“Oh, Miss?”
Lize, with her brown hair braided into two pigtails and freckled skin, was looking at her with wide eyes while wearing round glasses.
“Lize.”
For the first time since her return, a sincere smile appeared on Odette's lips.
“Miss, is your leg okay? Paula, that thing was misbehaving today, wasn’t it? Should I bring you some medicine?”
Odette's room was neatly cleaned, and on the table above the sofa were served warm tea and sweet tarts.
'In my previous life, I used to resent having to be packed like this every morning.'
For the stupid reason that she has to starve anyway and it's annoying to have food in front of her
'The only thing in this mansion that was good for me was the meals you prepared for me.'
“Don’t worry. I’m not hurt at all.”
Her throat was choked with joy. Odette awkwardly changed the subject to avoid making Lize worry.
“That looks delicious, Lize. Did you make it?”
“Yes. Would you like to eat it?”
“Yeah. I want to eat.”
The laundry maid was murdered by her brother while trying to testify in her favor in court.
'It must be hard enough just with the work you're assigned to do.'
A clean room, warm water ready to wash in.
The head maid would not tolerate this behavior, so it was clear that she would be severely bullied.
“It looks delicious. Thank you.”
Odette put the tart in her mouth. Lize also made her some warm tea.
'Seeing this kid alive makes me realize that I really have regressed.'
The miserable moment when she realized the only being who cared for her, standing in front of that grave. How fulfilled she is now compared to that day.
After eating everything without leaving anything behind, Odette asked Lize to do something for her.
“Lize, will you be my personal attendant from today onwards? You won’t have to do my laundry anymore.”
Lize's eyes widened at Odette's words.
Among the chambermaids, the laundry maid, who was the lowest in the household, was in charge of all the menial tasks. On the other hand, the close maid who served the master was a job that only the highest-ranking personnel, second only to the maids, could do.
“Really? Are you okay with someone like me?”
“Then, Lize, you are enough. Rather, you are overflowing.”
Lize smiled brightly at Odette's soft smile.
'You have no idea how much I cried at your grave.'
Lize was the only person who had cared for Odette in her previous life. How much did Odette regret standing before the cold corpse that had been abandoned without a trace?
She won't let this child die in this life, because she's realized who is worth caring for and protecting.
“Let me help you get dressed, Miss.”
After finishing her meal, Lize brought Odette a full-length mirror. Odette checked herself in the mirror and laughed in vain.
'Habits are really scary. I wore something like this as if it were normal.'
Odette was wearing a flowing lace nightgown, and, as always, a tight metal corset.
'In this situation, was I wearing something that son of a bitch likes?'
In the mirror, a cold anger rose across her expression.
“Are you going to a funeral? Why did you choose such a dull and gloomy outfit? A woman should be bright. Wear that yellow one, the one with lace.”
'You dirty, disgusting son of a bitch.'
Just thinking about Ferdinand's voice makes Odette want to wash her ears.
“Miss, what are you going to wear today?”
She glanced coldly into the open closet. It was all childishly bright lace and frilly, candy-like frills.
“Lize, bring me the scissors.”
“Scissors?”
“As soon as possible, as soon as possible.”
That closet wasn't hers. It belonged to Fernand's toys. She couldn't stand this unpleasantness.
Odette tore up all the clothes in the closet with the scissors Lize had given her.
Dresses that were two sizes too small for her actual body, because of the little bastard who likes thin bones.
"Miss!"
Lize was shocked but did not stop Odette. Odette, who had torn all the dresses in the closet, said to Lize.
“There’s nothing I like in this closet. Bring me some dark clothes from the laundry room. A maid’s uniform is fine, too.”
“...Yes? Yes! Miss.”
After Lize left, Odette took off the silk nightgown she was wearing. She also cut off the leather straps of the metal corset that was tightly clinging to her body and squeezing her ribs.
'I was forcing my body into something like that.'
It's a corset that she's never taken off except to wash.
In her previous life, she was more afraid of taking this off than of breaking her ribs.
Without even realizing that this was ruining her body.
