IPTD 06

Chapter 06

“Oh my~”
“What’s going on here?”
“They say the Duchess and her maid have finally met!”

Before she knew it, a crowd of servants had gathered around René and Catarina, watching them like it was a spectacle.

Annoyed, Catarina turned her head sharply, and one maid she made eye contact with flinched and quickly lowered her gaze.

Through the murmuring that buzzed in her ears, a smirk flashed across the face of a servant on the opposite side.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend, was it not?

Because Catarina had been so ruthless, the staff of the grand duchy didn’t particularly like her. The servants, almost instinctively, sided with René and quietly mocked her.

As if to savor it.

“Despicable creatures! Cowards who wouldn’t dare say a word to my face!”

Feeling unbearable humiliation, Catarina opened her mouth again, suppressing the surge of anger and speaking in a slightly affected tone.

“Are you upset because I didn’t come to see you? I’m sorry. As your maid, I should have come to see you first…”

“Is that so? I didn’t really care… But I suppose it would be difficult to come to the annex in that dress.”

“…”

This time, she couldn’t even reply. Her jaw clenched so tightly that it throbbed painfully, trembling in tiny spasms.

No matter.

“When you come to talk to me, you should wear something more comfortable.”

René spoke in a soft voice, meeting Catarina’s eyes until the very end. He looked kind enough, but Catarina knew the sharp blade hidden within it.

‘So… I’m wearing clothes totally inappropriate for the occasion?’

And it wasn’t just a verbal sting. She was being mercilessly humiliated in front of everyone!

“…Yes, I’ll remember.”

“Tell my maid, Betty, when you come next. I have other matters to attend to.”

As quietly as he had appeared, René gracefully disappeared.

In the lobby, Catarina remained, trembling and alone, while the servants still murmured among themselves, clearly enjoying the show.

Swallowed by humiliation, Catarina stood rooted to the spot, replaying René’s words in her mind.

‘My maid? I outrank her. And he calls some other maid his person!’

Then—

“Pffft!”

Catarina, clutching the hem of her dress, fluttered her long eyelashes and swallowed hard. Then, as usual, she shouted in her sharp voice.

“Who?! Who laughed? How dare you!”

At the sound of her shriek, those exchanging glances quickly scattered and returned to their places.

But it was clear that from that day on, Catarina’s position as a feared figure among the servants had been significantly shaken.

For some reason, as she passed through the crowded lobby and reached the hallway in the corner of the first floor, Betty—who had resumed her role as a silent maid—called out to her.

“Your Highness, you really are something extraordinary.”

“What do you mean?”

“I wasn’t sure until now… But now I’ll ask outright. Do you really not know? Or are you pretending not to?”

“…I really don’t know what you mean.”

Betty shook her head and then burst into laughter.

“Even if you didn’t mean it, it’s so satisfying! You, a maid yourself, yet you bullied the other servants. There were plenty of maids crying every day because of you!”

She was clearly referring to what had just happened.

I thought over the woman named Catarina, who had introduced herself as my maid.

First impressions…

‘Incredibly beautiful!’

To someone like me, easily smitten, her beauty was quite striking. Among it all, her bright blue eyes were undeniably captivating, drawing everyone’s attention. The outfit she wore seemed custom-made just for her, fitting perfectly.

‘Beautiful. I like her.’

As someone who prided themselves on aesthetic sensibilities, it was gratifying to have such a beautiful person as a maid.

“She spends half a day every day dressing up like a peacock! There’s no time for other work because she insists on being made up until she’s satisfied.”

“A peacock? Cute. I guess she kind of resembles one? She’s certainly a flamboyant beauty.”

“Beauty doesn’t matter. Her personality is trash.”

“I don’t really know. She spoke to me very kindly. I hope she comes dressed comfortably when visiting. Such a pretty outfit would be wasted on a dirt road.”

I tilted my head, and Betty let out a deep sigh.

“Well… I guess it suits her. Staying as she is might not be so bad.”

“…? Uh, thanks…?”

“Almost there.”

Feeling a little dazed by the relentless evaluation, I followed Betty around the corner, and a large door adorned with elaborate patterns came into view.

Judging by its size, the library inside must be enormous.

“This is it.”

“Oh…”

But…

The patterns, which would have been shining brass when made, were now covered in a bluish-green patina from years of neglect. Just this alone showed how long this place had been abandoned.

“The door… it should open, right?”

“Well… I’ve worked in the Grand Duchy for over ten years, but I’ve never entered here myself.”

Over ten years? That meant this door probably hadn’t been opened in at least a decade.

I swallowed dryly, tension rising.

“Alright… it’s fine. Let’s try. Thanks for guiding me this far, Betty. You can leave now.”

Since I had only asked Betty to guide me, from this point on it was my responsibility.

I took a deep breath and rolled up my sleeves. Somehow, Betty hesitated, lingering behind me.

Ah, that expression… the one she made when I held the axe!

Then, as if she couldn’t hold it in any longer, Betty pointed at the heavily rusted door and babbled anxiously.

“Do you think you can open that, milady? You might hurt yourself with that delicate body! Look at the rust! What if you get a scratch and tetanus?”

“….”

It seemed she had seriously misunderstood something. I spoke firmly to clarify.

“Betty, I’ve been thinking… you seem to see me as some kind of newborn bird.”

“A baby bird? I thought maybe a baby rabbit… but a baby bird does suit you. All soft and fluffy like…”

“Betty!”

“Ha! Just joking. Milady… you may look like a baby rabbit or a baby bird, but your heart is solid.”

That must be a genuine compliment.

I narrowed my eyes at her, still unsure, and Betty smiled as if I were cute. Then, in a slightly bittersweet voice, she said:

“To be honest… the Grand Duchy is large, and while everyone is busy, it’s not as if there’s no one to clean the library you’ll use.”

“Really?”

“Yes! Didn’t you see all the people earlier?”

“I thought there were a lot, but the mansion is huge.”

“Milady… anyway, I think I may have misunderstood you too. Honestly, I was cautious. But…”

Betty’s eyes were full of apology.

I smiled softly.

“It’s fine. I didn’t know at all.”

“Still, judging and acting on your own about Your Highness was a huge mistake as a maid. I’m truly sorry…”

“Most people do. Maybe I have my flaws too. So don’t feel too guilty. I’m actually grateful you apologized.”

“…How could I have been so foolish in front of such an angel… I’ll atone with my life!”

I’d been thinking this for a while, but Betty was surprisingly dramatic… I shook my head and patted her shoulder.

“How about repaying me by helping me instead of dying?”

“Of course! I am your maid, after all!”

“Then that’s reassuring.”

We smiled at each other. Somehow, after arriving here, I finally felt like I had a friend I could confide in.

“Alright, then. Shall we start reorganizing the library? Hup!”

Feeling refreshed, I swung the two doors open.

“…Huuugh!”

Well, I tried to open them. Even with all my strength, the doors didn’t budge.

“…Step aside.”

Finally, Betty rolled up her sleeves, flexed her arms, and swung the library doors wide open.

At the same moment—

“Argh!”