Everyone froze at the frosty voice. What did they just hear?
"Your Highness..."
Butler Gaspard, who could no longer stand to watch, quietly called out to Noevian from behind.
“There are maids too, and they are conducting separate searches...”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“!”
“It doesn’t matter whether the rat is a man or a woman.”
The atmosphere in the room became chilly. The servants who had worked in the Grand Duke’s residence for a long time were well aware of the Grand Duke’s temperament, so they prepared to take off their clothes with a look of despair.
'Save me, please, please!'
And at that moment when my vision was about to blur, everything before my eyes became completely black. Someone approached from behind and covered my head with something. I felt a warm, large hand grab my arm that was groping through the air. An unfamiliar hand. A strange scent mixed with the faint scent of herbs, cigars, and lavender. It was a familiar scent.
'That's ridiculous.'
“...Looks like you need help.”
It was a whisper so low that only I could hear it. The arms that had been waving in the air were quietly held in his hands. His warm but persistent hands pressed down on the two arms that were tied behind me so that it didn’t hurt like at the victory ceremony.
“Will you hold my hand?”
The words, “Help,” seemed to be my only lifeline. I nodded, suppressing the feeling of my throat being choked as I heard the voice of my savior in the darkness.
“...Obviously, you asked for help yourself.”
I nodded my head again, and immediately my tied arms were released. At the same time, a warm hand naturally ran down my arm and grabbed my hand from behind. It was a hand that was too big for me. It was definitely the same breathlessness and heartbeat as when I experienced death.
“Is this how you treat guests?”
I felt like I was pulled up from the swamp of death in an instant as I held his hand. The low, resonating voice that had always made me nervous began to strangely calm my mind. My heart which had been pounding surprisingly calmed down as I leaned my back against his solid, massive body that had been swaying precariously. The white jacket he always wore. It was covered with medals and glittered gold, and it was wrapped around my head.
“Hwa, hwa, Your Highness...”
“Tell the Grand Duke.”
As I looked outside through the gap in his jacket, a maid nearby recognized him with red eyes and began to stutter. A cold, low voice flowed out from above my body that was touching my back.
“The star of the empire has arrived, so he should show his face and pay his respects.”
The maids who had surrounded me at the mention of 'Star of the Empire' were in a panic for another reason. They were afraid of being punished, so they kept shouting apologies and quickly dispersed.
'Ha-.'
As their footsteps grew distant, I let out my choked breath. A strong force held me back as I lowered my jacket onto my shoulders.
“...Are you okay?”
A breathtakingly beautiful statue. And on its face, a pair of eyes, like the blood of a freshly killed animal, were fixed upon me.
“Your complexion doesn’t look good.”
It was Rhodnes with a stern expression. As expected, he was right.
“God’s blessings! I meet His Highness the Second Prince, the great star of the empire!”
Butler Gaspard quickly ran to greet the big shot. Feeling a tightness in his throat, Rhodnes opened his cravat lightly and opened his mouth without taking his eyes off the pale countess.
“Who is your master?”
“Um-. I’m sorry... but my master is a little busy right now..."
“You talk a lot about wanting to die.”
Gaspard's two hands naturally went to my throat. Before I knew it, my eyes turned to the sword that was proudly displayed at the side of the beautiful Prince, who was called the imperial problem child. When I glanced up at the Prince's face, it was very cold.
'What the heck has been going on all day!'
The Grand Duke is angry, and the uninvited Prince suddenly appears and acts terribly.
“Call your master now.”
“Yes, yes!”
Gaspard quickly retreated. The Grand Duke's message to wait a moment became useless.
“Thank you, thank you, Your Highness.”
I thanked him, as I seemed to have gotten a little better than before. However, my body was still trembling slightly. Rhodnes seemed to be aware of the pouring attention from the surroundings, and he just stared at me with his sharp eyes.
“I’m okay now, so go back to what you were doing...”
“I hope you don’t forget.”
I looked up at Rhodnes, completely suppressing the fear that had now subsided. He looked angry.
'If the words 'I need help' come out of my mouth one more time...'
'At that point, I'll have to tell you exactly how I can help you.'
Suddenly, a conversation from a while ago came to mind.
The dead Grand Duchess's bedroom, where all sorts of servants were gathered. Undressing in front of a strange guest?
