Marie’s expression grew increasingly stern.
“You...!”
“Stop it.”
Erilot was the one who stopped Marie from yelling.
Erilot sighed.
“At this rate, neither of you will be helped. Both of you, follow me.”
Then she said to the Isiron servants,
“I will inform the Duchess. You handle the message with the butler.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
The servants hurriedly bowed.
Marie closed her eyes tightly, as if restraining her anger, then turned her gaze to Erilot.
“Thank you, but we have duties assigned by the lady and must return to the mansion.”
Masa flinched.
‘Why me? That’s unfair. I could go alone...!’
Erilot glanced at Masa’s expression, then spoke to Marie.
“You do as you please. I’ll keep Masa with me.”
Marie frowned, but Masa was overjoyed.
“Yes...!”
Masa hurriedly followed behind Erilot.
The Isiron servants looked at Masa with astonished eyes.
“Wow... amazing.”
“Looks like Masa ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) really captured the Astra Countess’s heart...”
Everyone recognized Marie more, but Erilot alone favored Masa.
‘She likes me more...’
Masa gazed at Erilot’s retreating figure with a face full of dreams.
I entered the Torch Palace together with Masa.
As we headed toward the office, Han Jihyeok was waiting.
He widened his eyes seeing Masa closely following me.
“Have you met Masa?”
“Yes, the Duchess brought her.”
I turned around and said,
“Take a short rest.”
“Ah... then, my lady...?”
“I’ll come after finishing my work. You said you wanted to talk?”
“Yes!”
Masa nodded with a bright smile.
I called a palace attendant of Torch Palace.
“Show her to a place where she can rest.”
“Yes, Wonhwa.”
Masa followed the attendant.
After she disappeared, I said to Han Jihyeok,
“Tell Alexis to allow Marie to see a doctor.”
“Why?”
“She looked very unwell.”
She tried to appear fine, but her gait was odd.
When quarreling with Masa, her knees shook.
‘She’s forcing herself not to collapse.’
Han Jihyeok frowned.
“Yes, we must take good care of Marie. If she dies, Dalia will come.”
“That’s partly why....”
“Partly? Is there another reason?”
“I like Masa.”
Han Jihyeok’s eyes widened.
“Oh....”
“What’s wrong? Is it strange to say I like someone?”
“This is the first time I’ve heard you say that.”
Han Jihyeok ruffled my hair.
I said, “Hey, stop that...” and fixed my hair again.
He chuckled.
“That’s nice.”
“What is?”
“That you finally have a friend.”
“I have many friends, you know? I get along well with the young ladies of the capital.”
“I mean a friend who you’d be willing to suffer loss for, not just keep around for use.”
“...You know that doesn’t suit me, right?”
“I know, you fool.”
Han Jihyeok laughed and walked away.
“I’ll go do what you asked.”
I nodded and entered the office.
At Torch Palace’s courtyard.
Masa looked flustered at the person standing before her.
A group of twin-tailed girls in bright pink dresses frowned at her.
“I said! Bring a chair!”
“Um, I’m a palace attendant....”
“Palace attendant or not! I’m a Central Wonhwa and participant in the preliminary Wonhwa contest succeeding Lady Sebastia!”
“But...”
“What? Are you saying I can’t give orders because I’m not a Wonhwa?!”
The twin-tailed girl shouted thunderously.
A palace attendant quickly approached, alerted by the commotion.
“What’s going on?”
Seeing the attendant in palace uniform, the girl’s expression softened slightly.
“I told her to bring a chair, but she stammers.”
“Lady, this child is not in a position to receive orders.”
“What?!”
The twin-tailed girl scowled angrily.
“I’m the 35th descendant of the Rochefange family, granddaughter of the great Roctis Rochefange!”
“...”
I’d heard that introduction many times.
“I’m Erilot, 23rd descendant of Astra, granddaughter of the great Chronos Astra.”
Erilot was the center of attention.
Last year, the cape fur she wore was all the rage; earlier this year, her low-heeled loafers were popular.
