“Why not? They make a good match.”

It was clearly a mocking voice.

“They’re both as gloomy as snakes inside, so they’re a perfect couple.”

“Matching aside, Miss Bertin is a farmer’s daughter. Is formal courtship even appropriate? Well, I suppose the Marquis just plans to play with her and then discard her.”

My face hardened. It wasn’t just because two maids who usually smiled kindly at me were gossiping about me behind my back. Marquis Carbodin was someone who had consistently insulted the Duke Baniche and his daughter, even fabricating a fake mother for Elodie. He was practically an enemy of the entire Baniche family. And now there were rumors linking me with such a person.

‘Is this what Marquis Carbodin was aiming for?’

Just as I was biting my lip, a harsh voice rang out.

“Are you new recruits slacking off instead of doing your proper work?”

The two maids jumped at the severe voice.

“What right do you have to speak of Miss Bertin? The truth is, you were begging Sonya to become Miss Bertin’s personal maids!”

“T-that’s…”

“Sonya would be so pleased to hear what you’ve been saying. You won’t be getting even scraps from her anymore. What will you do?”

I immediately recognized the scolding maid. It was Felicita, whom Eric had recommended and I had interviewed, but didn’t hire because her rough manner of speaking might frighten Elodie. At the time, I had distributed fairly expensive gifts to the maids who had been interviewed but not selected.

‘She was particularly grateful for that.’

I had only prepared those gifts to prevent any possible resentment, but I didn’t expect it would help me like this. I slowly walked toward them.

“M-Miss Bertin!”

The two maids lowered their heads in embarrassment, but Felicita merely looked at me with a slightly surprised expression. I gave a bitter smile.

“I heard all those things you couldn’t say proudly to my face.”

“…T-that… we didn’t mean it that way…”

“It’s true that Marquis Carbodin asked to court me, but I clearly rejected him. Bad men aren’t really my type.”

That explanation was enough. I looked at each of the two maids in turn. Seeing them flinch, they seemed to realize I wasn’t going to let this go easily.

“Well, I think you now understand that I have no feelings for him… You said I was as gloomy as a snake, didn’t you?”

“It was a slip of the tongue!”

The maid on the left quickly apologized.

“I didn’t really know you and was just jealous…”

“Yes, I understand. I also understand it was said without much thought.”

I quietly replied.

“But I’ll have to inform Mr. Eric about what you two were discussing.”

In truth, I didn’t need to make such a scene; simply quietly informing Eric would have been enough to get them dismissed. But there was a reason I was making such a fuss. The rumor needed to spread—that there would be serious consequences for speaking carelessly about Aria Bertin.

The two maids earnestly recited their apologies, but when they realized it was of no use to me, they retreated with dejected faces. I sighed and looked at Felicita.

“Thank you.”

“It’s nothing.”

Despite her rough temperament, Felicita, with her round and cute face, shook her head.

“Getting rid of people like them makes my work easier too. Ah, I should have slapped them…”

“Then you would have been the one dismissed.”

“Yes. That’s why I couldn’t bring myself to slap them. I wonder if they’ll learn their lesson once they’re fired… New recruits gossiping about a guest?”

I smiled slightly. After being surrounded by people who always maintained at least outward courtesy, Felicita’s honest behavior felt refreshing. So, I impulsively blurted out:

“Felicita, are you still interested in working with Sonya?”

“…!”

Felicita’s eyes widened.

“Of course!”

She looked ready to grab my hands right away.

“Miss Bertin, thank you so much. I won’t disappoint you! Oh, should I talk to Sonya first? What should I do…”

“I’ll speak to Sonya and Mr. Eric.”

I extended my hand to Felicita and shook hands with her. Sonya and the maids I had hired from the interviews were in a relationship of mutual benefit with me. But Felicita would become “truly my person.”

***

Time passed, and evening came. After finishing my conversation with Eric, I looked out the window at the setting sun. Elodie had said she would return after observing the stars, so I would be eating dinner alone tonight. Since Elodie was out, there was no reason for Duke Baniche to dine with me.

‘I can have dinner with Mrs. Devaka for the first time in a while.’

I was heading toward Mrs. Devaka’s room when,  “Miss Bertin, where are you going? This isn’t the way to the dining room…”

Felicita asked with round eyes. I had told her she could rest today, but she was eager to start working immediately. Since Sonya had gone with Elodie, I gladly accepted her help.

“Since Elodie isn’t here today, I’m planning to have dinner with Mrs. Devaka.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to check first? His Grace might be waiting for you.”

I shrugged.

“I doubt that.”

“We won’t know until we check.”

Felicita answered firmly. She half-dragged me toward the dining room where we usually had dinner.

“Felicita!”

“I heard whispers from the kitchen. They were told to prepare food that Miss Bertin likes since the young lady isn’t here today.”

“Wouldn’t that be for me to eat alone?”

Felicita briefly gave me a look that said, ‘What a strange thought,’ then silently started walking ahead.

“Fine.”

I sighed.

“But if this is a wasted trip, you’ll have to bring the food to me.”

“Gladly!”

A moment later, as soon as I arrived at the dining room, I noticed that appetizer bread was already prepared inside.

“You’re late.”

The Duke’s voice greeted me as soon as I stepped in.

“I thought you might not come.”

“I’m sorry for being late.”

I quickly apologized and sat down. Since Elodie usually sat in the middle, there was an empty chair between the Duke and me.

“You look surprised.”

The Duke said in a flat tone.

“You thought I wouldn’t eat because Elodie isn’t here today.”

“I did make that mistake.”

I admitted readily.

“I’ll ask in advance next time.”

“Good idea.”

The Duke smiled faintly. Except for Elodie’s absence, the dinner proceeded as usual. That is, it was a very long course meal from appetizer to dessert. Usually, the conversation centered around Elodie, creating a warm atmosphere, but without her, there was an awkward tension. Perhaps because of this, after exhausting all topics about Elodie, I brought up a subject I hadn’t planned to discuss today.

“It’s only been a few days since I met Marquis Carbodin, but rumors are already spreading.”

“In my house?”

When I nodded, the Duke’s face hardened.

“Who?”

“Two maids, but I told Mr. Eric about it. He said he would dismiss them, so you don’t need to worry about that issue.”

“…I’ll handle it myself.”

Maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned it. I didn’t want maids who simply gossiped a bit to face dark magic, but there was no way to stop the Duke once he said he would handle it.

‘It’s a bit sad for them, but they reap what they sow.’

Instead, I threw out a light joke to lighten the mood.

“You must be disappointed. If I became the Marquis’s lover, I could be the best spy for you.”

Crack. I was startled by the sound of something breaking and looked around.

‘Oh.’

The handle of the spoon the Duke was holding had broken and fallen onto the tablecloth.

“Y-Your Grace?”

I called him in a confused voice and looked up to find the Duke’s dark eyes staring directly at me. For a brief moment, I felt as if I were being swallowed by that gaze. The intense stare wouldn’t leave me.

“Miss Bertin.”

A low voice reached me.

“Are you still holding my words in your heart? Or…”

The Duke’s voice was dry, but I could detect the emotions boiling beneath the surface.

“Is it the Marquis you hold in your heart?”