In the end, I got a good scolding from the nanny. She said I should have listened when she asked me not to go outside because it was dangerous, and I had no response. I tried to defend myself by saying I had gotten permission from Lady Joelli, but it didnât work at all. Robert, standing beside me, laughed at my predicament. That annoying brat.
"Go to your room and rest for now. I'll talk to them for you."
"But, butâ"
"Also, wash your face."
My face? I touched it, wondering if something was on it, but nothing came off on my hand. The nanny kept waving her hand, and I had to leave as if I were being chased out.
Only after I returned to my room did I check my face. My eyes, nose, and cheeks were swollen and red, clearly showing that I had been crying. Oh my.
Robert must have been staring at me because of this. I had been so used to hiding my face with my bangs that I hadnât noticed. Then I noticed my shortened bangs, revealing my unsightly face.
Did Vincent recognize me? I shook my head. Thereâs no way. He had never seen my face. How could he recognize someone he had never seen? Even if he did, he wouldnât remember a runaway maid from five years ago. Fortunately. I thought, and smiled bitterly.
I washed my red, swollen face with cold water and returned to find Alicia sitting on the bed. But something was off. She was staring blankly into space. Why was she like that?
But today, I felt unusually tired and didnât want to deal with her. Thinking I might as well get some sleep, I lay down on the bed, but Alicia suddenly asked me a question.
"Isn't that man handsome?"
I opened my eyes. Alicia had come to sit beside me.
"Isn't he handsome?"
"Who?"
"The man I saw this morning."
I frowned at her expectant face. If she was talking about the man she saw this morning, it had to be Vincent. Why bring up Vincent all of a sudden?
Come to think of it, Alicia had been acting strange ever since I saw him. She would stare into space, burst into sudden laughter for no reason, and now she was asking me such a question.
Could it be...
I felt a sense of foreboding. I scowled and sat up. Aliciaâs large eyes sparkled.
"His name is Vincent. Vincent Bellunita."
"..."
"Vincent... His name is so handsome too."
A smile spread across Aliciaâs face as she repeated his name. Her cheeks were slightly red, like a girl in love. But in this situation, it wasnât a good sign.
"Still, it doesn't seem right."
"What are you talking about all of a sudden?"
"That guy. Heâs Johnny."
Why Johnny all of a sudden? He seemed to be doing well. Recently, I had often seen the two of them having a cozy conversation, and there was a strange atmosphere between them. Of course, most of the time Alicia was just being nice to Johnny to use him, but still, thatâs how it was.
But why is she acting like this all of a sudden?
Seeing my puzzled look, Alicia crossed her legs and irritably brushed her hair back.
"Still, itâs not him. I canât live like this anymore."
"What are you talking about? And I have something to say too. You said you wanted to run away last time, right? That you didnât like it here."
"Iâm not going."
What?
"What are you talking about?"
"Iâm not going. I wonât run away."
Is she serious? I stared at her intently. Her face was unwavering, and there was no sign of lying. She looked at me calmly, not angry or nagging as usual, which made me even more uneasy.
"You said you wanted to run away. You said you didnât like it here."
"I did, but my mind changed just now."
"Why?"
"That man."
The way she said it, her lips curled seductively. Alicia smiled dreamily, as if thinking of someone. She twirled the ends of her long hair with her index finger and twisted her body, rarely showing shyness.
That man.
I immediately knew who she was talking about.
"âŚWhy him?"
"Iâm going to seduce him."
I doubted my ears at her brazen statement. Despite my shocked reaction, Alicia lifted her chin haughtily and didnât retract her words. She looked even more confident.
"Am I that bad? Sure, our social status is different, but with this level of beauty and figure, I can overcome it."
"Are you crazy?"
It was a genuine question. I really thought Alicia was crazy. She had never been normal, but today was especially bad. I looked at her as if she were a strange person. Alicia had a look that said, "What about me?"
"As long as we like each other, thatâs enough."
"Like each other? Youâve only just met him this morning."
"So what? I knew he was my destiny at first sight."
"How can you say that? It doesnât make sense."
"Why doesnât it make sense? Weâre meant to be."
"How can you say youâre meant to be when youâre the only one who likes him? He doesnât even know you exist."
"Iâll make him know me from now on."
"..."
I was at a loss for words. It was too absurd. Getting to know each other isnât something you can decide on your own. Vincent doesnât even know Alicia exists. But Alicia looked determined, as if she really intended to seduce Vincent.
"That man is the master here. The Earl! I thought the lady was the master, so I was just being nice to her. Oh my, I didnât expect such a handsome Earl. And with this level of wealth⌠itâs a perfect match for me."
"Alicia."
"I think coming here was a good decision."
"Alicia."
"Why do you keep calling me?"
Alicia frowned, looking annoyed. I wanted to be annoyed too.
