~Chapter 49~
Marie Egbert thought you were irritating for always wearing shabby old dresses, so she had already gone out of her way to hire the best designer.
But when you cheerfully and cluelessly rejected her efforts, as if brushing them aside, she became annoyed and resentful.
She still found your birth distasteful and suspicious, though she begrudgingly admitted you were cute.
Even so, she continued to distrust you and had no intention of accepting any help from you.
Still, since you had now become the heir, she felt it was her duty to educate you properly so that you wouldn’t disgrace the Egbert name in public.
Esther’s eyes froze on a single line.
“Marie Egbert… (omitted)… had already hired the best designer.
But when you cheerfully and cluelessly rejected her efforts, she was annoyed and resentful.”
Esther stared at the parchment in silence.
“…Ah.”
So, I was the clueless one.
But you’re the one who said I was a bother! That you didn’t care!
Shouldn’t you have been pleased when I refused, then?
How on earth was I supposed to infer, ‘Ah, this person must have gone and hired a designer to make me clothes!’?
Humans are such a hassle!
How could someone’s words and true feelings be so different?
Still, compared to that parchment before where the word ‘disgust’ had appeared, this one felt a little less harsh.
But honestly—what kind of help would actually make her willing to accept it?
“…But, I-I just worried Father might not like the clothes…” Esther mumbled.
That much was true.
The dress from the designer was so flashy and gaudy she wanted to peer into their head to see what they were thinking.
“Hah, listen to this child complain as if she’s overindulged.”
What am I supposed to do, then?!
Marie Egbert scoffed with her arms crossed, speaking as though there was no other choice.
“Fine then. Since I’ve already made arrangements with a designer, I’ll have them sent to you tomorrow.”
“Wow, Grandma, you’re a genius?!” Esther seized the chance immediately.
“Ahem, it’s only natural for one of the Egbert family.”
“Esther’s a genius too!”
“…Nonsense. If you’re finished eating, be off with you.”
So only she was a genius, and I wasn’t?
Esther pouted but quickly tucked her lips back in.
She nibbled the last of her cookies, then hopped down and waved her hands energetically.
“I’ll come again tomorrow!”
“If you dare show up in such ridiculous fashion again, I won’t let you in! Even if you come with rabbit ears and marshmallows in both hands, you’ll never be allowed inside!”
…So, that’s basically permission, right?
Esther only smiled brightly and slipped out of the study. The moment she turned away, her face showed a trace of fatigue.
Rabbit ears… where am I supposed to find those now…
She sighed as she returned to her room, where Rax was tidying up.
Or rather—picking something up from the floor.
“…What are you doing?”
“Ah, you’re back, Lady Esther. I was collecting your noble, precious, gene-filled strands of hair. Haa… even a single fallen hair of yours is flawless.”
“…”
Was it really okay to keep this guy nearby? Had she actually summoned a pervert by mistake?
Maybe because he’s in a human body now… I can barely feel any energy from him.
Esther sighed and was just about to sit on her bed when—
Grrrrrrrk.
Her stomach growled loudly. Her face flushed red.
“Where on earth is Chiffon?!”
He had gone to fetch food ages ago, but even after she visited Marie Egbert and came back, he still hadn’t returned.
“Indeed. He should’ve been back quite some time ago,” Rax muttered, narrowing his eyes as he carefully wrapped up the cloth with Esther’s hair.
Knock, knock.
Right then, a knock sounded and the door opened. The faint smell drifting in confirmed it was food.
Chiffon entered.
Esther lifted her hand to wave, then froze mid-motion.
“Young Miss, I’ve brought your meal. Sorry I’m late—the mansion’s so big, I lost my way a little.”
As usual, Chiffon wore a faint smile.
But Esther’s expression stiffened.
She noticed his slight limp.
“I’ll set the table right away.”
“….”
Rax narrowed his eyes, then casually grabbed Chiffon’s chin as he passed.
“What’s this? Did you snack on yeast? You look well-fermented like a loaf of bread.”
“Let go.”
