Chapter 5

I was to return to the Viscount Aringham's house once to collect my belongings.

However, the carriage was provided by Lord Winters, and after loading my belongings, it would head straight to Lord Winters' mansion. I was grateful that he had assigned two maids to accompany me. These two maids were to serve me as I spent my time under Lord Winters.

My new life would surely be much better than this one. Just thinking about it makes me excited.

When we arrived at the Viscount's house and the two maids showed the annex to the other maids, they looked stunned.

Of course, it's understandable. The annex is rather old and small for a young lady from a fairly wealthy viscount's family to live in.

The items I was taking with me were old dresses, everyday clothes, undergarments, nightgowns, and shoes. Lord Winters had arranged for daily necessities like tableware, so I didn't need to bring those. The items in the annex were all in tatters and would only be trash if I took them.

As for jewelry, I once had some mementos from my mother, but they were all taken by my half-sister.

They were either sold or destroyed, so I no longer had them.

It didn't take long for the three of us to pack up the few belongings I had.

Perhaps because we were a bit noisy, a maid from the main house came to check on us. She was the one who had come to call me this morning, but I still couldn't remember her name.

"What are you doing?!"

She widened her eyes at the few personal items piled up in front of the annex.

"I'm preparing to move. I'm leaving the Viscount Aringham's house today and won't be coming back. Please let the other servants know."

"Leaving... Where are you going?"

"To Lord Winters' mansion. I've become engaged to Lord Winters and will be staying there from today. Oh, what a happy day this is!"

It's not every day that you get to be engaged to someone you love and live in their house.

I had resigned myself to a political marriage as a noble lady, but being engaged to the person I want is like a dream.

The maid, who was clinging to me, knelt on the ground and pleaded.

"Please, take me with you! I have been in charge of taking care of you! If you are to marry into another household, it is my duty as a maid to follow you!"

The two maids standing beside me looked puzzled.

I also looked closely at the maid clinging to me.

I understand what she's saying.

As my maid, she should have greeted me when I returned and been waiting in the annex, but she only appeared when we were almost done. Besides, if she were my maid, she should have already been informed of the situation.

"Oh, you were my maid? I didn't know that."

"Hey, Yuna," I called out to one of the maids Lord Winters had assigned.

Yuna is a woman in her mid-twenties with brown hair and eyes. She has a strong face, but the freckles on her cheeks make her look cute. Although we haven't known each other for long, she is a capable and efficient woman.

"Is a maid's job to force a young master into a cold bath until his skin turns red, to brew a tasteless, pale tea, or to secretly steal the master's food and decorations and do nothing?"

Yuna looked down at the maid at her feet with a cold stare.

"No, such things are absolutely impossible. A maid's job is to ensure the comfort of the person she serves and never to abuse or steal from them."

"Is that so, self-proclaimed maid?"

"Rather, this maid deserves punishment."

"Should we take her and let her receive the appropriate punishment?"

The maid let out a pitiful cry and ran away.

I've always disliked her. She only listened to my stepmother and half-sister and was mean to me to gain their favor over the other servants.

After she left, Yuna smiled gently and said, "We will never do what that maid did. Please feel at ease in the mansion." The other maid, Rita, who is in her thirties, nodded deeply.

We then loaded the belongings into the carriage and headed to Lord Winters' mansion.

The carriage retraced its path a bit and took a different route, leading to a mansion with a large gate. It was twice the size of the Viscount Aringham's mansion, and the front garden was visible. There were guards at the gate, who approached the carriage, spoke with Rita, and opened the gate for us.

Lord Winters' mansion was near the royal castle, close to the center of the capital.

...Are royal guards really that well-paid?

They do seem to be well-paid, but to own a mansion like this?

While I was wondering, the carriage entered the grounds.

The carriage stopped in front of the main entrance. When the door opened, a gloved hand was extended to me.

Looking up, I saw an elderly man smiling warmly at me. From his attire, he was likely a servant of the mansion. Considering his age, he was probably the butler or steward. It was nice to see so many other servants welcoming me.

I took the offered hand and stepped out of the carriage.

"Welcome. I am Orwell, and I serve Lord Riley. I am the steward of this mansion. If you need anything, please let me know."

"Thank you very much. My name is Edith. I'm sorry for the sudden intrusion. I can't reveal my family name due to certain circumstances, but I will be staying here from today."

I bowed slightly, and Orwell's eyes widened slightly before he smiled gently and said, "I will show you to your room," leading me into the mansion.

The exterior was stylish and quite luxurious, but the interior was tastefully arranged without unnecessary opulence. The furniture was simple yet elegant, creating a calm and comfortable atmosphere.

It seemed that Lord Winters, who appears to be serious, doesn't favor excessive luxury.

I was shown to one of the guest rooms on the second floor.

The guest room consisted of a bedroom and a living room, with a separate bathroom.