The servants' bewildered and fearful gazes turned to Grand Duke Noevian. But he did not add a single word.
"Your Highness..."
Butler Gaspard, who could no longer stand to watch, quietly called out to Noevian from behind.
“There are maids too, and they are conducting separate searches...”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“!”
“It doesn’t matter whether the rat is a man or a woman.”
The atmosphere in the room became chilly. The servants who had worked in the Grand Duke’s residence for a long time were well aware of the Grand Duke’s temperament, so they prepared to take off their clothes with a look of despair.
However, the young maids who had just come in were holding on to their fronts tightly, their teeth chattering so much that they could hear a sound. The butler Gaspard saw this and twisted his lips into a smile. He pretended to protect them, but he found this situation very interesting and amusing. In the end, the men took off their clothes first. From the men with large builds to the skinny and unattractive ones, they took off their jackets and laid them on the floor, and then several old maids who were next in line naturally rummaged through their clothes.
“...If you leave it to a rat to search for a rat, will he catch it?”
The unfamiliar lady who had been watching the scene in a strange tension opened her mouth. The lady’s face was slightly flushed in front of the men who had completely taken off their tops. Those who did not know her would think she was embarrassed, but Adrienne was not.
“...If you leave it to a rat to search for a rat, will he catch it?”
The unfamiliar lady who had been watching the scene in a strange tension opened her mouth. The lady’s face was slightly flushed in front of the men who had completely taken off their tops. Those who did not know her would think she was embarrassed, but Adrienne was not.
She was strangely excited now. Most of the servants here did not know her face as the Grand Duchess. She rarely went out of the bedroom, and only a few maids including Annie were able to do the work. However, seeing Annie, who was shamelessly showing her face among them as if she had done nothing wrong, made her feel a sense of pride.
'It's also quite confident.'
“Can I take charge of the search for the women?”
“!”
There was a small commotion where the maids were gathered. It was shameful enough to be searched in front of Noevian and the butler, but to entrust oneself to a strange lady?
“The butler has a point.”
“...”
Noevian was silent for a moment as if he had not expected her to come forward, and then tried to open his mouth.
“Your Highness, no matter what, it is a household matter...”
Noevian shook his head as if he suddenly came to his senses at the butler Gaspard's interference.
“Madam, please step aside for a moment.”
And Adrienne felt Annie's gaze boring into her.
'I wanted to find it.'
My mother's pendant necklace. All the other things were precious, but I especially cherished the necklace because it contained the only portrait of my mother I had.
'It's also quite confident.'
“Can I take charge of the search for the women?”
“!”
There was a small commotion where the maids were gathered. It was shameful enough to be searched in front of Noevian and the butler, but to entrust oneself to a strange lady?
“The butler has a point.”
“...”
Noevian was silent for a moment as if he had not expected her to come forward, and then tried to open his mouth.
“Your Highness, no matter what, it is a household matter...”
Noevian shook his head as if he suddenly came to his senses at the butler Gaspard's interference.
“Madam, please step aside for a moment.”
And Adrienne felt Annie's gaze boring into her.
***
'I wanted to find it.'
My mother's pendant necklace. All the other things were precious, but I especially cherished the necklace because it contained the only portrait of my mother I had.
I walked alone down the huge hallway. All my strength drained away. I must have been nervous without realizing it. I wore the black shawl that Gaspard had given me tightly and watched the people who had come to my reminiscence party from the stairs. I saw some maids bringing refreshments, not knowing what was going on upstairs.
'If there is anyone among them who has my mother's necklace, besides those in the bedroom...'
Can't I get it without Noevian's knowledge, even if I have to pay for it?
'If there is anyone among them who has my mother's necklace, besides those in the bedroom...'
Can't I get it without Noevian's knowledge, even if I have to pay for it?
I also have a lot of jewels in my pocket. I carefully went down the stairs without being noticed by anyone. Fortunately, the atmosphere was moderately noisy, so I hid between the giant statues without feeling anyone's gaze. I approached the two maids who were serving refreshments nearby and quickly checked their necks. There was no sign of a necklace. My necklace had a plain string, so I could easily wear it if I hid the pendant. I slightly lowered my head with a visibly disappointed expression. This was because I tried not to show my face as much as possible.
