Hailey leaned her elbows on the window frame, propping her chin in her palms. Her room, located on the western wing of the mansion, offered a perfect view of the greenhouse. Through the glass ceiling, the vibrant colors of the flowers were clearly visible.

“Wow, Bill must have cleaned the greenhouse ceiling too. Otherwise, there’s no way I’d be able to see inside this clearly.”

The garden, bathed in drowsy sunlight, exuded warmth. Leaves rustled in the occasional breeze, and the piercingly blue sky filled her view.

A faint floral scent drifted in from somewhere. The tranquil scenery made her eyes close involuntarily.

Chirp, chirp.

A sparrow landed on the windowsill, tilting its head curiously as it watched Hailey.

“Brutus, what trouble are you stirring up this time?”

Chirp, chirp.

The sparrow puffed out its chest feathers and cocked its head to the side.

Hailey wasn’t sure if it was really Brutus. The garden housed several sparrows, and she wasn’t observant enough to tell them apart.

Even so, a sparrow bold enough to peek into a human’s room felt like it could only be Brutus.

“Keep loitering; maybe you’ll get lucky and someone will feed you.”

With that, Hailey turned her gaze back to the garden. From the mansion, noisy commotion and occasional crashing sounds could be heard. Each time, the stern voice of Madam Mastis echoed along with it.

“If we hold one more banquet, this mansion might just fall apart,” Hailey sighed, her voice dissolving into the air.

Brutus, looking uninterested, spread his wings and took off into the sky.

Knock, knock, knock.

A firm knock on the door pulled Hailey out of her thoughts. From the sound alone, she could already guess who was standing outside.

Smiling, she turned her back to the window.

“Come in, Marty.”

Sure enough, Madam Mastis appeared beyond the open door. Hailey’s eyes held a faint hint of curiosity, wondering why the woman—undoubtedly the busiest person preparing for the banquet—had come all the way here.

“What’s going on, Marty? Is there something I can help with?”

Despite believing that staying out of sight was her best contribution, Hailey asked with sparkling eyes. Madam Mastis shook her head with a faint sigh.

Hailey shrugged lightly, as if she had expected that, though she cast a disappointed glance at Madam Mastis. In response, the woman held something out toward her.

“Huh?”

It was a dress—a pale lavender dress that looked luxurious even at first glance. Hailey’s eyes filled with even greater curiosity.

Madam Mastis, her expression as stern as ever, opened her mouth to speak.

“The Duke sent this dress.”

“The Duke? For me? Why?”

Hailey’s face was a mix of confusion as her gaze alternated between the dress and Madam Mastis. Taking a small breath, Madam Mastis replied with pride.

“The Duke does not treat his guests poorly while they stay in his mansion.”

“Well, I wasn’t planning on attending the banquet anyway…”

“If everyone knows you’re staying at the mansion but you don’t attend the banquet, what kind of rumors do you think will spread?”

“Oh.”

Probably, the rumors about the cursed duke would only grow more vivid. Some might even speculate that something had happened to prevent her from appearing in public, further fueling the gossip.

I hate social events.

But Madam Mastis wasn’t wrong. If Hailey didn’t show up, the rumors would snowball.

Turning maids into statues, drinking the blood of young women—what would it be this time?

Hailey couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh. At the very least, she didn’t want to add fuel to the fire. Reluctantly, she accepted the dress with a resigned expression.

Holding the dress by its shoulders, she unfolded it, only to widen her eyes again. It was the latest fashionable design, a gown with a long, flowing train.

As her fingers brushed the luxurious fabric and lace, Hailey asked in a doubtful tone.

“Is this expensive?”

“It must be.”

“They’re not planning to deduct this from my wages, are they…?”

“Miss Hailey.”

“Yes?”

“Do you really think the Duke is that stingy?”

“Um…”

The words “not really” didn’t come easily to her lips. After all, hearing daily remarks about freeloaders and the cost of food might make anyone think otherwise.

“…No.”

Under Madam Mastis’s stern gaze, Hailey shook her head, albeit reluctantly. She knew Madam Mastis’s loyalties lay squarely with the Duke, not her.

