Episode 21

"Um... excuse me..."

"Mary? How many years has it been?"

The middle-aged man appeared as though he'd seen a ghost.

"You look just as young as—"

"Because I am still young?"

His eyes, previously quivering like reeds in a tempest, abruptly froze.

I hastily clarified during the ensuing silence.

"I am not this Mary person."

"Ah."

His blue eyes finally focused directly on me.

He ran a hand through his short black hair and frowned.

"Ah... right, that can't be."

As he lowered his upper body, the stiff fabric of his uniform crumpled.

"I'm sorry. I must have caused you trouble. I mistook you for someone I know."

"It's alright."

I felt even more flustered as someone much older than me apologized so politely.

'He seems to be around my mom's age.'

Despite his actions, he exuded a rigid and unyielding demeanor.

As soon as I accepted his apology, he quickly distanced himself.

'Is he a soldier?'

Even without the uniform, he seemed out of place in the soft, cozy atmosphere of the bakery.

Just look at him now.

"Well, excuse me, how do I—"

He awkwardly lingered in front of the counter, unsure how to place an order.

"You need to fill out the order form first and hand it to the staff. The line is over there."

"Ah..."

"Here’s the order form and a pen."

When I handed him the items from the edge of the counter, he bowed his head again.

"Thank you. I'm sorry to trouble a young lady like you."

"No trouble at all. The ordering system is a bit unusual, isn't it? It's because the bakery has so many customers."

"I see. ...By the way, do you happen to know—"

"Your cake is ready!"

A cream-colored box was placed on the transparent showcase. The red-haired staff member smiled meaningfully and emphasized.

"Tell them we added three times more fruit than requested."

"I will."

As I was about to leave the bakery, I made eye contact with the middle-aged man still awkwardly standing in line.

'His eyes are the same color as mine. That’s quite rare.'

I gave a small nod and opened the door.

It felt great to be away from work and just pass the time.

'It's almost time to head back, though.'

I carefully placed the cake box into the prepared bag and secured it tightly.

'If the chef finds out, I’m done for.'

The chef already had a high sense of pride, so if he knew the madam had ordered from another bakery...

'The atmosphere in the kitchen would be ruined.'

It might make things even more awkward between me and the kitchen staff.

'It's already been a bit tense since I moved to the main residence.'

Although that change was more due to the employer's orders than my own will.

There was no need to create enemies unnecessarily.

I walked through a route as far from the kitchen as possible.

'Dinner is now the responsibility of the main house staff.'

After finishing my work, I can simply wash up and go home...

"You there, come here."

Go home...

'I forgot about this person.'

Doris Cavlette.

The one who brought the count’s ex-lover during the banquet.

She currently resided in the mansion alongside Lady Evangeline.

'She announced her stay until the royal autumn banquet.'

Countess Cavlette roamed the mansion under the pretext of being a direct descendant of Edwell.

"Are you the one attending to the countess?"

"Yes, that's right."

Just like now.

"What is that in your hands?"

"The madam ordered for it."

"Let me see."

All of a sudden?

I quickly stepped back and lowered my head.

"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid that will be quite difficult. It’s an errand directly from the madam."

"Is it something you can’t show me?"

"Regardless of the contents, I cannot hand it to anyone without the madam's permission."

"What?"

Even if I did show you, there was just a cake.

'However, what's inside does not matter.'

It was a matter of authority.

If I gave in here, it would be the same as the madam giving in.

'Who does she think she is, acting like the madam of the house?'

The mansion was already tense enough.

Countess Cavlette's eyes narrowed coldly.

"Do you dare disobey my orders? You, a mere maid?"

"I serve only the madam."

Ah.

Countess Cavlette's eyes flipped.

The servants standing behind her snickered softly.

"How dare a lowly maid defy me!"

Really... I just want to go home.

---

"You're back?"

By the time I returned after being thoroughly humiliated by Countess Cavlette, my break was already over.

