The maid widened her eyes when Ann looked at her and silently ordered her to stop asking. The maid realized she had crossed the line and quickly shut her mouth. Then an awkward silence fell. Rubica was weak to such moments. She was very good at listening to other’s complains. She could gravely nod and agree even when the other person was bluffing. However, she wasn’t good at lighting up the mood. For her entire life, she had been someone who listened to someone else’s story, not someone who led the story herself. But now, she had to play that role.

“Oh, right.”

She clapped her hands to change the topic. It was a very unnatural action, but it brightened up the people around her in an instant.

“Ann, you said I needed a lady-in-waiting, right?”

Her voice was a little higher as she was nervous. She had planned to talk about it when she was alone with Ann, but she had nothing else to talk about. Moreover, it looked like it wouldn’t be that bad to talk about it now.

“Yes, madam. I’ve discussed the matter with your husband.”

Ann hesitated, wondering if she should talk about all those recommendation letters she had received but not passed on to Rubica.

“I’d like to have Miss Elise Roan de Solana as my lady-in-waiting.”

However, Rubica had already made up her mind. Ann froze for a second to hear that as she didn’t see it coming.

“Oh, it’s…”

She said that only to get some time to think. If it had been anything else, she would have respected Rubica’s will and agreed with her. However, choosing a new lady-in-waiting was different. Hire the right girl and she would become Rubica’s loyal right-hand woman, but choosing the wrong girl could ruin her future.

Ann made many calculations in that short moment and soon reached a conclusion similar to Edgar’s.

‘Although Ms. Solana still has a lot to learn, she is the best option we have.’

Soon, Ann made that cute and warm smile that Rubica liked. The smile that made her grey hair glow warmly.

“Thank you.”

Rubica was surprised to hear Ann say that. She wasn’t saying Elise was the right choice or the right girl. Instead…

“You must have made that decision because you cared about Ms. Solana and her poor family.”

“That’s…”

That was not what it was about. Rubica just wanted to keep her fairy next to her. She wanted to make her stay with her and find every part of her beauty that hadn’t bloomed yet. Hiring her was the only way to get what she wanted, and that hadn’t even been Rubica’s idea. It had been Edgar’s. Actually, she hadn’t given much thought to Elise’s future.

“That’s not it. I just…”

Rubica opened her mouth to explain but then closed it again. Even the other maids were looking at her with awe. It looked like they had been enchanted by the magic of the ‘generous’ duchess again.

Rubica couldn’t bring herself to say to those twinkling eyes that she had made that decision only because she wanted to make Elise pretty. Even if she had said that, there was no way these people would believe her. They would only think it means she cared about Elise and was going to take care of her carefully.

“I just need a lady-in-waiting. That’s all.”

“Yes, of course.”

Rubica gave up on explaining and spoke with a sigh, but Ann smiled as if she could understand it all. The maids were also smiling happily now.

It felt so wrong. Rubica had worked hard to get a bad reputation, but she had only become a kind, wise, and generous duchess. Moreover, this moment was about to add the adjective ‘humble’ as well.

The duchess who was kind, wise, generous and even humble.

‘How am I supposed to get a bad reputation!?’

Rubica trembled in fury at all those nice adjectives she was getting contrary to her will. Actually, what she was doing was diligently obeying what her desire said, but nobody else thought so. Rubica just looked way too calm and reserved to think so. That was also the reason why nobody had realized she loved beautiful faces until she became an old lady.

***

Rubica headed to the east annex as soon as she finished taking the walk. It was under renovation after her last visit. Things like cracks on the walls and leaking pipes took a long time to be repaired, but the duvets had already been replaced with new ones. Everyone brightened up at seeing her and seemed to want to thank her.

However, Rubica had come for a reason. She went past them fast and stormed to the third floor.

“Ms. Solana, the duchess wants to see you.”

