MAS 05

-chapter 5-

“Milady? Why… aren’t you going to the dining hall?”

Mary asked as I turned back instead of heading to the dining hall.

Seeing Mary, my only ally, I relaxed, but a sense of frustration quickly welled up inside me.

“Mary…”

Tears threatening to spill, I recounted everything that had just happened to me.

“So that’s what happened,” Mary said, nodding after hearing my story.

“You made a mistake, Milady.”

Her words were somewhat shocking.

“Why?”

“If I’m right, that maid… she’s the butler’s daughter.”

Twice the shock hit me, and my mouth fell open.

“The maid is the butler’s daughter?”

“Yes. She has chestnut hair down to her back and a beauty mark by her nose, right? And her eyes are sharp and intense.”

Exactly the same as the woman who had been giving me that fierce smile.

“That’s right.”

Mary sighed deeply.

“Elga is well-known within the mansion. The butler, who had no children for a long time, was overjoyed when he finally had a daughter and spoiled her greatly. So her personality… well, it’s a bit…”

I didn’t need to hear more to understand.

A person bold enough to openly insult their master in the hallway must have grown up like that.

“So… those two are father and daughter?”

I pondered the images of Elga and the butler in my mind.

My eyes widened slowly in realization.

“How could I not have noticed!”

Their strikingly similar features made it obvious they were related.

“No… no matter what… hm. Never mind.”

Yes. What difference would blaming someone make when I had no power?

“Milady, the butler has been loyal to Ashitria his entire life. Because of that loyalty, he may not seem to favor you at first, but over time, his perception will change. After all, you are a lovely person,” Mary said, gently stroking my hair.

I felt a sting in my nose.

“Mary…!”

“So, you can’t forget me when you go back, okay? My dream is to become head maid,” she added.

My sparkling eyes instantly dimmed.

That cursed mouth of hers! She just had to ruin it with one extra comment.

‘But…’

“Still, thank you. You helped me make up my mind.”

“Oh, so you’ve decided to make me head maid?”

Mary’s cheerful remark made it impossible for me to lie, even politely.

‘Sorry, Mary, but my plan isn’t to become influential here—it’s to leave as soon as possible.’

I wanted to get away from the butler and Elga as quickly as possible.

I had no desire for their approval, nor to take revenge for what happened today.

I just wanted to avoid seeing them.

But a few days later, strange rumors began circulating within the mansion.

The rumor was that Elga had been expelled from the mansion.

“Milady! Have you heard the rumor?”

“What rumor?”

“They say Elga hasn’t been seen in the past few days.”

I looked up from my book, responding calmly to Mary’s excitement.

“Maybe she went on vacation.”

Although I didn’t fully acknowledge how strange the mansion was, thinking about that day still left me uneasy.

“Pfft, if it were nothing, would I even bother telling you?”

Mary glanced around the empty room before leaning close and whispering in my ear.

“There’s someone named Yuri, my colleague. She shares a room with Elga. After talking with the butler, Elga supposedly sulked and packed her things.”

Even I, who initially didn’t want to listen, became engrossed in Mary’s exciting account.

“Since that day, Elga hasn’t been seen in the mansion.”

“So, she was expelled?”

“That’s what the rumor says.”

“Why?”

“Well… I’m not sure,” Mary shrugged, though something felt off.

“If Ken is around, would Elga really be expelled?”

Ken was the butler’s name.

Mary thought for a moment, then her eyes lit up.

“Maybe the butler realized Elga went too far and decided to punish her? You know, the master even said something that time!”

“Hm.”

But Cideron only said one word. Could the butler, despite his loyalty, really expel his daughter just because of the master’s comment?

Mary, sensing my doubt, added:

“Oh! And the butler hasn’t been seen much since yesterday either! Something must be happening, right?”

Whatever happens between them is none of my concern. I wasn’t particularly interested.

But Mary’s intentions seemed to lie elsewhere.

“Why don’t you take this opportunity to go outside a bit? Don’t stay cooped up in your room! The weather’s so nice!”

She opened the curtains with a flourish.

The natural sunlight was dazzling, unlike the artificial lamps, and I shielded my face with my book.

“Ah! Mary! Don’t open the curtains so suddenly!”

“Milady… you really look like…”

“Look like what?”

“A monster.”

