"Milady, where do you think you're going again?"
"Oh! Melly! Well, I was just captivated by the market yesterday. That's why I'm going outside and into the bakery again!"
'What? Is Milady had been sane all along? Yesterday was never a good day to begin with. Especially with that knight that the duke had and given that the lady was acting weird. The moment that we arrived home yesterday was the moment that she hurriedly went to her room. She stayed there for hours until she took her shower and dinner with the duke and duchess'
Melly wanted to rebut the lady however, she couldn't. She felt like her voice was stuck inside her throat. However, her expression says it all. Her mouth was opened widely while her eyebrows were raising seeking for an answer with the lady that was changing her clothes in front of her
She could only look at the lady and what Victoria was doing in front of them.
Well who couldn't be shock what the maid was seeing in front of her, Victoria was only preparing now. She hasn't even taken a bath, however, she's already prepared to go inside the market. It's truly an early morning inside the Chutlier household, the breeze was cold however refreshing. Yet the moment that Melly went inside Victoria's room, she was greatly surprised
"Alright, Milady. I understand that you wanted to go ahead inside the market. However, you haven't yet taken your bath!"
"Oh! That can wait Mell----"
Victoria wasn't able to finish what she was saying when Melly immediately grab her hand gently and pulled the lady towards her
"Oh no young lady, we'll be taking your bath right now whether you like it or not!"
"Melly! I ---- no it's cold!"
"No Milady, the water will be lukewarm"
"Ugh! How can I ever get away with you?"
"Only when you're doing what a lady should do"
"…"
Then that made Victoria shut her mouth as she looked seriously towards Melly who was smiling like she won the battle.
'Alright, at least for now I've found that Melly truly cares for the new Victoria which is me'
"Alright, I give up"
***
"Now wouldn't it be a fresh start for you to start the morning after taking a bath?"
"Well, it's now a great refreshing start though"
'However, when I'm in my previous life, I'll only take a bath at night though. The atmosphere at my previous life was so cold that it always snow or rain. Besides, Melly had the same attitude as my mother in my previous life…. Oh that know-it-all strict mother ---- I miss her already'
Upon thinking those thought, Victoria suddenly felt sad. She missed her home --- not like this but her original home. She didn't know it yet but every minute that passed when she's inside the novel was every minute she felt like she's losing her mind. She just can't admit it yet. However, those expressions that Victoria portrays never escaped Melly's eyes. Now the maid's previous serious expressions had now softened. She's now caressing Victoria's back.
"I guess Milady, you truly have changed so much since that day"
"Melly, how many times do I have to hear those words from you? But I'm glad to know that you're opening with me now"
"It's what friends do, right Milady?"
'I'm glad that she's now back to being jolly. The moment that I saw her sad expression, I was worried for her. it made me worry to the way that I can't understand what she's thinking. That's why I'm glad to bring out again to her about the change. It's the only thing for me to consider her as not only my lady but also my friend from the day she said those words that made me change my mind about her attitude'
"Then, for the time being let's now go ahead towards the market"
"Wait, Milady. Didn't your father specifically say that Sir Howald will always guard you whenever you're going outside the household?"
That stopped Victoria from her tracks. Then immediately as if she was teasing Melly, her face turned smirking towards her way
'I don't know what Milady was thinking but the look in her face says something else'
"Melly, Melly, Melly, are you truly going to ignore him or not? The moment that we dine inside the bakery yesterday, was the moment that he was so gentleman to us ---- no specifically for you, Melly. Don't you remember how you two wanted the same thing and the same bread as well as the same drinks?"
Upon saying those words, Melly's face turned red. Now she's averting her gaze towards Victoria while looking at somewhere else
'Now I know that Melly had something on her sleeves. Her expressions told her everything I needed to know. As I thought she's slowly developing something to Sir Howald or am I in the wrong side of the story? As far as I'm concern, Melly, the personal maid of the original Victoria inside the novel entered the Chutlier household to repay some debts that the household had done to her. However, it wasn't too clearly said in the novel what it was. So in her stead, she wasn't even looking for love in the novel. Even though the original Victoria was bullying her, she still managed to save her one night of an attempted assassination resulting for her to die in Victoria's stead. That's the one thing I needed to avoid. Now, I'm say for such attempted assassination because I pretended to not know anything that horrifying night'
"Let's just go ahead Milady if you're going towards the market"
"Oh! Let's not forget Sir Howald, Melly"
'Not again, Milady'
***
"Milady, it's always a pleasure to go to the market with you two"
"I'm very much grateful Sir Howald, but if you would, please do pertain more importance with Melly too. You know I can't lose her, right"
"…"
For a moment the two people's face blushed as they looked at the other side. Victoria seeing them like that made her giggle more.
