As always, the morning dawned.
Ravielli Lehun threw off the blanket and carefully got up.
Her limbs were aching, perhaps because she had been riding for a long time, but her head was clearer than she thought.
She had always suffered from a constant pain, as if someone was pressing on her temples.
She couldn't remember exactly when she started having headaches, but she figured it had something to do with coming to Rotten.
'I guess it's because I slept so well after a long time. Aside from the sore legs, I feel incredibly light.'
Suddenly, she remembered a few snippets of the conversation they had last night and the man between her legs.
How long can this precarious situation continue?
But she didn't know if it was safer to return to the mansion as soon as possible, or if it would be better to stay with that strange man.
Neither option was comfortable for her.
Anyway, the only consolation was that she was feeling well this morning.
Ravielli stretched her long, straight arms high into the sky.
"Ha..."
As she looked out the window with refreshed eyes, a leisurely countryside scenery came into view.
“Sister! I told you I’d lend you a yellow ribbon.”
She looked down at the place where the voices came from and saw a girl with her hair tied in pigtails and a girl who looked three or four years older than her sitting and arguing.
“When did I?”
“Well, I didn’t hear that!”
“Oh, really!”
A faint smile appeared on Ravielli's lips as she gazed blankly at the girl running around giggling, then disappeared.
Ravielli was thrilled to find herself out of the mansion.
Of course, her anxiety hadn't completely disappeared, but at least she wasn't as scared as she was last night.
She didn't want to admit it, but it was thanks to Lucian Meyer that she felt somewhat calmer.
Perhaps because he had a rough childhood, he was more experienced than his age.
As you can see from the fact that the old fox, who had nothing to fear, was boiled overnight.
Of course, that doesn't mean she completely trusts the man with the hazel eyes. But it certainly means there's no need to be as wary and put up the walls as before.
'The Marquis is no pushover. If he finds out you left the mansion without a maid.'
Theano did not trust Ravieli.
He wouldn't even allow her to leave the mansion without accompanying him.
He had taken her in because of her youth and beauty, but Ravielli knew very well that it was because of this that she feared it most.
The only thing she was allowed to do was walk in the garden attached to the mansion.
'Even if it was the Marquis's order... Even if I don't say anything to Lucian Meyer, he's sure to harass me.'
It wasn't as scary as the night before, but she thought she needed to be prepared.
Knock knock.
Ravielli looked out the door and saw a young woman walking in carrying a wooden tray.
She was the woman who showed her to her room when she first entered the inn.
It's quite large in scale, but it seems like she's taking on a lot of work by herself.
She put down bread, baked beans, and a cup of milk on the table with a puffy face, perhaps from a bad night's sleep or from a lot of work, and turned away without saying a word.
'Could she be Eamon's cousin?'
However, since she was a cousin, the scarf on her head and her appearance clearly showed that she was a maid.
Ravielli, who had been staring at the woman's back for a long time, opened her parched lips.
"...I."
“Yes, Miss... No, Ma’am.”
The maid slowly turned around and looked at Ravielli.
“I have a question...”
“Please speak.”
The fatigue that had descended to the sunken cheeks was quite painful, but there was something that had to be said.
“I’m sorry, I know this is rude, but... how long have you been working here?”
The maid looked Ravielli up and down at the sudden question.
Her expression clearly shows that she doesn't really want to answer such a trivial question.
Ravielli rummaged through the robe she had left on the table, feeling a pang of regret.
“I’m sorry. It’s nothing.”
Then she carefully handed the maid ten crans.
It wasn't a lot of money, but it was enough to make the maid's lips quiver.
The maid accepted the crans and put them in her apron pocket, her expression softening.
“Um, about three years.”
“You serve breakfast to the guests who come here, right?”
"That's all I need to do. I work here like the owner, receiving a pittance."
“Oh, you’re in charge of Eldon.”
Ravielli tried to win the maid's favor by offering her a few kind words.
