***

A few days later, Irena returned from her vacation.

“My lady, I’m back.”

“Mm, welcome back.”

I was half-lying on the sofa reading a book as usual. I glanced at her once and then turned my attention back to the book. It was an important scene where the two protagonists were kissing.

“Yes, my lady, my lady! I want to follow you.”

Thud- I closed the book I was reading and looked up at Irena’s sudden surprise announcement. She was smiling brightly as she looked at me.

“You, you’re becoming more like me? You’ve developed a taste for surprising people. Have you made up your mind?”

“Yes. And thank you again.”

“It was just a little vacation, what’s there to thank for?”

I said, scratching my cheek. I felt embarrassed by her repeated thanks. Irena just smiled quietly as she looked at me.

“No, it’s not just that. Thanks to the vacation you gave me this time, I was able to create one last memory with my family.”

“Last memory?”

I straightened up from my position on the sofa. She calmly shared what had happened, as if talking about an ordinary daily occurrence.

“Ah, actually, my mother has been ill. It was an illness with no known cure. I was worried when I heard her condition had worsened, but thanks to you, I was able to send her off well.”

Her expression was as bright as usual, but I couldn’t smile back.

“My lady, there’s no need for such an expression. I’m so grateful to you. I was able to try some good medicine for my mother one last time.”

“You should have said something. Don’t suffer alone.”

“No, it’s not like that. I’m happy to have met such a good lady as you. If I hadn’t been your maid, I might have only been able to visit home long after my mother had passed away.”

She smiled foolishly with reddened eyes. I became lost in thought, realizing I knew nothing about Irena.

“Irena, do you have any other family members?”

“Ah, I have two twin siblings.”

“Really? How old are they?”

“Um, they’re 12 years old.”

“What will happen to them?”

“I plan to send them to the academy. They can enter the academy when they turn 13.”

“What about the tuition?”

“I have some savings, and you’ll pay me when I follow you, won’t you, my lady?”

She said playfully. It wasn’t funny at all with her reddened eyes, though.

“I’ll pay you well. But won’t you miss them?”

“I’ll miss them, but there’s nothing I can do. Even if I stay at the Count’s house, I don’t see them often anyway. I prefer following you, my lady.”

“Hmm, when do they enter the academy?”

“They’ll probably enter next March.”

“Where are they going?”

“I’m thinking of the Philippos Academy in the North.”

“That’s certainly better than the capital.”

The North primarily recruits talent based on ability due to its harsh environment. So I’ve heard that the academies there have less discrimination between commoners and nobles compared to the capital. The tuition is also cheaper, so if a maid working in the Count’s house scrapes together everything she has and the siblings receive scholarships, she might just be able to get two of them to graduate somehow.

“So, my lady, you have to keep me for a long, long time.”

Irena said with a bright smile.

“Alright, I’ll pay you well too.”

I just decided where to go live after leaving the Count’s house. We’ll go to the southernmost part of the North. It’ll be convenient for Irena to meet her siblings if we’re in that area, and I’ll be happy to be away from the capital. My previous resolution to not go near the North had turned to ashes and disappeared.

***

The day of the tea time arrived. I had thought of it lightly, but the maids and Irena clung to me and tormented me from dawn.

“Hmm, this dress would be better.”

“How about this set of accessories?”

“If we just add some waves to your hair and put it up, it’ll give the most lovely impression.”

I grew paler and paler. It had already been four hours.

“Why are you all so passionate about this? Just do it roughly.”

“We can’t! The Countess specifically instructed us that all the top young ladies from the capital will be attending today.”

“I don’t understand why you’re putting in so much effort when I’m leaving after this tea time.”

“My lady, image lasts forever. I want you to be remembered as truly beautiful, proper, and more precious than anyone else.”

I was grumbling with my mouth stretched out, but I quietly closed it at Irena’s sincere words.

It took a long time after that for the preparations to finish. I couldn’t help but be shocked when I saw the clock on the stairs going down to the first floor. We had spent a full six hours on grooming.

“It’s not like I’m a bride on her wedding day.”

The Countess was waiting for me on the first floor, and she looked me over with slightly less disapproval than usual.

“Hmm, I suppose you’ll do. Today, you must be careful with every word and action. And I’ve arranged for it to be officially announced that you’re leaving the capital soon for recuperation, so behave modestly accordingly.”

“Yes, I understand, Countess.”

I answered obediently, just for today.

With that, we quietly headed to the tea party venue, escorted by the knights. We didn’t exchange a single word in the carriage.

Neigh- Creak-

“We’ve arrived!”

When we arrived at Count Amone’s residence, the servants guided us to the tea party venue. Some ladies and young ladies were already seated in the hall. Countess Amone, who spotted us, immediately walked over to greet us.

“Welcome. It’s been a while, Countess.”

Only to Countess Epine, that is. It was a deliberate attitude of ignoring me.

“It’s been a while, Countess Amone. Thank you for inviting us. This is my daughter, Lorazie Epine.”

Daughter, she says. It was the first time I’d heard that word from the Countess in this place. I sneered inwardly but outwardly smiled politely and curtsied slightly.

“Thank you for inviting me, Countess.”

“Ah, so you’re that young lady. What a lovely young lady. Nice to meet you.”

She finally seemed to notice me, gave a perfunctory greeting, and then turned away brusquely to greet other guests. As she disappeared, unfriendly glances pricked my skin.

It was understandable. Who would welcome an illegitimate child? To the eyes of these noble ladies and young ladies who live only for their husbands, I was nothing more than a foreign object of unknown origin, no more, no less. Moreover, I was an illegitimate child officially adopted into the Count’s family, right under the nose of the Countess. Lora was a being that shouldn’t exist here. Because the recognition of Lora might become their future. Another difficult day was expected. I was surrounded by enemies.

***

Because Countess Amone was a close friend of Countess Epine, we were guided to the high seats even with me, tagged as an illegitimate child. It was a miserable situation. I should have been crouching in a corner, but instead, I was in such a conspicuous seat.

Once most were seated, the ladies and young ladies finally began their chatter. The subject was, needless to say, me.

“Hohoho, Countess, your heart is truly as vast as the ocean. How can you have such tolerance?”

“Indeed. I could never imagine doing such a thing.”

Well, well.

“What can I do? The child is innocent. At first, I felt like the sky was falling. But I fell in love at first sight with Lora’s sparkling, clear eyes.”

It was a story that even a passing dog would laugh at.