* * *
"I guess I can get off now."
The center of Baekjakga's palace. The tallest and largest building. That is, this building.
'Lee Young-ji's owner...where he lives.'
I heard that a count named Samuel Deckard has been ruling the territory for a long time. However, my health has been deteriorating since I was young, and I have not been able to leave the castle. Rumor has it that the count's wife, Eliza Deckard, is acting as regent.
"Let's get down."
She again extends her white hand. I get out of the carriage first to escort her, and start following her. As the sound of her shoes clanks, the soldier holding the spear shouts loudly next to me.
"This is Noel Deckard!"
I wondered if they would yell like this even if their original family came in. Then I was worried that the soldier who yelled every time they passed by would lose his voice.
"Are you here?"
In front of them was an older-looking woman, and judging from her appearance, she was the count's wife, Eliza Deckard, who was currently in charge of the count's affairs. She didn't look like Noel... She was just an ordinary middle-aged woman with golden hair and blue eyes. Even with age, her dignity had not faded, and her straight back and downcast gaze were impressive.
"It's been a while, Mother."
Why, she looked startled at the mention of Noel's mother.
"Yeah, it's nice to see you looking healthy."
"Yes, you too, Mother. Then shall we go inside and talk?"
Although I didn't know much about etiquette, I knew that what Noel was saying at the moment was strange. Noel, who lived in the outer castle, came into the inner castle and told the landlady, Eliza, to go into the house? It was an action that was completely against the family lineage and etiquette.
"Okay. Let's go in."
Eliza answers with a blunt face.
"yes."
I had no choice but to follow in, with Noel smiling brightly.
"But, the one behind you is a new... servant?"
"Yes, this is the new kid who came in this time."
As Noel lightly stepped back, I finally bowed my head and greeted him. I was still unfamiliar with the etiquette, so my legs wobblyed slightly as I made the awkward move.
"Nice to meet you. My name is Tir, and I am currently in charge of Young Lady Noel Deckard's exclusive servant."
"...I see."
Her face was trembling. I quickly raised my head and stepped behind Noel. As a servant, it is manners to greet someone and then go back to your seat after hearing the answer.
"Isn't it cute?"
"...okay."
Noel paused for a moment at those words. That expression...it felt like she was angry.
"No, Noel?"
While we were having a conversation without knowing it, I couldn't help but interrupt. I was afraid of her, but was it just my unfounded confidence that she was the only one who could come forward at the moment?
"huh?"
"...Um, um... You've been riding in a carriage for so long, aren't you thirsty?"
"Hmm. Do you think so?"
"Yes, yes. I shouldn't have said this, but... as Noel-sama's exclusive servant, if Noel-sama is having a hard time, it is my fault and my duty... not being fulfilled..."
"mother."
"....Why is that?"
"Would you please prepare some dessert so that we can have tea time with black tea?"
"...There is snacks in the guest room."
Even if she is not his own daughter, if she is the daughter of a count, she is considered a younger daughter to him. In that case, no matter how much he hates her, it is etiquette to call her to his inner room instead of the guest room because of the people watching.
'What happened?'
Does Eliza hate Noel? I don't think so, given the way she seemed to respond as if she was willing to listen to everything Noel said.
'then.'
Eliza can be seen as being in a similar situation to me.
'She is afraid of Noel.'
A skilled person who can cut off the heads of thugs with a single swing of the blade. It is hard to gauge how skilled she is, but judging from Eliza's actions... is it true that her powerlessness breeds fear?
'Or maybe you're holding on to a weakness.'
No matter how much Noel is, he will not be able to use force to touch Eliza, who is in charge of the Count's affairs. As the daughter of the Count's family, he is in a position where he cannot commit unfilial acts.
"Come this way."
I follow her guidance and walk slowly.
'and.'
There was a huge garden in the center of the inner part of the guest house.
"Is it strange?"
Noel asks.
"yes..."
"It was made because my father was sick and he said it was better to be as close to nature as possible."
I can't even imagine how much money it would take to create and maintain this garden. The trees of various kinds, with their large trunks and huge leaves, and the seasonal flowers that always looked well-maintained, in full bloom, tickled my nose with their fragrance.
'Squeak!'
The guest room opened when the count's guests or important figures came. The wooden door, which appeared to be made of a large oak tree, was decorated with splendid decorations and shone brightly. The wooden carvings were decorated with flowers and leaves to match the garden, and there was a sense of anxiety that if I made a mistake, I might touch the thinly carved tree trunk and break it.
"Huh."
As if he noticed, Noel snapped his finger and broke a leaf.
'Huh!'
My eyes widen. I quickly look at Eliza. Eliza pretends not to notice Noel's actions and guides him inside.
"The servant will bring refreshments soon. Please wait quietly."
"Yes, mother."
She was startled at the word "mother." She got up, saying she had something to do, and her footsteps were quite fast.
'What could be the reason?'
Just looking around, I think back to the butler's advice to not open my mouth.
'This place is amazing too.'
Perhaps it was because of the garden in the center that was made with nature as its motto. The guest room was also true to that motto, with many vases of flowers hanging, most of the items being made of wood, and the tables and chairs being filled with dried flowers.
"how is it?"
"yes?"
"You said you wanted to get to know me."
She asked, placing her hand on her heart.
"...okay."
This is where Noel lived. She brought me here to keep her promise from last night.
"It smells so good."
"They say that the scent of flowers has natural healing powers. They say that in order to cure your father's illness, you have to get up on your own."
"ah..."
Should I sympathize or cheer him on? I couldn't think of an answer, so I just blurted out a short phrase like an idiot.
"As expected, you think too much."
"yes?"
"That's really good, though."
