Chapter – 09
The maid looked back and forth between the jar in her hand and Rosanne with a bewildered expression.
The atmosphere was such that if she didn’t open the lid, she would seem like an incompetent maid.
Thinking something was strange, she tried to put strength into opening the lid.
“Huh?”
She was usually confident in her hand strength from handling all sorts of things, but something was off.
“Why won’t it open?”
She exerted all her strength, her fingers trembling, but the lid didn’t budge. Her face flushed bright red from the effort.
“…Having trouble?”
Rosanne looked at her pityingly. That kind of look, however, somehow felt provocative, spurring the maid’s competitive spirit.
“No, of course not!”
Rosanne had opened and closed this jar before. How tightly could it have been closed by such a scrawny wrist?
The maid twisted her body backward, putting every ounce of strength into it. Yet still, the lid stayed in place.
Reading the situation, other maids subtly approached to help, but the jar wouldn’t open.
“The bread is going to get cold. Just give it to me.”
Rosanne sighed and flicked her palm. The jar lid that no one had been able to open finally popped open easily with a cheerful “click!”
“…!!”
“You’d better work on your strength first. With hands that weak, how do you expect to handle your work?”
Rosanne said sincerely, spreading jam on her bread with a knife and taking a bite.
Even if the bread wasn’t hot, she was perfectly content.
After all, during the war, hoping for delicious food was a luxury. What she had eaten until now was dried horse meat caked in dirt, stews made by throwing anything edible into a pot, or thin, dried fish.
After slathering the bread with jam and finishing it cleanly, Rosanne stood up.
“Even if the bread is cold, it’s delicious. Good work.”
“…!”
The maids were startled and quickly bowed.
Of course, cold bread wouldn’t taste good. And bringing it wasn’t an accomplishment worth praise.
So her words sounded like she was scolding them for bringing cold bread, but somehow it wasn’t entirely a reproach.
Rosanne’s demeanor was subtly different from before.
“I’m full. I should go for a walk. Can you handle the cleanup?”
She looked at the maids with half-relaxed eyes, the warm weather and full stomach making her feel sleepy, as if someone had sprinkled sleep dust on her.
“Yes, yes!”
But the maids’ expressions were different. Their slightly softened yet still cold faces seemed to say, “You brought cold bread and couldn’t even open a jar, but cleaning up is still doable, right?”
“We’ll take care of it, miss.”
The maids bowed. The unexpected civility made Rosanne wobble slightly as she exited into the greenhouse.
Walking through the beautifully arranged garden of the mansion was genuinely enjoyable.
When Rosanne had first mentioned walking in the garden, everyone had panicked, insisting she must take a carriage.
The garden was too large to walk, they said, and it would be a waste of time.
But Rosanne walked a little each day. She thought it a shame that, while the garden was so beautifully maintained, all visitors used carriages—and even the duke used one. Who would truly appreciate it if no one walked?
“Walking a little each day will also improve my stamina.”
Rosanne strolled with her hands clasped behind her back, appreciating the beautifully cultivated garden.
Then, under a large tree, she heard the faint flapping of wings.
It was so faint that no one else would notice, but Rosanne could hear it clearly.
She approached the tree where the flapping came from.
“…Oh dear.”
Under the tree struggled a small, flightless fledgling.
Rosanne crouched and looked up. The tree was dizzyingly tall, and partway up was the nest.
The parent bird was flying around frantically, searching for the fledgling.
“It must have fallen from the nest.”
Rosanne placed the tiny bird gently in her right hand. It seemed uninjured despite the fall.
“Perfect timing; I needed a bit of exercise after a full meal.”
She lightly tapped her legs and stepped back, assessing where she could climb.
“I’ll get you back safely. Don’t be afraid.”
With a light spring, Rosanne leapt onto the tree, grabbing a branch with her left hand, then leapt upward again.
Her agility and strength remained excellent, though her external defenses were still lacking, so she had to move carefully to avoid injury.
Her palms were slightly scraped, causing a faint sting, but nothing serious.
After a few leaps, she reached the nest.
“Here we go.”
She gently placed the fledgling into the nest. The bird immediately chirped loudly.
Hearing the cries, the parent bird returned to the nest.
“Don’t worry. It’s safe.”
Rosanne reassured the parent bird before descending carefully. Birds are wary of humans, after all.
Halfway down, she paused on a sturdy branch to take in the view.
“…It’s beautiful.”
The view from the tall tree was breathtaking.
“…This is the land I’ve protected.”
All of this beauty had been safeguarded by her own hands.
Her chest tightened.
Perhaps because it was so beautiful, perhaps because she was only now seeing the land she had protected, or maybe because she was grateful to see it even now—whatever the reason, her breath trembled.
Her vision blurred slightly.
“No one… will look for me.”
Even if she stayed here for hours, no one would force her away.
She felt free, like the little bird she had just rescued, flying without constraint.
At that moment, a voice called out:
“…Miss! Come down!”
“Miss! How did you get up there? Please come down immediately!”
Rosanne lowered her arms, confused by the desperate cries from below.
She saw the maids at the base of the tree, their faces pale and terrified, staring up at her.
“Even if no one is looking for you, this is too much!”
“Miss! It’s dangerous!”
Apparently, there was still time to spare.
Rosanne leaned forward lazily, waving her hand.
“Don’t bother me. Just do your work.”
“Ahhhh! Miss! Don’t move!”
“What? Just now you said come down, and now you’re telling me not to move?”
“Come down! No! Don’t move!”
The maids shouted conflicting instructions, leaving Rosanne confused.
She tentatively stretched a leg outward to descend—and chaos erupted.
“Ahhhh!”
“Ahhhh!! Miss!!”
Amid the screams, Rosanne awkwardly returned to her previous branch.
Meanwhile, more people gathered below. Some held large blankets, spreading them wide.
Some maids even attempted to climb the tree, failing and falling.
Could it be…
Rosanne realized something was wrong after watching everyone fail miserably.
Normal people can’t climb this tree…?
Cold sweat ran down her spine.
When the seals were released, those she had fought alongside were brave knights and veterans of the battlefield. Even if not heroes, they were strong, capable of climbing such a tree easily.
If ordinary people can’t climb… where would they hide if chased? From wolf beasts, or enemy soldiers? Where would they strike from?
Of course, in reality, no one needed to worry about being chased or attacked.
“Rosanne!”
Duke Leilaten, rushing to report, looked utterly shocked. He ordered his escort knights to safely retrieve Rosanne.
Only after the knights intervened could Rosanne safely descend from the tree.
“Rosanne! What on earth is going on?!”
As she touched the ground, the maids exhaled in relief, and the duke seethed with anger.
“I issued a simple curfew, and you dare do this?!”
“Duke, please hear me out.”
“Were you trying to get yourself killed?!”
Rosanne looked at him, puzzled.
Why is he so angry?
