Chapter 31
“Lily-unnie! I heard you’re going to the Duchess’s mansion with Young Master Lou?”
From early morning, a few maids were standing in front of my room.
What the… these faces seem familiar. Oh, right—they were the trio from Lou’s fan club I’d met in the kitchen before.
The black-haired maid looked especially excited.
“You said there’s nothing between you two! You tricked us!”
“If you’re jealous, then follow me.”
“No! I’m not jealous!”
I said casually, but the maid shook her head.
“I’m actually happy!”
“…Why?”
“Because there’s new gossip now, isn’t there?”
“…….”
I was lost for words. Ignoring my reaction, the maid continued, full of excitement.
“This is a scoop! Lily-unnie is close enough to Young Master Lou to be introduced to the Duchess!”
“Aren’t you supposed to be working…?”
“This is spreading the news far and wide! Alright, have a nice day!”
The maid led her group and ran off. What are these girls even doing? I thought working at a duke’s house would be easier, but seeing them cling to ridiculous gossip, it seems even here, working is tough. Maybe changing jobs wouldn’t be a bad idea…
“Who was that?”
Deriksha came behind me, locking the door with her key. I sighed and shook my head. I was too lazy to explain what had just happened.
Deriksha didn’t seem that interested and switched topics.
“It’s your day off, so why are you out working? You usually hate it.”
I shrugged at her words. Before leaving for a long business trip with Lou, I had been given a few days of paid leave. It was a day to sleep in, but strangely, when given rest, I didn’t feel like resting.
Deriksha, having taken over the kitchen while Odin was away, went to work, and I had followed her willingly.
Of course, if I got tired during my day off, I could stop anytime and return to my room.
When we entered the kitchen, every servant’s eyes turned toward us.
“Lily!”
Mr. Drum, the head chef, called out with a bright smile. He was always cheerful, but today he looked even happier.
He beamed and said,
“I heard your relationship with Young Master Lou is already so advanced! My goodness, congratulations!”
“Great, I’m leaving.”
I turned to leave without hesitation. Deriksha grabbed my collar from behind.
Why, it’s my day off today… I gave her a resentful look, but she pulled me into the kitchen anyway.
Deriksha spoke to Mr. Drum for me.
“That’s just a rumor.”
“Really? Katie told me.”
I didn’t know who Katie was, but I already disliked her. Mr. Drum looked confused.
“Then is it also a rumor that you’re going to the Duchess’s mansion with Young Master Lou?”
“Well, that part’s true…”
I answered weakly. This time, even Deriksha looked surprised.
“You’re going to the Duchess’s mansion?”
“…Is that a problem?”
“Did Young Master Lou ask you to go?”
Why are they acting like this? I slowly nodded. Deriksha thought for a moment and muttered to herself.
“Already being introduced to the Duchess… isn’t that going a bit too far…?”
“…Am I going for a formal meeting?”
Judging by everyone’s reactions, it felt more like a meeting than a business trip. So, somehow, I had already “dated” Lou? Amazing. I frowned deeply and shook my head.
“I have no relationship with Young Master Lou.”
“Really? That’s a shame… I even prepared a little gift in case some crumbs fell my way…”
Mr. Drum said sadly, holding a tray full of coffee cookies. His special cookies were so rare you could usually only have them on birthdays.
“……”
I quietly pulled out a chair and sat, keeping a solemn expression.
“When people live together, good feelings can naturally grow. It doesn’t mean it’s happening yet, but possibilities are always open in human relationships…”
“Would you sell your feelings for a single cookie?”
I nodded at Deriksha’s words. Mr. Drum laughed heartily and set the coffee cookies in front of me.
For now, while eating the cookies, Lou and I were “together.” I happily picked up a cookie and ate it.
Watching the hardworking maids while eating, I left the kitchen. Our schedule outside being a personal maid was similar to the first day I started: kitchen, laundry, and going out to greet Odin. I didn’t need to go for the last task, so only Deriksha would go.
