I was so embarrassed. Ah… I’m so stupid… The cookies truly did look delicious, though. They seemed to have been freshly baked, and the pleasant smell of butter wafted through the air. I stood up and walked up to the tea table.
“There are three types of cookies, and two of each type,” Mio explained. “Please try them and see which ones you like best.”
“A-all right. Thank you,” I said.
I picked up the first cookie and took a bite. I couldn’t help but let out an appreciative hum. Whoa! It’s so good!
It was soft and moist and had a lingering taste of milk. As I chewed, the aromas of butter and grain filled my mouth. The recipe was very simple, but it was clear the person who’d made it was both very skilled and also quite particular about the quality of the ingredients.
The second cookie I picked up had green nuts, and it was just as good as the first one! It was sweet, but the hint of saltiness from the smoked nuts made me feel like I could eat mountains of them.
The last variety was a lot crunchier than the others and sweeter. It was also delicious.
That’s a count’s kitchen for you! Even the cookies are in a league of their own here!
I couldn’t stop myself from picking up another cookie. I didn’t know myself to be such a glutton, but I felt like I could clear the plate in a matter of minutes.
“I’m glad to see you like them,” Mio said while brewing tea for me.
While I waited for the tea to be ready, my eyes wandered around the room. This place is truly quite something… The walls were all pristine white, the floor was decorated with a red carpet, and there was a wooden cabinet so well-polished that I could see my reflection in it. I noticed the room was also far larger than the one reserved for guests of honor at our residence. The sofa I’d been sitting in was incredibly comfortable too, and the writing desk and vanity were both white and gold—clearly made to order. Everything in the room was lavish and luxurious yet tasteful.
If this is the room given to an unwelcome baron, the main guest room must be beyond impressive. And I can’t even begin to imagine what the count’s room is like. We truly lived in different worlds.
Mio pulled me out of my thoughts by serving me tea. I took a sip while doing my best to observe the rules of etiquette.
“Oh,” I blurted out with surprise. “Is this Ypsandrian tea?”
“I’m surprised you recognized it. You can’t find this tea in the market.”
“It’s my first time having it, but I read about it in a book. It said that the people of the Republic of Ypsandros prize the medicinal virtues of spices and add them to their tea blends to stay healthy. This scent is very unique—I wonder what the ingredients are.”
“Ginger and cinnamon,” Mio replied. “The leaves themselves are from the kingdom, but they blend well with those spices.”
“It’s very good,” I said after taking another sip. “The Ypsandrians truly are amazing. I can’t believe they make such good tea.”
I heard a strange, strangled noise behind me and turned around to see what it was. I was surprised to see Mio’s shoulders shaking. Did I say something weird?
“You’re such a studious person, Lady Marie,” she said with a giggle. “And you’re so cute.”
“Me…? Cute?”
Surely she doesn’t mean my appearance. But what about me could she possibly be calling cute? I haven’t even apologized properly, yet here I am enjoying tea and cookies. I should be ashamed of myself, really.
As soon as I came to that conclusion, I felt the color drain from my face, and I rose to my feet. I went to stand by the door. I had to be ready to apologize if the count visited me. I waited there silently, my anxiety rising with every moment.
Mio patted me on the shoulder. “Lady Marie, I don’t believe your father and the count will be done anytime soon.”
“It’s all right. I’ll stand here for as long as it takes,” I replied.
“But why?” Mio asked.
I was struggling to come up with a proper answer, so Mio continued, “You must have been bored, staying put with a cup of tea. I’ll show you an interesting pla—”
A knock on the door interrupted her. She promptly moved forward to open it, revealing a tall man—the lord of the estate, Kyros Granado.
I bowed as soon as I saw him. “I’m so sorry!”
“About what?” he replied. I couldn’t help but notice how deep his voice was.
“I’ve been nothing but terribly rude to you. I-I should have gone to you to apologize, yet I made you go through the trouble of coming here!” I blurted out, keeping my head as low as I could. My voice was shaking.
“I don’t mind. Mio must have told you to stay here, didn’t she?”
“W-well, yes, but… Um… Where is my father?”
“He went home as soon as I told him he could simply offer the gifts I sent Lady Anastasia to her grave and that there was no need to return them.”
I didn’t know how to reply. Should I say, “Thank you very much. I’m sure this will bring relief to my sister’s soul?” That would be a lie. I know full well Father has already sold everything. In fact, I’m convinced our family ought to apologize to the count for doing such a thing. It’s the right thing to do, even just for Anastasia’s sake. But wouldn’t that be akin to rubbing salt in the wound? Besides, I—wait, what? Father went home?! When I finally registered that crucial detail, I rushed toward the door, but the count blocked my way.
