Chapter 1.20

After finishing breakfast and tidying up with Martha’s help, Liz sat absentmindedly in her room.  

Throughout the grooming process, Martha had explained the rules of the Winchester Estate.  

“Still, it’s quite fortunate. There’s not much I need to teach you.”  

As Martha had noted, Liz already knew most of what was required of the lady of the Winchester household.  

Having assisted Isabel with her studies, Liz had memorized most of the material herself.  

“Oh, and don’t ever go into the third-floor rooms. That’s where His Grace resides.”  

Recalling Martha’s words, Liz gave a faint, bitter smile. How could she have missed such a crucial detail?  

Perhaps this was where everything had started to go wrong.  

If only she hadn’t gone up to the third floor.  

If only she had noticed something was off with Miss Isabel.  

If only she hadn’t accepted the shoes…  

The thoughts began to weigh her down.  

“Enough!”  

Liz sprang to her feet.  

Sulking like this didn’t suit her.  

Taking a deep breath, she looked around.  

The room was well-organized but unfamiliar compared to Myra.  

Liz began rearranging the wardrobe and vanity to her liking.  

She covered the empty spaces left by Isabel’s personal belongings.  

She straightened and prettied up the slightly wrinkled curtains.  

After tidying the bedroom, she moved on to the dressing room and then the lady’s parlor.  

Liz worked tirelessly, cleaning every room.  

“Wow, even the dusters here are fancy…”  

Liz marveled at the ostrich-feather duster she found in a corner.  

The pristine white duster looked more decorative than practical, almost worthy of display.  

Feeling somewhat cheerful, Liz used it to clean even the hard-to-reach spots thoroughly.  

Before long, the rooms were spotless, ready for Isabel to return at any moment.  

“This isn’t bad at all.”  

Satisfied, Liz twirled the duster as she returned to the bedroom.  

“Oh my!”  

Upon entering, Liz stumbled back in surprise.  

Sitting at the bedroom table, legs crossed, was Valentine Winchester.  

Valentine, too, looked taken aback as he stared at Liz—or more precisely, at the duster in her hand.  

“What… exactly were you doing?”  

Valentine’s gaze remained fixed on the duster. Liz, caught off guard, stammered,  

“Well… this room felt unfamiliar, so I tidied it up a bit. To suit my preferences.”

Valentine silently shifted his gaze to the feather duster.  

It was a silent pressure, questioning why she hadn’t called for a maid and had cleaned herself.  

Liz considered explaining that moving her body helped clear her mind, but she stopped herself.  

She didn’t want to give him unnecessary details. It wasn’t as if he would sympathize.  

“Isabel doesn’t particularly like others touching her belongings.”  

Instead of explaining, Liz spoke sharply.  

It created a strange situation where she referred to herself in the third person, but there was no other choice.  

At least she had said “Isabel” instead of “Miss Isabel,” which was a small relief.  

“Understood. Then why don’t you put that item down first?”  

“That item?”  

Valentine gestured elegantly toward the feather duster, as if he didn’t even want to call it by name.  

Liz glanced down at the feather duster in her hand.  

“It’s hard to imagine Isabel using such a thing.”  

Though his words were correct, they only made Liz feel worse.  

No matter how beautiful it was, a feather duster was still just a feather duster.  

Liz felt the same way. No matter how prettily she dressed, her essence wouldn’t change.  

She was just a maid who got excited over a cleaning tool that was prettier than the ones used at Myra.  

Her face burned with embarrassment, but Liz held firm and spoke.  

“But this isn’t trash. It’s an essential tool for cleaning.”  

Liz gripped the feather duster tightly and held it up in front of him.  

“Look. Without this, the estate would be covered in dust.”  

Valentine’s eyebrows furrowed.  

“Are you insulting me right now? By waving around something only maids use….”  

A hollow laugh escaped Liz’s lips.  

Except for this feather duster, everything in this place felt foreign and uncomfortable to her.  

In hindsight, it made sense.  

The feather duster was the only thing in this room that could be considered “something maids use.”  

“Not at all. I actually quite like this feather duster.”  

Liz met his gaze directly.  

Valentine composed his expression and sighed.  

“Don’t try to act boastful. The dignity of Winchester doesn’t come from such frivolous behavior.”  

“Boastful? I’m being sincere, Your Grace.”  

Liz turned abruptly and walked toward the display cabinet.  

“What are you doing now?”  

Inside the glass cabinet where the shoes had once been, candles, fountain pens, and porcelain figurines were neatly arranged.  

Liz placed the feather duster in the spot where the shoes had been and closed the cabinet door.  

