Chapter 40: Chapter 40

* * *

“laura, you can use this room, and emma the one next to it. royer, you can choose any room you like.”

“then i’ll look for a room on the second floor. i can’t stay on the same floor as the ladies.”

“that’s fine.”

the rooms luna prepared for them were on the third floor, second in grandeur only to luna’s room.

it was a luxurious room that had been used for guests until now, and carlton, the butler, visibly twitched at the news that it was now being given to two servants.

“miss, this room seems too extravagant, doesn’t it? it doesn’t seem like a room i should use.”

“i feel the same. it’s so grand; i fear someone might see.”

naturally, laura and emma hesitated, thinking the room was too luxurious for servants. luna comforted them.

“it’s okay. only we will use the third floor. i’ll have guests only go up to the second floor. so, no one will see.”

“it still seems too nice of a room.”

“i agree. i’m afraid of making it dirty or ruining something.”

“if it gets dirty, we clean it. what’s wrong with using a room that’s available?”

“what if something breaks?”

“we can just buy a new one, it’s no big deal.”

luna encouraged them to explore the room, and they reluctantly gave in, but soon became excited about their new accommodations.

“just look at this soft blanket.”

“i could even sleep on the sofa!”

from outside the open door, luna watched them with a contented smile. the butler, who had been standing beside her like a stone statue, hurriedly spoke to luna.

“this has always been used as a guest room, but would you consider rethinking?”

“no. we’ve decided the guest room will be on the 2nd floor. the 3rd floor will be for me and my family.”

“but since laura and emma are the users of this mansion, i think it would be appropriate to give them the rooms on the 1st floor.”

“before being considered servants, they are my family. i might not have birthed them, but i raised them. so, the 3rd floor is appropriate.”

it wasn’t rare to offer luxurious rooms to dear servants. it all depended on the owner’s heart.

there were even nobles who didn’t want to be apart from their maids and shared rooms. giving them a slightly lavish room wasn’t considered strange at all.

“people will talk, you know. it will definitely come up later.”

despite several objections, she wasn’t in a good mood. luna, trying to suppress her smile, asked carlton:

“people’s gaze? who are you talking about?”

“people who come and go in the mansion.”

“you’re saying i should care about others’ views in my own mansion?”

“it’s not like that, but…”

“then it’s settled. don’t mention laura and emma’s rooms anymore. i’d really like for them to use these rooms.”

she seemed ready to get angry if another room was suggested. so carlton, trying not to show his disappointment, withdrew his opinion.

“…understood. i’ll let the other servants know. i’ll take my leave now. please rest.”

with that, he turned around and disappeared to the 3rd floor.

* * *

after living in a small and old mansion for over twenty years, the new mansion felt unfamiliar.

setting aside the luxury, the mansion was so big she feared getting lost. there were so many servants that even remembering their names was difficult. she thought it would be best to familiarize herself with the mansion on the first day.

luna, laura, and emma spent hours exploring and eventually settled in the glass garden at the end of the 1st floor corridor.

“how did they think to make a garden like this?”

“exactly. all the walls are made of glass so we can enjoy the outside garden from inside!”

“right? since the ceiling is also glass, it might be nice to watch the stars at night, though it could be problematic during typhoons.”

when luna expressed her concern, a waiting maid carefully replied:

“when a typhoon approaches, we install curtains in advance.”

“that’s good to know.”

the more luna knew about rosemary’s mansion, the more grateful she felt towards her.

she had thought of every detail in this magnificent mansion, and yet handed it over for just fifteen thousand gold.

‘should i add another ten thousand gold now?’

while warming herself with hot tea, a butler approached luna.

“my lady, a letter has arrived. it’s from young lady rosemary vincent.”

“lady rosemary?”

they say if you talk about the tiger, it will come. not a tiger, but her letter had indeed arrived.

luna immediately opened the letter. thankfully, the first message she saw was congratulating her on the move.

