Chapter 73

By the time we arrived at the capital and the Duke’s mansion near the imperial castle, it was already around the time the red sunset had disappeared.

First, everyone washed up and finished eating.

The room I would stay in at the capital was the last one on the second floor. The room with the largest window in the mansion. The night view of the capital and the imperial palace were visible from that window.

After looking around for a long time in the unfamiliar landscape different from the Duke’s residence, my body was tired so I headed to the bed. As I laid down on the bed, Jane, who was tidying up my belongings next to me, asked me.

“Miss, do you think the bed is okay?”

“It’s good.”

It’s less than the usual bed, but in the first place, I wasn’t one to be picky about sleeping places.

In my previous life, I slept on a bed in the hospital or in a chair for guardians, and I even slept in a hard and cold storage room on a winter day… So which was worse?

As I immersed my face in the soft pillow, I felt the soft cloth wrap around my face.

“Miss!”

Jane hurried over and laid me right down. Anyone who saw it would think that I was about to hit my head on the pillow and die… I laid down facing the ceiling as Jane wanted, pulling the blanket up to my neck.

“Jane.”

“Yes, Miss.”

“Do you want to sleep with me?”

“What??”

Jane’s room was a small room attached to mine.

The house in the capital was also large, but not to the extent that there was a separate building for the servants to stay. Jane tipped off that the servants’ rooms were on the first floor beyond the dining room.

For this reason, it seemed that the exclusive maids or exclusive servants, like Jane, lived in a room connected to the room of their superior.

Living in the next room to my boss was terrifying to imagine.

But now I wanted to offer something more stupendous than that? Jane blinked her eyes in bewilderment.

Well, anyway, this didn’t sound right.

I opened my mouth to withdraw my words, but Jane’s mouth, which had been closed in embarrassment, opened first.

“I would love to, Miss! But why?”

No, wasn’t she a little embarrassed?

But despite my thoughts, Jane hurried to her room and was grabbing a pillow.

“It’s just…”

Jane tilted her head and, as if coming to her own conclusion, raised the corners of her mouth and approached the bed.

I gave Jane a comfortable spot, and Jane turned off all the lights in the room and lay down in the spot I gave her.

“Miss, are you really looking forward to the National Foundation Ball?”

“Uh, what…”

I replied, rubbing my tired eyes.

“However, I think the Miss would prefer the festival to the ball for some reason.”

Wrong, Jane. I didn’t like either very much.

However, not wanting to spoil her mood, as she was babbling with excitement, I roughly agreed.

“Yeah, I want to go to the festival.”

“Right? At the festival, street plays are held, and food is sold here and there. Also, when music comes on in the middle, everyone quits their thing and dances on the spot, you don’t know how exciting it is.”

Wow. It was full of personality.

I felt like I was at a festival because Jane was so lively with her words.

“Then, the fireworks explode at night. Oh, you can see it from here in the mansion.”

“You must have had a lot of fun.”

When I asked quietly, Jane, who was soaked in merriment, lowered her voice and answered.

She must have noticed that I was a little sleepy. It was a little pitiful to see such an excited child looking at me.

“Yes. The last time I went was two years ago, but… It was a lot of fun.”

“Then let’s go together.”

“What? Really… Go together?”

Jane asked in disbelief.

“Yes. I’m only going to attend the ball the day after tomorrow anyway. So let’s go to the festival together on the second day.”

The ball was to be held for three days. Of course, I didn’t intend to attend everything, and my family said yes.

“Yes, Miss. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Even in the dark, I felt like I could catch a glimpse of Jane’s smiling face. As if Jane had never talked so excitedly, she soon fell into a sound sleep.

I could see her chest rising and falling with the sound of breathing.

I slowly got up and approached the door to the room where Jane was supposed to stay. I hesitated a little in front of the tightly closed door and put my hand on the doorknob.

It was cold.

I didn’t know if this was really the temperature I felt in my hand, but the feeling of coolness started at my fingertips and spread to my toes.

Just like holding the doorknob of the storage room where I stayed in my previous life.

It reminded me of the warehouse room in the corner of that large house… This small room that was attached to the spacious room irritated my nerves.

I didn’t want to put Jane to sleep in a room like this. The room would be too cold for a person to sleep in. Of course, that was just in my past and now this room must’ve been filled with warmth. I knew that, but I didn’t like it anyway.

It may have been more like that because seeing Jane strangely suddenly reminded me of Eunji.

With Eunji’s age, small height and slim body. If Eunji had been a healthy child, wouldn’t she have grown up to be this kind of person? The child I thought of was Jane.

