Isabel approached me with a blunt and emotionless expression, looking down at me.

“M-Mother…”

Please, just say something.

Could it be that she’s going to scold me?

Isabel had scolded me before in front of the nobles.

It was because my behavior displeased her. At that time, unable to say a word, I could only tightly grip the hem of my clothes, having to suppress so many emotions.

In my previous life, and the life before that.

‘Yoon Boha!’

‘Lize!’

It was a miserable memory.

“Lize.”

Isabel called my name. Startled by the unusual tone, I couldn’t open my lips.

Instinctively, I checked the item hidden in my skirt. Putting aside getting scolded, I was anxious that the item I had just received from Duchess Penton would be taken away.

“Why are you so dispirited, unlike usual…”

“Pardon?”

Isabel passed by my side. Where she headed was in front of the Master, whose body had stiffened. Just like me, the Master, completely dispirited by Isabel’s appearance, could only fidget with his hands.

“What’s going on?”

“Isn’t that person Madam Marsen?”

The guests glanced at Isabel and the Master. Although they liked to create gossip, those who didn’t want to become the subject of gossip themselves weren’t paying attention to the gazes for some reason.

“Master. I received a name card from the maid. I heard about the situation too.”

Isabel held out the name card she had received from Bitty. It was the problematic name card with the number 6 slightly smudged.

“Yes, Madam. As you know, the number is smudged. Our store’s items are so expensive that even a small issue needs to be handled perfectly.”

“It’s strange. No matter how smudged, the number looks clear enough to not be a problem.”

“Although it may not appear to be an issue on the surface… aren’t we a store that pursues perfection? Madam.”

“It’s too perfect. Later on, you might not be able to provide an item just because the paper is slightly folded. You’ll have to reconsider giving out two name cards. Seems like you’ll need to give out ten.”

As Isabel sarcastically remarked, the Master hurriedly searched for excuses while bowing. It was a struggle to avoid leaving a bad impression on Madam Marsen.

However, Isabel was currently in an unpleasant mood. There was no way she wouldn’t know about the Master’s verbal kindness.

“It’s strange. No matter how much I think about it, it seems like the Master is disrespecting our Marsen family.”

“Madam! How could I dare to do such a thing?”

“I find it very insulting. Master.”

“It’s truly, truly a misunderstanding. Madam.”

The atmosphere became even more hostile.

“Master, listening to this, it sounds strange.”

Duchess Penton’s voice cut in between the two. The gazes of Madam Marsen and Duchess Penton met. A subtle emotion and atmosphere flowed, more tense than ever.

“It’s been a while, Madam Marsen.”

“Indeed. Duchess Penton.”

The two exchanged greetings appropriately. The other guests also focused their attention on the confrontation between the two. It was a well-known fact among the nobles living in this area that the relationship between the Marsen and Penton families was not good.

“Actually, I also came today to receive an item directly from the Master. The name card I handed over also had several smudged numbers. Yune had splashed water on it.”

“…Ah.”

“I think the Master should acknowledge the rudeness and sincerely apologize to the Madam.”

At Duchess Penton’s words, the Master was at a loss for words. The game was over. The Master no longer had any excuses.

Now, as Duchess Penton said, all that remained was for the Master to apologize to Isabel. However, the Master, seemingly feeling wronged, glanced at me and opened his lips.

“W-Well. Although it is my negligence, if I may explain the situation…”

“Please do explain.”

“Actually, I had never seen the youngest daughter of the Marsen family, so I didn’t know she was the lady. I thought she might be someone who came to steal…”

The Master continued.

“Usually, young ladies don’t go to get items directly…”

“I did often have this child run errands. Seems like she doesn’t know her place.”

With a single remark from Isabel, the Master’s expression slightly relaxed. Quick-witted, she seemed to have roughly grasped what kind of treatment I received in the Marsen family.

“So I also misunderstood. I’m truly sorry.”

The Master’s expression was much more at ease as he apologized. At the end of the anxious confrontation that could explode at any moment, the one who ended up getting hurt was me.

Again. It was always me who got hurt in the end.

‘In the end, it’s me?’

I didn’t know Isabel would make me miserable in this way. Naturally, strength entered my hands.

They said to endure if you’re a pushover, and that’s exactly what I was right now. In my previous life and in this life, nothing had really changed.

“In the future, if the young lady comes on an errand, I will ensure that such a thing doesn’t happen again.”

“That’s a given… I won’t be purchasing this jewelry.”

“Pardon?”

The Master’s eyes widened. I was the same.

That necklace was a precious item that Isabel had waited a week for.

“After disrespecting our Marsen family, do you think I would want to buy the item?”

“B-But…!”

“Master. I’m sorry to say, but Lize is the youngest daughter of the Marsens. It’s sufficient for me, not the Master, to treat this child coldly. Also, insulting Lize is the same as insulting the Marsen family. Because she is a member of our Marsen family.”

