In response to the polite greeting, Casey also nodded slightly.

“I am Ines Swenden, the daughter of the Swedish artist.”

“Swenden?”

“Oh, you probably haven’t heard of it. I came from Landhill.”

Casey smirked and glanced at Ines for a moment.

“I am Lady Hampsher. The name Swenden seems familiar.”

Hampsher? Ines’s eyes were filled with doubt. Casey’s name at that time was not Casey Hampsher.

Her name was Casey Olando.

“I heard you went to the temple as a maiden…”

While Ines was briefly reminiscing about the past, Casey asked straightforwardly.

“Oh, you knew about me. It’s been about half a year since I completed my term.”

Casey nodded and continued walking towards where the fabrics were.

“You might be curious about how I know you. My family is in Landhill.”

“Olando…”

“Yes. The Olando artist family.”

Then Casey chuckled.

“Our family recently proposed a marriage alliance to the Yeongae family. But it seems Yeongae is in the capital.”

“I didn’t know about the proposal. As you can see, I came to the capital.”

She looked at Ines briefly with her eyes.

“But why did you come to the capital? I heard your family became incredibly wealthy due to a gold mine.”

As Casey approached the crowd, they discreetly moved away. Although she spoke in a somewhat submissive manner, no one openly insulted her, perhaps because she was still in the royal palace.

“Did you come here to spend money?”

“Not exactly… Lady Hampsher. If you have time, would you like to have tea with me?”

Casey paused for a moment from scanning the fabrics. Then, in her eyes directed at Ines, there was an inexplicable sensuality.

“I’m not very interested.”

“I have something to tell you.”

“I don’t know why, but I chose the wrong person.”

“What do you mean…”

“I’m not a good match for you. I’m about to leave the palace. If you want to establish yourself in the capital, choose a better person.”

After finishing her words, she thought Ines would move away on her own, so Casey began to choose fabrics again. However, Ines did not give up. Although she came to the dressing room every day and wandered around, there was no specific plan. But the moment she saw Casey, Ines was convinced that she had to catch her.

“Lady Hampsher, I am the same.”

“What do you mean by the same?”

“I also say that I’m not a good person to be with you. You know that well.”

“…?”

“And the place I want to establish myself is not the capital. Please give me some time. It won’t take long.”

She sighed heavily.

“Fine. But it’s inconvenient here.”

Without hesitation, Ines nodded, and Casey shook her head reluctantly.
“I don’t want people to gossip about us being together, so after I leave, come to the carriage storage at the intersection 10 minutes later.”

“Yes.”

Ines answered briefly and immediately distanced herself from Casey. After requesting the dressmaker to choose appropriate jewelry, she waited for 10 minutes.

Ines sent away the hotel staff who had come with her to the dressing room and headed alone to the carriage storage.

Soon, the two sat facing each other inside the carriage.

“I’ll say it again; I clearly said that I won’t be of much help to you.”

In the slightly dim interior, the woman’s hair, which appeared dark brown, had a much richer color. She was a beautiful woman with a keen and distinct impression. Royal maids generally had a fair complexion. Since they were always seen halfway in Landhill, it was a new impression for Ines.

“It’s not too late to get off the carriage now if you want.”

Unless there was a change, she would soon quit her maid job.

The hierarchy of male and female servants within the palace was clear. Each castle where the nobility resided had assigned male and female servants.

However, for male nobles, there were male servants, and for female nobles, there were maids assigned as close attendants.

The main duties of the close attendant maids were to play gambling, take walks, and assist in shopping. It was more appropriate to see them as friends who accompanied and chatted or sometimes acted as information brokers.

Since the positions of these maids were determined by the position of the noble family, they stood on a very unstable power.

There were also maids who handled secretary duties, and they stayed in their positions even when the owner of the castle changed.

Especially, the maids in charge of managing the emperor’s palace and empress’s palace held considerable power. Eventually, they became heads of maids and wielded significant influence not only in managing all the palace residents but also politically.

However, not all palace maids could hold the close attendant position.

Only close attendant maids, secretary maids managing the castle, and maids in the emperor’s palace and empress’s palace could hold the position.

“Lord Carson will soon ascend to the throne, so I have to vacate the palace within a few days.”

The meaning of what she was saying was clear. Therefore, it meant that she had no power to grant any request, no matter what Ines asked for.

“So, if you want to plead with the palace, it means I’m not very valuable.”

“Do you want to stay in the royal palace, ma’am?”

The sudden question made Casey frown as if she were uncomfortable.

“I don’t think we have such deep conversations.”

“I’m sorry if you felt uncomfortable. But I just wanted to know. I didn’t mean anything else.”