# 38
---
〈Why don't you decorate Nouna?〉
Diana tilted her head and asked me.
This morning, Diana was getting ready to go out.
With the goal of perfectly serving Diana in her successful first appearance at the salon, I chose the most elegant, most compact maid's uniform I had ever owned and wore it.
So, I was going to say we can continue like this.
〈Miss, this child will not go to the salon. Instead, this child will go with you.〉
After saying that, the maid introduced the girl next to her.
〈I brought it from my family and personally taught it from beginning to end, so it will be a good help for you.〉
〈Hello miss! My name is Sophie, I know the families and names of the ladies and gentlemen who will be attending today, so just trust me.〉
A girl named Sophie looked at me, and she was speaking confidently.
The Duchess and Aline, who had come to see Diana even though they had plans in the morning, looked embarrassed.
〈Helen, this is the first time I've heard this story.〉
〈Madam, the young miss also thought it would be a good idea to hire a dedicated maid.〉
〈Attendees Diana...〉
〈I'm sure you're not thinking about that girl named Leah.〉
Helen cut off the Duchess's words and spoke sharply.
<Mrs. You are not allowed to use anyone as a maid. Moreover, it is a dedicated maid job. Moreover, I wouldn't normally know it, but today is your first visit to the salon, and you are leaving your care to a very young child.〉
〈It is a gathering of friendship, but there are already a lot of young men and women who have formed a group. We are going to a salon that is friendly to the Duchy of Elade and frequented by social ladies, but since you never know what might happen, you must have a knowledgeable and quick-witted child by your side.〉
〈Helen, you don't know it, but Leah is also a smart and skilled child.〉
〈Yes, she must be smart for Miss and Mrs. to like her, but the child is not even ten years old yet.〉
Even I, who was naturally trying to follow, was confused when age was mentioned.
This seemed to be the same for the Duchess, and Allen, who had been silently observing the situation until now, also had a sympathetic look on his face.
However, it was not Diana who suddenly found herf in an unfamiliar place with an unfamiliar maid.
〈Wow! I don't want to go, if you don't go then I won't go either!〉
Diana burst into tears.
* * *
“Miss, it's time to go now.”
I spoke cautiously, looking at Sophie who was nervous.
Diana, who was burying her face in my arms, gasped and asked.
“Diana, you don't want to go.”
“If you go there, you will find a lot of delicious food and a lot of friends, everyone will love you, so it will definitely be fun.”
“. ...hmm.”
“If you come back, I will read you a story book and play with dolls with you.”
"truly?"
"certainly."
With these words, the long confrontation finally ended.
She went out with Diana, who wiped her tears.
I saw the carriage that was already waiting for me, and I saw Allen who had come to see me off, and the Lord, the accompanying knights.
Tess looked at me with a calm expression, as if he had already heard what was happening inside, but since time was running out, he immediately put Diana into the cart without saying anything.
I watched quietly as the carriage carrying Sophie left.
“Oh, ugly.”
At that time, Allen, who was standing next to me, called me.
“If Diana had been there, she would have bitten my leg right away.”
I swallowed my regret and asked indifferently.
“Why are you calling me?”
“What will you do without Diana today?”
“What will I do? I have to work.”
“Then come to the training hall later.”
"Yes?"
I, who had been answering indifferently, turned my head at the unexpected remark.
Allen spoke loudly as if he wanted Helen next to him to hear him.
“It's a hot day, so bring cold drinks and snacks.”
“It's not summer yet, is it already hot?”
“Oh, if I have to bring it, I'll bring it!”
When he suddenly raised his voice and flinched in surprise, Allen looked embarrassed.
asked the head maid who was watching this.
“Sir, shall we prepare something for the other knights to eat?”
"no ! Then it's okay, it's not difficult! . …to the kitchen.”
It may not be possible to apply to the Imperial Palace, but in the kitchen of a huge ducal family in charge of so many employees, there was no doubt that the increase in work was going to be complaining or difficult.
“Instead, I think they will be excited to prepare it, saying it is a great honor to have it as a snack for the Rexion Knights.”
To me, who knew that these hard workers also had great pride in their work, Allen's words seemed strange.
Allen also shouted with a red face, as if he knew what he said was nonsense.
“You will eat it when you fight with Jack, so you should know that and pack it, don’t send it through another maid just because it’s annoying, you should come!”
When have I ever put off work because I was too lazy?
