"Psst! Isn't that …?"
"Ahem! Right! It's that one, isn't it?"
Just as Shirley had suspected.
Wherever she went, people would always gossip about her.
"How shameless, huh?"
"Why did the Marquess bring her here?"
Of course, it had become a necessity.
After all, Shirley was the daughter of an unforgivable criminal.
They would never stop speaking ill of her.
"You're wondering why the Marquess brought her here?"
But wait a minute!
It turns out, no matter where they were ….
"Of course, because as children of criminals sentenced to death, the mute Marquess can feel her suffering! So, he brought her here because he's a little lucky that his title wasn't revoked by the King and the Crown Prince!"
… These damn servants, always speaking ill of their master, huh?
BANG!
At least, one of them.
"Why are you still talking, huh?!"
Is there not a single person truly loyal to their master, who doesn't gossip about them behind their back ….
"Get back to work!"
… And do their best to serve whoever they're commanded to serve?
"Ah~! Please forgive them, Milady. I haven't disciplined them properly."
A strand of pink hair swayed in front of Shirley's face as she sat soaking in the warm bath, lost in thought.
Her red eyes began to scrutinize.
She observed every inch of the young woman who was approaching her, ready to help her clean up.
"My name is Villicia. As Sir Bashilian mentioned earlier, I have been living here with him for a long time, serving the Marquess when he was just a baby."
"…."
The woman, who was ten years older than Shirley, was known to hold the position of Head Maid at the Aschenford estate.
At such a young age, she had already gained a considerable position for someone her age.
"If you feel uncomfortable, please let me know immediately."
Villicia's soft pink eyes, matching the color of her hair, captivated Shirley, causing her to stop daydreaming.
Her demeanor was gentle, her expression warm, and her words kind.
"Um, this … would you mind if I touched your skin?"
Unlike most other servants.
Especially the ones who worked in her previous household.
"S-sure." Shirley awkwardly nodded.
It felt a little embarrassing since she hadn't bathed in a while.
"I'll begin now~!"
Would everything get better?
•••
"How is it? Do you like it?"
From cleaning her up to the makeup, everything was taken care of by Villicia.
"…."
Shirley stared at her reflection in the large mirror in what seemed to be a guest room for an outsider like her.
"The Marquess personally selected these dresses for your arrival."
Although it had only been a week, Shirley was almost unrecognizable because of how different she looked.
"Just so you know, he paid double the amount so the dresses would be delivered immediately, today!"
The dresses were beautiful.
They gave Shirley the confidence she had once lost.
The girl who had once been a homeless, family-less, and master-less beggar on the streets … now felt like she had returned to her former self.
"Why … did the Marquess prepare such beautiful dresses for me?" Shirley asked, looking up at Villicia in disbelief.
"Because you're his special guest?"
"…."
Shirley didn't respond.
She pressed her lips together, then turned her head to gaze straight into the mirror.
A special guest? It didn't seem like that.
Shirley was sure that the Marquess's treatment of her was not because she was a special guest.
It seemed like there were hidden feelings involved?
"Well, you can ask him directly today."
"Today? What do you mean?"
"Eh? Of course, you should meet him. The Marquess is waiting for you in the living room~!"
"W-what?"
•••
"Ahem! Ahem!"
Escar cleared his throat multiple times.
Judging from how he kept pacing back and forth, it was clear that he was extremely nervous right now.
"…."
At times, Escar would pause.
He would glance at his hands and feet, then look at the reflection in the porcelain vase.
Was his appearance alright?
KNOCK! KNOCK!
"…!"
Escar was so startled that he jumped when he heard a knock on the door, followed by an announcement.
"Milord, Lady Shirley is ready to meet you."
It was Villicia's voice.
Then, realizing who Villicia was accompanying and about to bring into the room, Escar became even more flustered.
"Excuse me."
Should he sit on the sofa?
Or stand like this?
Arghh! Escar didn't know!!!
"Lady Shirley, enter!"
SQUEAK!
The door opened.
The creaking sound urged Escar to turn from his awkwardness to focus on a sight.
WHRAA~!
It was a beautiful sight, so much so that time seemed to slow down.
"…!"
Escar stared in shock.
He stood frozen, his cheeks flushed, staring at Shirley as she entered the room with graceful steps.
"Greetings to you, Marquess."
