Chapter 12
The Woman He Held in His Heart
At the same time.
There was a small commotion inside the mansion.
“Why are you stopping us from entering? Lady Sara has every right to go in too! …Move aside this instant!”
Meiri shouted in frustration at the maids blocking their way.
To her, it made no sense that they were not even allowed near the building, let alone the reception room.
Could this also be the countess’s order? It wouldn’t be surprising. She was exactly the kind of person who would do something like this. Meiri almost let out a bitter laugh.
“Meiri, don’t get so worked up.”
“But, Miss… it’s just so infuriating!”
Sara was grateful that Meiri expressed anger on her behalf. As a noble, Sara often had to suppress her emotions, but Meiri didn’t.
Meiri never held back when it came to anything involving Sara.
“It’s the lady’s order. We were told not to allow the young lady inside under any circumstances. So please, go back. We don’t want to make things difficult.”
“…Difficult?”
In the end, Sara stepped forward.
She didn’t want Meiri getting hurt or punished because of her. With a firm expression, Sara looked at the maids blocking their path.
The maids whispered among themselves, startled by her eye color.
Some of them didn’t yet know what kind of girl Sara was.
But this reaction was already familiar to her.
One of Diana’s maids, standing at the front, spoke.
“Lady Sara, please.”
“….”
The maid’s tone, as she said “please,” felt more like she was looking down on her.
There was a clear difference in status—master and servant. Yet this behavior was no different from treating Sara as inferior.
“Hurry up.”
The maids stood their ground, backs straight, refusing to yield.
Sara found them irritating—these maids acting so arrogantly just because they served Diana.
She, in her own way, tried to maintain equal relationships—treating people as people, not using status or authority.
But despite her efforts, Diana’s maids still looked down on her.
“I’m not sure,” Sara said calmly, arms crossed.
“Whether that was a request… or an order.”
“…L-Lady.”
“How am I supposed to interpret this attitude?”
The maids exchanged uneasy glances.
Sara stepped closer, meeting each of their eyes one by one.
“L-Lady, we apologize for earlier. We… we’re sorry…”
The sudden shift in Sara’s demeanor made them falter.
She stared at them silently, then let out a faint laugh.
“That doesn’t sound like a sincere apology.”
“Lady!”
One of the maids in the center raised her voice.
She was the most abrasive among Diana’s personal attendants.
Sara tilted her head slightly, a cold smile forming at the corner of her lips.
I don’t have time for this.
She lowered her voice.
“Apologize properly. To me—and to Meiri.”
“I-I’m fine, really…”
Meiri hurriedly grabbed Sara’s sleeve, flustered.
“Miss, why are you doing this? Why—”
“Should I say it again? Or should I just scream here? What do you think would happen then?”
If she screamed, everyone would come running. And Diana, who hated disturbances, would surely punish them harshly.
“I may be a member of this family, but you all are just… people who are paid to work here. If you disappear, nothing changes for me.”
On the surface, they were a family of nobles, but in truth, attendants like them could be replaced at any time.
The maids bit their lips tightly, clenching their fists.
‘So it’s pride versus survival? Just like their mistress, Diana.’
Sara thought, observing their stiff posture.
Time kept passing. As long as they refused, there was no way forward.
“…We’re sorry.”
“We apologize, Lady Sara.”
At last, time gave in on Sara’s side.
As they lowered their heads in succession, Sara smiled faintly.
But then, the maids slowly sank to their knees.
Sara’s expression darkened.
“W-We sincerely apologize. And we ask for your understanding once again, Lady.”
They knelt on the dirt-stained ground, unable to even maintain proper etiquette.
“….”
Watching this, Sara felt as if she herself had become Diana. It disgusted her.
With a small sigh, Sara finally spoke.
“Meiri, let’s go.”
“Eh? Y-Yes, Miss!”
There was no helping it.
Her desire to see him… wasn’t strong enough to push through this today.
She believed there would be another chance. The future was still far away.
Sara smiled lightly, as if letting go of it all.
“It’s fine. Meiri, let’s go see some flowers to clear our mood.”
At the same time — Reception Room
“I am honored to meet you. I am Beria Tresha.”
“….”
The door opened.
The person who entered was not Sara—but Beria.
A young girl in a violet dress, her hair tied into twin braids.
Cassian’s expression froze.
He had nothing to say.
If it had been Sara, he would have been speechless in a different way—out of joy.
But now, it was disappointment that robbed him of words.
The expectation he had built up collapsed in an instant.
Diana smiled, satisfied as she watched Cassian’s reaction.
‘He’s fallen for her at first sight? He’s staring so intently.’
Beria was beautiful, after all. Diana assumed Cassian had been captivated.
“Oh my, don’t just stand there. Sit down, Beria.”
“Yes, Mother.”
Beria smiled softly and sat gracefully.
Diana beamed with satisfaction.
Even if Sara had some connection to Cassian, Beria would erase those feelings.
For a moment, Diana even wondered if Cassian had come for Sara.
That thought made her tense—but she did not show it.
Sara must not become Cassian’s partner. Never.
Beria sat opposite Cassian and glanced at him shyly.
“I’ve heard so much about you at the academy. I’m honestly nervous meeting you like this…”
As she spoke, she looked at him—
And froze.
His eyes were empty.
No warmth. No emotion.
“Why are you looking at me like that…?”
He was said to be kind and warm.
But the man in front of her was cold—distant.
“….”
“Not particularly,” Cassian replied flatly.
He had no interest.
This was a waste of time.
He stood up abruptly.
“I dislike pretentious behavior.”
The words struck the room like ice.
Neither Beria nor Diana could respond properly.
Diana forced a laugh.
“Oh my, you’re so direct. Beria is just very honest, that’s all.”
Cassian’s patience was thinning.
He wanted to leave this tedious place immediately.
“By the way, Sir Dayburn, have you decided on a partner for the upcoming social night—”
“Mother.”
Beria grabbed Diana’s dress, trying to stop her.
But Diana ignored her.
“How about it? I think the two of you would make a perfect pair.”
Cassian smiled faintly—but firmly refused.
“I decline.”
It was Beria’s first rejection.
Humiliated, she stood up abruptly and stormed out.
Cassian watched her go.
‘Rude. How tiresome.’
Diana quickly tried to recover the atmosphere, but Cassian had already lost interest.
“I apologize for the inconvenience, Countess. However, I already have someone I wish to dance with.”
Diana’s eyes widened.
“W-Who is it?”
Cassian smiled—calm, gentle, and polished.
“The most beautiful, gentle, and… I can only describe her as beautiful.”
He stood up and left.
Diana frowned deeply.
“What an ill-mannered family.”
Not a single person saw him off.
Cassian, however, no longer cared.
Only one thought remained in his mind.
He wanted to see her.
Diana stood in silence after he left.
“…Who is it? That woman?”
She began to think.
“Don’t tell me… it can’t be her, right?”
Soon, she dismissed the thought—but unease lingered.
Because the person he described… sounded uncomfortably familiar.
