In truth, he had been struggling with this as well. He had no standing in high society, and he hadn’t known how to help Lynnia.
Edel had only used the knowledge she possessed to help a little, but to Lynnia, that was an immense change.
After Camille’s party, Lynnia had become noticeably brighter and laughed often. Because she was in a good mood, she stopped snapping at the servants, and even when something annoying happened, she moved past it quickly.
Thanks to that, the mansion had been very peaceful lately.
“Anyway, I’m here to say that I’m counting on you to continue looking after her.”
“That is, of course, my duty.”
“That ‘obvious’ thing is often not upheld. Though, you, of course, will do your best to the point of being foolishly diligent…”
His sentence trailed off in a way that wasn’t like him.
With his hand still on his head after running it through his hair, he avoided Edel’s gaze and spoke.
“Lynnia is a child who has nothing to do with the things I’ve done. It wasn’t her choice to be born as the sister of someone like me. Even if you despise or hate me, Lynnia is…”
“I do not despise or hate you, Count! And even less so for Lady Lynnia. I don’t quite understand why you are worrying about that.”
Edel shook her head in a flurry, flustered.
It sounded as if he thought she would harm Lynnia just because she disliked him!
Only after Edel passionately denied it did his gaze return to her.
“Then that’s a relief. If you ever need anything, come and tell me anytime. Money, or anything else. That isn’t just lip service; I mean it.”
“Thank you. I will keep that in mind.”
He nodded lightly, though with a certain restless air, and after looking around Edel’s room one last time, he left.
Edel, who had been quietly watching the door he had exited through, could not understand one fact no matter how much she thought about it.
‘Why would that man think I hate him? Even though I clearly thanked him for saving me before…’
She tilted her head, let the thought go, and changed into her nightclothes. Well, it was possible that she had misunderstood him.
* * *
The weekend arrived.
After helping Lynnia prepare for her outing, Edel quickly changed her clothes once Lynnia left with Laslo.
Daisy had been waiting for Edel on the first floor, ready for a while.
“Unni!”
“I’m sorry. Have you been waiting long?”
“Not at all. It’s only been about ten minutes since the Lady left. Let’s hurry and head out, too.”
Today was the day Edel had promised to go to Portrait Street with Daisy.
In truth, besides getting a portrait, she needed to buy some clothes and items. Since she knew she was allowed to go out, she thought it best to prepare some outdoor clothes, shoes, a parasol, and a hat.
Daisy had also brought her wallet and bag, intending to buy more yarn for the shawl she was knitting.
However, as she was about to step outside the Krissus Count’s mansion, Edel felt a bit nervous.
‘I’m tense because it’s been a while since I’ve been out.’
While she had locked herself in this mansion due to her own misunderstandings, the fence of this estate had, conversely, protected her from the cold gazes of the outside world.
The commercial district she was going to today was specifically Esgar Street in Baltiche, where middle-class commoners mainly lived; it was a place where many nobles came as well because it had unique and pretty items.
‘What if I happen to run into someone I know…’
If those who were once her friends pointed fingers at her, would she be able to smile as if nothing were wrong?
“Unni? What’s wrong? Did you leave something behind?”
As Edel hesitated in front of the entrance, Daisy looked back and asked.
Standing under the warm March sunlight, Daisy was as fresh and sparkling as a budding sprout.
It was then that Edel realized. She had a person as lovely and kind as Daisy for a friend, so there was no need to linger on the ties of the past.
‘That’s right, it’s fine. I am Edel, a maid of the Krissus Count’s family. I am much more satisfied with my current life.’
Therefore, even if those who once approached her as ‘friends’ only based on convenience were to flip their attitudes, mocking and pointing fingers at her, that would only be a matter for them to feel ashamed of—not something for her to be shaken by.
“I thought I left something behind, but I realized I packed everything. Let’s go now!”
Edel stepped out of the shade and into the sunlight where Daisy was standing.
* * *
Before stopping by Portrait Street, they went around to buy some things first.
Edel first ordered two outfits that she could wear outside: one in a low-saturation sky blue and the other in a dark gray.