“M-Madam.”

“Since the Master was the one who was rude first, I hope you’ll understand my whim.”

Isabel didn’t say anything further after those words. The Master had to eventually return the price paid for the suddenly refunded item.

Once the situation ended, the nobles who had been happily browsing the jewelry quietly left the store. The crowded store interior was now empty. The only remaining customers were the women who came to receive their items, and Duchess Penton and Yune who had been continuously watching us.

I quietly watched Isabel receive the money from the Master. I still felt dazed.

“Lize, what are you doing standing there stupidly?”

“Ah, yes. Yes!”

Isabel moved her steps outside the jewelry shop without looking back even once.

I briefly greeted Duchess Penton and Yune, then approached Isabel who was waiting outside the store.

“…Are you really okay with not buying the jewelry?”

“What?”

“It was an item you wanted to have.”

When I asked, Isabel opened and closed her lips as if shaken.

“Then what about you?”

“Pardon?”

“Why were you just standing still?”

“…It’s a familiar situation, and it seemed like a situation where I shouldn’t make a fuss.”

Isabel approached me.

“I hope you do a better job of reading the situation at the mansion. Don’t do that needlessly outside.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“First, we need to do something about those clothes. No matter if it’s an errand, what’s with that plain outfit that’s unfit for a noble child?”

“It’s comfortable.”

“That’s why you get disrespected. This won’t do. Since we came to the market today, let’s buy you some dresses.”

“…You’re choosing directly, Mother?”

There was never a time when Isabel directly picked out a dress for me.

“The ones the maids choose don’t suit my taste at all.”

“I have a dress Father bought me the other day.”

“The Count has no eye for dresses. Without a doubt, it’ll be a tacky, bright color that doesn’t suit you. Lize, bright colors don’t look good on you. Lace isn’t great either.”

Is the world ending tomorrow or something? All of Isabel’s actions and words today were unfamiliar.

“You’re finally here.”

Isabel noticed the carriage coming towards her and spoke. Only then did I realize that she had come down to the hill without taking a carriage.

The heels of Isabel’s shoes were covered in dirty soil.

“What are you doing? Hurry and get on.”

There are days like this in life, I suppose.

I hurriedly boarded the carriage.

* * *

Isabel had become strange.

Unlike the past days when she ignored me, after the jewelry shop incident, she interfered with my attire at every turn.

If my clothes were even slightly shabby, she would deliberately send me back to my room and select a new dress for me. One time, she even gave me accessories, saying my neck and arms were too plain.

I thought about Isabel’s change and the reason behind it.

‘Because I’m a child of the Marsen family, even if I’m a bastard?’

Could it be that she realized through this incident that my image influences the Marsen family’s image?

Anyway, she was certainly a fickle person, just as she had said. The errands she sent me on also decreased. Even when she did send me on errands, it was only things like giving food to the horses or watering the garden.

“But what do I do about this?”

There was one more thing that made my heart even more complicated, in addition to Isabel. I looked at the wrapped box. It contained the rabbit ornament clasp that Duchess Penton had given me.

Following the handkerchief, this time it was an expensive item. To deliver this, I needed to meet Yurik on his birthday, but it wasn’t easy. Because after the errands decreased, I rarely went outside the mansion.

“Lize!”

I heard Isabel’s voice. I hurriedly put the wrapped box inside a drawer and took out a book. Isabel entered the room with good timing.

“What are you doing?”

“…I was reading a book.”

“How many minutes did you read today?”

“Hmm. Probably around thirty minutes?”

Isabel pondered for a moment, then entered the room.

“There’s a Viscountess I’ve been close with since long ago, and this time she invited me to her mansion.”

“Is that so?”

“There’s a boy your age there. I heard he’s handsome.”

“Yes…”

“I’m planning to take you with me.”

“Pardon?”

I almost dropped the book I was holding. Usually, she would take Swell or Silke, wouldn’t she?

“Among the dresses I bought you before, there should be a relatively decent one, right? That navy dress.”

“…”

“Lize.”

“Yes! Yes, I have the dress.”

“You’ll wear that and go.”

“When are we going?”

“In three days.”

I was stunned by the words “in three days.”

That day is none other than Yurik Penton’s birthday. Could it be that Isabel noticed the existence of the gift? She’s a monster with eyes on the back of her head, so it’s entirely possible.

“When are we going and when are we coming back?”

“What does that matter to you? Don’t tell me you’re planning to read books in your room again?”

“No!”

“We’ll go early and come back before it gets dark. We have a lot to talk about.”

“Do I really have to go?”

“It’ll be good to take this opportunity to get friendly with that Viscount’s son, no?”

Oh no, I’m doomed!

“I told you, so keep that in mind. Understood?”

I couldn’t read Isabel’s thoughts at all.