Chapter 52
At that moment, one of the hotel staff hurriedly slipped between Rosie and Lily.
“L–Lady Rosie! You’re back early! If we had known, we would’ve prepared a cool drink for you. Please go up to your room first—we’ll have everything ready right away.”
Though the staff here were always polite, no one had ever made such a fuss just because she returned from an outing. Rosie blinked in surprise at the woman. It was the same staff member she had given ointment to the other day.
Why is she acting like this all of a sudden?
They had grown friendlier after Rosie offered her the ointment, but certainly not close enough for her to physically block someone’s path—even a noble lady’s.
Not knowing there had been orders to prevent the two from meeting, Rosie stared blankly. Lily, however, exploded at once.
“Ha! Look at this filth! How dare a measly lowborn block a noble’s way!”
Her voice rang across the lobby, sharp and loud enough that everyone nearby turned to stare. Lily, exhilarated by the attention, continued.
“I knew something was strange. This makes everything easier.”
The staff member looked nervously at Lily, whose chin was raised in arrogant displeasure.
“Bring me the person in charge. I have plenty to say about this.”
Rosie could no longer stand by and watch the trembling staff member take the blame. She stepped forward. She knew too well how cruel Lily could be once she set her sights on someone—how relentless she was at sucking the very life out of her victims.
“If you have something to say, say it to me. Don’t bother innocent people.”
“Oh? So after avoiding me for so long, you finally want to talk? Why? Is it because of this little peasant?”
“I have never avoided you.”
Rosie spoke firmly and pulled the employee behind her, shielding her. She didn’t know how friendly the woman felt toward her, but Rosie refused to let anyone unrelated get dragged into Lily’s nonsense. Lily’s painted eyebrows shot up.
“Ha! So there is something going on with you and the staff? No wonder they’re all so desperate to hide you. I guess lowborns have to protect their own, right?”
“……”
“What’s wrong, cat got your tongue? Say something, Rosie—like I do. Oh, wait. What could you possibly say to the one person here who knows who you really are?”
The more Lily spewed her crude mockery, the more the spectators—who had pretended not to look—fixed their attention on Rosie, their eyes sticky with curiosity.
Two contradictory rumors about Rosie had been spreading recently: that she was a mysterious foreign noble—or that she was a mere servant pretending to be one.
Everyone stared, eager to see how she would answer.
Rosie sighed and finally opened her mouth.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. You act as if I have some improper relationship with the employees. Also—when have I ever hidden my identity? You’re the one saying strange things.”
“Oh, please. Everyone knows you’re impersonating a noble! Some foreign aristocrat, was it? Why don’t you try telling that lie to my face?”
Lily’s voice rose, and Rosie frowned. So that weird rumor Daisy mentioned had reached Lily as well.
Lily misread her expression and smirked triumphantly.
“What’s wrong? You didn’t think you’d be caught? A pathetic little maid who used to scrub my floors, daring to dream beyond her place.”
Lily’s last sentence crashed into the suddenly silent lobby. Whispers stirred behind them.
So she was a maid?
Then what’s the truth?
They examined Rosie—her posture, her manners—wondering. Was she really a noble? Or was she just a servant pretending to be one?
But the next voice that boomed wasn’t Rosie’s.
“What is this commotion!”
A man strode forward, cutting between them. The staff quickly bowed low.
It was the hotel manager—Ainar Portrey.
His gaze, hot and sharp like a scarlet flame, swept the room before landing squarely on Lily.
Lily swallowed hard. His presence was overwhelming—cold, authoritative, and clearly far above what she had expected from a mere manager.
“W–Who are you, barging in like this?”
Feeling instinctively threatened, Lily forced her voice into something resembling decorum. Beside her, May tugged on her sleeve and whispered:
“My lady. That’s him. The man I told you about.”
“…What man?”
“You know—when I said Rosie was with some man before.”
Lily’s eyes widened slightly.
So that was the man? The one she dismissed as just another fool Rosie had seduced?
This man?
He was draped head-to-toe in luxury—a man who radiated wealth and status with every breath. He looked down at her and spoke in an icy tone.
“I’ve been meaning to meet you at least once, Lily Kikerne.”
“…Manager?”
Rosie stared at Ainar, bewildered. He always appeared at the most critical moments, but she had never seen such a terrifying expression on his face.
Ainar glanced briefly at her before fixing his gaze back on Lily.
“You know my name. You should introduce yourself properly first,” Lily said stiffly.
Ainar inclined his head.
“I am Ainar Portrey, manager of this hotel.”
Lily blinked. Even if he was a manager, his aura far exceeded his station.
Still—
If he’s just a manager… then this works in my favor.
Lily lifted her chin higher.
“Then let’s get straight to it. Are you aware of how poorly your staff behaves? They interrupt nobles’ conversations, they can’t even recognize guests, and that one—” she pointed sharply at Rosie “—is dirtying your establishment just by being here.”
She moved her finger to the employee Rosie had protected.
“Have you even verified her identity? Impersonating a noble is a crime.”
“I have never impersonated—!”
Rosie tried to interject, afraid this would cause trouble for Ainar, but he raised a hand to stop her.
“I was the one who verified her identity.”
Ainar’s calm, unwavering voice froze Lily.
“…What?”
If he truly checked, then he should know Rosie was a commoner. And yet he placed her in the Rose Suite—reserved only for those of highest status.
That could only mean—
The rumors were true?
Lily’s world tilted. The crowd’s eyes cooled, now turning judgmental—not toward Rosie, but toward her.
Panic flared. She clenched her fists and shrieked:
“Don’t lie! She was my maid! A wretched orphan raised in a charity home! She’s nothing but a filthy, lowborn peasant!”
Ainar did not deny it.
Nor did he confirm it.
He simply looked at Lily with an icy gaze and continued speaking—
