“You can rest assured now. They won’t be looking for food for a while.”
These were nobles who were not only suffering from hangovers but were also experiencing the effects of the curse without even knowing it.
Since they've been stuffing their stomachs with meat dishes since morning, they won't be looking for any food for more than half a day because of their stomachs.
During that time, the kitchen was sure to have all the necessary ingredients available.
“Thank you so much, thank you so much.”
The chef kept bowing.
Dorothea declined his greeting with a painted smile.
“I just did what I had to do.”
Since it was something she did, it was natural that she should clean it up.
No one would blame her for getting things done and avoiding them, but the negative feelings that arise deep in the human heart will not go away.
It was actually a happy thing for her, as she benefited greatly from the accident recovery process.
The chef's eyes filled with tears as he watched Dorothea wave her hand as if nothing was wrong.
In his sparkling eyes, the despair and fear he had felt at dawn were nowhere to be found, and only the joy and elation of having safely overcome the crisis were present.
“Thank you for going through all this trouble for us.”
“Oh, and if you need to buy new ingredients, I’ll pay for it. Just ask my cousin...”
At Dorothea's words, not only the chef but even the maid next to him jumped.
“How could we use Young Lady's money? It’s for procuring materials here.”
“That can’t be possible. Madame Jenix wouldn’t allow it either.”
“He values His Highness the Third Prince’s reputation very highly.”
It didn't look like that.
The relationship between the Prince and his nanny, who had spent their childhood together, seemed strangely business-like.
Mrs. Jenix was overly polite, and Richard didn't seem to care much about her.
The circumstances of the two people, which were different from what the employees said, aroused curiosity, but before Dorothea could open her mouth, the words poured out.
“Besides, how much is the maintenance fee that His Highness the Third Prince sends to the villa every month?”
“He is a person who only has money left, so this is just a drop in the bucket.”
Dorothea's ears perked up.
"Is it so?"
It was a fact she had known for a long time that he had a lot of money.
However, Richard was delighted to find out that he had greater financial resources than he had thought, and that he was also more generous with his spending.
It was a good decision to bring him in.
'It was a good thing I kept him alive. Even though he was useless, he was still the Prince, so I thought it would be annoying if he died, so I planted the guardian deity on him. Now that I think about it, he's quite useful for other purposes.'
Isn't he the type of person who is good at swindling people whenever they need money?
Her thoughts that there would be no need to deal with it after work have changed.
A satisfied smile appeared on Dorothea's face as she felt like she had a secure piggy bank in her arms.
As Philip, who had been looking into his cousin's mind, smiled slightly and shook his head, Dane whispered nervously next to him.
“Wasn’t it because of her that everyone was in danger in the first place?”
Why are they so thankful when she just cleaned up the mess she caused?
“Among the people who brag about being noble, there are few who take responsibility for their own mistakes. Especially if it’s something that could cause trouble for those below them.”
But Dorothea not only readily admitted her mistake, but also moved her dear cousins and uncle to protect the kitchen workers.
“Those people aren’t just grateful that Thea took care of the early morning stuff.”
Philip added to Dane, who was still scratching his head as if he didn't understand.
“I’m grateful that Thea treated me like a human being.”
It was a strange story for Dane, who had never worked for anyone and had never tried to please them by bowing his head.
Instead of trying to convince his baffled cousin any further, Philip turned his head and looked at Dorothea.
She was always accepting those with tears in their eyes with a generous smile.
Dorothea turned her steps back to her room and headed upstairs.
There were unexpected visitors in the room that Wood was guarding closely.
“Ah, Young Lady.”
She was greeted by Marilyn and Valerie, who seemed to have stopped by straight after finishing their meal.
The father, who was looking after the child who had not yet woken up, also greeted her awkwardly.
“Has the child ever woken up yet?”
“I opened my eyes for a moment, said a few words, and then quickly fell asleep.”
“What did you say?”
“I had a dream, a scary dream....”
“Did you find out who they were?”
