As soon as the Grand Duke was mentioned, the maid's mouth immediately closed.
Although she was so arrogant towards me, she seemed afraid of the Grand Duke, the master of this territory.
Taking advantage of the maid's silence, I warned her again.
"I understand your unwillingness to serve me. However, I have already become the Grand Duchess. An insult to the Grand Duchess is an insult to me and an insult to me is an insult to him."
"That, that is..."
"If he heard that you were being so insolent towards me, he would probably be very sorry. He may not care about me, but I don't think he would tolerate the insult to the Grand Duchess."
As I spoke, the maid's eyes filled with fear.
It seemed like bringing up the Kishian story was a good choice.
The maid, who had been fidgeting with a nervous expression, opened her mouth as if making an excuse.
"But these are really the only shoes"
"Enough with the shoe talk. It's your fault that we've been delayed so much. I think it'd be best for you to go now."
I couldn't waste my time arguing with these low-level maids and shoes forever.
I just took out the shoes I always wore and put them on.
They weren't the most comfortable shoes, but I had no choice now.
So it was when I reported it and came out of the annex.
"Where are you going?"
The red-haired maid who had been scurrying around near the main entrance to the annex followed closely behind me.
The rag-headed girl who had been following me around since a while ago also came a little closer.
Because of that, my mood plummeted again.
"I don't need it, so go and rest..."
As I waved my hand as if to tell her to step aside, the red-haired maid responded sharply.
"That can't be. The head maid told me not to take my eyes off you at all times."
"..."
It seemed as if the head maid had told them to 'watch over' me.
I thought I knew the general reason.
That must be because I had a conversation alone with Kishian yesterday.
It seemed as if she was keeping watch over me, fearing that I might get too close to him.
Even If that wasn't the case, the maids' attitudes were firm as if they had definitely received some sinister orders.
"We can't let Your Highness go it alone. If something happens to Your Highness, it will all be our fault."
They didn't even care where I went until I met and talked to Kishian.
'I'm going to spend the whole day dealing with these things.'
Wasn't my alone time interrupted yesterday because of Kishian?
I became tired of dealing with them, so I turned around without saying anything and walked away.
I vowed not to care whether they followed me or not.
***
"...Why do you look outside so often?"
Walter, one of his knights, asked Kishian, who was habitually glancing out the office window, in a casual tone.
Normally, no matter what Kishian did, he would never have questioned his actions.
But the current Kishian was too strange.
Even while talking to Walter himself, he would look out the window every five minutes, which was an unnatural sight to anyone who saw it.
Kishian replied, still not taking his eyes off the window.
"It's nothing, so don't worry about it."
"It's not that big of a deal...”
Walter was about to ask, "Aren't you still looking out the window?"
"Wait a minute. Be quiet."
Suddenly, Kishian silenced Walter with those words.
While Walter stood there blankly, unable to ask what was going on, Kishian kept his gaze fixed on the window.
To be exact, towards the Grand Duchess's back seen outside the window.
'Why are you going that way?'
The Grand Duchess was not facing the tea table in the annex garden as usual.
She was walking in the opposite direction.
Without even realizing it, Kishian began to deduce the Grand Duchess's destination and soon found out.
"Are you thinking of taking a walk by the pond? Who gave you permission to wander around like that?"
Walter looked puzzled and said,"Huh?" after hearing the muttering that sounded like a soliloquy.
But he couldn't hear a response.
That was why Kishian suddenly walked out of the office as if he had forgotten Walter's presence.
***
I was already familiar with the structure and geography of the Grand Palace, having studied the map.
So there was no need to get confused about the direction. However...
'It's further than I thought.'
This was my first time actually going to the pond, rather than just looking at it on a map, so I was a little surprised.
That was because the pond was much further away than I thought.
"The grounds of the Grand Duke's residence are larger than I thought. Should I have just sat in the narrow garden and drank tea?"
I felt it was boring to just stay in the annex garden, so I wanted to go to the pond, but I regretted it a little because I couldn't find anything, no matter how much I walked.
The maids who had been following me semi-forcibly also began to grumble quietly.
"Oh, my legs hurt."
"You'll just have some tea in the garden. Tsk."
It was a small voice, but loud enough for me to hear.
It must have been something she muttered out loud for people to hear.
It was when I was exhausted from the physical and mental fatigue that was creeping in.
I was finally able to reach the pond.
"Ha."
I took a deep breath and looked at the small pond.
A small artificial pond is located in a corner far from the annex garden.
It wasn't a very big pond, but seeing the water after a long time felt refreshing.
'It was hard, but I'm glad I came.'
I was feeling frustrated because I was just hanging around the annex.
The water surface was beautiful, sparkling like a jewel in the sunlight.
There happened to be a rock nearby where I could sit, so I sat down on it.
'It's a great place to lose yourself in thought. Even Kishian won't come here.
We ran into each other by chance in the annex garden, but Kishian probably wouldn't come here either.
I concentrated on my thoughts in my newfound quiet space.
...I need outside help to escape this stuffy mansion and estate. I have no one on my side here.
Before I met Kishian, I thought I could get along with him.
I believed that I could live here in a way that suited him and enjoy my own freedom.
Now that that trust has been shattered, I have to find a way out.
It was impossible to continue enduring in this place, which felt even more stifling than the palace.
Luckily, someone came to mind to help.
Someone I have been in contact with since I was in the palace.
He would definitely extend a helping hand to me.
Then I will finally be able to find true freedom.
Since he is a man who only moves when money is at stake, I wilI have to offer a considerable amount of gold in return for his help...
It was when I was so lost in thought.
"Born, are you okay with just sitting there? Our legs hurt too."
The rag-haired maid who followed me muttered in a timid voice.
Then the red-haired maid who had come with them continued to laugh in vain.
"Ha, at least come to a place where there's a place to sit. Why did you walk all the way here..."
I heard it once and just let it go.
But after hearing that annoying gossip twice, my patience finally reached its limit.
"Do your legs hurt?"
When I looked back at them and asked that question, the maid's eyes widened in surprise.
Jipuragi stammered as she seemed not to have expected me to ask her so openly.
"Of course, it would hurt, wouldn't it? I've come this far and am still standing."
"Then can I just go back?"
Even though I gave them such a simple solution, the maids just hesitated.
"You don't understand what I'm saying. It means I should go back now."
As soon as I said that, the maids' eyes furrowed, but I ignored them and continued talking.
"I never asked you to follow me. Even though this pond is far from the annex where I live, it is located inside the Grand Duke's residence. That means there is no need to bring maids with me."
The red-haired maid opened her mouth as if in a fit of anger.
"But the head maid ordered me not to leave Her Highness' side-"
"Then... it's that woman who's causing you pain. Go and find out. Don't mutter your complaints so loudly that everyone can hear."
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