The first floor of the Duke of Seyer's mansion.
A small room attached to the kitchen served as a lounge where the mansion's staff could take a short break after meals.
During break time, the maids would usually gather in groups to chat, but today, one maid was unusually quiet.
"Why does she look so out of it today?"
Jenna, who had been talking about the new young stablehand, gestured toward Samantha, who was uncharacteristically quiet.
"She's been like that since she went out with Madam a few days ago. Did something happen outside?"
"I heard they went out to get a dress tailored. Maybe she was ignored by other ladies again..."
"No."
Just as the maids' discussion about Samantha's quietness began turning into criticism of Dalia, the silent Samantha finally spoke.
"Our Madam isn't being ignored by other noblewomen anymore."
Jenna raised an eyebrow at Samantha's tone, which sounded almost reproachful.
"Our Madam? Since when did you start defending her? Weren't you the one who said the new Duchess was frustrating?"
"I never disliked her! I just… thought she didn't quite fit the role of the Duchess of Seyer. But now I've changed my mind."
Samantha's eyes sparkled as she spoke.
"Haven't you noticed? Doesn't it feel like Madam has changed lately?"
"Madam has changed?"
"Yeah. How do I put it... She's become cooler than before, you know?"
Samantha asked in an excited tone, as if seeking agreement. The other maids tilted their heads, responding hesitantly.
"Hmm. Really? Now that you mention it, maybe she has?"
"It's not just 'maybe,' she really has changed! Remember the other day when she suddenly came into the kitchen? That day, Max was forced to eat something and got sick. I think Max had tampered with the food, and Madam came to scold him for it."
"Oh, come on, no way."
"Then why hasn't Max been seen since that day? I heard he was kicked out of the mansion and sent back to his hometown."
"Really?"
The maids, who thought the head chef was just on sick leave, asked in surprise.
Samantha didn't stop there and began listing more examples of how the Duchess seemed different lately.
"Also, I went with Madam to the tailor recently, and guess what? With just a few words from her, Madame Louise was treating our Madam like a goddess!"
Who was Madame Louise?
She was the most famous self-made woman of common birth in the empire.
Despite her common background, she became the owner of the most renowned tailor shop in the empire through her innate talent and business acumen, beloved by many noblewomen.
She was so successful that even the haughty Empress called Madame Louise her close friend.
As a result, even the most aristocratic noblewomen dared not look down on her, and she was known for never bowing to them either.
But Samantha had seen with her own eyes that such a woman looked at Madam with reverence.
"And that's not all! Do you remember the noblewoman who insulted Madam and our Duke's family at the tea party? Madam humiliated her in front of everyone."
"R-really?"
"Of course! That noblewoman probably won't dare show her face outside her estate for a while."
Samantha—and in fact, every servant in the mansion—clearly remembered what had happened at that tea party.
How that obscure noblewoman had belittled Madam and the Seyer family.
Samantha had been born and raised here, following her parents who worked as gardeners for the Seyer family, and naturally became a maid.
Her parents and even their parents before them.
They had all worked for the Seyer family for generations, and they took pride in serving one of the empire's most prestigious houses, second only to the royal family.
But when she saw the mistress of the proud Seyer family unable to say a word and just shedding tears, she had felt more than disappointed—she was furious.
Even now, just thinking about it made her seethe with rage.
Samantha, who had been present, had wanted to grab the noblewoman by the hair right then and there, but with Madam crying helplessly, there was nothing a mere maid like her could do.
"But now, our Madam has changed."
She clearly remembered Madam placing a bug on the Marchioness's head that day.
It might not have been the most elegant method, but sometimes, a bit of cunning was needed to win a fight.
Regardless of the method, it had been immensely satisfying to see the noblewoman who had insulted Madam and the Seyer family get her comeuppance.
"I've made up my mind."
Samantha, her shoulders now held high, muttered to herself.
"From now on, I'm on Madam's side!"