Shirley gave a respectful greeting to Escar.
"May health and happiness always bless you."
She lowered her head, and reflexively lifted the edges of her dress slightly with both hands.
"…."
Escar couldn't say anything.
Not only because he couldn't respond verbally, but also because he was caught in Shirley's natural charm.
"…."
"…!"
Ah! Their eyes met.
Quickly, both Shirley and Escar, feeling awkward, immediately turned their faces away.
"Ahem!"
Rather than prolong the awkwardness, Escar cleared his throat again for the umpteenth time and extended his right hand, signaling for Shirley to take a seat.
"Thank you," Shirley said as she sat in the offered seat.
Escar, the man, chose a seat across from her, grabbed his special book from the table, and began writing.
["Do you feel a little better now?"] Escar asked, his face showing a cautious and sorrowful expression.
Reading the message, Shirley paused for a moment, smiled slightly, then said, "Yes, thanks to you."
["How about the dress? Does it suit your taste?"]
"It's a bit too much. Is it okay if I accept this much help?"
["Of course! You can ask for anything you want!"]
"Really?"
["Yes!"]
"Why?"
"…!"
Escar suddenly stopped moving his brush and stopped writing when he heard that last question.
"Why are you going through so much trouble to help me?"
Seeing Shirley's expression, which had been gentle, warm, and smiling, shift into something more serious, Marquess Aschenford was left speechless.
What should he say?
"Are you helping me out of pity? Or is it because we are in the same position, as children of criminals?"
"…!"
Escar didn't know the right answer to give, but that didn't mean he wanted Shirley to misunderstand.
SHAKE! SHAKE!
So, in the split second after that pointed question, Escar immediately shook his head repeatedly.
He also quickly moved his hand holding the brush to write his explanation.
["Not out of pity, truly!"]
"Then …?"
SCRATCH! SCRATCH!
"It's because—!"
—GRRROOO~!
"…."
"…."
Both Escar, still busy writing his new answer, and Shirley, trying to clarify her question, froze in their respective places.
Ah, so embarrassing!
BLUSH!!!
In the blink of an eye, Shirley's face turned bright red, like a ripe tomato.
That sound came from her stomach!
Her growling stomach demanding to be filled, creating an embarrassing noise that was heard by someone else!!!
SCRATCH! SCRATCH!
Especially by someone who was still a stranger, her savior from the streets, and ….
["Sorry! Did my stomach noise bother you?"]
… A member of the opposite sex! A man! A man!!!
["I'm feeling hungry now."]
"…?"
Wait a second!
["What if we stop this conversation for now, …."]
It was clearly Shirley who made the sound.
["… And go have lunch instead?"]
So why was she trying to lie when it was so obvious?
•••
["Please enjoy."]
"…!"
Shirley's red eyes sparkled as she looked at the luxurious dishes laid out on the dining table.
It had only been a week, but Shirley missed this kind of food so much!
Even though her stomach was growling, Shirley refused to let her pride slip.
She followed the basic etiquette that had been instilled in her since she was little.
That is, letting the host eat first.
"…."
It seemed Escar understood exactly what Shirley was thinking without needing to ask any further.
With a smile on his blushing face, Escar picked up his soup spoon and began eating his portion with a happy heart.
It was only then that Shirley's smile widened, and she quickly joined in to eat her own meal with joy.
"…."
While enjoying the food, every once in a while, Escar stole glances.
He was thoroughly enjoying watching Shirley, who at times almost forgot the table manners, eating hurriedly while continuously smiling.
"It's nice to see her happy," Escar thought.
Without realizing it, Shirley had already finished her appetizer.
While Escar had only taken one or two bites.
"…."
Noticing that Shirley's focus was entirely on the main dish, which was fish, Escar smiled again.
He pushed aside his unfinished appetizer and brought the main course closer to taste.
Thus ….
"…!"
Shirley looked cheerful again as she began to fill her empty stomach once more.
"…."
Escar kept watching.
To be honest, he wasn't really hungry.
However, not wanting to make Shirley feel embarrassed or uncomfortable, he took a small bite, just to keep her company.
"…."
Marquess Aschenford was still in the same activity.
He watched Shirley eagerly devouring her food, … completely unaware that his face, from his cheeks to the back of his neck and even his earlobes, had turned as red as a boiled crab.
["How cute."]