Brutus perched on the windowsill. Sensing movement, Hailey turned to look and met the curious gaze of the cat that had been prowling around her room.

With its inquisitive brown eyes fixed on her, Brutus seemed to be waiting.

“I don’t have anything for you,” she mumbled, her voice slightly dejected. “I’ll save you some bread crumbs if you come back tonight.”

Hailey turned back to the mirror, resuming her futile attempt at taming her hair. Her red-gold locks, kissed by the morning sunlight, appeared a deeper orange than usual.

“What’s the point of doing this every morning?”

She wasn’t particularly skilled with her hands, but today, her hair seemed especially uncooperative.

Yet, she couldn’t just sit there and fuss forever. Resolving to compromise with herself, Hailey stood up and headed downstairs.

By the time she reached the first floor, the maids were already bustling about. Though she hadn’t dawdled, she felt like she had dragged her feet and greeted them sheepishly.

“Good morning.”

“Good morning, Miss Hailey.”

“Good morning, Miss Hailey.”

Jessie and Anna, each carrying bundles of charcoal, greeted her in turn. Catherine, however, pretended not to notice her and hurried past, leaving a gust of cold air in her wake.

Hailey, unfazed by Catherine’s dismissal, made a playful face at Jessie and Anna. The two burst into stifled giggles, but their amusement was abruptly interrupted.

“Your hair is a mess, Miss Hailey.”

The sharp critique came from Madam Mastis. Jessie and Anna immediately scattered, darting into the kitchen to escape.

Hailey pulled a distressed face as she turned to meet Madam Mastis, whose hair was, as always, impeccably styled.

“Believe it or not, I did my best.”

“Follow me.”

With a sigh of resignation, Madam Mastis turned and walked away, clearly displeased. Hailey trailed after her like a scolded student summoned to the teacher’s office.

Inside her private room, Madam Mastis gestured toward a chair.

“Sit.”

“…Yes, ma’am.”

Obediently, Hailey sat before the vanity. Madam Mastis, the most influential woman in the mansion, was a figure of authority whose standing wouldn’t change until the vacant position of duchess was filled.

In the realm of social survival, aligning yourself with the right people was crucial. Hailey had firmly placed herself in Madam Mastis’s corner—whether the woman realized it or not.

“Outer appearances reflect one’s inner state. Disheveled hair speaks of a careless mind and a lack of diligence. Such things give others room to talk. For a young lady of noble birth, there is no greater disgrace. To avoid such humiliation, you mustn’t settle for mediocrity. Take care of yourself with dedication. Do you understand, Miss Hailey?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Hailey closed her eyes, her response drawn out in drowsy compliance. Oddly enough, she always felt sleepy when someone else styled her hair.

Madam Mastis’s hands were skilled, her movements steady and rhythmic. With each brushstroke, Hailey’s head drooped lower and lower.

Then, as her hair was gathered and twisted up, she suddenly snapped her eyes open.

Her lime-green eyes, now wide and alert, sparkled as Madam Mastis’s lecture droned on in the background.

“To appear as graceful as a swan, one must tirelessly paddle beneath the surface. Laziness sows decay in a person’s spirit. Whether others are watching or not, never neglect your self-care. There, it’s finished.”

Hailey looked at herself in the mirror. Her hair was immaculate, not a single strand out of place—a reflection of Madam Mastis herself.

Feeling a bit self-conscious, Hailey turned her head and smiled.

“Thank you, Madam Mastis.”

“Call me Marty.”

“!”

The unexpected suggestion made Hailey’s eyes widen. The last traces of drowsiness evaporated in an instant.

Addressing her by an affectionate nickname meant the formidable barrier between them had begun to crumble.

Why?

The question struck her as odd. Why had the once unyielding Madam Mastis suddenly extended a hand of familiarity?

Hailey tilted her head slightly, gazing at the stern woman’s face as she pondered.

Perhaps it was gratitude for the day she tended to the duke in her stead while she was unwell. Or maybe it was a token of appreciation for siding with the duke in front of Albert.

Though she couldn’t be sure of Mastis’ true feelings, one thing was clear: whatever the reason, it was because of the duke. Mastis cherished and cared for the duke more than anyone else. That sentiment was genuine.

“Thank you, Marty.”

Mastis’ expression didn’t soften. Maintaining her stern demeanor, she only gave a brief nod.

