“Miss, how about this hairpin? I think it would match your hair’s color.”

“And I think these gloves would be good.”

“I think these earrings would be perfect for you.”

Once they started, they spoke aloud their opinions. The maids discussed among themselves even when Rubica didn’t ask first.

“I think we should not tie the hair as miss is not married yet.”

“But we don’t have the iron now, so we cannot trim the tip of her hair. I think we should braid it, that would be better.”

“But I think we should cut her front hair just a little…”

They couldn’t reach a conclusion for some time. So, they turned to Rubica and asked her at the same time.

“What should we do, miss?”

“Wouldn’t it be better to braid my hair in two and let them fall on both sides? You know, like this.”

Rubica took the comb from one of the maids and did one braid herself.

“That would be nice.”

The maids started to work on Rubica’s hair without being told to. They kept chatting about which accessories and style matched her better.

Without realizing it, they all started to smile.

Had helping a lady dress up always been this enjoyable?

“You have a good sense of color!”

“I didn’t know this color and this would get along so well.”

The more Rubica complimented, the happier they became. They had never been complimented like that, so they started to feel like as if they were experts.

“You cannot wear just any shoes even though they will be under your dress and not be seen.”

Lastly, one of them brought many pairs of shoes. For a short moment, Rubica wondered when on earth they had prepared that. Claymore Family hadn’t had any lady for a long time. After the late duchess’ death, all the maids went home. Only the housekeeper remained to take care of the household.

‘They’re not ordinary maids.’

However, the maids were all kind, and they had prepared everything with great care. So, Rubica decided not to be worried too much.

“Now, it’s finished.”

After deciding on the shoes, Rubica stood in front of the mirror. In it, there was herself who appeared like a rich man’s daughter since birth. She felt something surging deep in her chest and overflowing. She had always thought of herself as the incarnation of normality, but now, she looked quite pretty, even to herself.

“Thank you, everyone.”

“We just did what you wanted, miss.”

“But you all chose the things for me.”

The maids were also as happy as Rubica. The work they had been doing just because they had been ordered to now felt so different.

They couldn’t believe they had helped the lady, who was going to be their mistress, become so beautiful.

They felt like they were artisans who had just finished a work of art…

Jenny stopped that thought there and smiled.

‘Artisan, what nonsense. I can never be such a thing. I’m just a maid who’s a little good at doing makeups.’

“We will arrive at the mansion soon,” the driver suddenly said.

Everyone had lost track of time while massaging, dressing, and decorating Rubica. They had worked so long, but strangely, they weren’t tired at all. They were rather delighted.

***

The maid escorted Rubica as she carefully came out of the carriage. Claymore Mansion was even bigger than she had expected. It seemed to belong to a king, so she widened her eyes in surprise. What surprised her even more were the servants standing in rows in front of it.

Even the stableman was there, wearing clean new clothes. He had even used pomade on his hair.

“Would you give me the honor to introduce the housekeeper to you?”

Rubica was dumbfounded. She stared at Carl who had just spoken to her, and she suddenly realized something was wrong. The duke’s carriage was nowhere to be seen.

“Where is the duke?”

“His Grace has a meeting with the king this evening, so he had to go. He will return before sunset tomorrow.”

Carl looked sorry, and he had every reason to be sorry for Rubica. Most women would have been angry at arriving at her new home without the husband.

However, Rubica let out a sigh of relief.

Although Edgar was handsome, she couldn’t stand it whenever he spoke. He was that cruel. Now, she didn’t have to worry about getting humiliated in front of the servants, so she just smiled kindly.

“He explained to me how busy he is. It’s alright.”

Although that explanation had been given not out of kindness but to threaten Rubica, he had said he would always be busy. Yesterday, today, and tomorrow. But at the same time, Rubica was a little disappointed at not being able to see Edgar’s beautiful face.

How do his night sky-like hair glow under the shining sun? Her curiosity came up again.

‘I guess I will get to see that often from now on.’

However, she wanted to see that from afar, without having to hear what his arrogant mouth would say.

“I am Ann, the housekeeper.”

Rubica looked at the middle-aged woman who was smiling kindly. She was a little plump. She was wearing a neat maid’s uniform and her maroon hair had been tied neatly. Curiosity and goodwill for Rubica were in her grey eyes.

“Ann, this is Ms. Rubica Berner, the duke’s fiancé.”

“Nice to meet you, Ms. Berner. It is my honor.”

Ann was deeply impressed at seeing Rubica in one of the dresses she had chosen and sent. The lady clearly knew what matched her and what didn’t. Moreover, her hair was in the perfect style for the dress. Ann really wanted to know who had thought up that idea.

Rubica replied kindly to her, “Nice to meet you.”

Ann’s hands moved. She wanted to grab Rubica’s hands, but it would be rude for a maid to do such a thing. As Rubica still had memories of being old, she could immediately realize what she wanted. Then, she took her hands without hesitation.

“You must help me a lot from now.”

Ann smiled happily and kept saying how honored she was. Rubica relaxed for now as she appeared to be nice. Ann was one of the people Rubica had to win over to use the family’s expenses and be extravagant.

Without the housekeeper’s cooperation, she would have no way to buy good things.

“Oh, and this is Rosa. She is in charge of the needlewomen. These girls will serve you in the morning.”

Ann was about to explain about all servants when Carl cleared his throat.

“Oh my! His Grace told me to introduce them properly after the wedding.”

It took less than five minutes for Rubica to realize that Ann was very talkative.

“Well, I am so happy that I am a little out of my mind now. Eddie finally brought a nice lady like you…”

“Ann!”

Carl scolded Ann for using Edgar’s childhood nickname.

“Oh, oh, Ms. Berner, please forgive me.”

“Oh, it’s okay.”

Rubica didn’t even know why Ann was apologizing to her, but she accepted her apology first.

“You are really kind.”

Although Rubica was quite confused, she could feel that she was smiling.

It was so strange. How could there be such kind servants under such a cold duke? Had they developed their kind hearts because they had to comfort each other because of the duke’s cruelty?

“Everyone, please pay attention.”

Ann took a deep breath and started speaking. Her voice was loud enough to ring through the entire mansion.

“Ms. Rubica Berner who arrived today will become Duchess Claymore. As you must know, the duchess is the owner of this household. From now on, Ms. Berner should be your priority in everything.”

It was the first time Rubica was hearing it, but the servants had heard it countless times during the last week. After Ann was done, the maids and servants all bowed to Rubica. They all moved like one person as if they had prepared the move in advance. Rubica was overwhelmed at seeing so many people bow to her.

“We are at your service, Ms. Berner.”

“… thank you.”

Rubica managed to reply, although she was still a bit confused. In spite of the housekeeper’s warning, the servants had quietly prepared to look down on the new duchess after hearing she was from a baronet’s family.

‘She must be so old-fashioned.’

It had been one of the reasons why they had appeared in their best outfits. Although Rubica was from a port city, she was still just a baronetess. The maids and servants had thought they had to be much more sophisticated than her.

After they found out she would be wearing one of the duke’s grandmother’s dresses, they had started to mock Rubica among themselves, wondering how dowdy she would look, even before the carriage arrived.

However, when Rubica emerged from the carriage, they were all lost in words. They all just stared at her.

The yellow dress that had a slight tint of orange matched Rubica’s skin color so well. Under the sunlight, the dress looked like it was made of gold. Although the dress itself was in an old style, when added with embroidery, brooch, necklace, and gloves in the latest fashion, it created the most unexpected sensation.

In addition to that, the unique style of the hair that was neither rolled down nor rolled up but braided down gave an overall balance to all of that.