Sending a commoner maid who didn’t even know etiquette to her as a personal attendant.

Hailey’s vision darkened.

Born as a daughter of the Armor Count’s family, and naturally learning etiquette, she hadn’t even thought about it.

But this was clearly her own mistake.

Hailey knocked on the door straight away.

Knock, knock.

“Who is it?”

Soon the door opened a crack, and Julie’s face peeked out.

In the blink of an eye, Hailey quickly checked the Duchess through Julie’s expression and the small opening of the door.

There were no signs of a tense atmosphere anywhere.

“Julie, please ask the Duchess if I can request a moment of her time.”

Though the atmosphere was different from what she had expected, it didn’t erase her mistake.

She must sincerely apologize and plead to serve instead of Julie.

While waiting for permission, Hailey organized her thoughts outside the door.

But the waiting time was surprisingly long.

Feeling strange and just about to knock again, the door opened.

“Please come in.”

Julie’s cheeks were flushed red as she opened the door.

“What’s going on?”

She asked with a small smile, but Julie just shook her head gently, not answering.

What on earth.

With slightly anxious steps, Hailey was taken aback by the neatly arranged appearance of the bedroom.

There were none of the items that had been piled up massively earlier.

The teacups that had been laid out in abundance, the tea leaf container.

Everything had vanished as if evaporated.

“Hello, madam.”

Outwardly calm, Hailey was bewildered.

Wasn’t she going to scold?

“Come in, Steward.”

“I have something to tell you.”

“Then, shall we sit for a moment? I was just about to have tea.”

“I will do it,”

“Sit down, Steward.”

Feeling strangely, as Hailey moved, the Duchess smiled but firmly stopped her.

“Sit down. I have my personal maid here, why should you move? Julie, will you prepare the tea? I want to brew it myself today.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

At the Duchess’s words, Hailey politely took her seat, feeling very complicated.

It would be better if the Duchess was angry.

This was a little worse than simply scolding.

Leading the other party into an awkward position to embarrass them was a classic, but common tactic used in the social circles to torment young maidens.

Hailey glanced at Julie preparing the tea.

Her cheeks were red, and her laughing face looked ecstatic, not even realizing the situation.

“Ma’am…”

“Let’s rest a bit until the tea is ready.”

Thinking she couldn’t leave Julie embarrassed, Hailey cautiously called for Bianca but was refused.

If the other party had been a Duke, and if she had been condescending as a knight.

Without hesitation, she would have kneeled and begged for Julie’s favor.

However, the other party was a Duchess, once a princess, and she herself was now a ‘Chamberlain.’

The conversation between the noble ladies was different from that of the knights, so Hailey had to keep her mouth tightly shut.

‘Do I have to go this far?’

Contrary to her thoughts, the merciless attitude of the Duchess made Hailey feel a sting in her throat.

But that thought was shattered as Julie prepared the tea.

Silently placing the empty cup, Julie, and Bianca, who brewed the tea herself, had the grace of a Duchess and her exclusive maid, without any shortcomings.

“I prefer to brew the tea myself.”

At Bianca’s words, Hailey finally realized that she had misunderstood.

A maid accompanying tea time.

All that Julie had done was to serve the Duchess according to her instructions.

But the act of placing the empty cup and heating the water was as elegant as a cultured young lady.

The fingers holding the teapot were straight, and when placing the tea cup, there was no small noise.

As if she had been properly trained in etiquette.

‘Let’s just make no noise today.’

If she hadn’t heard that conversation, she would have passed it without knowing.

Despite constantly being concerned about Julie, the response was so natural and meticulous that there was no feeling of discomfort.

Indeed…

Hailey admired silently.

Was this the princess called the ‘Empire’s First Beauty,’ who loved even the fair hell of the social world?

Neither harsh nor wild, but neither entirely weak.

A gentle ruler, perhaps?

She rules as naturally as water seeping, yet clearly and firmly.

“So, what did you want to say?”

Hailey suddenly looked up at the question directed at her.

“Did the Duke invite you to lunch?”

“Yes, ma’am. Since the work on the first floor is not yet finished, if you permit, he has asked to meet you in the reception room on the second floor.”

‘This morning’s misunderstanding of confinement?’ Gillian came to mind with that thought.

‘I won’t lock you up.’

Said the man with a dangerous, indescribable black smile.

‘If I end up confining you, I’ll give you such a vast world that you won’t even think of it as a cage. Don’t worry.’

Even on reflection, it’s an incredible thing to say.

Confinement!

What a birdcage.

Somehow, a hot feeling rose in her cheeks at the embarrassing thought, and her face flushed.

Without a fan, she couldn’t even cover her heated cheeks.

Bianca opened her mouth to something that came to mind in her attempt to change the subject in her confusion.

“Can we go to the Duke now?”

“Until lunchtime there is still time… Ah, shall I guide you? A cup of tea would be just right.”

“No, no, no.”

Bianca’s eyes widened, and she waved her hand in surprise.

That was when Hailey, who had been so stiff, broke her expression and burst into laughter.