Chiffon scowled, brushing his hand away.
“What happened?” Esther asked.
“I just made a small mistake and got scolded a little, that’s all. Nothing you need to worry about.”
Keeping a calm face, Chiffon set the dishes, pushed the tray aside, and bowed.
“Please, enjoy your meal.”
“…Are you truly fine?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
Esther frowned but nodded.
If he insisted, meddling further wasn’t the role of a master.
As a master, I should sometimes be lenient enough to just watch…
Esther thought as she picked up her spoon.
“I’ll go collect some supplies now.”
“In that condition?”
“Yes, in this condition. Can’t you go one moment without picking a fight?”
“A fight? Consider it concern, as a colleague.”
Chiffon’s eyes flashed, and he quickly turned his head away. His face was more tired than usual as he dragged the tray out of the room.
“…Ugh…”
Once outside, Chiffon groaned lowly.
Pain throbbed sharply up from his ankle.
“Why don’t you just admit you’re jealous, instead of lashing out?”
“You think you can live comfortably acting this stiff?!”
“Try bracing yourself!”
After that day, the harassment worsened noticeably.
Chiffon grimaced, recalling the scene.
“Oh my, look at the traitor sneaking food out without permission.”
“…Traitor? What are you talking about?”
“Like a sycophant, you were the first to wag your tail at that idiot! And now she’s heir—must be some trickery you pulled, huh?”
“…Stop spouting nonsense and move. She is the rightful heir.”
“How dare you talk like that?!”
One maid raised her hand high, and several others surged forward.
Chiffon didn’t even flinch.
When she stepped back to avoid the blow, one maid trembled in fury.
“Grab her! How dare a lowly handmaid speak like this—to me, Young Master Niffel’s maid!”
Chiffon bit her lower lip hard.
She hadn’t expected to be bullied out of envy in a place like this.
Of course, she understood—the balance of power depended on whom one served.
Until now, she had been assigned to the idiot illegitimate child, an object of pity at best.
But now she was the sole maid to the one and only heir.
It made sense others would resent her.
“Perhaps this will teach you that even among maids, there’s a hierarchy you’d better respect.”
Two attendants seized her arms tightly.
Slap!
Slap!
Palms smacked across her cheeks again and again.
Chiffon struggled fiercely, but with several of them holding her, there was no chance of breaking free.
Pathetic…
She wasn’t scared.
Not when she had a demon and a beast on her side.
“Feeling good serving such a bastard? You must be thrilled. Who knows what tricks you pulled to end up the maid of that wretch.”
With a shove, they timed it so the ones holding her suddenly let go.
Chiffon lost balance and toppled to the floor.
Her ankle twisted painfully as she fell.
“Who I serve is none of your concern!”
“They say she can see straight through people’s minds. If that’s not a devil’s curse, what is? Gives me chills.”
“Watch your mouth! She’s my lady!”
“And what of it? I’ve already spread the word everywhere—that the rope you grabbed is rotten.”
Chiffon clenched her fists tight.
The girls gave her a few dismissive pushes and jeered before leaving the kitchen in a noisy pack.
“Pathetic, jealous losers,” Chiffon spat, pushing herself up.
The head cook, who had arrived belatedly, sighed and silently handed her the food.
He said nothing, even though the marks of violence were plain.
He clearly didn’t want to get involved.
That was the normal way of things.
Most people never interfered in others’ troubles—it was inconvenient, troublesome, not worth it.
Some said people saved others for no reason at all. But Chiffon saw it differently. Everything was tied to self-interest.
Doctors saved people to earn money.
Vassals saved their lords to avoid losing what they valued.
Nobles gave alms for honor and self-satisfaction.
Adults saved children to ease their conscience.
And Chiffon didn’t think that was wrong.
She, too, acted out of self-interest.
That was why—even after all this humiliation—she remained loyal to Esther.
Because she had her own desire.
“I’ve delivered the meal… now I need to fetch the supplies.”
She straightened her clothes, then set off again, limping slightly on her aching ankle.
