- Elisabeth’s perspective after moving into the inn -

By now, I had eased into my new routine. With all these unexpected changes in my schedule and setting, if I cannot adapt quickly, it will be the death of me. Despite the adjustments in location, my coachman, the lean man with the vibrant red hair, would pick us up early in the morning like he always did. Every single time, he would wait patiently at the back of the inn and radiate a gentle smile towards Teresa whenever she emerged from the rear door. He was stubbornly ignoring me.

I have become accustomed to being overlooked simply because of my previous reputation. Eventually, the coachman came around to greet me, only with apathy. The minor effort made me feel a little bit better about myself. Or, about the chances of me redeeming the name of Elisabeth Madeline Carabell.

The impressions people have of me are changing. I’m finally making progress!

With every measly shift in attitude towards me, I would sit before the mirror and point at the noble girl before me. “People will learn to love you.” The action did disturb Teresa, who narrowed her eyes whenever I stared at my reflection and recited these words. In response, I asked her, “Don’t you think people are warming up to me?” Her silence gave me a clear answer. In the end, I would sigh and admit that it was a gradual process.

Lately, the maid had chosen to leave her straight hair down and pin back her bangs to the sides of her face. The style enhanced the refined appearance she already had. Teresa is doing quite well in maintaining her sophisticated quality. Her light freckles and pinned back hair resulted in a youthful look.

To avoid attracting any attention, my maid and I would wear casual clothing. Then, upon our arrival at the academy, Teresa would help me change into whatever elegant arrangement of a hand-sewn dress and jewelry she had prepared the day before. The slippers were usually a modest white.

Thankfully, my attire has begun to suit my personal preferences in style. I always loved some frills and lace, but moderately worn and paired with jewelry that complimented the rest of the ensemble. The hairstyle trend I’ve been having is my long and curly hair loose, and some strands of the raven crop around the front of my face clipped at the back with various ornaments. At least, when I see myself, I don’t look like I’m going to some lavish ball.

Besides that, I believe Teresa has a not-so-secret admirer. With each passing day, I observed how our coachman treated her kindly and delicately. He held out his hand to let the maid place each heel in the carriage, although entirely casting me aside. I wasn’t exactly upset with this development, I could freely witness a blooming love that Teresa was sadly refusing to accept.

The coachman brought her a rose one morning, and I giggled at how abashed she was. A warm pink tickled at the apples of her cheeks. As soon as she received the gift, she curtsied towards him and shoved it in my hands.

“Isn’t it beautiful, my lady?” she sputtered, trying to keep her back towards the shameless coachman. I awkwardly held the flower. Then, she repeated the question, desperately wishing for me to say something.

Instead, I ripped the thorns off and wedged the stem of the bloom into her hair. “Beautiful. Isn’t it, Mr. Coachman?” He covered his face, only feeling embarrassed after I directly asked him.

“Beautiful,” he echoed, heaving himself onto the driver’s seat. Teresa cleared her throat, and once we both entered the carriage, she shrunk into a ball. When the horses started, she jerked forward, and I rushed to catch her.

As soon as she settled herself and fixed her plain dress, she bunched up her fists on her thighs. “My Lady, why did you do that?” Teresa demanded in a hushed voice. She kept the scarlet rose in her hair, which I couldn’t help but continue to peep at teasingly.

“I thought it looked good,” I replied at last. Without another word, Teresa patted her face and gazed away from me. I cheekily grinned at her.

My diligent servant had advised me that she would keep tabs on what went on in the Carabell Estate. As soon as there were signs that Allen had any intention of leaving, we would return. And so far, he wasn’t going anywhere. We had no idea what we were going to do besides remain where we were. I knew one of the people she kept in contact with was Emma. However, I recalled how close Teresa was with Duchess Carabell. I assume that they are also maintaining contact. Meaning, the messages regarding staying away could have also come from her.

“Are you sure we can’t just come home?” I questioned her one morning while we were preparing for the day’s classes. She shook her head. Teresa and I were in my room, and it was approximately 6 a.m. The sun was only beginning to rise, so our area remained dimly lit by a few candles. I stretched my arms out, waving them in the air while I threw out a yawn. “Is there really nothing else we can do?”

Teresa finished fixing up my hair into a clean bun. She took a step back and said, “I received a message from Emma. The duke and the duchess have refused to let you come back. Emma wasn’t told when you would be able to return. As for our other options, the additional estate that the Carabells own in the capital is a bit far from the academy. Currently, it’s being transformed to house the Finnigans.”

“What? The Finnigans? We’re giving them an entire estate?” I blurted out.

My maid faced her back toward me as she stored away all the hair styling tools into a drawer. “Yes. Duchess Carabell gifted the estate to them. Even relatives of the Carabells cannot be living like commoners. Not only that, but she loves her younger brother quite a bit.”

“I see,” I mumbled, rising from my seat at the vanity to grab some of my books. “So we can’t go to that estate then. Is there no other place we can go?”

