Chapter 142
Chapter 142
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 142
Chapter Title: The Princess's Sudden Summons
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"Sigh..."
The young master was making a real effort to lighten his workload, but that only meant the burden of dealing with people was piling up on him instead. Lately, he'd been letting out these heavy sighs while clutching the back of his neck.
A few days ago, one of the employees named Walter had acted out in a way that was certainly concerning enough to worry about. I could understand that much.
But I couldn't quite grasp why the young master was fretting over it like this.
To me, the things he had done felt far more dangerous.
Just off the top of my head, there were more than one or two incidents I could recall.
Like the time he suddenly grabbed my waist while making that maid outfit.
Or when he earnestly begged me to try on stockings.
Designing clothes that would be embarrassing to show others and then parading them in front of women without a second thought.
The time he designed an outfit for Princess Victoria and tore Her Highness's dress right off without permission.
Or staking his life on recommending scandalously revealing clothes to Countess Tigris...
Any one of those could have landed him in court on charges of harassing a woman if things hadn't gone smoothly.
Compared to the young master's antics, Walter's behavior was like nothing more than teenage rebellion.
And yet, here he was reacting like this...
Did the young master even own a mirror?
I showed him one every morning while helping him get ready. Strange.
"Urgh..."
For a fleeting moment, I wondered if I should point this out to him, but I quickly gave up on the idea.
If I brought it up, he'd no doubt tremble with wide eyes, looking like a guilty puppy, and ask if what he'd done had upset me. And I'd stammer out a shaky "No" while staring at him.
In truth, nothing he'd done to me had ever felt bad. If anything, it filled me with a faint joy to see his intense gaze fixed on me, needing me like that.
Sure, societal norms would make me try to stop him, but in the end, I could never win against the young master.
His gloomy face naturally softened my resolve.
His gentle voice naturally melted my heart.
If he seemed tired, I racked my brain for ways to help.
If he desperately wanted something, I did everything I could to make it happen.
Someone else might find my behavior odd.
Too excessive, too heavy a loyalty.
They're right.
It is excessive and heavy loyalty.
Because he's done me an immeasurable favor.
And because I've become a person who can never leave him.
I have no choice but to act for his sake.
In a way, my inability to understand why he's so worried about Walter might come from empathizing with Walter's feelings.
I'm already captivated by the young master. Even knowing I can never reach him, all I can do is stumble toward him in a daze.
It's practically an obsession.
Of course.
This kind of relationship will come to an end someday.
I'm just an ordinary maid, and he's a man who will spread his wings and soar to great heights.
"......"
Reminded of that reality, I let a bitter smile play across my lips as I glanced at the letter fluttering toward me.
[From Elizabeth, to Emily.] The sender and recipient names caught my eye first.
I've shared the same space with Her Highness the Princess for a long time, but considering that, our interactions have been minimal.
Just the occasional short conversation when she has a question.
We even have this awkward common ground that makes us keep our distance despite spending so much time together.
That's why this letter terrified me.
Our relationship is so stiff that even sending a letter feels off.
And the content? It was an invitation to talk—just the two of us, without the young master.
"......"
My fists clenched tight.
Why did Her Highness want to speak with me?
And what about?
I had a vague idea of both, but I shook my head firmly, banishing the useless thoughts.
Either way, this was a battle I had to face head-on.
"Young master."
"Hm? What's up?"
"Could I take a day off tomorrow?"
"A day off...?"
A furrow formed between his brows, and sharpness entered his eyes.
"...Something going on?"
Meeting his worried gaze, he asked not about the leave itself, but about me.
He was usually the type to just say "Take it easy" without prying, but at times like this, he had an uncanny knack for sensing something off and probing.
Telling the truth would only deepen his suspicions.
So I feigned calm and shook my head.
"Just some personal business. Nothing major—if it's okay, I'll take just the one day."
"Personal business..."
His expression grew complicated.
I could see the conflict between pressing me and respecting my privacy.
"Alright. Handle your business and get some good rest."
Thank goodness he chose respect.
"Thank you."
I flashed a soft smile and dipped my head slightly.
He watched me with anxious eyes.
It didn't sit well with me, adding to his worries when he already had so many, but I pretended not to notice and avoided his gaze as best I could.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Having secured my one-day leave, I went about my usual routine. As soon as the morning sun rose the next day, I hurriedly prepared and headed to the place Her Highness had specified.
It was none other than the Atelier.
There weren't many places where both a princess and a commoner like me could come and go freely, so it was an inevitable choice.
I arrived an hour early and waited for Her Highness. About twenty minutes later, a large carriage pulled by three horses approached the Atelier slowly.
- Neigh!
When the carriage reached right in front of the Atelier...
The lead horse let out a loud whinny, lifted its front hooves slightly, then stopped, bringing the carriage to a halt.
- Clunk!
Once the carriage had fully stopped and even the faint rocking ceased, the door swung open, revealing the figure seated imperiously inside.
"Emily, you're out early."
"Yes... I couldn't keep Your Highness waiting."
"Still, isn't this a bit too early?"
"I haven't been waiting long."
"...Well, if you say so, that's a relief."
She didn't seem entirely convinced, but I hadn't lied.
Waiting twenty minutes for a noble was hardly unusual for a servant.
"Hop in, then. We can talk slowly in the carriage."
"Understood. Excuse me."
I bowed deeply in thanks before carefully climbing aboard.
"......"
The young master's carriage was luxurious enough, but the imperial one made it look cheap by comparison.
The solid wood frame and walls went without saying—the interior decorations, the cushioning on the seats, every visible detail screamed expense.
The interior was so spacious it could fit eight people, complete with a table in the center.
"......"
Even I, who worked for a powerful minister's family, was awestruck. Suppressing my inner gasps of admiration, I gingerly took a seat in an empty spot. Sera, Her Highness's maid, then carefully set a cup of tea before me.
"Thank you."
"Let me know if you need more."
"Yes."
I had no intention of asking for seconds, but I smiled and nodded anyway.
Once Sera handed me the tea and sat down...
The carriage plunged into silence.
I waited for Her Highness to speak first.
And she sat there, arms crossed, staring right through me like she was sizing me up. No conversation flowed.
The heavy atmosphere sent tension flooding through my body.
"Thanks for answering my sudden discourteous summons, Emily."
"N-No, it's nothing. I didn't have any plans this weekend anyway. More importantly, could you tell me why you've called for me?"
"The reason I summoned you so abruptly is simple—I wanted to talk about William. There's a lot I want to hear from you, in all sorts of ways."
"About the young master...?"
"Yes."
I'd expected it to be about him, but jumping straight in without small talk caught me off guard.
"I'm not sure I can speak properly about him."
"It's fine—no difficult questions. Just simple ones. Answer honestly. Very honestly."
"Yes..."
She emphasized "honestly," moistened her lips with tea, then fixed me with a piercing stare and a meaningful smile before speaking.
"Emily, do you like William?"
"......"
A short question, but it squeezed the air from my lungs like a vise.
Blood drained from my head, and my vision darkened. My mind went blank.