The maid, who was thought to be quiet because of her dry expression, began to pour out her words as if she had been waiting for the door to be unlocked.
It was a fortunate thing for Ravielli.
After a few brief but exploratory words, Ravielli cleared her parched throat and spoke.
“Have you ever met the Marquis of the Meyer family?”
When Ravielli asked, the maid answered with a grin.
"The Marquis sometimes comes hunting, but I don't serve him. He's kept in a separate room at the top. The prettiest of the maids..."
The maid, having said that, pressed her lips together. Then, shrugging her shoulders, she spoke again.
“But why is that?”
“No, thank you. By the way, your name is...”
“It’s Rose.”
Before a look of doubt could cross the maid's face, Ravielli changed the subject.
“Thank you, Rose. By the way, could you tell me how long it takes to get to Galatea from here?”
"It's just a stone's throw from here. It'll be there in about an hour along Twizen Road. Are you here to hunt?"
Ravielli spoke in a relaxed voice, hiding her complicated feelings.
“Yes, I followed my husband.”
“Isn’t that the gentleman who’s been going back and forth to the stable since last night? He said he had to give some hot water to his wife, but... he was quite handsome.”
Rose, whose face was more relaxed than before, put down the wooden tray and waved both hands as if she had made a mistake in her last words.
"No, that doesn't mean I looked closely at your husband. I'm not blaming him either."
“I know. He’s... a little picky.”
“Of course, his wife is also very beautiful. At first, I thought you two were royalty.”
Anyone who saw the two of them together probably thought the same thing.
Platinum-blond hair was actually quite rare, and this was on the outskirts, right at the entrance to the hunting grounds, so such a reaction was not unreasonable.
Lucian Meyer was also a handsome man who caught everyone's attention at first glance, with his fair and pale skin, soft brown hair, a well-defined nose, and clear, soft lips.
Moreover, he had a special quality that could brighten the air around him with just a light smile.
“No way. You’re exaggerating, Rose.”
Ravielli couldn't help but think of Lucian's charming face.
It feels like she can smell the man's scent as if he is right next to her.
"That's excessive, ma'am. I've never met a man as wonderful as your husband in my entire life. I'm so jealous that you're married to such a fine gentleman. I'm being too harsh. Please forgive me."
Rose pretended to hit her mouth a couple of times with her roughened hand.
Although her words were somewhat exaggerated, Ravielli could not help but acknowledge Lucian's charm to some extent.
Moreover, Ravielli had no idea that she would lie so naturally.
She can't believe she was so happy when she lied to the man she was wary of and suspicious of and praised him.
Her two flustered hands gently rolled up the hem of her skirt.
"Thank you, Rose. You take such good care of all your guests. If I ever meet the owner of Eldon, I'll be sure to tell him about Rose."
Rose slowly shook her head in response to Ravielli's words.
"You're not talking about Mr. Eamon, are you? I haven't seen him in ages. I wonder if he's going to do business or not."
When Rose sighed and grumbled, Ravielli didn't miss it.
"Why?"
"He's so busy. I wish he would get married sooner and have a new mistress move in. Without a mistress, things are a mess. I thought I'd just have to do the laundry!"
"I see. I'm sorry I kept you busy for so long."
As an apology, Ravielli took out ten more crans and gave them to Rose.
“Oh, you’re welcome, ma’am.”
“Ah... and I.”
As Rose turned around with a grin, Ravielli called the maid back. It was time to bring up the question she'd been pondering throughout the conversation.
“This is Molly Iacinth.”
"Yes, kind and beautiful, Mrs. Iacinth. It was a pleasure talking to you."
Rose grabbed the handle, her complexion quite different from when she first came in.
“Damn it!”
Ravielli Lehun threw off the blanket and carefully got up.
Her limbs were aching, perhaps because she had been riding for a long time, but her head was clearer than she thought.
She had always suffered from a constant pain, as if someone was pressing on her temples.
She couldn't remember exactly when she started having headaches, but she figured it had something to do with coming to Rotten.
