Chapter 25

On a peaceful afternoon, Aria picked up an empty vase and headed to the garden. To prepare flowers to place in Eric’s bedroom.

His bedroom was bleak beyond compare, unlike the owners’ rooms in the main building.

Covered by dark curtains, not a single ray of sunlight came through, and the empty, undecorated appearance was even eerie.

For some reason, Aria started visiting the garden whenever she had free time.

As I approached the fountain, I began to see lilacs next to me, showcasing their fragrance with purple clusters.

As Aria bent down, the fragrant scent of grass wafted through the air. A lilac flower touched the dew that had formed overnight, sparkling between the leaves.

Aria’s lips stretched into a long smile as she looked at the flowers.

‘Still, I’m glad you don’t dislike flowers, young master.’

Given his cold personality, I thought he would dislike this kind of thing, but for some reason, Eric stared at the vase on the table for a long time without saying a word.

I didn’t scold or order them to clean up. I just stopped to look at the vase I brought.

Aria, who was dealing with Eric, could vaguely sense that it meant something good.

At first, dealing with someone whose intentions I couldn’t fathom was nothing but terrifying.

Because there was no way to know what Eric wanted behind his indifferent gaze. The maid, who did not know her master’s true feelings, could only fret.

However, Eric did not give any specific orders. But he didn’t treat Aria and the maids poorly either. There weren’t many pointless tasks either.

So, the only tasks for the servants were to prepare Eric’s meals or occasionally read books in the study.

As the days went by, Aria gradually adapted to her new master.

There were many awkward and clumsy aspects, but Eric was definitely a warm person. Like the boy who couldn’t express his emotions well back then.

At that moment, while putting the abundant lilacs in the vase, she heard someone calling her from behind.

“Aria!”

When I turned around, Madame Vianne, the head maid with her gray hair meticulously tied up, was standing there.

Aria hurriedly got up from her seat and bowed her head.

“I was looking for it, and here it is. So, are you planning to put that in Lord Eric’s room? 

The eyes of the head maid, who was looking down at the vase, narrowed slightly.  Aria hurriedly pulled the vase towards herself.

“It seems you’ve gotten quite close to the young master in the meantime.  You’re doing things you never did before.”

It’s an unusual behavior.  Indeed, even when she was Edward’s maid, Aria had never put down the vase.

In fact, there was no reason for it.  Edward’s bedroom bore the touch of the countess everywhere.

Luxurious furniture and interior materials, even the table with its beautiful patterns.  It was a lavish place where nothing was lacking.

When Aria silently lowered her head, the head maid’s eyes sparkled.  She seemed to attribute great significance to Aria’s trivial actions.

“Lady wants to see you now. Come with me for a moment.”

At the countess’s call, Aria’s body instinctively recoiled. Because she knew well the reason the lady was looking for her.

It was about assessing Eric’s movements. Aria’s pupils momentarily flickered.

When Aria, her whole body stiff, didn’t move an inch, the head maid’s steps towards the main building came to a halt.

“Why aren’t you following me quickly?”

At her urging, Aria briefly set down the vase and followed the head maid. With every step she was dragged along, her heart grew heavier.

Just then, Eric, who was leaning by the window in a light robe, slightly furrowed his perfectly straight forehead as he watched the scene.

“Where are they taking me…?

As Aria followed the head maid with a stern expression, Eric’s face began to harden like ice.

“Your complexion has improved since I last saw you, Aria. Don’t stay there, come closer.

The countess, with her blue dress elegantly spread out, was sitting on the sofa.

Today, the woman’s luxurious golden hair and emerald green eyes accentuated her noble demeanor.

Aria felt even more intimidated in front of such a sight. The lady was smiling gently, but the gaze she directed at herself was as cold as ice.

If it’s someone seeing it for the first time, they wouldn’t notice it at all.

But it was Aria, who had been cruelly tormented by her husband. My body was frozen, remembering it.

As Aria stood still, the head maid next to her shot her a glare.

Aria reluctantly took a step forward with a stiff expression.

“Oh dear…If someone saw us, they would think I’ve been tormenting you terribly. Don’t do that, just sit here.”

The countess nodded. It meant to sit across from her.

Aria barely lifted her heavy footsteps and sat down in that spot.

The lady scanned Aria from top to bottom and then picked up the teacup in front of her.

“I’m curious about how life in the annex is. Eric’s personality is so eccentric that I imagine you must have had quite a few complaints.

At those words, Aria took out the notebook she had kept close to her.

Since it was my first time staying in the annex, there were some unfamiliar parts, but I had no complaints. Thank you for thinking of someone as insignificant as me, my lady.

