Chapter 3
“This is rather troublesome, madam.”
“If you refuse me, won’t things get even more troublesome? I hear the venture you just returned from caused quite a loss.”
“Well… that is…”
“I think I could help your husband, the junior marquis.”
The lady—clearly of noble bearing—ruffled the edge of the man’s shirt with her fingers.
The man maintained a smile, but he looked decidedly uncomfortable.
Excuse me, I’m the one who’s uncomfortable here…
And there was someone unintentionally witnessing this whole scene, live.
What on earth is going on?
Ara held her breath, unable to act. To understand the situation, one had to go back a few hours.
“Miss, you must not move.”
“Yes, yes.”
“And you must not address us formally!”
“Mm-hm.”
Linda, housekeeper of the Edmon estate, with fifteen years of loyal service, radiated professionalism.
And today, without a doubt, she was serious.
How many hours has it been already…?
Ara had been trying to remain doll-like and still, but sitting still for three hours was impossible for any human.
Linda and the other maids grew increasingly anxious.
Something’s wrong with the young lady!
She usually has no expression, but now she clearly looks sullen!
They had hurriedly gathered skilled servants since morning to get her ready, yet the lady herself had no motivation.
Linda smiled and tried to calm the restless Ara.
“Miss, no matter what happens, we’ll make you the most beautiful today.”
“Hmm? That’s not really necessary…”
“Pardon?”
Linda’s eyes widened at her unexpected answer.
“You’ve always wanted to outshine Miss Lumie. That’s why we’ve prepared everything meticulously for today…”
“…Ah, did I? Then just do as you see fit.”
Linda tilted her head in confusion.
Not only Linda but most of the servants had noticed that Ara had changed.
She’s not usually this docile… Though, the sudden death of the count is certainly shocking.
Even the way Ara treated Lumie had completely changed.
When the official announcement of the count’s death came and Karl and Zyla brought Lumie along, everyone had worried about Ara’s reaction.
Lumie, always kind and forgiving, didn’t give the servants any cause for concern—but Ara was different.
Yet surprisingly, Ara didn’t react much.
People can change when shocked too much.
The consensus among the staff: losing both parents at a young age was enough reason for Ara to behave differently.
Sympathy for Ara intensified once Zyla started acting as the lady of the house, meddling and criticizing the servants’ work.
The rightful heir is perfectly fine and awake! Why is she interfering so much?!
Zyla acted as if she were already the countess for a reason. She firmly believed her daughter Lumie would one day dominate the social scene—and it was entirely plausible.
Our young lady is just a bit childish. She can’t hide her emotions and has a difficult personality…
Linda sighed inwardly and tried to comfort Ara.
“Your hair is done, miss. Now, you mustn’t ruin it until dinner.”
“Alright, alright. But you really won’t tell me what the evening gathering is?”
“…I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s fine. Uncle probably told you not to say.”
Linda and the maids left the room with sympathetic expressions, and silence returned as if no one had been there.
There’s still plenty of time before the evening gathering.
Ara got up and carefully opened the door to inspect the hallway.
“…It is my house, so a little walk around should be fine.”
They said not to ruin her hair—not that she couldn’t go outside.
“I heard ‘that person’ will be at tonight’s gathering?”
“Really? If I’d known, I’d have paid more attention to my appearance!”
The Edmon mansion, located in the capital, had a central staircase connecting all floors. Anyone going down it would inevitably encounter countless people—including relatives she’d rather avoid.
I tried to take a less-traveled path, but still end up running into someone…
She descended via the emergency stairs, where idle servants were chatting noisily.
Better take another route.
Turning toward the opposite staircase, she overheard a suspicious conversation.
“How about I try to seduce her too?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. She’s noble now. Why would she notice you?”
“Who knows? She was born a commoner. Besides, it’s not like any of the ladies with husbands don’t try it too. I just want to see if I can play around.”
“True. Just be careful—your relationships look messy enough as it is.”
“……”
Apparently, everyone loved gossip.
Ara turned and went down the opposite staircase, thankfully undetected.
“…The fruit has arrived…”
“Make sure the bowls are large enough…”
The distant murmur of servants preparing for dinner floated toward her.
Following the corridor, she came upon a large glass door. Entranced, she pushed it open.
It’s the greenhouse.
Before her stretched a grand, beautiful glass greenhouse, its dome narrowing as it rose. With the sun high in the sky, the light dazzled.
The first thing she noticed was a wide waterway running through the center.
Around the artificial banks, small flowers grew near the entrance, while larger trees and shrubs were planted further in.
Ah, this must be the spot where the junior suitor confesses.
In GMDE, the greenhouse served as the location where the secondary male lead confessed his feelings to Lumie.
Seeing the imagined place in real life made Ara slightly excited.
I remember there’s a more secluded spot further in where no one can see from outside…
She moved deeper inside.
As she reached a blind spot invisible from the entrance, she sensed a presence.
…Huh?
A man and woman were there, pressed closely together—the unmistakable scene of a secret meeting.
Oh no, I’ve become a trespasser. I should move out of the way.
Ara, still unaccustomed to feeling at home in the mansion, didn’t scold herself for intruding.
As she shifted awkwardly, she overheard a flustered voice.
“…This is rather troublesome, madam.”
“I doubt the junior marquis has much choice. If you refuse me, things will only get more troublesome, won’t they?”
Ara’s eyes widened.
The conversation was far too blatant to be between a mutually interested couple.
Looking again, she realized the closeness was one-sided—the woman had pressed herself against the man, who leaned stiffly against the wall.
“I hear the venture you just returned from caused quite a loss. I also heard that the Peonia shipment was seized at customs.”
“That is true, but…”
“You know my husband has connections with customs. How about it? I think I could help your husband, the junior marquis…”
At that moment, the noblewoman’s fingers began to ruffle the edge of his shirt.
What on earth is happening here?
Should she retreat? Ara was confused, frozen in indecision.
Then she noticed the man.
A couple of buttons undone on his shirt, the cravat loosely draped around his neck. Even from a distance, his features were sharp and his skin pale.
The jawline connecting to his neck was perfectly symmetrical, evoking a deer’s elegance.
As she admired him, Ara finally noticed something odd.
…Wait, that hair color.
Light green hair.
An unnaturally bright color for human hair.
Comments from the original novel flashed through her mind:
-
Green hair, loyal only to the heroine—childhood friend type.
-
Nationwide sub-male-lead association supports Colin.
That’s him! The sub male lead, Colin!
The flustered man was the same sub male lead who confessed to Lumie in this greenhouse.
Realizing this, Ara screamed internally.
Why didn’t I recognize him right away? No wonder he looked so handsome!
Normally, his hair would have been the first thing she noticed, but it blended with the surrounding plants.
Colin Oliver.
A childhood friend who grew up with Lumie.
Hobbies: napping. A bit lazy about life…
After gaining independence under Karl, he succeeded in every business venture, eventually becoming one of the empire’s wealthiest.
So the servants were talking about Colin!
Though born a commoner, he had risen to junior marquis.
However, Ara’s death had allowed Lumie to become the Edmon heiress, widening the gap between them.
Colin was popular among women but remained faithfully by Lumie’s side—a tragic sub male lead.
What should I do…?
If that’s Colin, just passing by would still feel wrong.
Being a quiet, compliant type, he might follow instructions if pressured with status or money.
Ara hid behind a tree, contemplating.
“…!”
Suddenly, Colin’s brown eyes met Ara’s golden ones.
