Chapter 47
“Lady Angelina, it’s an honor to meet you for the first time.”
Angelina turned her gaze toward the two maids.
She had already been introduced to Liriana, but the other two, chosen by the Imperial Household, she was meeting today for the first time.
Sensing the meaning behind Angelina’s glance, the two young women stepped forward in turn and introduced themselves.
“I am Hailey, of the Marquisate of Pier.”
“I am Alicia, of the Countship of Kellex.”
Angelina, upon reaching adulthood, would soon be formally instated as the Duchess of Herbient—and eventually, she might well become the Grand Duchess or even the Empress.
Hailey and Alicia were the ones who had endured fierce competition for the honor of serving her as ladies-in-waiting.
“Coming from such noble houses as the Pier Marquisate and the Kellex County, I feel reassured. I’ll be counting on you both.”
The two, who had been welcomed by none other than Angelina—the angel of the Empire—couldn’t help but marvel.
Hailey and Alicia, already well-known daughters of distinguished noble families in Lepia, had once dreamed that upon entering the Imperial Palace, they might capture the attention of the Crown Prince or a Grand Duke. Yet, the moment they stood before Lady Angelina, they could do nothing but surrender in awe.
It wasn’t just her beauty. Her voice, her gaze, her very bearing—each detail was so radiant, they felt compelled to revere her.
The two young women dared not raise their voices in excitement, lest they commit some discourtesy. Instead, they exchanged furtive glances, silently giddy.
“…My lady, from today, preparations for your debutante ball will begin. Have you thought of a theme you’d like?”
Unable to wait for the newly introduced maids to calm down, Liriana seized the chance to ask.
“That’s right… Liriana, you’re my chief maid, aren’t you?”
At her question, Angelina hesitated, looking troubled. Her eyes shifted between the two figures at her side—Marisol and Bella.
The pair always stood beside Angelina, their presence impossible to overlook. They had served her faithfully since her childhood in Herbient.
From their very first meeting, Liriana had been uneasy about Marisol and Bella.
Though Liriana outranked them as chief maid of Lepia Palace, the two never looked at her as a superior. Sometimes, they even whispered together, laughing at her expense.
“…I’m simply more comfortable with Marisol and Bella, who’ve been looking after me for so many years,” Angelina murmured.
Indeed, the two had cared for her since she was a child. It was only natural that she would feel awkward and uncomfortable with Liriana suddenly taking over as chief maid.
“Marisol and Bella have always helped me with my birthday parties. They know my tastes better than anyone. I think they should be in charge of the theme for the debutante ball.”
Though hurt, Liriana could understand. The debutante ball was, after all, about Angelina.
Still, the thought gnawed at her: was she going to become a mere figurehead chief maid, with no real role at all? Her cheeks burned with shame.
Hailey and Alicia whispered softly among themselves, wondering what was going on. They, too, seemed to realize that Liriana, despite her title, had no real authority.
“And Lady Hailey, Lady Alicia—I heard there’s a new cricket field in the palace grounds. Could I ask you to show me around?”
Clapping her hands lightly, her large blue eyes shining, Angelina posed the question.
Hailey and Alicia nodded eagerly. Unlike Liriana, who entered and left the palace daily, they lived within the walls of Lepia Palace itself. They knew its every corner.
“Leave it to us, my lady!”
Excited, they hurried off to make arrangements for a cricket match.
Perhaps she really wasn’t cut out to be chief maid after all, Liriana thought.
She had never played cricket. She hadn’t even seen a match. She had no interest in such fashionable trends, while Hailey and Alicia were polished daughters of the capital who knew all the latest fads.
Though she had tried to study with the Grand Duke’s help, she hadn’t even known the palace had a cricket field.
Would she soon be overtaken not only by Angelina’s other attendants, but by all the palace maids as well?
Her palms grew clammy with sweat.
At that moment, Angelina’s eyes curved like budding flowers as she looked at her.
“Don’t just stand there—why don’t you sit, Lady Liriana?”
The words were kind, but Liriana felt an odd sense of pressure.
She moved stiffly, like poorly oiled gears, and sat on the sofa.
“I hope you’ll understand why I rely more on Marisol and Bella. I’m actually quite shy with strangers… and this ball is just so important to me.”
“N-no, of course. I understand completely,” Liriana said quickly, waving her hands.
It was only natural to entrust important matters to those one trusted most. Still, she felt faintly relieved that Angelina seemed concerned for her feelings.
“I’m glad you understand. At this ball, I want to show Lepia’s nobility who I truly am. A debutante only happens once in a lifetime, after all.”
Once in a lifetime…
Liriana repeated the phrase silently. She herself had never had such a moment. But perhaps for that reason, she understood even more how important the occasion was.
“I’ve been so nervous, I even dream about it every night. Just yesterday, I dreamed all the young ladies wore the exact same dress as me—I woke up screaming.”
Angelina joked with such poise and grace it was hard to believe she had yet to formally debut in society. Then, she burst into girlish laughter, as carefree as any eighteen-year-old.
Liriana, seeing her innocence, felt a warmth toward her, almost like a younger sister.
“Oh dear… that truly must have been a nightmare.”
At a debutante ball, appearing in the same color gown as another lady was the worst of horrors.
While the designs themselves, crafted by top designers, were never the same, the colors were always a gamble. Only last year, five young women had turned up in pink gowns—a catastrophe.
Every debutante dreamed of being the star of the evening. Suggestions had been made to share dress colors in advance, but no one was willing to give up her chosen hue. In the end, keeping everything secret was deemed fairest.
“…All I want is to shine properly at my debutante ball.”
As she said this, Angelina fixed her clear, lake-like eyes on Liriana. Her gaze seemed to ask for something more.
Liriana felt a crushing sense of responsibility. As chief maid, she had to do something. Perhaps… this was it.
“…What if I… what if I found out what the other young ladies will be wearing?” she blurted.
The words escaped without time for thought—an instinctive response. At last, something she could do as Angelina’s maid.
It felt right, and so she didn’t think too deeply.
“…That would be wonderful for me—but could you really manage it?”
No young lady would willingly reveal her gown details. Only then did Liriana realize what she had just promised.
But it was too late to take it back. She didn’t want to be remembered as both incompetent and boastful.
Determined to win Angelina’s recognition, she nodded firmly.
“Yes—leave it to me!”
More than anything, she wanted to grant Angelina whatever she desired. She wanted to prove she truly was worthy of being chief maid.
Angelina smiled at her words.
And seeing that smile, Liriana wanted nothing more than to make her smile again.
She wanted to be her true chief maid.
