065. Of All Times
They say good things and bad things always come hand in hand, side by side.
The ripple began to stir in the quiet daily life during a midday routine that was no different from any other day.
After putting the replaced bed sheets inside the trolley, Deborah stretched her body as if yawning and tapped her stiff lower back.
While wiping away the beads of sweat on her forehead, she suddenly remembered something she had put in the hem of her skirt and quietly took it out.
The yellowish thing that was neatly folded was the letter she had received from Mrs. Charlotte this morning.
The sender was Teacher Helena.
It was the promise she had sent a while ago, to send again the meeting place and time.
‘This coming weekend, Wilkins Bookstore located in Revenville Market’
-I’ll be there from morning until late afternoon, so don’t rush and come carefully.
Deborah traced the words that revealed her affectionate personality here and there with a tender gesture.
Perhaps because she thought she could finally meet her.
It felt like her heart, which had been subdued all along, was regaining a little bit of vitality.
She had a lot of things she wanted to ask and words she wanted to say, but more than that, the longing she had piled up layer by layer was even greater.
For Deborah, who was all alone without a single blood relative to rely on, she was the only person who was like family, so how could she not be excited.
On Deborah’s face, who hoped the weekend would come quickly, the excitement she couldn’t hide fully seeped in.
Although that excitement was shattered mercilessly in just a few dozen minutes-
“Ah, there you are.”
Someone blocked the path ahead as she was just finishing cleaning and coming out.
Deborah stared blankly at that face.
She was a bit surprised by the sudden appearance, but upon thinking about it, it wasn’t particularly surprising.
Because it wasn’t the first or second time the person in front of her showed up out of the blue like this.
She, the dedicated maid of Lady Chaeister, glanced once at the cleaning trolley visible behind Deborah’s back, and then spat out words in a chilly tone.
“Leave that and come with me.”
“…….”
When she told her to follow like this, the reason was almost always one thing.
Namely, the case where she came to find Deborah on the order of the young lady she served.
Even though it was a fact she knew well, the reason she hesitated for a moment was because, whatever the matter was, it had been rare for her to come looking recently.
She was just dazed because of that, but seeing that, her brows suddenly furrowed fiercely.
“What are you doing? Didn’t you hear me say to follow??”
“……Ah, yes.”
Deborah finally snapped out of it and answered at the sharply piercing voice.
She glared fiercely at Deborah once more and then abruptly turned her body and started walking quickly toward the way she came.
Deborah quickly followed behind her back as she walked ahead.
Unfinished tasks briefly passed through her mind, but first was the task Lady Cheister ordered.
Of course, even so, thinking ‘Today’s work will be delayed again’ made a sigh escape for a moment.
* * *
“…….”
While passing through the long corridor and going down the stairs heading back to the lower floor-
It was something she had never thought of even once.
This kind of situation.
“What are you doing? Come in already.”
Cecilia smiled softly at Deborah, who had stopped in the middle of the reception room upon entering.
A smile that looked unusually benevolent, unlike usual.
But some of those present there could tell.
That her current smile was not an action coming from sincerity.
The maid standing in front of her quickly turned around at the chill rising over her blue eyes and whispered lowly so only Deborah could hear.
“What are you doing right now. Move quickly, will you?”
In case sparks flew her way, Deborah finally started moving slowly at the suppressed scolding.
“This maid is the one who was in charge of the hair at that time.”
Cecilia finally introduced Deborah, who approached, to someone sitting in front of her.
The gaze that clearly reached her.
The woman with dazzling golden hair neatly braided up was wearing a fancy cream-colored satin dress.
Her age seemed a bit younger than hers.
Sitting elegantly with a face like a pure white sugar cookie, she had golden eyes just like her shining hair.
The woman, who had been quietly looking this way, suddenly smiled brightly.
The moment she faced that angelic smile, Deborah’s heart sank without reason.
Even though it was clearly someone she was seeing for the first time, she vaguely guessed who she was and from which family.
“……Why aren’t you greeting quickly.”
Perhaps flustered by the attitude of standing and staring blankly, a scolding voice immediately came from the side.
Only then did Deborah bow her waist toward the opposite side.
Fortunately, the woman who received the greeting didn’t seem to mind the current situation much, as the smile on her lips remained the same.
“The ladies were so admiring that day, you must be glad to have a skilled maid.”
The voice coming from between the dainty lips was like the chirping of birds on a spring day…… Deborah thought that at that moment.
“Don’t mention it, I know the Constantine family also has many skilled maids.”
In the exchanged conversation, Deborah realized that she was indeed the person she had expected.
Olivia Constantine.
The daughter of the marquis family and the counterpart in marriage talks with Duke Cheister.
And the person everyone unanimously praises as a perfect pair with him.
Deborah bit her lower lip tightly.
“Oh, by the way, if it’s okay, please come by again next time. It might be nice to let this maid do your hair then.”
“Would that be alright?”
“Of course, absolutely. Anyway, once you become the duchess, all of this will be for you to enjoy.”
“Ah, that again……”
The eyelashes lowered shyly as if fluttering, and the blush slowly spreading over the fair cheeks.
Deborah just stared entranced at the scene that was like a painting.
Ah, there are women like that too.
The speaking voice, each and every smiling gesture so elegant and lovely…….
That such a person is becoming his bride.
Daring to be jealous was something unimaginable, but even if such a feeling had arisen unknowingly, it would have shattered without a trace right here.
What man would dare with such a woman, someone like her…….
Though it was only for a moment, the past self who thought his heart might have reached her a little felt unbearably shameful and humiliating.
For the first time, she resented Lady Cheister to the point of wondering why she had called her to such a place.
Just when she was clenching her fist, wondering how long she had to stand here like a fool, footsteps sounded in her ear.
Thud thud.
Quiet but forceful steps.
While completely tense, the face of Lady Constantine suddenly entered her stiff vision.
A face blooming with color like a flower in full bloom.
She could tell who the owner of those footsteps was without even turning around.
“Oh, brother.”
The sound that definitively put a period on the hoped-against-hope wish came from Cecilia’s mouth.
Deborah swallowed a low sigh into her throat and tightly closed her eyes.
“You’ve already looked around everything?”
“……Well, roughly.”
Perhaps it was her imagination, but the voice that rang a beat late felt somehow meaningful.
Upon thinking about it, it was natural to be displeased.
In a place where the prospective fiancée is present, even if in one corner, the existence that ended as a one-night fling is standing firm, so it’s natural to be annoyed and displeased.
Moreover, after not encountering even once for over a week, to run into each other at this very moment, the timing was the worst.
Please, anyone, just give the order to leave-
Deborah desperately prayed and prayed again.
* * *
She thought the marquis’s words about inviting to Elfengrin were just one of those lightly mentioned in passing.
It was that common in high society.
When meeting each other, exchanging various greetings and saying to invite to the mansion sometime.
Not particularly desperately wishing for the invitation, and not feeling upset if the other party doesn’t invite after hearing it-
Just, something like that light greeting.
When about three or four days had passed with it forgotten in memory, the marquis suddenly sent a letter.
He listed various reasons at the beginning, but the point revealed at the end was the request to invite to Elfengrin.
Having made such a proposal twice, it couldn’t be ignored this time either.
And, it was true that she was starting to wonder what the scheme was.
Raymond sent the official invitation from the Cheister family with the date and time to the marquis through a servant.
A few hours later, the reply brought by the servant had the content that he gladly accepts the invitation, and added that the marquis’s daughter would come along as well.
And, that was today.
☆☆☆
By Anna 💓
