Episode 14
Barely had his answer fallen when, as if to prove his words, the front gate swung open. An elderly butler appeared to greet him.
“Welcome back, young master.”
“Where’s Ellie?”
“She is in her room.”
“Tell her there’s a guest who must see her urgently.”
Up until that moment, I still hadn’t grasped the situation.
Even as I stepped into the mansion at his gesture, even as I followed a servant alone to the parlor, I couldn’t understand what on earth he was thinking.
Standing awkwardly in the center of the parlor, I waited. A moment later, the door burst open. Gilbert entered, accompanied by a woman who looked just like him and seemed around my age.
Hair as glossy and black as ebony, and golden eyes that shone like the sun. Anyone could see at a glance that she was Gilbert’s sibling.
I quickly bowed and straightened again, and she stepped close to me.
“I hear you’re receiving my brother’s patronage?”
“Pardon? Ah—yes.”
I didn’t really know what my relationship with him was, but I agreed anyway. When I lifted my head, I saw her beautiful face smiling gently.
Even though her eyes were the same color as Gilbert’s, the atmosphere they carried was completely different.
If Gilbert’s eyes were like cold, solid jewels, hers were like softly flowing honey.
“What’s your name?”
“Amber, my lady.”
“Amber, nice to meet you. I’m Elinia Klein.”
She introduced herself in a kind voice and briefly took my hand before releasing it. Then she looked back at Gilbert.
“So, brother, what is this urgent request?”
Gilbert, who had been standing a step behind us with his arms crossed, answered.
“There’s a performance we’re going to see tonight, and as you can see, her clothes are like that.”
“Ah.”
She immediately nodded. Then she turned back toward me with a bright smile.
“I understand. Amber, this way.”
She gently placed a hand on my back and led me out of the parlor. Gilbert followed behind us.
Then Lady Elinia turned around and raised a hand with a mock-stern expression.
“Brother, please wait here like a gentleman until the lady is ready.”
Gilbert only shrugged once, and she gave me another warm smile before striding forward.
And so, before I could even properly grasp the situation, I was led out of the parlor by a noblewoman I had never met.
—
Lady Elinia brought me to an empty room and immediately pulled a bell-cord to summon a maid.
“First, go to my bedroom and bring dresses and accessories that would suit this lady.”
Then she circled around me with a serious expression.
“Amber, your hair color is unique and beautifully red, so something more subdued than bright dresses would be better. Diamonds and pearls will match perfectly. Rather than using mixed colors, let’s keep everything white. The highlight will be the hairpiece.”
She carefully undid my neatly tied hair.
“It would be ideal to start with a bath, but there’s no time, so we have no choice. Hannah, tell them to bring the perfumed oils as well.”
“All of them, miss?”
“For now.”
As she gave instructions to the maid—who seemed to be her personal attendant—five other maids entered carrying armfuls of dresses and a large jewelry box.
Lady Elinia began pulling out dresses one by one and holding them up in front of me.
“Yes, dark colors suit you better. You look elegant. Amber, what do you think?”
“They’re all too much for someone like me, my lady.”
It wasn’t a matter of liking or not liking them. Not only was she trying to dress me in extremely expensive gowns, she was also asking for my opinion.
And the fabric of the dress she handed me was one so costly and difficult to acquire that even Madam Sierra only ordered it in small quantities when absolutely necessary.
But Lady Elinia either didn’t know my thoughts or pretended not to. She answered brightly.
“Then we’ll go with this one.”
And soon the deep red dress she had chosen was placed on my body.
Understanding something with the mind and accepting it with the body were completely different things. I had lived as a servant and tenant farmer my whole life.
In a situation where I should have been the one serving her, she tied the ribbon at my back herself. No one could accept such a situation calmly.
My reflection in the mirror looked just as unnatural. But Lady Elinia, who busily adjusted the dress, clapped her hands with satisfaction.
“Hannah, bring the cosmetics.”
She then sat me down in front of the vanity mirror. And again, she began seriously considering things with the maids.
“Her hair is in better condition than I thought. A half-up style would be pretty. Do we still have that chain hair ornament I wore last time?”
“Yes, miss.”
As soon as her instructions fell, two maids began working on my hair.
Meanwhile, Lady Elinia pulled up another chair and sat beside me. She opened a cosmetics case with practiced ease and chose colors.
“You don’t need to be so nervous. This isn’t the first time my brother’s made such a request.”
I didn’t know how to respond and simply met her eyes—only to have my head gently redirected forward by a maid behind me.
From my side, I heard a soft giggle.
“Though, to be fair, he’s never suddenly brought a young lady home and told me to dress her up like this. Still, when it comes to patronage, my brother doesn’t care about obstacles.”
“I see.”
“Ever since he started the theater business, he said he wouldn’t sponsor individuals anymore, so this request surprised me. How did you meet him?”
She carefully touched a brush to my face as she asked. Her face, faintly visible in my peripheral vision, was full of curiosity.
“I auditioned at the theater.”
