“What are you going to do now?”

Miss Veronica asked me directly as we sat on the sofa.

“I’m not sure.”

I wanted to tell Miss Veronica the truth, but I decided to hold back.

I couldn’t straightforwardly tell her about the plan to make Alex lose interest in me.

Miss Veronica already knew the general situation since we were in Maynard County, but she didn’t know exactly what I was planning to do.

“First, we need to find out how Duke Berzel thinks of you.”

“I suppose so?”

“Yes. And then it would be good to decide what to do based on that.”

Miss Veronica advised me.

Since it was correct, I nodded in agreement.

“I don’t think I can help you much until we figure that out.”

“I think it’s best to find out as we stay here. He says he likes me on the surface, but I’m not sure if it’s real or not.”

“Yes. And there’s one thing you need to remember.”

She said in a firm tone.

Thinking I might have overlooked something, I naturally focused on her words.

“What is it?”

“It’s your feelings.”

“……”

It was something I hadn’t thought of.

Miss Veronica looked at me with a serious expression and continued speaking.

“If Duke Berzel really likes you, what you want to do is the most important thing.”

“Are my feelings really that important?”

“Of course. If you don’t like it, you don’t like it, and if you like it, you like it. But those feelings shouldn’t be due to coercion or sacrifice. Like this time.”

Miss Veronica paused for a moment and bit her lower lip. Miss’s eyes were tinged with red. She looked as if she was holding back tears.

“That’s why I came. Claire, you can open up to me about your true feelings. I’ll always be on your side.”

Miss Veronica was truly kind.

To the extent that she came to Alex herself and said she would stay by my side, worried that I might make the wrong choice to protect the Maynard County.

“Yes, I’ll make sure to tell you.”

“Okay. By the way, the Berzel duchy is certainly different. I thought our mansion was quite luxurious, but coming here, it seems it doesn’t even match half of this.”

Miss Veronica said, looking around.

“Not just the room I’m staying in, but this place is also amazing, isn’t it?”

“Right? It feels like just touring the mansion would take up all our time, right?”

“Exactly!”

I laughed softly while conversing with Miss Veronica.

Perhaps because we grew up together since childhood, we had things in common.

“Moreover, it’s hard to adapt.”

“Adapt? In what way?”

Miss Veronica opened her eyes wide. Miss’s appearance reminded me of a squirrel.

I smiled broadly and answered Miss’s question.

“Everything they do for me here. For example, things like attending to me. These were all things I used to do, but actually receiving them feels strange and awkward.”

“Is it difficult to enjoy it comfortably?”

“Since I’m not at ease, it’s not easy. And even wearing clothes like this, well, my body isn’t used to it, so it feels like I’m wearing someone else’s clothes. If I were an elegant noble lady like you, Miss, it might be different. But I don’t think it suits me.”

Even after I finished speaking, Miss Veronica didn’t respond.

She seemed to be deep in thought about something.

“Miss?”

Puzzled, I called out to her, and she raised her head to look at me.

Then she carefully opened her mouth.

“Then how about this? While you’re here, learn etiquette from me. Learn how to get used to it too.”

“Yes?”

“Wouldn’t that make you feel a bit more comfortable?”

“Is there… really a need for that? I’ll be going back after three months anyway.”

“Still. It would be terrible if you’re uncomfortable the whole time you’re here. There’s nothing else to do here, so in the meantime, if I teach you etiquette, it might be fun and good, don’t you think?”

Miss Veronica spoke positively.

I couldn’t see what merit there was in learning noble ladies’ etiquette and getting used to being attended to.

However, Miss Veronica’s eyes were sparkling so brightly that I found it hard to refuse.

“Then… if it’s not too presumptuous, may I learn etiquette from you, Miss?”

“Yes. I’ll teach you well.”

She smiled brightly and grabbed my hand.

Just seeing that made me feel at ease.

Right. There’s no harm in learning, is there?

Besides, with Miss being so happy about it, there’s nothing I can’t do.

“Well, you must be tired, so let’s go to sleep now.”

“Yes, Miss. I’ll escort you back.”

She quickly got up from her seat. I also stood up, following her.

“No need. Rest comfortably today. It’s right next door, what’s the big deal.”

Miss Veronica said, lightly patting my shoulder.

“Still, I’ll see you to the front.”

