It wasn’t far from Waieos Mansion to the Fragrant Garden. Even though it was on the outskirts, it was close to the capital, so Elusiana and Eirin were able to reach their destination in no time.
“We’re here. It’s definitely different from the main store.”
“It’s a bit small, right? The main store is large, and the interior is a bit fancier because the nobles are the main customers. Commoners use this place more, so we tend to serve them here.”
Tiring. After opening the door and entering the store, Elusiana greeted the Sestein family’s maid, who was making a flower basket.
“Hello.”
“Welcome, Lady.” The maid, who bowed her head politely, looked at Eirin, who stood next to her.
“Ah, this is my guest. If you don’t mind, can I take care of your work from now on?”
“Of course, my Lady.”
The maid stepped aside, rummaged through the books, and held them out to Elusiana’s front. “This is the order to be processed today.”
“Hmm. There are three orders?”
“Yes.”
“I see.”
“Then, I will go.”
“Thank you for your hard work. You can take a break tomorrow as well.”
The maid, who had paused for a moment, nodded slowly. “Yes, I understand. Then.”
After the maid, who bowed politely, left, Eirin let out a long sigh. “Excuse me, Elusiana.”
“Huh?”
“That person… Who is she?”
“Who?”
“The one who called you lady a while ago.”
“Ah, she’s the maid of the Grand Duke Sestein.”
“…What?”
Elusiana, who had been refining the bouquet made by the maid, continued her words without much consideration. “There’s nothing to be surprised about. Maybe it’s because she comes from the grand duke, she’s too humble. How awkward it was to call me a lady from the beginning.”
“From the beginning?”
“Yes. But the more I listened to it, the sooner I got used to it. People say that humans adapt quickly, and I’m just like that. Haha.”
“…”
Is that something to get used to? No, isn’t it weird for her to call Elusiana a lady in the first place? Eirin looked at Elusiana, who was smiling with a face that she couldn’t understand.
“Would you like a cup of tea?”
“Y-yes.”
Time flew by in the Fragrant Garden. Sometimes Elusiana was puzzled by Eirin’s appearance watching outside the door, but she was more sincere than she thought.
“Now, this is the last one.”
Eirin burst into admiration as she looked at the flower basket, in which light pink roses and snow-white roses were mixed. “Elusiana, it’s so pretty. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a beautiful flower basket.”
“Do you know how many times you’ve said that?”
“But this and that are all pretty.”
Eirin, who looked at the flower baskets she had already made alternately, strained her eyes as if she was worried.
“Don’t do that. Come over here, Elusiana. What do you think? Which one do you think is prettier?”
“Do I have to choose one?”
“Of course!” Eirin, who unknowingly shouted, flinched and covered her mouth with both hands. “S-sorry.”
“It’s all right. We’re the only ones here. Besides, you’re asking that because of your concern for your hair ornament for the New Year’s ball, right?”
“Huh? Uh, yes.”
“If that’s the case, I’ll pay special attention to it.”
“…Really? Are you making it yourself? B-but you have to make yours too.”
Smiling, Elusiana shook her head slowly. “I’m not going.”
“No way! You’re not attending the New Year’s ball?”
“Yes.”
“Why? Nobles who have come of age are obliged to attend the New Year’s ball. That’s… the imperial order, Elusiana.”
“Who will know if someone is missing among the many nobles? Moreover, I’m also a fallen noble.”
“But.”
“All you have to do is pretend you don’t know.”
Elusiana’s remark must have been quite a shock, so Eirin couldn’t bear to continue her words. It seemed that her shaking eyes were quite confused.
Is it such a surprise? In fact, there have been nobles who didn’t attend the New Year’s ball every year. It was just a shush because there was the imperial order of ‘must attend.’ Most of the time, they just closed their eyes and let it pass. So Elusiana didn’t think much either. After all, Waieos won’t remain in their memories.
Elusiana, who smiled bitterly, tapped Eirin’s shoulder, who was half-enthusiastic. “What are you so serious about? Is there a color you want more than that? I think it would be better to match the color of your dress.”
“Can… you think about it again?”
“Huh?”
“Going to the New Year’s ball. Can’t you… go with me?”
Elusiana was repulsed at the moment her voice came out carefully like a murmur. But when she saw her trembling fingertips, she felt sorry for her, wondering if she was oversensitive. It’s literally just that she wants to go with me.
