Chapter 65
Eneka’s resignation was processed without issue. And so she no longer stayed at the mansion.
Luirene, however, still resided there. That night she’d returned, anxious that everything might have come to light through the former Marchioness’s words—but unexpectedly, the mansion had been quiet. As if it were no different from yesterday, and would be no different tomorrow.
She didn’t know the exact reason, but it was clear the former Marchioness had kept her secret.
She observed the old woman carefully while attending to her meals, but sensed nothing out of the ordinary. Had her condition worsened to the point where even recent memories were slipping?
Still, it was a relief. How her heart had pounded after acting so impulsively. Now that Eneka—the only other person who knew the secret besides the former Marchioness—had left the mansion, Luirene resolved never to speak of the relationship to anyone again.
What was more urgent was the pocket watch she’d left at the pawnshop. She’d worked as a caretaker for a long while now; if she scraped her savings together, she could come up with twelve pence. If that fell short, she was prepared to pull out the emergency money hidden in a corner of the bookstore.
It was something Hitaon had entrusted to her, believing in her. He would probably understand if she explained the circumstances—but even so, she wanted to recover it as soon as possible, before any situation arose where she’d have to tell him.
“Did you see?”
“They said it’s a ducal carriage.”
One morning, the maids were abuzz. Things were still a bit awkward with the household servants after the incident with Miya’s group, so Luirene didn’t butt in and simply kept her ears pricked.
“I caught the Nanny talking about it earlier. Looks like it’s the young lady of House Tourso.”
“The ones who went out to greet her said she’s an incredible beauty!”
“What would a beauty like that be doing at our mansion? Could it be about the young master’s engagement?”
“What? No way!”
“No way? It’s totally possible. Our young master’s at that age to settle a match now too.”
It seemed a guest had visited the mansion. The maids, who’d been chattering away in different voices, all fell silent at once. The Nanny had just opened the door and appeared.
“Seeing you all gathered here, I take it you have plenty of free time. Your voices reached all the way outside the door—I was appalled. If you wish to work here long, I’ve taught you time and again: first, mind your mouth. Second, mind your mouth.”
After delivering her stern rebuke, the Nanny singled out Luirene in the corner with a glance.
“Luirene.”
“Yes.”
“Would you prepare some tea?”
“For Her Ladyship?”
“No. An honored guest has visited the mansion. My lady thinks highly of your tea-brewing skills and has personally requested you.”
“Yes. I’ll prepare it right away.”
Away from the curious eyes, Luirene prepared the tea. The Nanny, who’d been watching from the side, told her to prepare for two.
“My lady. I’ve brought the tea.”
When she arrived at the drawing room, a lovely fragrance drifted through the air. This room was different from the one Luirene had been summoned to by the Marchioness before.
It was a room prepared for a true ‘guest’—adorned with restrained ornamentation and an air of refined dignity. A pang struck somewhere in her chest at the thought that this was a place someone of her station could never be invited into.
And the person seated with perfect poise in that very ‘guest’s’ seat was the young lady of the Tourso Duchy, the one the maids had been buzzing about.
The young lady, who’d been smiling at the Marchioness, sensed the presence and turned. The moment their eyes met, Luirene felt a strange chill. The woman’s gaze as she looked at her was exactly like a bird of prey fixing on its hunt.
“Madam. Is that girl a maid as well?”
“That girl?”
“The one who’s just brought the tea.”
“She’s called Luirene, and strictly speaking, she isn’t a maid. She looks after Hita’s grandmother—the former Marchioness—as her caretaker. Her tea-brewing is exceptional, and with Lady Tourso gracing our mansion in person today, I wanted to serve the finest tea, so I called for her specially.”
“Ah…”
Panae withdrew her gaze as she listened to the Marchioness’s explanation. Wearing a sociable smile, she was quietly recalling the object and the information her loyal hound had brought her the day before.
‘At a small pawnshop called Fonz, I found a visit record connected to Glair. A woman apparently left a pocket watch registered as his personal property there.’
‘A pocket watch?’
‘The owner wouldn’t sell it, so I paid a premium and acquired it.’
‘Well done. The woman’s appearance?’
‘I was told she was rather pretty—black hair, purple eyes.’
‘That’s all? That’s far too vague.’
‘My apologies. But he said it wasn’t the sort of commonplace beauty you see just anywhere.’
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