"Who are you?"
As I was checking out the other maids, another maid next to me suddenly grabbed me and pulled me away.
“Who are you, dressed like this...”
And as soon as she saw my face, her face turned ashen.
“Your Highness.”
“No.”
The maid must have seen Adrienne's face a few times because she looked strangely familiar. Several other maids who heard the slight commotion surrounded me. The maid who had pulled me away was looking at me as if I had seen a corpse. I was suddenly gripped by fear.
“Marie, what’s wrong?”
They didn’t seem to be able to easily think of me as a guest because of my ambiguous appearance. They didn’t show any courtesy to me, perhaps thinking I was a musician who came to play music quietly or a singer who occasionally sang at a reminiscence party.
"Who are you?"
As I was checking out the other maids, another maid next to me suddenly grabbed me and pulled me away.
“Who are you, dressed like this...”
And as soon as she saw my face, her face turned ashen.
“Your Highness.”
“No.”
The maid must have seen Adrienne's face a few times because she looked strangely familiar. Several other maids who heard the slight commotion surrounded me. The maid who had pulled me away was looking at me as if I had seen a corpse. I was suddenly gripped by fear.
“Marie, what’s wrong?”
They didn’t seem to be able to easily think of me as a guest because of my ambiguous appearance. They didn’t show any courtesy to me, perhaps thinking I was a musician who came to play music quietly or a singer who occasionally sang at a reminiscence party.
Instead, the maid named Marie froze when she saw my face. I froze too. It didn’t matter when there were only one or two of us, but when there were four or five of us, it felt suffocating.
The familiar Grand Duke’s residence. The familiar gossip. Even those eyes that looked like they were looking at a corpse. None of it felt unfamiliar, and at the same time, none of it felt painful.
'Wake up. Let's wake up.'
I looked around their necks and tried to breathe normally, almost desperately. Fortunately or unfortunately, none of them were wearing necklaces. I put my hand on my chest to calm myself down, and I felt my hands and feet tremble. Memories of the day I had suffocated to death, surrounded by these maids, began to boil in my head.
“Get out of the way, get out of the way...”
“Jasmine! Come here! Here, here, resembling the visionary...”
Out of nowhere, maids swarmed the corner of the hall. Cold sweat ran down my back. It wasn’t because I was scared of maids. It was because I vividly remembered the helplessness of that time when I couldn’t do anything.
'Wake up. Let's wake up.'
I looked around their necks and tried to breathe normally, almost desperately. Fortunately or unfortunately, none of them were wearing necklaces. I put my hand on my chest to calm myself down, and I felt my hands and feet tremble. Memories of the day I had suffocated to death, surrounded by these maids, began to boil in my head.
“Get out of the way, get out of the way...”
“Jasmine! Come here! Here, here, resembling the visionary...”
Out of nowhere, maids swarmed the corner of the hall. Cold sweat ran down my back. It wasn’t because I was scared of maids. It was because I vividly remembered the helplessness of that time when I couldn’t do anything.
The moment of death when I opened my eyes but couldn’t see anything, and when I opened my mouth but couldn’t hear anything. I felt as if that moment was no longer the past but a reality that had come before my eyes.
“Haa-. Haa-.”
“Hey, hey! Hey, what’s wrong!”
“Oh my God, someone calls someone!”
The back of a running maid. The murmur of people in maid outfits and the low voices of shock. Everything is similar to that day. The atmosphere of the day I died. That day when I fell into deep water and couldn't touch my feet, and no one would catch me no matter how much I stretched out my hand. No matter how much I split the water, I could never escape. That swamp of death that was cruel only to me. I let out a silent scream.
'Save me...'
My hand automatically reached out to the maid who didn't seem to know my face. I felt like I could breathe if someone just held my hand.
'Save me!!'
And the faces of the maids who faced my face like that became gloomy. If only they could just reach out and grab my hand, if only they could just do that, I feel like I could escape this terrible swamp...!
“Haa-. Haa-.”
“Hey, hey! Hey, what’s wrong!”
“Oh my God, someone calls someone!”
The back of a running maid. The murmur of people in maid outfits and the low voices of shock. Everything is similar to that day. The atmosphere of the day I died. That day when I fell into deep water and couldn't touch my feet, and no one would catch me no matter how much I stretched out my hand. No matter how much I split the water, I could never escape. That swamp of death that was cruel only to me. I let out a silent scream.
