Stepping into the courtyard, I was immediately greeted by a soft, sweet fragrance. It wasn't the scent of the flowers in the garden, but rather the aroma of milk, sugar, and fruits simmering, a smell that whetted my appetite.
What could it be, at this hour? As I tilted my head in confusion, my stomach growled.
Come to think of it, I had missed dinner. I was hungry...
Without thinking, I stumbled toward the source of the scent...
"Ah! Madam!"
From behind the bushes, a plump cook with creamy blond hair emerged, holding a delicious-looking cream bun... or rather, a cream-colored bun. In his hand, he cradled a pie of unprecedented size.
"Oh... so this is the source of the smell? Topo."
Topo nodded and then offered the pie to me.
"Great! Topo, I was just baking an apple pie. Please, have a taste!"
"Really?"
To be suddenly told to eat in such a place was a bit much. Besides, what did he mean by "just baking"?
The Granado Castle dining hall is inside the mansion. While the garden does have facilities for outdoor tea, barbecues, and oven-baked dishes, they are only used for special events and buffet parties...
Ignoring my confusion, Topo cut a slice of the pie, placed it on a small plate, and added a fork.
"Look, Madam, this is my masterpiece. Seven apples, plenty of butter, and a generous topping of whipped cream—a sweet dessert. Once you taste this, you won't be able to eat any other apple pie."
"...Topo"
"Please, have a taste. It's delicious.
—As a cook, this is the only way I can stop you..."
Topo slowly lowered his head. He looked thinner, perhaps by a couple of sizes, from when we first met. He had been working hard, experimenting with the wedding feast.
I took the apple pie from Topo's hand and took a bite...
"Delicious. It's so good!"
Topo looked up.
"Madam..."
"Really, it's delicious. I'm in trouble; now I won't be able to eat any other apple pie. ...I can't do without the pies you make..."
The apple pie was incredibly sweet, with a hint of salt. I took a slice and offered the rest to Topo. He ate it, sobbing.
"Delicious, delicious. Topo's apple pie is the best in the world!"
"Please, eat more. The head chef of Granado Castle needs to keep his strength up. The wedding is just a few days away."
For a moment, I enjoyed the sweets and tea, then continued on my way.
Then, on the night breeze, a gentle, sweet floral scent wafted. Under the moonlight, a rose obelisk floated in the darkness.
I was drawn to it, my glass slippers crunching on the ground as I approached the roses.
At the base of the elegant roses, a man was crouched. He wasn't particularly tall, but he had a sturdy, craftsman's build. He seemed to be weeding, his back bent in silent concentration.
"...Johan"
Even when I called out, he didn't turn around. He spoke while working.
"—I won't stop you."
For a moment, I felt sad. But then I realized that Johan's gruff voice was warm and kind.
"Marriage isn't the only path to happiness for a woman. It's better to find a place where you can bloom on your own than to be tied to a no-good man. ...Your husband isn't a bad man, but this is your choice."
He remained crouched, turning slightly to offer me a leather pouch. It was small enough to fit in one hand but felt heavy when I took it.
"Take it."
I peeked inside... The first thing I saw was a small, dark brown, elongated seed. This must be... a flower seed?
And beneath it, I found a large amount of gold coins, which startled me.
"Johan, this is—"
"Cosmos. Originally a wildflower from a distant highland, it's surprisingly resilient and can take root almost anywhere. When fully grown, it can tower over a person... a strong flower."
I was surprised, but not by the seeds... I listened silently to Johan's words.
"—I couldn't make the woman I loved happy. I understand your desire to step back and your husband's feelings. There's more than one way to live and love. Some flowers bloom in different places and in different forms.
...This money is useless to me. If it can help someone in need, that would be a good thing..."
...Johan... My heart ached. He must be around my father's age, his large back slightly curved from years of labor. I pressed my forehead against it.
"Thank you. ...But flowers can also be useful in cooking and medicine. ...I once envied flowers that were cut and placed in vases, admired for their beauty. But now... I think the soil and fertilizer that nurture them are beautiful too."
"...Lady Marie"
"Also, to the skilled gardener. Can you teach me more about gardening? I want to grow these flowers in the castle garden, visible from my room."
Heh—heh—Johan smiled.
"...You're saying the same thing your husband said when he recruited me."
I returned the leather pouch to Johan. He said he would separate the seeds and wrap them as a gift later. In exchange, he broke off a rose for me. Despite his rough and gruff demeanor, I loved his romantic side. I don't know what happened with his lover, but I think she must have been happy with him.
Enjoying the scent of the roses, I made my way to the bath.
As Mio had said, the bath was already prepared. Tunic, the bath attendant, greeted me with her hair tied up, energetic as ever.
She undressed me and, upon seeing the small bruises on my body, grinned.
"Hehe. I knew this would happen."