As soon as the two stepped out into the hall, Catherine swiftly approached. She didn’t even glance at Hailey as she addressed Mastis.

“Madam Mastis, please check on the food.”

Mastis nodded in acknowledgment and began walking toward the kitchen. However, she abruptly stopped in her tracks, prompting Catherine to look at her with puzzled eyes.

“Miss Hailey, if it’s not too much trouble, would you wake the duke?”

“Of course, Marty.”

Hailey nodded casually. The first time was always the hardest; from the second time on, it was easy—or so she hoped. Waking the duke should be no different.

“!”

At that moment, Catherine’s eyes widened. Hailey immediately realized the reason. It was because she had called Mastis by her nickname.

Ugh.

Catherine silently clenched her fists. She looked at Hailey as if someone had stolen a prized cookie from her hands. Hailey met her fierce gaze with a serene smile.

Whoosh.

Catherine turned on her heels and marched away in a huff. Only after confirming there was no one around did Hailey chuckle softly to herself.

“Serves her right. This is why it pays to align yourself with the right people.”

Feeling light-hearted, Hailey climbed the central staircase. In this mood, she felt ready to laugh off whatever the duke might say.

Of course, that resolve crumbled within ten minutes.

***

“Good day.”

“We meet again, Inspector Hans Palmer.”

“Please, just call me Hans.”

Removing his hat, Hans greeted Hailey with a friendly smile and a polite bow. She responded with equal grace.

“Hmm.”

Clearing his throat lightly, Hans looked somewhat sheepish. His slightly furrowed eyes conveyed a mix of humor and apology.

“I must apologize for yesterday, Miss Hailey. Inspector Blair isn’t usually like that, but he’s been on edge lately. As you know, the murder case on Engler Street remains unsolved, and now there’s been a another incident, drawing even more public scrutiny to the police. You know how it is—our work often goes unnoticed when done well, but any mistake becomes a lightning rod for criticism…”

“It’s alright. I wasn’t exactly mature about it, either.”

When Hailey readily admitted her own faults, Hans’ eyes widened slightly.

The noblewomen he was familiar with would never apologize, even when clearly in the wrong. They believed that admitting fault diminished their dignity and standing in society.

So, to Hans, Hailey seemed refreshingly different. As a flicker of admiration sparkled in his hazel eyes, Hailey spoke again, as if remembering something.

“Thank you for your help that day. I heard you escorted me back to the manor.”

“Oh, yes. There was a pickpocketing incident in the area, so some officers, myself included, were patrolling nearby. I heard a scream and rushed over immediately.”

Pickpocketing.

The image of a wiry thief and Albert’s cold expression crossed Hailey’s mind. She could still recall his stern voice reprimanding her. Their first meeting had certainly gotten off on the wrong foot.

Hans chuckled as he continued.

“But truthfully, all I did was carry you into the manor. When you collapsed, the person who stayed by your side and helped you into the carriage wasn’t me.”

“Who was it, then?”

Hearing something new, Hailey’s eyes widened in surprise. Hans’ smile deepened, and a vague sense of foreboding ran down her spine.

“It was Inspector Blair. He arrived just before I did. I merely followed his instructions.”

Oh.

Hailey’s lips parted slightly, but no words came out. She glanced downward in discomfort, clutching her dress tightly as she murmured.

“Please… convey my thanks to him on my behalf. Tell him that I’ll express my gratitude properly if we meet again.”

“Of course.”

Hans nodded with a gentle smile. The forlorn expression on the lady’s face, coupled with her inability to hide her emotions, made her increasingly endearing to him. Unlike other noblewomen who masked their true feelings, she was remarkably transparent.

After a brief sigh, Hailey shifted the conversation.

“By the way,” she asked with a curious gaze, “how did you know I was staying at this manor?”

“Oh, that?”

Hans replied nonchalantly.

“When you screamed, the first person to arrive wasn’t a police officer. It was a worker from a tavern called ‘Drunkard.’ He found you and handed you over to us. Until you regained consciousness, they wanted to lay you down in the tavern, but they were worried about unfounded rumors spreading about an unmarried lady from a baronet family,” he said.

Shaking his head as he reached that point, he added, “And rightly so. If you had stayed there, rumors like, ‘She’s taken up a job at a bar,’ or, ‘She was drunk in broad daylight and passed out,’ would’ve spread the very next day. We didn’t know what to do at first, but then the man told us you worked at the Duke of Gunner’s estate.”

“Could that man…”