"I'm delighted," - sarcasm flowed as always, dripping like burning venom from his lips.
After reading it again, I felt a growing anger inside me.
'It's a typical cliché. But according to this principle, Shiron should be interested in me.'
After crossing myself three times and spitting three times, I thanked the gods that it hadn't happened. However, the problem itself was inevitable.
- What's the problem, Cha Si? - toffee said one side of me, - Oops. Ili-i-issa..
- ...
- You'll be rich. You'll be rewarded for saving people, and you'll be rewarded in the afterlife. It couldn't be any better. Everything is fine.
- hm.
However, the second one got in:
- Don't even dream about it. A despicable pervert, and a crown prince at that, would reward the daughter of a minor count? Look around you and then at yourself,- she continued, - In this dark world, everyone is only interested in your body. In the prince's palace, they will put a collar on you to prevent you from running away.
- ...
- Is that what you want? Isn't freedom of action and speech your priority? Has being here changed you so much? Think about it, Cha Si. Ili-i-issa...
Both of these sides were one and the same - me.
'Shut up before i get poisoned.'
I lowered my head, clutching the newspaper in my hands.
'Actually, i need to use my mind here.'
Of course, all the suspicion will fall on me first, because only Vanos are "resting" in that damn forest. And I'm the only girl among those assholes.
'But the maids?'
I don't know if the Prince saw my hair. I hope not.
However, if I did see it, it's because none of the maids have blue hair. Again, it's my own person who gets targeted.
If not, I bet they'll question the servants. So, they won't think of the knight and old Tasha. That leaves the girls.
It would be fine, but Karina... She knows. She might slip up. Either give me away or draw more attention to herself.
"Bitch."
I opened my hand, releasing the paper. It flew away from me, taking some of my thoughts with it.
Let's think about the celebrant.
What does he want?
Shaking hands and throwing chests of gold at you is very unlikely.
It is more likely to be locked in a dungeon or in the intimate setting of a rich room.
What is the conclusion?
"I'm fucked."
I chuckled nervously and felt my eye twitch. On top of all these events, I was standing on the road like a complete idiot.
The people around them weren't very active. The socialites with umbrellas were walking down the streets, giggling at the most terrible jokes they'd ever heard. There were fewer men compared to the number of women, especially the aristocratic ones. Most of them were accompanied by others.
The weather was nice. Not too hot, not too cold. Well, it was August, as I found out.
I was about to wipe away a few flakes of mascara with my index finger. But just then, someone bumped into me.
The collision was not pleasant: the man was clearly in a hurry and hit me directly. As I moved away, I grazed my nose with my fingernail, and I felt a slight sting in the same area.
- Oh! - I gasped in surprise.
-Kya-ya-ya!- an always irritating interjection came from behind, in a high-pitched female voice.
However, I didn't fall. However, the lady, who was probably running a marathon, quickly plopped down on the dusty road. I turned around, ready to argue. But something made me shut up and freeze.
- Mommy... Ouch... - The girl rubbed her bruised shoulder, muttering, - It hurts!
Her lips parted in a silent question that never came out.
Medium-length yellow hair, bangs, golden eyes, and a perfectly doll-like face.
These details merged into a clear image that had been etched in my memory long before my relocation.
'Catherine?'
As if remembering something important, the girl jumped up and bowed abruptly, apologizing:
- I-I'm sorry!
And then she disappeared as mysteriously as she had appeared.
I just watched her go.
- The first meeting with the main character.
'This.. My heart is beating faster. Will it be as exciting to meet the key figures of the novel?'
My hands were slightly sweaty, and I sighed.
What was she doing here?
'In a hurry to meet a loved one?'- I chuckled to myself.
Then, very recent memories flashed through his mind.
"- Kyah-yah-yah!"
'Oh, no!'
I've always felt a sense of Spanish shame when reading books that contain such content. I could just shout, "Fu-uck!"
Okay, that's just my funny side. I won't spoil the atmosphere of the main character's meticulous cuteness and superiority.