Madam Clara greeted me with a bright face as I returned, stomach empty.

"You're a bit late. Was it crowded?"

"Yes."

"You must not have had a proper meal. Let’s eat together, Sonnet."

"I’ll prepare it."

Since the birthday party incident, the madam seemed to realize that I, too, needed to eat three meals a day to survive.

'She even prepares fancy desserts for me more often now.'

The shiny plate was filled with cake slices.

"They said they added three times more fruit than requested."

"...Is that so? Perhaps that’s why it appears more delicious."

The madam pushed the largest apricot towards me and asked.

"Did anything unusual happen?"

"Nothing special."

I was harassed by my employer’s relative, but...

'There’s no need to mention that.'

The woman who was once of the Edwell registry possessed overwhelming authority.

'In such a short time, the servants have already divided into factions.'

In particular, the long-time servants mostly sided with Countess Cavlette and Lady Evangeline.

'The rest aren't particularly on madam's side either.'

That is why such guests were able to keep the servants in check.

'Telling the madam would only make her worry.'

But they wouldn’t go too far as long as the rightful owner of the mansion was present.

...Or so I thought.

"Have a safe trip."

"Then I shall go, wife. Aunt, please look after her."

"Don’t worry."

Count Edwell left for his fiefdom.

"They don’t have physicians there?"

"Haha... Miss Sonnet, please take good care of things for me."

Along with Ute Velvet.

The mansion instantly became 1200 times dimmer.

"You there, what’s with your appearance?"

In addition, Countess Cavlette started acting more like the master of the house.

"You must behave in a manner befitting the dignity of the count’s name."

To be precise, she only targeted me.

Doris Cavlette criticized me three times a day under the pretext of maintaining the servants’ decorum.

"Your hair is messy."

"That is not the way to walk."

"No matter how humble your background is, you should have basic manners..."

And I—

"Yes, I’ll be careful."

"Yes, I will correct it."

"Yes, thank you for your concern!"

Surprisingly had nothing to complain about.

'As long as I don’t get fired!'

No matter how much she criticized me, my salary remained unchanged.

"You there."

"Yes, Countess!"

What would she criticize me for today?

'The shape of my ribbon? The state of my shoes? My hands? My expression?'

I smiled heartily, determining my winning lottery numbers.

---

'What’s with that kid?'

Doris Cavlette, born and raised an aristocrat among aristocrats, was deeply perplexed.

Because of a mere common girl.

'If I get rid of that child, that foreign woman would be completely isolated.'

But that maid was not easy.

Despite picking on her for trivial matters, she remained unperturbed.

It seemed she hadn't complained to her employer, as Clara Edwell appeared clueless.

Doris Cavlette was frustrated.

'This can’t go on.'

She couldn’t change her plans because of one commoner girl with no backing.

If she possessed the authority over the servants, none of this would have been necessary.

'I can’t use Lady Evangeline’s hand.'

The old Countess cleared her throat obnoxiously.

The seemingly carefree sky-blue eyes of the peculiar maid irritated her.

"You’re from the South, aren’t you?"

"Yes, that is correct."

"I heard people from the South are straightforward and reckless. Seeing you, it must be true."

"..."

"Is it because you grew up without a father?"

"Hmm..."

The upright smile wavered briefly.

Doris Cavlette waited. She expected the strange maid to burst in anger and turn away.

In other words, break the proper conduct a maid is required to follow.

However, Doris Cavlette's expectations were—

"That might be true!"

They were shattered.

Clang.

"You are indeed a noble countess. That is a new perspective that a mere maid like me hadn’t considered."

And she even took it a step further.

Despite having her origins insulted, Sonnet Posa continued smiling cheerfully.

In fact, she appeared even happier than usual.

'There is no dealing with her.'

Cavlette, unaware that today was employee payday, stood dumbfounded.

She decided to adjust her plans.

'If I can’t use the maid...'

There was only one option left.

---

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