“Not to my knowledge, my lady. Your other relatives refuse to keep in contact with you. The duke and the duchess may know where they are, but I don’t believe they’re in Whitensen,” she answered.

“They aren’t? Why aren’t they?”

Teresa rubbed her temples. “I’m afraid I don’t have an answer to your questions. We must hurry to the academy. You need to have a clean attendance record if we’re going to have you graduate.”

I rushed to arrange the books into my bag, which I strung over my shoulder. Teresa snatched a few items from the table, and we scurried out the room, my maid locking the door before tagging along with me.

Just before I left, I heard a man call from behind me. “Eli! Have a good day at school!” The innkeeper’s son waved us off. I flashed a smile, gave him a nod, and returned the wave. This, I did simultaneous while backing out of the inn.

“Yes, thank you!” I responded.

The innkeeper’s son was a kind gentleman that would often greet me in the morning before I left for my classes. He had brown hair and eyes and was moderately tall. After some time, I became accustomed to referring to him as Eddie, his full first name was Edison. He had a warm smile that made starting my day feel less burdening. It was something to look forward to upon waking up.

Eddie’s family had recently moved in from Lotte, where their family had stayed for generations. This could explain why they easily let us stay in their inn without any prejudice. Had they known how terrible a reputation I have, they would never have allowed us to occupy a single room nor take a step within their property.

For once, I saw a genuine smile from someone who didn’t personally know Elisabeth. Perhaps, that’s the main reason why. If I had just moved to another kingdom, where no one knew me, I’m sure my circumstances would be much different. To start anew, with a clean reputation among the people that you surround yourself with, what a glorious dream.

One method I used to waste away the idle time I had after I finished the school work for the day was assisting Eddie in running his tavern. It was my way of paying his father back for generously letting us stay. He owned the one down the road and to the left of the fork from his father’s inn. Starting independent businesses actually runs in the family.

I would follow behind Eddie as we walked by some bakeries and small shops. Teresa initially disapproved of my employment, but the moment Eddie suggested she could work alongside me, her mood immediately shifted positively. We blended in with our surroundings, wearing garments any usual citizen of Whitensen would wear.

During the day, there was rarely any activity. When the evening struck, it was bustling with townsfolk. The noisy and merry atmosphere was a unique change from the stuffy silence of the academy. Here and there, people shouted, cheered, and laughed. It was more than voluntary labor, it was entertaining.

“Eli, can you clear that table? I’ll handle the counters for now,” Eddie told me with a wink. He rolled up his sleeves and opened up some fresh bottles of booze.

“Yep! On that,” I replied, trotting over to the table and sweeping the empty jugs onto my tray.

Eddie poured the amber juice into a customer’s glass. As soon as it was partially filled, the alcoholic man clutched it within one hand and chugged down the burning liquid. “Eheheheh, that’s the good stuff!”

I enjoyed the freedom of some trousers and a plain shirt. I wasn’t really in any sort of disguise, but in humble attire, people surely treated me better. I assume it’s because Elisabeth never dressed like this, and Eddie only ever refers to me as “Eli.” I’ve grown attached to the little nickname. Again, Teresa shot me looks of displeasure.

“My Lady, you should not allow him to refer to someone of your noble status that way. He is not your husband. He is not a relative either,” she reminded me.

I trotted over to the kitchen area, my maid following behind me. “Yeah, of course, I know that. However, if people knew who I was, it could hurt Eddie’s reputation. I can’t be selfish and want people to address me so formally. If anything, it’s a disservice to him and me. I like being able to work.”

The last sentence made Teresa stand there with the most irked expression. Then, she sighed and left me alone so she could wipe down a recently vacated counter.

“I have a few more jugs for you, Jule,” I handed Eddie’s dishwasher a couple more to add to her load. The motion made her groan, and her shoulders sink.

“Ugh. Can you believe Ed is making me work overtime?” she asked me, putting her rubber-gloved hands on her hips.

I chuckled, wiping my hands upon a nearby towel. Alcohol is frustratingly sticky, so I stuffed my hands in the sink Jule was cleaning the jugs in. I let the water run over my hands before wiping them off again. “Don’t worry about it. You can go home. I’ll help with the cleaning.”

“Haha! Are you kidding me? I gotta pay my bills.”

We both giggled and exchanged some words before I heard someone shout, “General! Is that you?!” The voice resembled Eddie, except he was more excited, which made him sound a pitch higher than usual.

General? There is a general at our tavern?

The curiosity nagged at me, begging me to go and see who this “general” person could be. Jule and I darted out the backroom of the tavern and spotted a lady with burgundy bob hair and intense dark eyes.

“Karolina?” Teresa and I called out.

Jule rushed over to who I knew as the usually uptight maid, and exclaimed, “General Blake!” Eddie also followed along, jumping onto the woman. By now, they had attracted the attention of a few tavern customers.

“You two…” she mumbled, easily tearing them off of her. As soon as she relaxed, she laid her eyes upon me, and they widened. “My Lady?”