Valentine, at a loss for words, stared at her.  

“What on earth….”  

“I told you, I’m sincere.”  

This feather duster represented Liz herself.  

Even if it was displayed among beautiful items, it was still just a feather duster.  

“Out of everything here, I like this the most.”  

The feather duster, placed among the elegant decorations, looked comically out of place.  

Valentine stared at it and let out a long sigh before speaking slowly.  

“If this is a protest about not assigning a personal maid to you, then it’s quite effective.”  

“That’s not what I meant….”  

“But be patient. Resolving the matter of Liz Garrett as your personal maid is taking time.”  

“What? Liz… Garrett?”  

Liz’s eyes widened in shock at his sudden words.  

Valentine, seemingly pleased with her reaction, smirked.  

“Curious? About what happened to that maid?”  

His intentions were obvious, but Liz couldn’t help but nod.  

It felt like following a trail of breadcrumbs, knowing it led to a witch’s house.  

“She’s been completely expelled from Myra. The reason given was theft.”  

“Theft? How could they accuse her of something so absurd….”  

Liz’s face flushed red with anger.  

Valentine chuckled softly.  

“You seem quite attached to that maid. Then.”  

Valentine leaned back in his chair and asked casually.  

“What do you think happened to her family?”  

The word “family” made Liz catch her breath.  

Images of her mother lying in the care facility and her father working as a guard flashed through her mind.  

No matter how much had happened, how could she have forgotten her family?  

Liz’s heart began to race uncontrollably.  

If Myra had tried to destroy her, it was only natural they wouldn’t spare her family either.  

“What… what happened to the family?”  

Liz asked in a trembling voice.  

“They’re likely in the same situation as Liz Garrett. Finley Garrett will be fired, Greta Garrett will be expelled from the care facility. If they’re unlucky, they might even be banished from the territory entirely.”  

“That’s ridiculous….”  

Losing their jobs was bad enough, but banishment?  

If that happened, the Garretts’ lives would be completely ruined.  

Liz clutched her forehead and staggered.  

Valentine, feigning concern, stood up and steadied her by the shoulders.  

“Oh dear. Are you alright, Madam? You seem quite shocked….”  

“Your Grace!”  

Liz shook off his arm forcefully.  

She glared at him and shouted.  

“You promised! You promised to help my family! How can you just leave them like this?”  

Tears welled up in Liz’s eyes.  

“I didn’t say I’d leave them.”  

Valentine’s words brought a glimmer of hope to Liz’s expression.  

“Then….”  

“First, let’s correct those titles.”  

“What do you mean?”  

“Finley Garrett, Greta Garrett.”  

Valentine tilted his head and asked Liz.  

“Who are they?”  

“Of course, they’re my parents….”  

At her answer, Valentine’s expression turned icy.  

He placed his hands on her shoulders and gently guided her toward the mirror.  

In the reflection, Liz saw herself—a lady dressed in an elegant indoor gown.  

“I… am….”  

Liz’s gaze wavered.  

Only then did she realize Valentine’s intention.  

After a moment of hesitation, Liz spoke.  

“…Winchester.”  

“Then address them properly now.”  

Liz bit her lip.  

If she followed his instructions, it would feel as though she was truly losing her family.  

But Valentine spoke coldly.  

“I have no intention of helping the family of a maid.”  

The phrase “the family of a maid” pierced Liz’s heart.  

Because she was a maid, her family was treated the same way.  

“But if my wife, Duchess Winchester, makes a special request, then of course I must assist.”  

Liz bit her lip tightly before letting it go.  

If she abandoned her identity as Liz Garrett, she could change this situation.  

She could remain a useless Liz Garrett, or become Isabel Winchester, who could resolve everything.  

“So, make your request properly.”  

The answer was already decided.  

“Please… help the Garrett family.”  

As she spoke the words, she felt as though a piece of her heart had been sliced away.  

Though her family was scattered now, they had been her greatest support.  

As she erased the things most precious to her, one by one, Liz feared that someday Liz Garrett herself would disappear from the world.  

In the hollow space left behind, unease began to creep in.  

“Your expression doesn’t suit your request, Madam.”  

But even this didn’t seem to satisfy Valentine.  

“Then how….”  

“I told you yesterday how we should appear.”  

At his words, Liz remembered the kiss from the day before.  

Her cheeks burned with embarrassment.  

It had been rude and selfish, yet undeniably sweet and persistent enough to deceive even her.  

“So, Madam, act accordingly. Make your request like a loving couple would.”

A faint smile lingered on his lips, as if he was enjoying Liz’s discomfort.