She smiles as if she is embarrassed.
'Knock! Knock!'
"Can I come in?"
While Eliza was away for a moment, a maid came in and brought in refreshments on a large cart.
"Cherry muffins, blueberry cookies, and tiramisu."
He places a fork and knife in front of Noel and slowly puts down the cookies.
'You're having a hard time.'
I watched her manners closely. I wondered what it would be like if I could become that skilled.
"excuse me."
"yes?"
Noel speaks to the maid who has put down all the dishes, food, teapot and glasses.
"Why are you acting so vulgar?"
"Yes, yes? What..."
"My servant saw you."
"....What are you... saying..."
Noel is neighboring.
"Since it was a mistake, I'll let it be that you only break one finger. Oh, since you have work to do, would that be better? Your little finger, right?"
"Oh, dear... sir?"
"Do you want to cut off your left arm? Or do you want to break your own little finger?"
I wanted to stop it. However, I couldn't come forward because I thought that if I did, something bigger would happen.
"Ah, Miss! I'm sorry! Please forgive me!"
The maid shouted. The small tray she was holding fell to the floor with a clanking sound, and Noel slowly sipped her tea without losing her smile.
"Please forgive me!!!"
"Tir."
"yes..."
"What should we do?"
He asks me with a smile. The dream of entering the Baekjak's house that I had dreamed of at least once before... turned into a nightmare in less than a few hours.
"...I don't think that maid did anything wrong."
"huh?"
"That maid was so... ugly that I looked at her curiously."
I wait for her answer, swallowing my saliva. Deep-set eyes. Blunt lips. And cold skin. She stares at me in infinite silence before smiling.
"I see. Tir doesn't like fat pigs like that, right?"
"...Yes. That lady has gained too much weight...and is ugly."
He shows his regret to the maid he sees for the first time by bowing his head and frowning. He never shows it on the outside.
"I couldn't help but stare at it, wondering how it could be so ugly."
"Hmm, I do that sometimes too."
However, her eyes, like water, seemed to still be angry.
"No, what kind of person would feel affection for a pig that is so pig-like and smelly compared to Noel? If Noel were a flower, then I, the maid, would be nothing more than moss that has lost its color and is dying."
"Oh, really? Tir is so good at sweet-talking, kid."
"yes yes!"
"Go ahead. I'm sorry I misunderstood."
The maid, who had raised her head in fear, quickly got up from her seat and ran out. She was much more skilled in etiquette than I was, but she was shaking so much. It seems that even the etiquette that is ingrained in one's body is not needed in fear.
"Why isn't Mom coming?"
I thought it was fortunate that Eliza hadn't seen that moment.
"You're late. I have some urgent business to attend to."
At that moment, she came in through another door.
"Let's drink."
"...Let's do that."
Eliza sat down and drank her tea. It was not a mother-daughter relationship... it was more like an older person speaking informally to a younger master.
'What on earth is this relationship....'
Eliza, who could be considered the real power behind Count Deckard, looks at Noel and is scared. I felt a mysterious and inexplicable anxiety brushing my shoulder.
"Oh, is the curl okay?"
Eliza's index finger trembles slightly.
"I'm fine."
Her lips were stiff as she drank black tea.
"Could you please tell her I'm here? I'm looking forward to seeing my little brother again."
"Ker, Kirtle is currently the next lord of the Countess. He is receiving practical training as the next lord, so it would be difficult for him to give you the time."
"Is that so? But it's been a while since I've seen you, sister..."
"It must be cold! Let's drink it quickly."
It hasn't even been three minutes since the black tea came out. There was no way the black tea, which was steaming hot from the start, could cool down that quickly.
"Father, can you see the road?"
"...The Count is currently in a state of lack of energy."
"okay."
Their conversation doesn't last long. Just, when Noel asks, Eliza answers. Eliza looks uneasy, as if she's having tea time with an uncomfortable, high-ranking official she absolutely doesn't want to be a part of.
'They say he is the master of worldly wisdom...'
Eliza was clearly the daughter of the grand lord and entered the count's family through a contractual marriage. That's why she was able to skillfully stabilize the count's family when Count Decker fell. There must have been many encounters with high-ranking people during that process, but her appearance was so frightening that it didn't seem like she was the daughter of the grand lord and the woman who had led the count's family until now.
'It's certain...Eliza is afraid of Noel...'
I felt a gaze as I was thinking deeply about Eliza.
'Oops!'
Noel is looking at me. I remember that he was staring at Eliza, and another drop of sweat appears on my forehead.
"No, Noel?"
"why?"
"that..."
For a moment, Eliza's anxious gaze passed by me. She was also watching Noel carefully. Then I looked at her and remembered the maid's incident earlier.
'But I can't insult Eliza... What should I do?'
He had a look in his eyes like he was testing me. He was tapping his index fingernails on the table, making a clicking sound. It felt like time had slowed down, and he was feeling suffocated, and cold sweat was running down his back.
"Excuse me, sir, but could you give me a chance to drink some tea?"
"huh?"
"Ah, I asked you earlier on the carriage if you were thirsty... Actually, it was because I was thirsty."
Somehow, a plausible excuse began to come out of my mouth.
"Ah. Are you thirsty?"
"Yes, I was so thirsty...I could only watch the two of you drinking the tea."
"okay?"
She wakes up playfully. When she makes that mischievous face... I know I'm in deep trouble.
"Noel...sigh!"
She kissed me. Then she opened my lips with her mouth and passed me something.
'Gulp!'
The taste is...slightly sour and sweet.
'Black tea?'
Noel took a sip of the black tea and passed it to me. When I looked at her with surprised eyes.
"There are only two glasses."
I felt like I was digging my own grave.
* * *