“You don’t need to go after him. I have something to ask you.”
“Wh-what is it?”
“Marie, does your family abuse you?”
“Huh?!”
I felt so jolted by the sudden question my heart almost stopped. Did my family abuse me? I felt as though I’d just been punched in the stomach. That word was so strong. Abuse, he said? What even counted as abuse?
My head began to spin. I hadn’t been doted upon, that much was certain. But that wasn’t their fault—I wasn’t lovable in the slightest, after all. Also, it was for my own sake that my parents often reminded me of my unsightliness. They’d always told me to stay humble and had disapproved of my hobby for the same reason. They’d merely been educating me to the best of their ability so that, one day, I might be loved.
“No, that’s not the case,” I said confidently. “My father is a smart man. I’m still too young to understand all of his decisions, and he is strict with me at times, but I believe that’s his duty as the head of our family. I don’t know how our relationship may appear in your eyes, Count Granado, but—”
“Kyros.”
“Sorry?” I asked confusedly.
“Call me Kyros,” he said, his expression unchanging. “I don’t like being referred to by my title or family name. I’m calling you Marie, so I’d appreciate it if you could also call me by my first name.”
“A-as you command, Lord Kyros.”
I’d just done as I was told, yet Lord Kyros’s brow furrowed. Why…? I once again failed to understand what had soured his mood. Like Anastasia said, he truly is a difficult person…
“U-um, Lord Kyros, why did you ask me that?”
I’d asked him a question, but he replied with one of his own. “Why were you dressed that way on the night we met?”
It wasn’t easy to answer, and I found myself at a loss for words. Lord Kyros didn’t seem interested in waiting for me to think it through, though.
“That couldn’t have been your party dress, could it? I don’t know the state of House Chandelan’s finances, but that sort of dress is usually reserved for widows and nuns in the kingdom. It’s a color worn to reject men. Are you to become a nun?”
“N-no…”
“Do you hate men, then?”
“No…” I didn’t think so, at least. Although, to be perfectly honest, I didn’t have a real opinion on the matter. It wasn’t like I’d never spoken to a man besides my father before, but all of the men I’d met had been madly in love with Anastasia, so I’d always stood in the shadow of her bright light. And I did like romance novels, but I had no expectations for myself. Since I’d never considered love a possibility for myself, I couldn’t honestly say I either liked or hated men.
“Were you intentionally trying to make your sister stand out by bringing yourself down?”
I didn’t know how to answer that question either.
“Are you not dissatisfied with your life at the Chandelan estate?”
I remained silent.
“I can’t understand your feelings if you don’t talk to me,” Lord Kyros said.
I’d never wished for such a life, but I’d never given the possibility of breaking free of it much thought, so, once again, I wasn’t sure what to say.
I can’t do this… I want to run away… I knew I had to answer his unending questions, but my voice wouldn’t come out. I’m going to cry…
“Because…I’m not cute…” I finally managed to say.
Lord Kyros simply whispered, “I see,” as though my answer had convinced him. Then, after a long pause, he called for Mio.
“Yes, my lord?”
“Take Marie away.”
I flinched at the words, and my body stiffened, but I relaxed almost immediately. There was nothing surprising about his decision. I knew from the start I’d be kicked out. Was my father already far away? Walking a distance that took four days by carriage would be tough. I really hoped I could join him at a midway point.
Mio smiled before bowing to her master. “Of course, my lord. I’ve already told Tunica to get ready.”
“Good,” Lord Kyros replied.
“However, the dresses we prepared were made for Lady Anastasia,” Mio added.
“Throw them away. Start by taking her measurements and have new ones made from scratch.”
“I’m afraid that will take too long, my lord. Allow me to pick out the finest garments and have them adjusted. We should be able to do that much at this point.”
“That will have to do—for now.”
What in the world are they talking about?
“I’ll go call Liu Liu,” Lord Kyros added, “but there is no need for you to hurry. I don’t mind waiting, so do everything you can. Money and time are no object. Polish her to perfection.”
I stared at the two of them, utterly confused. Mio bowed to me and said, “Let us go, then, Lady Marie.”
“O-okay… But…where?”
But instead of answering my question, she said, “We’ve prepared everything you’ll need.”
“Everything I’ll need?” I asked, confused even more. “If you’re talking about travel necessities, I’ve brought my own.”