She washed my hair, smiling all the while.
"...How did you know?"
"Because, I see Lady Marie every day. The face and body of a woman in love. And the skin, hair, breasts, waist, buttocks, and legs of a woman loved by her partner! It's clear you're in love."
...Is that true? I couldn't help but doubt it, and Tunic shrugged, giving me a look that said, "You don't get it."
"A woman becomes beautiful when she's in love. It's more effective than any medicinal bath or oil. When you're in love, the effect is doubled. ...As your bath attendant and beauty advisor, I feel a bit jealous in the face of your husband's love."
"Aha, jealousy? First, I gained confidence because of Tunic. You helped me so much."
Tunic's hands paused for a moment. She resumed washing, saying, "Hmm, well..."
"Without Tunic, I would have remained the ragged daughter of the Chaderan family. ...Because Tunic took her job seriously, I believed I could become beautiful."
"...Hehe, well, you're making me blush..."
"Also, the women who work here are all so cool and attractive. ...Until now, I only knew two women: the beautiful Anastasia and the ragged me— but after meeting everyone... I realized that 'cool' isn't just about looks. A serious work ethic and a fulfilling life are also 'cool.'
I want to be a cool woman like Tunic..."
Tunic's hands stopped. She turned away, her body trembling.
"N-no, that's not me..."
Oh, her ears are red too. Seeing this unexpected side of her, I wanted to tease her a bit. I reached out to tickle her, but she dodged.
Instead, she splashed me with a lot of water. I blew bubbles at her in return. We played in the water for a while before settling down, mindful of our age.
Soaking in the bath, we cooled down.
"If you have any worries in the future, feel free to consult me. I'll listen to all the adult stuff."
"...Tunic is... experienced, huh?"
At my words, she huffed.
"Well, I'm just normal, more so than Lady Mio? Your husband is a bit naive, and being each other's first love, there are bound to be misunderstandings."
"Right... I guess so."
"Having someone nearby to talk to and vent to is essential. When you feel uncertain or wonder if what you're experiencing is normal, it's important to have someone to turn to. For example, how was your wedding night?"
"Wh-what do you mean!?"
I blushed and backed away. The suspicious bath attendant pressed on, and I hesitantly replied...
"Um... Anastasia is—"
"No, no, I mean more specific details from the scene."
"Eh! Eh... Um... He... was very gentle..."
"Not that level, I mean—"
"Eh!?"
Tunic grabbed my arm, refusing to let go. This feels more like an interrogation than a consultation!
Struggling in the water, I almost fainted from the heat. Finally, I gave in... partly out of curiosity... I whispered to Tunic.
"...It's not about worries or insecurities... but... I was... surprised by something."
"Hmm? What is it?"
"Um... Men... have... hair... in places I didn't expect..."
Tunic's face turned serious. She took a deep breath, stood up, and moved to the far wall. She squatted with her back to me and laughed softly.
...I shouldn't have said that! Ugh!!
After washing away the sweat and scrubbing my body... feeling a bit fuller from the apple pie, I became quite sleepy. Burying my nose in the roses, I walked down the corridor.
I heard the chirping of birds. Turning around, I saw the distant sky beginning to brighten.
Dawn— the newborn sun was shining into Granado Castle. It was still dark, but I could smell the early morning air. I took a deep breath of the clear air, closed my eyes for a few seconds, and opened them again.
The sky was a bit brighter.
With each blink, the scenery changed.
...And in this changing world, I live every day.
While contemplating such profound thoughts, I found myself in front of a wooden and brick building. Oops, I accidentally came this way. I usually return here after bathing.
Today, I was heading to the stone castle... to Cyrus's room, to the bed where he still slept. I smiled to myself and turned to leave—
When a strong hand grabbed my neck from behind.
"—Don't move!"
I couldn't move, not just because of the grip but also because of the dull glint of a knife pointed at me.
"—You're from Granado Castle, right? A maid?"
...No... but I couldn't speak.
...What? Who? There shouldn't be any burglars sneaking into the castle. But this voice... it sounds familiar...
"If you don't struggle, I won't hurt you. I just want to know—"
At that moment, a loud sound echoed in the distance.
—Clang. Clang, Clang...
It was the church bell, signaling dawn. The sound wasn't particularly loud, but it drowned out the attacker's voice, which was high-pitched and almost girlish.
The attacker, undeterred by the bell, leaned close to my ear and whispered.
"—Where is Marie Chaderan's room?"
Announcement
Thank you for reading this far. The story is reaching its climax, but I have an announcement.
The second volume of "The Ragged Lady is Doted on by Her Sister's Ex-Fiancé" is confirmed for publication.
And
A manga adaptation project is also confirmed! For more details, please check the activity report.
As a token of gratitude, I have posted a side story. Please visit the new work "The Ragged Lady and the Empty Princess" on your My Page.