After that, Lady Faelunt’s attitude changed completely.
Not only that, she began to visit the Ellard Duchy almost every day.
Fortunately, Lady Ellard also seemed to enjoy the company of Lady Faelunt, who, despite being a princess from another country, was not authoritarian but honest and confident. There were even times when Diana and I were invited to join them, and I often looked forward to hearing the stories Lady Faelunt shared about her homeland.
As we headed to the reception room today, wondering what story we would hear, I paused.
“Oh…”
It was another important matter that had recently occurred in the Ellard Duchy.
It was because I had encountered the returned chambermaid not long ago.
“Hello, Chambermaid.”
The chambermaid, who had received punishment from Lucio for harassing the maids last time, was reinstated a few days ago under the orders of the Duchess.
This was partly due to her past efforts in managing the ducal residence, but also because the vacancy left by her, who used to meticulously check each invitation that poured in after the Duchess arrived in the capital and inform about social trends and cautions, became evident.
And since her reinstatement, the chambermaid had continued to perform her duties flawlessly, handling tasks without any faults.
“Madam, the guest is waiting inside. You can go straight in.”
Except for one thing – her attitude towards me.
‘She never really showed any favor towards me, but…’
Whether it was because she thought she suffered because of me or for some other reason, she started openly ignoring me more than before.
Even now, she would politely bow and speak to Diana, completely ignoring my greetings as if I didn’t exist.
I sighed lightly.
The chambermaid didn’t directly harass me like she did with the other maids. Although I had been suspicious of her all along, there was ultimately no evidence that she had instigated the harassment.
Perhaps she had been unfairly treated.
‘Although it’s hard to accept.’
Anyway, thankfully, apart from being ignored, nothing else happened since her reinstatement.
* * *
“Ah, you’re finally here.”
As we entered the reception room with a brief knock, Lady Faelunt set down her teacup and smiled widely.
Soon, Diana gently bent her knee and lifted the hem of her dress.
“Ellard Duchy’s Diana, greeting Lady Faelunt, Duchess of Faelunt.”
Although I had checked beforehand, seeing Diana politely greet without a single mistake made me feel moved inwardly.
Somehow, our Diana seemed to be the smartest and most beautiful child in the world.
“The young lady is still as adorable as ever.”
It seemed that Lady Faelunt’s thoughts were the same.
With a slight tilt of her chin, Lady Faelunt accepted Diana’s greeting and flashed a pleasant smile as she picked up a plate of meringue cookies from the table in front of her and shook it.
Diana, who liked sweets, followed the movement of the cookies with her eyes and then glanced at me discreetly.
“It’s not about being cold; it’s just that you should stop snacking today.”
I smiled slightly and nodded awkwardly. Diana, feeling victorious, rushed over to Lady Faelunt.
“Lia, come and sit down quickly. Make yourself comfortable.”
“Yes, madam.”
As soon as Lady Ellard gave her permission, I sat down beside her.
Lady Faelunt made a dissatisfied sound, “Hm,”
Surprised by the sound, I turned my head, and she raised the corner of her mouth slightly.
“I told you not to worry about formalities in front of me.”
Understanding her meaning, I chuckled awkwardly.
Recently, through an etiquette book Lucio recommended, I learned that commoners couldn’t speak without the permission of nobles. Although Lady Ellard and her husband had encouraged me to act freely within the duchy due to their long-standing reputation, I strictly adhered to the etiquette in front of other nobles to avoid tarnishing Ellard Duchy’s prestige.
However, Lady Faelunt, despite being royalty from another country, seemed to find my meticulous adherence to such etiquette frustrating.
“Madam, are you feeling alright?”
Glancing around, I noticed Lady Faelunt’s attention had shifted to Diana, so I discreetly asked Lady Ellard, who was pouring tea beside me.
I was worried because she hadn’t eaten anything this morning due to feeling unwell.
“Yes, Lia, thank you for your concern. I’m fine now. I was just feeling a little unwell earlier.”
Lady Ellard replied with a gentle smile.
Perhaps sensing my concern, she smiled shyly, and I asked again, “Are you uncomfortable anywhere else?”
