07.
Early in the morning, a knock at the door pulled me from the depths of a sweet slumber.
Riri, who seemed to have woken up first at the sound, began poking and prodding at my face with her nose.
‘Maya-nim, Maya-nim! Someone is here! They’re knocking!’
“I know… just ten more minutes…”
“My Lady, it is Mary.”
“Ugh…”
Even as I tried to ignore Riri’s insistent squeaking, the calm, steady voice of the Head Maid, Mary, drifted through the closed door. It was a voice that commanded attention, making it impossible to stay under the covers. I dragged myself up, head swaying groatily.
“Co—Come in…”
The moment permission was granted, Mary opened the door and entered. In her hands, she carried a washbasin with steam rising from the surface.
“Since you seemed unwell yesterday, I shall have your breakfast brought here. I trust that is acceptable?”
“…Yes!”
That’s more than fine by me.
It was the best news I’d heard all day; it meant I wouldn’t have to endure the weight of all those staring eyes like I did yesterday. I dipped my hands into the basin she placed on the bedside table. A soothing warmth enveloped my palms.
“It’s warm…”
I washed my face carefully, making sure not a single drop splashed onto the floor. When I looked up, a soft towel met my skin.
“I can do it myself…”
“It is only right that I perform these tasks. You would do well to get used to it.”
“Yes, well… alright.”
After the washing came the dressing. Change of clothes had been prepared behind me before I’d even noticed.
“Can I dress myself this time? Please!”
“No. Dressing you is also my duty. Again, please get used to it.”
How on earth was I supposed to get used to someone else washing and dressing me so quickly? I tried to edge away, but Mary closed the gap with a much larger stride and proceeded to strip me as efficiently as she had the day before. With my small, frail body, I was utterly powerless to resist.
“There, it is done. Now, would you care to sit at the vanity? I shall brush your hair.”
“Okay…”
I gave up.
Following Mary’s instructions, I sat before the vanity and stared blankly at my reflection. My waist-length black hair was frizzy and dull due to its natural curl, but with every stroke of Mary’s brush, it transformed, gaining a lustrous sheen. My eyes, green as fresh grass, darted back and forth as they followed the movement of her hands. I was wearing a dress of vibrant yellow, reminiscent of spring forsythias.
After all this grooming, I finally looked somewhat human. Though, to my eyes, I still lacked the innate nobility of a true high-born lady.
After I had spent a long moment glaring at my own reflection, Mary finally pulled the brush away.
“There, all finished. I shall go and order your meal, so please wait a moment.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Mary bowed and headed for the door. Just before she stepped out, I reached a hand toward her.
“Wa—Wait! Um… could you make it something light?”
“Pardon?”
Mary’s expression shifted, looking as though she couldn’t fathom what I was saying. I didn’t think a face could be that blatantly judgmental.
But my stomach was still bloated from yesterday’s ordeal.
“I ate so much yesterday that I’d like a simple breakfast… maybe a sandwich or something.”
“But you must eat plenty to grow big and strong…”
“Please? Just this once?”
“My Lady…”
Mary let out a deep sigh, clearly displeased with something again.
“My Lady, you must never utter the word ‘please.’ Especially not for such trivial matters. A Lady of the House of Featherway must maintain her dignity.”
“Oh, I see… I understand.”
“Huu… very well. I shall bring the meal as requested.”
She let out another loud sigh—seemingly for my benefit—and finally left the room.
“…Haa.”
Only then could I finally breathe. It hadn’t even been an hour, yet the air had felt stiflingly heavy the entire time. As I sat on the edge of the bed and exhaled a long breath, I felt a soft sensation against my fingertips.
Looking down, I saw Riri climbing onto the back of my hand, lifting her tiny head to look at me.
‘Maya-nim, are you alright? You look exhausted.’
Ah, right. There was one thing in this Duchy that actually felt comfortable. I picked Riri up and rubbed my cheek against her; her short, downy fur tickled my skin pleasantly.
‘Waaaah—’
Riri let out a pathetic little squeak, but I ignored it and rubbed her a few more times before setting her down. The way her back fur stood up in little tufts was undeniably cute.
“I’m suffering like this because of you.”
‘Hmph! But Maya-nim, you wanted this too!’
“You didn’t give me any time to think about it!”
‘We-well, that’s true… but didn’t you get adopted into a pretty great place?’
“It’s so ‘great’ that it’s the problem. Can’t you see? This place is incredibly strict and stifling.”
‘But you’ve gained the status of a Lady, which means you have power in your hands!’
“I feel like they’ll take that power away the moment I step out of line.”
‘So… you’re feeling anxious?’
“Well, half of it is that.”