'I guess it's because I slept so well after a long time. Aside from the sore legs, I feel incredibly light.'
Suddenly, she remembered a few snippets of the conversation they had last night and the man between her legs.
How long can this precarious situation continue?
But she didn't know if it was safer to return to the mansion as soon as possible, or if it would be better to stay with that strange man.
Neither option was comfortable for her.
Anyway, the only consolation was that she was feeling well this morning.
Ravielli stretched her long, straight arms high into the sky.
"Ha..."
As she looked out the window with refreshed eyes, a leisurely countryside scenery came into view.
“Sister! I told you I’d lend you a yellow ribbon.”
She looked down at the place where the voices came from and saw a girl with her hair tied in pigtails and a girl who looked three or four years older than her sitting and arguing.
“When did I?”
“Are you really going to do this? Father said we should take turns doing it!"
“Oh, really!”
A faint smile appeared on Ravielli's lips as she gazed blankly at the girl running around giggling, then disappeared.
Ravielli was thrilled to find herself out of the mansion.
Of course, her anxiety hadn't completely disappeared, but at least she wasn't as scared as she was last night.
She didn't want to admit it, but it was thanks to Lucian Meyer that she felt somewhat calmer.
Perhaps because he had a rough childhood, he was more experienced than his age.
As you can see from the fact that the old fox, who had nothing to fear, was boiled overnight.
Of course, that doesn't mean she completely trusts the man with the hazel eyes. But it certainly means there's no need to be as wary and put up the walls as before.
'The Marquis is no pushover. If he finds out you left the mansion without a maid.'
Theano did not trust Ravieli.
He wouldn't even allow her to leave the mansion without accompanying him.
He had taken her in because of her youth and beauty, but Ravielli knew very well that it was because of this that she feared it most.
The only thing she was allowed to do was walk in the garden attached to the mansion.
'Even if it was the Marquis's order... Even if I don't say anything to Lucian Meyer, he's sure to harass me.'
It wasn't as scary as the night before, but she thought she needed to be prepared.
Knock knock.
Ravielli looked out the door and saw a young woman walking in carrying a wooden tray.
She was the woman who showed her to her room when she first entered the inn.
It's quite large in scale, but it seems like she's taking on a lot of work by herself.
She put down bread, baked beans, and a cup of milk on the table with a puffy face, perhaps from a bad night's sleep or from a lot of work, and turned away without saying a word.
'Could she be Eamon's cousin?'
However, since she was a cousin, the scarf on her head and her appearance clearly showed that she was a maid.
Ravielli, who had been staring at the woman's back for a long time, opened her parched lips.
"...I."
“Yes, Miss... No, Ma’am.”
The maid slowly turned around and looked at Ravielli.
“I have a question...”
“Please speak.”
The fatigue that had descended to the sunken cheeks was quite painful, but there was something that had to be said.
“I’m sorry, I know this is rude, but... how long have you been working here?”
The maid looked Ravielli up and down at the sudden question.
Her expression clearly shows that she doesn't really want to answer such a trivial question.
Ravielli rummaged through the robe she had left on the table, feeling a pang of regret.
“I’m sorry. It’s nothing.”
Then she carefully handed the maid ten crans.
It wasn't a lot of money, but it was enough to make the maid's lips quiver.
The maid accepted the crans and put them in her apron pocket, her expression softening.
“Um, about three years.”
“You serve breakfast to the guests who come here, right?”
"That's all I need to do. I work here like the owner, receiving a pittance."
“Oh, you’re in charge of Eldon.”
Ravielli tried to win the maid's favor by offering her a few kind words.
The maid, who was thought to be quiet because of her dry expression, began to pour out her words as if she had been waiting for the door to be unlocked.
It was a fortunate thing for Ravielli.
After a few brief but exploratory words, Ravielli cleared her parched throat and spoke.
“Have you ever met the Marquis of the Meyer family?”
When Ravielli asked, the maid answered with a grin.
