Chapter 76

76.

The servants huddled around the chef were all depressed. The expression of the head cook, who was listening to a maid with his arms crossed, seriously stiffened. “Leah, you too?”

“Chef, you too..?”

“Yes. It happened yesterday too,” he nodded stiffly and recalled the night before. “Madam complimented on how delicious the croaker I cooked for her was.”

“What?”

“This was the twelfth time!”

“How even...”

At the word twelfth, the servants were all in shock. Starting with the head cook’s words, they all began to unravel what they had experienced.

“Come to think of it, she told me she liked the shoes I brought her and asked me to do it again next time.”

“Anna, you too? While I was tending to Madam today, she said the hair ornament I brought her was pretty—”

“Me too, me too! She said that the cake I baked was delicious and asked me to bake it often!”

“Is that all? I was cleaning the window frame and the lady said ‘It’s not good to overdo it, so why don’t you take a rest the next day?’ I was just cleaning the window frames!”

Various anecdotes were poured out. One of them sighed as if he had run into an impasse, “There must be something wrong.”

“I’ve already asked her to consult a doctor...” Anna shook her head, muffling her words.

“What are you all doing here?”

Lianne came in humming a tune. However, her steps faltered due to the tense gazes directed toward her.

“Wh-what?”

“You know why, right?”

“...Know what?”

Lianne unconsciously took half a step back at Anna’s seemingly argumentative tone. She just came to get Ercella some snacks and did not expect this sudden misfortune. With a swift move, the head cook grabbed Lianne who was slowly shrinking away. “Tell me, Lianne!”

But, what?!

With his chest pounding in frustration, the head cook’s eyes urged her to speak quickly, as he quickly sighed and asked, “I want to know why Madam has become strange these days.”

“...Sorry?” Lianne asked back puzzled.

‘Madam? Strange?’

The only madam she knew was Ercella, but strange..? Sure she is weird sometimes, but it’s never to the point of being outrightly strange.

Lianne’s lips were quivering at the absurdity of it; regardless, Anna vigorously shook Lianne’s arm as if urging for an answer. “Sister, something is really strange. You and Beth used to be Madam’s only personal attendants, but these days, she takes turns ordering all the maids. How come?”

“...Isn’t that a good thing?”

“It is good, really good! But how could she just change overnight!”

“That’s right! She even calls out our names one by one!”

Nod, nod. Eight heads bobbed up and down like waves in agreement.

“Perhaps, has she become cr— s-sick?!”

“You were trying to say she’s become crazy, weren’t you?”

“Me? When?”

At Lianne catching her backbiting, Anna shook her head desperately. Isn’t it blasphemous to say such a thing about your master? If the butler or maid caught me, I would not be able to avoid danger.

“Anyway, it’s true that she has changed lately. We want to know why.” The head cook stealthily diverted the conversation, siding with Anna.

“I thought if I should inform the Master, but... I’m being careful since it’s a sensitive issue.”

“No, why is it always the same old story?”

“Huh? What do—”

“It’s not like Madam suddenly turned kind after having had an awful personality.”

“I mean she was always kind but...”

Flustered due to her endlessly burning cheeks, Ercella supported her chin with both her hands, unintentionally making a flower cup, she mumbled, “Still, it’s best if he doesn’t go to these wars. After all, that’s why he gets hurt so much.”

“You seem to like him a lot.”

“I like him. I really do.” Ercella strongly affirmed, and suddenly expressed her concern, “That’s why I feel like I’m not good enough. Compared to my husband, I don’t even know what I’m good at...”

“Oh, didn’t you decide not to say that?”

“Still,” Ercella grumbled and bit the snack on the table. Chewing it, a savory scent wafted in her mouth, yet Ercella was dissatisfied with the snack that suited her taste.

Why does the chef make it so delicious that I can’t stop my hand from picking it up? As she mumbled while chewing, she suddenly felt embarrassed realizing her imprudent attitude toward Leory.

“I...I wonder if I was being too casual in front of you, teacher.”

I guess I got a bit attached to Leory after talking about this and that with her. Look at my unbecoming behavior, just because we’ve gotten a little closer. Maybe it’s because I didn’t participate in that little tea party. In the past, when I didn’t have a friend I used to just ramble to myself.

“I don’t mind if you treat me intimately. And in my opinion, it’s nothing to rebuke someone for. You’re doing great.”

“How much?” Ercella’s eyes bent mischievously at the recurring praise. She asked back, half playfully and half curiously.

“What do you think my rank would be if I entered Gracivan?”

Ercella started with the premise that she would enter Gracivan in the first place. Is it because the teacher praised me so much? She would forget about her shyness and sometimes even act a little smug. Am I that good? Sometimes when she was drunk on arrogance, she’d often brag to Harsen. However, his reaction of listening to her quietly and smiling once in a while wasn’t very amusing.

“Uh...”

Leory hesitated, her gaze indistinct, “Ninth place?”

“In class?!” cried Ercella in delight. In the whole school, of course, that would not happen, so she thought the ranking would be in the class. But that alone was something. It was a place where talented people from all over the country gathered!

However, Leory’s gaze was as intense as an earthquake and a raging typhoon, making Ercella wonder. “No, in the school, but...”

“...”

“...should I say from behind?”

If you’re behind, you’re behind. What else could behind mean? At her dumbfounded blinks, Leory spared no excuses, “It’s Gracivan, Your Grace.”

Did I get ahead of myself? She was being generous by saying ninth place from behind. Placing her hand on her chest, Ercella thought, ugh, no wonder my heart hurts.

* * *

Her lively stroll stopped at the sight of the boy in front of her.

“Are you going to the study?” Ercella pointed at the books held by Vicente. He had about six thick books in his hand.

“Yes,” Vicente answered half-heartedly, trying to brush past Ercella. However, he had no choice but to stop soon as Ercella had blocked his way. Vicente’s mouth twitched slightly, yet Ercella feigned ignorance and held out her hands with a bright face, “Isn’t it heavy? Let me carry them.”

He paused for a moment, taking a look at her lively appearance. “No need.”

In response, Ercella retraced her arm, saying, “Really?” She knew that even if she insisted further, she would hear only rejection.

“Then, shall we go to the study together? I happen to have some business there, too.”

“Sure.”

Since she found out his destination anyway, Vicente could not prevent Ercella from chasing after him. They headed to the study, without him realizing that he was keeping pace with Ercella’s walking speed. At that moment, Ercella’s gaze fell on the book Vicente was holding.

“Ludelsian, huh. Isn’t it difficult?”

“...It’s doable.”

“Well, I’m good at it. Would you like my help if it’s too difficult?”

Vicente stared at Ercella without answering. No wonder...

“You seem to be in a good mood.”

“Of course. I’m going to the study with you.”

Her casual tone stopped him in his tracks without realizing it. Ercella, who was humming a tune, noticed it and turned around. He saw her tilt her head slightly.

“Vicente?”

Since when?

“...Nothing.”

I got used to that voice calling my name.

He moved, trying to shake off the vague feeling that was pouring in.