# 35
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'Ah. …This case, I said, was strangely familiar.”
I remember the first time my master took me to the guild.
Terenceum's colleagues were wary and curious about me who had suddenly appeared.
Everything that happened after that was embarrassing and upsetting to me.
'It will be the same this time too.'
If you attract people's attention for no reason, whether it's favor or hostility, unpleasant things are bound to happen.
'So, in order to live freely from now on, I must not reveal all my abilities.'
During my stay at the palace, I thought I would show enough intelligence to be next to Diana.
The Duchess said to the butler.
“I sent a message before I came to the capital. This child is Leia. Since she was Diana’s favorite child, she said it would be a good idea to prepare her in the next room. ….”
“Madam, this is impossible in principle.”
“. … Yes?"
“How can a maid stay in the main house, especially in the room next to the lady? I have prepared a room for you in the maids’ quarters, so you can stay there.”
“But Diana will continue to search for her. ….”
“Then why don’t you put a chair in the hall and let her look at it even during the night.”
The Duchess, who had looked embarrassed from the moment she interrupted the maid, quickly hardened her face.
It was an angry face that I had not seen in a long time since the incident with Master Valery.
When the atmosphere calmed down in an instant, the people watching felt embarrassed.
At the same time, looks of hidden dissatisfaction rain down on me.
Maybe it was because I was dissatisfied, because I created this situation from the first day of welcoming the princess's maid.
'It's a completely different feeling than when I stayed in the duchy.'
I was a little embarrassed, but I understood.
Before coming to the capital, the Duchess told me about Diana's disappearance beforehand and that the only people who knew the reason for my presence were the butler and the maid.
If the story of Diana's disappearance spread in the capital, it would quickly spread throughout the empire.
All kinds of rumors and speculation were created that might tarnish Diana's reputation in the future.
I also had no complaints at all because Diana's honor was important and my method of accession to the dukedom was not important.
I wasn't happy that Jack and I were treated like victims rescued from a poor orphanage.
In fact, in the past, it was known that Jack was brought in by the Duke, who happened to recognize his talent.
But even though I didn't expect a friendly response, I didn't expect him to show this kind of attitude.
I don't really want to compare, but it seems pretty harsh compared to the castle users.
The Duchess also seems uncomfortable with this atmosphere.
That was the moment when she was about to open her mouth with a stiff expression on her face.
“Ma’am, it’s okay.”
I quickly caught the Duchess.
The Duchess's eyes widened as if she never thought I would go out like this.
But in fact, if you think about it carefully, you will find that the situation so far is strange.
“I thought it was difficult to stay in the guest room at the Duke’s castle, especially in the room next to Diana’s room.”
The Duke's main residence is where only the Duke's direct descendants reside.
I knew that not only the guarantees, but also the special guests were staying in the annex instead of the main building.
'Of course, the maid's behavior towards the Duchess is annoying.'
If the Duchess is stubborn here, things will eventually turn out in the long run.
In the first place, it was strange for me, as a maid, to remain in the room next to Diana.
Plus, they were already whispering about me, so there was no need to get into trouble.
Since I was in the capital, I had to be careful about my every move.
“Please,” I whispered as I held the Duchess by the sleeve.
When she asked again, the Duchess sighed as if there was nothing she could do.
“In this matter, we will do whatever the maid wants.”
The maid bowed her head and the situation ended.
I followed the maid appointed by the head maid and unloaded my bags into my newly prepared room.
It was small and rickety compared to the room she stayed in at the duke's castle, but it was enough for a young maid to stay in.
Even the bed I was so interested in didn't make any squeaking noises.
I also stayed in places like Tesar Orphanage, which was heaven.
I smiled and looked at the duke's garden through the small window in my room.
My smile faded a little when I saw the pouring rain and misty fog.
I had an ominous feeling that life in the capital was not going to be easy.
* * *
Time passed quickly, and it had been a week since I arrived in the capital.
It was difficult to see the Duke's face as he was traveling to and from the Imperial Palace in his capacity as Minister of Military Affairs, and the same was true for the Duchess.
As news of her arrival in the capital spread, invitations came in from prominent women in the social world.
No matter what is said about her origins behind her back, she is the Duchess of Elad in name and in reality, so she cannot be ignored.