The man nodded and looked at Dorothea's expression with an anxious face.
It seemed like he was worried that someone might say something was wrong.
“He's recovering smoothly.”
It means that although he recognized the other person and called it a 'dream', he also has memories of the time when his body was eroded.
“I was lucky. If I had been just a little bit later, it might have been difficult to get it.”
Luke, who had met Marilyn and was interested in the place, also quickly came here.
Since so many coincidences happened, they can only say that it was truly a godsend.
"Thank you."
As the middle-aged man bowed again and thanked Dorothea, Valerie, who had been watching the scene with a faint smile, opened her mouth.
“Thea, what are you going to do with that kid now?”
"Yes?"
“There are still groups chasing that child. If they were to attack the place where the Prince is, I don’t think they’d give up easily.”
The man's face hardened.
This was a part that was not taken into consideration because the child's recovery was the top priority.
The enemy has already attacked a child under the protection of the 'royal family' twice.
Even when Luke, who is sharp and can half-guess the other person's identity, unlike the incompetent Richard, is with them.
Dorothea's eyes turned to the lying child.
“That’s right. At least as long as they know he's alive, they won’t stop chasing him.”
“Hey, Young Lady...”
The voice of a man who had almost lost a child once trembled.
Before Dorothea could open her mouth to meet his earnest eyes, Valerie made her first suggestion.
“What if I take him? Since he’s the child you saved, it would be okay for you to take her in, but... you’d be the center of attention. For the child’s safety, it would be better for me or Marilyn to take him in.”
Valerie was right.
Dorothea Highclere.
Is there any other name that excites the nobles as much as that name?
Her past, her abilities as a spirit master, the thick trust bestowed upon her by the Emperor, and even her friendship with the Princes.
Such is the case with the wandering Ironi that Dorothea took in.
Her every move will probably be of interest to the nobles.
The pursuers would be able to chase the child without any effort.
Dorothea tilted her head slightly and answered in a calm voice.
“...You’re going to be in trouble?”
“Well, you know, I’m not the type of person who’s afraid of getting into trouble.”
Valerie added with a grin.
“I don’t know the details, but it’s clear that you put a lot of effort into that child. If that child loses his life in vain, all that effort will be meaningless.”
The soft voice that spoke was gentle and affectionate.
It was such a beautiful gesture that Marilyn's heart fluttered as she listened.
Dorothea responded to her friend's kind words plainly and concisely.
“Yeah, do that.”
In the blink of an eye, a place was decided for the child to hide.
While the man, who had been blinking throughout the conversation, hesitated as to who to thank first, Valerie glided out of the room with graceful movements.
“You two really care about each other.”
Dorothea turned around at Marilyn's sudden remark.
Marilyn's face showed an "Oh no" look, perhaps because the words had come out without her knowing.
Dorothea, who had been staring at her like that, smiled affectionately.
“I’m sad, Young Lady.”
"Yes, yes?!"
Marilyn's heart sank at the unexpected words.
Dorothea shrugged her shoulders as if she didn't understand, then said something shocking.
“I thought that the deep bond between Young Lady and me wasn’t that different.”
“A sense of community?”
Marilyn rolled her eyes in fear at Dorothea's unexpected remark, which she didn't know where it would lead.
She just praised the tearful friendship between the two people, so why she is getting criticized again?
“Young Lady risked your life to help me with my work. It was thanks to Young Lady's willingness to make the sacrifice that Lord Germain’s body was able to find eternal rest.”
“...”
That's because you half-cheated and half-blackmailed me.
Marilyn shuddered as she recalled the trip between heaven and hell in that locked carriage that day.
Dorothea continued speaking calmly as if she had not noticed Marilyn's reaction.
“We already go back and forth between each other’s houses.”
She came to apologize for speaking the wrong language, and Dorothea came in at dawn and illegally trespassed.
“Ah, there are already dozens of nobles who saw Young Lady coming out of the forest and crying into my arms...”
