Arne asked Penny out of curiosity.

“Do you have a daughter?”

Penny’s eyes widened like a rabbit’s. She didn’t expect Arne’s voice to be so warm or to show interest in her.

“Yes. How did you know? I have a daughter named Millie!”

Arne couldn’t speak. It didn’t feel real that Millie was alive, and it was hard to believe that this young-looking woman was Millie’s mother.

Penny felt intimidated when Arne didn’t say anything, wondering if she had made some mistake.

“I’m from a minority nomadic tribe, so I’m not yet familiar with the imperial culture. If I’ve done anything to upset you…”

“It’s not that. Just…”

Arne felt choked up. The more she looked, the more she saw resemblances between Penny and Millie.

Millie had said her mother died after being bumped into by a maid and unfortunately fell down the stairs behind her, breaking her neck and dying instantly.

“Penny, have the maids been pushing your shoulder lately?”

“Yes. They say it’s a greeting unique to the empire. There was also a dead mouse on my bed once. They said it was a spell for good luck.”

“……”

She was being bullied. The world of maids at Duke Ronia’s estate is harsh.

The maids trying to gain favor with Bianca held power, and those naively kind to Arne were all ostracized.

Thus, newly kind maids would soon pretend not to see Arne.

Or they would be framed and expelled from the ducal estate.

With Bianca and the duchess behind it, it wasn’t difficult. Thus, they isolated Arne.

To prevent her from doing anything she wanted within the duke’s estate.

‘I need someone I can trust within the duke’s estate for what’s to come. Moreover, if she’s Millie’s mother, I absolutely can’t let her die.’

When Arne remembered Millie, who had mourned her mother’s death, her expression hardened. Penny, misunderstanding this, spoke disheartenedly.

“It’s probably not the Imperial culture but just me that you dislike, right? Not even a dead mouse to wish me luck, just because you dislike me…”

“Penny, I like you.”

“What?”

“I can’t stand to see my personal maid being bullied. Who has been bothering you?”

“It’s okay. It’s because I’m lacking. I haven’t been here long, so I’ve made many mistakes, and being from a minority nomadic tribe, I’m not readily accepted, but even that is more than I could ask for.”

Penny quickly waved her hands. The empire was home to various minority tribes and races.

It was one of the aftermaths of frequent wars. The empire declared peace after engulfing many countries in war, subjugating demons, and ending with the Great Demon War.

Promising to accept all races and tribes without discrimination.

However, the absence of legal discrimination did not change people’s attitudes overnight.

Those with appearances that bore traces of minority tribes or demonic blood, once enslaved by war, were still disregarded.

For instance, red hair and red eyes.

Arne’s gaze lingered on Penny’s red hair. It could have been the act of someone who despised minority tribes.

“Stay away from the stairs from now on. You wouldn’t disobey my first order, would you?”

“What?”

Arne became anxious. She couldn’t mention her fate of dying by rolling down the stairs.

She emphasized in a very serious tone that she needed to deal with the maids bullying Penny soon.

“If you’re by the stairs, you’ll be in big trouble with me. Understand?”

“Yes.”

Penny nodded obediently.

She had a feeling that Arne was worried about her, that’s why she was giving such a serious command and telling her she’d get into trouble.

Penny smiled sneakily, noticing Arne’s mood.

“I was afraid you might hit me, but it seems you’re actually a kind person.”

Arne just blinked at this strange comment she heard for the first time.

It sounded similar to something Millie’s mother would say.

“Shall I start with treatment? Or would you like me to fix your hair first?”

“Treatment can wait. There’s no time.”

“Yes.”

Even after responding, Penny kept glancing at Arne’s swollen left hand and right foot, still concerned.

But as they started dressing up, Penny’s gaze quickly shifted elsewhere. Or rather, she couldn’t look away. 

From between the long bangs, Arne’s red eyes shone through.

Her eyes and lips reddened, against her pale skin as if in pain, and had a strange allure that captured attention.

“Your eyes are really beautiful. It’s a shame your bangs almost cover your face. If there was more time, I would have cut them.”

“That’s okay.”

“Your silver hair is also very pretty. I get teased for my red hair being ominous.”

“I used to have red hair too. It just turned white due to frequent mana surges.”

“Ah…”

Penny was at a loss for words, as if she had insulted the lady by calling her hair ominous.

When Arne raised her hand, Penny closed her eyes tightly, fearing a slap.

But Arne’s hand gently grasped Penny’s red hair instead.