I removed my hand in the same slow motion as when I raised my hand and went back to the bed and laid myself down. Jane didn’t even notice I got out of bed and stayed asleep. I looked at Jane and closed my eyes.

Peaceful and dark memories. I felt like I was standing precariously on the line between them.

But one thing was for sure, I was now turning my back on the dark memories.

Yes, that was all for now. Right, Eunji? I groped my left arm with my right hand. A very faint scar was there.

***

The morning of the party day dawned.

Yesterday, I focused only on relieving the fatigue that had accumulated all day.

My family also spent the day lightly checking donations, donation items, and gifts.

In the first place, we came to the capital three days ago to spend such a leisurely time, so I achieved my goal.

And today, as if yesterday’s leisure became a dream, another turbulent day began.

“Miss, is the water at the right temperature?”

A young maid asked, stiffening her body. The other maids around had the same tense expressions.

People from the main family knew that my personality had calmed down and treated me comfortably, but it seemed that the capital’s people did not know yet.

It had been a long time since I had seen people like this. It was a new feeling.

I responded with a nod, and only then did the young maid let out a small breath, as if her tension had been relieved.

Bathing during party days was a real headache. It took more than twice as long as the other days, and was done with scented oil that was so strong that my head hurt.

Intoxicated with the strong scent of lavender, I closed my eyes, and the quick-witted Jane wiped my face with a wet towel.

“Does your head hurt?”

“A little.”

Jane put something like a thin cotton cloth over my face. I patted my aching head in admiration for Jane’s quick sense.

I hoped that this horrible bath time would be over soon.

Eventually, the bath was over, but the bath was only the beginning. Unconsciously, I swallowed a gulp at the huge number of accessories and cosmetics that were hanging in front of my eyes.

Wow, could this all be done today?

“Hmm, blue accessories would be nice to match the blue dress, right?”

“Do whatever you want.”

“Then this and this. Also, since the dress is gorgeous, it would be nice to have a little fancy makeup.”

However, despite my worries, the dressing time went by unexpectedly. It was thanks to Jane, my strong supporter.

Contrary to my half-dazed eye, Jane picked things out quickly, and yet she did a good job. Thanks to that, I had nothing to do but just sit there. As I sat quietly, the other maids seemed much more at ease.

Well… Once I went back to the estate, I would have to feed Jane lots of delicious things. No, I had to go to the festival tomorrow and buy her a lot of delicious things.

As if recognizing my thoughts, Jane met my eyes through the mirror and smiled.

She was so refreshing.

Thanks to Jane, the makeup was finished earlier than expected, and I took a break in my room alone with Jane. I couldn’t eat anything, so I just stared out the window, resting my chin.

Jane, who was quietly watching out of the window following me, glanced at me.

“What’s wrong?”

When I asked why, Jane blinked her eyes and shyly raised the corners of her mouth.

“I’m looking forward to hearing about the imperial ball. It’s the imperial palace! How fancy will it be?”

She was so cute that she blinked her eyes like a shy child in anticipation.

Jane was just 18 years old.

Well, she was at an age where she would fantasize about princes and castles. It was like when kids this age saw celebrities and fell into fantasies.

“I’ll buy you a souvenir.”

“…They don’t sell souvenirs there.”

There was a moment of silence. The high-pitched voice, steeped in fantasy, quickly returned to its original position. Why did she take jokes seriously?

“Then I’ll bring snacks in my pocket.”

“Please.”

A more serious answer came back.

Her expression was also serious. Did I really look like someone who will come with snacks in my pocket?

But even if I think about it, somehow it seemed possible… As I seriously thought about my identity. I stared blankly out the window, the hands of the clock pointed to 4:50 before I knew it. Now I had to get up and go down.

As gorgeous as the dress was, it seemed like I would need some help from the others to walk down the stairs.

Jane decided to call more maids and left the room. I was sitting in my room waiting for people, and soon I heard a knock on the door.

There’s no way Jane would come back so quickly…

“Miss, this is Aiden.”

It wasn’t Jane who knocked on the door. I got up and walked slowly towards the door. The sound of clattering heels echoed through the room.

On my way to the door, I saw my reflection in a large mirror.

A gorgeous blue dress, half-up hair and darker makeup than usual.

It was a beautiful look that made me gasp even when I saw it.

I stopped for a moment to look in the mirror, then put the slightly twisted necklace back into place. The transparent diamond reflected the light and flashed along.

“Come in.”

As I gave permission, the doorknob turned. Beyond the open door stood Aiden, neatly dressed in a cream-colored tailcoat.