-It's just a scratch.- After feeling the wound on my nose and confirming that it wasn't too bad, I brushed off my cloak.
"All right, I'm not going to stand in the middle of the street for nothing. I'm going to take a look around."
I turned around and was about to leave, but then I noticed an object. I wouldn't have paid attention to it if it hadn't been for its interesting design.
On the floor, right where Catherine had been lying a minute ago, there was a business card.
'What is this?'
I picked it up and brushed off the dirt that had been kicked up by the fall. The initials made me squint.
Rtf D.
Below it was written in a larger font:
Ertif Dae Guild.
And below that, in the corner, is the address. Right?
The business card itself was black, but the silver lines and initials drew attention.
- 'Ertif Dae'.. - I turned the card between my fingers, thinking.
Ertif Dae is a multifunctional guild. Starting with the simplest, it is possible to purchase or sell goods. But the most important thing for which it is visited is the opportunity to hire employees for a purpose, or to request information. Any. For a fee, of course. This is probably the most mysterious and sometimes creepy place in the Empire.
The initials are the first and last names of the guild's leader, Deloy Routif.
Deloy Routif is one of the most desirable and popular men in the Empire, after the imperial family. This Mister is capable of doing almost anything. And, of course, he is good-looking.
I think we're even similar: we both have selfish goals. And that's what will help us come together. At least, I hope so.
"Such a thing would be very useful. It would be too unprofitable to return it." - This was one of the first thoughts that crossed my mind.
I tucked the business card into the neckline of my dress and looked around. Nothing had changed.
Deciding not to linger in the middle of the aisle, my path finally took its course.
I saw something like a cafe not far from here. My stomach rumbled at the thought of a delicious snack, as the Count forbade me to eat as much as they did. My figure, damn it! My dreams of a chocolate life were shattered, in both senses.
It's a good thing that Karina sometimes brings something. I would have died. Now I understand why the average life expectancy in the Middle Ages was around fifty years.
'When will the count wither? Oh, Heaven, please, sooner.'
Turning left, then right, then walking straight ahead.. I reached the fucking cafe.
- Really.
The room itself was small. The design was also simple: everything was laconic and budgetary. Nothing extra.
Inside, it seemed as if a completely different atmosphere was dissolving the street. It was... Calm. There were very few people, and they were mostly poor, as the nobility tended to avoid this place, which was a good thing. I was the only one with the means to frequent these small eateries.
'Those morons are picking their noses and eating their food.'
I tried to calm the irritation that was growing with the flow of my thoughts. It was like I was getting an electric shock just thinking about this family. It was throwing me off my game.
Coughing into my hand, I moved forward. A young girl, about twenty-five years old, with dark green hair in a messy little ponytail and brown eyes, smiled at me. She said, closing her eyes:
- Good morning, Miss! Would you like something?
I smiled back, imagining how I would enjoy the sweet taste of some kind of dessert. In Korea, I loved something chocolate, with honey or nuts, and now I'm hoping for something similar in the Middle Ages.
My eyes fell on the counter with the products, or rather, on the prices. My smile didn't fade away that quickly. Instead of picking up the edges of my cloak, I had to pick up my jaw from the floor.
"A damn cupcake can't cost fifteen silver!"
After a short period of shock, I sat at the table, leaning my head on my hand and finishing my water with a slice of lemon.
"That's so delicious," - I tried to cheer myself up, but it wasn't very effective. I looked around at everyone, feeling overwhelmed with confusion.
'Beggars, huh? Could've fooled me with how they're devouring evereyhing.'
No longer willing to sit like a poor relation, I jumped up and took a step, but then turned back. My gaze fell on a glass that was half full. I reached for it and poured the contents into my mouth.
'Everything that is paid for must be swallowed.'
And then, wiping my wet lips with my sleeve, I disappeared behind the door. My thoughts were filled with various ideas, but I still couldn't understand why Ilissa, the daughter of a count, was poorer than the common people.
My stomach continued to rumble, no matter how hard I tried to calm it.