“I used to dislike the color of my red hair when I was young. It felt like it was saying I wasn’t a child of this house full of silver-haired people.”

That’s why she liked her hair turning white due to her frequent mana surges, even though it damaged her body.

‘It made me feel like I could look like part of the family.’

“But now that I think about it, it seems like a foolish thing. Why does hair color matter?”

Arne stroked Penny’s red hair and met her eyes.

“Pretty.”

Penny couldn’t take her eyes off Arne’s red eyes. It was the first time she had heard such words since her husband died.

“In my eyes, you are beautiful. So, don’t ever say your hair color is ominous again. That would be insulting to me, your master.”

“…Yes.”

Penny’s face flushed as red as her hair.

Somehow, even the rims of her eyes seemed to redden, so she smiled more vigorously.

Raising a child alone, especially as a minority nomadic tribe member living in the empire with her child, was tough.

She had to wake up alone at dawn when all the maids were asleep, to iron the clothes of the lady, whom everyone avoided, just to keep her job and continue receiving work.

Hoping for kindness was a luxury. However, it seemed she longed for someone’s warm words deep down.

Penny resolved to wake up at dawn several times, even if she was not asked, to iron the lady’s clothes.

“I’m really good with my hands! I can braid hair beautifully. Just wait a bit!”

“Thank you.”

Arne was lost in thought, entrusting herself to Penny’s delicate and attentive touch.

Earlier, Betty had said that the Renigrad Grand Ducal family and the Leverun family would also attend.

It meant not only Cedric but also Amelia de Leverun would be there.

Thinking about her husband being with his ex-fiancée, especially a woman who had cheated on him, was not pleasant.

‘Nobles often have a few natural-looking meetings before getting engaged.’

It was to see if their families’ desires matched or to create a suitable image.

‘Is there no way to get rid of that bastard Kale and prevent Cedric and Amelia’s meeting?’

While she was pondering, Agatha returned with new clothes and a quill. Seeing that Betty, Bianca’s henchwoman, was nowhere in sight brought a smile to Arne’s lips.

There was one more person in this mansion who wanted to prevent Cedric and Amelia’s meeting more than anyone.

Bianca!

‘There are times when Bianca can be useful. Just take her along and she will handle everything.’

However, because it was a banquet for Arne and Kale’s meeting, Bianca couldn’t go if Arne didn’t attend the banquet.

Because it would appear in society as if Bianca was interested in Kale instead of Arne.

That’s why she sent Betty to nag her about it. To hurry and go to the banquet.

‘Then I have no choice but to attend the banquet.’

Seeing Arne in a good mood, Penny cautiously asked.

“Do you like your hair?”

“I love it. You’re really skilled.”

Arne was surprised when she saw herself in the mirror. Penny’s craftsmanship was exceptional.

The ends of her hair, which had been frayed and dull, appeared calm and elegant, possibly due to oil, making even her usual black dress look refined.

Pleased with Arne’s reaction, Penny asked,

“How should I do your makeup?”

“Like a woman going to see her husband’s ex-fiancée.”

“I’ll do my best.”

Suddenly, Penny’s determination flared up.

* * *

Dragged out by Agatha’s hand, Betty cursed the moment she grabbed the duchess’s new dress.

After throwing the duchess’s new dress at Agatha, Betty immediately headed for Bianca.

In Bianca’s bedroom, several maids were trying on accessories that matched the dress.

“Betty, why are you only coming now! Do you know how short-handed we are for the banquet Lord Cedric is attending… Wait, what happened to your face?”

The maids were shocked and speechless at the sight of Betty’s swollen face.

“Lady Bianca! That wretched woman Arne dared to slap me! As if that fake lady thinks she’s the real one!”

Betty smirked. Now Bianca would head to Arne’s bedroom to slap Arne’s face.

However, unlike usual, Bianca dropped the handbag she was holding. Wrapping her trembling hands around it.

“Arne did that?”

“Yes!”

Bianca was reminded of a warning Arne had given her earlier.

「Bianca, I’m warning you for the last time. If you grab my hair even once more, those beautiful hands of yours will be completely destroyed.」

That crazy girl must have really lost it.

Betty’s face was a mess. Her face was swollen like a blowfish, and her lips were cracked and unsightly.

“Bianca?”

Betty asked, urging Bianca, who was behaving unusually.

She hesitated to go and grab Arne by the hair and pour out humiliating words, since it wouldn’t be any good.

“Be quiet.”