‘This is… not the maid’s quarters, but the guest room area?’

Although I had never frequented the maid’s quarters, I roughly knew the layout from the butler’s previous explanation.

Since the maids usually headed in the opposite direction, I couldn’t have been mistaken.

Moreover, this west wing of the mansion, which I had glimpsed several times while coming and going, was filled with magnificent rooms.

“Isn’t this the guest room area?”

“That’s correct.”

The butler, speaking only what was necessary as usual, continued walking without slowing his pace.

Jane tightly held Yuriel’s hand as they followed behind.

Yuriel reciprocated her mother’s grip, whose tension had become evident.

Meanwhile, her mind was in turmoil.

‘Why the guest room area?’

‘Well, there might be maid’s quarters here too.’

With each step, her thoughts stretched longer.

Over the past few days, her thoughts had continued to link like a chain, unbroken.

Why had the young master summoned her to this mansion?

She couldn’t even begin to guess. Well, an answer that hadn’t come after days of pondering was unlikely to appear now.

Judging from his usual behavior, she could only assume he wanted to keep a plaything nearby that was easy to torment.

So he might have chosen the worst room for her and her mother to stay in.

As if to say, know your place.

It was a bit sad, but it didn’t matter.

Even the most secluded and undesirable room in the lord’s mansion, even one that the maids supposedly avoided, would be a much better environment compared to where they used to live.

Anywhere within this mansion would be like a comfortable greenhouse.

At least it wouldn’t leak water or fail to heat properly, leaving them shivering, like their previous home made of haphazardly joined planks.

However, the door where the butler stopped exuded a brilliant aura just from looking at it.

A door covered in gold leaf, crafted in the Pantheum technique said to be the most fashionable in the empire, no less dazzling than brilliant.

While she was swallowing hard, the butler opened the door wide.

The interior was a spacious area, comfortable but larger than needed for two people.

A modest white canopy, a bed fit for a princess, a charming mirror, and a cozy sofa that made one want to lie down immediately…

Isn’t this what any noble lady’s room would be like?

Of course, she had never seen a noble lady’s room, but Yuriel was certain it would be something like this.

Her mother standing beside her couldn’t hide her surprise either.

The butler’s explanation continued for a while after that, but it didn’t properly register in Yuriel’s ears.

Everything just felt strange.

Having a nice room, her mother marveling at the sight, it was all good, but a corner of her heart felt oddly uncomfortable.

‘Was this the young master’s instruction?’

Yuriel shook her head immediately.

That couldn’t be. That noble young master wouldn’t have cared about someone like her coming in.

Even letting her and her mother into this mansion was probably just a momentary whim.

Or perhaps his intention was to let them taste such a nice place, only to make them fall afterwards.

As various emotions intertwined and crossed complexly, the butler finished his explanation and turned around.

“Please change into the clothes in this closet after gradually organizing your belongings. The young master has requested to dine with you.”

It was merely phrased as a request. Yuriel knew better than anyone that it was an offer that could not be refused.

Her heart sank.

“Does that include my mother… as well?”

“No. Your mother’s meal will be sent here separately, so you need not worry.”

Yuriel, who had been anxious about the possibility of her mother encountering the young master, nodded after letting out a long breath.

Her mother, who had been trying to prevent her from getting involved with high nobles, seemed to have softened her stance somewhat after hearing good reviews about him from the neighbors.

In fact, the current situation where they had nowhere else to go had contributed greatly to this.

To her mother’s eyes, unaware that he might have been the one who destroyed their house, he would just be a good person who took in poor commoners who had lost their home.

She herself refrained from saying anything about him.

Or more precisely, she was anxious about her mother hearing such things.

If that happened, her mother would give up this shelter out of concern for her.

Even though she knew that warm temperatures and housing were essential for a patient.

Given the situation, she hoped there would never be an occasion for her mother to meet Cassian.

Knowing that the unpredictable young master could bring her and her mother down in an instant.

It might be ridiculous to hope for this while living in the same house, but there was also a naive thought that they wouldn’t have many chances to encounter him even under the same roof.

He was the noblest person in the mansion, and she and her mother were just uninvited guests.

But the momentary relief was short-lived as Cassian’s cold, looking-down face invaded her mind.

Remembering herself begging in front of that person made her shudder.

Yuriel opened the closet, forcibly swallowing a sigh that was about to escape.

Inside hung several dresses.

They looked modest, but the elegance felt in their texture and patterns seemed fit for any noble lady to wear.

All of this just made Yuriel feel suffocated.