They didn’t have lace, but she liked the clean design with pleats gathered in several layers on both sides of the buttons running from the neck to the chest, and sleeves that weren’t overly puffed.
After ordering the clothes, she bought a white bonnet and a plain black parasol.
‘Have I ever bought items so comfortably before?’
It was the first time she had felt that shopping was fun. It was even more enjoyable now than back when she had plenty of money to spend.
‘Before, it was more important to buy items that would prove my discerning eye than items that I actually liked.’
Every moment of her life had been a test.
Because of that, now that the judges who would evaluate her were gone, she felt more like she was living as herself than ever before.
“Unni, which one do you like the best?”
Daisy, who was looking through the pre-made products at the shoe store, turned to ask Edel.
She picked out leather boots with a design that looked both simple and comfortable.
It was the complete opposite of the delicate, silk shoes with ornate decorations she used to wear when she was a noble, but Edel truly liked those boots.
Having finished their shopping, they hurried toward Portrait Street.
Though it was called Portrait ‘Street,’ it was actually on a bridge spanning the Roben River. On both sides of the long, wide bridge, portrait artists were displaying their work and had their easels set up to greet customers.
Just as Daisy said, perhaps because it was a recent trend, the bridge was crowded with people who had come to get their portraits drawn.
“They say it’s basic to wait an hour if you want one drawn by a famous painter.”
“Shall we look around first and find an artist we like?”
“That’s a good idea!”
Daisy’s cheeks flushed, and she clung to Edel. Seeing Daisy peeking left and right with wonder made her so cute that Edel wanted to give her a big hug.
‘I’m glad I came.’
Edel smiled broadly.
In truth, even though it was a cheap portrait, it was a quite burdensome amount for Daisy, who was always tight on money. To some, 50 Lington might not even be the cost of a single meal, but to others, it could be the entirety of their monthly allowance.
So, even though Daisy had been hopping up and down with joy at Edel’s suggestion to go get portraits, she must have been doing complex calculations in her head to subtract 50 Lington from her tight living expenses.
“But getting a portrait drawn is quite expensive. They say it costs at least 50 Lington at the cheapest. Unni, will you be alright?”
“I have some savings, so I’m fine. Since I’m the one who wanted to get portraits drawn with you, Daisy, I’ll pay for them.”
“Oh, no! I should pay for my own!”
“Just think of it as a gift. Daisy, you just come out looking your prettiest that day.”
Edel felt she would never forget the look on Daisy’s face then, soaked in joy and gratitude. She felt as though she were paying back, if only a little, the debt she owed her.
They chatted happily while scouting for a decent artist on Portrait Street. The weather was so nice that Edel felt as if she were floating, just like Daisy.
That was, until someone approached them to feign recognition.
“By any chance, Edele Canyon?”
“Young Lady Lucille Arten…?”
She was the daughter of the Arten Viscount family, whom Edel had known briefly before her marriage. Looking at the wedding ring on her left finger, her surname must have changed now.
In the past, she had tried hard to claim the title of being Edel’s ‘close friend.’ She had approached with such excessive flattery that Edel had actually had to push her away.
However, that was a story of the past, and now that Edel was of a lower rank than her, she had to show propriety.
Edel lifted her skirt slightly and greeted her.
“It has been a long time, Young Lady. Are you doing well?”
“Oh my, oh my! It was really you! Everyone! Come over here! It’s really Edele Canyon!”
Edel, who hadn’t expected her to call others over, couldn’t prevent her face from stiffening.
She felt anxious, worried that even Daisy, who was only looking forward to drawing their portraits, might be put in a difficult position, but to Lucille, Edel’s situation was…
It wasn’t even worth her attention.
The friends who had come running at Lucille Arten’s call were also faces she had seen a few times in the past.
Edele Canyon didn’t want to, but she had no choice but to offer a greeting, just as she had done before.
“Hello.”
Their eyes widened as if they had seen something monumental, and then they began to cackle with laughter.
“My goodness, to think I’d receive a greeting from Edele Canyon first!”
“Look at her wearing a maid’s uniform! So the rumors that she became a maid for the Krissus Count Family were true!”