By chance, there have been quite a few people in the mansion.
It could be said that it’s natural for there to be many servants in such a large mansion, but even excluding the servants, including me, and the two owners of the mansion, Ayla and Seila, there are quite a few rather peculiar guests.
It would be nice if so many guests could gather together and have a pleasant meal, but— no, of course, I’m joking. There’s no way such a group could sit together and be cheerful. Honestly, it’s more comfortable for me to have separate meals like we do now.
The witch, that is, Daisy, is a servant for now. Her disciple is the same. Originally, the two used to have separate meals, but now they dine with Seila at the villa. Although Ayla and I often visit to spend time with them, they still seem unwilling to change their stubbornness.
Perhaps her heart has softened a little. Her attitude toward Ayla has gradually become gentler. But Seila, because of her pride, might still be stubborn.
The doubts of a child are not easily shaken off.
The shadow, perhaps preferring to eat separately, often dined with her younger sibling. Though they ate together, it doesn’t seem like they exchanged much conversation. Perhaps it’s just a matter of sitting across from each other because it feels lonely to eat alone. The younger sibling seemed uncomfortable at first, but now they say they have occasional, sparse conversations and spend their meal time without disturbing each other.
Of course, Ayla eats alone.
Although alone, I stay behind Ayla throughout her meal. At first, Ayla seemed to react as though I were some sort of burden, but at some point, she started naturally speaking to me.
When she speaks, it’s usually to give instructions, like to pour water into a glass, clear something away, or bring something.
She doesn’t grope me like in the room, but I can feel she wants to talk, and it’s endearing.
After Ayla finishes her meal, I quickly entrust some work to Helena and briefly eat myself— just being in the same place gives the feeling of eating together, so honestly, it’s a bit of a moment I look forward to.
“Hmm.”
Before I heard that distinctive voice, I was going down the stairs with Ayla, feeling a little excited.
“Yesterday, I had to arrive in a hurry, so I ate separately.”
The Empress spoke as if she had been waiting downstairs.
A knight stood behind her. Naturally, he had removed his armor since they were in the mansion, and since it was the owner’s home, he didn’t carry a weapon. When a guest visits, the host must ensure the guest’s safety, and the guest, in turn, must show they don’t mean harm to the host.
The other knights were probably staying in a separate guest room provided by the servants. The sharp-faced woman didn’t seem to show any particular expression.
“Do you usually have breakfast at this time? I’m trying to follow the rules of this house, but there’s no one who presents a unified set of rules. Do I just adjust to your timing?”
“…Yes, that’s correct. I apologize for not considering it as the host. In fact, there aren’t usually many guests here.”
Ironically, there are now too many guests.
It varies depending on the noble’s estate. Some families see holding a feast every day as a virtue, and particularly those involved in commerce might receive guests and host them for months at a time.
But on the other hand, there are places where it’s uncertain whether an important guest will arrive once a year.
The Count was a person of significant position, and his standing among the nobles was not small, but he truly enjoyed spending time outside of his domain. It was a peaceful era, and since the Count had his own connections with nearby nobles, he was able to do so.
Naturally, those who sought to meet the Count would go to the capital, not to his estate. Therefore, it was rare for important guests to come here.
When compared to the Bluewood family, who lost their estate long ago and now moves with the goal of reclaiming it, the Count’s actions could be said to be the opposite.
Could it be that the purpose is to eventually marry Seila to royalty?
“Luna. Please hurry with the meal preparations.”
“Understood, Ayla.”
Once Ayla had finished organizing her thoughts, she quietly spoke to me. If everything had been prepared as usual, only Ayla’s meal would have been ready in the dining room.
However, Helena and the other servants are quite perceptive, so they must have figured out the situation when they saw the Empress walking around the mansion early this morning. Preparing without issue should be possible.
Thinking that, I was about to go down to the first floor when—
“Oh my.”
The shadow was coming out of her room.
She was using a guest room not far from Seila’s now-empty room. As she came out into the hallway on the second floor, she glanced back and forth at the Empress in the lobby on the first floor and me and Ayla, who were just about to go down the stairs.
“Are you going to eat now? I seem to have woken up a bit earlier today.”
She tilted her head and asked,
“Would it be alright if I join you for breakfast?”