Riri’s eyes began to sparkle, almost as if she enjoyed the fact that I was emotionally unstable. I didn’t like that look, so I knit my brows and glared at her. Sensing the threat, she scurried backward.
‘Ca—Calm down. I just wanted to introduce you to something good…’
“Something good?”
‘Yes, look at this!’
In an instant, a familiar shop page materialized before my eyes. The item displayed at the very top was:
[Fluffy Baby Bear. Grade: D] Price: 500 Coins A bear with a cozy texture that hugs you with all its might. The effect doubles the more unstable your heart is. Duration: 60 Seconds
‘Tada! How about it? How about it?!’
“What do you mean, ‘how about it’… forget it. I don’t need it.”
‘Eeeeh?! Why? Why not? It’s exactly what you need right now!’
“You really have the blood of a merchant in you, don’t you?”
‘I am the Transmigration Manager in charge of the Shop, after all!’
She puffed out her chest and placed her tiny, thin arms on her hips as if to show off her reliability, but she was still just a tiny ferret.
“I still don’t need it.”
Because I had something better than a toy bear. I picked Riri up with both hands again and rubbed her against my cheek, prompting a series of pathetic “Piiiii—” sounds.
In the midst of this, Mary’s knock returned. She entered the room, wheeling a cart that rattled softly.
“I have brought your break—fast.”
Mary paused for a moment upon seeing me rubbing a ferret against my face, but she quickly regained her composure. She wheeled the cart over to the sofa and began setting the plates.
She had honored my request for a sandwich, but it was monstrously thick. …This was by no means a “light” sandwich. Honestly, how many layers of ham were in there?
“I was told you must eat at least two. I have prepared them according to your nutritional needs, so please enjoy your meal.”
Enjoy? How?
I sat on the sofa, but one look told me a single sandwich would be more than enough. Being told to eat two was basically the same as being forced to overeat like yesterday. This was definitely a form of torture.
As I hesitated, unable to even touch the food, Riri—who had followed me over—snagged a slice of ham from the sandwich.
“Are you going to eat that?”
“Pii!”
She took a large bite and chewed enthusiastically. Seeing Riri eat so well helped me relax a little. I picked up a sandwich and took a bite. Throughout the meal, Mary stood behind us, watching with a look of disapproval as Riri and I cleared the plates.
When I showed Mary the empty plate—achieved only with Riri’s help—she let out the sigh she had been holding back. Honestly, every time she sighed, I felt like I had committed some grave sin. Mary, seemingly indifferent to my internal struggle, began loading the empty dishes back onto the tray while pouring out a steady stream of nagging.
“My Lady, you must not dine with animals. It is unseemly, and there is the risk of consuming fur.”
‘I’m an indoor-customized ferret who doesn’t shed fur, you know!’
“Pfft…”
I couldn’t help but burst out laughing at Riri’s sudden retort. Mary shot me a sharp look. I immediately clamped my mouth shut and tried to compose myself.
“Furthermore, I had not heard that you were keeping a weasel…”
‘It’s a ferret, not a weasel!’
“She says it’s a ferret.”
“…Yes, I had not heard you were keeping a ferret. Did you bring it from the orphanage?”
“Ah, well…”
I glanced at Riri, whose round eyes were fixed on me. Pail had given his permission, but it seemed the word hadn’t reached Mary yet.
“I think it came in through the window I left open yesterday.”
“Yesterday?”
When? her eyes seemed to ask. I had told Pail that Mary and I had left the window open when we went out, so I had to be careful with my lies now. When I couldn’t find the words and simply let my eyes wander, Mary didn’t press further.
“I see… and has His Grace permitted this?”
“Pa—Pail said it was fine. He said he’d ask for me.”
“The Commander said that? If he hasn’t said otherwise, I suppose it has been permitted.”
I felt a wave of relief. If she had said no, Riri would have had to transform into that human form she mentioned… no, a human would be even harder to explain. I had already asked for Arsen; asking for another person to live here would be the height of audacity.
“The Butler is waiting outside, so let us depart. Tutors have been invited to teach you the basics, such as arithmetic. Since it is the first day, you shall simply introduce yourself.”
“Study…ing?”
“Yes. A Lady of House Featherway requires a foundational education so as not to be found wanting by others.”
It seemed that study was a necessity regardless of the world. I didn’t hide my look of distaste, but Mary remained unfazed, opening the door and waiting for me to exit.
“Haaaa…”
‘Even if you hate it, studying is important, Maya-nim. I had to study for a long time to manage this shop system!’
“I know it’s important.”
It was just that the way Mary said it made it sound like I’d be kicked out of the Lady’s seat if I were slow. I tucked Riri into my sleeve and was about to step out when—
“One moment, My Lady.”