Odette put on a simple new chemise that was lying in the corner of the closet. Looking in the mirror, she saw a more natural silhouette than usual.
A body that is different from the one that was corseted to fit the dress and break the ribs... a real body of hers.
“It’s so easy to breathe, it’s almost strange.”
Wearing a chemise that hugged her body, Odette no longer looked like a bizarre fairy.
'Why are you looking for dark-colored clothes today?'
Thump, thump.
Lize, with her brown hair braided into two pigtails and freckled skin, was looking at her with wide eyes while wearing round glasses.
“Lize.”
For the first time since her return, a sincere smile appeared on Odette's lips.
“Miss, is your leg okay? Paula, that thing was misbehaving today, wasn’t it? Should I bring you some medicine?”
Odette's room was neatly cleaned, and on the table above the sofa were served warm tea and sweet tarts.
'In my previous life, I used to resent having to be packed like this every morning.'
For the stupid reason that she has to starve anyway and it's annoying to have food in front of her
'The only thing in this mansion that was good for me was the meals you prepared for me.'
“Don’t worry. I’m not hurt at all.”
Her throat was choked with joy. Odette awkwardly changed the subject to avoid making Lize worry.
“That looks delicious, Lize. Did you make it?”
“Yes. Would you like to eat it?”
“Yeah. I want to eat.”
The laundry maid was murdered by her brother while trying to testify in her favor in court.
'It must be hard enough just with the work you're assigned to do.'
A clean room, warm water ready to wash in.
The head maid would not tolerate this behavior, so it was clear that she would be severely bullied.
“It looks delicious. Thank you.”
Odette put the tart in her mouth. Lize also made her some warm tea.
'Seeing this kid alive makes me realize that I really have regressed.'
The miserable moment when she realized the only being who cared for her, standing in front of that grave. How fulfilled she is now compared to that day.
After eating everything without leaving anything behind, Odette asked Lize to do something for her.
“Lize, will you be my personal attendant from today onwards? You won’t have to do my laundry anymore.”
Lize's eyes widened at Odette's words.
Among the chambermaids, the laundry maid, who was the lowest in the household, was in charge of all the menial tasks. On the other hand, the close maid who served the master was a job that only the highest-ranking personnel, second only to the maids, could do.
“Really? Are you okay with someone like me?”
“Then, Lize, you are enough. Rather, you are overflowing.”
Lize smiled brightly at Odette's soft smile.
'You have no idea how much I cried at your grave.'
Lize was the only person who had cared for Odette in her previous life. How much did Odette regret standing before the cold corpse that had been abandoned without a trace?
She won't let this child die in this life, because she's realized who is worth caring for and protecting.
***
“Let me help you get dressed, Miss.”
After finishing her meal, Lize brought Odette a full-length mirror. Odette checked herself in the mirror and laughed in vain.
'Habits are really scary. I wore something like this as if it were normal.'
Odette was wearing a flowing lace nightgown, and, as always, a tight metal corset.
'In this situation, was I wearing something that son of a bitch likes?'
In the mirror, a cold anger rose across her expression.
“Are you going to a funeral? Why did you choose such a dull and gloomy outfit? A woman should be bright. Wear that yellow one, the one with lace.”
'You dirty, disgusting son of a bitch.'
Just thinking about Ferdinand's voice makes Odette want to wash her ears.
“Miss, what are you going to wear today?”
She glanced coldly into the open closet. It was all childishly bright lace and frilly, candy-like frills.
“Lize, bring me the scissors.”
“Scissors?”
“As soon as possible, as soon as possible.”
That closet wasn't hers. It belonged to Fernand's toys. She couldn't stand this unpleasantness.
Odette tore up all the clothes in the closet with the scissors Lize had given her.
Dresses that were two sizes too small for her actual body, because of the little bastard who likes thin bones.
"Miss!"
Lize was shocked but did not stop Odette. Odette, who had torn all the dresses in the closet, said to Lize.
“There’s nothing I like in this closet. Bring me some dark clothes from the laundry room. A maid’s uniform is fine, too.”
“...Yes? Yes! Miss.”