I watched Allen's back disappear as if he were running away and his lips frowned, but I actually noticed that he was communicating intentionally.
“I can't believe Allen had that kind of consideration.”
I paused for a moment, because I was sure he was trying to comfort her because she was upset about not being able to go after Diana.
'It's true that Diana isn't there, so maybe she didn't contact me to harass me, perhaps?'
When I quickly nodded and turned around, as if trying to erase my anxiety, I was startled.
The maid, who I thought had already left, was staring at me with eyes like an endless pit.
The way he stared at me without saying anything was rather strange.
She quickly turned and left, but I stood there for a long time.
* * *
“...Young sir!”
“Oh?”
Allen, who was staring at the entrance to the training field, turned his head when he heard Jack's voice calling to him.
“Are you uncomfortable? Well, let’s stop fighting and get some rest...”
“No! I'm not uncomfortable! Carry on.”
Jack tilted his head.
Today, this young master couldn't concentrate and it was strange.
'He usually jokes a lot, but he's serious when he's holding a sword.:
Although Allen's first impression was of a typical aristocratic boy who was arrogant and unlucky, he later received a formal apology and his image was repaired.
Of course, I still feel bad for being so cruel and mean to Leah.
At that, Allen smiled and shrugged.
“..I think seeing a handsome face will make you feel better, and of course the face is not everything...”
Allen, who had been twitching at the corner of his mouth for a long time because he was so pleased with his broad generosity and thoughtful look, raised his head at the strange look.
Jack had an expression that looked like he was talking nonsense.
Allen, who was about to get angry for a moment due to embarrassment, changed his mind and spoke up.
“Well Jack, you didn't know Leia very well even though we stayed in the orphanage together.”
“She likes to look good.”
Allen smiled triumphantly when he saw the absurdity spread in Jack's eyes.
“And you told me I was handsome several times.”
Jack stopped and spoke stiffly after a moment.
“I didn't know she liked it, but...Leia also told me I was handsome.”
Hearing Jack's words, the corner of Allen's lips, which were rising high into the sky, twitched.
"What?"
“She was staring at me and I asked her why, and she said I was handsome.”
Jack's expression and voice seemed to be the same as usual.
But Allen was sure he was 100 percent proud now.
This time, he got very angry and said: “You are amazing!” I was about to scream.
“Jack!”
Leah, carrying a picnic basket the size of her body, was entering the training ground.
* * *
Helen may have announced this in advance, but when I visited the kitchen on the hottest afternoon, I saw the food was already ready.
The carefully packed sandwiches and fruit were enough to feed five adult men.
“Young Master, you are getting older, so you should eat a lot.”
The kitchen maid, who looked at me with envy and jealousy every time I ate with Diana, spoke quietly.
However, not long ago, I heard her complaining to the chef that no matter how meticulously she cooked with rare ingredients, everything would end up in her child's stern mouth, and I couldn't help but nod with a blank expression.
I can understand why you would envy me, who can eat as much as she wants next to her, and eats precious food that she can only afford if she saves her entire monthly salary.
However, I'm not completely comfortable.
They say they don't even touch the dog when they eat, but you don't know how sad it is to be watched every time they eat.
-Besides, you're talking like that behind a child's back.
The maid, who had been looking at me with a puzzled expression while I looked strangely bloated, suddenly poured cold juice into a large glass bottle filled with ice and placed expensive crystal glasses in the picnic basket.
I gasped at myf!
She looked at me with surprised eyes.
‘If I break even one of these things, my salary will be gone for months!’
Not long ago, the Duke gave me the key to a safe in the Metropolitan Bank, saying it was mine, but I didn't think I was really rich, perhaps because I had not yet seen the property in person.
Rather, it seemed that the maid's monthly salary was more expensive.
So, I was afraid that they were asking me to carry this thing alone just because I showed a little grouchy behavior.
“I think it will be difficult for you to lift it alone, do you want me to help you?”
At that time the maid spoke in a sweet voice as if she was luring a child.
I looked at her with astonished eyes.
Normally, the Duke's maids weren't mean to me, but they weren't very friendly either.
Moreover, I was upset that they cursed me behind my back, but when she suddenly became friendly, I felt relieved and inwardly regretful that I was so worthless to her.
“They train hard every day, but the days are getting hotter, so the knights must be very thirsty, and since you have so much, it would be nice to participate, yes?”
The maid added, her eyes sparkling at that time. Only then did I realize it was a mistake.
'I was wondering why she was so nice. …!’