Episode 17

"It seems... we are in serious trouble."

If there was anything Ute Velvet had requested in the past, it has to be that.

The thought of unfinished homework sent shivers down my spine.

"We?"

"What should I do?"

I didn't want to make up such a lame excuse.

I tugged at my loosely tied hair for no reason.

"I tried to find out discreetly, but there's no clue."

The Countess's most desired gift.

I even subtly brought up her birthday and mentioned a few common gifts to receive an implication.

"The Madam didn't show any sign of like or dislike towards anything. She did seem a bit surprised when the birthday banquet was mentioned, though."

"She didn't react?"

"Not at all. It's not that there was no progress, but..."

"But what?"

"She handed me this as my belated birthday gift."

I pulled out a small blue pouch from my pocket.

"It was made from a fabric unique to the Kingdom of Ronda."

"Hmm..."

"...Perhaps I brought up the topic too often as an attempt to pry information?"

Ultimately, I had failed to fulfill Ute's request.

Even if I did receive an answer, it wouldn't be a gift that she hadn't 'told anyone'.

However, I did not know the Countess well enough to guess.

"There haven't been any other special occurrences recently?"

"The madam has been her usual self. She wakes up to ask what day it is, stares off into the distance, and suddenly exclaims 'It must be around this time!' while rushing to her desk."

"Nothing unusual, then."

"Just ordinary."

The implications of this meaningless conversation were clear.

My answer was... there was no answer.

Ute smoothly covered my wound with gauze and replied.

"Happy belated birthday?"

"…Thank you."

And so, with nothing prepared—

The Countess's first birthday banquet proceeded.

The banquet starts at nine in the evening.

I woke the countess at nine in the morning, helped her wash, and led her to the toilette room.

"The Master put in much effort for today."

"The count? No way."

"It is true. His aide said so."

"That's probably only because I am his wife. It's simply a noble obligee. He’s a gentleman who knows manners."

"Haha... Surely that's not the only reason."

Why are you so negative? Have you experienced the future already? Regressed?

'Who would import jewels more expensive than the annual salary of the entire staff just to keep an appearance?'

I heard the estate's budget manager had been taking antacids and stimulants as a result of that.

"They say love shows itself without words."

"Uh?"

"So, at the banquet... you will see how much the master loves the madam."

That’s how it usually is in romance novels.

I braided the madam's hair and relished her with loving statements.

'Why am I doing both her makeup and hair?'

Wouldn't it be reasonable to have another helping hand, at least on this day?

'I hope they get along quickly.'

At least then, someone else would be there to help her change.

Clara Edwell, polished from head to toe by yours truly, was stunning.

'As she should.'

She had drained my vitality.

All I've had this day so far was a glass of water and a piece of bread.

"Sonnet..."

"Don’t be too nervous, Madam."

Her curled eyelashes magnified her eyes, making them appear three times larger than usual.

I spread pearl powder evenly below her collarbone.

"I guarantee you will be the most beautiful at the banquet."

Because Ute Velvet wouldn't be there.

Knock knock.

"It must be the master."

When I opened the door, the count, dressed in the same color as the madam, stood there. He glared at me before escorting the madam away.

"Sigh..."

It’s over now.

More precisely, there was nothing more I could do.

'I can’t follow her into the hall.'

Even if I could, I’d rather not, given my current state.

"Let’s eat something, anything."

Let's think after shoving something into my stomach.

As I listlessly crossed the corridor, a rough hand seized me.

"Hey, you! You’re not working right now?"

"I just—"

"Come quickly! We're in desperate need..."

"So my role is—"

"Are you aware of how many guests there are? Even the servants on leave were called back!"

"Uh, I, yes..."

If they told me to jump, I must jump.

'Have I ever had a moment to rest in this life?'

I obediently tied the apron thrown at me and plunged into the chaos.

"Cocktails?"

"We just ran out!"

"We're missing a bottle of wine!"