As she recalled the memory of her crying like a little child, forgetting all shame, Marilyn's toes curled with a sense of shame welling up inside her.
Dorothea added with a grin.
“The dress soaked with Young Lady tears and snot that day is stored away in my closet.”
“Please throw it away. I’ll buy you one. I’ll compensate you.”
“Oh, so we’re going to be exchanging gifts?”
Marilyn's face turned incredibly pale as she realized there was no escape.
Why does she keep trying to get involved with me, a person with no wealth and a humble family, when she already has such a devoted friend by her side?
This is not exactly... Well, it is not a word that can describe the actions of Lady Highclare, who is called the treasure of the empire...
Marilyn felt like she was being harassed terribly.
Dorothea, who had been quietly watching Marilyn, who was rolling her eyes without saying anything, opened her mouth again.
“Each of us has our own trials and difficulties that come with our lives.”
It was a very random remark.
“It’s a funny thing about human fate, the amount of trials given to one person is not something that can be overcome or handled by that person alone.”
“That’s true.”
“So sometimes in life, we need someone to help us overcome the crisis that comes our way.”
It is commonly called a 'noble person'.
Noble person.
Marilyn, who had been repeating Dorothea's words as if possessed, suddenly saw a pair of blue eyes shining towards her and flinched.
A slow voice continued.
“If I think about it, don’t you think the people that Young Lady led me to were the pieces of the puzzle that I desperately needed? They could be very capable guides who could show me the way.”
“Was it so?”
Marilyn, who had never intended to interfere with Dorothea's life or deliberately lead them to her, looked at her with a puzzled expression.
“So let’s maintain a close relationship without any formality. I hope that Young Lady will continue to be a good stepping stone in my life.”
Marilyn held her breath as Dorothea gently held Marilyn's hands in hers.
'That was the conclusion!'
Even though her fingertips were trembling as she held her, neatly wrapped, the other person was smiling brightly.
As Marilyn was struggling to somehow pull her hand away, a loud applause was heard from somewhere.
She turned her stiff head and saw Aiden and Dane slowly approaching her from across the hallway.
Aiden's eyes were sparkling with tears as he stood there, his massive body filling the hallway and his bandit-like appearance.
Marilyn froze and said nothing as she looked at the two people who were slowly approaching her, holding each other's hands.
“It is truly a beautiful sight. Yes, true friends should care for and cherish each other like this.”
The loud laughter echoed through the hallway, making her ears hurt.
“Yes, if you're Thea’s friend, you're like my niece.”
"No."
My uncle is still alive and well.
Aiden gave his niece's best friend the best promise he could, showering her with affection and concern.
“Don’t worry, Thea. I can invite any of your friends to my family’s martial arts hall at any time and teach them my secret swordsmanship! Once they master it, they’ll be able to protect themself on any battlefield!”
“...”
"The weather is nice while you're here, so the thing you told me before, the..."
“Is this the Peach Garden Oath?”
“It wouldn’t be a bad idea to do that!”
It was just a passing story, but it must have made a deep impression on Aiden, who was a knight through and through.
Even people with a goldfish-level memory can recall it in no time.
Marilyn looked at Dorothea, who was looking at her uncle with curiosity and asked in a small voice.
“What is the Peach Garden Oath?”
“You could say it’s a kind of oath.”
“What kind of oath is that?”
Dorothea's voice echoed brightly through the hallway.
“Even if I was not born in one year, one month, or one day, I wish to die in one year, one month, or one day. May the spirits of heaven and earth look down on me and kill anyone who betrays righteousness and forgets kindness.”
It was an incredible thing that strangers who had never been born together came together and agreed to spend the day of their deaths together.
In addition, it was a terrifying promise that if he did not keep his promise to die together, he would hunt down and kill the one who broke his oath, even if it meant being struck by lightning from the sky or being chased by people telling them to die.
“Don’t worry, Young Lady. My lifeline is tenacious.”
“Is that the problem?”
“It’s like a proverb that says we both want to live long lives.”