Elise, who had been resting, opened the door in surprise. Rubica quickly looked around the small room and sat down on a chair. The room was better than the small attic where she had lived at the Berner Mansion, but she wanted to give Elise an even better life.

“Ms. Solana, I’ve come today to make you an offer.”

Elise momentarily showed fear and kept grasping the skirt of her dress.

“… have I done something wrong?”

Her crouched shoulders showed she was worried Rubica might have come to ask her to leave the mansion. Rubica decided she had just been wrong. The girl wasn’t in a better environment. She might have eaten and worn better things but, judging from her fearful attitude, she must have been scolded no matter what she did. Her life could have been as miserable as Rubica’s, or even worse.

“No, Ms. Solana. You have done nothing wrong.”

Rubica spoke kindly, but Elise still looked worried. She was sure that she had nothing but miseries in front of her. What had offended the new duchess? She was so nervous that she couldn’t sit down even when Rubica asked her to. Therefore, Rubica had no choice but to tell her why she had come first.

“I want you to be my lady-in-waiting.”

At that moment, Elise doubted her ears.

“… me.”

She couldn’t believe it as she had only encountered misfortunes ever since she became a teenager.

“Yes, you.”

“… Your Grace, you must know it as you have seen it, but I cannot even curtsy properly. The way I walk, the way I open the door, it’s all wrong.”

“That’s because Mrs. Shaynie has taught you wrong. I apologize for that.”

“Apologize? Oh, please don’t say that.”

Her heart pounded. Was something good really about to happen to her? Wasn’t it a mistake? Was the duchess really trying to get her as her lady-in-waiting?

If Rubica cancels her offer saying she had come to the wrong girl after she was sure, she was going to be hurt beyond repair. Meeting misfortune was okay. She was used to it. However, she would be thrown to an endless pit of despair if she found out that hope and joy had been a mistake.

“I, I don’t have a large voice. I’m not good at embroidering like Catherine and I’m not good at writing like Cloe. I cannot write beautifully.”

She had to check first. It was better to find out there wasn’t any fortune coming to her than believing it and being disappointed afterward.

Rubica looked at the girl. She was trembling and speaking as if she wanted Rubica to change her mind. Did she not want to be her lady-in-waiting? Rubica thought it was possible. Even though she had become the duchess now, she was still from a baronet’s family. Although her fairy didn’t seem to be that kind of person, any arrogant noblewoman would snort when offered to become her lady-in-waiting.

“You don’t want to become my lady-in-waiting?”

“No, no. How could I dare to think so? But, but… I’m just too clumsy, and…”

Elise’s eyes moved aimlessly, and her hand holding her skirt trembled hard. Rubica pitied her.

‘… I was like that in the past.’

She recalled the time when she had given up every joy in life. Maybe she had been able to endure that ruthless war only because she had been in grief. She was neither surprised nor thought it was unfair when something bad happened to her. She then carefully took Elise’s hand.

“But I like you.”

It made the girl abruptly look up. Even though Rubica had said something nice, she looked so shocked.

“But, but… I’m not pretty, and…”

No. You are pretty. You really are. You are one of the prettiest people I’ve met so far. Rubica barely managed to not shout so. The girl would only deny that. Now wasn’t the time to be honest. It was time to say something Elise could believe.

“But you’re the best at ancient language.”

“… yes.”

She didn’t deny it this time. She was good at ancient language. Before she could say that wasn’t something a lady-in-waiting should excel at, Rubica spoke quickly.

“There’s a book I want to read, but I don’t know much about the ancient language. I want your help with it and don’t worry too much about your manners. You can learn as you work.”

“But…”

“Ms. Solana, I need a lady-in-waiting, not a manners teacher. You may speak honestly if you don’t want the job.”

Elise finally realized what was happening. It wasn’t a mistake. It was surprising, but it was real. Duchess Claymore wanted Elise Solana as her lady-in-waiting.

Her eyes shook hard. Rubica feared she might refuse saying she wasn’t sure she could do it, so she quickly started to explain the terms of hire.