Lawrence was sitting at the head of the table, and Miraila was sitting next to him.
Despite the presence of the servants, Miraila attended Lawrence personally.
She spoke sweetly to him as he buttered the bread or cut the fish.
âIt was a bit hot last night, did you sleep well?â
âYes. The temperature drops as it gets dark.â
âBut as soon as the sun comes up, it starts to get hot. If you donât have an appetite, let me know. Iâll talk to the chef to prepare your favorite food, winter melon soup.â
âYes, thatâs fine.â
With one graceful move, Lawrence shoved the cut fish into his mouth. Since she was a child, Artizea had envied Mirailaâs attentions to her brother. Because she did not receive the same love from her mother.
So, wanting to get a little closer to both of them, she sat as close to them as possible.
And in Mirailaâs absence, she looked after Lawrence, thinking it was her duty.
Even after she realized it wasnât her duty, she convinced herself to do it.
Lawrence was someone of value, who would be able to become the emperor. Lawrence was also the one who would make Miraila an honorable and distinguished person in the future.
So, of course, he would be treasured. Artizea was not in the same position.
But now, she had no interest in either of them.
During her torture, her lingering feelings for Lawrence disappeared. Her attachment to Miraila had disappeared before that.
She knew that her existence was like a tumor to Miraila. Similar to the late Marquis Rosan.
Artizea finished breakfast, she only ate the bread and salad.
She didnât have much of an appetite. Besides, she wanted to get out quickly to check the current situation.
The Salmon Meunière, which had been prepared as the main dish for breakfast, was not even placed in front of her.
As she wiped her mouth and stood up, Miraila said abruptly.
âYour brother hasnât finished half his meal yet, but are you getting up already?â
Only then did Miraila realize that Artizea was not sitting next to her as usual, but she was sitting in a distant seat.
Her beautiful brown eyes rounded.
In the past, Artizea would have apologized, but not now.
âI donât have much of an appetite. Besides, you always told me I had to lose some weight.â
Artizea said calmly.
In her childhood before she was ten, she was chubby.
Miraila always told her she was too fat and ate too much. That she should eat little like birds to maintain her figure.
Because of that, Artizea developed an eating disorder at that time.
If she didnât eat anything, she would only have bones, so Miraila shouldnât tell her to lose weight.
However, Miraila used to tell her all the time that she had to lose weight.
Miraila got angry.
âBut you must keep your table mannersâŚâ
âToday Iâd like to visit the temple outside the city. Is that okay, brother?â
She asked Lawrence for permission to go out, as she was sure that Miraila would not give it to her. That way, Artizea would also avoid hearing her reproaches.
The only thing that Lawrence cared about Artizea was her ability to serve. He didnât care for her as a younger sister.
Miraila was about to explode, but she stopped when Lawrence slowly opened his mouth.
âItâs okay, you can go.â
âThank you, brother.â
Said Artizea, making Miraila rethink the words she would say.
Then Miraila said in a radiant voice.
âHow can you be so considerate? You even think about your sisterâŚâ
Artizea had a lot of things to do and she couldnât worry about that.
When she came out, Alice, a maid close to her, approached her quickly.
âMy lady, didnât you eat well again? Why did you leave so soon? Usually youâŚâ
âAlice.â
Artizea stared at Alice.
She felt a little nostalgic.
Alice was her first personal maid. She was perceptive and loyal, but because of that, she was poisoned instead of Artizea.
ââŚâ
âWhat is the matter, my lady?â
âItâs nothing.â
Not knowing what to say, Artizea just turned her head.
At that time, Artizea tried to take care of Aliceâs family members for the rest of their lives, because she was always loyal to her.
What happened to Aliceâs family after she was incarcerated?
Not only with Aliceâs family, but also with the other families of those who died for Artizea.
Artizea had designed a structure to ensure that financial support would continue to be given no matter what happened to her.
She was also in charge of hiding the money and its link to that, in case something bad happened.
Considering that she was being more careful after she had eliminated all her political enemies, she had probably been suspicious of Lawrence long before she was falsely accused.
âMy lady, are you laughing?â
âDid I laugh?â
âYes. In this way.â
Alice laughed, mimicking her expression.
