Chapter 60. Testing And Trial, Part I
Translator: Khan
Editor: SootyOwl
She would be meeting with Sarah, who would soon have a huge rise in status. Sarah would tell her the story of meeting Marquis Vincent at the coming-of-age ceremony. Sarah had been born a noblewoman, but her family was not powerful, so to Annie, she would seem more like the countess, her mother.
Annie would be envious and jealous of her after facing that reality. Then, the only one Annie would be able to hang on to would be Aria, the only person who would take her away from the gruesome life of a maid and make her wear fancy jewelry.
"To do that, you'll have to take good care of yourself from now on."
Aria ordered Jessie to bring some perfume water from the melted herbs concoction. It was water used mostly by aristocratic ladies when their skin was damaged, a valuable item that would give them a distinctly glossy skin if used only two or three times.
Annie, who was still young and ignorant, was easy prey for Aria. In the past, Aria had frequently used those products since her skin had deteriorated from drinking every night.
"Your skin must be the kind that works well with the product," Aria said, simply impressed by how Annie's rough skin had cleared with one application of the product.
Come to think of it, this was worth it. Given that Annie would only have been able to see someone about her skin as a last resort, when would she have ever received such high-quality skin care? The sudden supply of nutrients in deficiency must have had a great effect.
Annie fell into ecstasy, touching her lotioned face again and again.
"Oh, come to think of it, I have a question."
Aria was giving Annie a second chance. This was also an opportunity for her to repay the grace that she had just received and the wealth that she would enjoy in the future.
Staring coldly at Annie as if she would not give her a second chance if she did not answer correctly that time, Aria asked, "Mielle's embroidery skills have improved significantly. Do you know why?"
It wasn't very important information. Annie could tell her that as if she were telling her a light tale. Nevertheless, that was the information Aria wanted to know most of all.
No wonder that Annie, who had been graced by Aria several times, did not hesitate. "Ah, well... Miss Mielle had a hard time at first, but she suddenly improved her skills after changing her teachers. I watched the lessons a couple of times, and the teacher's explanations were very simple, so I understood it quickly."
"She changed teachers?"
'That was it? Mielle's changed teachers a lot. What kind of teacher is she?'
"Yes, the new teacher was someone Miss Mielle nearly never saw. She was going to go out of the country to marry, but Miss Mielle managed to find her before that and bring her here. Miss Mielle said that if she had been a few months late, she wouldn't even have known her name."
That meant that, in the past, since she had started her embroidery lessons a bit later, she would not have known of the teacher. But, she was able to meet the teacher this time around.
Yes, because the timing had advanced, she had gained a variable. Regardless, all that work didn't matter much because there would be no more embroidery competition between them. Anyway, Aria had already beaten her to a draw.
"So, that's what happened. That's very fortunate."
Aria gently swept Annie's hair. It was the price of betraying her master and siding with the wicked woman against her master. Then, Aria gave her a golden brooch. She seemed to recognize her fault and become anxious, but the golden brooch glowed brightly in contrast with the maid's gray uniform.
"It looks better than I thought it would. As expected, Annie, you look great with jewels. The more you decorate yourself, the more you'll shine."
At that moment, Annie's anxiety vanished in a flash. The satisfaction of the gold far outweighed the betrayal of the saint. For that reason, she would side against her master again and again.
"Well... and when the teacher embroidered most of the pattern first, Ms. Mielle finished up the parts that she had left open."
"Oh, my God! So, that's what happened!"
Siding against someone for the first time was difficult. The second time and the third were easy. In addition, a person who had once betrayed someone could never return to her original place again. Mielle would not be able to use her maid to do anything bad against Aria.
Aria smiled softly, expecting that chatty maid to cause a disturbance in the mansion.
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One day, with the meeting just around the corner, Lane visited again with a wagon full of presents. There were men who sometimes pushed for quantity rather than quality, but most of the gifts he brought weren't readily available even at a high price.
"This is a gift from my master to Miss Mielle."
"Oh, my God!"
The countess was dumbfounded, and it was the same with Mielle. That was because she had only been trying to marry Oscar, so instead of accepting gifts, she had previously devoted herself to offering them. Oscar had always given something to her in return for her attention. Compared with him, the difference between the gifts was like the difference between Heaven and Earth.
'What kind of man is his master?'
It was not something an ordinary nobleman could prepare. If an ordinary nobleman sold his entire fortune, it might be possible, but it was hard to understand that he would sell his whole fortune to send periodic gifts when he hadn't even shown his face. Therefore, he had to be an extraordinary figure.
'Is he a foreign aristocrat?'
Otherwise, there was no way he could give all of that attention to Mielle. It was like throwing money on the street to shower a homeless woman. Maybe he didn't know much about Mielle or the Roscent family.
'No matter what, he must be stupid.'
If he had investigated them just a little, he'd have known that she only had eyes for Oscar. 'Or is he a big, powerful man who doesn't care about that?' If that was the case, Aria had to divert the attention that was being poured on Mielle. It was just in case she changed her mind and found a new love.
The countess, Mielle, and Aria had lunch with Lane because the count, who was busy, was out. Aria, as she had done last time, ate her meal slowly, watching Lane, who was paying extreme attention to Mielle.
Unlike usual, the dining hall was noisy because the gifts he had brought this time were enough to excite the countess, who was speaking more loudly.
"I'm embarrassed that I haven't treated you better when you keep bringing Mielle so many gifts."
"Don't mind that. It's just what my master wants to do."
"What kind of person is your master? I wonder about that since he's so interested in Mielle."
Mielle's eyes glistened at the countess' question. She had become interested since receiving the piles of gifts.
Aria, too, pricked up her ears and waited for Lane's reply.
"Ah... I can't reveal it yet."
But, the response was very disappointing. Lane's face turned dull, as if that was really hard for him to answer.
Nevertheless, the countess did not give up and urged Lane on, asking for some information. Aria agreed with her. Lane, with a troubled face, carefully opened his mouth as the countess continued to urge him.
"Well... He is the heir to a larger family. He's been carrying a significant burden from a young age. He said that since he liked smart people he had become interested in Miss Mielle."
"How did he know that our Mielle was smart?"
"He said he's met her face-to-face. And while he was using me as a messenger, that's what the count said as well."
"He met me face-to-face?" Mielle asked back, puzzled.
She looked oblivious to any memory of such an event. When and where had she met Lane's master when she rarely went out? Aria also questioned that.
"Yes, I can't give you details, but he said he's met you."
"I don't remember that..."
"It has been a while since you ran into him, so it's possible you don't remember it."
"... Is that so?"
Mielle still looked puzzled. Undoubtedly, she might have run into Lane's secretive master. After being silent for a long time, she said only one word, "Maybe... Did I meet him the day I was out with my brother?"