Eirin, who had a timid demeanor, didn’t appear particularly sociable. Rather, she tended to be shy toward people she met for the first time. So it was likely that she wanted to be with someone she knew.
“…S-sorry. I didn’t think of your position, only thought about myself too much.”
It was then. Ring. The door opened, and a group of people came into the store.
Elusiana lightly patted Eirin on the shoulder and greeted them with a grin.
“Welcome, Customer.”
“Tsk.”
Elusiana slowly raised her head at the sound of a low tongue. And she flinched without realizing it when she faced the situation. No… why are these people here?
Three women brushed off the hem of their colorful dresses as if something was dirty. They were nobles, something you would never see here.
“I heard about it but didn’t expect it to be this terrible.”
The lady, who spread her fan wide and covered her mouth, frowned.
“I know, right. This place… is this really the branch of Fragrant Garden? I doubt it for some reason.
“Hey, is this the branch of the Fragrant Garden in the center?”
“…Yes, that’s right.”
“Ha.”
“Oh my.”
“That’s disappointing.”
All of them vented their grievances. But they didn’t turn around again. Apparently, they had come to order the hair ornament for the upcoming New Year’s ball.
Because orders from the main store must have already been closed. They should have ordered it here if they didn’t want to go out of fashion.
Fortunately, I don’t think they know my face. Elusiana, who was nervous inside, regained her composure again. She knew that the whims of the nobles were boiling over, so she would have to struggle a bit to serve them. Let’s make the order quickly and send them out.
Elusiana said with a friendly smile. “Are Ladies coming here to order hair ornaments?”
The noble lady, who nodded her head, answered. “That’s right. I would like to see some samples.”
“I apologize, Lady. No samples have been prepared.”
“No samples?”
“Yes, but I can make some right now and show you.”
The ladies, who showed signs of frustration because they couldn’t believe her words, laughed in vain.
“First of all, would you like to sit down? I’ll get you a chair.”
“No, that’s alright. I think we’ve come to the wrong place.”
“I know, right. No matter how urgent it was, we shouldn’t have come to the commoner’s area.”
“Who would have guessed that there wouldn’t be a sample of a hair ornament?”
“It can’t be helped. It would be faster to find another place.”
The ladies, who turned their bodies around, finally decided to leave.
Thank god. Relieved inside, Elusiana bowed her head. But is it because her sincerity was too much? Her head bent deeper than usual and went down 90 degrees, and Eirin, who was watching her, burst into laughter.
At that moment, the three ladies who were about to leave, turned around. When Eirin’s gaze met their gaze, her pupils trembled as if an earthquake had occurred.
“There.”
The young lady, who was holding the doorknob, tilted her head and examined Eirin’s appearance. Petals were attached here and there, but it was clear that it was a luxurious fabric. The three ladies met their eyes at the same time.
“Don’t you think she’s that person, don’t you?”
“But why is she doing that over there?”
The young lady, who narrowed her eyes, immediately said, “Ah!” and exclaimed. “Lady of Count Ingland! That woman, that’s her.”
“Who?”
The young lady, who dropped the corner of her mouth, recited coldly as she had no intention of hiding it. “Why is she there? She’s the woman who flirted with Lord Klaus and fell out of favor with Lady Eragost.”
“Ah, that’s right.”
“I didn’t recognize her at all because she looked like that.”
The three laughed at what they liked so much, were conscious of Elusiana’s gaze, and quickly captured their expressions. One of the young ladies stepped in front of Eirin.
“You’re the daughter of Count Ingland, right?”
“…Yes.”
Eirin’s expression, who answered reluctantly, turned pale. Another young lady who saw her, stepped forward and asked.
“I heard that you were kicked out of your house. Are you working here?”
“Oh, how pitiful. By the way, Lady Ingland. Wouldn’t becoming a concubine instead of doing dirty work here be better? Well, despite his age, I heard that he’s quite rich. At least you won’t starve, right?”
“Then is she going to be the third wife?”
“Hahaha. No, she’ll be the fourth. I heard that his third wife was beaten to death a week after they got married.”
Eirin’s body staggered as if she was about to collapse. Elusiana couldn’t keep an eye on her any longer, so she supported her. However, she couldn’t interfere with them. It was because to do that, she had to reveal that she was a noble too. But Elusiana wasn’t foolish enough to let them know.
Elusiana smiled broadly, biting the tender flesh in her mouth.