“Ah, I heard about that. But the accepted candidate had a different name, didn’t they?”
When she tilted her head, I explained everything that had happened after the audition—how I received an offer to join.
“I see. Then what did you do before that?”
“I sang at a tavern.”
“You graduated from a conservatory?”
“No, the conservatory….”
I trailed off, watching her face. But she still wore a gentle smile.
“Then where did you learn to sing?”
“I spent about a year in the church choir back home.”
“I see. Well, my brother has always been like that. He rarely looks for students at conservatories like others do.”
At that, I instinctively met her eyes.
“Were there other protégés like me?”
Another gentle hand motion directed my gaze back forward, and Elinia laughed softly behind her hand.
“The most surprising case was someone who painted portraits on the street for coins. Close your eyes.”
I shut my eyes as instructed, and the soft touch of a brush grazed my eyelids.
“That person is…?”
“Have you heard of Jonathan Arcus?”
I searched my memory with my eyes still closed. But the name was unfamiliar.
“No.”
Elinia sounded genuinely shocked.
“You don’t know Jonathan?”
“No…”
“Then have you seen the ceiling mural in Klein Theater?”
“Oh—yes. I remember that mural.”
I nodded quickly. Lady Elinia lightly touched my temple.
“Hold still. Jonathan is an artist my brother discovered. He painted the ceiling mural in Klein Theater. And just recently he painted portraits of His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen. Hardly anyone in the capital doesn’t know his name. Truly. I’m not just saying that because he’s one of ours.”
Her voice held unmistakable pride. I followed her tone and smiled slightly, recalling the mural I saw in the theater lobby.
I remembered how overwhelmed I’d been upon first seeing it. The delicate, magnificent painting—it felt like angels would descend at any moment, like a piece of heaven brought to life.
“Amazing.”
“Right?”
Both the painter who had hidden that talent and Gilbert, who discovered him on the street, seemed incredible.
As I genuinely admired them, Lady Elinia continued telling stories of others Gilbert had sponsored.
“He often invited them to our mansion, so I know most of the people he’s supported. Oh, if you joined the troupe, you must know him too—Mr. Nick is also someone my brother once supported.”
“Delgado… sir?”
I opened my eyes in surprise at the unexpected name, and saw her smiling face.
“Mhm, that’s right. He used to be a tenor. He was actually doing quite well in Dienna without my brother’s help. But he had… family issues.”
That was nobles’ private business—nothing I should hear. Lady Elinia must have thought the same, because she wrapped it up quickly.
“Well, because of that connection, Mr. Nick helped my brother establish the troupe after retiring. Anyway, it’s not unusual for my brother to bring people of all ranks to our home. So don’t worry too much.”
Only then did I realize all this long conversation was meant to assure me. My shoulders loosened a little.
“Yes, thank you.”
Just then, the maid behind me stepped back. Lady Elinia set down her brush and rose with a cheerful voice.
“Heavens, you look lovely! Like a young lady from a fine family, Amber.”
Unable to deny her words, I uneasily stood. Facing the full-length mirror again, I saw a version of myself even more unfamiliar.
A pale, lively face with red lips stood out first. My naturally shaped eyes and lengthened lashes made my features clearer.
My previously simple hair was now half tied in an elegant style, held in place with glittering jewels.
It was beautiful. I couldn’t dare call myself a noble young lady, but my appearance—carefully arranged to suit the dress—was undeniably beautiful.
As I marveled at the mirror, Lady Elinia returned, holding a matching necklace and earrings she’d taken from the jewelry box.
I nearly recoiled at the sight of such sparkling accessories—things I could never afford even if I lived twice. But she was faster than my protest.
“It’s not complete without these. Stay still.”
She placed the necklace around my neck herself. The cold metal against my skin sent a shiver down my spine.
After fastening the earrings too, Lady Elinia stepped back with deep satisfaction, looking me over.
“Oh, that was fun. Hannah, Lin—what do you think?”
“She’s very beautiful.”
“I think she is the loveliest of all the people you’ve dressed, miss.”
“Really?”
The two maids on either side answered without hesitation, and Lady Elinia placed her hands on her hips with a triumphant grin. In that moment, her smile overlapped with Gilbert’s in my mind.
*They do look alike.*
I had that idle thought when someone knocked on the door.
Elinia nodded once, and a maid opened the door. Gilbert strode in.
“How long does it take to get someone ready? We’re going to a performance, not a royal banquet.”
“I told you to wait. Honestly, brother, how can you be so ungentlemanly?”
He brushed off her scolding with a snort and turned his gaze to me.
When our eyes met in the air, I tensed. I felt as if I were standing on a stage again, being judged.
The bustling room fell still as soon as he entered.
His expression was hard to read. His cool eyes were fixed on my face.
Beside me, Lady Elinia looked between us.
After a brief silence, he spoke.
“Not bad.”
Only then did I realize I’d been holding my breath. I exhaled softly.
“Prepare the carriage,” he said, already turning away. “Come out when you’re ready.”