'Save me...'
My hand automatically reached out to the maid who didn't seem to know my face. I felt like I could breathe if someone just held my hand.
'Save me!!'
And the faces of the maids who faced my face like that became gloomy. If only they could just reach out and grab my hand, if only they could just do that, I feel like I could escape this terrible swamp...!
My eyes sting. The things that have piled up over time are starting to gather and turn into tears of bitter resentment.
'Save me, please, please!'
And at that moment when my vision was about to blur, everything before my eyes became completely black. Someone approached from behind and covered my head with something. I felt a warm, large hand grab my arm that was groping through the air. An unfamiliar hand. A strange scent mixed with the faint scent of herbs, cigars, and lavender. It was a familiar scent.
'That's ridiculous.'
“...Looks like you need help.”
It was a whisper so low that only I could hear it. The arms that had been waving in the air were quietly held in his hands. His warm but persistent hands pressed down on the two arms that were tied behind me so that it didn’t hurt like at the victory ceremony.
“Will you hold my hand?”
The words, “Help,” seemed to be my only lifeline. I nodded, suppressing the feeling of my throat being choked as I heard the voice of my savior in the darkness.
“...Obviously, you asked for help yourself.”
I nodded my head again, and immediately my tied arms were released. At the same time, a warm hand naturally ran down my arm and grabbed my hand from behind. It was a hand that was too big for me. It was definitely the same breathlessness and heartbeat as when I experienced death.
“Is this how you treat guests?”
I felt like I was pulled up from the swamp of death in an instant as I held his hand. The low, resonating voice that had always made me nervous began to strangely calm my mind. My heart which had been pounding surprisingly calmed down as I leaned my back against his solid, massive body that had been swaying precariously. The white jacket he always wore. It was covered with medals and glittered gold, and it was wrapped around my head.
“Hwa, hwa, Your Highness...”
“Tell the Grand Duke.”
As I looked outside through the gap in his jacket, a maid nearby recognized him with red eyes and began to stutter. A cold, low voice flowed out from above my body that was touching my back.
“The star of the empire has arrived, so he should show his face and pay his respects.”
The maids who had surrounded me at the mention of 'Star of the Empire' were in a panic for another reason. They were afraid of being punished, so they kept shouting apologies and quickly dispersed.
'Ha-.'
As their footsteps grew distant, I let out my choked breath. A strong force held me back as I lowered my jacket onto my shoulders.
“...Are you okay?”
A breathtakingly beautiful statue. And on its face, a pair of eyes, like the blood of a freshly killed animal, were fixed upon me.
“Your complexion doesn’t look good.”
It was Rhodnes with a stern expression. As expected, he was right.
***
“God’s blessings! I meet His Highness the Second Prince, the great star of the empire!”
Butler Gaspard quickly ran to greet the big shot. Feeling a tightness in his throat, Rhodnes opened his cravat lightly and opened his mouth without taking his eyes off the pale countess.
“Who is your master?”
“Um-. I’m sorry... but my master is a little busy right now..."
“You talk a lot about wanting to die.”
Gaspard's two hands naturally went to my throat. Before I knew it, my eyes turned to the sword that was proudly displayed at the side of the beautiful Prince, who was called the imperial problem child. When I glanced up at the Prince's face, it was very cold.
'What the heck has been going on all day!'
The Grand Duke is angry, and the uninvited Prince suddenly appears and acts terribly.
“Call your master now.”
“Yes, yes!”
Gaspard quickly retreated. The Grand Duke's message to wait a moment became useless.
***
“Thank you, thank you, Your Highness.”
I thanked him, as I seemed to have gotten a little better than before. However, my body was still trembling slightly. Rhodnes seemed to be aware of the pouring attention from the surroundings, and he just stared at me with his sharp eyes.
“I’m okay now, so go back to what you were doing...”
“I hope you don’t forget.”
I looked up at Rhodnes, completely suppressing the fear that had now subsided. He looked angry.
'If the words 'I need help' come out of my mouth one more time...'
'At that point, I'll have to tell you exactly how I can help you.'
Suddenly, a conversation from a while ago came to mind.
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