CH 7.7

Jessie cautiously followed behind Lila, her mouth twitching at the sight she had just seen in the greenhouse.

She’d seen Emma, Eri, Sophia, and Liesel shrink back in horror when Lila had asked for their names.

She couldn’t help but think of pressing charges against the girls who had always picked on her.

Jessie thought as she watched Lila’s backside walk in front of her.

She’d lost weight since the first time she’d seen her.

‘I don’t think she was that skinny to begin with…’

Shaking her head, Jessie followed behind her and was stunned to see where Lila had landed.

“My lady!”

“Yes, why?”

Lila glanced back as she opened her door.

“I can’t go up to the third floor.”

Kicking herself for not checking the location in her momentary excitement, Jessie quickly dropped to her knees.

“It was my fault for being stupid!”

Lila was puzzled by Jessie’s attitude. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Vincent was the only other servant in the manor who treated her like a duchess.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“Can’t you do it even though I brought you here?”

“Well, that’s…”

“Well… you mind following me to my room first?”

Jessie blushed and narrowed her eyes. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.But he couldn’t refuse the Duchess’s command, so she stumbled to her feet and got up on wobbly legs.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Lila shook her head at the sight. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.It wasn’t the same as the way she’d handled herself among the maids earlier.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“You seemed so unperturbed earlier, and now you’re making such a fuss about being treated in a room?”

“Treated?”

Lila let out a small laugh as Jessie looked at her in surprise.

“What were you thinking, didn’t you hear what I said?”

With that, she disappeared into the back of the room, and Jessie followed, panting.

Her heart skipped a beat at the opulence of the room, which she had never seen before. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.In fact, as a lover of pretty things, Jessie admired the room. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.It looks like it had been painted in a dream.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Meanwhile, Lila pulled a cotton ball, alcohol swab, and ointment from her pouch.

These were items she always kept in her makeup box.

“Do you want to come over here?”

Lila called out to Jessie, who was standing in the middle of the room with a dazed and disheveled look on her face.

“Yes, yes!”

Jessie hurried over and stood in front of her.

“Just look down for a second.”

Part of her wanted to go over and do it herself, but she knew that would freak her out even more.

When Jessie lowered her face, Lila said.

“Close your eyes for a second, too.”

Jessie blushed as she saw Lila’s face up close. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.It was like being mesmerized by a beautiful face that wasn’t at all what she expected.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Jessie closed her eyes, fluttering her eyelashes, and Lila took a cotton ball and dabbed at the pimple.

“This might sting a little.”

She warned, then dabbed at the wound with an alcohol swab.

“Ouch.”

Jessie was surprised, but he didn’t open her eyes. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Lila finished applying the ointment.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“You can open your eyes now.”

“Okay.”

“Can you tell me your name?”

Lila had heard her name was Jessie, but she wanted to hear her full name.

“It’s Jessie Lou Collins, my lady.”

As Jessie bowed deeply as she spoke, Lila studied her face once more.

She had jet-black hair and eyes the color of a clear sky. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Lila saw the pimples that marred Jessie’s pure white skin.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“Lila El Este. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.I’m sure you know that.”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“Yes, I know.”

Jessie blushed shyly, then asked.

“Why did you cover for them? They were going to give you a hard time.”

Jessie could tell the Duchess had heard the whole story in the greenhouse.

“I covered them up because I was fine. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Please punish me for telling a lie.”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Turning to Jessie, who was suddenly on her knees, Lila hurriedly replied.

“Yes, lying is bad, but I’ll let it slide given the circumstances. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Now get up.”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

She felt very uncomfortable with Jessie’s behavior. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.She’d never heard that from an employee before.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

At the barony, the servants never apologized to her for her outbursts.

They looked at her like she was a madwoman and never bowed to her, like people who share power based on appearance.

That’s why Lila liked Jessie. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.She liked her inflexibility and her stuborness.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“So, about your acne, when did it start?”

“I think it was when I was…13, but I don’t remember exactly, so I apologize.”

“How old are you now?”

“I’m 18 now.”

“Hmm…”

Lila felt sorry for Jessie, who, if it weren’t for her acne, would be even more beautiful than the maids she’d seen in the greenhouse earlier.

“You know, I wonder if the Duke has any empty glass bottles or something? I mean, not the big ones, but the small ones that hold creams for your face.”

“Probably in the alchemist’s room. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.It’s where they make ointments and medicines.”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“Really?”

“Yeah, I’ve never been there, but I’ve heard of them.”

“Okay. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Well, can you get me a vial?”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“Sure, sure.”

Jessie bowed and left the room. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Lila decided to do what she’d been meaning to do all along.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“Well, I guess I’ll need a lot of glass jars…”

The makeup box in her purse was still in the same condition it had been when she died. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Not the exterior, but the contents.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

She could use the cosmetics inside to her heart’s content, and when she put them back in the pouch, they returned to the same state as when she took them out.

At that time, used cosmetics kept their shape as they were used, and new products always stayed new.

‘So why don’t I just scoop out the contents and transfer them to another container and make a business out of it?’

So when the time comes when she had to leave, she wouldn’t be too worried about money.

She could sell the cosmetics, or she could make a living as a makeup artist.

The contract said she wouldn’t have to worry about money, but she wanted to help people like Jessie, who had skin problems or body image issues.

She figured it wouldn’t be a bad idea to do what she’d originally intended to do as Cho Yoon Seol.

Lila brought a jar and handed it to Jessie, filled with creams, ointments, and facial foams that were excellent for acne.

“Now, here’s what you need to do. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Put this in water and it’ll lather up. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.And then you’re going to cleanse your face with it, then pat your face dry, not blot it with a towel. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.You don’t want to irritate your skin at all.”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“…”

“And then put this cream on. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.It’s an ointment, and if you have a pimple, don’t apply it with your hands, but put a little on a clean handkerchief and dab it on.”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“…My lady, what’s this…”

Jessie couldn’t understand why the Duchess was giving her such a precious thing. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.From the sounds of it, it was a beauty cream that even high ranking nobles would have trouble using.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“You must apply this every night before bed. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Understood? And lukewarm water is better than warm.”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“That’s… Thank you so much… my lady.”

Jessie took the package and leaned in deeply.

“And, you know, I was thinking it would be nice if you could be my personal maid… Would you like to?”

“What? No. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.I’m the lowest of the maids, so I’m not qualified to work for you, my lady.”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“Well, the butler you’re working for now doesn’t seem very good either.”

Lila asked in a timid tone as Jessie flinched and objected.

“Do you not like…?”

“Of course not, it’s an honor to my family to be able to serve someone as beautiful as you are, and even more beautiful at heart!”

Looking at Jessie’s enthusiastic reply, Lila’s stony expression softened.

There had been very few people she had liked since she had arrived in this world, and she didn’t want to let Jessie go.