Imperial Princess. Those two words made my face stiff. I almost felt my cheek burning again from the slap I’d received long ago.

“Miss, are you alright?”

“Ah, yes. I’m fine.”

“I don’t understand why that princess visits our Duke when she treats him with such contempt. Perhaps she’s developed feelings for him now that he’s risen from commoner to Duke.”

“…”

My stomach churned remembering how the Imperial Princess had thoroughly dismissed and mocked both Lucifer and me because of our status. When I put down my spoon, Grandmother frowned.

“Tsk! How can you put down your spoon after eating only half? No wonder your legs have no strength and you ended up in the Duke’s arms going upstairs!”

“You saw that?”

My face flushed with embarrassment.

“Of course. When Terseon was chased away by the Duke but still worried about you, I kept watch from below just in case.”

“Thank you for worrying about me.”

“Oh dear, don’t mention it. It’s nothing to worry about at all.”

Grandmother Fabella’s words brought a broad smile to my face. They made my heart feel warm and ticklish.

“I envy Sir Terseon.”

“Why?”

“Because he has such a warm and kind grandmother.”

“Hohoho. If you’re so envious, would you like to be my granddaughter too?”

“Yes, I’d love that.”

When I eagerly leaned forward with enthusiasm, Grandmother put on a stern face.

Ah… Of course it was just a joke. Who would want a slave for a granddaughter? My gaze drifted to the soup bowl on the table. My head drooped along with the corners of my mouth.

Then her wrinkled palm gently smoothed my hair.

“Finish two bowls of soup and climb the stairs five times, then I’ll make you my granddaughter.”

Grandmother’s voice was more resolute than ever before.

* * *

“Welcome, Imperial Princess.”

Delia stared intently at the tall, well-groomed man greeting her in front of Duke Croisen’s mansion.

“Who are you?”

“I am Bazar Simon, steward and aide to the House of Duke Croisen.”

“Ah, so you’re that person.”

The princess raised her lips knowingly as she looked at the man with bright platinum-blonde hair. But her face quickly grew cold.

“Where is the Duke? Why is his steward greeting me instead? Is he snubbing me?”

“He was summoned by His Majesty the Emperor due to an urgent message from Lord Johannes of Belial.”

“What?”

The princess clenched her fists with visible displeasure.

How rude. Inviting a guest, and a noble princess at that, then leaving without notice to attend to business?

As she looked ready to turn around and leave, Bazar quickly tried to stop her.

“A message was sent immediately to Your Highness, but it seems we missed each other.”

“So you dared to make me come here for nothing?”

“Not at all. His Grace instructed me to provide you with lavish hospitality should you arrive at the mansion before the message reached you.”

Despite Bazar’s courteous attitude, the princess merely snorted. From her breathing to her slanted posture, her entire body radiated discontent.

“What am I supposed to do in a house without its master?”

“Being the future mistress, you naturally should inspect the home you’ll be managing. His Grace suggested you look around and consider how you might like to decorate it.”

Seeing the corner of the princess’s mouth twitch, Bazar finally relaxed.

Indeed, among men of the princess’s age, Duke Croisen was the most famous and capable. If the princess ultimately refused the marriage proposal, she could become no more than a Count’s wife at best.

Could a woman who had lived at the highest level of royalty ever bow her head to a Duke’s wife? The answer was obvious.

She couldn’t refuse the position of Duchess.

“It will take quite some effort to make this tiny mansion livable.”

The corners of Bazar’s mouth rose smoothly.

“This way, please.”

Following Bazar’s guidance, the princess began examining various parts of the Duke’s residence. Their first destination was the main building where the Duke’s bedroom was located.

“This is His Grace’s room.”

“What? Why is it so small?”

“It’s a space used only by His Grace. However, it connects to the Duchess’s room, here.”

The princess crossed her arms and surveyed the room with disapproving eyes.

“How modest, truly befitting someone of common birth. Hasn’t he even created a family crest yet?”

The Duke’s room lacked any decoration. It contained only what was necessary for sleeping, nothing more.

“Perhaps he wishes to create everything together with Your Highness, his future partner?”

Delia’s chin lifted slightly at Bazar’s words.

This steward, how smoothly he spoke, like candy on the tongue. Having an aide who catered to her preferences so perfectly seemed quite useful.

If only that man could please her this way too.

Delia’s mood soured as she recalled the face of a man who reminded her of a training dummy used by knights. Though undeniably handsome, he strangely lacked humanity. That made her dislike him even more.

“I hate bothersome things. How can there be nothing here that suits me?”

She grumbled. Despite the princess’s complaints that nothing pleased her from start to finish, Bazar maintained his pleasant smile.

“Commoners truly lack proper foundations.”

He kept smiling even when the princess insulted his master. Anyone watching might think the princess was his master.

“That’s why the great Princess of Cardamia must become the Duke’s partner. What other woman could lead the Duke’s household?”

“My goodness. The steward seems to recognize who deserves loyalty better than the Duke does.”

