The maids supported Anastasia as they made their way upstairs. Though they called it support, it was closer to grabbing her by both arms and dragging her along. Because of the thick bandage wrapped tightly around one of her feet, Anastasia’s leg dragged across the carpet, unable to move properly. They reached the most secluded room on the third floor, the highest level of the manor.
Even if it was a secluded room, it was still a chamber in the main house, so it was just as tidy as any other guest room. Furthermore, it was the room furthest away from Mikhail’s quarters on the second floor.
As the door closed, the maids let go, and Anastasia stumbled and sank to the floor. Thinking the carpet felt soft, Anastasia realized the Countess was still in the room and hurriedly prostrated herself.
‘I’m going to be scolded.’
In the past, she had even been whipped by a servant on the Countess’s orders. But this time, she had committed a fault far greater than anything from before, so she couldn’t even imagine what kind of punishment would befall her. Then, the Countess, who had been watching Anastasia for a long time, opened her mouth.
"I will not punish you separately."
"……!"
Surprised by words completely different from what she had braced herself for, Anastasia lifted her head. Blue eyes were looking down at her. They were a shade of blue similar to Mikhail’s. However, the emotions contained within them were entirely different.
"There is no need to cause an unpleasant stir before such an important event. So, I will let this commotion you caused slide."
"Thank… you."
As Anastasia pressed her forehead to the floor, a flicker of light contempt crossed the Countess’s face. Even the servants didn’t grovel like this. To think that such a thing carried the name of Lauderdale.
If she had her way, she would proceed with the annulment, strip her of the Lauderdale name, and send her far away. But that was the Count’s authority. It was not something the Countess or Elizabeth could do.
The Countess turned and commanded the head maid.
"Ensure there are no further problems until our guest departs."
"I will keep that in mind."
As if she did not want to stay a moment longer, the Countess walked out, and the head maid issued instructions to the other maids. Soon, a bathtub was brought into the room adjacent to where Anastasia was staying, and it was filled with warm water. Realizing they intended to bathe her, Anastasia said in a flustered voice.
"I will do it. I can do it myself."
"We must finish quickly. Stay still."
"I really can finish quickly. So please…."
When Anastasia did not yield as easily as she had expected, the head maid sighed. Although the Countess had entrusted them with the task, honestly, she was annoyed that she had to be involved in looking after Anastasia. She was already busy enough with the guest; to think she had to look after this girl as well.
In the end, the head maid decided to compromise with reality. She called over a young maid and said,
"From today, you are to attend to Miss Anastasia."
"Pardon? Me? But I have only done cleaning until now…."
"It won’t be difficult. If there is anything you don’t know, ask the maids of Miss Elizabeth or Miss Catherine."
"Yes…."
Realizing the head maid had no intention of rescinding the order, the young maid hung her head low.
"I’ve already filled the tub, so you take care of helping Miss Anastasia wash. And make sure she doesn’t come out of this room until she is fully recovered."
"…Yes."
Seeing the maid still looking dissatisfied with her assigned task, the head maid clicked her tongue inwardly and placated her.
"Once this is over, I will tell the Madam about your hard work and see that you are granted the name of Edenhurst, so do your best."
"Pardon? Are you serious? Thank you!"
At the mention of being granted the name of Edenhurst, the maid beamed as if she had never been unhappy, bowing her waist. As the head maid led the others downstairs, the young maid approached Anastasia and said,
"Miss, I’m going to wash you, so please stay still. Do you understand?"
It was an incredibly insolent tone, but Anastasia could only nod.
***
After Anastasia went up to the room prepared for her, the manor regained its former stability. Since she was tucked away in a corner of the third floor and never came out, everyone soon forgot the fact that Anastasia was even in the main house.
It wasn’t just the servants who had become idle. Mikhail was sprawled on the sofa, grumbling.
"To think there isn’t a single horse to ride. What on earth is this."
Edenhurst only had horses tied to carriages and those that pulled the freight wagons. There wasn’t a single horse suitable for riding. It was said that after the Count died in a falling accident, the Countess had gotten rid of them all. Because of that, Mikhail was forced to spend most of his time around the manor.
Igor, who knew how restlessly Mikhail moved about all day when he was in Sokolov, asked.
"Shall I go buy a horse?"
"Do you think the Countess would just sit by and watch?"
At Mikhail’s sarcastic remark, Igor replied.
"The butler would be in an uproar, and the head maid would be in a frenzy, I’m sure."
There was annoyance laced in Igor’s voice.
Igor did not like Edenhurst Manor. It wasn’t the building, but the people inside it. To be more precise, he disliked those who, unaware of how the world truly turned, were lost in the vain glory of being aristocrats and thought themselves to be someone great, as well as the servants beneath them who believed themselves to be just as superior.
