Chapter 10

Alicia arrived at the garden and waited for Mikael.

It wasn’t time yet, so she admired the flowers.

With summer approaching, hydrangeas were planted.

Not fully bloomed, but the buds were opening little by little.

Between the small round buds, pale purple petals peeked out.

‘When they’re in full bloom, I’ll come back with Mikael.’

She wanted to tell Mikael it was her favorite flower.

Maybe he’d ask to come again next time.

Alicia checked her pocket watch, looking around for Mikael.

‘Ah! There he comes.’

She saw Mikael walking toward her with the maids.

He hadn’t spotted her yet, looking around as he walked.

He seemed to be watching for something….

As Mikael approached, Alicia’s indifferent expression turned to a smile.

But suddenly, she spotted someone among the maids.

Her smile vanished and her face hardened.

It was Celia, the maid she’d clashed with before. She was still by Mikael’s side.

‘So she was left alone after all.’

Alicia had thought Celia was gone since she hadn’t seen her.

Celia saw Alicia and put on a prim expression.

She still didn’t admit her wrongdoing.

That’s why she could look at Alicia so shamelessly.

Alicia had reported Celia’s misdeeds to Cedric, but it seemed to have no effect.

She’d expected as much.

Thinking about Cedric made Alicia’s anger boil.

‘Arrogant b*stard.’

Cedric’s arrogance seemed to rub off on the maid too.

Alicia resolved never to become like them.

She would be a better person for Mikael.

She suppressed her anger and renewed her resolve.

As they approached, Alicia ignored Celia and greeted Mikael formally.

“Young Master, you look even cuter than usual today.”

Her smile made Mikael’s cheeks blush like ripe apricots.

“Uh-huh. I tried to dress nicely today.”

“As expected, Young Master, you look great in anything.”

Alicia’s praise made Mikael’s face turn even redder.

So cute.

He seemed vulnerable to compliments, so Alicia wanted to tease him more, but held back.

If she praised him further, Mikael might get teary from embarrassment.

Alicia kindly offered her hand.

“Young Master, would you like to walk with me holding hands?”

Mikael’s bright eyes answered her.

Those eyes seemed to ask if it was really okay.

Seeing Mikael’s surprised look, Alicia smiled and said,

“I want to walk with you, Young Master. Is that all right?”

Mikael slowly nodded and gently took her hand.

The soft feel of his small hand was so cute.

As they held hands and started walking through the garden,

Celia suddenly grabbed Mikael’s arm and pulled him toward her.

Surprised, Alicia let go of Mikael’s hand.

Celia spoke shamelessly, as if it was just an accident.

“Oh my, sorry. Young Master wants to hold hands with me. Isn’t that right, Young Master?”

A prim expression and sarcastic tone.

Her lips curled shamelessly.

It was clear she wanted to monopolize Mikael, taking him from Alicia.

Beside her, Mikael looked at Celia with fearful eyes.

“…….”

The child was so startled by the sudden situation that he couldn’t answer immediately.

Celia pressed her face close to Mikael and smiled awkwardly.

“Young Master, isn’t that right?!”

“…Uh-huh.”

Forced to answer by Celia, Mikael replied, wilting.

Was Celia still acting so aggressively toward Mikael?

Had she not learned her lesson after Alicia confronted her?

Alicia began to worry about what Celia might have done to the child while she was out of sight.

But her worry was brief.

Celia pulled Mikael’s hand and walked past Alicia, even deliberately bumping her shoulder.

She didn’t apologize for bumping Alicia’s shoulder.

“Young Master, let’s go over there!”

Ignoring Alicia, she shamelessly spoke only to Mikael.

It was absurd, and Alicia felt her place had been stolen.

That was supposed to be her role.

Why did she have to be treated like this by a mere maid?

Thinking about it, Alicia felt a surge of anger, but held it in for now.

This alone wasn’t enough to confront Celia.

She’d watch and, if Celia kept acting shamelessly, she’d speak up firmly.

Alicia followed behind Mikael, holding back her anger.

Mikael struggled to walk, dragged by Celia.

His face showed he was troubled.

Alicia didn’t know everything about Mikael yet, but she recognized that expression.

He didn’t want to go with Celia.

Unable to watch any longer, Alicia wanted to get Mikael away from Celia.

She gathered her dress, preparing to approach Mikael.

“…I want to go with Teacher.”

Mikael’s trembling voice rang out.

Firm, but tinged with fear.

Everyone stopped at Mikael’s unexpected words.

Celia frowned and said,

“Huh? What are you saying, Young Master?”

Mikael pointed at Alicia with a trembling hand.

“I-I want to go with Teacher.”

Even with Mikael’s clear statement, Celia pretended not to hear.

“I don’t understand. Last time, you said you wanted to go with me.”

She shamelessly lied, pressuring Mikael.

Her expression and tone were full of feigned innocence and injustice.

It was worthy of an Academy Best Actress award.

Celia’s act of manipulating Mikael was truly disgraceful.

However, unlike before, Mikael clenched his fists and looked at Celia, declaring,

“I… I don’t want to go with you. I’m going with Teacher!!”

Then, he shook off Celia’s grip on his arm.

“Young Master!”

Celia, flustered, tried to call Mikael back, but he ignored her and ran straight to Alicia.

Normally, Mikael would have been frozen in fear, unable to move.

But somehow, for the first time since Alicia had known him, he summoned the courage to express his own will.

Mikael rushed to Alicia and hugged her leg tightly.

Alicia, proud of Mikael, bent down and hugged him back, gently patting his tense back to calm him.

Meanwhile, Celia, her face red with anger, glared at Alicia as if she wanted to kill her, approaching with heavy steps.

The sound of her footsteps echoed her rage.

Yet Alicia looked at her calmly.

She had seen plenty of people like Celia lose their temper before, and knew that things rarely turned out as badly as feared.

Celia, furious, came right up to Alicia’s face.

She stood there, breathing heavily, like a wild boar.

Then she grabbed Alicia by the collar.

“If it weren’t for you, Young Master would be mine!”

Her face was twisted with murderous rage.

Thinking only to protect Mikael, Alicia pushed him to the side, just in case he might get hurt.

Even with Mikael nearby, Celia showed no hesitation.

She pulled Alicia’s collar even harder.

The grip was so tight it was hard to breathe, but Alicia didn’t care.

Mikael was safe.

Celia screamed at Alicia,

“You ruined everything! How dare someone like you—!”

Her hand rose high, ready to slap Alicia.

Alicia, unable to breathe, was defenseless.

She had no intention of fighting back.

If she fought, she’d become just like Celia—and Mikael might end up fearing her, too.

‘That can’t happen.’

So Alicia braced herself, closing her eyes, ready to take the blow.

Just then,

Celia shouted,

“Who’s there!”

Startled by the loud voice, Alicia opened her eyes to see Celia’s shocked expression.

Someone had grabbed Celia’s hand from behind, causing her to turn around in surprise.

There stood Cedric, towering like a mountain, gripping Celia’s hand.

He glared at her like a wolf with prey before him.

Everyone was stunned by the unexpected turn, watching in silence.

Cedric ground his teeth like a beast and spoke in a low, cavernous voice,

“Take your filthy hands off.”