🔊 TTS Settings
chapter 68
The doors to the banquet hall opened, and Milan and the attendants cleared a path. The maids, following the manual, all stepped back from their positions in unison, bowed briefly, and then paused. When Dantes made a slight gesture with his hand, they resumed their tasks.
While over a hundred maids moved quickly, Rosellina was cleaning a statue with Lexi. She cast a subtle glance toward Demeteria from behind the statue. Dressed in a delicate pale pink gown, she looked like a flower of the spring season, breathtakingly beautiful.
With dazzlingly fair skin, a full chest, and a slender waist, she had the figure of an alluring woman. Even without touching her skin, one could imagine it to be soft and supple. Compared to her own scrawny, calloused hands and body marked with scars and muscles, Rosellina’s physique seemed on an entirely different level.
“She was beautiful back then too… but now, she’s incomparable to anyone.”
This was exactly the moment to use the phrase “dazzlingly beautiful.” Rosellina froze for a moment before regaining her composure. She had to follow the manual. She repeated to herself, as if a mantra:
“I am a ghost. I am a ghostly maid.”
She had earned Lady Vanessa’s trust. The suspicion from the first day no longer appeared. Instead, Lady Vanessa taught Rosellina, who still lacked experience as a maid, various tips and tricks every morning and evening.
With that trust came responsibility. Rosellina hid her presence as much as possible while cleaning the statue. Maxi, standing behind, whispered in a very small voice:
“Did you see that dress? Preparing something like that in the morning would take ten people over three hours.”
Lexi shushed her, then whispered almost imperceptibly:
“Three hours? More like five, if you want each layer to look full. Men would never notice, right?”
The maids seemed to notice the dress first. Rosellina had not even realized it. Lexi shook her head and whispered to Rosellina:
“Rina doesn’t know, does she? Only maids suffer with fabrics like that. Even if they doubled my salary, I wouldn’t go to the Peril family.”
“I’d go if they doubled my pay.”
Sophie stuck her head forward and said, which made Lexi startle and lightly push Sophie’s hand down.
“You scared me, Sophie. What if you’d made a sound?”
“Then only you would’ve been called by Lady Vanessa again.”
“What?”
Sophie walked away nonchalantly, and Lexi and Maxi glared at her with all their might.
“Still, mean. Lady Vanessa should make Sophie redo it twice.”
Lexi’s idea of revenge was rather petty. Watching their bickering allowed Rosellina to briefly forget Dantes’ presence. She smiled slightly and, as there were areas Lexi couldn’t reach, she switched positions.
“Thanks, Rina.”
“No problem.”
“Rina, help me when I’m done. Why are all these statues so big?”
“Yes, just a moment.”
Rina responded briefly and started wiping the statue. She seemed quite practiced now, her rag work precise.
Dantes scanned the numerous maids and quickly found the platinum-haired woman. Though her body was hidden behind the statue, her flowing hair peeked out slightly.
“There she is.”
He wanted to approach her immediately, but Demeteria Peril was beside her. Moreover, with so many eyes watching, he had no reason to approach a mere maid. Demeteria exclaimed in delight as she admired the newly decorated curtains.
“Your Majesty, look at this! It’s as beautiful as the marigolds we saw on the way. So bright and lively. Sir Griffin has such excellent taste, doesn’t he?”
“I’m glad it pleases the young lady.”
“It’s not my taste but Lady Vanessa’s. Milan, is Lady Vanessa not here?”
“She should be on her way. I believe the head maids were holding a separate meeting for banquet preparations.”
“I can’t wait to meet her, a head maid with such exquisite taste.”
The reason she wanted to meet Lady Vanessa was obvious. Dantes disliked how openly Demeteria was showing off, but as one destined to become empress, such behavior was expected.
“She really acts as if she were born to be empress.”
Even her beauty did not move Dantes. His gaze lingered briefly on her before returning to where Rosellina was. She had moved to clean another statue, and by stepping slightly aside, her face was now clearly visible.