Now, countless young ladies dyed their hair blonde and curled it by any means.
‘Now even introductions are trendy....’
“Lady, family status doesn’t matter.”
“I said!”
“This child is not a palace attendant and cannot receive orders.”
“Could it be... you’re a noble?”
The twin-tailed girl narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing Masa.
“No way. No ragged girl like that could be noble.”
“A guest.”
“A guest?!”
The twin-tailed girl laughed bitterly.
The girls around her twisted their mouths.
“Nonsense.”
“Who does she think she is to be a guest?”
“Isn’t she tricking us?”
The twin-tailed girl crossed her arms and appraised Masa from head to toe.
“Stop talking nonsense—”
Then—
“Who dares cause a commotion in the Wonhwa’s patronage?”
All eyes turned to the door at once.
It was Rika Delphre, Southern Wonhwa, accompanied by Central Wonhwa Sebastia Biferi.
The twin-tailed girl and her group quickly approached them.
“Wonhwa~ Long time no see~”
The twin-tailed girl smiled and shrugged.
Southern Wonhwa looked at her with displeasure.
“Who are they?”
Sebastia answered instead.
“Oh, that’s Blossom Rochefange. An Eastern noble, right?”
“I’m so happy the Central Wonhwa remembers me!”
“I heard you did well at the preliminary Wonhwa contest. But what’s going on?”
Sebastia looked at the attendant and asked,
“The ladies mistook this child for a palace attendant.”
“Not a palace attendant?”
At Sebastia’s words, Masa exclaimed and removed her outer coat.
She shivered in the cold; the coat was one Han Jihyeok had given her.
Sebastia nodded seeing the Isiron crest embroidered on the back.
“Oh, so she’s a servant of the Isiron household. But whose guest is she?”
“Ah, um, that’s Lady Erilot’s...!”
At that, the Southern Wonhwa, arms crossed with a neutral expression, twitched.
“A guest of the Western Wonhwa...? How does an Isiron servant know her?”
Sebastia nodded.
“Her fiancé is the Isiron prince, so it’s possible the Isiron servants know her.”
Then the twin-tailed girl and her group whispered.
“Oh, so that’s why she’s an Isiron servant...”
“So she’s lower than a palace attendant.”
“I thought she wasn’t noble. Look at her. No noble would look like that.”
“Well...”
Masa clenched her skirt angrily.
‘I didn’t come just as an Isiron servant...’
Masa muttered,
“I didn’t come as a servant but as a friend...”
The Southern Wonhwa glanced sharply at Masa.
“Friend?”
“...Yes.”
Masa pouted and looked at the twin-tailed girls.
“We’ve known each other since back home. Lady Erilot is kind and treats commoners like me and my sister as friends. She gave us jobs and listens to our problems...”
The Southern Wonhwa’s attitude changed immediately.
“Is that so?”
“Yes!”
“So you are a very precious guest.”
“Guest?”
“Guests of Wonhwa are honored people of Torch Palace. Come, bring tea and refreshments.”
The Southern Wonhwa took Masa’s hand and led her to the table.
Completely ignoring the twin-tailed girls, she sat Masa across from herself and looked at Sebastia.
“It’s break time, right? How about having tea together for a bit?”
“Sounds good.”
Sebastia sat as well.
The Southern Wonhwa rested her chin on her hand and looked at Masa.
“You’re a very cute child.”
“Th-thank you...”
“Truly. The Western Wonhwa likes you, so it must be true.”
“R-really?”
Masa giggled.
“But you have a sister? Is your sister also close to the Western Wonhwa?”
“She treats my sister well too, but I have more in common with Lady Erilot...”
“Oh my, what could that be~?”
The Southern Wonhwa asked in a teasing voice.
Masa looked flustered; Sebastia chuckled softly.
“Don’t be too scared. The Southern Wonhwa has been very interested in the Western Wonhwa lately.”
“A great liking, indeed.”
“Well... thinking about the past...”
“Why bring up old stories?”
