“Huaaaam.”

A languid afternoon.

The summer hunting festival at the Imperial Palace starts tomorrow.

Thanks to that, the kitchen was bustling with preparing various snacks for tomorrow.

And to enjoy the sweet rest that came, I was lying sprawled out in the shade of the hill behind the mansion.

Two cotton candy-like clouds were floating lightly over the blue sky, being pushed by the wind.

The weather was hot, but sitting still under the shade, a cool breeze blew.

I stretched hugely and blankly stared at the passing clouds.

The mansion, which I thought would be noisy due to the poisoned pie incident, was surprisingly quiet.

It’s already been a week since the poisoned pie incident.

“To think it would pass like this without anything happening.”

I was worried about what would happen if they said I poisoned the pie, but that worry turned out to be unfounded.

‘It’s fortunate.’

My alibi on that day was quite suspicious.

Because I directly delivered the pie made in the kitchen to Yurian, got rejected, and handed it over to a maid on the way back.

Logically, it wouldn’t be strange if people interrogated me.

Dietrich said it would be fine, but I was preparing myself.

Every night, I was worrying my head off about how to get out of it if they pushed me as the culprit.

I should have just slept deeply during that time I spent worrying.

Ah, I should have also comforted the chief chef, who was crying that he was innocent, with more sincerity.

‘Anyway, it would have been better if they found proper evidence that the duchess did it.’

However, it seems I wasn’t the only one who felt something strange.

The servants began to whisper about what the purpose of the maid who tried to assassinate Young Master Yurian was, and why it wasn’t properly revealed.

Rumors that the maid may have been falsely accused and died were also spreading openly.

[That maid, didn’t she die unjustly?] [I heard from somewhere that the duchess killed her very cruelly. It’s natural to ask why she tried to kill the young master, but they say she immediately cut off her tongue so she couldn’t even speak?]

Everyone now knew about the story the knight who dragged the dead maid to the underground prison told his acquaintances, that he was surprised by the duchess’s cruelty that day.

“Huaaaaaaaam!”

“My mouth is going to tear.”

“Oh my gosh!”

Seeing the blonde hair that suddenly invaded my vision, I was startled and got up.

The curly blonde hair shone brilliantly in the sunlight.

I knew the owner of the dazzling hair that looked like a beautiful beach’s sand in the sunlight.

“Young Master Yurian!”

As I welcomed him with a big smile, Yurian gave a bashful smile.

“How have you been?”

Yurian asked as he sat next to me.

I panicked and tried to take out a handkerchief to offer him, but then I remembered I didn’t carry such things.

As the next best thing, I tidied up the branches around where Yurian sat.

“It’s fine.”

“Eh, but still, what if the young master just plops down in a place like this.”

At my words, Yurian drooped his head gloomily.

His white neck that didn’t receive sunlight was fully exposed.

Yurian remained silent for a long time with his head down like that.

‘Did something happen?’

I wanted to ask why he was doing that, but I decided to wait quietly first.

Because the sunlight was warm and the breeze was cool, it was perfect for being lost in thought alone.

A few minutes passed like that. When I started to doze off, unable to fight sleepiness.

A small, mumbling voice was heard.

“By any chance, was there no one who harassed you or tried to take you away?”

“Me?”

Pointing alternately at Yurian and myself, as if to say ‘you, not the young master?’, I burst out laughing.

“Not at all! I’ve been eating well and slee…”

I wanted to say I slept well, but I haven’t been sleeping well these days.

But there was no need to be completely honest with Yurian. I hurriedly continued.

“Of course I ate well, slept well, and went well!”

“Went well?”

Yurian’s round eyes became even rounder, as if he heard something he shouldn’t have.

I guess noble young masters don’t use such expressions!

“Ahaha, I just meant that! I meant there were no problems!”

“Thank goodness.”

The child was relieved, brushing his chest.

‘Was he afraid I would be accused as the culprit?’

But from Yurian’s perspective, it wouldn’t be strange to suspect me as the culprit.

Even though that could have been the case, he believed in me and worried for me.

I was moved by the unexpected situation.

I was tearfully grateful for the fact that he worried about me while I was lying down.

Having someone who sincerely worries about me in an unfamiliar place where I can’t even read was more moving than I thought.

“Thank you for worrying about me, Young Master.”

“Eh, ehem! It’s not like I was particularly worried. I was just concerned you might be falsely accused.”

“Still, you thought of me, right? I’m grateful for just that.”

As if embarrassed, Yurian turned his head the other way.

And then he rubbed the back of his reddened neck.

“By the way, are you alright, Young Master? You’re not hurting anywhere?”

“I’m fine. I just slept a bit more deeply.”

Dietrich’s words that they probably used sleeping pills came to mind. It was really fortunate that Yurian ate a very small amount of the pie.

