Chapter 35
“No matter how I look at it, you seem uncomfortable around me.”
“…!”
“Of course, one could argue it’s just nerves. But it’s not like you to act so timidly, especially after you boldly stepped up and spoke back on the young lady’s behalf. That left quite an impression on me.”
The voice of the former queen was elegant and gentle. But the look in her eyes as she stared at Roze was icy cold. Under that piercing gaze, Roze lowered her eyes.
Nitpicking.
Yes, that’s what it was. Nitpicking. There was no other way to explain this situation.
It all began early that morning with an abrupt order from her nanny: to attend to the former queen.
The claim that the former queen had personally requested her was no lie. Even the head maid, caught off guard, had rushed to Roze to offer hurried instructions.
If this were just a whim from someone of noble blood, that would have been easier to accept. But Roze instinctively knew that wasn’t the reason she was summoned today. And the former queen’s words just now confirmed it.
“It’s not like you to act so timidly, especially after you boldly stepped up and spoke back on the young lady’s behalf. That left quite an impression on me.”
The former queen remembered. She hadn’t forgotten what happened during the memorial ceremony.
A mere maid had dared to speak back and act rudely toward her — there was no way she could have good feelings toward Roze. Roze could understand that much.
But…
‘Still… why go this far, now of all times?’
That thought nagged at her. She was just a lowly maid. The fact that the former queen remembered her and was now picking on her was hard to comprehend.
“You acted so bold, I thought maybe you were a capable maid… but I’m disappointed. I don’t know what Lord Haven was thinking, assigning such a slow-witted girl as Fleeta’s personal maid.”
At that moment, the former queen sighed heavily and shook her head. The maids standing behind her laughed softly and echoed her sentiments. Roze was the only one who didn’t laugh. Surrounded by those mocking her, there was nothing she could do.
Laughter from the noblewomen continued for a while until the former queen raised her hand again. A maid, quick to catch the gesture, stepped forward from a few paces away and shoved Roze aside.
“…!”
Roze stumbled from the rough push but barely managed to regain her balance, stepping back a few steps. She then noticed that the maid who had pushed her was now tending to the queen’s hair.
Maybe she was being biased, but Roze couldn’t help but think the hairstyle she had done earlier didn’t look any worse than the one now.
…Not that it mattered. No matter what she did, it would have been the same.
Roze forced a bitter smile and bit her lip. Whether or not she was humiliated by the former queen didn’t matter. She wasn’t here to gain the queen’s approval.
If anything, she was only here because she had been forced to obey.
‘Has Fleeta woken up yet? Her maid should’ve brought her some warm soup this morning. And we were supposed to go out into the garden and make grass dolls today…’
She remembered how excited the child had been about the grass dolls. But keeping that promise now seemed impossible. The former queen clearly planned to keep her occupied all day.
Picking at her for every little thing, one by one…
“All done, Your Highness. Do you like it?”
While Roze was silently stewing, unable to voice her frustrations, the maid tending to Isabella’s hair spoke proudly. But Isabella’s expression was far from pleased.
“Hmph… well, it’s fine. It’ll do.”
Fine? She looked like a complete country bumpkin.
Normally, Isabella would have flayed the maid alive for ruining her hair like this. But she forced herself to stay calm and replied dryly. Then she glanced at Roze. Seeing her standing stiffly with a dark expression and tightly sealed lips eased her annoyance a bit.
‘Is she upset because she’s stuck with me instead of running off to seduce Haven?’
Isabella’s gaze toward Roze was scornful. What an insolent girl. She didn’t know her place and dared to covet someone else’s man. Isabella had thought it strange from the moment Roze started siding with the young lady, acting as if she were her own child.
It was absurd. A rival should at least be someone of similar standing. Competing for Haven with a lowly maid? Unthinkable.
‘I’ll make sure she learns her place. She’ll realize exactly who she’s daring to want.’
Isabella muttered to herself inwardly, then tore her gaze from Roze and looked at herself in the mirror. Her expression was about to crumple again, but she forced it to stay smooth.
Honestly, the arrogant girl had more skill with hair than the smug maid standing behind her now. Not that she’d ever admit it.
* * *
“Now that I think of it… I didn’t see Roze—no, Fleeta’s personal maid—this morning.”
Haven signed the document he had been reviewing and handed it to the butler. The butler, taking the papers cautiously, froze for a brief moment. It was unusual for his master to mention a mere maid by name.
But the butler was not foolish enough to show his surprise. Maintaining a calm expression, he answered respectfully.
“Her Highness the former queen selected her to serve for the day.”
“The former queen did?”
Haven’s brow furrowed. That was an unexpected name to hear.
“Then that maid is with her now?”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“So the child…”
Haven clicked his tongue. Now it made sense why Fleeta had barely touched her breakfast, looking downcast the entire time. He had noticed the maid’s absence but hadn’t thought much of it.
With a slight frown, Haven questioned the butler again, this time with a hint of irritation.
“How long is the former queen planning to stay here?”
“Ah… we haven’t received a definite answer yet…”
The butler trailed off awkwardly, his face troubled. Haven chuckled dryly and shook his head.
It was hard to pretend he didn’t see through the former queen’s intentions. Her motives were all too transparent.
“Is she planning to plant the duchess here and settle in herself? Like a parasite.”
“Y-Your Grace! How can you say such a thing…?”
The butler panicked, horrified. To call the former queen a parasite? The old man’s face turned pale. Even though only the two of them were in the office, he still looked around nervously.
He was supposed to be a firm and reliable butler, but his timid and meek nature always showed through. That was his biggest flaw.
Still, Haven had kept him around for so long because of his loyalty. The butler had served the ducal estate faithfully for years, and Haven had no doubt he would continue to do so. Even if he might faint from fear rather than defend his master…
Imagining the butler fainting made Haven chuckle. He turned back to the man and asked,
“So, what’s the former queen doing now?”
“She is…”
Just as the butler began to reply, a knock sounded at the door. Haven gave a small nod, signaling the butler to open it. The butler turned and walked to the door.
“I’ve brought your tea, Your Grace.”
It was the head maid. Haven leaned back in his chair, turning his gaze toward the window.
“Is it that time already?”
“Yes.”
The head maid wheeled in a small tea trolley and skillfully placed a teacup on the desk, lifting the teapot. In the brief silence, only the sound of tea being poured filled the room.
“Her Highness is having tea with the duchess.”
The head maid spoke first, as if answering a question he hadn’t asked. As if she had overheard his earlier conversation with the butler. Haven glanced at the butler, who nodded in confirmation.
“She also requested Your Grace join them for tea.”
“How strange. I didn’t hear anything of the sort.”
Haven took a sip of the tea the maid had poured and chuckled. The head maid, still bowing politely, spoke again.
“My apologies, Your Grace.”
“So you took it upon yourself to ‘pass on’ my answer.”
Though her apology was simple, Haven laughed aloud, already having understood everything. The head maid was normally rigid and inflexible but could be surprisingly unpredictable at times.
“Impersonating a duke… If caught, this wouldn’t end with just you. You’ve got nerve. Look at the butler—his face turned pale just hearing that.”
Haven gestured at the butler jokingly. The head maid glanced at him and answered without a flicker of emotion.
“I simply judged it wasn’t worth relaying. I didn’t want to waste Your Grace’s precious time.”
“Well, good call. And the tea is especially fragrant today.”
Haven lifted his cup slightly in praise, then paused as a thought struck him, narrowing his eyes.
“…Then the maid attending tea—she’s Fleeta’s personal maid too?”