After Lize left, Odette took off the silk nightgown she was wearing. She also cut off the leather straps of the metal corset that was tightly clinging to her body and squeezing her ribs.
'I was forcing my body into something like that.'
It's a corset that she's never taken off except to wash.
In her previous life, she was more afraid of taking this off than of breaking her ribs.
Without even realizing that this was ruining her body.
Odette put on a simple new chemise that was lying in the corner of the closet. Looking in the mirror, she saw a more natural silhouette than usual.
A body that is different from the one that was corseted to fit the dress and break the ribs... a real body of hers.
“It’s so easy to breathe, it’s almost strange.”
Wearing a chemise that hugged her body, Odette no longer looked like a bizarre fairy.
***
'Why are you looking for dark-colored clothes today?'
Thump, thump.
Lize's heart pounded.
Lize has always admired Odette.
Because the sight of that elegant young lady always gave her an inexplicable thrill.
Lize ran down the makeshift stairs in excitement. She was busy gesturing as she took out the dress she had hidden in the trunk on top of the closet in her basement room.
'The clothes Madam threw away after wearing only a few times because they were too short.'
She touched it once and it turned out so pretty that she couldn't throw it away, but she didn't dare wear it either.
A basic navy dress with neat white frills and a black ribbon. It was elegant and classy but didn't make her look like an old lady.
'Now that I think about it, I think I was thinking of you since I was doing the repairs.'
Lize always felt sorry for the young lady who only wore lace dresses that looked like candy shells and didn't suit her.
“So I thought you’d choose a candy-shell outfit today too... What the heck!”
A dress made with imagination and desire. She held out the dress she had brought with a trembling heart to Odette.
“I just slightly altered the clothes Madam threw away. Is that okay?”
“Really? Lize, you’re really talented. That’s the prettiest dress I’ve ever seen. I like it.”
“Really?”
Lize, who had gained confidence, shyly held out the shoes she had brought just in case.
“These are my shoes, but I’ve never worn them, so I want to give them to you. Your shoes’ heels are always so high that they hurt your ankles.”
“...”
Odette suddenly closed her mouth at Lize's words. Her expression became thoughtful.
'You don't like it? Well, it probably looks cheap to you, young lady...'
It was around the time when she was worrying about that.
Odette suddenly hugged Lize.
“...So pretty. This is the first time I’ve received such a precious gift, Lize.”
It was something that a normal young lady, who always strictly adhered to etiquette, would never do.
Lize was surprised but soon hugged Odette back. The girl's breathing sounded like it was trembling.
“Lize, I have something to ask of you.”
“What is it, Miss?”
Odette hugged Lize tightly and whispered something in her ear. There were a few things she wanted her to do.
Lize nodded after hearing Odette's order.
“Of course! It’s not that difficult! I’ll move quickly.”
“Yeah. I’m sure you’ll do well. You’ve always been smart.”
The young lady's tone of voice seemed to recall a time long ago, a vague time that could not be grasped.
Lize hesitated for a moment, but then quickly started moving.
This is the first time in her entire life that she's worn comfortable clothes.
After being abandoned by her family, she had to wear rags made from plant bark instead of clothing, which left her unable to protect her body.
“Clothes can be this comfortable.”
Clothes made to fit her body without any skin-teasing decorations like lace, gold thread, or organza.
The dark color brought out the elegance and nobility of Odette's pure white face.
'I think that son of a bitch Fernando is going to play gloomy. He's perfect.'
Wearing her perfect battle attire, Odette stepped onto the first floor.
She didn't hesitate an inch before opening the door to her father's study.
'It's a place I never dared enter in my previous life.'
What was it about this room that made coming in here more frightening than going to the palace?
That's stupid, she was more afraid of being hated by her parents than of dying.
“...”
On one wall of the study hung a medium-sized portrait of his father, his mother sitting on a sofa, and Ferdinand himself.
The three of them looked very happy and harmonious. They even looked perfect.
'I just wanted to get in there.'
Portraits of only three people are hung throughout the mansion, each of different sizes. The largest one is hung on the central staircase of the mansion.
