The topic shifted to whether Flora could be brought along this time.

“The master overworks Flora too much. He keeps her by his side day and night.”

“That’s all because Flora is so excellent. Why else would His Majesty personally summon her?”

“Don’t worry about me, just go and have fun.”

Flora smiled and replied, having nothing else to say to their reactions, which were half grumbling and half envy.

Though she hadn’t received any specific instructions, she felt it would be more comfortable to quietly opt out since it wouldn’t be fun for her anyway.

“Flora has only been a soldier in Filheim, so she’s never been to a festival.”

“Oh my! Flora, you’ve never been to a festival?”

Yulvi, who had been distracted by passersby, turned back in surprise.

Flora smiled awkwardly. She had only heard of festivals but didn’t even know how they were conducted.

“This won’t do. Flora, you must come. If it really doesn’t work out, we’ll beg the butler to give you just one day off.”

Even Yulvi, who had joined in, insisted that she must come this time.

Since refusing would likely lead to an argument right on the street, Flora finally answered that she would go if time allowed. Only then did Yulvi and Mary wink as if they had succeeded.

Meanwhile, their steps naturally headed toward the shopping district. As they heard voices hawking goods from an alley lined with shops, her colleagues’ faces brightened considerably.

“Let’s go take a look too.”

“You’re doing this to look pretty for Tommy, aren’t you?”

Yulvi giggled and playfully linked arms with Mary.

“That’s not it.”

Mary shook her head vigorously, but her earlobes had already turned as red as the apples on the street vendor’s stand.

Then, picking up a brooch from the middle of the counter, Mary muttered as if trying to change the subject.

“There are so many pretty things, I don’t know where to look.”

“These are hair ornaments brought in from the east this morning. I sold almost everything in the morning and barely have these left.”

The merchant who had been hawking pushed various glittering items toward the three young women. The uniformly vibrant colors caught the eye.

“Flora, I think this would suit you well.”

What Mary picked up was a hairpin with a red cubic. Though it wasn’t a real gem but an imitation, it was quite pretty, emitting a crystalline light each time it reflected the sunlight.

Not stopping there, Mary picked up everything she thought would look good and held them against Flora’s hair.

“I’m fine.”

“Why? It would be nice to wear to the next banquet.”

Mary pouted and grumbled as if feeling hurt. Flora assured her that she was really fine, but today Mary was just as stubborn.

“Take it anyway. It’s a gift from me.”

Mary, who had quickly gathered Flora’s side hair and fixed the pin, grinned. That smile seemed to wash away the heaviness that had weighed on her chest all morning.

After that, the three continued shopping.

Flora, who usually just ran errands and returned immediately, was shopping among women for the first time. Looking at various things while conversing turned out to be unexpectedly enjoyable.

Walking to avoid passing porters, Flora suddenly looked up at the sky. Colorful papers hanging from long white lines fluttered in the wind between the shops.

Just as she took her eyes off the fluttering papers, Flora sensed someone stealthily following and stopped in her tracks.

‘Someone is tailing us.’

Though not a strong presence due to the bustling crowd, someone was definitely watching them.

“Hm? Flora, what’s wrong? Do you see someone you know?”

Mary, who noticed Flora suddenly stopping, glanced ahead. Flora naturally shielded Mary with her body and shook her head with a smile.

“It’s nothing. Let’s go that way.”

“Okay. Is there something over there that you like better?”

Saying that it seemed she wasn’t completely disinterested in accessories after all, Mary immediately headed to the shop across the street.

Following the two, Flora lowered her eyes inconspicuously. Then, pretending not to look, she quickly glanced up at the large mirror displayed opposite.

She caught sight of a woman peeking out from behind a wall at the entrance of the alley behind them.

Flora looked at Mary and Yulvi standing beside her. Unaware they were being watched, they were picking up items from various stalls and laughing brightly.

After contemplating, Flora spoke.

“Um…… I’ll go buy something to drink for a moment.”

“Don’t do that, let’s go together.”