[i’m so happy the mansion found its rightful owner. i wanted to visit and congratulate you in person, but i couldn’t find the time. how about this weekend for the party? i’m thinking of about ten guests. they’re young ladies from my circle.]

the weekend was just three days away. and inviting ten people, even though fewer than typical parties, made her nervous.

the butler, who had been silently observing, spoke to luna.

“if you give me a theme for the party, i’ll arrange everything accordingly.”

“a theme… maybe as lavish as possible? is it feasible in just two days? this is my first party.”

“with the small number of guests, two days should suffice. the only problem is-“

the butler paused, scanning luna from head to toe.

seeing the stark difference from his former owner rosemary, he seemed displeased.

“it would be your dress, my lady. you’ll probably need a new one.”

a new one? when she had several dresses she hadn’t even worn yet?

“um, i’m good with the dresses. i’ll wear one of those i have. but, can i ask for paper and a pen? i’d like to send a letter to young lady rosemary.”

“yes. i will prepare soon.”

with that, the expressionless butler bowed in agreement and exited the glass garden.

until then, laura, who had been closely watching the conversation between luna and the butler, tilted her head and asked:

“but you never mentioned the content of the letter, how did the butler know it was about a party?”

upon reflection, luna realized laura’s query. however, she brushed it off lightly.

“perhaps lady rosemary gave him a hint beforehand.”

“ah, i see.”

“by the way, do i need to buy a dress? are all the dresses i have not good enough?”

“well, i’ve heard that noble ladies always prepare a new dress for parties, but if you have a dress you haven’t worn yet, that should suffice.”

“is that so?”

so, there wasn’t much to prepare. luna simply gave orders to the servants preparing for the party.

“i was worried, but i hardly have anything to do. meanwhile, i should familiarize myself more with the mansion. it would be embarrassing if guests come and i can’t explain anything about the mansion.”

“me too.”

“i feel the same.”

“for now, let’s rest and start from tomorrow.”

saying she was already tired, luna sprawled over the table and laughed heartily. following her, laura and emma too laid on the table, laughing gently.

* * *

silence settled in the dining room. everyone was quietly engrossed in their meals, not making a sound.

their faces were expressionless to the point one couldn’t tell if they were enjoying their food. as the meal continued in this manner, someone broke the silence looking for rosemary.

“miss. a letter has arrived for you.”

“really!?”

rosemary, who had been eating with no expression, jumped up from her seat, looking as though she had never been disengaged, and took the letter from the servant.

luna’s name was written on the envelope. upon seeing that, rosemary, seeming overwhelmed with joy, swiftly exited the dining room.

“…what just happened?”

“i don’t know. i’m not sure what i just saw.”

with that, the couple, marquis vincent and his wife, who had been dining together, stopped eating and stared at each other, both looking utterly confused.

as a result, the servant who delivered the letter to rosemary was summoned.

“it’s a letter sent by young lady luna peils.”

“luna peils?”

the marquis, who, thanks to antes, didn’t care for rumors and thus lacked certain information, asked in surprise.

because of this, the butler william was summoned.

“do you know why rosemary reacted so strangely to a letter from young lady luna peils?”

though the word ‘strangely’ was used, it was more like she yelped, reminiscent of a small dog. how to explain from the start? it felt like a tranquilizer was needed.

the butler, after a brief moment of contemplation, chose an answer that would pose the least threat to him.

“it’s a bit difficult to explain everything regarding lady rosemary’s personal matter, but in short, lady rosemary has made a new friend.”

while a very abbreviated response, it wasn’t incorrect.

before the marquis and marchioness could probe further, william continued:

“she simply seems to favor this person a bit more than others. perhaps soon lady rosemary will tell you everything. or maybe she might not mention it if it’s trivial.”

although the explanation was quite detailed for such a simple matter, if it was just a friendly relationship, there was no reason to question further.

“well, in that case…”

“rosemary seemed quite listless lately, so this is good news. a friend she’s so fond of, we should hope the friendship lasts.”

“i see.”

luckily, the butler’s tactic worked. the marquis and marchioness were satisfied and dismissed him.

after a brief commotion, silence once again settled in the dining room.