Thank you for the ko-fi, Xee (1/1)
༼ つ ◕‿◕ ༽つ
The disapproving gaze lingered on Diana for a long while. For three days and nights, servants sent by the Prince washed and groomed her. Thanks to their efforts, her hair gleamed with luster, her skin and lips became moist and soft, and her body exuded an alluring rose fragrance she had never encountered before.
Before departure, they even styled her hair in an unusual way, but Diana, unable to see her reflection, felt only unease.
She hadn’t seen her face since the age of fifteen. Based on what others said about her, she knew her appearance was considered acceptable, but wasn’t the Crown Prince the highest authority, living surrounded by luxurious and beautiful things in the splendid imperial palace? Would someone like her even catch his eye? She’d be lucky to be treated like a pebble on the road.
The butler’s disapproving gaze shifted from the cane clenched tightly in Diana’s hand back to her face. He responded in a tone that still expressed dissatisfaction.
“That may be true.”
“She will undoubtedly meet His Highness’s aesthetic standards. Who knows? It might even reignite his forgotten interests.”
“Hmph…”
The sound of the butler flipping through papers reached Diana’s ears. She had memorized details about the Crown Prince’s past hobbies, but under the weight of tension, her mind went blank. Diana swallowed nervously, her head bowed.
After several seconds of suffocating silence, the sound of papers shuffling stopped.
“We’ll see about her work skills. Since she’s blind, at least she won’t cause a ruckus.”
Ah, what a relief. A small sense of reprieve washed over her.
But what did he mean by that last remark? That she wouldn’t cause trouble because she couldn’t see?
The butler stepped back two paces, clearing the way. His footsteps were deliberate and cautious.
“Follow me. I’ll show you to the room where you’ll be staying from now on.”
As Diana followed behind the butler, she tried to memorize the layout of the corridor they walked through. But simply walking wasn’t enough to grasp it fully.
“Um, butler, may I touch the walls?”
“The walls?”
“It’s just… understanding the layout would help me avoid making mistakes while memorizing the path.”
“Will it take long?”
“No, I just need to feel the walls as I walk.”
“Do as you wish.”
“Thank you.”
As soon as her hand touched the tiled walls, she felt much more stable than when she had relied solely on her hearing to follow the butler.
Fortunately, the structure of this place wasn’t too complicated. After walking exactly twenty steps through the outdoor corridor, they reached the entrance to the building.
The entrance had a low step. When her shoe heel hit the edge, her heart sank. She felt as though the butler might be turning to glare at her.
“I’m sorry.”
Diana quickly gathered her dress and stepped over the threshold. The short journey had made her so tense that her knees trembled.
“There are stairs ahead. If you need assistance, let me know. You can use your cane if necessary.”
For some reason, his voice sounded gentler than before. Diana thanked him once more and firmly gripped her cane before continuing.
She carefully gauged the width of the walls and the height of the steps, creating a mental map of the interior layout in her head.
She successfully climbed the stairs, crossed a long corridor, and then ascended an even wider staircase. The butler watched Diana closely as she followed him steadily, albeit slowly.
Her unfocused eyes revealed her unease in this unfamiliar place, darting in various directions as though trying to grasp something. Those eyes, unable to focus on anything, seemed almost translucent.
Even as she climbed the tall stairs, she didn’t pant or make any unnecessary noise. Though her pace was slow, it wasn’t frustrating.
More than anything, her movements and gestures were elegant and delicate, like those of a butterfly. Her mysterious appearance, combined with her blindness and her graceful steps, gave her an air of precarious beauty that made it hard to look away.
Duke Osfil must have gone to great lengths to select her. She certainly shows signs of good training, thought the butler.
Perhaps, just perhaps, this girl might have a chance.
“On the first floor are the reception room and banquet hall for welcoming guests. The second floor houses the dining room and kitchen where His Highness usually eats. You will be responsible for the third floor, which includes His Highness’s private reception room, study, and bedroom. This is where your duties begin.”
Diana grasped the railing as she climbed the stairs.
The smell of blood grew stronger with each step. By the time she reached the third floor, it overpowered even the scent of the resin used to polish the floors.
“His Highness the Crown Prince is an extremely sensitive person. He dislikes anything being out of place from where he remembers it. Be especially careful when handling items on this floor. Don’t move even the lightest decoration—just dust them off gently. Make sure nothing is damaged or broken.”
The butler led Diana through every corner of the third floor. As he rattled off his explanations at a rapid pace, he suddenly stopped and turned to look at Diana.
“Aren’t you writing this down?”
Diana lowered her eyelids and gave an awkward smile.
“I’ll make sure to memorize it. If I forget anything, I’ll ask again.”
“Good. Ahem, and this is the door to His Highness the Crown Prince’s chambers. It’s about one step away from where the carpet ends at your stride. The door has grapevine patterns embossed on it—touch it to confirm. This is the only door with that design, and when His Highness is inside, Sir Arnold will be guarding it outside.”
Emel’s explanation became slightly more detailed, a considerate gesture. Perhaps he wasn’t as stiff as he first appeared.
Diana carefully explored and examined every corner, from the Crown Prince’s private sitting room to his chambers and bathroom. It was larger and more spacious than the combined size of the five rooms Nephrine used as her sleeping quarters.
“Do your best not to touch the items scattered by the window in the living room unless His Highness orders you to clean them. These are tools he frequently uses, and if they’re not in their proper place, he becomes upset. So don’t move their position, but simply ensure they’re in the correct spot each day. Can you handle that?”
“I can do it.”
The Crown Prince had similarities to Nephrine. That temperamental young noblewoman memorized even the order of dresses hanging in her wardrobe—solely to find fault with Diana.
Compared to the days when she had to memorize the connection between lace, gemstones, and colors by touch to avoid her criticism, checking if items were in place seemed easy enough.
The only problem was that touching the items alone didn’t help Diana discern what they were. Most of them were objects she had never encountered before.
“A small broom… No, is it a brush? But it’s larger than a typical brush.”
She found an oval wooden board, its surface rough and covered with something resembling plaster. Beside it stood a peculiar large wooden pole, and a smooth cloth that slipped through her fingers was draped carelessly over a frame.
She considered asking the butler what these were, but he seemed oddly rushed, so she decided to hold off for now.
“There’s still half a day left, but it’s always better to move quickly.”
After thoroughly examining the Crown Prince’s chambers, Diana noticed the sunlight, which had been warm on her right hand, had shifted to her left. The sun was leaning westward—dusk had arrived before she realized it.
Emel guided Diana further inside the chambers.
“No matter what you see or hear here, pretend you don’t know. Your only job is to leave your quarters to clean the third floor when I give you orders.”
“Isn’t there a set time for that?”
“His Highness doesn’t keep a consistent schedule, so there’s no set time. Usually, you’ll clean his bedroom and bathroom at eight in the morning, then tidy his chambers again at dusk. Other than that, only come out when I call for you. Be cautious to avoid running into His Highness—it’s for your own good.”
“I understand.”
Diana obediently replied but was puzzled. She had heard the Crown Prince had a gentle and lenient nature, so why was he being spoken of this way? Her doubts grew.
Just then, she caught the sound of movement coming from downstairs.
It was the sound of slow, deliberate footsteps. Only part of the soles touched the ground with each step. Someone was climbing the stairs.
***
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