“Earl’s status, perhaps?”

As I waited for the woman’s answer, I assessed her haughty demeanor and the clothes she wore to guess her social standing.

“Someone below the status of an Earl couldn’t possibly behave so audaciously.”

I was curious if my assumption was correct, but the woman firmly shut her mouth and gave no reply.

“She must have heard me.”

Worried she might not have caught my words, I emphasized them deliberately. Despite my straightforward question, the woman struggled to answer.

“Is she planning to drag this out and not speak at all?”

A sense of defeat filled the woman’s face.

She seemed surprised, as if she hadn’t anticipated being caught off guard by the title I used.

I was merely a 4yearold child; she hadn’t expected to be cornered by me like this.

“After all, who causes a commotion in someone else’s home?”

Honestly, I had no intention of getting involved in such matters.

Even before coming to the Duke’s house, I had often seen nobles mistreating their maids.

It was a common occurrence. Most nobles didn’t even treat their employees as human beings.

Considering that, the Duke and Clemens’s behavior was a bit surprising.

“The Duke and Clemens have never mistreated their employees.”

Though the Duke did seem to overwork his knights and Phyllene, there were no instances where he vented his anger like this.

“When I first met Clemens, he even greeted Sophia and Delma without hesitation.”

That was somewhat surprising, but it didn’t mean they were particularly virtuous people.

Eventually, whether it’s the Duke or Clemens, they would exploit those who worked for them, whether those people lived or died.

“Anyway, I truly intended to pass by without noticing.”

But when a shoeclad foot came crashing down on the trembling maid lying on the floor, I just couldn’t stand idly by.

The woman still had not revealed her name. Annoyed, I let out a sigh and asked,

“Surely you’re not expecting me to introduce myself first?”

In Hesera, the only person holding a ducal position was Kailieus, and his only daughter is me.

According to noble etiquette, those of lower status must first announce their lineage and name to those of higher status.

In other words, unless I’m the Empress or the Emperor, I don’t need to introduce myself first.

“Sophia taught me all that.”

I haven’t had a tutor due to my age, but even Sophia knew the basic etiquettes.

Sophia had periodically educated me about these etiquettes.

“It’s strange how Sophia knows these things.”

She’s a commoner, so how does she know noble etiquette?

“Has she learned this by working in the Duke’s house for a long time?”

“My name is Flores of the Racquel family.”

She answered fluidly, quite a change from her previous hesitation.

Just as I thought it was a bit unexpected, a spirited voice shouted from behind.

“Who do we have here! Isn’t this the honorable Cynthia of the Shusted family?”

“….”

The woman who had just introduced herself as Flores quickly turned her head.

Following her gaze, a man with auburn hair grinned and waved at us.

I mulled over the man’s words and then spoke to the woman who’d called herself Flores.

“That’s strange, I thought I heard you say you’re Flores.”

“….”

She clamped her mouth shut again. Staring at her, I muttered,

“What, is this another mistake?”

She had heard me but said nothing.

Upon closer look, the woman’s knees had touched the ground, as if she had lost all her energy.

To anyone watching, it would look like she had knelt before me. Seeing her as no longer worth my attention, I turned away and helped the maid up.

The maid looked at me and moved her lips soundlessly to convey her message.

“Thank you.”
It seemed she couldn’t speak aloud because my master was right in front of her.

Of course, I understood. No, it didn’t matter if she didn’t thank me.

Rather, I was worried about the retribution this maid would face later.

‘It was merely a chance encounter where I helped her.’

Taking out her frustrations in secrecy would not be difficult for that woman.

But if I intervened any further, the situation would only worsen.

I decided not to involve myself in this matter anymore.

‘Actually, it’s none of my business.’

As I was about to move, a pair of legs appeared in front of me, blocking my way.

The man blocking me greeted me cheerfully.

“Cynthia, my lady, it’s been a long time!”

“Ah, yes, yes. How have you been? Uh, Duke Constans.”

“Indeed, indeed, it’s our first private greeting, isn’t it?!”

‘Ah, really?’

It was unexpected. The man called the Duke seemed so happy to greet me, I thought they were close friends.

Cynthia, who was receiving the greeting, also seemed nervous.

‘It seems both were invited to the banquet.’

The east hall was in an annex, and I had deliberately been walking near the main building.

But why do people keep appearing here?

‘If I knew this would happen, I would’ve come with Ian.’

I thought I only needed to wander around the main building, so I didn’t think an escort was necessary.