Chapter 1.13

Theodore reached out and grabbed Liz’s arm.  

“Liz, say something! This isn’t right!”  

Liz found herself caught between the two men, unsure of what to do.  

But what could she possibly say in this situation?  

‘Theo, let’s stop this for now….’  

She mouthed the words and shook her head, her expression clearly troubled.  

Valentine, catching sight of her reaction, spoke.  

“Lord Russell.”  

His voice was low as he continued.

“Remember, the only reason I’m not calling the guards to throw you out is because of the steamships your father operates.”  

At those words, Theodore bit his lip.  

The Russell family purchased large quantities of coal from the Winchesters to fuel their trade ships.  

If he pushed any further, it could affect the Russell family’s business.  

“…I’m sorry for causing trouble.”  

Theodore let out a long sigh and released Liz.  

“I’ll contact you later, Liz Garrett.”  

Even in his parting words, Theodore firmly used Liz’s name, a clear protest aimed at Valentine.  

Because of this, Liz couldn’t fully relax as she turned to look at Valentine.  

However, Valentine merely smiled.  

“To think you’ve made friends while I was away. Your social skills are impressive.”  

The mockery disguised as praise began to stir Liz’s emotions, pushing her from sadness to anger.  

“Yes. Lord Russell was a great help in the banquet hall just now.”  

Liz retorted, her tone sharp with thorns.  

But Valentine neither got angry nor apologized.  

His silence only made Liz’s frustration boil over, and she continued to lash out.  

“Don’t tell me I didn’t try hard enough. I did my best. Besides, there’s no place in the world where a trainee is left alone like this. I naturally assumed you would return quickly, Your Grace….”  

“Were you waiting for me?”  

Valentine interrupted her with a short question. Liz glared at him with resentment and shouted.  

“Of course! Do you have any idea how much I waited for you?”  

Her outburst was followed by silence.  

Had I gone too far? 

Liz bit her lip nervously as she glanced at him.  

Surprisingly, Valentine’s response was gentle.  

“Well done.”  

“What?”  

Startled, Liz looked up at Valentine.  

He smiled, looking entirely pleased as if she had done exactly what he wanted.  

‘What on earth….’  

Liz resolved not to get drawn in any further. She steadied herself and spoke.  

“Anyway, I don’t think I’m suited for this position. Now that the banquet is over, please let me leave as you promised.”  

“No.”  

Valentine shook his head firmly.  

His refusal made Liz’s heart pound.  

Was it fear? Yet she couldn’t shake the feeling that it wasn’t just fear unsettling her.  

‘Why? Why do I keep feeling this way….’  

Liz tried to ignore her confusing emotions.  

“Are you going back on your word? The great Duke of Winchester?”  

Liz questioned him defiantly, trying to regain her composure. Valentine chuckled softly.  

“You still have to accompany me to see the guests off. That’s part of your duties.”  

Ah, so that’s what he meant.  

The faint tremor in Liz’s heart cooled immediately.  

“You said I could leave the banquet hall immediately. Why are you changing your words now?”  

Liz protested again. There was no way the hint of sorrow in her tone was intentional. Absolutely not.  

“Didn’t I clarify afterward? You wouldn’t leave the banquet hall ‘alone.’”  

Valentine emphasized the word “alone” as he shrugged.  

“Petty….”  

Liz muttered under her breath, glaring at him.  

Yet Valentine continued to wear his calm smile.  

Seeing his composed expression, an unexpected stubbornness flared up within her.  

Liz nodded firmly.  

“Fine. Let’s go, dear.”  

It was all over now anyway. What was there to fear about merely seeing the guests off?  

Liz glared at him and extended her hand haughtily.  

A faint sound of amusement escaped Valentine’s lips, his smile curving slightly.  

“As you wish.”  

Valentine placed his hand beneath hers, gently enclosing it as if handling something precious.  

“Ah….”  

The soft touch made Liz’s face flush red.  

Embarrassed by her reaction, Liz raised her chin with a pout.  

‘He’s mocking me again, isn’t he?’  

But there was no trace of teasing in Valentine’s expression.  

“Shall we, Madame?”  

Valentine led her with ease.  

His actions weren’t exaggerated to mock her; they were simply natural for him.  

Realizing this left Liz’s mind blank.  

Her earlier defiance and the circumstances that had forced her into such thoughts suddenly felt embarrassing.  

Liz held her breath, overwhelmed by her own foolishness.  

‘How ridiculous.’  

Without a word, Liz lowered her gaze and followed him.  

Her bright blue shoes pinched her feet, making every step painful.  

***

“The banquet ended earlier than expected. What a shame, Duke Winchester.”  

After Valentine announced the end of the banquet, the guests left the estate one by one, exchanging polite farewells with the Winchester couple.  

