CH 74

A noble banquet could be said to be the face of the family. Therefore, it was common for the organizer to personally come out and supervise the process or to appoint a representative. However, there were no clear instructions, just throwing out the words, ‘Please decorate it with flowers.’ How should she interpret this?

In the first place, the fact that a high-ranking noble lady came to the commoner’s zone and ordered flowers for a banquet, even pointing at herself, was questionable.

They’ve never even mentioned that terrace. Hmm, well, is it like this? Do as you please and take responsibility for it…? Her gaze to the terrace on the second floor sharpened.

I’ll have to take care of myself. It didn’t feel right. Elusiana decided to be careful in case there would be a problem in the future. But she couldn’t back down now. Her scarlet eyes soon turned to the servant.

“Then, let’s start working,” Elusiana said and headed straight to the wagon.

As she disappeared from the hall, a woman with red hair appeared on the terrace on the second floor. The woman, Camilla, who raised one corner of her mouth at an angle, swept her red lips and murmured slowly.

“That person… she’s the person who stole something of mine.”

It wasn’t exactly what she expected, but that woman was more unattractive than she thought. Her face was quite cute, but her skinny body was hard to believe was Noel’s taste.

Camilla frowned slightly and quickly turned around. She had to prepare perfectly before she could greet the guest, even for her sweetie, who was into playing the white knight.

“Let’s give it a try, Noel.”

Whatever you do, you’ll be in my palm. Camilla smiled softly as she turned around.

* * *

Four coachmen, Noel, and Elusiana, who had brought the wagons, were able to move all the flower baskets to Louver Hall in an hour-long process.

“Thank you for your efforts. I got a little more from the contracted price, so I think I will be able to give you something simple to eat.”

“Hoho, thank you.”

“The pretty Lady has a very kind heart.”

“Please contact me if you have any work next time.”

“Yes, I’ll see you again.”

The coachmen returned with a smile when they heard they would be paid a higher amount. After they left, Elusiana watched the flowers piled up at the entrance and suppressed a sigh that was about to come out.

From now on, it was entirely up to her. Originally, she could have gotten help from the maids, but now no one was here except her and Noel.

It’s really too much. Are they really not sending anyone here? It seemed like she had been targeted by the lady here. It was unfair that she had been targeted without knowing when, where, or what she was doing at the time.

I hope this will end. There’s nothing more than this, right? Could it be that the purpose is to ruin our store?

Elusiana got goosebumps at that moment. She didn’t think it was a wild imagination.

Ugh, let’s try our best not to get complaints.

Elusiana glared at the flower basket with a grim look. Noel, who was watching the scene, approached her with a smile.

“Are you trying to kill them by staring at them like that?”

“What are you saying? We don’t have time, so bring those decorative pillars over there, there, and there. Ah! Leave half and bring me the rest.”

“Are you talking to me?”

“Then, who will do it?”

Noel flinched and looked at her. Before he knew it, Elusiana, whose hair was tied in a ponytail, was moving to the edge of the hall. He then looked around for someone, but somehow no one was there. It looks like they prepared in advance.

Noel smiled bitterly as he lifted the decorative pillar at his waist level. “You mean this, right?”

“You’re still standing there? Hurry up and come over here. After you move all the pillars, do you see the basket with white flowers there? Bring some of that over here too.”

“I-is this one?”

“Geez, don’t just talk. Move quickly!”

There was no difficulty in preparing. The flowers were guaranteed the highest quality as the potion came from Grand Duke Sestein. The degree of perfection was enhanced further thanks to the other items brought separately. The only flaw was that it took a lot of time. It was inevitable because they lacked hands.

Noel was quite helpful though. He only grumbled at first, but he could leave quite a bit of free time until the banquet began because he was in a hurry as if it was really his job.

Finally, Elusiana wiped off the sweat from her forehead, placing a flower mixed with purple and white in the middle of the terrace on the second floor.

“Perfect!”

Seeing Noel screaming and waving his hands like a child in the hall on the first floor, Elusiana burst into laughter without knowing it. Like he said, it couldn’t have been more perfect.

The order would be over once she had the confirmation. Thinking of that, her tension immediately melted away.