How she wanted to go inside and play family games. Yes, at that time, it was okay even if it was just family games, not family.
Just thinking about being a natural part of that world, loving and being loved, made her heart swell with excitement.
'Even if you come here and make me a real family with those guys, I still don't like it.'
She placed her palm on the portrait. There was a secret safe behind this frame.
The moment she tried to push the frame up.
Creak, the door to the study opened behind her.
Lize has always admired Odette.
Because the sight of that elegant young lady always gave her an inexplicable thrill.
Lize ran down the makeshift stairs in excitement. She was busy gesturing as she took out the dress she had hidden in the trunk on top of the closet in her basement room.
'The clothes Madam threw away after wearing only a few times because they were too short.'
She touched it once and it turned out so pretty that she couldn't throw it away, but she didn't dare wear it either.
A basic navy dress with neat white frills and a black ribbon. It was elegant and classy but didn't make her look like an old lady.
'Now that I think about it, I think I was thinking of you since I was doing the repairs.'
Lize always felt sorry for the young lady who only wore lace dresses that looked like candy shells and didn't suit her.
“So I thought you’d choose a candy-shell outfit today too... What the heck!”
A dress made with imagination and desire. She held out the dress she had brought with a trembling heart to Odette.
“I just slightly altered the clothes Madam threw away. Is that okay?”
“Really? Lize, you’re really talented. That’s the prettiest dress I’ve ever seen. I like it.”
“Really?”
Lize, who had gained confidence, shyly held out the shoes she had brought just in case.
“These are my shoes, but I’ve never worn them, so I want to give them to you. Your shoes’ heels are always so high that they hurt your ankles.”
“...”
Odette suddenly closed her mouth at Lize's words. Her expression became thoughtful.
'You don't like it? Well, it probably looks cheap to you, young lady...'
It was around the time when she was worrying about that.
Odette suddenly hugged Lize.
“...So pretty. This is the first time I’ve received such a precious gift, Lize.”
It was something that a normal young lady, who always strictly adhered to etiquette, would never do.
Lize was surprised but soon hugged Odette back. The girl's breathing sounded like it was trembling.
“Lize, I have something to ask of you.”
“What is it, Miss?”
Odette hugged Lize tightly and whispered something in her ear. There were a few things she wanted her to do.
Lize nodded after hearing Odette's order.
“Of course! It’s not that difficult! I’ll move quickly.”
“Yeah. I’m sure you’ll do well. You’ve always been smart.”
The young lady's tone of voice seemed to recall a time long ago, a vague time that could not be grasped.
Lize hesitated for a moment, but then quickly started moving.
***
This is the first time in her entire life that she's worn comfortable clothes.
After being abandoned by her family, she had to wear rags made from plant bark instead of clothing, which left her unable to protect her body.
“Clothes can be this comfortable.”
Clothes made to fit her body without any skin-teasing decorations like lace, gold thread, or organza.
The dark color brought out the elegance and nobility of Odette's pure white face.
'I think that son of a bitch Fernando is going to play gloomy. He's perfect.'
Wearing her perfect battle attire, Odette stepped onto the first floor.
She didn't hesitate an inch before opening the door to her father's study.
'It's a place I never dared enter in my previous life.'
What was it about this room that made coming in here more frightening than going to the palace?
That's stupid, she was more afraid of being hated by her parents than of dying.
“...”
On one wall of the study hung a medium-sized portrait of his father, his mother sitting on a sofa, and Ferdinand himself.
The three of them looked very happy and harmonious. They even looked perfect.
'I just wanted to get in there.'
Portraits of only three people are hung throughout the mansion, each of different sizes. The largest one is hung on the central staircase of the mansion.
How she wanted to go inside and play family games. Yes, at that time, it was okay even if it was just family games, not family.
Just thinking about being a natural part of that world, loving and being loved, made her heart swell with excitement.
'Even if you come here and make me a real family with those guys, I still don't like it.'
She placed her palm on the portrait. There was a secret safe behind this frame.
The moment she tried to push the frame up.
Creak, the door to the study opened behind her.
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