"When will you be heading to Sokolov?"
Igor missed Sokolov. It was a city of freedom, a city of trade, and a city that was kind to those with talent. Although there were occasional gunshots and knife fights, that, too, was one of Sokolov’s charms.
As Igor spoke in a sullen voice, looking as if he hadn’t seen his mother in years, Mikhail clicked his tongue.
"You have no patience."
"I… I am starting to miss the restaurants in Sokolov."
"How old are you to be whining about food?"
"Then I will go buy a horse. I’ll make sure to buy a good one."
"If Yuri hears that, he’ll ask if you have money to rot."
"It is rotting, so it doesn’t matter."
"Is it your money?"
"We’ve known each other for a long time, so why don’t you start sharing it with me?"
Just as Mikhail was humoring Igor’s nonsensical grumbling, the sound of carriages was heard from outside. At the sound of several carriages, Mikhail stood up and tapped Igor on the shoulder.
"It seems the things I ordered have arrived. You seem bored, so follow me."
As the two men headed to the foyer, Yuri was already outside, checking the items being unloaded from the carriages. The manor’s servants, having seen the elegant carriages from the capital—hardly the sort one would expect to be hauling cargo—had all flocked outside to get a look.
"It has been a long time, Mr. Mikhail."
A middle-aged man stepped down from the ornate carriage that had arrived with the wagons and bowed respectfully to Mikhail. While the servants wondered who the man might be, the head maid emerged and looked at the piling goods with a troubled expression.
"Mr. Mikhail, what is all this…?"
"Although it was not my intention, I ordered gifts for the Countess and the other young ladies to apologize for the commotion caused while caring for Miss Anastasia. See that these are organized."
"Even so, to have them piled up like this without a word…."
Just then, the sound of footsteps descending the stairs echoed, and Catherine appeared.
"What is all this?"
Her eyes lit up with enchantment as she gazed at the mountain of gifts, and upon seeing the carriages outside, she ran out, overcome with emotion.
"My goodness, is that Ilenka?"
Ilenka was a massive trading house in the capital. It was a shop frequented primarily by royalty and high-ranking nobles, a place that could procure anything the elite desired. Their inventory ranged from women’s hats and jewelry boxes to rare, exotic animals. Even in the magazines Catherine secretly read behind her mother’s back, Ilenka was described as a place of dreams. Since entry was impossible for anyone not invited, even ordinary nobles only dared to dream of being invited by the high nobility to shop there.
To have them send two wagons full of goods? And they were known for their exorbitant prices, too.
As Catherine struggled to hide her shock and delight, the middle-aged man who had greeted Mikhail approached. Mikhail naturally introduced him to Catherine.
"Miss Catherine, this is Ivan Vasilyevich Chicherin, the owner of Ilenka. Vanya, this is Miss Catherine Lauderdale, the second daughter of the Count Lauderdale family."
*Vanya?* Catherine’s eyes sparkled even more at the way Mikhail addressed Ivan by a nickname. To be on such familiar terms with the owner of a place as prestigious as Ilenka! Moreover, Ivan, who looked old enough to be Mikhail’s father, was bowing his head to a man who looked half his age.
*They say Ivan Chicherin is a man even the royals find difficult to summon….*
Because he traveled between countries dealing exclusively in luxury goods, he was rarely in Novgod, and even when he was, he was always busy at the beck and call of royalty and high-ranking nobles. To think such a man was here at Edenhurst?
Due to circumstances, Catherine had not been able to make her proper debut, unlike her sister. Some of her friends would send letters to comfort her, while subtly boasting about the lavish days they spent in the capital. *I went to the Imperial Palace today. I met so and so today. I bought this today.*
Catherine found her friends’ letters both welcome and agonizing. She was glad to catch even a scrap of news from the high society she couldn't enter, but she had nothing to write in her replies. That was why she couldn't stop reading those magazines. She had to use the news and items she saw there to weave lies about the wealth she was supposedly still enjoying.
But not anymore. Two whole wagons of Ilenka’s goods had arrived. And she had met the owner of Ilenka himself!
As Catherine stood there, giddy with joy, she glanced at the stacked boxes, and Mikhail signaled to Ivan Chicherin. Quickly grasping Mikhail’s intent, Ivan began to explain to Catherine where the items had come from and who in the capital had been coveting them. Catherine listened, completely spellbound.
Just then, a formally dressed employee approached Mikhail, holding a small box.
"Mr. Mikhail."
"Ah, you’ve brought it."
Mikhail took the box, opened it, and wore a satisfied smile.
"Take this to my room."
It was an item for the Lauderdale who was not present in this room.
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