YSGD 5

Chapter 5

As if she had steeled herself for something, Betty squeezed her eyes shut and fired off her words like a battle cry. Then she cautiously cracked one eye open.

Letting out a long sigh, she continued.

“His Grace usually stays in the west tower where the study is, rather than in the main building. You’ll hardly ever run into him.”

“Then isn’t it fine?”

“Well… technically, yes, but… still, couldn’t you not go? You really don’t need to worry about me at all! It’d be a different story if it were the other way around, but—”

There was a trace of quiet concern on Betty’s face as she spoke.

For some reason, my chest felt oddly itchy.

Maybe because in my past life, I’d been the one taking care of others far more often than anyone ever took care of me.

Betty might not have been good with words, but I could vaguely feel her sincerity.

“You’re worried about me?”

When I smiled softly, Betty’s face turned as red as a tomato.

“N-no, not really…! I’ve only served you for a week, milady, and I don’t really know you, and you don’t really know me either…! Of course, when I first saw you I did think you looked just like a tiny white snow rabbit—very cute—but that was just for a moment, really…!”

“Mm.”

Once again, Betty began muttering things to herself that made no sense.

I quietly stood up, a small madeleine in my hand.

“Honestly, I’m small too, but milady… you’re small and so fragile. Somehow, I feel this protective instinct I’ve never felt toward anyone else—ugh!”

While Betty rambled on with her eyes glued to the floor, I popped my madeleine straight into her mouth.

Her eyes widened in shock, and her words cut off abruptly.

Seizing the moment, I spoke quickly.

“Thank you for worrying about me, Betty. Like you said, we don’t really know each other yet. That just means we can get to know each other from now on, right?”

“Mmgh…”

“I’m not as weak or soft as you think.”

“Mmh.”

“So let’s go. To the main building.”

Maybe it was because I sounded so firm.

The tension gradually drained from her wide eyes, replaced with resignation.

After swallowing the madeleine, Betty pouted.

“…Don’t blame me later!”

Inside the main building, in the sunniest room of all—

A woman was brushing her luxuriant golden hair before a vanity.

Pure white silk gloves covered her soft hands, and her slender wrists were adorned with large ornaments of pearls and sapphires.

Her dress, too, was made of a blue fabric that perfectly complemented the sapphires, shimmering in its own hue.

Delicate gold embroidery was sewn throughout.

“Mmm~”

Her upturned eyes brimmed with allure, paired with plump lips full of color.

In contrast, her smooth facial lines lent her a strangely captivating charm.

And that wasn’t all.

Her body was nothing but curves—

From her ample bosom to her impossibly slender waist, cinched tight by a corset and narrow enough to grasp with one hand.

Even to herself, the reflection in the mirror was stunningly beautiful.

As if…

“She looks like a Grand Duchess.”

Truly, the perfect image of a Grand Duchess.

“If only that woman didn’t exist.”

Crunch.

At the thought of that cursed woman, her vivid blue eyes flashed viciously.

A face that had seemed gentle just moments ago cracked instantly.

Grinding her teeth audibly, Katarina Hugo flung the hairbrush from her hand in irritation.

The room she occupied was the Grand Duchess’s chamber in the main residence of the ducal castle.

And yet, Katarina was not the Grand Duchess.

“Ha!”

How had things ended up like this?

Her resentment and fury naturally turned toward the one who had stolen what should have been hers.

Renée Blanche.

If that cursed bastard really did… seduce Xenos—

“No! Aah!”

Unable to contain the surge of anger, Katarina let out a shrill cry and panted heavily.

Just then—

“E-excuse me… Lady Katarina.”

“What is it? Don’t you knock?”

A maid’s voice came from the slightly open door.

As if forgetting that she herself wasn’t the rightful owner of this room, Katarina snapped irritably as she turned around.

The young maid bowed her head quickly, her face pale as a sheet.

For the past few days since Katarina arrived at the castle, her behavior had been atrocious.

Yet no one had been able to stop her.

“Did you see the carriage that young lady arrived in? Every decoration was made of real jewels!”

“They say she’s long connected to the imperial family. Apparently, she was originally meant to become the Grand Duchess…”

“She’s the precious only daughter of Count Hugo! Ever since their regional business hit it big, I heard even their toilets are plated with gold!”

“The Blanche Marquisate is famous too, but they say the Grand Duchess herself is an illegitimate child. In that case, they’re not even comparable.”

“Still… how did their positions get reversed?”

Indeed, Katarina’s arrival had been incomparably flamboyant compared to the Grand Duchess, who had arrived quietly and unnoticed.

Unlike someone who came riding in a pitiful cargo wagon with no one to greet her.

Katarina had entered proudly through the front gates of the Celeste ducal castle.

Though officially she had come as the new Grand Duchess’s companion and attendant, every servant in the castle knew the truth.

Someday, that woman will become the lady of Celeste.

That was why the young maid spoke in an even more trembling voice.

“I have something urgent to report to you, Lady Katarina… I-I’m sorry.”

“What is it?”

“The Grand Duchess has—”

“The Grand Duchess?”

Katarina’s brow instantly furrowed.

Gasp.

The maid hurriedly corrected herself.

In front of Katarina, the word Grand Duchess was forbidden unless it referred to Katarina herself.

“R-Renée… Lady Renée has come to the main building!”

“…What?”

The woman who had kept herself hidden away in the annex like she barely existed—why now?

All of a sudden?

“She j-just passed through the lobby…”

“Is she insane?”

Katarina sprang to her feet with an irritated motion.

Without responding further, she strode past the maid and marched down the corridor.

So now she wants to reclaim her place? How dare she forget her station!

Biting down on her plump lips, Katarina quickened her pace.

Her hand gripping the hem of her dress tightened, wrinkling the soft silk.

Standing atop the main staircase connected to the corridor, the lobby came fully into view.

And there—

“Where’s the library?”

That woman really was there.

Wearing a disgustingly innocent expression.

“….”

Contempt flickered unmistakably in Katarina’s blue eyes.

But then—she exhaled slowly and put on a cool smile.

“My goodness!”

She began descending the stairs gracefully.

Her voluminous dress, overflowing with lace and frills, fluttered cheerfully with each step.

In contrast, the small woman dressed worse than a maid simply stood there, staring blankly at her.

What? She’s even more pathetic than I thought. Nothing special at all.

To think she’d been wary of that annex all this time—it almost felt laughable now.

After all, Xenos hadn’t even given that woman the main residence.

Though he hadn’t given it to Katarina either—still, unlike Renée, who’d been pushed into an annex like an exile, Katarina had been assigned the largest room in the side wing next to the main building.

At first, sharing quarters with servants had wounded her pride—but…

Xenos clearly knew she openly came and went from the Grand Duchess’s chambers, yet he never once stopped her.

Which means… I won.

Drunk on a strange sense of victory, Katarina stopped in front of a pair of old, dust-stained shoes.

“I greet you, Your Grace, the Grand Duchess.”

With the most perfect etiquette imaginable, Katarina offered Renée her greeting.

Yet the foolish woman seemed not to know proper manners at all.

Renée merely nodded awkwardly and blinked several times.

“I am Katarina Hugo, sent as Your Grace’s personal attendant. I apologize for not greeting you sooner.”

“My attendant?”

At that moment, their gazes met directly.

Despite the unreadable atmosphere, the red eyes before her radiated a firm, unyielding will.