I steadied my pounding heart and burned some roscari leaves in the brazier. As the scent rose, Jane smiled and asked,

“That’s a fragrance I haven’t smell before. What kind is it?”

“It’s from roscari leaves. When dried and burned, they supposedly help calm magical energy. Prince Raphael gave it to me, but I only learned that recently.”

“I see. I hope it works.”

“It does. It’s helped me several times already…”

Jane, who had been sorting documents, suddenly stopped. My voice had wavered, revealing my emotion. I didn’t want to cry, but I couldn’t hold it back anymore.

“…I’m sorry.”

Jane just looked at me silently.

“I’m sorry. You’re angry because I left without saying a word, aren’t you? I was wrong.“

If anyone else had been angry with me, I would have probably fought back. But Jane… I’d never even imagined Jane being angry with me, which made it all the scarier.

“How could I dare be angry? I just thought that I must have been lacking.“

“No! You weren’t lacking in anything, Jane. Not a single thing…“

“Then why did you abandon me?“

I gasped, taken aback. As my body wobbled, Jane quickly supported me and guided me to sit on the sofa.

“Breathe deeply. I’ll call the doctor.“

“Jane, don’t go. I…!“

“If you collapse now, I’ll never be able to forgive myself.“

“No, I won’t collapse. Don’t go, please don’t…“

I desperately grabbed Jane’s arm, tears continuing to fall as I sniffled and said,

“’It’s true. This is working so well that I definitely won’t collapse. So don’t go. And…“

I bowed my head.

“I never abandoned you. Why would you say that…“

“…“

“I’m sorry I couldn’t explain. But I couldn’t exactly run away with my maid in tow…“

“Do you know what happens to a maid who’s abandoned by her mistress?“

Jane bit her lip. It seemed she hadn’t intended to bring it up, and she was already regretting it. But I saw this as my chance and began to offer excuses.

“Jane, I know you went through a lot because of me. But during that time, I couldn’t even write a recommendation letter. If I had, it might have made things even more difficult for you. I thought… I thought that even if I disappeared, my mother-in-law would look after you. So…“

“I was your hands and feet. I was trained to become a part of my mistress, and I worked hard to be a perfect maid, just as I was taught. But then you disappeared, and I was left behind. The dowager duchess asked if I knew anything, even something small, but I knew nothing. How could I possibly stay in this house after that?“

Jane finally began to cry.

“A recommendation letter? Do you really think I would have cared about something like that? Even if I had one, I wouldn’t have been able to go anywhere. No noblewoman would take in a maid who had been abandoned. Even if someone did hire me, it would only be out of curiosity to hear gossip about you. That’s why you should have taken me with you. Anywhere…“

“You wanted to come with me and suffer in my place? To be my maid in the back alleys of the slums while I pretended to be someone else?“

“My lady…“

Jane gasped.

“Yes, I abandoned you. I left everything behind—my title, my family, everything. I had no intention of coming back or reclaiming anything. Even if I died in the gutter, I was prepared to die alone. I couldn’t drag you into that with me. Can’t you understand?“

“So you really were prepared to die.“

Jane whispered softly.

“Others said you wouldn’t, but I couldn’t shake the feeling of dread. I kept fearing that you’d be found hanging somewhere. I couldn’t talk about it with anyone, so I kept it to myself…“

Jane slumped down next to me.

“And now I see you were just reckless, ready to die if things didn’t work out.“

“…“

“Should I be praising you for returning alive and in one piece?“

This was the first time Jane had ever spoken to me so sharply. I was too stunned to say anything, and tears continued to fall silently.

“I know you’ll think I’m being impertinent, my lady, but I have to say this. Everyone else was probably too scared to say anything, afraid that you’d run off again if things didn’t go your way. Isn’t that right? If that was your goal, then congratulations, you succeeded. But it won’t work on me. You know why?“

“…“

“Because from now on, I’m going to follow you wherever you go, no matter what. The slums? Back alleys? I probably know them better than you. You might not think of yourself as a sheltered flower, but to me, you’re at least a garden blossom if not one from a greenhouse. So don’t you even think about going off alone again. I’ll be there, wherever you go.“

I was so thoroughly scolded that I felt completely dazed. I couldn’t even respond, just sniffled quietly.

