Chapter 39
The child had probably wandered near the servants’ quarters alone, overcoming her fear, simply because she wanted to see the maid she hadn’t met all day. But people would look at her through a crooked lens and judge her however they pleased.
The nanny was the prime example of such a person.
“Milady.”
“…Hm?”
Plita was holding Roze’s hand, climbing the stairs, when she looked up at the voice calling her. Under the moonlight, the child’s light green eyes were nothing but pure. It pained her to say such things to a child like this.
“From now on, you mustn’t come out so recklessly like earlier. Especially at night—no matter if it’s inside the mansion—you must never wander around. Understood?”
Even so, she had to remind her again. She didn’t want the girl to be subjected to people’s prejudiced gazes. She didn’t want her precious child to hear careless words thrown at her.
And more than anything, she didn’t want a young child walking alone through this kind of darkness.
“Is this a promise between us?”
“Uh-huh… But what if I want to see Roze?”
Plita puffed her cheeks at Roze’s words, hesitating to answer before cautiously asking,
“I’ll come to you instead.”
“But you didn’t come today. I waited all day, since morning.”
Plita’s lips jutted out. The disappointment she’d been hiding slipped out despite herself. Roze knelt down in front of Plita and spoke firmly, as if making a vow.
“From now on, I’ll always come to you, no matter what.”
Even if it’s just to see your sleeping face, my dear. As long as I’m alive—no, even after I’m gone—I’ll always be by your side.
Roze swallowed the words she couldn’t speak aloud. Plita rolled her round eyes from side to side before asking quietly,
“Really?”
“Yes. I promise.”
When Roze held out her pinky finger, Plita’s expression finally relaxed in relief.
Just then, footsteps echoed from below the stairs, accompanied by the glow of a light.
Both Roze and Plita turned their heads toward it at the same time.
“Ah—Head Maid!”
Roze quickly stood when she saw the face of the person coming up from below.
“Who’s there…? Milady?”
The head maid raised her lantern to see their faces, then gasped in surprise and hurried up the stairs. She was normally so stoic that the change in her expression felt even more striking.
“What are you doing out here at this late hour instead of sleeping? Roze, what is going on?”
She fixed Roze with a scolding look. Roze quickly bowed her head.
“I’m sorry, Head Maid. I…”
“I came to see Roze!”
Just as Roze was about to admit fault, Plita stepped in front of her and shouted loudly. The child’s urgency was palpable—afraid Roze might be scolded because of her.
“No, Head Maid, it’s actually my fault. I didn’t see Milady all day today, so I… just wanted to.”
“No! I snuck out because I wanted to see Roze. And Roze was just walking me back to my room.”
The head maid watched the two of them argue over whose fault it was with a strange expression, then sighed softly. Both instantly shrank their necks.
“Let’s go to your bedroom, Milady. If anyone sees you like this on the stairs, it will cause trouble.”
Her tone softened as she looked at the two who so resembled each other. Plita looked between the head maid and Roze before nodding.
“I’ll lead the way, then. Be careful on the stairs—it’s dark.”
“Mm.”
With the head maid leading the way, the lantern light brightened the steps, making the climb much easier.
I didn’t think about bringing a lantern.
Roze blushed at her oversight. She’d only thought about escorting the child to her room and had forgotten to bring a light.
Just as she was feeling more embarrassed, Plita tugged her hand and whispered,
“Roze, are you sick again?”
“Pardon?”
“Your hand feels hotter.”
“Ah… No, it’s nothing. I’m fine.”
It wasn’t that her fever had risen. She was still feverish and a little dizzy, but this was just from embarrassment.
“No, really, you—”
Plita started to argue again but closed her mouth when they arrived at the bedroom door. Roze stopped whispering as well and turned her head.
The head maid opened the door and stepped aside. Plita glanced at her before quickly going inside, with Roze and the head maid following.
The bed Plita had left was in disarray, the blanket half on the floor. Roze went straight to the bed to fix the covers and tidy the child’s sleeping space.
“Milady.”
“Yes!”
Plita scrambled onto the bed when called. The head maid watched for a moment, then let out a small “Ah” and spoke.
“This is something I could tell you tomorrow, but…”
“Hm?”
Plita blinked curiously from beneath the blanket Roze had pulled over her. The head maid continued in her usual calm tone.
“Tomorrow, Her Majesty the Dowager Queen and the Duchess will be leaving.”
“…?”
Roze, standing beside the bed, widened her eyes at the head maid.
She had attended the dowager queen all day but hadn’t heard a word of this, nor had it come up during tea with the duchess. She wondered when the queen had made such a decision. Of course, she didn’t expect to be told everything.
“Really?”
Still, it was a relief. Seeing the child brighten at the news, Roze felt a weight lift—no more sudden summons to serve the dowager queen, and no more anxiety for the child from being watched by the queen and duchess.
Roze found herself smiling and nodding when the head maid added,
“And the day after tomorrow, His Grace the Grand Duke will depart for an inspection.”
…An inspection?
Roze blinked at the unexpected word. Plita, however, only nodded—it wasn’t surprising to her. Her father’s regular inspections of the territory were nothing new.
But what came next startled both Roze and Plita.
“And this time, Milady will be going along.”
“…Huh?”
“…What?”
Plita’s light green eyes went wide. Roze mirrored her expression. The head maid calmly continued,
“You will be attending Milady on the trip.”
“M-me?”
“Yes. And since the nanny will remain here in the Grand Duke’s residence, your responsibility in accompanying her will be even greater.”
“…!”
Roze’s eyes grew even wider. She opened her mouth to speak, but Plita beat her to it, sitting up in bed with excitement.
“Roze, then are we going on a trip? You, me, and Dad—together?”
“Well… it’s more for inspection purposes…”
Still bewildered, Roze answered haltingly. But Plita clapped her hands before she could finish.
“Yay! It’s a family trip! My first family trip ever!”
It was unlike her usual shy, quiet self. Even the head maid widened her eyes at the sight before quickly regaining composure and turning to Roze.
“…Family trip.”
Roze repeated the child’s words under her breath, looking dazed. Yet her pale face was flushed, unable to hide her excitement.
No… maybe it’s more than just excitement…
The head maid glanced curiously at Roze’s reddened eyes but dropped the matter, moving on with a reminder.
“In any case, keep that in mind and prepare in advance. Make sure Milady has everything she needs so she’s not uncomfortable during the trip.”
Roze snapped back to herself, rubbed at her eyes, and nodded quickly.
“Yes, Head Maid. I’ll see to it.”
“Good. Now, Milady, it’s late—time for bed.”
She bowed to Plita and turned to go, but paused at the door as if remembering something, then looked back.
“Oh, Roze.”
“Ah—yes?”
Roze, still a bit dazed, straightened at her name. The head maid studied her up and down with narrowed brows.
“I heard something about you having a fever.”
“…?”
Roze blinked, confused. The head maid clarified,
“I overheard your conversation with Milady earlier. I didn’t mean to, but…”
“Ah…”
So she’d heard Plita’s worried words on the way here. Roze rubbed her cheek in embarrassment and shook her head.
“I’m fine. Just a little tired…”
The head maid’s reply was flat but firm.
“Taking care of your own health is also part of our duty.”
“….”
“If you brush it off as just a little fatigue and end up bedridden, who will serve Milady? And what if you’ve caught something contagious and pass it on to her without knowing?”
Roze fell silent, her hands trembling slightly. She knew the head maid wasn’t speaking out of suspicion of her actual condition, but the words still pierced her like a blade.
