# 28
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* * *
"Damn it! It's annoying!"
Letizia lost her temper and threw the girl's fan she was holding onto the floor of the carriage.
Leticia's father, Baron Jude, saw this and immediately frowned.
“Leticia, can’t you behave?”
“But this is not the dress I wanted!”
“I heard that someone else has already bought it, what should I do?”
“You should have bought it earlier!”
Baron Jude clicked his tongue at the words he was shouting as he stomped his feet.
I wonder if this expensive dress is worth my family background!
The Baron, who was staring at his little daughter who was so innocent, abandoned his intention to scold her and spoke calmly.
“Then did you know that the door of the Duke’s castle would be opened like this? Since His Excellency does not like banquets, I thought he would go quietly to the capital again this time. If I had known there would be a banquet, I would have bought it immediately.”
But Leticia jumped up and shouted these words.
“Are you saying that I can't buy this dress unless a banquet is being held at the Duke's house? I hate you, father!”
Baron Jude, who was shaking his head and resting his forehead at the sight of his daughter acting more violently, spoke firmly.
“Letizia, don’t say things like that and quickly look elegant, because you should look good for a noble lady, this is an opportunity that will never come again!”
This time, when Count Valery's family and several vassal families that followed him were liquidated, many vacancies were created in the positions of key vassals of the duchy.
If my family, which is not in a very good financial situation, could fill just one of these jobs, we might be able to repay all the hardships we have been through so far.
“Your Highness cherishes his youngest daughter, so if you do a good job, our family will survive, you know what I mean, right?”
“Fun!”
That was when Baron Jude could no longer hold back and was about to lose his temper when he saw Leticia turn her head.
The Baroness quickly opened her mouth to lighten the mood.
“Well, I heard that this incident started with a single word from a young maid whom the young lady was in love with.”
“That's ridiculous, those are all excuses, don't you know that His Highness doesn't approve of Count Valery holding power in the Council of Elders? It's just that they are a family of worthy people and have been in power for a long time, so it wasn't easy to deal with them.”
When Baron Goode clicked his tongue and ignored her, the Baroness smiled bitterly but continued talking.
“But according to rumours, the Princess and Duchess are really interested in an ordinary child. There is also a rumor that she is making a fuss because she discovered a rare herb that was said to exist in legends. She might be a great child. Maybe she can get some care...”
“Haha, how could a child without a proper education have any talent to receive support from the Duke? It’s all just a rumour.”
In the end, Baron Goode twitched his mustache, saying that it was only because the princess was nice.
In fact, Diana's disappearance was cloy controlled within the ducal household to prevent future gossip from being revealed.
The main vassals belonging to the Council of Elders knew all the internal details, including Master Valerian, but the other vassals were not informed of the details except for the disappearance, and they especially made sure that it would not spread to other regions and other nobles.
Therefore, Baron Judd, the lowest vassal, could not have known how Leia was treated in the duchy.
Likewise, Leticia, who didn't know much about Leia, nodded inwardly upon hearing Baron Jude's words.
Recently, in the salons where noble ladies and young misses gathered, the story of the public servant who was picked up by the princess from abroad and made to look beautiful has become a hot topic.
They all saw the reckless little princess shaking her head and saying to them, "You look scary! Let's take a risk!" I remembered what I was doing.
Everyone was wondering how beautiful the little girl must be to attract the attention of such a princess.
From what I heard, she was about the same age as me, but Leticia was so disgusted by the girl that she began to charm a little girl and live comfortably with her.
'This time, I was really trying to capture the young princess's heart.'
In this sense, I was very sad because I lost the dress I had chosen, and that was the time when my father, who did not know how I felt, was sad and upset.
Leticia got out of the carriage after hearing of their arrival and opened her eyes.
The duke's castle, which I visited after a long time, was still magnificent and beautiful.
Leticia, with wide eyes, entered the banquet hall feeling excited.
And I found it.
“This dress!”
This was the dress she had been wanting for months.
It was obvious that this girl had stolen the dress I had chosen to impress the young princess at today's banquet.
Click click.
As she approached the child and gently patted her shoulder with a fan, the disheveled-looking girl turned her head.
The flash of innocent-looking dark brown eyes was a bit cute, but it wasn't very pretty.
Leticia, feeling lucky on the inside, raised her chin proudly and asked.
“What family does the lady belong to?”
