Anne's gaze slid sharply to examine my clothes.
The dress I was wearing was simple and brown, a dress for normal everyday wear.
“Are you really going to go like this?”
"What? But it's the dress I wore this morning."
I couldn't keep dressing the late Mother Duchess, so I wore a dress that was hanging in the wardrobe.
Plus, it was elegant and free of ruffles or saggy embellishments, which I liked.
"Oh, well. I'll be the one to blame. Because I didn't take good care of you, ma'am."
Anne began to groom me, like an older sister taking care of a demanding sister.
First, she dressed me in a light green dress, with multiple layers of ruffles at the train. I don't know when she made it.
Then she skillfully untied and braided my hair, letting it hang loose.
And she didn't forget to decorate my hair with little roses.
When I thought it was over, Anne came back with a box full of perfume and makeup.
“Hey, it's okay. I can stay like this...”
“Are you getting bored waiting? I’m sorry. I’ll quickly put on my makeup. Close your eyes for a moment.”
My will yielded under the force of her firm refusal, and I followed her orders without hesitation.
After a moment of feeling her skilled hand move quickly across my face, I opened my eyes again.
“You are so beautiful!”
Anne offered me a mirror and smiled with a smile of greater satisfaction than I could.
“Wow...”
I stared at the glamorous woman in the mirror, doubting my eyes.
Oh my god, Anne. You are a true professional.
It's a waste to be just a maid.
This is not makeup...it is a transformation...no, it is like a new birth!
I thought Erica's face was rather simple all this time.
But after the makeover, it had a quiet, elegant appeal.
“Shall we go to the rose garden now?”
I followed Anne where she led me.
****
In the vast garden, hedges of climbing roses were formed, while passionate red roses, shy pink roses, and pure snow white roses bloomed magnificently.
On the table in the middle of the garden, covered with a white lace tablecloth, was a fine tea set, muffins, fruitcake, and biscuits.
Michael was sitting reverently in the chair waiting for me.
His big eyes widened when he saw me, then gently curved into two crescents.
“Sis, you look great today! The dress fits you well.”
Michael walked around me in circles, expressing sincere admiration.
“And you also look as handsome as a gentleman, young master.”
Michael, dressed in his long violet overalls, looked like a handsome, dignified but dazzling boy.
The young master will be exposed to a lot of teasing from the ladies when he grows up.
With his warm and affectionate personality, so different from the arrogant and cold Carlex, he is sure to get a lot of love.
Wait, what if he became the greatest pamper in the kingdom?
May our Michael remain a pure young man.
His sister is already feeling sorry and has tears in her eyes.
I held back my tears and sat in my seat.
Michael quickly poured tea for me.
While I was enjoying the subtle fragrance of black tea mixed with the scent of roses, I asked a question lightly.
“The Duke has not brought breakfast. He seems to be very busy?”
Michael smiled widely as he chewed the cookies with puffy cheeks.
Oh my god, he's so cute.
His puffy cheeks make him resemble a baby squirrel.
The hand that had almost caught Michael's cheek unconsciously cupped and pinched my thigh instead.
“My brother is busy with the business of the duchy. There are piling up papers, managing the lands, and training the castle knights. Even when he is in the castle, we may see him barely once a day.”
But I've seen him a lot lately.
Maybe he's had some time lately.
“You must be feeling lonely, Young Master. I think you want to spend time with your brother.”
“I'm fine now. Because my sister is here, I'm not alone at all.”
With the manipulative look in his eyes mixed with affection, my heart melted again.
It has always been my dream to have a handsome, smart, and lovable younger brother.
Ha, I was lucky to have this body.
I don't regret anything in this life...
At that moment, Mr. Samuel, the butler, arrived carrying a letter on a silver tray.
“Countess Demeter sent a message.”
“Oh, aunty again? Unstoppable.”
Michael sighed deeply as he accepted the letter.
The butler seemed to have an embarrassed smile as well, as if this happened often.
“The Countess is sincerely worried about the Duke, that’s all.”
Michael's expression changed to serious as he opened the envelope and read the contents.
"What happened? Mr. Michael, is something wrong...?"
“My aunt sent a letter urging my brother to marry again. This is the fourth. Sometimes it seems as if she is sending threatening letters, not welcoming letters.”
“The Duke… is getting married?”
Just saying the word “marriage” made me feel like I had put a bitter medicine on my tongue.
“It is my aunt’s hobby. When she finds a woman she likes, she sends her personal information and photo to my brother. She insists that he meet her without any objection.”
“Among them… there must be someone who has admired the Duke?”
Michael shook his head left and right, sighing sadly.
“My brother doesn’t even care. Thanks to that, dozens of photos have accumulated.”
Why do I feel relieved? This is not my business.
That's why I didn't have to kiss Carlex while under the influence.
Because of one moment of indiscretion, I became sensitive to anything related to him.