I frowned at her comment. I expected her to say I looked like a recluse or a zombie, but a monster?

‘Ah, right. They wouldn’t use those terms here.’

So she called me a monster instead?

‘Just different terminology, but people are basically the same everywhere.’

I chuckled at my own thoughts, closed my book, and stood up.

“Oh, you really plan to go out?”

“You said we’d go out, right?”

Come to think of it, since arriving here, I had only gone between my room and the dining hall; I hadn’t seen the garden properly.

Seeing my hesitation, Mary’s eyes sparkled.

“Milady!”

“What’s with that expression?”

“Actually, I’ve always wanted to have a picnic in the garden.”

Oh, really?

Even if I felt comfortable with her as a younger sister, she was being way too honest about her feelings.

Not that I disliked it.

‘Right. Staying in my room all the time isn’t helping anyone anyway. I might as well go!’

Resolving to step out, I followed Mary to the garden.

“Milady, look at these flowers.”

I turned to see tall trees cascading with purple blossoms, and tilted my head.

“Flowers?”

“I think so. Isn’t it amazing? The flowers hang upside down from the tree.”

Mary’s excited expression made me nod, even though I didn’t find it particularly surprising.

Since she was so happy, I didn’t want to ruin it.

‘Is Mary three years older than me?’

But including her age before possession, she was still much younger than me.

‘No wonder she feels like a little sister.’

I smiled at the thought of how ridiculous she would find that.

The wind carried the scent of flowers, calming my restless thoughts.

‘Actually, this isn’t so bad…’

As I closed my eyes and enjoyed the warm sunlight, someone spoke.

“Those are wisteria flowers.”

Turning, I saw a kindly-looking elderly man.

Uh… who is this?

I frowned, and he laughed heartily.

“Oh, Milady, you don’t know me, do you? I’m Melton, and I’ve been managing this mansion’s garden for 32 years.”

“Oh… hello.”

I instinctively bowed, but Mary tapped my shoulder as a signal.

Ah, right. I shouldn’t be doing that.

‘Still, asking me to speak casually to an elder, even being from a country of strict etiquette, is… not easy.’

“Do you like the flowers?”

“Um… I was just looking at them.”

Mary signaled again, so I cleared my throat and corrected myself.

“They’re just… interesting trees.”

“The wisteria flower symbolizes welcome. See how they sway in the wind? It’s as if they’re greeting you, Milady.”

Looking at the flowers, their long, upside-down blooms did resemble arms, and I felt, as Melton said, as if they were waving at me.

I scratched my cheek.

“Is that so…”

“Yes, it’s proof the mansion welcomes you.”

Melton smiled kindly.

It was a bit exaggerated, like reading a fairytale to a child, but it wasn’t unpleasant.

‘Maybe because my body is young, this kind of thing works on me.’

I decided to enjoy the moment.

If I’m physically young, I might as well indulge in this innocence.

“Now that you mention it, it does seem that way.”

“If you’re curious about any flowers, feel free to ask Melton anytime.”

He then went off to tend the garden.

Watching him leave, Mary leaned close and asked slyly:

“He’s a nice person, isn’t he?”

“Uh… yes…”

“Oh my, your cheeks are red.”

“Quiet.”

Mary really couldn’t hold her tongue.

‘But… are my cheeks really that red?’

I secretly touched my cheeks—they were warm.

Interesting. Maybe it’s because I’m like a child again.

“The view here is nice, shall we eat soon?”

After exploring two more spots in the garden, Mary asked, and I widened my eyes.

“Already?”

“Yes! There’s a saying that even the Harcia Mountains are better after a meal, isn’t there?”

…Like Geumgangsan, maybe?

‘Different terms, but people think the same everywhere.’

I smiled at the thought.

“Alright.”

Mary seemed hungry and, with a serious expression, surveyed the area before spreading a picnic blanket on the soft grass.

She set down the basket she’d been carrying and began taking out various items.

Juices made from fresh fruit, sandwiches, bread, butter, jam, and more. Typical picnic fare laid out neatly on the blanket.

Wow…

Everything looks delicious. Is this what money tastes like?

‘But…’

“Can we eat all this?”

“Hehe. I just put a little of everything in, so there’s quite a lot. If there’s any left, that’s fine.”

Was she usually starving or something?