"I have something to say to you. Before we came here, you said we were going to the Stella family, right? But it wasnât."
"Did I say that?"
"What?"
"It might not have been. Why are you getting angry?"
"Getting angry? Youâre saying different things! If it was dangerous, what were you going to do?"
"Itâs not dangerous, so itâs fine, isnât it?"
"Alicia!"
Alicia shrugged, looking bothered.
"You decided to come with me. Donât blame me."
"I thought we were going to the Stella family!"
"Why, is there a reason you canât go to another family? It might have been dangerous, but in the end, itâs a proper place. Whatâs the problem?"
"ThatâsâŚ"
The problem is that this is the Bellunita family. The problem is that Vincent is here. But I couldnât bring myself to say it. I didnât know how Alicia would react if she found out I had run away from here and had been a servant here originally.
As I hesitated, Alicia glared at me sharply.
"Could it be that you ran away from here?"
"âŚNo."
"No? Are you sure?"
"Yes, no. Anyway, what I want to say is, you know. I was hired as a servant at an earlâs house before, and I got into trouble. Iâm still being chased, and I donât know when I might die. Yet you decided to come here as a servant, even hiding the fact that the family had changed. Do you understand what Iâm saying?"
"Ah, I get it. I donât want to hear any more, so stop talking."
Alicia waved her hands and moved to her own bed. I didnât give up and kept talking. Eventually, Alicia admitted that she didnât know whether this was the Stella family or another family, but even if it had changed, what was the problem?
I sighed deeply.
"Stop dreaming and letâs go. Weâre only provisionally hired. People with unclear backgrounds wonât last long. We might as well find a proper job now."
"I donât want to."
"You reallyâ"
"I told you before, I donât care about your situation. Iâve decided to stay here. Once I seduce the Earl, provisional hiring or whatever wonât matter."
I sighed deeply again. My head hurt. I rubbed my forehead and took a deep breath. Yeah, I knew you wouldnât say anything different. The reason we came here was because of Aliciaâs stubbornness.
It was too easy for her to start something so suddenly and then end it just as quickly. But I never imagined Alicia would fall for him. I never dreamed this would happen.
"If you want to go, go alone. I wonât stop you."
"You donât understand the hearts of the nobles. To them, people like us are like insects. Besides, do you know what kind of person the Earl here is? His personality⌠could be very dirty."
"How do you know that?"
By experience.
"Just, thatâs how most nobles are."
"Well, if itâs easy, it wouldnât be fun."
"You might die."
"So what? My life with you is no different from death."
In the end, Alicia wouldnât budge.
* * *
Aliciaâs words were so absurd that I couldnât even respond. Instead, my head started to hurt. She was the type who would stick to her stubbornness and do whatever she wanted. I knew she wasnât lying.
Alicia had been raised in a poor family but was treated like a princess. She had never done a dayâs work and had never begged on the streets.
She acted like a spoiled brat, and people indulged her. Her beautiful face was loved and admired by everyone, and even her father didnât dare touch her. She must have felt the special treatment she received. So, she wasnât afraid of anything.
Given her upbringing, I could understand her confidence. But it was limited to Filton. Perhaps accepting the heart of the lordâs son who liked her was the fastest way to the life she wanted. But she had missed that chance and was now aiming for something even higher.
How could I calm her stubbornness? Alicia frowned.
"Donât look at me like that."
"What do you mean?"
"Youâre ignoring me. You think Iâm talking nonsense. You always do that. You ignore me and look down on me."
"..."
"Whatever you think doesnât matter. Just donât interfere with me."
Alicia turned her back firmly, signaling she didnât want to talk anymore. I sighed deeply. Who was ignoring whom? She always acted like I was the bad one.
In the end, sheâs going to stick to her stubbornness. I didnât feel good about it. Vincent and Alicia? I couldnât imagine it. No, I didnât even want to imagine it. I knew it was unlikely, but even knowing thatâŚ
"Because heâs handsome."
Yeah, because heâs handsome. I muttered and quickly waved it off. I sighed again. Someone tapped my shoulder. I turned to see Johnny staring at me blankly.
"What are you thinking about, sighing like that?"
"Ah, nothing."
I waved it off and glanced ahead. Lady Joelli was getting ready for a party, wearing a lush dress with a blue hem, and admiring herself in the mirror. Alicia stood behind her, rarely smiling and flattering Joelli, saying how beautiful she looked.
Joelli was attending a party today, so she had been preparing since early morning. Robert was also getting ready for the party. Of course, Robertâs preparation was already done, and he was waiting for Joelli to finish.
Naturally, Alicia and Johnny were in her room from early morning, serving her. Johnny stood behind me, while Alicia did most of the serving. The nanny helped Alicia, and I quietly stayed by Robertâs side.