“Still, wouldn’t it be better for you to rest a bit? Should I let you skip out secretly?”

I poked the thick book in Yurian’s left hand and asked playfully.

I was proud but also felt bad for Yurian who started studying as soon as he got out of bed.

Childhood is a time to run around outside and build friendships.

If Yurian truly enjoys studying, it’s fine, but remembering the small and frail shoulders of the child who ran away from the tutor, my heart felt heavy.

“It’s fine. I just came to see if you were alright. I heard you became a kitchen maid.”

“That’s right. I was suddenly assigned to the kitchen and have been working here for a while now.”

“I went back and forth to the main building without knowing that.”

Yurian mumbled as if complaining, hugged his knees, and buried his face between them.

“You didn’t even come to the banquet hall. You’re really good at lying.”

I knew it. The child must have been disappointed that the promise wasn’t kept.

How can the noble-looking, radiant blonde hair look so cute?

I tried to gently stroke Yurian’s chick-like hair, but hesitated.

I remembered getting slapped on the cheek for carelessly touching Yurian’s shoulder before.

I quietly withdrew my hand and hid it behind my back. Then I asked in a gentle tone.

“Were you upset that you couldn’t see me?”

“Nonsense! Why would I be upset about not seeing a mere maid!”

At times like this, he’s just like Dietrich.

Even though he can speak nicely, he deliberately hides his kind heart with mean words so no one can see it.

‘Is it a trait of the Delgado family?’

I couldn’t hold back the laughter that leaked out after discovering a commonality between Dietrich and Yurian, who were too awkward to be called brothers.

However, Yurian was serious.

“It’s not funny at all. A maid who can’t even keep one promise is incompetent.”

Unlike when he kindly asked if I was alright, his lips were pouty, so it was clear his forgotten disappointment exploded.

I wanted to admire this cute appearance a bit more, but.

Unfortunately, a maid’s break time is limited, so I comforted the child.

“I did go to the banquet hall, but there were circumstances where I regrettably couldn’t go see the young master.”

“But it’s true you were at the banquet hall?”

“Of course!”

Yurian rolled his eyes as if suspicious, then nodded reluctantly.

“I’m sorry. I wanted to apologize anyway, but I only got the chance now.”

“I’m mercifully forgiving you this time. Because I’m an excellent member of the Delgado family.”

“Yes, yes, as expected of Young Master Yurian!”

It was about time to go back to the kitchen. As I got up from my spot and dusted off my bottom, Yurian also stood up.

“Still, it was nice to talk after a long time! Next time I see you, I’ll bring delicious snac…”

I bit my lip, cursing my stupid head for trying to say I would bring snacks.

Snacks, to someone who collapsed after eating a peach pie.

I wouldn’t be able to say anything even if he got upset.

However, Yurian raised his eyebrows nonchalantly and said.

“Yeah. Bring me delicious snacks. Don’t just promise with words this time too.”

“Urk… You’re quite a persistent one, aren’t you?”

“Persistent, my foot! If you knew how many times I circled the banquet hall trying to find you that day…”

“If I knew?”

“Ah, nothing!”

When I narrowed my eyes and stared, Yurian let out a “eek” sound.

“I’m going!”

He grumbled and ran down the hill with strong steps.

I was about to return to the kitchen, thinking it was really fortunate he looked healthy, when I felt the warmth of someone grabbing my hand.

“Wait a moment. Heidi!”

Yurian panted, as if he ran back.

Strength entered the small hand tightly grasping mine.

“What are you doing starting tomorrow?”

I smiled brightly at the cute young master who didn’t know a maid’s situation.

“I’ll be doing kitchen work, of course?”

Of course, the smile wasn’t really a smile.

To prepare the snacks to take to the Imperial Palace’s summer hunting festival, I had to wake up early in the morning and work.

Thinking about that, I already felt tired.

I thought being a maid was my calling, but no matter how much time passes, waking up early is tough.

As if it was an unexpected answer, Yurian rolled his big eyes and pursed his lips.

Under the hot summer sun, the child’s face that was white from not receiving sunlight began to turn red.

“I, I’m going to the Imperial Palace’s summer hunting festival tomorrow!”

“Ah, I know that well. I’m making the snacks for the young master to eat.”

“I see.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

What does he want to say that he’s hesitating like this?

The appearance of the endlessly young little brother being mindful was lovable no matter how much I saw it.

I waited patiently for Yurian to be able to say what he wanted to say.

I didn’t particularly want to rush him or deduce what he would say.

I’ll have to run to the kitchen since the break time is almost over.

‘But I’m good at running.’

If I run with all my might, I won’t have to hear the chief chef’s nagging.

However, as expected of my baby angel, Yurian slightly reduced the time I had to run.

As if he mustered up courage after only biting his lips and fidgeting, Yurian shouted.

“Come to the summer hunting festival with me!”