It wasn’t far from Waieos Mansion to the Fragrant Garden. Even though it was on the outskirts, it was close to the capital, so Elusiana and Eirin were able to reach their destination in no time.
“We’re here. It’s definitely different from the main store.”
“It’s a bit small, right? The main store is large, and the interior is a bit fancier because the nobles are the main customers. Commoners use this place more, so we tend to serve them here.”
Tiring. After opening the door and entering the store, Elusiana greeted the Sestein family’s maid, who was making a flower basket.
“Hello.”
“Welcome, Lady.” The maid, who bowed her head politely, looked at Eirin, who stood next to her.
“Ah, this is my guest. If you don’t mind, can I take care of your work from now on?”
“Of course, my Lady.”
The maid stepped aside, rummaged through the books, and held them out to Elusiana’s front. “This is the order to be processed today.”
“Hmm. There are three orders?”
“Yes.”
“I see.”
“Then, I will go.”
“Thank you for your hard work. You can take a break tomorrow as well.”
The maid, who had paused for a moment, nodded slowly. “Yes, I understand. Then.”
After the maid, who bowed politely, left, Eirin let out a long sigh. “Excuse me, Elusiana.”
“Huh?”
“That person… Who is she?”
“Who?”
“The one who called you lady a while ago.”
“Ah, she’s the maid of the Grand Duke Sestein.”
“…What?”
Elusiana, who had been refining the bouquet made by the maid, continued her words without much consideration. “There’s nothing to be surprised about. Maybe it’s because she comes from the grand duke, she’s too humble. How awkward it was to call me a lady from the beginning.”
“From the beginning?”
“Yes. But the more I listened to it, the sooner I got used to it. People say that humans adapt quickly, and I’m just like that. Haha.”
“…”
Is that something to get used to? No, isn’t it weird for her to call Elusiana a lady in the first place? Eirin looked at Elusiana, who was smiling with a face that she couldn’t understand.
“Would you like a cup of tea?”
“Y-yes.”
Time flew by in the Fragrant Garden. Sometimes Elusiana was puzzled by Eirin’s appearance watching outside the door, but she was more sincere than she thought.
“Now, this is the last one.”
Eirin burst into admiration as she looked at the flower basket, in which light pink roses and snow-white roses were mixed. “Elusiana, it’s so pretty. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a beautiful flower basket.”
“Do you know how many times you’ve said that?”
“But this and that are all pretty.”
Eirin, who looked at the flower baskets she had already made alternately, strained her eyes as if she was worried.
“Don’t do that. Come over here, Elusiana. What do you think? Which one do you think is prettier?”
“Do I have to choose one?”
“Of course!” Eirin, who unknowingly shouted, flinched and covered her mouth with both hands. “S-sorry.”
“It’s all right. We’re the only ones here. Besides, you’re asking that because of your concern for your hair ornament for the New Year’s ball, right?”
“Huh? Uh, yes.”
“If that’s the case, I’ll pay special attention to it.”
“…Really? Are you making it yourself? B-but you have to make yours too.”
Smiling, Elusiana shook her head slowly. “I’m not going.”
“No way! You’re not attending the New Year’s ball?”
“Yes.”
“Why? Nobles who have come of age are obliged to attend the New Year’s ball. That’s… the imperial order, Elusiana.”
“Who will know if someone is missing among the many nobles? Moreover, I’m also a fallen noble.”
“But.”
“All you have to do is pretend you don’t know.”
Elusiana’s remark must have been quite a shock, so Eirin couldn’t bear to continue her words. It seemed that her shaking eyes were quite confused.
Is it such a surprise? In fact, there have been nobles who didn’t attend the New Year’s ball every year. It was just a shush because there was the imperial order of ‘must attend.’ Most of the time, they just closed their eyes and let it pass. So Elusiana didn’t think much either. After all, Waieos won’t remain in their memories.
Elusiana, who smiled bitterly, tapped Eirin’s shoulder, who was half-enthusiastic. “What are you so serious about? Is there a color you want more than that? I think it would be better to match the color of your dress.”
“Can… you think about it again?”
“Huh?”
“Going to the New Year’s ball. Can’t you… go with me?”
Elusiana was repulsed at the moment her voice came out carefully like a murmur. But when she saw her trembling fingertips, she felt sorry for her, wondering if she was oversensitive. It’s literally just that she wants to go with me.