"I don't want to go back yet."
As I walked past the diner, I happened to see a scam through the window.
The girl who sold me the water made sure I was away from the exit, and she did something to the counter: she changed the prices. I couldn't see the new prices clearly, but I could tell that they were cheaper.
'What the hell?..'
From the moment I lowered my head to my chest, everything became clear. There was a brooch made to order specifically for the Vanos family. The bird, spreading its feathers, represented the "goodness" and "selflessness" of the head of the family. It even made me laugh, but only the nerve in my eye twitched.
"Did everyone on the street know that this tramp was Ilissa Vanos? Idiot. How could I not have noticed?"
My cloak was in the wash, so I stole... borrowed from the "generous" Count.
She pulled off the brooch and it fell to the ground, where it was crushed by my heel.
'Here you go. This is for being so blatantly deceived.'
In fact, I even enjoyed it. Hand-eye coordination, cunning, and courage do their job. It's clear that this is a city of specialists.
And then a thought came to my mind. It was a small, not-evil-at-all thought: to go back. I wanted to take what was mine and show the shopkeeper that I hadn't been fooled. I had to be careful not to let the girl with the big eyes out of my sight. So I walked carefully past the windows and waited until she turned away.
When the moment came, I opened the door and headed straight for her, not bothering to look at the customers or the interior. The girl turned around, but her smile remained on her face, and only a small drop of sweat and a slightly confused look betrayed her petty theft.
I tried to make my face as unperturbed as possible, even cheerful. It probably didn't come out very well, judging by the girl's expression.
- Well, look at that... Prices are falling right in front of my eyes,- I pointed to the products, which were now twice as cheap, - What a wonderful cafe!
The merchant straightened up, folding her arms together.
- Yes.. Imagine, - she improvised as best she could, - you are our anniversary customer, and therefore, um, you have the opportunity to pay less!
- Really? How lucky I am,- I smiled slyly, looking straight into his brown, chocolate-like eyes, - to have returned.
The other woman's lips formed a curved line, but it soon disappeared, returning to its usual state.
'Does she often receive visitors?'
- So you... Want something?
- Yep, of course, since it's a matter of life and death. A honey cake will do.
I took out a bag of coins and, glancing at the price of the item, fished out six silver coins.
'There we go.'
***
The ground crumbled under my shoes. As I trudged wearily deeper into the forest, I gazed at the natural surroundings. It was truly mesmerizing: the green leaves swayed gently in the gentle breeze, birds chirped their familiar tunes, and the broken branches crunched beneath my feet.
I would like to capture this view on paper. Or better yet, on canvas.
- ...
Still, I sometimes miss my world. Here everything is such.. alien. Unfamiliar. Besides, extremely inconvenient without past pleasures: no phone, no normal pads, nothing. Just nothing. Until the invention of these things still a lot of centuries, and I live here and now.
And it's not just about that. Uncomfortableness doesn't just mean being uncomfortable without modern conveniences, no. It's something... Subconscious. I know I shouldn't be here. At least, not me. I should be at my job right now, and then I should go home and read a new chapter of my novel. To be honest, I'm even afraid that this is all a damn simulation. That the people I'm seeing don't actually exist. It's causing a glitch in my head, and it's making me feel creepy.
"I hate change."
Speaking of which, how is the novel going? I haven't finished reading it, and it's in theongoing. Have the author's writings changed, or are my actions having no effect?
-...
I realized that I had been standing in the middle of the forest for several minutes, looking at the interesting-shaped leaf in my hand. It was feathery and deeply cut, but its unique features, including its varying colors, gave it a distinctive appearance.
I opened my hand and exhaled, and the leaf was carried away by the wind.
I didn't want to go inside at all. It was like I had a premonition. However, I didn't have much of a choice. So I stepped over the threshold... and my intuition proved to be true.
- ...
Everyone in the room turned their attention to me. There was the Vanos family, the maids, and a group of people I didn't recognize. From their attire, I could tell they were tailors. I looked at each of them and wished I had a memory-erasing device. Finally, the Count spoke.
