***

We returned quickly without even having breakfast. Since we had left secretly, we had to hurry back before someone discovered us.

“Then I’ll report the progress to the Count and come back to see you again.”

“Okay.”

Dawson was to enter through the main gate first and report the situation so far to the Count.

Standing by the wall, I turned around to look at Damian after Dawson disappeared.

He raised an eyebrow as if to ask ‘what’, and I smiled brightly.

“What are you doing? Carry me.”

“Pardon?”

“Tsk, if you took me out, you should bring me back nicely. Carry me and put me in my room.”

Damian put his hand to his head and sighed. “My lady, where on earth did you learn such a way of speaking?”

“Why? Are you going to criticize me for lacking dignity because I’m an illegitimate child?”

“It’s not that you lack dignity because you’re illegitimate, you just lack dignity in general.”

“Mm-hmm, sure, sure. But do you want to keep arguing with me?”

“Haa.”

At my bold retort, he rubbed his head once as if tired. Then he immediately picked me up. It seems he just wanted to get it over with and drop me off quickly.

“Kyaa-“

“What’s with that scream?”

“A scream of joy?”

“You-“

“Clench your teeth. And keep your mouth shut.”

I puckered my lips and made faces, and Damian just lifted his head to avert his gaze from my face. Smiling, I wrapped my arms around Damian’s neck, and today too, he leaped over the wall without warning. This time, I wasn’t surprised and hugged his neck a little tighter. I could hear the wind whistling past my ears.

***

Thud- Having landed safely on my room’s terrace without being caught by anyone, he carefully set me down.

“Oof, thank you.”

After dusting off my clothes which were covered in dirt, I approached the locked door.

Knock knock-

“Irena~”

Creeak-

“My lady? My lady!”

As I knocked on the terrace door, Irena came to open it, whimpering. She looked like she was about to throw herself into my arms.

“What’s this? It’s only been a day, did you miss me that much?”

“I missed you terribly! Yesterday, the second young master came, and just now, young master Calix visited. They said they had something to talk about.”

“Well, they probably just came to pick a fight. So what did you do?”

“I told them that you didn’t want to see anyone right now. I was so scared…”

“There, there, you did well.”

As I was comforting the trembling Irena, I turned around. Damian had already disappeared. Entering the room, I detached the sniffling Irena and approached the desk to take out a pouch I had put away. The heavyweight transferred directly to my hand.

“Here, take it.”

“Huh? What is this, my lady?”

“Vacation money.”

“What? This much? And what do you mean by vacation?”

Irena received the pouch with both hands respectfully, and when she opened it and saw the amount, she was flustered. My shoulders rose with satisfaction. This must be the joy of spending money.

“You must have a home and family. Go visit them. You worked hard helping me this time.”

“My lady… thank you so much.”

Tears finally welled up in her eyes as she spoke softly.

“It’s nothing. I’ll give you a week’s vacation starting tomorrow. Apply to the head maid. Tell her I gave permission.”

“Yes! Thank you so much. Hic, hnnnnng.”

“Why are you crying? Was it that hard for just one day?”

“Sniff. It’s just, hnnnng.”

“Irena.”

I had to spend quite a while sweating to comfort Irena, who was crying as if the world had ended.

The next day, Irena, who had immediately received her vacation, came to say goodbye to me.

“My lady, I’ll be going now.”

“Alright, take care.”

I smiled at her reflection in the mirror while another maid was grooming me. I could see the maid brushing my hair flinch in surprise. She seemed surprised by my normal tone. In Lora’s memories, her attitude towards servants was not only twisted from being mistreated, but it also gave the impression that her original personality wasn’t very good to begin with.

“Yes, and my lady!”

“Mm?”

“When I come back, I think I’ll be able to answer the proposal you mentioned earlier.”

Reading the positive meaning, I smiled brightly at her. Irena grinned back at me.

“Okay. Now go.”

“Yes, I’ll be back.”

Thud-

Not long after Irena left, the grooming was finished. I immediately went to my room and lay down. From now on, it was time to rest. I had been working too much lately. The flustered maid followed me, tiptoeing.

“My lady. You just finished grooming…”

“Leave.”

“But your hair will get messed up.”

“Hmm.”

To dissuade me once more. This would have been impossible for the previous Lora. It seems Lora’s image has improved slightly within the mansion, but I wonder if this is really a good thing. After pondering for a moment, I smiled and spoke firmly to the maid.

“Do I have any other schedules today?”

“Ah, no, You don’t.”

“Then why? And as you probably already know, I don’t like people talking back to me.”

“I’m sorry, my lady.”

“Alright. Go out and do your work.”

“Yes. Then I’ll take my leave.”

The maid apologized hesitantly and then left, closing the door with a dejected look.

“Ah, if it were Irena, she wouldn’t have talked back to me. Anyway, I need to rest today.”

I felt Irena’s absence as I lay down, rolling around lazily. Then I ate the warm scones and tarts brought by the maid and received Dawson’s report.

“I informed the Count about the agreements made so far. He seemed quite surprised and praised me a lot.”

“Is that so? That’s good. If things continue like this, it will go smoothly.”

I’ll be able to leave home smoothly.

“But in fact, this is all thanks to you, my lady.”

“Does it matter who gets the praise? What’s important is that everything turned out well in the end.”

I spoke with sincere conviction. Really, being able to leave home in the end was the most important thing. And as an extremely wealthy person at that.

“My lady! You seem too talented to just stay in the background like this. The Count should know about this…”

“Even if he knows, what would change? You know the Count’s personality.”

Besides, I’m going to live as I please once I leave anyway. I absolutely hated getting tired. After finishing speaking, I picked up the teacup and gazed at the scenery outside the window. Dawson remained silent for a while with his head bowed deeply. Then, as if he had made up his mind, he suddenly stood up.

“My lady! From now on, no matter what happens, I’m on your side!”

“Ah! You startled me. Alright, thank you.”

I had overlooked the fact that saying such things while spacing out makes me look incredibly forlorn due to Lora’s appearance. Well, having someone on my side is a good thing, I suppose. I sipped the warm tea with a slurp.