"Where is the head maid?"

The servants' quarters were a battlefield.

I pushed through the crowd and entered the grand hall.

'Wow.'

The bustling hall teemed with people.

The virtue of a servant was to keep the banquet running smoothly and act as if they did not exist.

I performed in place of a fainted violinist, then grabbed a tray of empty dishes to head back inside.

Or at least, I tried to.

"Miss Sonnet! What are you doing here?"

The man in the white coat held a medical bag.

His appearance, save for his face, was not fit for the banquet.

"We're short-handed. What about Sir Ute?"

"One never knows what might happen during a banquet."

He casually grabbed most of the dishes I was holding.

"Actually, I strongly insisted on attending. In case of any unexpected incidents."

His eyes twinkled cutely.

"Please give me the plates."

"No, it's better if we carry it together."

Sharing tasks during work signaled a desire for profound entanglement in life.

Not wanting any misinterpretations and mindful of my cardiovascular health, I reiterated,

"An attending physician cannot enter the kitchen. I have to head back anyway."

"Ah... Right, I didn’t realize that. Sorry."

"It's not something to apologize for—"

Suddenly, a warm... warm?

Ute's fingers touched my mouth.

Precisely, his long, straight index finger crossed the center of my lips.

'Assassination?'

Could a heart race so intensely that it killed you?

'It was a satisfactory life...'

The man who had abruptly covered my mouth with his hand was looking in the opposite direction.

It wasn't just Ute Velvet.

Most people in the hall were observing the same spot.

I lowered Ute's hand and spoke.

"What happened?"

"That..."

I stood on my tiptoes to survey the situation.

The mixed whispers made it harder for me to grasp what was going on.

"Is it serious?"

"They say Countess Cavlette and Lady Evangeline have arrived."

"Cavlette...?"

A person belonging to the Edwell family tree.

I recalled the big and small branches I memorized on my first day.

'Doris Cavlette.'

The current Count Edwell's Aunt, and the previous Count's sister.

She had overseen the Count's education following the early death of the previous Countess.

Ute muttered with a heavy heart.

"Usually, when a relative brings an unmarried woman at such a time, it means only one thing..."

I could guess the rest without much thought.

Although this era embraced free love, arranged marriages remained prevalent among the upper echelons of society.

"Aunt, have you been well?"

"We haven't met since the wedding, Carl. How have you been?"

The hall fell silent once more, as though it had never been filled with noise.

The music wafted softly, a delicate string composition.

Meanwhile, the aunt and nephew exchanged pleasantries.

The atmosphere shifted as the countess approached tentatively.

"...By the way, Carl."

"Yes, Aunt."

"She is indeed a Princess, but it seems the current countess doesn’t have much of an eye for beauty."

The madam's shoulders noticeably stiffened.

Count Edwell was quick to clarify.

"I organized the banquet."

"That’s laughable. To throw her responsibilities at her husband? Do you realize you have now become part of the Edwell family?"

"Ah, I, I..."

I could see her pink irises tremble even from this distance.

Her drooping eyes resembled that of a rabbit in water.

"The Edwell's prestige isn’t this low, is it? Demonstrating abundance is the hostess's forte, but judging from what I see..."

Countess Cavlette smiled.

The sudden change in atmosphere confused even the young Count.

In that moment.

"Do you remember this child? Lady Evangeline."

The old countess proudly placed her hand on her companion's shoulder.

"I remember."

"You two were quite close during your younger years. Didn't Brother adore Lady Evangeline?"

"...Yes, he did."

The countess openly praised the woman.

Whilst ignoring the madam's presence deliberately.

"Oh dear, what should we do to help the madam?"

"Ah, you shouldn't agree with her. This is driving me crazy, this male lead, seriously..."

Black shoes tapped the ground irritably.

As I contrasted Ute and the madam, the madam suddenly seemed to appear fine.

And a few hours later,

The madam disappeared.

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