Artizea did not even show the faintest smile and turned around instead.
Even if it was an encounter after 20 years, her personality did not allow her to rejoice and embrace the other person with joy.
âIâm going out. Iâm going to the Temple.â
âYes, my lady.â
âAlice, come.â
Artizea gestured for her to come closer.
Alice leaned down and brought her ear to Artizeaâs lips.
Artizea whispered to her what she had to do.
When Alice straightened up, she said.
âSo, go to the kitchen and prepare a lunch box with sandwiches stuffed with plenty of meat.â
âOh, my lady. Have you finally decided to stop dieting?â
âI think I need to strengthen my body.â
âYouâre right. You need to eat more.â
âItâs uncomfortable to eat alone. So prepare and pack at least 5 more portions. Also, pack a picnic tea set.â
âOkay.â
Alice was confused. But she had never questioned Artizeaâs decisions.
âI donât have much time, so do it quickly. Sophie will get me dressed.â
âYes, my lady.â
Alice left quickly.
Artizea went slowly to her room.
After breakfast, Artizea usually changed into her afternoon dress. Thatâs why Sophie was already in front of her boudoir.
âWhich dress do you wish to wear?â
âBeige⌠no, better green.â
Said Artizea, thinking it would be annoying if the dress got dirty.
Artizea didnât have many clothes.
Unlike Miraila who had four dressing rooms full of clothes, Artizea had a boudoir with almost nothing.
When Miraila was getting dressed there were about 20 maids around her serving her. On the other hand, Artizea only had Sophie to serve her.
Just by saying âgreenâ, Sophie knew which dress she was talking about and ran quickly to the closet.
However, it was a long time since she wore formal dresses.
Miraila did not like going out with Artizea, and she did not like the idea of Artizea having contact with outsiders.
She always told her that it was embarrassing that her horrible daughter was out and about.
Artizea didnât completely believe her words.
From Mirailaâs perspective, Artizea was proof that she had betrayed the emperor, so she did not want to show her in public.
However, she could not yet look directly into the mirror and appreciate her face.
Sophie took off Artizeaâs outer garment and she sat down in front of the dressing table.
Then she asked Artizea, although she knew that she didnât care.
âHow would you like your hair done?â
âNeatly⌠no.â
Artizea took a deep breath and said something she had never said in her life.
âMake it pretty.â
âOh my.â
Sophie was surprised but immediately smiled brightly.
âWell, I guess youâre at that age too.â
âWhat age?â
âYou want to look pretty and date handsome guys.â
âDonât talk nonsense. Iâll just go to the temple.â
âYou could meet someone at the temple. Maybe itâs a charming knight or someone like that.â
âWho would put me in their eyes?â
This was the first time she said anything like that.
The appearance was important. Thinking about what she was going to do today, it would actually be good to look pretty.
However, it was not significant to her. Because her real value wasnât in looks.
However, it seemed as if she really wanted to look pretty.
She knew she couldnât and shouldnât have that kind of relationship with the person she was meeting today.
Sophie opened her eyes wide and smiled.
âIsnât that what you expect?â
âSophie.â
âDonât worry. Iâll just make sure any man you meet is interested in you.â
Sophie said cheerfully, as she curled Artizeaâs hair.
âMy lady, you can become the number one beauty in high society because you are naturally very beautiful. You just need to gain some weight and get some more sleep.â
âNonsense.â
âYou know youâre Mirailaâs daughter. To be honest, considering her age, now the jewel of high society is⌠jeez!â
Sophie quickly fell silent when the door opened.
It was Miraila. Lawrence seemed to have finished eating.
Miraila looked around the boudoir. And when she saw that Artizea was being combed, she said scornfully.
âYou donât intend to seduce men with that ugly face and that pitiful appearance. Do you?â
Sophie said nothing and concentrated on what she was doing.
Artizea spoke calmly.
âIâm going to the temple. What would I do by seducing the priest, mother?â
âThen why is she curling your hair? Like an old woman?â
Artizea looked at Miraila through the mirror.
Miraila plopped down on a sofa in the boudoir .
âDidnât my brother say he was going out today?â