A short sigh escaped the woman’s lips as she skimmed through the note Aria had handed her.

“Really…? Then that’s a relief. Lately, I’ve been so busy preparing for Edward’s wedding that I haven’t had a chance to find out about Eric, so I just called you now. You know who Eric has been seeing lately, right, Aria? Who did he talk to?

The lady brought the teacup to her lips but did not take her eyes off Aria.  Words probing about Eric’s recent situation.  Aria was just a burden.

Even though she was pushed to the annex, Aria had no complaints against Eric.  No, it had disappeared.

Moreover, she didn’t want to burden him any further for going to war because of her.  I didn’t want to survive only by betraying him.

The people Eric met.   All this time, he had been receiving letters sent from the palace.

I couldn’t tell the details, but at a glance, it seemed like a mining site work permit.

For that reason, Eric’s subordinate from the Imperial Guard also visited from time to time.

The way he looked at me and Eric bothered me, but judging by his appearance, he didn’t seem like a bad person.

The person Eric met also included Count Dennis.

They would sometimes go out for long periods and then come back.  This also seemed to be related to the projects being pursued by the Bailey family.

Aria couldn’t tell her husband about all this.  I wanted to protect Eric even if it meant doing this.

She wrote down something that wasn’t true.

[Young master has either been in the study or going out alone, so he hasn’t noticed anything unusual yet.]Last time, a member of the royal family came by, asked a few simple questions, and then left.

Aria, who had told a lie, kept her head down and stared at the floor.

I have to somehow get out of this situation.  My mind was filled with nothing but that.

However, contrary to expectations, the countess merely scoffed.

“You’re really bad at telling lies.  Those who have done wrong usually act like you do.  It seems Eric told you to say that to me.

When the startled Aria looked up, she met the fierce gaze of the woman.

Aria hurriedly shook her head, but the lady merely tilted her lips in a crooked smile.

“Aria, I’m sorry, but I can’t trust what you’re saying.  How can I trust you when you’ve become Eric’s mistress?  Since you’ve been spending every night with Eric, did you think you could easily deceive someone like me?

Eric’s mistress? At her wife’s sudden remark, Aria’s mouth fell open involuntarily.

The trembling eyes couldn’t be torn away from his wife.

“I don’t know how I ended up being Eric’s mistress, but you should keep that in mind. That I’m not the count who will tolerate the filthy scandal between the master and the maid. Of course, if Edward finds out about this, he will be very disappointed in you. You know very well that Edward is not the kind of person who would accept a maid who recklessly threw herself around, right?

How could his wife not notice that he has been going in and out of Eric’s bedroom every night?

No, more than that, why do ridiculous rumors have to tarnish my reputation?

Aria hurriedly wrote down a note.

[You’re mistaken, ma’am.]The reason I entered the young master’s bedroom at night.

It’s because of the injury.  It’s to treat the wounds I received in the war.

Aria’s hand, which was about to transcribe the words that came to her mind, suddenly stopped.

The scar was also a weakness that Eric had been trying hard to hide.

Even if I were to relay these words exactly as they are, would the lady believe what I say?

Moreover, while it was true that I resisted, it was also true that I kissed Eric.

Aria couldn’t bear to write anymore.  The lady’s gaze, watching this, softened.

The woman, with her head held high, crossed her arms.

“Oh dear, your face is full of worry. Don’t worry.  But that doesn’t mean I’m planning to kick you out.

The dejected Aria suddenly lifted her head with a startled expression.  In response, the woman uncrossed her arms and leaned forward.

“From now on, inform me in detail about Eric without missing a single thing. Just tell me everything he sees and hears. Letters from the palace, secret conversations with the count, everything. Do you understand what I’m saying?

“If all goes well, I plan to make you Edward’s personal maid again, just as he asked.  Eric may care for you now, but after all, you’re just a foreigner who will be leaving soon. Then you should also think about how to survive here, shouldn’t you?

After finishing her words, the marchioness quietly smiled and leaned back.

It seemed he was quite pleased with Aria’s face, which was filled with fear.

What should I do? It was the time when countless thoughts were swirling in my mind.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door, and a maid entered.

“Ma’am, outside…”

In response, the head maid urgently cut off the maid’s words.

“Nobody was supposed to be let in!

“Sorry, sorry.” It’s just that…

Before the maid could even start speaking, someone burst through the door.

Even in a light shirt, the sturdy physique that cannot be hidden and the fierce blue eyes visible through the black hair covering the forehead.

It was Eric.