“I just thought… I might be burdening the Duke unnecessarily…”

“Do you think such a trivial thing would even bother him?”

Madam Mastis dismissed Hailey’s concern as if she had just heard a silly joke.

Fair point.

Hailey nodded quietly, realizing how pointless her worry had been. At that moment, Madam Mastis handed her another box.

“What’s this?”

“This was passed down to me from my mother. I thought you might need it, so I’m lending it to you.”

As Hailey was about to open the box, a knock sounded at the door. Madam Mastis spoke before she could respond.

“Come in.”

Hailey’s eyes widened slightly at the unexpected visitor.

It was Catherine who entered the room. Madam Mastis quickly gave her instructions.

“I’m busy with the banquet preparations. You help Miss Hailey get dressed.”

“…Yes, ma’am.”

“Catherine is the most skillful among the maids in the mansion,” Madam Mastis added as if to reassure Hailey. Then, hearing someone calling for her, she left the room in haste.

The sound of something breaking in the distance suggested yet another mishap. Madam Mastis’s scolding voice soon followed.

“…”

An awkward silence filled the room with only the two of them left. For the first time, Hailey resented Madam Mastis. She would have preferred to prepare by herself.

After a brief hesitation, Catherine approached her with a sullen expression.

“I’ll start by brushing your hair.”

“…Sure, go ahead.”

Hailey nodded with a resigned expression and quietly sat at the vanity. Catherine opened the drawers and began taking out various items.

Unaware of Hailey’s gloomy mood, the weather outside was unusually bright and sunny that day.

***

The soothing melody of string instruments floated gracefully through the grand hall. The banquet hall, adorned with cascading crystal chandeliers, exuded an air of elegance that would satisfy even the most discerning nobles.

The white ceiling soared high above, and the blue silk wallpaper created a striking contrast with it, further accentuated by the golden moldings that added a touch of grandeur.

Nobles who had attended the Duke of Gunner’s banquet last year couldn’t help but feel a twinge of surprise at the transformed ambiance.

After all, how many could afford to re-wallpaper a room with silk solely for the purpose of a banquet?

Darker curtains hung over the windows, lending an air of gravity to the space. The flowers adorning the staircase and hall, while not overly extravagant, exuded an understated elegance—a demonstration of the virtue of restraint.

Nonetheless, it was evident that attention had been paid to every detail, down to the tablecloths. The music performed by the finest orchestra in the capital, the exquisite food, and the magnificent artwork lining the gallery corridors leading to the hall—all came together to create a flawless banquet.

The only blemish was the fact that it was hosted by the cursed Duke.

Despite the unease, few dared to decline the Duke of Gunner’s invitation, given his influence. Regardless of his reputation, no one wished to fall out of his favor.

Hiding their discomfort behind polished expressions, the guests held champagne glasses and exchanged greetings with familiar faces. Everywhere, pretentious displays of refinement were in full swing.

“Long time no see, Count Dimitri.”

“Ah, Marquis Eaton, we meet again.”

Dimitri paid his respects to Eaton, the Marquis and Minister of Finance.

The men were dressed in long-tailed tuxedos, while the women wore evening gowns with plunging necklines, each striving to outshine the others with their appearance.

Amid the soft murmur of hushed conversations, a brief silence suddenly fell over the room. All eyes turned toward the entrance. Princess Irene Britton was making her entrance.

“It’s Princess Britton.”

“How stunning she is.”

“Oh, just look at that dress! I must have a green gown made for myself next time.”

The guests’ gazes were captivated by her dazzling beauty and the vivid green dress she wore. Even the music seemed to pause in reverence to her radiance.

No doubt, her dress, jewelry, and even her fan would set the next trend at future banquets, as they always had.

Just then, the Duke of Gunner emerged from within the hall. At the sight of his masked figure, an eerie silence swept over the guests once again.

“…”

“…”

No matter how many times they saw him, they could never get used to it. In fact, each time, his presence felt more unsettling, to the point where some feared merely sharing the same space with him might bring his curse upon them.

“My goodness, it’s the cursed Duke.”

“How horrifying.”