'In addition, she has two other children, including a great heir.'
Her position was stronger than anyone else's.
However, after not engaging in any social activities yet, he suddenly started attending tea parties and gatherings, and at the same time was responsible for taking care of the Duke's household, which made him appear nervous.
Fortunately, contrary to what I feared, the head maid was helping the Duchess financially and spiritually.
In fact, the Duchess praised the head maid several times, saying she couldn't do it alone.
In my eyes, I could see that the head maid was not only handling the task perfectly, but was also doing her best for Allen and Diana.
While the Duchess was coping well, contrary to my fears, I was the one floating on my own.
“Wait, you're saying she's that girl the princess likes?”
I was in the middle of dusting the window sill of the maid's quarters when I turned my head.
Five or six maids with young faces gathered around me and were looking at me as if they were watching me.
I got down and stood awkwardly.
I know that the person they are referring to is me, but again, it is true. I was embarrassed to answer: “I am the maid who monopolized that princess’s love!”
Of course, it was hard to deny it because he had already received a lot of attention since the day she entered the Capital Palace.
'I didn't know that another problem would arise that evening.'
〈It is also against the law for this child to eat together like this.〉
The head maid spoke sternly, looking at me naturally as I sat next to Diana in the dining room.
I was about to put the salad, which the child didn't like, into Diana's mouth when she stopped and put the fork down.
I thought I was doing a good job taking care of Diana.
However, after listening to the head maid's words, it seemed that the problem was me sitting here.
The Duchess's face hardened again when the head maid said that a lady who was supposed to take the lead in maintaining personnel rules should not behave this way.
“I hate you, lady!” Stop bothering me and go away! 〉
Diana immediately screamed.
The maid, who seemed unaware of the disturbance, was greatly embarrassed by Diana, who was frightened of her but resisted with her whole body.
Allen managed to appease Diana, but the child's attitude was so strong that the Duchess asked her not to interfere in the matter, and the head maid softened her stubbornness as if there was nothing she could do.
So, as per Diana's wish, they ate together as before...
“There is no separate pillow.”
The maids were standing on one wall of the dining room, staring at me.
I am a maid, the same situation. Moreover, for them, I am an orphan who does not know her origin.
It was obvious to think that way.
Unless it was mealtime or playtime with Diana, she stayed at the hotel.
There was no one asking me to work, so several times I was waiting in front of the room waiting for Diana's class, but the Duchess told me there was no need to do that and kept telling me to rest.
However, I am also the Duke's maid, and had recently received a large salary, so I felt guilty for staying still.
So, I walked around the maids every day, asking if there was anything I could do to help them. The maids shook their heads as if wondering what I could do, and then simply told me to go wash the windows.
I immediately climbed onto the window sill and started cleaning.
After seeing that, the maids seemed to think I was quite obedient and came to talk to me.
“Dear, no matter how much the princess likes you, you still need to know your situation.”
“I heard that you are an orphan, so consider it an honor for you to be able to work in the Duke’s household.”
“Yes, do you think it's easy to get a job like this without a letter of recommendation?”
. ...Even though it feels like a fight.
“Yes, I will work hard!”
However, I responded kindly and enthusiastically.
“Well, you seem to understand.”
The maids' expressions showed confusion.
I think everyone thought I was escaping chaos for Diana with the Duchess on my back.
I wasn't surprised because it was a pattern I had encountered many times in the guild.
‘As a servant, it is best to serve your superiors so that they can live comfortably, not cause trouble by changing words for no reason.’
At the same time I was very careful to warn them to the end, just in case I did this from the front and I did this from the back.
It was funny that they would do this to a girl who had just turned nine, but I also understood it a little.
'I think everyone wanted to serve Diana.'
Ever since the precious princess came, how many maids have been looking forward to the prospect of me being responsible for serving her.
There weren't many maids of lower nobility in Elad, so their hopes were higher.
If you become a loyal servant to the princess, the salary is higher than that of ordinary maids, and your body will be more comfortable than cleaning, washing clothes, or doing kitchen work.
‘Moreover, he must have thought that if he got the beauty, there would be a lot of beans falling.’
However, she showed up and took over before he had the chance, so I'm upset.
I was used to being hated anyway.
‘It was like that in my past life, which has already ended.’
So no problem.