I don't think so.
These were nobles who were not only suffering from hangovers but were also experiencing the effects of the curse without even knowing it.
Since they've been stuffing their stomachs with meat dishes since morning, they won't be looking for any food for more than half a day because of their stomachs.
During that time, the kitchen was sure to have all the necessary ingredients available.
“Thank you so much, thank you so much.”
The chef kept bowing.
Dorothea declined his greeting with a painted smile.
“I just did what I had to do.”
Since it was something she did, it was natural that she should clean it up.
No one would blame her for getting things done and avoiding them, but the negative feelings that arise deep in the human heart will not go away.
It was actually a happy thing for her, as she benefited greatly from the accident recovery process.
The chef's eyes filled with tears as he watched Dorothea wave her hand as if nothing was wrong.
In his sparkling eyes, the despair and fear he had felt at dawn were nowhere to be found, and only the joy and elation of having safely overcome the crisis were present.
“Thank you for going through all this trouble for us.”
“Oh, and if you need to buy new ingredients, I’ll pay for it. Just ask my cousin...”
At Dorothea's words, not only the chef but even the maid next to him jumped.
“How could we use Young Lady's money? It’s for procuring materials here.”
“That can’t be possible. Madame Jenix wouldn’t allow it either.”
“He values His Highness the Third Prince’s reputation very highly.”
It didn't look like that.
The relationship between the Prince and his nanny, who had spent their childhood together, seemed strangely business-like.
Mrs. Jenix was overly polite, and Richard didn't seem to care much about her.
The circumstances of the two people, which were different from what the employees said, aroused curiosity, but before Dorothea could open her mouth, the words poured out.
“Besides, how much is the maintenance fee that His Highness the Third Prince sends to the villa every month?”
“He is a person who only has money left, so this is just a drop in the bucket.”
Dorothea's ears perked up.
"Is it so?"
It was a fact she had known for a long time that he had a lot of money.
However, Richard was delighted to find out that he had greater financial resources than he had thought, and that he was also more generous with his spending.
It was a good decision to bring him in.
'It was a good thing I kept him alive. Even though he was useless, he was still the Prince, so I thought it would be annoying if he died, so I planted the guardian deity on him. Now that I think about it, he's quite useful for other purposes.'
Isn't he the type of person who is good at swindling people whenever they need money?
Her thoughts that there would be no need to deal with it after work have changed.
A satisfied smile appeared on Dorothea's face as she felt like she had a secure piggy bank in her arms.
As Philip, who had been looking into his cousin's mind, smiled slightly and shook his head, Dane whispered nervously next to him.
“Wasn’t it because of her that everyone was in danger in the first place?”
Why are they so thankful when she just cleaned up the mess she caused?
“Among the people who brag about being noble, there are few who take responsibility for their own mistakes. Especially if it’s something that could cause trouble for those below them.”
But Dorothea not only readily admitted her mistake, but also moved her dear cousins and uncle to protect the kitchen workers.
“Those people aren’t just grateful that Thea took care of the early morning stuff.”
Philip added to Dane, who was still scratching his head as if he didn't understand.
“I’m grateful that Thea treated me like a human being.”
It was a strange story for Dane, who had never worked for anyone and had never tried to please them by bowing his head.
Instead of trying to convince his baffled cousin any further, Philip turned his head and looked at Dorothea.
She was always accepting those with tears in their eyes with a generous smile.
***
Dorothea turned her steps back to her room and headed upstairs.
There were unexpected visitors in the room that Wood was guarding closely.
“Ah, Young Lady.”
She was greeted by Marilyn and Valerie, who seemed to have stopped by straight after finishing their meal.
The father, who was looking after the child who had not yet woken up, also greeted her awkwardly.
“Has the child ever woken up yet?”
“I opened my eyes for a moment, said a few words, and then quickly fell asleep.”
“What did you say?”
“I had a dream, a scary dream....”
“Did you find out who they were?”
The man nodded and looked at Dorothea's expression with an anxious face.