She could be seen smiling subtly at whatever the maids were whispering to each other. What particularly caught Dantes’ attention was her hair. The jagged edges from when he had cut it with a knife were now neatly trimmed.
The platinum hair cut just below her ears made her look as young and charming as the other girls nearby.
“Shall we fill the area where Your Majesty and the ministers will sit with flowers, and decorate the stairway leading from the second floor entrance as well?”
Demeteria said brightly. Marco moved alongside her and added:
“It’s not a debutante ball; it’s an event for the knights. There’s no need to put that much effort in. The knights might even find it excessive. Perhaps it’s better to place flower beds near these statues instead?”
He deliberately tapped the statue near Rosellina. The maids subtly stepped back as Marco approached. Dantes moved naturally toward Marco, continuing:
“I agree with Marco. With Demeteria’s skill, a few large and grand flower beds should be enough to catch the eye.”
“Like the gift I gave Your Majesty before?”
Demeteria approached Dantes charmingly. She spoke loudly enough for the nearby maids to hear. Returning that flower was not important; what mattered was making sure the maids present understood their positions. That Dantes, who showed no interest in other women, was only communicating with her.
Rosellina heard her words as well. Yet the maids did not flinch. Dantes and his group were too close, and they had been trained thoroughly every evening by Lady Vanessa.
But Dantes’ expression hardened. He did not like Demeteria acting this way within earshot of Rosellina. The words were open to misinterpretation. Someone might think she had met Demeteria on the day he returned to the palace. Seeing his expression, Marco quickly continued:
“Indeed. Demeteria always gives flowers when Your Majesty returns from distant travels. I wish I had such a devoted young lady too.”
“No, Sir Griffin. I’m only doing what I can from where I am. I hope Your Majesty doesn’t find it burdensome. I truly mean it from my heart.”
Demeteria had anticipated Dantes’ response, leaving him little choice but to reply positively. Then, unexpectedly, the emperor spoke:
“It would have been wonderful if their hearts aligned, but alas.”
“Your Majesty, what do you mean…”
Even Marco looked surprised. Demeteria’s expression stiffened. It was not jealousy or mockery; his monotone voice merely expressed hope that the two would be connected. At that brief moment when her gaze wavered, Lady Vanessa hurried into the banquet hall.
“Your Majesty, I am Vanessa, First Head Maid, in charge of this banquet.”
“Vanessa Nils, Your Majesty greets you.”
“It’s been a while, madam. This is Miss Demeteria Peril. Her family offered to assist with the floral decorations for this banquet. She was eager to meet you.”
“It’s an honor, young lady.”
Lady Vanessa greeted politely, and Demeteria steadied her nearly collapsing expression and continued:
“Lady Vanessa, I’m glad to meet you. You chose the curtains wonderfully. Your taste is remarkable, which made me want to meet you.”
“You flatter me.”
“Do you have a plan for the flowers to be used at the banquet? I would like to arrange flower beds around where Your Majesty will sit or place large arrangements in the corners.”
“Yes, young lady. Today, I will guide you to where Your Majesty will sit. May I send the types and sketches of the pre-arranged flowers to the Peril family?”
“That’s fine.”
Demeteria admired Vanessa’s politeness and how well she was treated. She knew the types of head maids well: hard to manage but highly loyal and competent.
‘No need to cut ties for now. Let’s see how it goes.’
As Demeteria moved slightly away with Lady Vanessa, Marco lightly tapped Dantes on the back with his finger and whispered softly:
“Dantes, what was that remark earlier? If I were the young lady, I would’ve run out crying.”
“She’s not that type.”
“Demeteria is just a young lady. Don’t overthink it.”
“She’s too clever for that.”
“It’s all because Your Majesty worries too much, isn’t it?”
Marco clicked his tongue and glanced back. Rosellina had already moved far away, cleaning another statue.
“She was just here—when did she get over there? Her hands are so fast.”
“Her hair is cut beautifully.”
“Huh?”
Marco looked at Dantes as if he had misheard. Dantes was staring at Demeteria with a faint smile. Marco, finding the expression absurd, let out a small, ironic laugh.
