◯◯◯
After that, Leeuwenhoek quickly retreated inside, leaving me with an attendant around my age.
“My name is Sarah,” she said. “Allow me to show you to your room.”
“Thank you, Sarah,” I replied, following after her.
For some reason, she led me around the house instead of through what appeared to be the front door. I found it strange but chose not to question it as we walked through a large garden. Upon reaching its end, we arrived at a detached house. I glanced back and couldn’t help but notice that the main manor was essentially hidden from view.
I see. It seems Leeuwenhoek really does not like me at all.
That said, the outside and inside of the detached house were clean. It was perfectly livable. If anything, I was grateful—living in the same building as that dreamboat would have had me too worked up to get any sleep.
Sarah let me know I could use any room I liked, so I chose one on the second floor with plenty of natural light and a balcony view of the garden. The servants brought in all of my luggage.
“If you need anything, please call for me with this crystal,” she said, handing me the item and leaving the room.
It was a small, mana-powered communication crystal that worked by signaling its paired mate. A marquess household, indeed! It was a very expensive device that only wealthy families could afford. Most people used regular, magicless bells.
After being alone in my room for a while, I realized that something wasn’t right. I hesitantly went out into the hallway and took a few steps before freezing in horror.
N-Nobody’s here!
The house was completely silent save for myself.
Um, is this place seriously empty? Am I all alone out here?
“Sarah?” I fearfully called out.
Instead of a human response, I heard a rustling sound. A type of bug I’d never seen before crawled along the floor in front of me.
I thought the house was clean, but maybe that isn’t actually true. I see. Leeuwenhoek is quite the malicious man. Still irresistible, though.
How was it possible for not a single servant to be here to attend to me, especially when this was my first day at the Leeuwenhoek estate? I was his fiancée, even if he’d never asked for my hand. To make matters worse, my father, who was furious with me that Prince Bernard had broken off our engagement, had forbidden me from bringing any attendants, so I had come all this way by myself.
Incidentally, my trusty personal attendant, Lacia, had cried out of pity for me. “It’s all that no-good prince’s fault for spreading bad rumors about you, Lady Lucille! If he’d tried to get to know you, he would’ve realized that behind your reluctance to follow orders is a kind but socially awkward girl whose affection isn’t immediately obvious!”
I was so lucky to have someone who would get angry and bawl on my behalf. But had I really been that socially awkward before I’d gotten my memories back?
Naturally, Lacia had insisted on accompanying me, but unfortunately, her employment contract bound her to my father.
Still, I expected Sarah to be in the building, even though she’d told me to call her if I needed her. I guess that means she’ll only come if she has no choice.
“Hmm, that just makes me want to refuse to call her at all costs.” I could be surprisingly stubborn at times. Besides, solitary life didn’t bother me.
I toured the house, checking the other bedrooms, the kitchen, the cleaning tool storage room, the bathroom, and the study. With its large collection of books, the study seemed like it’d be a good place to pass the time, and the kitchen was fully stocked with ingredients. The house was also equipped with a variety of other expensive magical tools aside from the communication crystal, allowing me to store food for longer and easily access hot water, among other things. I had a feeling my life here would be extremely comfortable.
The amenities had probably been intended as a mild form of harassment—this way, any immediate summons via the crystal could be declined because I already had everything I could need. But even if that were the case, it had no effect on me.
“If anything, this feels liberating when compared to the painful princess training I was forced to go through when I was engaged to Prince Bernard!”
I’m glad Leeuwenhoek’s harassment wasn’t something like twenty-four-hour surveillance!
I’d grown hungry while walking around, so I ate some bread that was in the kitchen. Perhaps I’d try my hand at cooking tomorrow? I hadn’t been able to do that at the Gustelanola mansion.
The bread turned out to be very delicious.
If they wanted to bully me, they could have given me something worse...
The perpetrator behind this scheme must have been a good person at heart. After all, while it was unthinkable to treat a noble this way, in the end, they couldn’t bring themselves to do anything inhumane. In that sense, I felt guilty that I hadn’t suffered one bit from their carefully thought-out plan, but what could I do? It wasn’t my fault it didn’t bother me.
I reached for a second piece of bread. Tee hee, it really is delicious!