It seemed like he was worried that someone might say something was wrong.
“He's recovering smoothly.”
It means that although he recognized the other person and called it a 'dream', he also has memories of the time when his body was eroded.
“I was lucky. If I had been just a little bit later, it might have been difficult to get it.”
Luke, who had met Marilyn and was interested in the place, also quickly came here.
Since so many coincidences happened, they can only say that it was truly a godsend.
"Thank you."
As the middle-aged man bowed again and thanked Dorothea, Valerie, who had been watching the scene with a faint smile, opened her mouth.
“Thea, what are you going to do with that kid now?”
"Yes?"
“There are still groups chasing that child. If they were to attack the place where the Prince is, I don’t think they’d give up easily.”
The man's face hardened.
This was a part that was not taken into consideration because the child's recovery was the top priority.
The enemy has already attacked a child under the protection of the 'royal family' twice.
Even when Luke, who is sharp and can half-guess the other person's identity, unlike the incompetent Richard, is with them.
Dorothea's eyes turned to the lying child.
“That’s right. At least as long as they know he's alive, they won’t stop chasing him.”
“Hey, Young Lady...”
The voice of a man who had almost lost a child once trembled.
Before Dorothea could open her mouth to meet his earnest eyes, Valerie made her first suggestion.
“What if I take him? Since he’s the child you saved, it would be okay for you to take her in, but... you’d be the center of attention. For the child’s safety, it would be better for me or Marilyn to take him in.”
Valerie was right.
Dorothea Highclere.
Is there any other name that excites the nobles as much as that name?
Her past, her abilities as a spirit master, the thick trust bestowed upon her by the Emperor, and even her friendship with the Princes.
Such is the case with the wandering Ironi that Dorothea took in.
Her every move will probably be of interest to the nobles.
The pursuers would be able to chase the child without any effort.
Dorothea tilted her head slightly and answered in a calm voice.
“...You’re going to be in trouble?”
“Well, you know, I’m not the type of person who’s afraid of getting into trouble.”
Valerie added with a grin.
“I don’t know the details, but it’s clear that you put a lot of effort into that child. If that child loses his life in vain, all that effort will be meaningless.”
The soft voice that spoke was gentle and affectionate.
It was such a beautiful gesture that Marilyn's heart fluttered as she listened.
Dorothea responded to her friend's kind words plainly and concisely.
“Yeah, do that.”
In the blink of an eye, a place was decided for the child to hide.
While the man, who had been blinking throughout the conversation, hesitated as to who to thank first, Valerie glided out of the room with graceful movements.
***
“You two really care about each other.”
Dorothea turned around at Marilyn's sudden remark.
Marilyn's face showed an "Oh no" look, perhaps because the words had come out without her knowing.
Dorothea, who had been staring at her like that, smiled affectionately.
“I’m sad, Young Lady.”
"Yes, yes?!"
Marilyn's heart sank at the unexpected words.
Dorothea shrugged her shoulders as if she didn't understand, then said something shocking.
“I thought that the deep bond between Young Lady and me wasn’t that different.”
“A sense of community?”
Marilyn rolled her eyes in fear at Dorothea's unexpected remark, which she didn't know where it would lead.
She just praised the tearful friendship between the two people, so why she is getting criticized again?
“Young Lady risked your life to help me with my work. It was thanks to Young Lady's willingness to make the sacrifice that Lord Germain’s body was able to find eternal rest.”
“...”
That's because you half-cheated and half-blackmailed me.
Marilyn shuddered as she recalled the trip between heaven and hell in that locked carriage that day.
Dorothea continued speaking calmly as if she had not noticed Marilyn's reaction.
“We already go back and forth between each other’s houses.”
She came to apologize for speaking the wrong language, and Dorothea came in at dawn and illegally trespassed.
“Ah, there are already dozens of nobles who saw Young Lady coming out of the forest and crying into my arms...”
