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Mistake (1)
“It’s really awesome.” Buttercup dressed Lily the entire morning. “The jewels that the lord bought when he caught a dragon are now doing their part.”
The maids walking side by side couldn’t help but join in the conversation.
“Madam always rejected our praises, but today she accepted them without saying a word! No one knows how thrilled I am.”
Buttercup stood on the chair. “I had her hair braided down and then I put it around the back of her head. Don’t you think that it emphasizes Madam’s graceful neck?”
The maids who adorned Lily scrambled to explain.
“I put a spring flower diamond hairpin the size of a palm on the left side of her hair. The petals and leaves are all crafted with such great skill that one can see the leaves at the back. I also paired it with earrings about the size of a thumbnail and a necklace that fits snugly around her neck. The effect is absolutely superb.”
The ornaments were all so elegant. The dress showed the collarbone and straight shoulders. It was almost as blue as the sky, embroidered with lace, stitched by hand with a shiny silver thread like Lily’s hair.
The maids roared with joy.
“But it’s really strange.  As soon as Madam saw it, she knew immediately what grade the jewelry was and where it came from. It’s impressive,” Buttercup emphasized, and the maids shook their heads.
The knight, who had been listening to the story, clenched his jaw and muttered loudly, “If you put on that much jewelry, you wouldn’t even be able to see Madam. Then wouldn’t she be a walking bundle of jewelry and not a person?”
The maids’ eyes lit up at the same time. The knight shrugged and turned his head.
Buttercup snorted. “That’s for guys like you. Even if Madam puts on her jewels, her beauty overrules the gems since she was born with it, don’t you think?”
“What—”
The maids shot a look.
“The lord was amazing today too.”
At someone’s words, they shook their heads in unison.
The mention of the lord’s face was not taboo so normally they would chatter all day about the lord’s appearance.
Lily didn’t have a personal maid yet, and the maids were under Vlad’s charge, so it was difficult for the maids to talk in detail about the lord.
“I saw him as I passed by. The lord.” Buttercup once again caught the attention of other maids.
According to her, Vlad was wearing a black uniform with neatly curled hair today. His well-trained body was emphasized by the shape of his clothes, which were tightly wrapped around him without a single wrinkle. With a short red cloak on one shoulder, his figure was that of a commander who could conquer the four kingdoms alone.
“Looking at those two standing next to each other, really… I thought it was good to be alive.”
“It was a pity that the lord told bring a cape for Madam. Madam’s shoulder line is a work of art. How meticulously she fastened her cape, such that her necklace was completely covered. Why did she do that?”
Buttercup’s eyes twitched strangely at the murmuring of the other maid. “Are you asking because you don’t know?  Well, I mean, Madam married the duke!”
The maids burst into laughter again.
The chef, who had been listening silently while eating lunch, slightly raised his head. “What? Why is she dressed like that? Do you think it’s a historic day just because the two will meet in broad daylight?”
The faces of the maids who heard that darkened at once.
Buttercup slowly opened her mouth and only looked at the chef. “That’s…”
* * *
Tristan walked proudly into the drawing room, wearing a luxurious outfit. His well-groomed appearance screamed of aristocracy.
Even the scar on his neck was covered with silk cuffs.
While the drawing room of the Winter Castle was bleak, much effort was put into the interior decoration.
The dazzling light of the chandelier illuminated the elegant blue wallpaper with its hints of gray.
The tea table and chairs were upholstered with well-tanned leather. In addition, it was dyed in either a light pink or cream color to add a warmer atmosphere.
The cream-colored carpet covering the lattice tiles was embroidered with antique arabesques.
Except there was no portrait of the lord, which should normally be hung on the wall above the fireplace.
It was a dignified drawing room that was no different from that of any high-ranking nobleman.
Tristan sat comfortably on the chair by the tea table. “Finally. How long has it been since I sat on a chair?” He arrogantly crossed his legs. “Is Lily still here?”
He was expecting that she would be waiting for him desperately.
Lily was obvious. She must have felt extremely guilty when he was taken to the death row.
She was a good and weak woman.
The woman in his hands.
He also knew why she called him. To check his well-being and apologize. After all, wasn’t he a friend who was precious enough to make her stop her husband, who was a duke?
Having her rush to him on the verge of his death indicated that the victory this time was his. Not her new husband’s.
“Duke de Winter…”
The sensation of the sharp blade that had been digging into his flesh made him shiver even in remembrance.
Terrifying.
As he trembled, the auditorium door swung open.
Tristan stood up in surprise, confirming the identity of the person who had come in.
“Sinner, please stay on your knees and be polite until Madam arrives.”
The person who came in was the waitress. If not for the uniform, Tristan wouldn’t have known who she was since her face was covered with a mask.
He blatantly scanned the servant’s face.
Are you dumb?
Although it was the duke’s territory, he was still a fairly powerful nobleman. How could such a person recklessly kneel down?
Unbelievable.
Tristan trembled in disgust and lowered himself. His knees touched the floor.
And he stayed there until his nerves felt paralyzed.
* * *