GDASP 11

Chapter 11…

Cynthia narrowed her eyes and looked toward the spot that had caught her attention.

What’s that?

Something was glinting between the wooden pillars supporting the ceiling… Keeping her gaze fixed on it, Cynthia slowly raised her upper body.

Even if she stood on tiptoe, she probably wouldn’t be able to reach it… Just then, a small voice came from the direction of Elizabeth’s room.

“Ah? Wh-who are you?”

Startled, Cynthia turned her head and saw a maid standing there with her mouth open, holding several clean cloths and a bucket of water.

“Ah…!”

Flustered, Cynthia jumped to her feet.
She had been caught red-handed sneaking into an empty room.

Her eyes widened as she quickly spoke to the young maid staring at her.
At times like this, the best thing to do was to stay calm and look as unsuspicious as possible.

“I—I’m Cynthia! I have a contract with the Bailey family!”
“A contract?”
“Yes, I’m looking for Dale…! Dale!”

The maid tilted her head, thinking for a moment, before asking again while looking directly at Cynthia.

“If you’re looking for Mr. Dale, what exactly were you doing in our lady’s room?”
“Oh, I got lost while trying to find Dale, and this door happened to be open…”
“The door was left open for cleaning purposes.”

The maid’s voice was sharp and clear.

“I see. I’m sorry for startling you…”

Cynthia apologized with an awkward expression.
She had thought the room was just abandoned… but apparently, it was still cleaned regularly.

“I’ll take you to Mr. Dale. Please follow me.”

After setting down the rags and bucket she had been carrying, the maid gestured for Cynthia to follow.

Cynthia quickly stepped into the hallway after her. The maid glanced back at her, then began walking ahead.

“I’ve seen you walking around the Bailey mansion with Mr. Dale recently. That’s why I’m guiding you—because I know you’re not suspicious.”
“Oh, thank you!”

Though young, the maid was smart and efficient.

“The room you were just in belonged to the late Lady Elizabeth. While you’re staying in the Bailey mansion, it’s best not to go there.”
“Why?”

Cynthia asked without thinking. At that, the maid’s expression stiffened slightly.
Noticing the change, Cynthia quickly closed her mouth. Careful what you say…

“Violet!”

From across the hallway, a plump maid called out.
The one called Violet flinched and hunched her shoulders. The plump maid glanced at Cynthia walking behind her and spoke sharply.

“What are you doing here? We were all supposed to clean the banquet hall today!”
“Ah…”
“I saw you walking off with a bucket earlier… Don’t tell me! You went to that room again, didn’t you?”
“I—I asked her for help!”

Before the plump maid’s temper could fully explode, Cynthia quickly cut in.
Both women turned their eyes to her at once.

“I came to see Dale, but I got lost. I asked her for help when I ran into her. The bucket was heavy, so she just set it down for a moment where we met.”
“Oh… really?”

The plump maid slowly looked Cynthia up and down—from head to toe.
A stranger. She didn’t look like a noblewoman, but neither did she look like a servant or commoner. Her clothes were somewhere in between.
At least she didn’t have the green eyes characteristic of the Bailey family, which seemed to put the woman at ease.

After finishing her scrutiny, the plump maid turned back to Violet.

“Violet, guide her quickly and come straight back. The head maid is looking for you!”
“Yes…”

Violet answered in a small voice, her earlier confidence gone.
Cynthia glanced at the girl’s slumped shoulders. The plump maid gave Violet a disapproving look before turning and stomping away.

“…Phew.”

Once the woman disappeared, Violet let out a quiet sigh.

“Are you okay?” Cynthia asked.

Violet turned slightly toward her.
“Ah… yes. Thank you for helping me.”
“No, it’s me who should thank you. You’re the one helping me right now.”

Biting her lip lightly, Violet started walking again. Cynthia silently followed.
After some time walking in silence, Violet suddenly spoke.

“Are you… the one who’s acting as Lady Elizabeth?”
“What?”

Cynthia’s eyes widened.

The only people who knew that were Dale and a few trusted members of the Bailey household.
Dale had told her to make sure no one else found out…

“It’s okay. I already heard about it,” Violet murmured softly, as if sensing her thoughts.

Cynthia was speechless.

“…Please do well. In that role,” Violet said quietly.

After that, she didn’t speak again, and neither did Cynthia.

After passing through countless corridors that she would never be able to remember, Violet finally stopped and pointed toward a door at the far end.

“Mr. Dale is in that room. I’ll take my leave now.”

Violet bowed and turned away.

Cynthia nodded, then hesitated for a moment before calling out,

“Um…!”
“Yes?”
“Were you… close with Elizabeth?”

At her question, Violet’s eyes trembled.

Her lips quivered as she slowly replied,
“I… I’m not someone worthy to say I was close to her.”
“What?”
“I—I’ll be going now.”

Violet bowed her head deeply and hurried away before Cynthia could stop her.
Gone…

Cynthia stared blankly down the hall where Violet had disappeared, then turned toward Dale’s door.
Standing before the thick door, she clenched her fist and knocked firmly.

“Dale! Open up. It’s Cynthia.”
“Cynthia?”

Dale opened the door, looking puzzled.

“What are you doing here? I told you to rest in your room. Please refrain from wandering around the mansion unnecessarily…”
“I could rest if I knew where my room was!”

Cynthia yelled right in his face.

“What?”
“How can I rest when I don’t even know where I’m supposed to rest?”

Dale blinked, then let out a small sigh.

“Ah.”

A week had passed since Cynthia began staying comfortably at the Bailey mansion.

She had intended to leave before Dale noticed anything…

“The masters of the Bailey family have taken quite a liking to you, Miss Cynthia.”
“Huh?”

Cynthia looked up.
Across from her, Dale was reading through a thick stack of papers. Without lifting his eyes, he continued,

“They seem to appreciate how smoothly the engagement has been maintained so far.”
“Ah…”
“They’ve said you may continue staying at the Bailey mansion.”

Cynthia rolled her red eyes. Sure, it was much better than her cramped little house…

“…But it’s tiring, having to walk on eggshells all the time.”
“Walk on eggshells?”

Only then did Dale finally look up from his papers.

“Of course! I can’t go wherever I want. I have to eat alone in my room. If I meet anyone in the hallway, I can’t even speak to them—I have to just bow my head and pass by…”

Cynthia started to grumble.

“It’s practically the same as being imprisoned. Honestly, even my tiny home feels more comfortable.”
“Ah…”

Dale frowned slightly and set the documents down.

“I didn’t expect you to feel that way. That’s my oversight.”

Exactly. Cynthia nodded inwardly.

“But, Cynthia,” he continued, “you’ve now become too deeply involved in the Bailey family’s affairs. I can’t leave you on your own.”
“What? Then…”
“I’m saying—you can’t freely go back home anymore.”

What—what did he just say?