Eirin, who had a timid demeanor, didn’t appear particularly sociable. Rather, she tended to be shy toward people she met for the first time. So it was likely that she wanted to be with someone she knew.
“…S-sorry. I didn’t think of your position, only thought about myself too much.”
It was then. Ring. The door opened, and a group of people came into the store.
Elusiana lightly patted Eirin on the shoulder and greeted them with a grin.
“Welcome, Customer.”
“Tsk.”
Elusiana slowly raised her head at the sound of a low tongue. And she flinched without realizing it when she faced the situation. No… why are these people here?
Three women brushed off the hem of their colorful dresses as if something was dirty. They were nobles, something you would never see here.
“I heard about it but didn’t expect it to be this terrible.”
The lady, who spread her fan wide and covered her mouth, frowned.
“I know, right. This place… is this really the branch of Fragrant Garden? I doubt it for some reason.
“Hey, is this the branch of the Fragrant Garden in the center?”
“…Yes, that’s right.”
“Ha.”
“Oh my.”
“That’s disappointing.”
All of them vented their grievances. But they didn’t turn around again. Apparently, they had come to order the hair ornament for the upcoming New Year’s ball.
Because orders from the main store must have already been closed. They should have ordered it here if they didn’t want to go out of fashion.
Fortunately, I don’t think they know my face. Elusiana, who was nervous inside, regained her composure again. She knew that the whims of the nobles were boiling over, so she would have to struggle a bit to serve them. Let’s make the order quickly and send them out.
Elusiana said with a friendly smile. “Are Ladies coming here to order hair ornaments?”
The noble lady, who nodded her head, answered. “That’s right. I would like to see some samples.”
“I apologize, Lady. No samples have been prepared.”
“No samples?”
“Yes, but I can make some right now and show you.”
The ladies, who showed signs of frustration because they couldn’t believe her words, laughed in vain.
“First of all, would you like to sit down? I’ll get you a chair.”
“No, that’s alright. I think we’ve come to the wrong place.”
“I know, right. No matter how urgent it was, we shouldn’t have come to the commoner’s area.”
“Who would have guessed that there wouldn’t be a sample of a hair ornament?”
“It can’t be helped. It would be faster to find another place.”
The ladies, who turned their bodies around, finally decided to leave.
Thank god. Relieved inside, Elusiana bowed her head. But is it because her sincerity was too much? Her head bent deeper than usual and went down 90 degrees, and Eirin, who was watching her, burst into laughter.
At that moment, the three ladies who were about to leave, turned around. When Eirin’s gaze met their gaze, her pupils trembled as if an earthquake had occurred.
“There.”
The young lady, who was holding the doorknob, tilted her head and examined Eirin’s appearance. Petals were attached here and there, but it was clear that it was a luxurious fabric. The three ladies met their eyes at the same time.
“Don’t you think she’s that person, don’t you?”
“But why is she doing that over there?”
The young lady, who narrowed her eyes, immediately said, “Ah!” and exclaimed. “Lady of Count Ingland! That woman, that’s her.”
“Who?”
The young lady, who dropped the corner of her mouth, recited coldly as she had no intention of hiding it. “Why is she there? She’s the woman who flirted with Lord Klaus and fell out of favor with Lady Eragost.”
“Ah, that’s right.”
“I didn’t recognize her at all because she looked like that.”
The three laughed at what they liked so much, were conscious of Elusiana’s gaze, and quickly captured their expressions. One of the young ladies stepped in front of Eirin.
“You’re the daughter of Count Ingland, right?”
“…Yes.”
Eirin’s expression, who answered reluctantly, turned pale. Another young lady who saw her, stepped forward and asked.
“I heard that you were kicked out of your house. Are you working here?”
“Oh, how pitiful. By the way, Lady Ingland. Wouldn’t becoming a concubine instead of doing dirty work here be better? Well, despite his age, I heard that he’s quite rich. At least you won’t starve, right?”
“Then is she going to be the third wife?”
“Hahaha. No, she’ll be the fourth. I heard that his third wife was beaten to death a week after they got married.”
Eirin’s body staggered as if she was about to collapse. Elusiana couldn’t keep an eye on her any longer, so she supported her. However, she couldn’t interfere with them. It was because to do that, she had to reveal that she was a noble too. But Elusiana wasn’t foolish enough to let them know.
Elusiana smiled broadly, biting the tender flesh in her mouth.
