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SERVANTS dressed in black livery surrounded Kiki. She caught sight of Dazzle and tried to talk, but reconsidered and quickly covered her mouth.
“Lady Iris, Dazzle…” she murmured.
I stepped in front of my coachman. “Pardon me. That girl there is my maid. Is anything the matter?”
“Is that so?” one of the servants said as they all shrugged, exasperated.
I caught a whiff of alcohol and a strong odor of tobacco from the servants. They’d already had a glass at a tavern.
“She bumped into us, you see, and she’s been standing here without offering a word of apology,” a servant said.
“I’m not aware of who you are, madam, but kindly discipline your maid,” said another.
They looked at me with a snicker. Their expressions said it all—they harassed Kiki, knowing she was the maid of the Stock household.
“I apologize for the trouble that my maid has caused,” I said. I kept my back straight, bent my knees, and bowed my head. However, they weren’t satisfied.
“This won’t be resolved with a simple apology. I’m sorry to say, but unlike your lowly maid, we’re from an aristocratic family. Our new livery have been sullied with her filth, and we can’t meet the viscount, our master, like this.”
The servant just used the influence of the Teressa household to harass the new aristocrats. Disappointed, I once again looked at their faces. These men served Viscount Teressa’s only child, Erika. I’d seen them occasionally during my academy years and at socialite parties. Butlers and male servants who worked within the house were expensive. Though Erika was an only child, one could tell the wealth and power of her household as she had multiple male servants accompany her on a trip.
“Is anything the matter, madam of an unknown household?”
I thought for a moment before answering. “I understand your concerns. How about we part ways and pretend this never happened? Would you kindly accept this arrangement?”
The men looked at me, stunned by my words.
“Pardon me, madam, but I don’t quite understand what you’re saying.”
Kiki looked shocked as well, but I answered them head-on.
“I apologize for my late introduction. My name is Iris Karelia. I went to the same academy as Lady Erika.”
Currently, I was still the daughter of Marquess Karelia. The servants looked at me with knowing and condescending smirks. I’d expected as much, but I’d never experienced such rudeness as the daughter of the Karelia household before. I once again thought about the status that I’d lose by marrying a new aristocrat.
A warm hand rested on my shoulder. Dazzle, keeping his hand hidden, patted me. His warmth reassured me. I knew that he was signaling in the best way that he could that he’d protect me at any cost. Lord Lucas’s servants were kind people. I looked at the men once more, puffing out my chest and standing resolute.
“I borrowed this maid from Baron Stock. I’m still a part of the Karelia household,” I said.
“What are you trying to say, Lady Iris?” a servant said.
I sighed at their ignorance. “Had she truly ‘sullied’ your attire, you’d sue us for the fees, correct? If so, this would go to trial at the royal capital, and it’d be between Viscount Teressa’s household and Marquess Karelia’s household.”
The men looked troubled, understanding the weight of what a trial would entail. “N-No…she just dirtied our suits a little.”
“Had this simply been a matter between Teressa and Karelia, I believe it wouldn’t be much trouble. However, this maid is a servant that the house of Karelia borrowed from the house of Stock. As such, we must show a certain degree of respect toward Lord Stock. Even if it’s just for show, it’s only natural that we take the necessary steps, as Marquess Karelia is part of the Traditional Twelve. I hope this isn’t an issue for you?”
The servants turned pale as they exchanged glances.
I continued, “In addition, it’s the current king himself that encouraged the expansion of the new aristocrats. Should we fight this in the royal capital, the entire kingdom, including His Majesty, would take note of the actions of the Karelia household, a part of the Traditional Twelve, as well as the new aristocrat, who has been formally approved under his reign. It goes without saying, but the household of Viscount Teressa will also be under scrutiny. However, I truly don’t wish to escalate matters to that degree.”
The servants fell silent. I stood my ground. They’d initiated the argument, so they didn’t wish to back down, but they were also panicked, thinking that their actions may have been out of line.
Suddenly, a cheery voice echoed through the air. Dazzle casually stepped between us as he hid Kiki behind him. “Now, now! I’m not quite sure of the small stuff, but why don’t we just call it quits, huh?”
“How dare a mere coachman speak out of turn,” a servant muttered.
“Come now, this is no place to talk. We don’t want to gather a crowd and create a ruckus now, do we?” Dazzle looked around as he tried to appease these excited drunkards. As he’d said, we were gathering quite the crowd. “Besides, my master has put Lady Iris under my care. If his future wife gets into any trouble, I’ll be toast! Please, do it for me! I don’t want to wander the streets! Goodbye!”
He winked at the silent servants, patted Kiki’s and my shoulders, and ushered us into the inn. He escorted us into our room and slammed the door shut behind him.
“We should be good,” he said.
He was quick. While I was still shocked, Kiki cried with gratitude next to me.
“Um… Dazzle, thank you so much!”
“You have my gratitude as well. I appreciate you stepping in,” I said.
He tousled Kiki’s hair and gave me a squinty-eyed smile as I thanked him. “It’s great that you’re brave, my lady, but please don’t give me such a scare. And Kiki, try your best to scream for help next time,” he said.
“Okay!” Kiki replied enthusiastically.
“And thank Lady Iris. Had she not seen you, we might not have made it in time.”
“Waaah! Thank you so much, Lady Iris!” She bowed fervently, her eyes still red.
In any case, I was glad that we were all safe thanks to Dazzle.