Yulvi stepped forward, suggesting they go together, but Flora reassured them she would be back soon and turned away.

Her priority was to get her colleagues away from those suspicious eyes.

* * *

“Where did she go?”

Monica, who had been following Flora after she suddenly left the group, tilted her head in confusion at the now-empty lot.

A few days ago, an extremely irritated Rosaline had sent her away, ordering her to find out the identity of that maid. For that reason, she had been lurking around the duke’s residence for days.

Then, by chance, she spotted the maids she had seen before coming out and secretly followed them. Especially when she saw the platinum-blonde woman she hadn’t seen before, she instinctively realized this was the maid her mistress had mentioned.

Just as she was about to turn her head, thinking she might have taken a wrong turn, someone blocked her path.

“Why are you following us?”

“Eek! Ow……”

Monica, startled by Flora’s sudden appearance, yelped and fell on her backside with a groan. She almost stopped breathing, not knowing where Flora had appeared from.

However, Flora was just as surprised. Though she had expected the person wasn’t particularly dangerous given the rough presence, the woman sitting on the ground looked extremely ordinary.

Nevertheless, there was still something suspicious.

“I asked why you keep following us.”

“I’m…… I’m sorry. I just…… thought your face looked familiar, thinking you might be someone I know.”

“……Do you know me?”

Flora, who unconsciously lowered her guard at the mention of being recognized, quietly asked back. She wondered if she might have coincidentally met someone who knew who she was.

However, the woman shook her head vigorously, even waving her hands frantically as if she had made a slip of the tongue.

“Gasp……! No, I don’t!”

Flora tilted her head at the somewhat excessive reaction and took a step forward as if to offer a hand.

“Aah! Please…… don’t kill me!”

The woman, who had panicked prematurely, screamed and crouched down, clutching her head. Flora’s face stiffened awkwardly at the excessively intense rejection.

“Let me help you up.”

“……No! I’m fine.”

The woman increased the distance by dragging her backside backward as if about to have a seizure. At this point, Flora couldn’t approach any further, so she straightened her bent waist and asked the woman.

“Where do you belong?”

“……Belong?”

What does that mean? Monica widened her eyes and rolled her eyeballs diligently.

If she told the truth here, Rosaline would kill her, but the woman in front of her was a skilled person who had subdued Sir Garret in one go. Moreover, hadn’t those vicious men who took on the request disappeared without a trace?

Monica glanced sideways and realized they were in a secluded place with just the two of them, and opened her mouth as if about to cry.

“I’m a maid serving Miss Rosaline from the Sternbrow family.”

“……Sternbrow?”

Flora, who had become puzzled, quietly murmured to herself.

It was strange why the name of the family of Rosaline and Andrean, whom she had met recently, was coming up here. In fact, they were practically strangers to her, not even in her consideration.

“You really…… don’t know me?”

“Yes, yes…… I really mistook you for someone else.”

Judging by her appearance, even sweating profusely, it was a lie. Additionally, the woman was afraid of her. She could guess what this meant.

This maid knew who she was.

Experiencing this feeling after a very long time, Flora bit the inside of her bitter lips. Her cheerful mood completely deflated.

Contemplating whether to press further, Flora properly took in the woman’s appearance. With her ordinary appearance and seeing her movements when she fell earlier, her reaction speed also seemed ordinary, not appearing to be much of a threat.

“Be careful not to cause misunderstandings next time.”

In the end, Flora, having only obtained the woman’s name, left a light warning and turned away.

Monica, who had been anxiously watching Flora’s back as she disappeared around the corner, finally let out a sigh of relief.

“Phew…… Thank goodness.”

As she got up, dusting off her skirt covered in clumps of dirt, she soon realized this was no time for such things and quickly pulled herself together.

“They definitely…… said she was a former soldier from Filheim, right?”

Her expression brightened as she recalled what she had clearly heard with her own ears just moments ago.

Delighted to have discovered the identity of the woman whom the duke kept by his side day and night, she hurriedly left the place. Today, at least, she felt satisfied that she had gathered information to bring to Rosaline.