When I insisted, she finally smiled as if giving in.

“You want to?”

“Yes!”

Only after coming out of the room and confirming that Miss had entered her room did I return to my bedroom.

I immediately lay down on the bed. The moderately soft bed and the touch of the smooth blanket made me feel at ease.

Etiquette… huh.

I had learned the manners I should keep as a maid, but I was just a commoner after all. Since I’m not a noble, I didn’t know much about the etiquette that noble ladies learn.

I had only seen what Miss Veronica did. Surely, seeing with your eyes and doing it yourself would be worlds apart, right?

Will I be able to do well?

I felt half nervous, half excited.

***

Somehow, preparations had been made, and from the morning, I was dressed in a splendid dress and headed to the dining room located on the first floor of the building.

“Claire!”

Miss Veronica and Alex were already seated in the dining room.

“Did you all sleep well? Both of you came early. I must have been too late. I’m sorry.”

I apologized to Alex and Miss Veronica, feeling awkward.

I felt my heart sink at the thought of making the two nobles wait.

Miss Veronica would understand me, but Alex was someone who could turn his heart away from me at any time, so I was even more cautious.

“Wow! Claire, you look so pretty today! So lovely!”

Miss Veronica exclaimed in admiration as she looked at me.

“Does it suit me well?”

“Of course!”

Miss Veronica said with a broad smile.

I was relieved that it wasn’t just my eyes that found it very pretty when I looked in the mirror in the powder room.

Moreover, the maid in charge of grooming at the Berzel duchy was very skilled. Under her touch, I felt like I had become a noble lady.

I looked down at my outfit with a shy feeling, then raised my head to check on Alex.

Wait a minute. Why did I look at this way? I hurriedly turned my gaze away from the reaction that came out without my knowing.

At that moment, Miss Veronica spoke again before Alex did.

“Come and sit down. Let’s have a meal.”

“Yes!”

As I approached the table, Alex stood up without a word.

I watched him nervously, wondering what he was going to do. At that moment, he pulled out a chair and considerately offered it for me to sit.

“Sit here, Lady Claire.”

I couldn’t hide my embarrassment at Alex’s words, which even included the excessive title of ‘Lady.’

“Thank you.”

I sat down on the chair Alex had pulled out for me, feeling awkward.

It was the seat to the right of him, who was at the head of the table, and opposite Miss Veronica.

As though they were waiting for me to be seated, the maids began to bring out the meal.

Alex and Miss Veronica started eating first. I looked at the two of them for a while before slowly picking up my utensils.

It felt different from when we had meals at hotels and taverns on our way here.

It felt like I had come to a place where I shouldn’t be. Was it really okay for me to be here? I might get indigestion at this rate.

“What’s wrong, Claire? Is there something you’re uncomfortable with?”

Noticing that I kept glancing around, Alex asked with concern.

“No! I just felt awkward being in this kind of place. Don’t worry about it.”

“……”

Soon, the meal resumed.

“It might be a bit busy today, is that okay?”

“Oh, of course. I know you’re busy, Alex, so it’s natural.”

Just as I was thinking that I might be able to rest completely without Alex today…

“No, not me, but you, Claire.”

“Me? You’re saying I’ll be busy? Why?”

The person Alex said would be busy was actually me.

Why?

Shouldn’t I be the least busy person here?

“Yes. If you’re tired, I can postpone the schedule, so feel free to say so.”

“I’m not tired though.”

“Then that’s fine. We’ll proceed with the schedule as planned.”

“Wait a minute! What schedule? You said it was my schedule, but I haven’t heard anything about it?”

I tilted my head, unable to understand at all. Alex opened his mouth, nodding as if he had expected this.

“Today, we’ll be fitting dresses and accessories for you to wear here.”

“……”

“After all, the clothes I prepared in advance are ready-made, so the sizes might not fit exactly.”

Alex continued speaking casually as if it was no big deal.

“Don’t think about money and consider everything you want. Even if not today, I’ll do anything for you.”

“But are you only doing this for me?”

I carefully asked Alex. I was concerned about Miss Veronica who came here with me.

Then Miss Veronica looked at me and smiled faintly.

“Don’t worry about me, Claire. Spend these three months entirely for yourself.”

Miss Veronica smiled more beautifully than ever before.