"Sir Howald, Melly?"
Then as if the two were startled, their gaze went back towards the lady that was giggling and smiling at both of them happily. It only made their heart beat normal again after they thought that the lady were matchmaking the two of them.
"Y-Yes Milady"
"Alright then I guess it's settled! Now let's go to the Berry Bakeshop again!"
Yet, the two only sighed. However, Howald couldn't deny the truth. Ever since he saw Melly the first time, he knew that she was different from among the ladies. She was stern for her beliefs. She never gets angry easily however, she always values virtues and patience. She's the type of woman that made him salute her for the first time in her life. Now, Howald was peeking --- taking a bit of glance towards Melly and he only saw a genuine smile towards the Lady that was now starting to walk ahead of them.
Upon looking at Melly that way, Howald unconsciously move his other hand to his chest. It's where the part of his heart lies. He doesn't even know it yet, however his heart was like racing out of his body. His mouth was widely opened slowly breathing the air that Melly was also breathing. His green eyes went wide while thinking of possible ways to get out of his emotions
"What are we waiting for? Milady had already gone to the bakery, Geez"
Then with that, Melly unconsciously grabbed Howald's free hand as they went ahead behind of the lady. It's because Melly was so focused on the lady that she didn't mind holding Howald's hand and walked behind Victoria.
"Then here it is!"
"Milady, you're truly are into this bakery"
"Yes, Melly it's because I had found something special inside"
'Special, oh I guess it's about the bread that she's talking about'
"Uhm, M-Melly?"
After hearing a deep voice behind the maid, she only saw a handsome man that was looking shyly towards her. she never knew about it however, when the man immediately averted his shy look from her to her hands, that's the time Melly lets go. It's like she had gotten burnt from the touch of their skin. Yet, she can't deny the reality that her cheeks were flushing red right now.
Victoria, on the other hand, looked back at the two only to looked that their previous expressions were the same while ago. They averted each other's gazes as they looked at the other side, blushing hard
'As I thought, Melly and Sir Howald needed time together with. As for Melly, I know her priority is to care for me because that was what she was taught to. However, certain things in life must be enjoyed. That's why I needed these two to be closer than ever. Besides, at first glance I already knew that Sir Howald had some feelings towards Melly. I don't know the exact reason where he met her because it wasn't detailed enough in the original story. All I know is that Sir Howald never married, as he was a loyal subject to my father until they were massacred that night. it's such a pity for these two that's why I'll start to change the original plot for these two. I'll make these two happy with my life being happy too'
"Alright, let's now go inside again, Sir Howald, Melly!"
"Y-Yes, M-Milady"
'I guess them saying the same words at the same time will never be a surprise for me now'
Then giggles only left Victoria's mouth after saying those
***
"Alright, now go and do your part-time job again this time. I know that you're always doing your job very punctual, Ger"
"Yes, Terius"
After saying those words, before he headed towards the market and outside of the narrow alley that they've been. He immediately looked towards the four brothers that he had treated. There, they were all sleeping because of their nighttime activities.
'I'll be sure to find something useful for you four. I'll be arranging your escape from this hell sooner or later'
Then with that he went ahead towards the bakery where he was scheduled to do his part-time job
"Good morning Sir Willy"
Ger said towards the owner of the bakery. However, as the usual, the owner of the bakery named Willy only smiled towards the young handsome man
"You sure are always lucky boy"
'Huh, he kept saying that every time that I enter to do my part-time job however, I don't understand why. What's lucky with being thrown to the street at night while a baby? What's lucky about doing such dirty duties early in the morning before going to this part-time job? It's only a miracle that Terius – that disgusting old man had cared and let us grow to do the dirty work he should have been doing'
"Now go in---"
Willy didn't even finished what he was about to say when the door opened with a corresponding ring of the bell
"Good morning again!"