According to my recollection, Lady Ellard should be lying in bed by now.
Although the time of onset had passed, I was still anxious that she might be under the shadow of death without my noticing.
“Oh dear. Even the maid I brought from my hometown doesn’t follow me around like that.”
It was when Lady Faelunt, who was feeding Diana meringue cookies as if gathering ants, said.
“I envy you. If I had a maid like Lia, every day would be enjoyable! Oh, that’s right. Instead of this, Lia, why don’t you come to our house? I’ll treat you very well. Let’s go to my house.”
And it was when she reached out her hand to me with a surprised look.
“That’s not possible, madam.”
Lady Ellard wrapped her arm around my shoulder and said.
“Lia is a precious child of our Ellard Duchy. Isn’t that right, Diana?”
“That’s right!”
Even Diana, who was beside Lady Faelunt, responded firmly, throwing a meringue cookie and rushing into my arms.
“Oh dear. It seems difficult to bring Lia along because of the young lady… Oh! Then why don’t you come to our Faelunt Duchy? We have a lot of delicious snacks. We’ll offer you plenty of different snacks every day. Would you like to come to our house?”
Lady Faelunt openly tried to persuade me.
“But our smart Diana won’t be fooled.”
However, when I looked down, the child’s eyes were quickly wavering.
With a bewildered expression on her face, Lady Faelunt called out to Diana, and the startled Diana clung to me.
“It can’t be helped. Instead, Lia, next time, I’ll bring my son along, so you must play with him nicely.”
All I could do was nod at her words.
* * *
Not long ago, five-year-old Aidan Faelunt, the only son of the Faelunt Duke, looked out of the carriage window with a chubby face and his mouth half open.
Because of his mother’s almost coercive persuasion, he was being taken to Ellard Duchy.
“Hmph.”
Although he expressed his displeasure by sniffling in front of his mother, she just chuckled with satisfaction.
“Aidan, cheer up. We’re taking you there for your sake. You’ll surely make good friends.”
That same spiel again.
Aidan internally grumbled while putting on a fake smile.
His mother, who had been quite inactive in outings until recently, suddenly started taking steps, claiming to be attending Ellard Duchy’s tea party.
It would have been better if that were all.
Out of the blue, she started saying weird things like whether he wanted to meet lovely girls his age or kind and affectionate maids. Eventually, she even forcibly dragged him along today, promising to make him some friends.
“What friends? Even if I pretend to be nice in front of them, they’ll still badmouth me behind my back.”
Though Aidan was still young, he had witnessed people praising the Faelunt Duke in front of him as a little lord but mocking and ridiculing him behind his back because of his skin color.
“I don’t need friends.”
Aidan, suppressing his gloomy feelings, retorted, but it seemed to fall on deaf ears to his mother, Lady Faelunt.
Sighing again out of frustration, Aidan suddenly widened his eyes at the sight outside the window he had just noticed.
Before he knew it, the carriage had passed through the main gate of Ellard Duchy and was passing through the maze-like garden, buzzing with rumors.
As the carriage finally stopped in front of the main house with a wolf statue visible, Aidan’s buttocks were already wriggling with excitement to see outside, contrasting with his fidgeting throughout the journey.
As Lady Faelunt swallowed her laughter, pretending not to notice her son’s adorable behavior, the coachman opened the door.
“Mom, you don’t need to come out here.”
“It’s the first time Lady Faelunt is visiting. It’s a rare occasion, so it’s good to properly greet them.”
While his mother exchanged greetings with Lady Ellard, Aidan, who had gotten out of the carriage, quickly glanced around Ellard Duchy.
As befitting the reputation of the Ellard family, which had wielded power in the Laxton Empire for a long time, the mansion with the blue flag bearing the emblem of the Ellard family exuded a majestic and magnificent aura.
Especially, Aidan’s mouth involuntarily gaped at the sight of the giant wolf statue, seemingly alive.
“Aidan?”
At his mother’s call, Aidan jumped in surprise and quickly straightened up.
—————————————————————
Translator Note:
This chapter was translated by Bree.
If you like my work please support us in Patreon. Next post will be released on March, 16.
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