"You will be using this room during the engagement period. After your marriage, you will move to the master bedroom and its adjoining rooms on the third floor. Lord Winters has requested that the rooms be somewhat separate to maintain the lady's chastity, which is highly valued among the nobility."

"I understand. I appreciate his consideration. I will thank him when I meet him later."

"I believe he will be pleased to hear that."

While I was talking with Orwell, Rita and Yuna brought in my belongings.

I thought about helping, but since I am now Lord Winters' fiancée and their master, they refused, saying it wouldn't be appropriate.

That makes sense. It's not good for a master to take over a servant's work.

I considered touring the mansion, but I was mentally exhausted from the day's events, so I decided to do it tomorrow and spend the evening drinking the tea Rita had prepared.

The tea and pastries were delicious, and the room was spacious and elegantly furnished, making it very comfortable.

This will be my new home from now on.

It's nice to feel welcomed.

After Rita and Yuna finished unpacking my belongings, they approached me.

"Miss, do you have any plans for the rest of the day?"

"No, not really."

Rita and Yuna exchanged glances and nodded.

"Would you like to take a bath?"

"You look tired. Soaking in a bath will help you relax."

"...That sounds good."

I was quite dirty from packing, and it was important to clean up before Lord Winters returned.

The idea of a bath was also appealing. At the Viscount Aringham's annex, we couldn't boil enough water for a proper bath, and I often avoided the rough washings by the maids in a large bucket.

I sipped my tea while waiting, and when the bath was ready, I moved to the bathroom with the two maids.

The large bathtub was filled with warm, steaming water, and flower petals were scattered, filling the room with a pleasant aroma. The steam made the room slightly warm.

In a screen, I undressed and was seated on a low chair. The maids gently poured water over me several times before washing me thoroughly with a soapy sponge. It didn't hurt, but I was quite dirty, so they had to rinse the soap off three times.

After that, they encouraged me to get into the bathtub.

The water was at a comfortable temperature, and I could rest my head on the edge of the tub.

While I was soaking, Rita and Yuna washed my hair. They rinsed out the dirt, untangled the knots, and washed my hair from roots to tips twice with hair soap. They then applied scented oil and combed my hair to make it shiny before wrapping it in a large towel.

When my body was fully warmed, I was helped out and laid on a towel-covered surface.

This time, they applied a sweet-scented oil to my body and began a massage. It was my first time experiencing this, and I was a bit surprised, but the slightly painful yet overwhelmingly pleasant sensation made me relax.

The massage by Rita and Yuna, even without the bath, made my body feel warm and cozy.

While I was dozing off, my face was also treated with plenty of toner.

After being massaged from head to toe, I was surprised at how light and radiant my body felt, and my skin was glowing more than before.

I was dressed in a loose, comfortable dress and returned to the bedroom, where I was seated in front of the dresser. Rita carefully dried and combed my hair, while Yuna began to manicure my nails. It felt like being treated like a princess.

I drank some lemon water to hydrate, which was refreshing and delicious.

Then, I put on a light purple dress, one of the newer ones I had.

Yuna and Rita were very disappointed that I had no jewelry, but I didn't mind.

"How would you like your makeup?"

I thought for a moment.

"Subtle is better. Lord Winters doesn't seem to like strong perfume."

"Understood."

So, they only tidied my eyebrows, applied a light eyeliner, a touch of blush, and a thin layer of lipstick.

Even so, the woman in the mirror looked strikingly beautiful.

My hair, which had been damaged, was now shiny and silky, flowing down my back like silk. My skin was the whitest it had ever been, and the eyeliner emphasized my violet eyes. The coldness in my face was softened by the blush and lipstick, and the light purple dress complemented my eyes.

...Oh, maybe I look like my mother?

I tilted my head, looking at the mirror, which reflected a woman who looked just like my mother.

I had always thought I looked like my father, with only the coloring from my mother, but maybe this was how I was supposed to look if I had been properly cared for.

Rita and Yuna genuinely praised me, "Miss, you look beautiful," and the me from my previous memories nodded in agreement. My tall stature and long, slender limbs made me look like a model.

...Am I more beautiful than my half-sister now?

Phyllis is petite and has a delicate, vulnerable beauty that makes you want to protect her.

But the woman in the mirror was more of a mature beauty. The plain dress looked surprisingly sophisticated, and my slim figure, long limbs, and the fragile, ethereal aura made me look like a woman who could be easily broken if touched.

I saw a resemblance to my mother, who had been bedridden due to illness.

"...Mother..."

I touched the mirror, feeling as if I had reunited with my mother after ten years.

If I am this beautiful, Lord Winters will surely be pleased.

I want to gain weight, exercise, and develop a more womanly figure. Then, I might become a woman worthy of Lord Winters.

"Thank you, Rita, Yuna. I feel like I've found the real me."

The two maids smiled happily.