It was as if he was showing her her place in this way.

But as always, she put a smile on her face. It wasn’t that difficult.

If she could be with her mother, she was prepared for this much.

Breakfast took place in the central hall.

It was unusual for Cassian, who always had his meals in his room, to come out to the central hall himself.

Upon hearing the news, the chef, looking somewhat nervous, put even more effort into the food than usual.

No, ever since the lord and lady personally took charge of supervising the young master’s food, he had been on edge, unable to relax.

Just as the appetizer was being completed, a young woman entered the hall alone, ahead of the young master.

The chef, observing the girl in a pretty dress but with a noticeably thin frame, recalled the gossip his wife had been spreading recently.

That she was the first girl the fastidious young master had taken a liking to.

That he surely intended to make her his concubine before he died.

How lucky she was to have rolled in from somewhere, when there were so many servants vying for Blanchet’s blood.

He’d heard that the servants had been busy for a while, excitedly preparing spaces because of that girl.

It seemed the girl was already a famous figure among the servants.

Of course, not in a good way.

At any rate, the girl was as pretty and sparkling as he’d heard.

The dress she wore, which at a glance seemed like something Blanchet’s young master would have provided, was indeed worthy of such resentment.

The chef, watching her back as she looked around, soon refocused his attention on the cooking at the news of the young master’s arrival.

Thud, thud, thud.

Startled by the footsteps, Yuriel stood up.

It was unfamiliar even for Yuriel to see the young master, who usually just sat, walking out like this.

Because of this, Yuriel’s gaze lingered on Cassian longer than usual, without her realizing it.

Cassian, too, looked at her without avoiding her gaze. For quite a while.

While she had occasionally felt like a noble lady before, she never imagined it would be to this extent.

Honestly, it was beyond expectations.

What would those who frantically spent their family’s entire fortune to increase their daughters’ value, preparing for debutante balls, say if they saw this scene? What would those young ladies, their creations, say?

They would probably be furious.

It’s not like he had given her a proper dress.

That ‘thing’ was just a dress he had told them to include, one he thought would suit her well as he passed by.

Because he thought it would match well with those emerald eyes and her soft impression.

He had impulsively ordered its purchase.

On top of that, the lord had gone overboard and filled the closet with other clothes.

He had briefly seen that closet in passing.

It was full of dresses that showed great care had been taken in their selection.

What was the intention behind choosing that dress, probably the one chosen with the least effort among them?

Was it that it didn’t matter what she wore since she would look pretty in anything?

That audacity made him chuckle again.

Still, he didn’t feel like questioning it. Cassian was quite pleased.

For the first time in a very long while.

Whether Yuriel had chosen to wear what he had picked by chance or intentionally, he was quite satisfied.

But… was that dress always so form-fitting?

Even in a modest dress, her silhouette was prominent, flowing down from her neck.

Her neatly pinned-up hair didn’t match at all, but Cassian decided to let it slide today.

He rather liked that look too.

“I heard you were looking for me.”

“From now on, you’ll join me for breakfast too.”

“Pardon?”

For a moment, those emerald pupils rolled in surprise.

“Come here. On time.”

At his words, those rabbit-like eyes furrowed, and her face contorted.

It was a face that said she didn’t want to have meals with him at all.

You should hide such feelings better, even if you have them.

His sarcastic thoughts were interrupted by Yuriel’s immediate response.

“Understood.”

It was amusing, remembering how she used to firmly refuse before.

And that was while still wearing a face that looked like she hated it to death.

Her docile acceptance was both irritating and satisfying.

Cassian nodded without further words. As if on cue, the appetizer appeared.

The appetizer boasted an extraordinary appearance.

The plate, filled with the aroma of onions, butter, and cheese, was designed so that when the cheese was removed, a savory soup was revealed inside.

Yuriel, whose usual meals consisted of cold soup or a piece of hard bread, couldn’t help but widen her eyes.

It was a vivid reminder of how different these noble people were, starting from what they ate.

Yuriel didn’t want to eat such good things.

Once you taste it, you become accustomed and addicted.

Getting used to expensive tastes is a very dangerous thing.

The instinct to maintain some distance and stay away dominated her.

Yet, she thought of her mother.

‘Mother right now…’

The butler’s words about sending a separate meal up to her mother filled her mind.

If she could eat such good food, wouldn’t it be good for mother too? Wouldn’t she recover faster?

As Yuriel hadn’t even taken a single spoonful, Cassian gazed at her intently.

That gaze made her breath catch once again.