As she recalled the memory of her crying like a little child, forgetting all shame, Marilyn's toes curled with a sense of shame welling up inside her.
Dorothea added with a grin.
“The dress soaked with Young Lady tears and snot that day is stored away in my closet.”
“Please throw it away. I’ll buy you one. I’ll compensate you.”
“Oh, so we’re going to be exchanging gifts?”
Marilyn's face turned incredibly pale as she realized there was no escape.
Why does she keep trying to get involved with me, a person with no wealth and a humble family, when she already has such a devoted friend by her side?
This is not exactly... Well, it is not a word that can describe the actions of Lady Highclare, who is called the treasure of the empire...
Marilyn felt like she was being harassed terribly.
Dorothea, who had been quietly watching Marilyn, who was rolling her eyes without saying anything, opened her mouth again.
“Each of us has our own trials and difficulties that come with our lives.”
It was a very random remark.
“It’s a funny thing about human fate, the amount of trials given to one person is not something that can be overcome or handled by that person alone.”
“That’s true.”
“So sometimes in life, we need someone to help us overcome the crisis that comes our way.”
It is commonly called a 'noble person'.
Noble person.
Marilyn, who had been repeating Dorothea's words as if possessed, suddenly saw a pair of blue eyes shining towards her and flinched.
A slow voice continued.
“If I think about it, don’t you think the people that Young Lady led me to were the pieces of the puzzle that I desperately needed? They could be very capable guides who could show me the way.”
“Was it so?”
Marilyn, who had never intended to interfere with Dorothea's life or deliberately lead them to her, looked at her with a puzzled expression.
“So let’s maintain a close relationship without any formality. I hope that Young Lady will continue to be a good stepping stone in my life.”
Marilyn held her breath as Dorothea gently held Marilyn's hands in hers.
'That was the conclusion!'
Even though her fingertips were trembling as she held her, neatly wrapped, the other person was smiling brightly.
As Marilyn was struggling to somehow pull her hand away, a loud applause was heard from somewhere.
She turned her stiff head and saw Aiden and Dane slowly approaching her from across the hallway.
Aiden's eyes were sparkling with tears as he stood there, his massive body filling the hallway and his bandit-like appearance.
Marilyn froze and said nothing as she looked at the two people who were slowly approaching her, holding each other's hands.
“It is truly a beautiful sight. Yes, true friends should care for and cherish each other like this.”
The loud laughter echoed through the hallway, making her ears hurt.
“Yes, if you're Thea’s friend, you're like my niece.”
"No."
My uncle is still alive and well.
Aiden gave his niece's best friend the best promise he could, showering her with affection and concern.
“Don’t worry, Thea. I can invite any of your friends to my family’s martial arts hall at any time and teach them my secret swordsmanship! Once they master it, they’ll be able to protect themself on any battlefield!”
“...”
"The weather is nice while you're here, so the thing you told me before, the..."
“Is this the Peach Garden Oath?”
“It wouldn’t be a bad idea to do that!”
It was just a passing story, but it must have made a deep impression on Aiden, who was a knight through and through.
Even people with a goldfish-level memory can recall it in no time.
Marilyn looked at Dorothea, who was looking at her uncle with curiosity and asked in a small voice.
“What is the Peach Garden Oath?”
“You could say it’s a kind of oath.”
“What kind of oath is that?”
Dorothea's voice echoed brightly through the hallway.
“Even if I was not born in one year, one month, or one day, I wish to die in one year, one month, or one day. May the spirits of heaven and earth look down on me and kill anyone who betrays righteousness and forgets kindness.”
It was an incredible thing that strangers who had never been born together came together and agreed to spend the day of their deaths together.
In addition, it was a terrifying promise that if he did not keep his promise to die together, he would hunt down and kill the one who broke his oath, even if it meant being struck by lightning from the sky or being chased by people telling them to die.
“Don’t worry, Young Lady. My lifeline is tenacious.”
“Is that the problem?”
“It’s like a proverb that says we both want to live long lives.”
I don't think so.
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