"Olivia!"
"Roxana."
"You're working here this week?"
"Yes."
Olivia, who had been standing to the side, fidgeted before handing something to Roxana.
"Um, this..."
It was a handkerchief. When Roxana asked with her eyes, Olivia gestured toward Frey.
"Sh-she has milk on her cheek."
"Give it to her yourself."
"What?"
Startled, Olivia shook her head. The events of the other day were still vivid in her mind. The sight of the young lady with that terrifying expression, overturning her food, was enough to give her nightmares.
"It's alright. Go ahead."
As if reading her mind, Roxana smiled gently and spoke to Frey.
"My lady. Olivia would like to give you her handkerchief. She says you have milk on your cheek."
"Oh. Really?"
"Yes. Here you go."
Roxana took the handkerchief from Olivia and handed it to Frey, then reached out to take Frey's hand and wipe her cheek.
Olivia stood there, tense and unable to move, when the next words she heard made her doubt her ears.
"Thank you for the handkerchief. What did you say your name was?"
"O-Olivia."
She had expected her to fly into a rage for handing her a rough handkerchief. Stunned by the quiet expression of gratitude, Olivia made eye contact with her sister, Kesi.
"Olivia... I've heard that name before."
Frey tilted her head, the name sounding familiar.
"Yes. It's that girl."
"Ah."
As if remembering, Frey nodded. Kesi and Olivia dropped to their knees on the dirty ground almost simultaneously.
"We were wrong back then. We are so sorry, my lady!"
"Please, don't cast us out! I beg of you."
The sisters, pale with fear, pleaded one after another. The maids and servants watching on clicked their tongues in pity.
"Please, forgive us!"
Caught in the sudden situation, surprise, embarrassment, sadness, and regret flickered across Frey's face. Roxana quietly placed a hand on Frey's shoulder.
After a moment of silence, as if choosing her words, Frey spoke candidly.
"I didn't intend to get angry. I am sorry for what happened then."
"Pardon...?"
"Is your leg alright?"
"Ah... yes."
Olivia nodded in a daze and looked toward Roxana. Roxana smiled as if to reassure her. Frey, holding onto Roxana's hand resting on her shoulder, gathered her courage and asked quietly.
"May I ask a favor?"
"A favor... you mean?"
"Will you become my personal maid?"
"Pardon?"
It was a series of shocks. This time, even Roxana's eyes widened. Frey smiled faintly and finished her thought.
"Because Roxana is going to be quite busy for a while."
* * *
Before receiving the invitation from Young Master Theo, they had to buy dresses and accessories for Roxana to wear at the villa. Frey was small and thin, so Roxana could not wear any of her clothes.
Roxana felt like she was sitting on pins and needles the entire time the seamstresses, acting on Frey's orders behind the screen, were taking her measurements.
"Two dresses will be enough, my lady. I don't need earrings or necklaces, either. There's no need to spend so much time on this."
"Unless you intend to bring shame upon our house, just accept it quietly, Roxana."
Frey, having feigned a stern warning, touched several pieces of fabric with her hands.
"This is soft and thick; it would be lovely to have made into a dress. Though, I cannot see what color it is..."
Frey muttered softly before whipping her head around.
"What do you think, Brother? Which color would suit Roxana better? I don't know what Roxana looks like, after all."
Curtis, who had been maintaining his sword, narrowed his eyes.
"So that's why you summoned me here."
"Can you not spare a moment of your time for your sister?"
Frey's bold interrogation made Curtis let out a dry laugh. Frey had certainly changed recently. She was no longer the Frey of the past, who would lock herself in her room and avoid even looking at his face. Compared to the days when she resented him for abandoning her at the convent and pushed him away, he preferred the present, where she was bold enough to confront him.
"The fabrics feel the same to me, so which one is better?"
"Who knows."
Curtis sheathed his sword and cast a glance at the fabrics Frey was focused on.
"They all look the same to me."
"This is why men are!"
Frey shook her head and clicked her tongue.
"That is why you haven't been able to get married all this time, Brother."
"Do you want me to get married?"
Curtis narrowed his eyes at the sudden attack.
"No. Well. It's not exactly that."
Frey's head subtly turned toward where Roxana was. If she were to have a sister-in-law, she would prefer someone like Roxana over a complete stranger. No, she *wanted* it to be Roxana. She still vividly remembered how her brother, who acted like a stone statue at banquets, had rushed off to find her. Her status was a concern, but since he was the type who never cared for the opinions of others, wouldn't it be fine? However, pushing the two together too openly might have the opposite effect.
