Chapter 58…
Cynthia forced a small smile, trying to hide the gloom pressing in on her.
Now that everything at the banquet hall was finally over, she just needed to return to the Bailey estate and tell Dale about what had happened…! Since things had turned out this way, she might as well apologize properly and focus on finding her own path forward.
“Your Grace, then I’ll take my leave—”
“Cynthia, please wait a moment.”
She was about to turn away quickly, not wanting to walk back with Tession, when he reached out and stopped her again. Cynthia sighed softly and looked back at him.
“Yes?”
“Could you stay with me just a little longer?”
“Your Grace, I’m sorry, but I’m rather tired right now…”
“It will only take a moment.”
He was uncharacteristically firm.
Cynthia wanted nothing more than to return home, but seeing his expression, she looked up at him with a conflicted face.
Honestly, even if he asked with that handsome face of his, it wouldn’t change her mind—
“There’s something I want to see with you. I could only imagine it through sound before, since I couldn’t see, but since regaining my sight, I haven’t seen it yet.”
Tession added softly, his tone almost pleading.
“I would really like to see it… with you.”
“…”
Those bright violet eyes were fixed on her.
…Fine. Just this once. Cynthia took a deep breath and nodded.
“All right. It’ll only take a moment, right?”
“Why are there so many people out here?”
“Please, be careful.”
Led by Tession’s hand, Cynthia stepped out of the banquet hall.
The moment the final dance ended, nobles began pouring out of the hall, walking briskly toward the same direction.
Where are they all going?
Once they passed through the narrow corridor leading from the entrance, the imperial garden finally opened up before them, letting her breathe freely again.
Cynthia blinked in confusion at the sight of nobles scattered in small groups across the garden, chatting excitedly with expectant faces.
“What are they all waiting for? Is there something to see tonight? Is this what you wanted to show me?”
“Something like that. There are more people than I expected.”
Tession frowned slightly, using his tall height to peer over the crowd. After a brief pause, he turned and looked up at a nearby building.
“This way, please.”
“Huh? Where to…?”
Cynthia followed as he guided her back inside.
He helped her up to a quieter spot near the top of a staircase and bent down slightly to meet her gaze.
“This way, at least our eye levels match.”
“Are you bragging about being tall right now?”
Cynthia laughed lightly, and Tession smiled gently before speaking again.
“If I recall, there’s a stairway to the upper floor somewhere here. Would you wait here just a moment?”
“Oh? Then let’s go together!”
At her suggestion, Tession hesitated briefly, then shook his head.
“We might run into someone unpleasant along the way.”
Huh? Who could that be?
Cynthia gave him a questioning look, but Tession simply tapped her cheek with a finger and turned to leave.
“I’ll just check if the way is clear. It won’t take long.”
“All right.”
She nodded helplessly. Honestly, with the tight, uncomfortable dress and painful shoes, she didn’t feel like fighting her way through the massive crowd anyway.
So she simply stood there, watching Tession disappear into the sea of people. His tall head stood out for quite a while.
What on earth is he trying to see that’s so important…? Ugh, fine—this is the last favor, so I’ll endure it!
“Um… Lady Bailey?”
While she stood idly, fussing with her hair, a cautious voice came from behind.
Huh? Who’s talking to me now…?
Cynthia tensed up instantly, turning her head carefully, worried someone might have recognized her.
“Yes?”
For a moment, she feared it was a stranger—but no, she recognized the face.
“Lady Castillo…?”
“I… wanted to apologize once more for earlier.”
Out of nowhere?
Cynthia eyed Grace suspiciously, then glanced around.
What is this? Did someone put her up to it? Maybe Adrian is watching nearby?
“My brother didn’t make me do this, so don’t worry.”
Oh goodness—how did she know that?!
Cynthia flinched at Grace’s sharp intuition and quickly shook her head.
“If it’s about before, you already apologized enough. It’s fine.”
“No, I was afraid you might have misunderstood. I wanted to explain.”
Grace took a step closer, her blue eyes fixed steadily on Cynthia. Feeling fatigue setting in, Cynthia sighed lightly and replied.
“There’s nothing to misunderstand. I’m fine, so why don’t you go find a spot to watch whatever this show is supposed to be?”
“When I acted as though I was looking down on you before…”
Grace persisted, stepping closer again. Cynthia stiffened and took a small step back.
Without Tession nearby, this kind of approach felt uncomfortable.
I was already exhausted today even without you bothering me…
Completely drained, Cynthia couldn’t help snapping a little.
“Sorry, but I really don’t want to hear it.”
“No, it’s just that, no matter how I think about it—”
Grace suddenly grabbed her wrist. Cynthia immediately yanked it free.
“Let go of me!”
This was supposed to be her last day like this.
The last day pretending to be Elizabeth Bailey. So why did everyone seem so determined to make it miserable until the end?
Grace stared blankly at her now-empty hand for a moment before looking up. A small, amused smile curved her lips.
“My lady… now you really do seem like a Bailey.”
What’s that supposed to mean?
Cynthia frowned, meeting Grace’s intrigued gaze.
“What do you mean, ‘like a Bailey’?”
“Exactly what I said. Like a Bailey. Just the way you’re acting now.”
Cynthia blinked, still not understanding.
What does that even mean? It sounds like an insult…
“My brother has been talking about you a lot lately.”
Grace shrugged lightly before continuing.
“He doesn’t know much about the nobles in the capital since he just returned from studying abroad. But one day, he started praising you—said you’re different from other young ladies, pure and kind, and all that.”
Cynthia averted her gaze, embarrassed.
Adrian, that’s… nice of you, but it sounds like you’re mocking me in a weird way…
“But did you know?”
Grace smiled faintly.
No, and I’m not sure I want to. Cynthia turned back to her wearily.
“Our family isn’t as wealthy as people think. We can’t just hire maids freely.”
“…And what does that have to do with this conversation?”
“It means the Castillo family doesn’t have the budget to hire skilled new servants. So we often employ those who’ve been dismissed from other households.”
Cynthia sighed and turned her head away.
Are all nobles like this? Always talking about themselves, changing the subject however they please…
And seriously, where is Tession?
Narrowing her eyes, she stared toward the direction he’d gone, while Grace shamelessly continued.
“So we usually hire cheap labor—maids who’ve been fired from other estates and can’t find new work because they lack recommendation letters.”
“I see.”
“Do you know which estate the most maids get fired or quit from?”
“How would I know?”
“The Bailey estate.”
Cynthia froze mid-reply.
“Most of my maids used to work at the Bailey estate.”
She turned to Grace slowly.
So Grace had heard about it from them—stories about Lady Elizabeth Bailey that weren’t exactly public knowledge.
“Now you’re listening. Do you understand what I’m trying to say?”
“…”
“I’ve heard my maids complain about Lady Elizabeth countless times. They said she was cruel, short-tempered, and sharp-tongued.”
Cynthia sighed deeply, lowering her head.
Elizabeth… just how terribly did you treat your maids…?
