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~Chapter 47~
“Did someone give you that as a gift?”
At the subtle question, Laura answered honestly.
“Yes.”
“Oh my! Then the rumor was true? Congratulations!”
Koerin even clapped her hands and smiled brightly.
“Huh? What rumor?”
Laura looked confused and asked back. Is she talking about Laura becoming the princess’s maid?
She was only officially appointed yesterday. There’s no way the news could have spread so quickly.
“It’s a bit sad that you didn’t tell us about something so important.”
“That’s right. Really, congratulations.”
The other young ladies also offered their congratulations.
“Th-thank you…”
The girls who used to bully Laura seemed to be sincerely congratulating her, so she could only thank them in confusion.
“There’s a lot to celebrate these days. Lady Sorina is becoming the princess’s maid, and Lady Under is getting married soon.”
One young lady clapped and gave Laura a sticky smile.
“Becoming the princess’s maid is good, but Lady Under’s wedding is a much bigger deal.”
Koerin’s kind tone was full of low pleasure.
“Me? Getting married?”
Laura stared at them, her face turning pale. Did the rumor about the baron’s proposal get out?
“Oh my, are you denying it after getting congratulations? You’re marrying Baron Horemant, aren’t you? That dress is from him too.”
Koerin sneered, and the other girls all burst out laughing.
Laura’s face turned red. She’d accepted the maid job and already refused the proposal, so how did this rumor get started?
She pressed her hands to her chest, trying to steady herself as the girls kept laughing. Her hands shook from the tension and humiliation.
But Laura forced herself to calm down, looked at each girl, and spoke firmly.
“No, I’m not getting married.”
“Oh my! Then you didn’t get a proposal from Baron Horemant?”
Koerin blinked innocently on purpose.
Laura hid her trembling hands behind her back and tried to stay calm.
“I did get a proposal, but I refused.”
“Don’t be embarrassed, Lady. Baron Horemant may be marrying for the fourth time, but at least you wouldn’t be a concubine.”
Koerin’s gentle tone didn’t match the scorn in her eyes. The other girls laughed again.
Laura squeezed her eyes shut and took a deep breath.
She wasn’t alone anymore. If she couldn’t even handle these girls, how could she serve the princess?
Laura opened her eyes again and looked straight at Koerin.
“Lady Sorina, why are you treating me like this? Did I do something wrong to you?”
“Oh, don’t say that. I just wanted to congratulate you for marrying someone at your level. You really surprised everyone by going after the Captain of the Guards at the dueling grounds.”
Koerin glared at Laura with a fierce look.
Now Laura understood why Koerin always picked on her.
“I only admire him.”
“Sure, whatever.”
Koerin snorted, wondering how else she could bother Laura. Suddenly, there was a sound behind them.
“Hey, Doggy Nose Lady! Long time no see!”
Koerin instinctively touched her nose, then quickly turned around.
“You!”
“Fancy meeting you here.”
Dahlia gave the group a look, telling them to move.
When the girls didn’t budge, Annie squeezed in and made some space.
The girls looked shocked, but Annie and Dahlia didn’t care and walked up to Laura.
“Lady Under, your dress is so pretty today.”
Laura looked at Dahlia gratefully and bowed a little.
“Thank you.”
“But why are you all crowded around Lady Under again? There are delicious snacks at the table over there. Doggy Nose Lady, you’ll enjoy the food most with your great sense of smell.”
“Hey! Why do you keep calling me Doggy Nose Lady? Are you making fun of me?”
Koerin glared at Dahlia.
“When I say Doggy Nose Lady, you’re the only one who looks back. So why do you think I’m making fun of you?”
Dahlia tilted her head and asked. Koerin clenched her teeth.
“You called me that last time too! Why do you always compare my nose to an animal’s?”
“It’s a top compliment.”
Dahlia smiled brightly.
Koerin looked dumbfounded, her lips moving with nothing to say. Dahlia clicked her tongue in pity and looked around at the girls.
“You girls have it wrong, you know?”
“What do you mean?”
“The princess’s maid isn’t Doggy Nose Lady. It’s Lady Under.”
“Ha! Stop making things up.”
Koerin sneered. There’s no way a ruined noble like Laura could have gotten a recommendation to be the princess’s maid.
“If it’s not a lie, want to make a bet?”
Dahlia smiled.
Koerin lifted her chin proudly.
“Fine. What’s the bet?”
“If I win, you apologize to Lady Under.”
“And if I win, you’re the new Doggy Nose Lady.”
“Great. Just in time, the princess is coming.”
Princess Viviana entered the tea party, pushing up her glasses as she looked around. Monet followed right behind, looking nervous.
“Vivi!”
Dahlia waved and called her over. Viviana looked relieved and walked toward them.
The girls quickly bowed as the princess arrived.
“You can all lift your heads.”
Viviana spoke naturally and then greeted Dahlia.
“Dahlia, you got here early?”
“Yes. Vivi, you look so cute today.”
Viviana, who always wore dark dresses, was now in a pastel pink one.
Viviana glanced down at her dress with an awkward face.
“Laura picked it for me.”
“Lady Under really has a good eye.”
The girls exchanged confused glances.
What’s going on? Did Lady Under really become the princess’s maid?
“Your Highness, I’m Koerin Sorina. May I ask a question?”
Koerin finally spoke up.
“Oh, you’re Lady Sorina? Sure, what is it?”
Koerin’s face brightened. The princess knows who I am! She must have heard reports about me.
“Lady Under claims to be your maid. She’s lying—”
“Lady Under really is my maid. Why do you call her a liar?”
Viviana said firmly, and the girls held their breath.
“I-I see. I just got recommended to be your maid too, so I wanted to know who I’ll be working with.”
Koerin made something up in a hurry.
“You? Hmm, I don’t think that’ll happen.”
“Huh? Why not?”
Koerin forgot herself and questioned the princess directly.
“Because I’ll refuse you. I don’t want anyone who doesn’t get along with my people to work as my maid.”
Viviana answered as if it was obvious.
