This morning's breakfast was a potato and cheese galette, thick-cut ham, and consomme soup. First, I arranged the ceramic plates on the table and poured the soup from the pot on the trolley.
"Be careful not to spill on your clothes, so stand a little away."
While saying this, the one who served me with surprisingly skillful hands was none other than Lord Cyrus, the lord of Granado Castle. I took the plate in a daze, brought it to my mouth mechanically, and finished it.
"…Thank you for the meal…"
"Hmm. Then, let's make some tea after the meal."
"…A, a… um…"
"Don't worry. I may not be as good as Mio or Wolfgang, but I can make ordinary tea."
"Yes, that's… fine. But, um, Lord Cyrus. A, a maid…"
"Hmm?"
At the table with two plates, Lord Cyrus, who was about to pull out a chair, looked down at me curiously.
"Recently, Mio has been drinking tea with you, hasn't she?"
"That's not what I mean. Um—about the maid, that…"
He tilted his head at my hesitation, said "Ah," and smiled gently.
"You mean the maid's uniform is a black dress with a white apron? Haha, that's a bit much. It wouldn't fit me size-wise."
"I think it's more than just the size that's the problem."
My complaint was brushed off with a "What's the problem?" look. Could it be that he really intended to wear it if it fit?
However, his current outfit was also far from fitting. The clothes themselves were a common butler's suit—elegant frilled white blouse and black trousers. But they were barely fitting, with the length and width insufficient. Lord Cyrus is slender, but he seems to have quite a bit of muscle in his shoulders, chest, and neck. The collar and sleeve buttons were left open, and the bow tie hung like a pendant.
...Through the gaps in the white fabric, I could see his taut wrists and strong, tanned physique.
I was at a loss where to look—no, I averted my eyes and shouted.
"A… a maid is a female attendant, right? Lord Cyrus is male, so you can't be a maid! At least be a butler!"
"Ah, that's true. But my desire is different from a butler's, and I don't want to be a footman. Besides, I can't be a housekeeper even if I wanted to."
The question veered off the main point, leading to an odd response. My confusion must have been evident on my face, as he explained to me, folding his fingers.
"To put it simply, a butler supports the master's business as a secretary. A maid takes care of the master's daily life. A footman is a versatile servant, and a housekeeper manages the building. The head butler oversees all of these. —That's how the roles are divided in this castle."
"…I kind of… understand that…"
"Neither the butler nor the maid is necessarily higher in rank. In terms of work, the butler is higher, but in private life and emotionally, the maid is more relied upon. Especially for a female master, there are many things a male butler can't do. In fact, Marie is much closer to Mio than to Wolfgang, right?"
When asked, I nodded. While sipping the offered tea,
"That's true. She spends a lot of time with her… In this castle, they are the closest. I feel a sense of familiarity with Mio."
"That's it. I want to be the one Marie is closest to."
He said it so casually, as if it were a self-evident truth, that it took me a few seconds to spit out my tea. It wasn't much, so it didn't get dirty, but I choked and had trouble breathing. Lord Cyrus, offering me a handkerchief, smiled brightly.
"Are you okay? Today's tea was still hot, right?"
"Hack, hack, I'm fine, but… hack. What? What!?"
"Even if you say 'what,' it's still the same. If you have a problem with the word 'maid,' how about calling me a caretaker?"
While I was still confused, Lord Cyrus stood up. Each time he moved, his loop tie swayed on his exposed collarbone. I was repeatedly drawn to it, my eyes spinning. Ah, this feels like hypnosis… Am I hallucinating?
The hallucinatory Lord Cyrus stood behind me.
"Then, let's start with the morning preparations. Let's do your hair."
A low male voice and the rustling of paper near my ear. It seems he even brought a memo.
Then, two palms passed by my cheek. …It smelled really good. It wasn't like my beauty cream; it was a fresh sweetness with a slight bitterness, a men's perfume.
The good-smelling, male fingers pinched, stroked, and gathered my hair.
"…Wow"
"What's that voice?"
"I don't know…"
If I were to be completely honest, Lord Cyrus chuckled and continued his work.
Mio's and Tunic's hands were much smaller than these. Even with my eyes tightly closed, I could feel that the fingers touching my hair were longer and thicker than anyone else's.
"…Your hair is fine and soft, so it's hard to gather. It's completely different from mine. Does it hurt?"