“The more I think about it, how could you do this to me? While you were unconscious, I took care of you better than anyone. For four whole months, to the point that even the dowager duchess acknowledged it. Every day, I spoon-fed you broth, terrified that a single spoonful might choke you. I worried you’d die of dehydration from sweating too much or freeze from hypothermia, carefully tending the fireplace. Every night, I prayed to the goddess to save you, and I couldn’t sleep, fearing you might die even when I wasn’t by your side. And yet, you planned on dying and leaving me behind?“

“Jane…“

“Did you think of me even once before you left? Even if you didn’t consider me family, didn’t we have at least that much friendship between us?“

Even my mother had never scolded me this harshly. Feeling hurt, I buried my face in my hands and sobbed.

“I was struggling back then… really struggling…”

“Then why didn’t you just cry like this back then!“

Jane spoke harshly, but she hugged me tightly as I sobbed. I cried in her arms for a long time. With a voice full of frustration, Jane said,

“…Why didn’t you just tell me you were struggling?“

Would things have been different if I had? I didn’t know. This was the first time in my new life that I had cried so hard. Even as a child, I’d never cried like this, probably because, with the memories of my past life, I didn’t know how to act like a child. After a long while, I blew my nose into the handkerchief Jane handed me and looked at her cautiously. Jane sighed.

“I won’t say anything more.“

“Really?“

“Yes.“

Just as I felt relieved, Jane frowned.

“But… but your hair…“

Ugh. She said she wouldn’t say anything, but I bit my lip, worried that she’d scold me about cutting my hair. If she started, I was ready to burst into loud tears again, thinking that crying might make her go easier on me. But Jane wasn’t upset for the reason I thought.

“Who on earth cut your hair like this?“

“Huh?“

“Who trimmed it so poorly?“

…I did.

“That’s it. Today’s work is done.“

“Huh?“

“You can’t work in this state. Besides, it’ll be time for dinner soon anyway. Before that, I need to fix your hair. And what’s with your nails? Do the maids in this mansion stop working when I’m not around? I’ll have to speak with Mrs. Merloy about this.“

“No, no, it’s not that. I told them not to bother…“

Jane suddenly smiled brightly and took my hand.

“My lady, now that I’m back, you won’t have to worry about anything.”

‘If you do, I’ll probably slap you.’

“Come on, let’s go.”

She probably wouldn’t really slap me, but I had a feeling I was about to get scolded again… and I was really busy with work, too. Still, I didn’t try to stop Jane as she led me away. Even though I hadn’t properly explained myself, Jane’s mood seemed to have improved, and I didn’t want to ruin it.

***

“I’m planning to attend the New Year’s Ball with this hairstyle.“

“I see.“

“What do you think, Ian?“

I had carefully prepared a lot of arguments to convince Ian. The most important thing was that rumors were already spreading that I might be the woman with the red lips, so I figured it was better to just reveal it openly.

The more I tried to hide it, the more suspicious people would get. Besides, there were bound to be many who were curious about how I’d survived outside the mansion. If I kept trying to cover things up, dirtier rumors would spread. As I bit my lip, lost in thought, Ian said something unexpected.

“I think it’s beautiful.“

Huh…? That’s not what I was asking! But then, uncharacteristically, Ian blushed and lowered his head. His ears even turned red, and I froze for a moment. This felt a bit like when I’d forced my servants to answer me, but it was also… different.

“It’s hard to explain, but while you were more mature and elegant before, now you’re… cuter, or rather, more… lovely.“

Ian spoke seriously, despite his embarrassment. It was almost like… almost like he’d been coached. I quickly glanced at Phillip. He was watching us with a satisfied smile, but when our eyes met, he quickly looked away. Wait… Phillip, what have you been teaching him? And since when does Ian actually listen to someone teaching him? Ian, perhaps misunderstanding my reaction, started to explain again.

“…When I say you’re cute, I don’t mean like a child. I mean, yes, you do look a bit younger, but…“

“No, no, that’s not what I meant. I was asking if you’d feel uncomfortable if I went to the ball like this.“

I had already asked the staff’s opinion, but Ian was my partner, so I wanted to hear his thoughts as well. But Ian just stared at me blankly, clearly not understanding what I meant. Unsure how to explain further, I turned to Phillip for help, but he was doing his best to avoid my gaze. Ian mumbled absentmindedly,

“Too pretty, huh…?“

He then rested his chin in his hand, seriously contemplating as if it might indeed be a problem. But his deliberation didn’t last long. Ian smiled reassuringly and said,

“Don’t worry, Liv. I’ll stick right by your side and make sure to remember anyone who stares at you.“

Why remember that? I was so frustrated that I clutched my chest in exasperation.

TL NOTE: Visit and bookmark the story at dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and updates of its latest release.