No! You haven’t got the confirmation yet, right? Don’t let your guard down until the end. Enemies always cut off your throat when you’re off guard.

Elusiana tightened the corners of her mouth, which was about to loosen up, and went down to the hall on the first floor. Just in time, her eyes met the servant who entered the hall on the first floor. The servant seemed a little surprised but soon made a mask-like face and walked toward her.

“You’re just in time. As you can see, it’s all done. Please check.”

In response, the servant said firmly without a doubt. “It would be a little difficult to check right away.”

“…What?”

Elusiana, who had never expected to hear such an answer, was genuinely taken aback.

“I don’t quite understand. What’s the problem?”

Avoiding Elusiana’s eyes, the servant looked around the hall’s interior where she worked. “The lady said she wanted to check it herself.”

Elusiana then made an absurd face. If so, she can come and check it out right away. What’s the problem? But the following words from the servant made her question it more.

“I need you to wait a moment.”

Ha! It’s not even a request to wait but just an order to wait? Don’t tell me. This person must be thinking of me as a pushover!

Elusiana pressed her lips gently against her teeth as she was about to burst out. Seeing Elusiana like that, the servant smiled fishily.

“It won’t take long. Then.”

Elusiana put the strength between her eyebrows that were about to frown and turned to the servant. “You’re saying irresponsible things so casually. I’m in trouble at this rate. My next schedule is full.”

“Ah. That part will be compensated by Count Eragost.”

“…Compensated?”

“You’ll be satisfied enough. Then, I will go as you already know that.”

“Wait!”

The servant turned her head crookedly. That expression seemed to ask why you were bothering to hold me, but Elusiana ignored it and said, “I will decline the offer you just made.”

The servant, who crumpled her forehead slightly, sighed deeply. “Hmm. Alright. Just do it.”

“What…?”

“However, you have to pay a penalty for violating the contract.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“According to the contents of the contract, it’s stated that the contract is completed only when the contractor confirms it. So, if you really want to go back… You will have to pay 300 gold, which is three times that of the 100 gold we had previously given, as a penalty. Please give it to me.”

When Elusiana opened her mouth in bewilderment, the servant triumphantly continued her words, assuming she had frightened her. “If you don’t like it, please wait quietly for the lady.”

“Ha.”

“Well, I’m busy, so bye.”

The servant left those words and leisurely left the hall. She didn’t hope for them to be sorry in the first place, but what on earth is this bottomless shamelessness?

“Why are they so anxious to hold me back?”

Looking back at the situation so far, it was relatively easy to guess Camilla’s intention. For some reason, she had bad feelings from the moment they had no intention of letting her out of Count Eragost’s mansion.

And if her assumption was correct, there were only two reasons why Lady Eragost continued to hold her back.

It was either to disgrace her in public.

Or punishment, punishment.

No way, does she know that I’m the daughter of Viscount Waieos…?

But that didn’t make sense.

As a child, Elusiana rarely went out of the mansion due to illness. Later, her family collapsed, so she could not enter society. Nevertheless, Lady Eragost targeted her and made a contract.

It’s really weird. How on earth did she know me and come all the way to the commoner’s area? It was unusual to show this much hostility without knowing your face. Therefore, even a fool could guess that Lady Eragost was aiming for something more.

I think I know roughly what kind of person she is.

A treacherous person who wore a good mask and tried to use others to achieve their purpose. Those who see people as chess pieces were people she had experienced before, even in modern times. They didn’t need law or reason. They just used you if they needed and threw you away if they didn’t need you anymore.

How much more vicious would they be in this world with the settings of the empire? Maybe they would kill without hesitation.

“It’s a waste of money, but it’s better to step down at this point.”

Elusiana didn’t know why she was aiming for her, but it would be fine if she didn’t get involved anymore.

Do you avoid poop because you’re afraid of it? No, you avoid it because it’s dirty. However, this poop was so dirty and nasty.

With a deep sigh, Elusiana began to organize her remaining things. Since she decided to go back, she thought it would be better to get out of there as soon as possible.

It was then.

“Lusi!”

Noel walked over with a somewhat hideous-looking face. He was wearing a black robe, so she couldn’t see his face very well, but he somehow looked like that.