I wanted to hit my back so hard and say to myself, “Get a hold of yourself!”
Immediately afterwards, the butler carefully presented a frame covered with violet silk cloth.
“The picture sent by the Countess has also arrived. Would you like to see it, young Master Michael?”
“My brother is the one who should really see it. My aunt got angry this time and asked him to confirm receipt of the photo and send a reply, otherwise she won’t leave him alone.”
I wondered faintly what noble lady might be in the picture.
My futile curiosity was reignited.
“If it's not inappropriate, can I see the picture?”
“Sure, sister.”
When the butler removed the silk, the smiling figure of a beautiful, graceful noblewoman appeared from within the gilded frame.
I held my breath.
Her oval face sparkled like pure snow, and her light violet eyes were as beautiful as fine jewels.
She was a mesmerizing beauty, with her platinum hair shining magically.
The heroine of the novel was the noble lady Frisia Rubel.
Her eyes were staring directly at me.
Her pure and clean gaze asks me:
What are you doing here?
Freesia's gaze turned into sharp splinters that flew and embedded themselves in my heart.
My heart, pierced by those fragments, hurt, and I could not bear it.
I tried to calm my anxious self by hiding my face behind the teacup.
I can't show this expression to Michael.
Michael, who recognized the figure in the photo as immediately as I did, looked surprised.
"Isn't that Miss Rubel? When did my aunt meet Miss Freesia?"
I tried to speak calmly, pretending to drink tea.
“The Countess seems to have identified Mademoiselle Rubelle as a potential partner. She is a role model among many ladies for her beauty and intelligence, and is a suitable match for the Duke.”
“Miss Rubelle is certainly beautiful, but I prefer my sister Erica.”
His clear, honest eyes stared directly at me.
Strangely, my fear and anxiety disappeared.
“It's an honor. Thank you, Mr. Michael.”
“If my aunt sends you a picture, I will marry you right away.”
Michael avoided my gaze as he tried to hide his shy cough, as if he was embarrassed.
She caught the laugh that was about to break out, and instead took on a sad expression.
“What are we going to do? When you turn twenty and become an adult, I will be over thirty. Don’t ignore me by saying that I am older.”
“No way, I would never do that! You will still be beautiful in ten years, or a hundred years, sister!”
When I saw my beloved Michael explaining seriously while clenching his palms, I couldn't take it anymore.
Oh, my heart.
It's so cute that it's harmful to my health.
I lost control of myself, forgot our social standing, and hugged Michael tightly, rubbing my face against his soft golden hair.
"You, you're so cute! I'll wait until you ask for my hand, Master Michael!"
I felt a little worried lately, fearing that Michael might hate being treated like a child.
But fortunately, he didn't hate it.
On the contrary, he looked as if he was determined to do something, biting his thick pink lips tightly.
“Sister, do you really mean it? Will you even look at me until I grow up?”
“For me, it is an honor. To wait for a handsome gentleman like you.”
Michael smiled as bright as the morning sun upon hearing my response.
He looked so innocent that an illiterate smile unconsciously spread across my face.
“What interesting talk are you two having?”
At that moment, Carlex appeared from behind the climbing rose fence.
With his black hair neatly combed, his dark green fur coat and pure white lace scarf, he was emitting an air of elegance and nobility even more than usual.
It seemed as if all the roses in the garden had bloomed just to be a backdrop for Carlex, spreading their petals and shining with a bright glow.
“Brother! What makes you come to the Rose Garden?”
Michael beamed and ran up to Carlex to hug him.
Even though I had only seen him for a short time, I felt strangely nervous and stood up unconsciously.
As he patted his brother's head, Carlex smiled gently.
“I'm sorry I couldn't spend time with you because I was busy.”
“It's okay now, because my sister Erica is here! Every day is full of fun.”
Carlex's gaze fell gently towards me.
He nodded his head gently.
“Thank you for spending time with my brother, Miss Dale.”
She smiled offhandedly and offered Carlex a cup of tea first.
“Would you like a cup of tea?”
“I would like that.”
Carlex nodded politely.
With my trembling hands, I placed the tea leaves in the pure white teapot, then poured in the hot water.
The light and fragrant scent of tea spread.
She carefully filled Carlex's cup with tea.
A golden chain flowed from the spout of the teapot.
Carlex's gaze stayed on me for a long time.
This warmth is due to the afternoon sunlight shining on the rose garden, not his looks.
It should be so.
After tasting the tea in silence, Carlex offered a short compliment.
“Excellent tea. I would like to reward you.”
“What? No, no need.”
Although I hurriedly refused, he stood up and went to separate a red rose from the rose fence, and then returned.
With his delicate hands, he tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear.
His hands, with that medal-like scar and callus, were soft as silk and hot as the sun.
When I tried to get away with a reaction, he said as if he were calming a child:
“Stay still.”
Suddenly, he grabbed me tightly.
“To be continued in the next chapter”
Loving translation