"The Marquis sometimes comes hunting, but I don't serve him. He's kept in a separate room at the top. The prettiest of the maids..."
The maid, having said that, pressed her lips together. Then, shrugging her shoulders, she spoke again.
“But why is that?”
“No, thank you. By the way, your name is...”
“It’s Rose.”
Before a look of doubt could cross the maid's face, Ravielli changed the subject.
“Thank you, Rose. By the way, could you tell me how long it takes to get to Galatea from here?”
"It's just a stone's throw from here. It'll be there in about an hour along Twizen Road. Are you here to hunt?"
Ravielli spoke in a relaxed voice, hiding her complicated feelings.
“Yes, I followed my husband.”
“Isn’t that the gentleman who’s been going back and forth to the stable since last night? He said he had to give some hot water to his wife, but... he was quite handsome.”
Rose, whose face was more relaxed than before, put down the wooden tray and waved both hands as if she had made a mistake in her last words.
"No, that doesn't mean I looked closely at your husband. I'm not blaming him either."
“I know. He’s... a little picky.”
“Of course, his wife is also very beautiful. At first, I thought you two were royalty.”
Anyone who saw the two of them together probably thought the same thing.
Platinum-blond hair was actually quite rare, and this was on the outskirts, right at the entrance to the hunting grounds, so such a reaction was not unreasonable.
Lucian Meyer was also a handsome man who caught everyone's attention at first glance, with his fair and pale skin, soft brown hair, a well-defined nose, and clear, soft lips.
Moreover, he had a special quality that could brighten the air around him with just a light smile.
“No way. You’re exaggerating, Rose.”
Ravielli couldn't help but think of Lucian's charming face.
It feels like she can smell the man's scent as if he is right next to her.
"That's excessive, ma'am. I've never met a man as wonderful as your husband in my entire life. I'm so jealous that you're married to such a fine gentleman. I'm being too harsh. Please forgive me."
Rose pretended to hit her mouth a couple of times with her roughened hand.
Although her words were somewhat exaggerated, Ravielli could not help but acknowledge Lucian's charm to some extent.
Moreover, Ravielli had no idea that she would lie so naturally.
She can't believe she was so happy when she lied to the man she was wary of and suspicious of and praised him.
Her two flustered hands gently rolled up the hem of her skirt.
"Thank you, Rose. You take such good care of all your guests. If I ever meet the owner of Eldon, I'll be sure to tell him about Rose."
Rose slowly shook her head in response to Ravielli's words.
"You're not talking about Mr. Eamon, are you? I haven't seen him in ages. I wonder if he's going to do business or not."
When Rose sighed and grumbled, Ravielli didn't miss it.
"Why?"
"He's so busy. I wish he would get married sooner and have a new mistress move in. Without a mistress, things are a mess. I thought I'd just have to do the laundry!"
"I see. I'm sorry I kept you busy for so long."
As an apology, Ravielli took out ten more crans and gave them to Rose.
“Oh, you’re welcome, ma’am.”
“Ah... and I.”
As Rose turned around with a grin, Ravielli called the maid back. It was time to bring up the question she'd been pondering throughout the conversation.
“This is Molly Iacinth.”
"Yes, kind and beautiful, Mrs. Iacinth. It was a pleasure talking to you."
Rose grabbed the handle, her complexion quite different from when she first came in.
“Damn it!”
But as soon as she opened the door, she gasped in surprise at the sight of a very tall man standing in front of her.
But soon she realized that he was the husband of a kind woman, so she lowered her head and went down the stairs.
Lucian came in through the open door and smiled his characteristically slow and leisurely smile.
“Did you sleep well last night?”
Ravielli glanced up at his neatly combed hair and nodded with a blank expression.
Then she picked up the fork in front of her and poked at a boiled bean.
“Yes, so-so.”
“Everything was good, except for the breakfast, which was a bit disappointing. But we have quite a distance to go, so let’s fill our bellies.”
At Lucian's words, Ravielli suddenly stopped moving his fork.
“You speak just like a guardian.”
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