Chapter 32
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: The Lady Who Wants to Make a Baby (2)
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"...We haven't even slept together yet."
The room was empty now. Dia grumbled to herself.
The unique afterscent of Ganeghan still lingered in her nose, but once he'd finished giving her the injection, he'd left the room without a second thought.
She'd tried clinging to him, wheedling this way and that out of sheer disappointment, but even so, she couldn't bring herself to beg as desperately as she truly wanted.
Dia knew she'd wronged him, even if only in her own mind. And she didn't want to risk earning his resentment.
'I said I wanted to live, so I tried to remember just that.'
It wasn't just the scent. Ganeghan's words still echoed in her mind.
The moment she recalled them, a flush of color bloomed across the lady's face without her even realizing it.
"So cool..."
She muttered it to herself. Then—gasp—Dia involuntarily sucked in a sharp breath. She shook her head vigorously.
"No. No! I can't let it show that much!"
She liked Ganeghan.
Yes, she had no intention of denying those feelings.
But that didn't mean she could just cling to him desperately. What pride she had left, however faint, wouldn't allow it.
If anything, it was less about pride and more about curiosity—did Ganeghan feel the same way about her that she did about him? She wanted to know, needed confirmation.
So until then, she'd act as ladylike as possible. That was Dia's resolution. Of course, she had no idea what "ladylike" even entailed.
...Speaking in fancy words and nitpicking to scold people—that's lady stuff, right? You had to actually try it to know.
For Dia, who was little more than a chick freshly hatched from its egg, nothing came easy.
Whatever. I don't know. Anyway, no more thinking about Ganeghan!
She patted her cheeks with her palms, tap-tap-tap, desperately trying to shake off thoughts of the man. After all, she had work to do right now.
"I did grab the three thickest ones I could find."
There was no desk in the room.
Come to think of it, why wasn't there a desk? Now that she considered it, her room seemed to be missing a ton of basics.
No vanity, no chairs, no desk.
Anyway, the three thick books were stacked on her bed like pillows.
"Should I just lie and say I read them?"
It'd be the easiest way.
She could earn Ganeghan's praise without lifting a finger.
But for some reason, she didn't want to.
Dia pictured Ganeghan in her mind.
He had decent looks, not bad at all, and a solid build. Now that she thought about it, Hildia and Iaseom had praised him while cleaning the room, too.
On top of that, he was an upright man. He never lied to her, never hid his feelings.
He always treated her with sincerity. So shouldn't she do the same?
A reward earned through lies wouldn't feel good at all.
'I'll be different from my sister.'
Yeah. She'd be different from her sister.
No piling up lies. The top of that pile would be a lie too. Better to build something true, even if it was shorter. Ganeghan would prefer that side of her anyway.
So now, all that was left was to read the books.
All three were ridiculously thick, but there were slight differences even among them.
She'd start with the thinnest. With that simple decision, Dia picked one up. Since she'd made up her mind, best to knock it out quick.
"Title... let's see."
[Lady's Secret Hobby]
I don't have any hobbies. Guess this lady does.
Dia flipped the cover without a second thought.
[1. Minors should not read this novel.]
Dia wasn't a minor.
Just the usual warning. She flipped to the next page without thinking.
[5. This novel is entirely fictional.]
This was the most crucial warning Dia skipped right over.
No matter what happened, the sun rose in the morning.
As dawn broke, Hildia and Iaseom wheeled in a cart piled high with food. Their destination: Dia's room.
Normally, they'd all eat together, but things were different now.
The two maids, who got along surprisingly well, moved with practiced ease. Hildia opened the door, and Iaseom slipped inside.
They'd carefully set the food down in Dia's room and leave. Job done.
"What's going on?"
"“Eek?”"
But the moment they entered, they locked eyes perfectly with the room's owner.
Hildia and Iaseom exchanged wide-eyed glances.
Miss Dia should still be asleep at this hour. That's why they came now. Why was she awake? Their stares conveyed roughly that much.
"Food smell... breakfast? Brought to my room?"
To Dia, who was fully alert, it was just a normal question. But to the two maids who knew nothing of the situation, even that felt ominous.
Hildia and Iaseom plastered on forced smiles and answered her in unison.
"Y-Yes! Miss. You have to eat breakfast!"
"Right! And you're up so... early?"
Hildia elbowed Iaseom.
Their whispered argument began in voices too soft for Dia to hear.
"Iaseom! Why'd you ramble like that?"
"Asking after her health might make her less mad! You idiot!"
"The idiot's you! Why ramble? Best to finish talking quick and get out!"
"When we get back to Miss Abera, I'm telling her I won't team up with you anymore, Hildia."
"I already said that. She just hasn't switched us yet."
"Wh-What?! Hey! Hildia! That's too much!"
"Too much? You were gonna say it anyway!"
"That was just to piss you off!"
Iaseom sniffled, on the verge of tears.
Forgetting anyone was there, the two were fully immersed in their spat.
"You two. Over there."
"“Eek! Y-Yes!!”"
Like they'd been shocked, the maids snapped to attention. Dia toyed with her spoon.
The cart, where utensils should have been neatly arranged, held only two lone spoons.
"No forks?"
"Oh, that? Ganeghan-nim said to bring only spoons. Knives and forks are dangerous..."
As Iaseom wiped her tears, Hildia hurriedly answered.
But Dia reacted far more intensely than expected at the doctor's name.
"Right, Ganeghan! Where's Ganeghan? He said he'd eat with me!"
"Oh~ Don't worry about that. Everyone knows you hate Ganeghan, Miss Dia. Probably why he's eating with Miss Abera this time."
"What?!"
She nearly yelled for them to fetch him right then, but stopped herself.
Ganeghan must have his reasons. The anxiety that hit whenever he was with her sister—wanting to chew her nails off—hadn't gone away. Seemed it wouldn't fix itself just by deciding to.
Still. She'd trust Ganeghan.
No third mistakes allowed.
Yeah, better they think she hated him. If they found out she liked him, her sister would really steal him away.
"Got it. Got it. Come closer for a sec."
Putting Ganeghan aside, Dia beckoned the two maids over.
Was she calling them to slit their throats? Hildia and Iaseom glanced at her hands before creeping forward cautiously.
"Hildia and Iaseom... how old are you two?"
"“We're both twenty-five.”"
"Twenty-five. I see."
Dia nodded, stroking her chin.
"...I'm twenty-three, so you're right at that age. No, full prime marriage material."
The maids' faces turned grim in an instant as they stared at the muttering lady.
Of the two, Hildia dropped to her knees first.
"S-Sorry! Miss! Please spare me! I have nothing if you kick me out!"
Iaseom flung herself flat on the floor.
"Spare me! Spare me! Don't throw me out! Miss Dia!"
The room filled with wails in seconds. Dia continued calmly.
"What... whatever. Just answer me straight. Seriously."
"Yes! Yes!"
"Yes! Miss!"
"And this stays between us."
The two peeked up, nodding frantically.
Hildia and Iaseom thought the same: Please don't kick us out of the mansion.
Born to be maids, they'd been raised from childhood entirely as servants of the Menesil Family. Just like Abera had been raised as its lady.
They never questioned their station much. Sure, there were tough times, but far more moments when they consoled themselves that they were lucky to serve House Menesil. Getting booted from the estate? Unthinkable.
And finally, the lady spoke.
"You two... ever slept with a man?"