On the way to the laundry, someone blocked our path.
Two young maids in uniform stood in front of us.
When I looked at them curiously, the brown-haired maid gently pushed the black-haired twin’s shoulder.
The twin stepped closer and nervously looked around before staring at me.
“Uh… Lily-unnie…”
The little maid blushed, holding a pink-wrapped box. She hesitated a lot before speaking.
“I heard the rumors… that you and Young Master Lou are… close…”
“That’s not true.”
I said firmly. Who was this Katie that spread such rumors so fast?
Now that I had eaten the cookies, Lou and I were completely “free.” The maid’s face brightened slightly at my words.
“Right! I believed it was a false rumor! There are many good people around you besides Young Master Lou… Of course, I don’t mean he’s bad, but someone might like you even more…”
She rambled on, her face blazing red, covering it with the box she held. The brown-haired maid behind her quietly laughed, watching the scene.
…Who are these girls? I’d never seen them before, yet the little maid seemed to know me well. She closed her eyes and handed me the pink box.
“It’s a gift!”
The maid quickly ran away. The brown-haired one bowed and followed her.
What are they really? I blinked and looked at Deriksha, who was smiling at their retreating backs.
“They must be desperate.”
“Desperate for what?”
“For you followers.”
I frowned. Followers? I didn’t even have friends, how could I have followers?
Usually, if there’s a rumor about a young master and a maid, wouldn’t attention go to the master? Why were they trying to impress me instead?
Then it hit me—maybe someone like that went to Lou too.
I had casually lied about “dating” Lou just to get a cookie, and if Lou found out, it would be a big deal. Saying I was with Lou was basically like admitting it. Lou would be shocked.
I held the gift box tightly and turned to go.
“Where are you going?”
“To Young Master Lou!”
I left Deriksha behind and ran to Lou’s room. It was closed when I arrived.
I knocked lightly, something I usually didn’t do, and cautiously opened the door.
Luckily, no one else was inside. It was still early, so Lou might not have heard the rumors yet.
Lou sat at the tea table reading, and when our eyes met, he smirked. He looked like he already knew about the rumors.
Katie—how extraordinary was she to spread a rumor this fast, even reaching the duke’s household? Soon, it might even reach the duke himself.
I buried my face in my hand and mumbled,
“…I didn’t spread the rumor.”
“But I heard you admitted it?”
“That’s true, but…”
I sighed. As expected, it was exaggerated and spread quickly like a rumor.
“I’ll go explain it’s a false rumor.”
“There’s no need.”
Lou smiled and went back to reading. I looked at him in disbelief.
“No need? You’d be annoyed if you had to deal with a false rumor too.”
“Well…”
Lou flipped the pages, still smiling.
“I actually like it.”
“…?”
I frowned and stared at him. He liked it? Enjoying such rumors? How could he be happy just because of attention?
He was at an age to enjoy attention, but still… I shook my head, gave up trying to persuade him, and pulled out the chair across from him.
“What’s this?”
Lou asked, noticing the box in my hands. The shiny pink wrapping immediately caught his eye.
“I don’t know. I got it on the way here.”
From the outside, I couldn’t tell what was inside.
I opened it to find another pink box. Inside were chocolates, candies, and a letter. The chocolates must have been expensive…
I stared blankly at the box, then placed a piece of chocolate in front of Lou as a small apology for the rumor.
“…What’s this letter?”
Lou seemed uninterested in the chocolate and looked at the pink letter with heart and bear stickers.
I handed it to him, meaning he could read it if he wanted. Lou hesitated.
“Can I read your letter?”
“There was no rule saying you couldn’t.”
Of course, it didn’t say to show it to anyone, but I ignored that. I was more interested in the chocolate anyway.
Lou opened the letter reluctantly, and I watched while eating the chocolate.
As he read, his expression gradually stiffened.