Bazar responded to Delia’s comment with another friendly smile. But suddenly, a cold wind seemed to blow across Delia’s face.

“Where is the slave the Duke brought back?”

“May I ask why you inquire about this?”

“Do I need to explain my reasons to a mere steward?”

The steward’s face grew serious at the princess’s sharp tone. Seeing this, the princess’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

“Not at all. However, His Grace has strictly forbidden access to where that woman is kept, so even I haven’t seen her yet.”

The Duke had contracted all employees with the condition that they must not disclose the slave’s situation to outsiders. That was something Bazar had to respect.

“Why? Isn’t she doing menial work in the stables?”

“For now, she’s not here.”

“Ha! Has he set up a separate household for her somewhere?”

The princess’s face grew increasingly red with anger. She had suspected it, but it seemed the Duke really had hidden that slave woman somewhere as his concubine.

Unacceptable. How dare he.

Bazar sensed the princess’s dangerous mood. This was quite troublesome. His primary role was to ensure the marriage between the princess and the Duke succeeded.

If he failed at this first task, he would lose his master’s trust.

“What I meant is that she’s not here in the main building.”

The princess caught his meaning.

“Hmm, I see. I suppose that’s all you can say.”

“I apologize.”

“Very well. Before wvisit the garden, shall we go to the annex first?”

The princess’s smile pleased Bazar. This was an opportunity to drive away the slave who could tarnish the Duke’s reputation.

* * *

In the lazy spring sunshine of the afternoon, I lay sprawled on my bed.

Yesterday’s struggle with the stairs was nothing. Today, after going up and down five times as Grandmother suggested, every muscle in my body screamed in protest.

Thanks to Grandmother Fabella, I exercised properly.

“Now I have a grandmother too.”

I buried my face in the soft pillow.

Grandmother had given me another basket of snacks along with her praise. She gave me a hearty sandwich and tangy apple juice for dinner, saying I’d probably find it difficult to come down in the evening. Just thinking about it made me forget my fatigue.

My only ally in this gloomy, depressing mansion.

I wanted to stay with this precious new relationship for a long, long time.

“But I’ll be the one to leave first, won’t I?”

I would depart this world before the healthy 60-year-old grandmother. That thought suddenly made me feel dejected.

About nine months left, perhaps?

The sad future predetermined for me didn’t allow for hope.

“Argh! Lea, you idiot!”

I lightly punched my head. Here I was, thinking gloomy thoughts again.

Staying idle makes me depressed. I need to move.

“People get depressed without sunlight. So hurry up and get stronger so you can go out for walks.” Grandmother Fabella’s advice came to mind.

Just like Grandmother said, I need to eat well and move well. With this determined thought, I began massaging my legs. She said working out the knots immediately would reduce the suffering later.

While I was concentrating on the massage, there was a sudden knock at the door.

“Who…?”

Who would come looking for me?

“It’s me. Kelly.”

The moment I heard the name, my hands tensed up. The sudden pressure made my muscles protest, and I frowned.

I don’t really want to see her.

“I’ve come with orders from the Duke.”

“The Duke?”

Something felt off. What issue could have prompted the Duke who visited yesterday to contact me? There must be some scheme…

“What is it?”

But I had to ask directly to find out. I opened the door.

Kelly waited for me with an indifferent expression, not showing any sign that she remembered yesterday’s incident, without even a frown.

“He says you should clean the stables.”

“Suddenly? Just yesterday he told me not to do anything.”

“Are you suggesting I’m lying? Here.”

She handed me a small piece of parchment.

“You can read the Empire’s language, can’t you?”

Such a dismissive tone. She probably thought I was born and raised only in Belial. I had already learned everything from Carden when I was young.

“If you’re tired of being cooped up inside, I’ll permit just one thing: cleaning the stables. They’re in the annex garden. Do as you please, if that’s what you want. Of course, if you do well today, there will be more opportunities.”

Lucifer’s neat, powerful handwriting and signature. This wasn’t something Kelly could have fabricated.

Still, it was suspicious that someone who told me to do nothing yesterday had suddenly changed his mind.

“I understand.”

“Wear this while working. Don’t dirty your expensive clothes.”

Kelly tossed me an apron and a dirty maid’s uniform before leaving. The maid’s uniform lying on the floor strangely weighed on my heart.

Could I manage this when my physical condition wasn’t great? But my hesitation was brief. I needed to prove I was useful to earn the next opportunity.

I’ll seize that opportunity.

That way, I might be able to do something beyond menial chores.

Having made up my mind, I quickly changed clothes and tucked Lucifer’s note into my pocket. After somehow managing to tie the apron by myself, I headed straight for the staircase in the middle of the corridor. 

Due to overexertion yesterday and today, the stairs looked even more dauntingly long. I began descending very slowly, one step at a time, holding the railing.

Before I could even make it halfway down, the annex door swung open wide, seemingly urging me to hurry.

“What is this ridiculous sight?”

And a voice filled with mockery and contempt blocked my path, bringing with it a dark aura.