- well, you came along, - he said, surprisingly restraining his aggression towards me and speaking through clenched teeth. However, upon reflection, it becomes clear that the "conscientious" head of the family does not wish to engage in a confrontation in front of others.
'Ha-ha, i'll never get tired of making fun of his bright mind.'
- Oh, lissa, darling, - he said, his sweet phrases accompanied by gestures that invited me to join them, - Do come in. We've been..so eager for your arrival.
Geraldine, her arms folded across her chest, looked into my eyes for a moment, and then, as I looked back at her, she smiled and turned away. There were three tailors: one girl holding a measuring tape, another standing next to her, and a third, older than the others, holding a notebook. The entire group bowed and greeted me.
- Come with us, lady. We need to measure you.
'Oh, God.'
- Yes, go ahead, my dear,- it looked as unnatural as possible, but the Count played as best he could. He tried this and that, but he couldn't win an Oscar.
'How is that, Your Holiness?'
I had to go into the room with the girls. They asked me to take off my clothes, leaving only my underwear. It was an odd nightgown with straps that reached my thighs. To keep the business card from getting lost, I put it in a drawer, and by then, I was surrounded by a redhead and a dark-haired girl. They began to measure my waist, hips, chest, and back, while the third girl, with her dark, dark hair, wrote down the results in her notebook.
I took the opportunity to ask them about the styles of the clothes I had ordered.
- G...- breaking off in mid-sentence, I cleared my throat,- Has Father decided which dresses should be made?
- Mr. Bernard has ordered it, lady.
'I didn't have time.'
Annoyance made me purse my lips, but I encouraged myself that he wouldn't have allowed me to choose anything of my own anyway. Otherwise, he would have whipped me.
-..Alright. Then I'll just choose again,- the girl pulled the ribbon too tight, and I winced. -.. Hey.
The older one looked around and, making sure no one was listening, covered her mouth with her book. Then she lowered her voice to a whisper, her black eyes fixed on mine.
- Milady... We would obey, of course, but the master stands firm.- She shook her head and furrowed her brow. - If he finds out, he'll pull out your fingers one by one.
'Damn. Grandma, can't we do this the easy way?'
Meanwhile, the tailors had finished their work, and I began to put my clothes back on.
- I'll say I forced you,- the woman said, her hair standing on end.
- Lady, what are you doing! No, I can't, please forgive me...
Just as the shoe was fastening around my ankle, the seamstress uttered a million apologies and bowed to the floor, then disappeared through the door, followed by the girls.
- ...
'I'm going to make the Count wear an erotic dress with a fucking neckline that goes all the way to his navel, just you wait.' - This thought made me obsessive.
I collapsed on the bed, defeated, my eyes fixed on the floor.
"I won't even go out.'
After the final conclusion, the blanket met my back. Let it embrace me and strangle me to death. The ceiling blushed embarrassingly under my persistent gaze. Although I must be going mad.
Bernard's curses and Gerald's assent could be heard from outside.
- She's been wandering around all morning, and we've been waiting for her,- he said in a frustrated voice. - She's a missy. She only has one thing on her mind, and it's clear. If she ever crosses my path, I'll...
'Of course, one: to repeat the story of the estate, but to lock it with you.'
- Father, what can you expect from her? She can't see beyond her own nose,- the young voice said quietly compared to the old one. - Don't even waste your energy on her.
'Yeah, right. Who's talking?'
There were footsteps right outside the door, followed by a knock.
Knock - knock-
"Has the idiot come? No, he's not knocking."
I didn't even take my eyes off the single point above, but I replied:
- Come in.
Skriip-
When I caught a glimpse of blonde hair, I looked at her. At Karina.
- Are you all right, mistress? Nothing happened on the walk?- she immediately flooded me with questions, finished her walk by the bed.
- No, everything's fine. Did you want something?
Karina blinked, then continued:
- It's time to pack, Lady Ilissa. You're finally moving out.
I raised myself on my elbows and turned over.
