Chapter 2.4

Of course, it was obvious.  

Feeling intimidated, Liz bit her lip tightly.

“That’s….”

Valentine didn’t miss the opportunity and naturally inserted himself into the pause.

“The Lucas couple were also curious about the portrait. I had been pondering how to handle it, but I’m very pleased it can be resolved this way.”

His words, which seemed to conclude the conversation, startled Liz, and she shook her head.

“But it’s true that my skills are lacking. I’ve never properly learned….”  

“Didn’t I say I would support you with a drawing teacher?”  

“How exactly? I can’t step out of this estate, can I? And I can’t bring a teacher here….”

Valentine shrugged his shoulders with a face too calm.

“Isn’t it possible to send your drawings to the teacher, and learn what to correct through written feedback?”  

“My goodness! Is that even possible?”

An exclamation escaped Liz’s lips without her realizing it. It was an unexpected method.  

She had thought that learning to draw naturally required an apprenticeship at an atelier.

‘In a ducal family, such a method is possible.’

Liz almost nodded automatically but quickly came to her senses and shook her head.

“Still, I think it’s unreasonable. This goes beyond the duties of the Duchess of Winchester.”

“I see.”

Valentine murmured as he subtly averted his gaze.

“I also think I’ve extended kindness beyond my bounds.”

“That’s….”

His words were right.  

In fact, the help Liz wanted wasn’t anything extraordinary.  

Just guaranteeing her mother’s hospitalization and writing a recommendation to make it easier for her father to find a job.  

She hadn’t imagined anything beyond that from the start.  

It was literally kindness beyond bounds.

“Well… then there’s something I want to ask.”

After hesitating for a moment, Liz asked.

“Who should I draw in the picture? I mean….”

“Of course, your current face.”

“Oh….”  

“Anyway, you are the Duchess of Winchester now. Never forget that.”

His firm answer shook Liz’s heart.  

Thinking about it, Valentine had always treated her as a Winchester.  

In front of him, Liz was not a mistreated maid but a precious lady.  

As long as Liz didn’t call herself a common maid, he always did so.  

Suddenly, her eyes welled up.  

Everything was fine if she wasn’t Liz Garrett. So Liz Garrett felt sad.  

Perhaps he noticed the somber atmosphere.  

Valentine asked jokingly.

“Oh, do you not like the model?”  

“No!”

Liz exclaimed loudly without realizing it, then quickly covered her mouth in surprise.

Quite some time had passed, but Liz still remembered her first meeting with him.  

The hair that sparkled under the sunlight and the deeply shadowed dark expression.  

If she could capture that contradiction, how thrilling it would be.  

She had tried drawing him on the dirt floor, but of course, the result was unsatisfactory.  

Suddenly, she recalled the first time she properly pronounced the name ‘Valentine Winchester’.  

The moment she carefully refined each word she had casually spoken and uttered them.  

She felt closer to the very existence of Valentine Winchester.  

No, perhaps it was even more than that.  

Liz felt as if she had taken a step into a new world.  

Then, what would it be like to truly learn to paint and capture Valentine Winchester at the tip of my brush?  

Liz cautiously looked at Valentine.  

He was wearing a relaxed smile.  

Yet, at the same time, there was a peculiar anxiety in his eyes.

‘…Why?’

Liz unconsciously gazed deeply into his eyes.  

In that moment, Valentine’s pupils clearly wavered.  

Nevertheless, the smile on his lips did not fade.  

What was real?  

She felt that if she looked just a little deeper, she could find out.  

She wanted to know him.

“I’ll paint you, Valentine.”

Liz’s lips moved as if enchanted.  

Valentine’s faintly trembling pupils slowly settled.  

It felt as if she would be drawn into Valentine’s eyes. Liz let out a soft sigh.  

By the time that faint breath reached Valentine’s ears, he tightly closed his eyes.  

At that moment, it was as if she had come to her senses, emerging from water. Liz hurriedly spoke.

“Oh, but I have a request. If the result isn’t appropriate, please refrain from displaying it. I don’t want to tarnish Winchester’s dignity.”

Liz finished speaking and looked at Valentine.  

He had returned to his usual relaxed expression.

“That’s an excellent attitude. What art supplies do you need?”  

“Not much… just the basics should be fine.”

Liz waved her hand dismissively, meeting Valentine’s gaze.

“Are you sure about that?”

His question carried many layers.  

Liz swallowed dryly.  

It wasn’t just a drawing.  

It was truly painting a commemorative portrait as the Duchess of Winchester.  

Liz gathered her courage and spoke.

“Actually, I think I’ll need a studio.”

This room was too full of precious items to use as a studio.  

If she accidentally spilled paint on the expensive carpet, it would be truly troublesome.

“A studio…. Please tell me in more detail.”

Liz continued speaking more assertively.

“Something like a small maid’s room would be fine. Somewhere not many people pass by. It would be even better if it’s well-ventilated.”  

“Understood. I’ll arrange it.”

Valentine nodded readily.

“Is there anything else you need?”

Suddenly, Jenny’s annoying face popped into her mind.  

But Liz shook her head.

‘The Duchess of Winchester wouldn’t consult her husband on such matters.’

This was something she had to handle herself.

“No, it’s fine.”

Valentine squinted and observed Liz’s expression, then stood up.