* * *
I never imagined that I would be so busy on the day of the Duke's banquet.
I had slept late the night before, thinking about what had happened after I went up to the capital, and was startled by the touch of the maids who came at dawn.
Because Diana was still young, she did not have to prepare like other noble ladies.
I opened my eyes in confusion and was completely distracted by the maids who washed and dressed me.
I am not a clothing store employee, and the Duchess's maids who live with me will not confuse me with Diana.
But why are they treating me this way instead of Diana?
I couldn't tell what was happening, so I tilted my head, but the maids smiled and didn't say anything, even though they seemed to know something.
Until I finally found clothes that were delivered from the clothing store.
'It took some time to make it with the same design as the princess until the day of the banquet.'
When the dressing room designer said this, the Duchess, who had come to see me after I had changed my clothes, smiled and said she would pay me more for my trouble.
These words made me realize that this was all her plan.
At that time, Diana, who was hiding behind the Duchess, was seen, her face protruding and her eyes sparkling.
“Miss, why are you doing this?”
“Noona is so beautiful!”
Diana, who smiled brightly and spoke shyly, suddenly jumped up and hugged me.
She was wearing a pink dress just like mine, with frills and jewelry.
“Oh, now that I think about it, you two are really cute, I would believe it if they said they were sisters.”
The Duchess smiled when she saw us wearing identical dresses, like twins.
To be honest, the other maids didn't seem to think so, but I still felt good.
Of course, I didn't think I was a precious child like Diana just because I wore the same clothes.
I was only happy that the Duchess treated me so kindly.
“I think Diana and I will have to come a little late, but can we go in first and wait patiently?”
"Yes !"
I answered bravely.
When the banquet began, the Duke's immediate family, including the Duke and Duchess Aline and Diana, were to appear together, but they had no intention of joining in unannounced.
But Diana frowned, as if it was difficult for her to accept the fact that she had to be away from me.
Only after calming her down for a while did Diana turn around, holding the Duchess's hand.
After that, she followed the maids into the ballroom.
Since I could not wear a dress like Diana and work with an apron, I awkwardly stuck to the wall and looked around the richly decorated hall.
The space that the Duchess and her butler worked hard to decorate for days was truly beautiful.
“If we go to the capital, this place will not be used for a while.”
Maybe longer.
In her previous life, Diana only lived in the capital after the Duchess's death.
Naturally, the lights in the Duke's ballroom could not have been turned on without the hostess.
But that was the moment I decided I would never do that in this life.
Click click.
I was startled when someone touched my shoulder and I turned my head.
'It's the girl I saw in the clothing store...'
“What family does the lady belong to?”
The girl who yelled at me didn't seem to remember me.
'The tone and way you speak is different too.'
Unlike the time she was yelling, I was struck by the way she asked me like a mature, noble lady.
'Did you call me Miss instead?'
“I...”
That was when I opened my mouth to explain urgently.
“The head of the family and his family enter.”
The door to the ballroom opened loudly.
Everyone received the Duke's family kindly.
I also kept my head down, but slowly raised my head because I wanted to see Diana's dignified appearance.
Diana, her hair flowing gently on either side, proudly entered the Duke's arms.
Since they were vassals, they probably didn't know the Duke's love for his daughter, but I felt that many people were holding their breath in surprise.
I remembered again how surprised I was at the Duke's attitude when I first saw him.
'I'm used to it now, though.'
Duke Elad, who I was vaguely afraid of, was not as scary as I thought.
Of course, he still looks indifferent and sharp, and I know he has a cruel nature behind him, but he doesn't look as scary as before.
It was a sudden change even for me.
then.
I made eye contact with Allen.
At the same time I saw him stop and turn his head.
'It seems that you are still very angry.'
That's when I decided I should apologize today.
"Noona! I miss you!"
Diana, finding me, got out of the Duke's arms and ran straight to me and hugged me.
"Ms . … ?"
Then the girl in front of me muttered with a shocked expression.
Diana didn't even pretend to listen and just rubbed her cheek at me.
Such a cute cat.
“…This doesn’t make sense.”
The girl, whose voice was still trembling, quickly began looking me up and down.
The look was so glaring that I turned my head and saw the girl staring at me inteny.
Even though she was a child, her eyes were so cruel that when I flinched and stiffened, Diana blocked my path.
“Why are you bothering us, you ugly bastard?”