- Does the Count know that orphanages don't keep children over the age of eighteen?
She gestured with her hand, saying:
- I don't know what good news would be to you. Your family has been assigned a residence in another estate, an Empire property.
Immediately, I thought that the Emperor was unlikely to have given the Count such a surprise from the bottom of his heart. Surely, the payment for this would be an increase in taxes from him.
-Wow,- I said playfully. - And where is this estate located? Let me guess, in a ravine in this forest?"
The girl chuckled, but she refuted my theory.
- You didn't get there. Somewhere near the outskirts, but not there. Near the Novemberg family.
"Novemberg?" - A distant memory flashed through my mind like a vague wave.
[In about an hour. The laundry.]
Karina was actively rubbing the edges of her clothes together as the soap turned into a bubbling mass of foam. Water dripped onto the floor and the maids, but it didn't matter. The basins of water often clashed when the girls worked too hard. A casual conversation ensued:
-Well... - began the brunette, - What are your thoughts on this whole situation?
- To be honest, I'm even glad it happened. That place was filled with...- a cute girl with two red pigtails continued, -... like poison. It was chilling to the bone...
- That's enough, Lily. You've only been there for two months,- said the third girl, with green hair.
The brown-haired woman left the laundry room, remembering that the head maid had called her, and informed the others, "Sorry, I'll be back."
- So what? It's not like you were doing well, Pitis.- Lily replied with unexpected anger.
- I don't like it at all. After Tasha, I was supposed to be the head maid, but this girl ruined everything. I'm sure this is all part of her plan.- Another pink-haired girl interjected, - Who else would want this?"
Karina clutched Ilissa's surviving dress in her hands.
- Watch your tongue, Nova.- She furrowed her brow in annoyance. - Just because you're only here as a servant doesn't mean you can speak without thought.
Nova gave a wry smile and looked at the girl from under her brows.
- Huh.. What, Karina? You've been made a personal maid, and you're suddenly feeling brave?- She was clearly provoking and confident.
- Calm down before you regret it.
The girl just laughed loudly, wiping the corner of her eye with her shoulder.
Pitis and Lily exchanged worried glances. The situation was escalating, and it could be deadly.
- Better think of yourself, orphan. - the last word warmed the blonde's insides, and she let go of the dress in the basin, - Your mistress will be married off to some pot-bellied old man, and you'll be left here. Maybe you'll find a match.
Nova was giggling until a wet hand slapped her face, leaving a red, painful mark. She fell silent, holding her cheek. The girls' eyes widened as they jerked back in surprise. Karina glared at her, but didn't say a word. However, she couldn't resist commenting:
- Being the bedwarmer of the Count's son doesn't make you a princess, Nova. Get down to the ground, in the dark laundry room
The pink-haired girl jumped up abruptly, pulling Karina's shirt towards her. Her eyebrows were so raised that they seemed to be vertical.
- You damned plebeian! - Anger filled her head, clouding her mind. - Do you know what will happen to you if I leave a scar on my face? You'll only leave a scratch, and that's only on old Tasha's heart!
-...
- Because you don't have anyone! Pray to God that it heals quickly,- Nova said, shaking Karina. Lily jumped up, her hands clasped together.
- Oh, my God, girls! Stop, don't do that!
The girl pushed her away, shouting:
- Stay out of it, Lilif!
Pitis caught Lily from the ground. She tucked her legs under her, looking up at the participants in the conflict.
- Are you insane?- Karina squeezed the girl's hand and pulled away. - Lose your mind - if you even had one?
Nova, calmed down a little by the pain in her cheek, narrowed her eyes at her. Then she pushed the girl to the floor with a jerk, pouring water and foam from the basin over her.
- ...
The maid shifted her weight to one leg and then left.
- Go wash your face.
-...
Karina pushed her wet hair out of her face as Lilith rushed over to her.
- Karina, how are you?..
"A dominance-blinded animal," - the girl seemed preoccupied with the recent situation. But she quickly switched to Lily and Pitis, "It's alright'.