“If you have any requests, instruct the Head Maid. Then.”

After Valentine left, Liz naturally began to tidy up the room and put the chair back, but she paused.

‘Is this right?’

Liz looked around the room.  

Of course, nobles also did simple tidying themselves.  

But it wasn’t appropriate to personally clean the room after a guest had left.

“Anyway, you are the Duchess of Winchester now.”

Valentin’s words echoed in Liz’s mind.  

After hesitating for a moment, Liz took out a pair of blue shoes from under the bed.  

The shoes, which hadn’t lost their shine, sparkled just like the day she first wore them.

“…Winchester.”

Liz murmured softly.  

The elegant pronunciation echoed in the room, even to her own ears.  

Liz took a deep breath.  

She wasn’t yet confident enough to wear those shoes again.  

But.  

Liz opened the cabinet and placed the blue shoes next to a duster.  

Then, with a tense hand, she pulled the bell rope.  

A moment later, Martha entered the room.

“Martha, is Jenny around?”  

“Yes, she went out saying she had somewhere to go this morning… Shall I call her for you?”  

“Please do.”

Liz nodded briefly.  

Before leaving, Martha spoke to Liz.

“You seem to be practicing diligently these days.”

Liz almost smiled brightly at those words but stopped.

‘…Duchess of Winchester.’

Liz spoke with a gentle smile.

“I can’t bring disgrace to Winchester.”

At those words, Martha let out a long sigh of relief.

“You’ve made a very wise decision. It’s for the best for you, Miss.”

It was true.  

It was in Liz’s best interest to enjoy everything she could in Winchester for the long term.  

Then why did her heart feel so heavy?  

Liz tried to ignore it and nodded.

“Thank you. I’ll be counting on you from now on as well.”

A moment later, Jenny entered hesitantly.

“Jenny, did you finish your errands?”

Jenny nodded without answering.  

It was rude, but Liz ignored it and continued speaking.

“The Duke has visited, so could you tidy up the room?”

At those words, Jenny openly showed her displeasure.

“Martha just came by. Why didn’t you ask her instead of me?”  

“Martha is the Head Maid. Isn’t this more your responsibility?”

Liz interrupted Jenny’s words and spoke clearly.

“Of course, but first, return my cosmetics.”

Jenny glared at Liz with slanted eyes, then took a lipstick out of her pocket.  

Fortunately, the lipstick appeared intact.  

The moment Liz reached out, Jenny stepped back as if she had remembered something.

“Let me use it one last time before returning it.”

Before Liz could stop her, Jenny opened the lipstick cap.  

Then, she bit off a piece of the lipstick.  

Liz’s eyes widened.

“You…!”

While Liz was too shocked to speak, Jenny took out a handkerchief.  

She spat the bitten piece of lipstick onto the handkerchief.

“There. Take it.”

Jenny smiled brightly as she offered the lipstick.

“Isn’t the casing less important? It’s the content that matters.”

Jenny spoke with a victor’s smile.

“You’re the same. No matter how pretty you pretend to be, inside you’re just a maid.”

Jenny lifted her chin arrogantly.  

Liz clenched her fist.  

Her nails, now grown longer, dug into her well-maintained palm. The sharp pain brought her back to her senses.

“…No, Jenny.”  

“What?”

Liz steadied her trembling breath and spoke the words she had prepared.

“You, me, Martha, Valentine… we’re all the same inside. We’re just doing our respective jobs. Martha does the work of a Head Maid, Valentine does the work of the Duke of Winchester.”  

“But your job is still a maid!”

Jenny shouted.  

Liz nodded calmly.

“Yes, I was a maid of Myra.”

Liz looked Jenny straight in the eye.

“But remember, I’m not a maid now.”

At those words, Jenny flinched and couldn’t respond. Liz continued speaking calmly.

“Right now, I’m the Duchess of Winchester. That’s my role. My job.”

Jenny gritted her teeth in frustration.

“You’re acting all high and mighty even though you don’t know when you’ll be kicked out…!”  

“That’s right. Just like I’m no longer a maid of Myra, I might be dismissed from the position of Duchess of Winchester someday.”

Liz turned her gaze.  

She saw the blue shoes and duster lined up in the display cabinet.  

Liz bit her lip tightly and continued speaking.

“But until then, I’ll fulfill my role diligently.”

Liz took a step toward Jenny.

“Martha is fulfilling the role of the Head Maid. So from now on, address her as Head Maid, not by her name.”  

“Don’t be ridiculous!”

Jenny threw the lipstick case.  

Liz watched the lipstick roll across the floor for a moment before speaking.

“Thank you for returning the cosmetics. You… need a container to take it with you, right?”

Liz turned her gaze toward the vanity.

“You said the casing wasn’t important, but I happen to have a container that suits you.”

“What….”

Liz fetched a small trash can from the vanity and offered it.

“How about taking it in this?”

At that moment, Jenny’s expression turned blank.

“You… you… just wait and see!”

Jenny stormed out of the room, slamming the door.  

Liz murmured, mixing feelings of futility and relief.

“…I didn’t tell her to leave. Still a long way to go.”

Liz chuckled softly to herself.  

She had tried to resolve it with words, but it seemed impossible with this opponent.  

Though she felt sorry for Martha, but for Liz, or rather, the Duchess of Winchester, she would need to find a new personal maid.