Count Myra observed the scene from a guest room above.  

“Hah….”  

The count had spent the entire banquet in the guest room, feigning ill health.  

Simply refraining from disrupting the event was, in his view, enough to uphold his noble dignity.  

“Next time, let’s host a more leisurely event. I’ll be sure to invite you again.”  

“Safe travels, Baron.”  

From a distance, the pair looked like a genuine couple.  

Liz now seemed quite adept at greeting people naturally.  

Count Myra muttered under his breath.  

“What a brazen girl….”  

Of course, Liz lacked the grace of a true lady.  

This was all the more apparent when she stood beside Valentine, whose every movement exuded elegance.  

Anyone asked would unanimously agree that Isabel was the perfect match for Valentine.  

Yet, strangely, Count Myra couldn’t shake his unease as he watched them.  

There was a subtle, unfamiliar energy between them, something absent in the perfect image of Valentine and Isabel.  

Count Myra furrowed his brow deeply as he continued to observe the two.  

Even now, Valentine leaned down to whisper something to Liz, and she responded with a burst of laughter.  

“Impertinent!”  

The count clenched his teeth and slammed his hand against the window frame.  

No matter how powerful Valentine Winchester might be, Count Myra was still a noble in his own right.  

His daughter, Isabel, would return. She would become the Duchess of Winchester.  

He would invest all his resources to make it happen.  

But the current situation was dangerous.  

Valentine, despite his reputation as a cold-hearted businessman, was still a young man.  

The maid was beautiful—unpolished like a raw gem, but undeniably radiant.  

What if Valentine took the maid as his mistress before Isabel returned? How humiliating would that be?  

No, there was no need to think that far.  

The fact that a maid had stood in Isabel’s place at the wedding was already known to all the guests.  

Liz’s mere existence was enough to make Count Myra the laughingstock of society.  

“This cannot be allowed.”  

Count Myra pulled the bell cord. Immediately, an attendant entered the room.  

“Count, are you feeling better?”  

In a low voice, the count whispered into the attendant’s ear.  

“Prepare….”  

The attendant’s eyes widened in shock as he looked at the count.  

“Are you serious?”  

The count nodded silently. After a moment’s hesitation, the attendant bowed deeply.  

“As you command.”  

The attendant left the room quietly. Count Myra turned back to the window, glaring at the shameless maid who still occupied Isabel’s rightful place.  

It was time to end this farce.  

***

“Haaah….”  

Finally, the last guest had left.  

Liz’s feet were swollen from the uncomfortable shoes, and her throat felt raw from all the greetings.  

‘When I was a maid, nobles seemed to have it easy. But this is harder than I thought.’  

Liz collapsed into an empty chair in the banquet hall.  

Valentine placed a hand on her shoulder.  

“You’ve worked hard, Madame.”  

Unlike Liz, who was completely drained, Valentine remained impeccable and composed.  

‘How can anyone be like that….’  

Liz stared blankly at the banquet table, lost in thought.  

On the crumpled tablecloth lay flowers that had yet to be cleared away—red roses, tulips, and salvias.  

Most of the flowers, nestled among green leaves, were red.  

Surely, this was meant to honor Isabel Myra’s fiery red hair.  

A bitter smile crept onto Liz’s lips.  

At that moment, Valentine spoke.  

“They resemble you.”  

Liz, who had paused for a moment, nodded.  

“Yes, they resemble Isabel.”  

A cool night breeze swept between the two of them.  

After a moment of silence, Valentine spoke again.  

“No, they resemble the Duchess of Winchester.”  

“Well… yes, I suppose so.”  

Liz let out a small laugh.  

Here he goes again, insisting that she is Isabel.  

Not wanting to argue, Liz replied nonchalantly.  

However, Valentine seemed dissatisfied with her response and spoke again.  

“I mean you.”  

Valentine’s blue eyes fixed on Liz.  

In those noble eyes, Liz saw her own reflection— her disheveled hair, mismatched jewelry, and a face worn with fatigue.  

Everything about her seemed utterly shabby.  

‘…I hate this. Truly.’  

Liz quickly turned her head, breaking away from his gaze.  

Her eyes landed on a single vibrant red tulip that still lay on the table.  

Impulsively, Liz picked it up.  

She wanted to become Isabel Myra.  

“Do I resemble her now?”  

Liz placed the tulip behind her ear.  

Valentine gazed at her silently.  

Liz hoped he would nod in approval.  

That he would say, “You did well today. Right now, you look quite like Isabel—the perfect Isabel.”  

If he said that, Liz thought she might be able to smile.  

She could remember this summer’s commotion as a pleasant comedy.  

But.  

“…Not really.”