With his gentle concern, I replied that I was fine. Actually, sometimes my scalp felt tugged, but it wasn't uncomfortable.
Lord Cyrus is quite dexterous, and a decent half-up hairstyle was completed. He himself checked the result from the side and seemed very satisfied.
"Good. Not bad for a first try."
"Yes… Thank you."
"Next is the dress. Marie, which one do you want?"
"Eh!?"
I was startled and leaned back. This flow, the caretaker Lord Cyrus dressing me?
That's impossible! I'll die!!
I'm in trouble. What should I do!?
"What's wrong? If you have no preference, I'll choose. With your current hairstyle, how about a square collar with puffed sleeves—Ouch!?"
The cheerful Lord Cyrus suddenly screamed and crouched down. I was surprised and looked down to see a silver-haired little girl standing behind him. Holding her calf, Lord Cyrus turned around.
"Cecilie…! Y-You…"
"Breaking the promise! You said you'd only do the hair!"
"How can you kick me out of nowhere!"
Cecilie, not to be outdone, stood up to Lord Cyrus with her small body, shouting much louder than him.
"I want to be close to Marie too! Everyone together! It's your fault for not being home at all!"
"Well, that's because of work…"
"I have work too! The meals and hair are all mine!"
"That's not yours, it's the maid's job!"
"I'm a maid-in-training! You're not a maid! You're a man, a lord, and a count!!"
"Ugh…"
Lord Cyrus was at a loss for words. Well, that's true. I couldn't help either, just watching.
Cecilie and Lord Cyrus argued for a while, but eventually, Lord Cyrus fell silent. I think he realized it was unbecoming to argue with a six-year-old and let her win. Pointing at the silent lord, Cecilie accused him.
"You just want to touch Marie, you pervert!"
"That's enough, Cecilie. No more."
When did he enter the room? Wolfgang picked up Cecilie. The old butler, with his usual gentle smile, first admonished his granddaughter and apologized to Lord Cyrus. "But that's another matter," he added,
"Lord, you must not break promises with children. If you act recklessly, you'll lose their trust."
"Ugh… Ah… Yes."
"Your wife is also confused."
"Ah…"
Reprimanded by the old butler, Lord Cyrus looked even more embarrassed and bowed his head. Scratching the back of his head, he first apologized to Cecilie, then to me.
"…I'm sorry. I'll wait in the hallway until you're ready."
The sound of the door closing was somehow poignant. From the other side of the wall, I could hear Wolfgang's gentle, comforting voice.
Cecilie, with a bright cheer, immediately chose my dress and tied the ribbon on my back. While arranging the cosmetics, she puffed her cheeks.
"Lord doesn't understand women. He just does what he wants, I think he's a bad man."
I couldn't help but laugh at her harsh words. I did caution her that it was an overstatement, but I didn't scold her too much. Lord Cyrus didn't retort with "You're just a maid-in-training, a child!" but agreed with her and apologized. Her actions are mostly allowed by the lord. It's not my place to intervene.
…Come to think of it, he has also apologized to Mio, Johann, and Thomas. And to me, many times.
…A mysterious person.
While Cecilie applied face cream, I lost myself in thought.
Lord Cyrus is the lord of this castle. He has the authority to do as he pleases with the servants and me, his fiancée.
It was the same with Father in the Shadaran territory. As the head of the baron's household, he always acted with dignity. He never "asked" but only "ordered" the servants and me. I never heard him say "thank you" or apologize. I felt it was unreasonable but understood that noble men were like that.
"Sorry to keep you waiting…"
When I opened the door, Lord Cyrus was standing a little away, surrounded not only by Wolfgang but also the usual servants.
"That's what I said. Touching a woman's hair is as serious as sex."
"Lord, when are you going to come for dessert? You only brought the tea?"
"If you're doing something unfamiliar, first have someone experienced nearby. I understand your desire to be alone, but—"
"Your ideas are too far-fetched. Why not start with something simple like giving flowers?"
"The distance that makes Lord happy is the distance that makes Marie nervous."
"Haste makes waste. It's your first day. Don't rush."
"…I get it. I won't stay in the room for long…"
The tall lord leaned against the wall, head bowed.
I almost burst out laughing again, pinched the hem of my skirt, and ran over to them.