Translator: Khan
Editor Group: Liber Reverie
âI get it, Miss. By the way, what are you going to do to make her a maid? I donât think itâs very useful, and Iâm also wondering why you should make such an arrogant kid as a maid. Donât tell me I have to take her out, right? Annie said that because Mielle had to stay next to her.
Aria replied with an unexpected smile to the worried Annie. âDonât worry. Thatâs not going to happen.â
To be exact, it was highly likely that everything would be sorted out before Annie would marry and leave the mansion. Annie cocked her head at Ariaâs vague answer, but she nodded, thinking she might have a deep thought.
âWell, as you said, Iâll be hard on her starting tomorrow! Iâm actually having a little fun. I think this is why the nobles are harassing the maids.â
Aria lightly smiled as Annie looked as if she would do what she didnât ask her to do. She also wondered if Annie, who chose to bully others for fun rather than for a reason, was even worse off.
The proclamation to afflict Miele was not empty talk, and from the next day, Annie harassed Mielle with great severity. No, everything Mielle did as a maid was a pain for her, even if Annie didnât do anything.
Mielle had to wake up early in the morning, eat breakfast in a hurry, and clean the mansion, but be scolded several times by Annie. Of course, she protested her strongly at first, but she was forced to reduce her malice with the secret weapon Annie had prepared.
âMielle, are you stupid or do you want to die? If you want to go back to prison, keep rebelling that way.â
ââ¦!â
âDo you really like that prison? No matter how much the weather is getting warmer, the prison would be cold without a thin blanket. It looks like you canât even eat right there.â
âYou, youâ¦â
It was not even her sick father who had made her surrender, but the prison that had made her suffer, not even her brother, who had turned to give up less than a day later. This was because Mielle spent more of her feelings worrying about her own safety than understanding and sympathizing with the pain that others suffered.
âYou? I told you to call me Miss Annie. Thereâs a class among maids. Besides, Iâm not like the average maid. I am a maid who can stand next to Lady Aria.â
ââ¦â
âYou didnât forget that the maids put âMrs.â on Emma when they called her, right? So please watch your mouth, unless you want to be put back in jail.â
To Annie, who turned around again referring to the prison, Mielle could not rebel at all. Instead, she sneaked into Ariaâs room to escape the public eye.
She believed that Aria would rebuke that presumptuous Annie! She tried to meet Aria several times, but she couldnât. Besides, when she barely met her, she was smiling merrily with Annie next to her.
âWhatâs the matter, Mielle?â
âUh, sisterâ¦â
âIâve come to accuse Annie, but why is Annie next to Aria?â
It was quite natural for her to be Ariaâs maid, but for Mielle, who had barely met Aria, felt as if the sky had collapsed.
âSorry. An important letter has arrived. Can you wait for a moment?â
âYes? Ah, yesâ¦â
Mielle, who was so obedient, stood still at the door, waiting only for the end of Ariaâs business. Not surprisingly, she was not asked to sit down, and Annie, who was talking to Aria, sometimes glared at her, so she couldnât even say sheâd sit down.
âIs this a formal invitation?â
âYes, it was originally planned for winter, but now itâs going on.â
âNow that the empire doesnât have the Duke family, the Marquis of Vincent and Sarah are the highest nobility, so all the nobles will gather, right?â
âItâs very likely.â
âWhat about His Highness the Crown Prince?â asked Annie, her eyes shining. She asked if Aria would attend with a whim to the place where all the nobles of the empire would gather.
Then Aria took out another letter that had been placed under Sarahâs invitation. âHis Highness said he would attend in person.â
âOh, my God⦠then this will be your first party together with His Highness!â
They had met at Sarahâs engagement ceremony, but it was the first time she officially accompanied him to the party. They might get more attention than Sarah, the main character of the wedding. Still, Sarah must have been pleased, not caring.
âThen the time is running out, so youâll have to prepare your dress right away! Should I call in a designer? Something fancy would be better, right?â
Aria shook her head and lifted the letter so that Annie could see it better.
âRead it.â
Annie quickly began to read the letter before her eyes.
âWould you like to come with me to Marquis Vincentâs wedding? Itâs a good opportunity in a long time, and Iâll send you a dress and shoes if you allow me to do.â
âOh, my God. Does it mean His Highness is sending you the dress himself?â
âYes, so donât prepare anything.â
Annie grasped her hands with an ecstatic face as she finished reading the letter.
It seemed that she had already imagined Aria and Asher that would show off their beauty at Sarahâs wedding. It wasnât her own business but Annie reacted with great joy, and Aria smiled briefly and asked Annie if Annie had been so cute.
âWhat about you?â
âYes?â
âAre you not attending with Baron Burboom? I think he also received an invitation.â
Then Annie opened her eyes in a circle and said to Aria in surprise. âI got it, but⦠I thought I should go with you.â
âIf you follow me, Iâm sure Mr. Asher will get angry.â
So when Aria asked her to go with Baron Burboom, a big smile came to Annieâs face.
âCan I really do that?â
âYes. You say it like I never let you go.â
âThank you so much! Miss!â
âIâm not the one to prepare for the dress, but youâre the one to do it.â
â⦠In fact, Baron Burboom said he would send someone.â
âDid you hide it after hearing it?â Aria looked a little dumbfounded.
Annie scratched her on the cheek and avoided Ariaâs eyes.
âItâs⦠itâs tomorrow, and I havenât given him a definite answer yet. May I go out?â
âTomorrow? If I tell you not to go out, Iâd be a bitch. Go out and come back safe.â
âYes, Miss!â
Annie gasped out of the room, and only then Aria beckoned Mielle, who was standing by the door.
âDid you come here because you wanted to say something? You must be having a hard time with your work. Your face has become quite emaciated.â
Then, Mielle slowly approached Aria with her mouth shut and a dark look on her face.
âI came here to complain, but how can I say that to Aria, who had just talked about the sweet time ahead?â
As she thought of herself, she was so humble. She was in the same position as Aria until recently. No, she was much nobler and more graceful than Aria was.
âBut what about now?â She was in a position to clean up the floor that was passed by others, being abused by the maids. âIâm sure Aria doesnât care as much about those trivial things.â Aria, who noticed the will of Mielle, who didnât open her mouth easily, spoke in a soft tone, handing over the tea that had been poured for Annieâs share.
âIf you have a hardship, let me know, Mielle.â
ââ¦â
It was like a friendly word that noticed Mielleâs heart. Mielle slowly opened her mouth and carefully accused Annie of what she had done.
âItâs⦠itâs hard for Annie to be so mean to me, sisterâ¦â
âMy God, I see. Oh, poor girl.â
When Aria didnât listen to Annie, stood on her side, and didnât hide her sad face, Mielle, who gained confidence, confessed what Annie had been harassing her.
âShe even spilled water on the hallway I had already cleaned up. And sometimes she kicked the water that I had brought, and she dusted the windowsill. Even she threatened me that she would send me to prison if I hurt her feelings a little bitâ¦â
â⦠How could she have done such a wicked thingâ¦?â
Aria clasped Mielleâs trembling hand, admiring the traces of Annie, who had indeed harassed her enough.
âNot only that but other maidsâ¦â
âI was told that⦠they were being naughty to a newcomer, but I didnât even know they would do this.â
âSisterâ¦â
âI must have been too idle. Donât worry, Iâll give them a harsh scolding because youâre my sister.â