It didn’t seem like she was trying to be deliberate. Since coming to this mansion, the shadow had been sleeping more deeply than before.
In fact, she had said that she felt more at ease staying away from the capital.
Though, it seems like she still works late into the night.
“Ah, so there aren’t any fixed schedules in this mansion, then. Guests just move according to their own time?”
The Empress realized this a little late and nodded.
“…I’ll go ahead and prepare first.”
“Alright. I’ll stay here for a while and talk with the two of you.”
Even though she only just realized it, there was no way she could let the guests leave without preparing for their meal. Personally, I don’t care much about the Empress’s reputation, but as the head maid managing the Count’s estate, I couldn’t let the Count’s family’s honor fall to the ground.
As I descended a couple more steps,
The mansion’s main door opened.
And in walked Seila and Daisy. Since Daisy’s disciple was nowhere to be seen, it seemed that their meals were being handled separately.
Fortunately, Seila wasn’t accompanied by Elizabeth at the moment.
“Oh my.”
Seila opened her eyes wide and looked around at all of us.
She then lightly grabbed her skirt and curtsied.
“Good morning, everyone.”
Her tone sounded a little contrived.
“Your Majesty, did you sleep well last night?”
She asked the Empress more seriously.
“Mm. Thanks to you.”
The Empress, who still did not know the true identity of Seila, cheerfully responded to her.
“……”
I didn’t bother to ask for Ayla’s permission any further and simply turned around lightly, meeting her gaze. Ayla gave a small nod.
“Now that everyone in the mansion has gathered, shall we have a light conversation? I sincerely apologize, but due to the overly free atmosphere, it seems that the meal is not yet prepared. If you could wait just a little longer, it will be ready soon, so I ask for your understanding.”
“We were the ones who visited suddenly without any prior notice. It would be too rude to ask you to adjust to us forcefully.”
Seeing the Empress shrug her shoulders as if she were the representative of the guests, I bowed slightly to ask for everyone’s understanding before quickly heading to the kitchen.
Even though Ayla, the guests, and the maids were all dining separately, the amount of food that needed to be prepared remained the same. Moreover, even if the meal times differed, the difference wasn’t significant. Because of that, Helena and the other maids were already in the process of preparing meals for multiple people.
All that was left to do was coordinate the serving location and timing. Helena even laughed, saying that today was less demanding than usual.
I returned to Ayla to inform her of the update and then guided the guests to the dining room. The long dining table had already been thoroughly cleaned.
At the very ends of the table, Ayla and Seila sat, while the Empress and the Shadow sat facing each other in the middle. The table was spacious enough that it didn’t feel cramped.
“The maid over there isn’t joining the meal?”
“I am Ayla’s personal maid. I dine separately.”
“I see.”
The Empress probably already knew, but she asked anyway—perhaps wondering if Ayla treated me differently.
Was she checking if I was merely a maid in name but held a different position?
As usual, I took a few steps back to stand behind Ayla when—
“Luna.”
Ayla gently took my hand.
Not by the wrist, like she used to when I was a man, but softly holding my fingers.
The moment I felt Ayla’s touch, memories surfaced, and I flinched without meaning to.
“Wait a moment.”
Ayla said this and placed me beside her.
Then, she simply waited for the food to be served.
As the appetizers arrived, Ayla ate as if I weren’t even there, behaving as usual. The other guests only stole brief glances but didn’t interfere. Only Seila tilted her head in confusion.
The real change came after the main dish was served.
Ayla naturally picked up her fork and knife, sliced her steak, and then suddenly held out a piece of meat toward me.
“Ayla-nim?”
“Taste it first, to check for poison. That’s an order.”
The gazes of the guests and Seila immediately focused on me.
“……Ayla-nim?”
But as I hesitated, my choker began to tighten around my neck.
In the end, I had no choice but to lean forward. Just as I was about to take the fork with my hand, Ayla pulled it back slightly.
So, instead, I opened my mouth and carefully bit down on the piece of meat.
I slowly chewed. As I did, the choker loosened its grip.
“……There is no poison.”
For some reason, I felt compelled to say that.
“You have something on your lips.”
Ayla wiped my lips with her index finger—then put it into her own mouth.
Smack.
After licking the sauce off her finger, Ayla resumed eating as if nothing had happened.
I could only blink in shock.