Episode 25

At the break of dawn.

Silvery strands of hair glistened as the pale morning light pooled along their length.

The shadowed emerald eyes appeared more vivid than the evergreen trees beyond the glass pane.

'I was wondering who would knock at such an early hour.'

A bead of sweat sparkled as it slid down the smooth forehead.

"Angel…."

"Yes?"

"When did you arrive?"

"Just now. Soon as I left the carriage, no, the carriage, I came running, huu."

His sweat-soaked bangs revealed his snow-white forehead.

The man wiped the sweat with the back of his hand and tapped his feet impatiently.

"No, this isn't the time. Huu, we, we are in a rush."

"What is it?"

"Well, gasp, it's—"

His gloved fingers moved erratically.

Even if he had dismounted at the front gate, it must have been quite a sprint to reach here. My quarters were deep within the main residence, close to Madam's chamber.

The man couldn't explain his urgency, only gesturing with his fingers.

‘What could warrant such haste... so urgently? Wait.'

I raised my right hand halfway and shouted.

"Correct answer, salary reduction!"

Shake shake.

"A surprise inspection from the head maid?"

"Wrong!"

"Could it be, a royal visit?"

"Wrong, wrong, wrong!"

"Unbelievable…."

"Unfortunately, Miss Sonnet, you have exhausted all your guesses—ah!"

The man's slightly open mouth snapped shut.

His restless hands also came to a halt.

"No, now's not the time! The Count! The Count is coming right now!"

"What of it? Did I do something wrong?"

"Not you, Miss Sonnet! He's heading to the Countess's bedroom!"

"What's the issue with that?"

Having just returned home, he might want to see his family…

"Ah! There is an issue!"

"Exactly! You understand immediately—"

"No matter how married they are, it is still a breach of privacy to enter someone else's room without permission."

"..."

"I should wake the madam and receive her consent first."

His bright eyes quickly dimmed.

Even his cold face was beautiful—no, snap out of it.

"…I'm wrong?"

"That's not the point! There's something more pressing!"

"Didn't you come to inform me that the count was coming?"

"That's correct, but I have a separate favor to ask of you!"

Ute Velvet thumped his chest and rattled his list of requests.

"…Can you do this?"

"It's not difficult, although."

Why would he ask such a thing?

When I expressed my doubt, Ute clasped his hands together earnestly.

"Please. I would do it myself, but if I did—"

"It would be a disaster. I want to keep seeing you for a long time, Sir Ute."

"…Oh. Ah? Ah…"

His eyes slowly closed and opened.

The man's vacant expression soon brightened.

"Oh—I understand. Don't worry, I'll make it worth your while."

Did the conversation even make sense?

But there was no time to solve the mystery.

Time left: 5 minutes. At most, 7 minutes.

I checked the clock, then entered Madam's bedroom.

‘First, let's open the window.’

The regularly cleaned window slid open without a hitch.

"Phew."

A pleasant breeze swept through my hair.

I carefully gathered my hair and tied it up before moving.

Ute Velvet's request was simple.

‘I need you to tidy up the Countess and her room without flaw.’

‘I do so every day.’

‘This is different.’

I silently approached the bedside.

I waved my hand over Madam's face, but she didn't stir.

‘Okay. She seems to be sleeping soundly.'

Lately, her nightmares had decreased. A good sign in many ways.

‘This should be fine.’

Her face, hugging the pillow as if it were a doll, appeared peaceful.

I gently touched the rolled-up blanket.

Flinch.

"Mm…"

Did she wake up?

I lifted my heels to check, only to be relieved.

I pulled out the ruffled blanket and covered her properly. That alone concealed Madam's unsightly posture.

‘Oh dear, look at her hair.’

After straightening the bedding, the next step was the lady herself.

Her wild, curly hair stuck out like a ruffian's.

"Hmm…."

But this was manageable.

‘Moderately tousled, naturally.’

I combed her hair in sync with her shifting position.

After brushing a total of thirteen times, the sight seemed passable.

‘Next, her face.’

This was easier than dealing with her hair.

I just needed to wipe away any tear stains and cleanse the oil with toner.

"Why this commotion so early in the morning…."

The count would probably be drenched in sweat as well.

Still, the perfectly set scene was as pretty as something out of a magazine.

After pulling down the negligee that had ridden up to her chest and adjusting the blanket again, the setup was complete.

‘The biggest task is done.’

Everything else was simple.

I stood by the door and rotated my head half a turn.

The furniture that caught my eye following the bed was the desk and tea table.

‘It seems she hadn't put the locked drawers into use.’

The desk was cluttered with papers and pens filled with Selcing numbered dates.

Plans, identities, routes, futures…

‘Madam, really.’

Despite telling her to cap the pens after use.

‘Well, when you have an entire box of ink, what's the issue?’

I gathered the papers neatly and put them in the first drawer along with the pen.

"I think this is enough."

Even if the countess’s Aunt arrived instead of the count, this would receive a pass.

Furthermore, although the count was sharp-eyed, he wouldn't closely inspect the room, since he was here to see his wife.

‘If he arrived at dawn, why not just sleep? Why come all the way here….’

Ah, right.

Romance.

The main characters have to be passionately in love.

I turned my head quickly.

Then, I found an item suitable for a ‘romantic’ setting.

‘It wouldn't hurt to have it.’

All preparations were complete.

Just in time, footsteps approached.

I slipped into the space connecting to the toilette room, silencing my presence, just as the other door latched open from the opposite side.

---

A woman quietly traversed the tranquil backyard.

The faint sunlight illuminated her rounded features.

‘I think I've gone crazy.’

Clara Edwell cupped her cheeks and walked in small steps.

Her clear skin blushed with heat.

‘Why such a dream….’

It was very a strange dream.

The Count approached her sleeping self and kissed her….

To Carlyle, Clara was nothing more than a partner in an arranged marriage.

‘I’m not some seventeen-year-old girl.’

Clara wandered the backyard for a while before finally turning her steps back.

Walking aimlessly had brought her to an unfamiliar place.

"Finally, I can catch my breath."

"You should have said something."

"Come on, since when has the master ever given a timely notice? If he says jump, we jump."

Huh?

Clara, who was about to head to the main building, paused.

Through a half-open wooden door, an informal conversation commenced.

"Why did he come so early?"

"Who knows."

The person they referred to was clear.

‘He's back?’

Clara clutched her chest.

The heart she had barely calmed started racing again.

However, such a heart sank at the following words.

"Then, did the master and that young lady have breakfast?"

"Oh, right."

"They say they were close before. Must be true if he hurried so early in the morning."

The servants' chatter ended there.

Only Clara remained, dazed by their conversation.

No matter how she tried to advance, it was the same.

‘With Lady Evangeline? Why? He didn’t tell me anything….’

Not a word.

The unfinished sentence choked Clara.

‘This will all end once we divorce anyway.’

She convinced herself.

We'll just part ways,

And once we do…

"Madam! Where have you been?"

As Clara opened the door, she was met with the eyes she'd seen most often since her return.

Calm and clear blue irises.

A reliable, rough hand gently straightened Clara's collar.

"What's wrong? Did something happen?"

Oddly enough, receiving such a blatant expression made her feel better.

Clara looked at the young maid and smiled.

"Where have you been?"

"Just, I took a walk."

"Why didn’t you say anything… I was surprised."

"I didn't want to wake you, knowing you don't even rest properly."

"But that's my job."

Kind Sonnet.

The woman who returned to the past recalled the time when the maid before her had thicker hands and fewer words.

---

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