Chapter – 34
Ruby’s voice turned sharp.
“Why are you curious about that?”
She answered pointedly, clearly implying that the subject should be dropped.
But her younger sister, Beth, did not back down.
“Is it strange for a younger sister to be curious about the kind of person her big sister has to serve every day?”
On the surface, there was nothing wrong with the question.
From a younger sister’s perspective, it was natural to be curious about her sister’s workplace.
The only problem was…
Ruby had not told her that she had been reassigned to the Almond Palace.
And that was a very big problem.
[Medium] Report in detail to Head Maid Mrs. Watch who approaches the Almond Palace and what conversations are exchanged.
If someone showed curiosity about the Almond Palace, should everyone who approached her—no matter where—be considered a “subject for reporting”?
It was a meaningless question.
Ruby already knew the answer better than anyone.
Of course they should be.
“…Could she be an Owl too?”
Was Beth testing her as part of an Owl mission?
Was she checking whether Ruby was prioritizing her mission above all else?
It wasn’t entirely impossible.
Owls did not know one another’s identities, and Beth had grown up singing about following her sister to work at the imperial palace someday.
‘Right. Lady Asha is extremely important. Procedures like this might be necessary.’
But she couldn’t ask her sister outright if she was an Owl.
Owls were forbidden from revealing their identities, and in the worst case…
Ruby didn’t even want to think about it, but her sister might not be an Owl at all.
Moistening her dry lips, Ruby answered carefully.
“She’s pure and kind-hearted. She treats the maids well, so don’t worry about it and just focus on preparing for academy admission.”
Before Beth could press further, Ruby fled the house as if escaping.
Behind her, Beth shouted, “Weren’t you here to get something?”
But selling the sapphire wasn’t the issue right now.
Ruby ran so frantically she didn’t even remember how she got there, and when she finally came to her senses, she was already standing before the southern gate of the imperial palace.
As soon as the meal ended, Alesto brought out the navy velvet box he had prepared.
The Saint’s eyes widened instantly.
“For me?”
When he nodded, she carefully opened it.
Inside was a set of pink diamond jewelry, cut in teardrop shapes.
The previous evening, he had forced time into his schedule to visit a jeweler and painstakingly choose the design.
Thankfully, it had been worth it.
The Saint’s eyes sparkled the moment she saw the jewels.
Alesto extended his hand toward her as she held the necklace up to the sunlight.
“Allow me to help you put it on.”
Naturally, she nodded readily, and he suppressed a triumphant smile.
His plan to win the Saint’s heart was still in effect.
To use her power whenever he wished, simple favor and a promise of marriage were not enough.
He wanted something deeper—love.
How does one turn affection into love?
By continuously creating moments of excitement.
And what was the best way to stir a fluttering heart?
Naturally, by closing the physical distance.
Thus, one of his strategies was this—personally fastening the necklace.
Not merely hooking the clasp from behind, but doing so face-to-face, close enough for them to feel each other’s breath.
Of course, he must not appear frivolous, nor give the impression of taking her lightly.
He carefully filtered out any trace of clinginess or leering.
Then, holding the necklace, he stepped closer to her.
For this moment, he had prepared a masculine yet refreshing soap scent.
He had also dressed in a three-piece suit that accentuated his firm physique.
In short, he had dressed to exude masculinity.
Alesto wrapped his arms around the back of her neck, almost as though embracing her.
When he deliberately moved dangerously close—
‘…What is this?’
A soft fragrance he had never encountered before tickled his nose.
Softer than warm milk, more fragrant than freesia.
He instinctively knew where it came from.
The Saint’s pale nape.
‘Is this… the natural scent of skin people talk about?’
Unable to control his gaze, he noticed the fine, downy hairs on her skin.
“Is it difficult?”
Alesto realized he had unconsciously taken a deep breath and snapped back to his senses.
“It’s done.”
He quickly fastened the clasp and stepped back, pretending nonchalance as he subtly examined her expression.
Slightly flushed cheeks.
A faintly heated look.
Was she feeling shy?
With her head slightly bowed, she fiddled with the necklace at her fingertips.
By all appearances, the plan had been a complete success.
Alesto said nothing for a while, and an awkward silence filled the space.
Strangely enough, he made no effort to break it.
Unexpectedly, this moment—where they both looked elsewhere, pretending indifference—felt rather pleasant.
Something in his chest tingled faintly.
After returning to Blossom,
Ruby hesitated for a long time before going to see Mrs. Watch.
She had no idea how to report the incident.
But she couldn’t avoid it forever, and eventually she knocked on the head maid’s chamber door.
Head Maid Mrs. Watch placed the documents she had been reviewing into a drawer and shut it with a sharp click.
She observed Ruby’s stiff posture and slowly spoke.
“Report.”
Tense, Ruby carefully chose her words one by one.
She did her utmost to describe her sister not as someone approaching the Almond Palace, but merely as a childish girl curious about her older sister’s workplace.
She emphasized that it had been a very brief conversation.
“Though it was nothing more than a trivial exchange between sisters, the words ‘Almond Palace’ were mentioned during the conversation, so I am reporting it just in case. That is all.”
After listening silently, Mrs. Watch asked in a dry tone,
“Who ended the conversation? Miss Beth? Or did you cut it off unilaterally, Miss Ruby?”
Ruby’s throat bobbed.
“It ended naturally. Lady Asha was about to return from her tea gathering, so I was in a hurry. And my sister was in the middle of shaking out bedding…”
When Ruby trailed off, Mrs. Watch nodded.
“Understood. You may go.”
Ruby bowed out of habit, then paused before leaving and carefully spoke again.
“I understand the unwritten rule that an Owl must never reveal their identity, but… is Beth perhaps… an Owl?”
Mrs. Watch nodded as though she understood Ruby’s heart.
“I understand. One’s heart inevitably softens before family.”
Encouraged by her gentle tone, Ruby was about to speak when—
“But an Owl entrusted with the [Crown] mission cannot waver. You must not be shaken. Not even by the death of your family.”
“….”
“Miss Ruby, choose now. Will you abandon your mission, or will you continue? I will answer your question afterward.”
The head maid presented her with two choices.
Abandon the mission, or continue it.
On the surface, it sounded considerate.
But it was anything but.
Even a hatchling-gray Owl knew the truth:
There were only two ways to leave the [Crown] mission.
Complete it.
Or die.
If she said she would abandon it now, she would likely be found somewhere in the form of Mr. Perel.
In truth, there was no real choice.
Since the moment she accepted the [Crown] mission, Ruby had never had a choice.
“I will continue.”
Mrs. Watch’s gaze sharpened.
“Can you remain unwavering?”
Even in the face of your family’s death?
Ruby thought of the younger siblings she was responsible for.
Beth was not the only one. There were three more.
Sadly, it felt as though Beth’s fate was no longer in her hands.
Ruby quietly took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.
“Yes. I will continue.”
Upon hearing her final answer, Mrs. Watch also let out a quiet sigh.
Then she answered Ruby’s question.
But it was not the answer Ruby had hoped for.
“Miss Beth is not an Owl.”
Ruby stared at Mrs. Watch in silence for a long moment before quietly leaving the head maid’s chamber.