Saying it out loud made her even more certain—Madam had truly changed.
Serving as the mistress of the Seyer family was an honorable task. From now on, she would serve Madam with all her heart.
And so, Dalia unknowingly gained a loyal follower.
* * *
Two days later, using shopping as an excuse, Dalia ventured into the city and gave instructions to her maid before entering a hat shop.
"I'll go in alone here. Samantha, can you go to the pastry shop by the square and get me a lemon tart?"
"You mean Larure? You usually have to wait in line for hours there. Are you sure you're okay with looking around alone in the meantime?"
"Yes, it's fine. I'll just stay inside the shop anyway, so it's no big deal."
In truth, the lemon tart was just an excuse to buy herself some time alone.
Two days ago, she had overheard Lady Roman mention that getting a lemon tart required at least three hours of waiting, and she had devised her plan from there.
I deliberately wore the plainest outfit, so there shouldn't be a problem if I wander around alone.
When she had insisted on wearing this outfit, her maid Jenna had hesitated, which confirmed that she had chosen the right attire.
"Yes, Madam! If you're craving it, of course, I'll get it for you! But please, don't leave the shop and wait inside. And if you must wander, stay with your escort knight. I'll be back quickly!"
"Mm-hmm, alright."
Seeing the maid's eager, sparkling eyes made her feel a twinge of guilt, so she trailed off.
Samantha, who had recently become her personal maid, often gave her such earnest and overwhelming looks.
Still, the girl seemed pure and innocent—definitely not a bad person.
Samantha, I'm sorry. I'll be back quickly!
She had to return before her maid realized she was gone.
Watching Samantha's figure disappear toward the square, she entered the shop, quickly moving to the back door while recalling her plan.
When I asked a passerby last time, they said I just had to take the path behind Wembley Park.
Rachel had recommended a doctor, but it wasn't a place where she could discreetly get contraceptives.
No matter how confidential they claimed to be, it would be disastrous if she ran into someone she knew there.
That place isn't for women's health—it's practically for marital advice!
That day, too tired to correct Rachel's wild misunderstanding, Dalia had simply left with vague words about visiting the clinic eventually.
Remembering the exhausting events of that day, Dalia sighed softly.
"Let's just get this over with."
Apologizing inwardly to the escort knight waiting for her at the shop's front, Dalia slipped out through the back door.
* * *
It was late afternoon, and the sun was beginning to set.
Clayton, having finished his schedule for the day, boarded a carriage to return to the mansion.
Across from him, his secretary, Caddison, adjusted his glasses and spoke.
"It seems we did well to establish connections with the duchy's representatives at the garden party. There shouldn't be any major issues with trade negotiations with the Kingdom of Ister."
"Good."
Clayton responded curtly to Caddison's remark, then, for some reason, pulled aside the curtain on the carriage window.
As he gazed at the sky painted in shades of orange, he suddenly issued an order to Caddison.
"More importantly, investigate the former Barony of Molden. Focus on its connections to the Seyer family."
"Yes, understood."
Since the garden party, everything had become clear. His symptoms subsided when he was near Dalia.
Just holding her hand allowed him to experience life like an ordinary person.
The intensity and duration of contact didn't seem to matter.
He then recalled the pond where he had spent time with Dalia.
The cool breeze, the warmth of her skin at his fingertips, and the softness of her lips against his.
Everything that had happened that day felt as vivid as if it had occurred just today.
Though he had initially intended it as an experiment, the kiss that day had been somewhat impulsive.
And the fact that it had been impulsive continued to bother him.
Clayton, staring absentmindedly at the passing cityscape, furrowed his brow.
No one sat beside him, yet the familiar scent lingering on the carriage seat gave him the illusion that Dalia was right there with him.
Her moonlit silver hair and those enchanting violet eyes...
"…Dalia?"
And as if it were a lie, Dalia appeared before him, as real as life.