The Southern Wonhwa grumbled; Sebastia burst out laughing.
The twin-tailed girls and their group looked at Masa’s table with envy.
Masa glanced at them and rubbed her fingertips.
‘The Wonhwa treat me so kindly...’
Those noble young ladies were looking at her with envy.
It felt like a dream.
Masa giggled, wiggling her fingers happily.
After handling urgent matters, I checked the time.
‘I left Masa alone for an hour.’
It was about time to escort her back to the mansion.
As I was about to get up, I heard a knock and a guard’s voice outside my office.
“An Isiron servant requests to see you.”
It seemed to be Masa.
I stepped outside.
“Masa?”
“Yes, my lady! I was just about to return...!”
“Already? You said you wanted to talk.”
“Yes, I heard you are very busy your first day back at work at the palace. The talk can wait.”
“Alright...”
Masa’s face was very bright.
“I’ll tell Han to escort you.”
“No!”
Masa quickly shook her head.
“The Isiron mansion is close. I’ll walk for exercise and to think about today’s work.”
“That’ll take two or three hours.”
“I really don’t mind! I want to walk while thinking about today! I want to...!”
Maybe she was reflecting on her fight with Marie.
‘But that expression looks too happy for that.’
I glanced sideways, then nodded.
“If that’s what you want, I’ll inform the castle gate you’ll be going out.”
“Yes!”
Masa bowed deeply to me.
Then she grabbed my hand tightly and said,
“You don’t know how undeservedly happy I am because of you...!”
“....”
“Meeting you is the greatest luck of my life. I’ll do my best to make you happy, too...!”
She looked at me with eyes burning with determination.
I nodded absentmindedly.
She bowed again and left.
Just then, Han Jihyeok, coming toward my office, saw Masa running and said,
“What’s going on?”
“...I don’t know.”
“Anyway, hurry up, it’s time for the assembly.”
The day had come for me to attend the assembly with the Wonhwa.
I smiled.
“Let’s go.”
That night.
Masa hung her head low before the head maid.
“How could you cause a disturbance in the palace?”
“I-it wasn’t a disturbance...”
“Stop making excuses! If someone like Marie had to get that angry, you can imagine how bad it was.”
Masa bit her lips hard.
The head maid glared at her.
“If you hadn’t been recommended by the Astra Countess, you’d have been put in punishment.”
“...”
“Reflect on your actions!”
“...Yes.”
“As punishment, you will have a week of unpaid suspension. Leave.”
The head maid frowned and pointed to the door.
Masa left with a crushed expression.
Walking the dark corridor in her depressed mood felt like sinking in a swamp.
‘I felt like I was dreaming today...’
Masa sighed and returned to the dormitory.
But the dorm was very noisy.
Those who saw her return eagerly approached.
“Masa!”
“What happened? ...What about your sister?”
“Oh, she’s unwell. She has to be hospitalized for some time.”
“Not suspension?”
“Suspension? No, nothing like that. The head maid praised how well she did the lady’s tasks.”
Other servants nodded in agreement.
Masa’s gaze darkened.
‘Again, it’s just my sister...’
As she thought that, servants pulled her along.
“Come quickly. Something huge came for you!”
“Huh?”
The servants led Masa toward a table.
There was an unwrapped box on it.
“What’s this?”
“It’s for you!”
Masa carefully opened the box.
“Wow...!”
It was a bright yellow beautiful dress.
With puffy sleeves and pretty lace on the hem like a noble lady’s.
There was also a fancy bonnet.
“W-what is this?”
“There’s a letter, too!”
The envelope had a dried flower attached and smelled pleasantly like perfume.
Masa opened the letter.
[Today’s events were truly regrettable. I apologize.
I did not know you were a friend of a noble and acted thoughtlessly.
P.S. We hold tea parties every Sunday. If you’re willing, please come wearing this dress.
—Blossom Rochefange]
Blossom Rochefange was the twin-tailed girl seen at the Wonhwa’s patronage.
‘N-Nobles invited me?’
The servants who saw the letter with Masa gasped.