Episode 7 

“Huuuuh…”

When I asked, May finally burst into sad tears.

“N-No, Your Grace the Duchess! Don’t be fooled! This is all a misunderstanding!”

“We only covered her mouth because she kept saying bad things about you, Your Grace!”

“Oh, really? I guess you all must feel very wronged then.”

“Yes! That’s right!”

I took out a handkerchief, wrapped it around my hand, and reached for the glass bottle.

May shook her head quickly, as if to say “No!”

I smiled at her and gently took the bottle from her hands.

“A mere daughter of a baron complaining about food at a grand duke’s house? How ridiculous.”

“…!”

“It must’ve been so unfair for you all who had to prepare it!”

Hmm. Maybe I don’t look threatening enough because I’m still a child.

The line I had planned to sound cool didn’t come out as strongly as I imagined.

Instead, it came off as… kind of cute.

Smash!

But at least my aim was perfect.

The bottle filled with peach juice hit the wall and shattered loudly beside the maids.

“I’ve been listening to everything for a while. Go ahead, keep flapping those proud lips.”

“Y-Your Grace, p-please forgive us!”

“Please don’t punish us!”

The maids dropped to their knees and begged desperately, not even caring about the broken glass on the floor.

It was almost funny how people could change so quickly in an instant.

“Forgive you?”

I let out a little laugh.

“Didn’t the butler already inform you that I’m allergic to peaches, and eating them could kill me?”

“W-Well, that’s—!”

“So then, is this attempted murder? Trying to kill the future Duchess? That’s a serious crime, right?”

The maids’ faces turned pale.

“N-No! That’s not what we meant!”

“Also, you tried to blame it on another servant?”

That part had really happened in my past life.

The peach juice May made ended up as part of a dessert at my first dinner with the Vesford family, and I had a terrible allergic reaction.

I just wanted to make a good impression, but everything turned into a disaster.

And that girl…

“I-I’ve committed a grave sin, Y-Your Grace!”

When I looked at May, she also dropped to the ground, still hiding her hands to make sure I didn’t get peach on me.

“Get up. You were only doing what they told you to do, right?”

“B-But…”

In the past, May had been blamed and kicked out of the duchy.

It wasn’t until much later that I found out she had been innocent all along.

And May… would become the key to saving Ian from a future disaster.

“Seri!”

When I called out, Seri quickly appeared from behind the door where she had been keeping watch. She came over and carefully wiped my sleeves and dress in case some juice had splashed on me.

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Take this girl with you. She needs some care and discipline.”

“Yes!”

“And as for them…”

I looked down at the maids still on the floor, begging and rubbing their hands together.

“P-Please forgive us, Your Grace!”

They were trembling in fear.

“Did I say I’d kill you?”

I gave them a small smile.

They looked up at me in disbelief.

“Then…”

“I won’t report you. Just leave quietly. I never want to see you again.”

The maids looked at me with blank, hopeless faces.

Being a servant in the Vesford household was one of the best jobs in any noble family.

“Why do you all look so shocked? Isn’t this more than generous, letting you go with your lives?”

I turned away without saying anything else.

Seri followed behind me, gently pulling May along.

Just before the door closed, I heard one of the maids whispering in shock, tears in her eyes.

“Did you see that? Those pretty eyes… They looked crazy…”

“They’re still saying things like that?!”

“Stop.”

I stopped Seri from turning back angrily.

“Crazy-looking eyes”? I actually liked the sound of that. Let’s just leave it.

“Seri, clean up May and bring her to me properly dressed.”

Right now, I had something much more urgent to focus on.

✧

After Seri cleaned up May, she looked completely different.

Her messy brown hair was brushed and curled just enough to make her look nothing like a scolded servant.

“Seri, could you please prepare the tea I asked for?”

Seri bowed politely and left the room.

As soon as the door closed, May dropped to her knees and bowed deeply, still full of fear.

No need to be so scared… I shrugged lightly.

“T-Thank you, Your Grace.”

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

When I reached out and held her hand, her eyes wavered nervously.

I gently helped her up and sat her in a chair.

“I’m fine. Y-Your Grace shouldn’t touch someone as dirty as me…”

Long years of abuse leave scars, not just on the body but on the heart.

So I held her hand tighter and said,

“You’re not dirty! The ones who bullied you were the bad ones!”

“Sniff… h-huuh…”

Maybe it was the first kind words she’d ever heard.

May finally broke down in sobs.

I put a small hand on her shoulder and patted her gently.

“You’re the first person who’s ever been this… this kind to me, Your Grace…”

May had lived a very hard life.

Before she came to the duchy, she had to dig through trash just to survive. That’s how she accidentally ate a poisonous herb, which caused her to stutter.

But because she wanted to heal herself, she studied herbs all on her own.

Even after being kicked out of the duchy, she kept studying in harsh conditions.

Her efforts paid off — one day, she would become a skilled herbalist.

Meeting May here is such a blessing. I only realized it much later in my past life…

And now, with the first meal with Ian coming soon, I would need May’s knowledge to avoid disaster.

I clenched my fist. I wouldn’t miss this chance.

That’s when—

“Your Grace, the tea is ready.”

“Thank you!”

Seri entered at the perfect moment and poured the tea slowly into the cup.

“I used the herb ‘Tishai’ you mentioned… I’m not sure if it smells the way you hoped.”

“It’s perfect! Thank you! Oh, Seri—could you pick out a book for me to read later?”

Just like Seri hinted, the tea didn’t smell good at all.

But I didn’t care.

Its healing effects were far more important than the scent.

“May, I prepared this for you. Would you like to try it?”

When Seri left, I looked at May with shining eyes and offered the tea.

“M-Me? I can’t drink something so precious…”

“Don’t say that! I made it just for you!”

Just hearing the name of the herb, May seemed to know how valuable it was.

But she didn’t know what it could do yet.

When she kept refusing, I puffed out my cheeks and looked grumpy.

No one can resist a cute little 10-year-old’s pout!

Sure enough, May hesitated, then picked up the cup with trembling hands and took a careful sip.

Her face scrunched up—it was really bitter.

“No matter how bitter it is, you have to finish it! I even brought candy just for you!”

Hearing that, May somehow managed to drink all of it.

“Wow! May, you’re amazing!”

I clapped my hands and handed her a candy.

For someone like May, who rarely got treats, the candy made her expression slowly soften.

Then I held a finger to my lips and said,

“Shhh. Don’t say anything. Just slowly roll the candy in your mouth and enjoy the taste until it melts. It’s my favorite!”

Giving someone bitter tea and then sweet candy—it must’ve been confusing for May.

She might think I’m bullying her…

But I knew better.

Soon, something unbelievable would happen.

I savored my candy in silence, enjoying the calm.

When the sweet candy had finally melted in my mouth, I looked at May and asked,

“Tastes good, right?”

“Yes, Your Grace. I’m so grateful you gave me the tea and this rare candy… truly thankfu—huh?”

May stopped mid-sentence and her eyes widened in shock.