Duchess died, Diana only lived in the capital.
Naturally, there would be no light in the banquet hall of the Duke’s castle without a hostess.
But this life was the moment when I firmly decided that I would never make it like that.
Tap, tap.
I turned my head in surprise as someone tapped my shoulder.
‘That girl I saw in the dressing room….’
“Which family is the Young Lady from?”
The girl who shouted at me seemed to not even remember me.
‘Her tone of voice is different.’
Unlike when she was screaming before, her question had the tone of a noble lady like a young lady, and I was taken aback.
‘Did she call me Young Lady?’
“I…,” I hurriedly tried to explain.
“Lord, and his family are arriving.”
With a loud noise, the door to the banquet hall opened.
Everyone greeted the members of the Duke’s household with courtesy.
I also lowered my head and waited until Diana made her graceful entrance. I secretly looked up to see Diana, with cute hair on both sides, confidently embraced by the Duke.
Even though they were the guests of honor and were expected to attend, many people were surprised and held their breath at the sight of the Duke’s beloved daughter.
I suddenly recalled my surprise at the Duke’s attitude when I first met him.
‘But now I’m used to it.’
The Duke of Ellard, whom I had feared vaguely, was not as terrifying as I had thought.
Of course, he still looked indifferent and sharp, and I knew that there was a cruel nature beneath that, but he didn’t feel as sinister as before.
It was a surprising change even for myself.
Then, our eyes met.
Allen and I locked eyes, and he seemed to hesitate before turning his head away.
‘He’s still very angry, I guess.’
I had made up my mind to apologize today.
“Sister! I missed you!”
Diana, who had spotted me, jumped down from the Duke’s embrace and ran towards me, hugging me tightly.
“Miss…?”
The girl in front of me looked shocked and muttered in a stunned voice.
Ignoring her, Diana continued to rub her cheek against mine, like a beloved kitten.
“This is unbelievable.”
The trembling girl’s voice scanned me up and down.
Her gaze was so blatant that I turned my head, and the girl glared at me fiercely.
Even though she was just a child, her eyes were so venomous that I flinched and stiffened, but Diana blocked me in front of her.
“Why are you bothering my sister, you ugly thing?”
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Translator Note:
This chapter was translated by Bree.
Next chapter will be released on tomorrow. To read chapters in advance support us on Patreon!!