They say that relationships between men and women are something only the parties involved can understand. Even though Frey could not see, she could feel it. A strange, inexplicable tension always hovered between the two.
While Frey was hesitating, Curtis stood up and brushed himself off.
"Do as you please with the clothes. I will call the merchant, so you may buy everything if you wish. Now then."
He turned to leave, but the screen hiding Roxana was pulled away. Alice and Kesi, who had helped her change into the dress, praised Roxana with proud expressions.
"How is it? It suits you so well, doesn't it?"
"You look just like a noble lady. Don't you think?"
"What is it? Describe it to me. How does she look?"
Frey, impatient, urged them on. While Kesi and Alice were busy describing the dress, a gray gaze remained locked on Roxana.
The dress was a pale, misty blue, cut low enough to reveal a hint of cleavage beneath her red hair, which had grown long enough to reach her collarbone. The bodice and shoulders were embroidered with small white flowers, and layers of airy fabric were added to provide a bit of volume.
Her thin waist, which could be wrapped in one arm, was tightly cinched by a corset, making it look even more slender than usual. The voluminous skirt, like the bodice, featured layers of fabric that emphasized its splendor.
"What is your impression, Brother?"
"Hmm."
Curtis, who had been brought back to reality by Frey's question, tilted his head.
"Is she pretty?"
His gray eyes swept over her small forehead, the curve of her ears, and down to her slender chin. Roxana stiffened without realizing it.
Curtis, having scanned her up and down as if appraising her, said with a look of disapproval.
"She looks cold. Won't she catch a cold?"
"I can just drape a shawl over it. As it happens, I have two white mink shawls."
"That's fortunate. But I think it would be better to add more fabric to the chest area."
His blatant gaze drifted to Roxana's cleavage. Feeling as if he were undressing her with his eyes, Roxana's face flushed hot, and she quickly covered her chest with her hands. Curtis sneered with an expression of disdain.
"Even if there isn't much to see, it is a man's instinct for his gaze to wander there."
"You beast! Get out!"
Frey, her own face flushed, threw a cushion in the direction where he was standing.
* * *
Time passed quickly, and the day of the invitation soon arrived. For the past ten days, Robert had been busy packing their belongings. Most of it belonged to the two young ladies: dresses, accessories, snacks for the journey, a chef, and even gifts for the young master. A total of five carriages were mobilized.
When Robert tried to add more, saying it didn't seem like enough, Curtis firmly stopped him.
"It is a three-day journey there and back, and we will only be staying for about three days. We won't be there long, so there is no need to overprepare."
"Yes... I understand. Please send word by messenger immediately if anything happens."
"I will. Take good care of the estate and the castle in the meantime."
"Of course. But are you sure it's alright to leave Greg behind? What will you do if something happens?"
"That's the first time I've heard such a worry. Are you that concerned?"
Curtis asked with a crooked smile. Brought back to his senses by his composure, Robert shook his head.
"No. I was just worrying needlessly. Have a safe trip."
The man he served was once the leader of a mercenary group that had shaken the entire nation. A man who had navigated all sorts of heinous missions with a small, elite force.
"Giddy up!"
As soon as Curtis mounted his horse, the coachman cracked the whip. Robert, who had followed them to the drawbridge to see them off, widened his eyes in surprise when he saw a maid following them late.
"Lizzie? Why are you here?"
She was lugging a heavy bag and looked like she was about to cry.
"Lady Frey said there weren't enough maids to serve her, so she told me to follow. She gave the order suddenly this morning, so I was late getting ready. What should I do?"
"The young lady did? I thought the villa was going to provide a dedicated maid."
"She said that, upon reflection, it didn't seem right to take no one at all."
Robert narrowed his eyes. It was strange. He knew that ever since Lizzie had been punished by Roxana, she had been badmouthing her behind her back. Although she had been quiet ever since Roxana gained Frey's trust.
"Yes. What should I do? If she finds out I didn't follow, I'll be in for it..."
"Hmph, well..."
Even though she had become much milder recently, she was still Lady Frey. There was no telling what kind of trouble would ensue if her temper was provoked. After a moment of doubt, Robert called for someone and brought out a donkey.
"They haven't been gone long, so you should be able to catch up quickly. Hurry and follow them."
"Yes. Thank you, Butler!"
Lizzie's face brightened, and she nodded repeatedly. It was only one maid, so it would be fine. With a troubled expression, Robert turned away.
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