Chapter 12
The cookies Lilith gave me were really delicious, but the problem was that I didn’t really like sweets.
I thought I couldn’t eat more than one.
I brushed off the cookie crumbs still clinging to Lilith’s mouth.
“Thank you. But it’s too much to eat alone. Would you help me, Miss?”
“Help you?”
“Yes. Please help.”
“Okay! Chloe will help!”
Lilith tapped her chest with her fist as if saying I should trust only her.
“Eat slowly, Miss.”
“Mm-hmm!”
Watching Lilith nod vigorously, I worried she might choke.
She seemed happy to have something she could help me with.
While smiling at that, I suddenly felt eyes on us.
Bliss, Noel, and the others were watching Lilith and me.
Especially Bliss looked surprised.
“I was worried since Lilith was waiting for you, but I’m glad you’re doing well.”
Bliss smiled as if relieved.
“Please take care of her from now on, Chloe.”
“…Yes, Lady Bliss.”
I glanced at Noel and Johan.
“How did you come together?”
Noel still rested his chin on one hand, watching Lilith with sparkling eyes.
“So cute…”
I heard Noel quietly mutter while looking at Lilith.
They probably knew the rumors about Lilith but showed no hesitation.
‘That’s a relief.’
But is it okay for the heroine and villainess in this world to get close?
No, maybe it’s better if they become friends.
While wondering which would be better for Lilith, Bliss answered.
“Seraphina — no, Noel’s mother — and I have been good friends for a long time.”
Seraphina Hariett.
She was the heroine Noel’s mother and the mistress of the Hariett Duke family.
She didn’t appear in the novel, so I hadn’t known, but apparently they were friends.
“I was just about to visit Lilith when Noel said he wanted to come along.”
“Is that so?”
I looked at Noel.
He smiled broadly, sensing my gaze, and nodded.
“I thought our chance meeting last time was fate. Chloe, I also wanted to take responsibility for what I said to you…”
What he said was to leave the Shainon family quickly.
Taking responsibility — maybe he found another job for me?
“But with such a lady, I wouldn’t want to go anywhere else. Too cute.”
Noel couldn’t take his eyes off Lilith.
‘I remember Noel once said he wanted a little sister.’
But Lilith ignored Noel’s eager gaze, just munching on cookies.
Since it was probably their first meeting today, she seemed wary.
“I was uneasy sending Noel alone, so I came along too. Sorry for showing up without telling anyone.”
I heard Johan’s voice and shook my head to say it was fine.
“Please speak comfortably, Johan.”
“…Later. When I’m more comfortable.”
Johan smiled politely as he sipped tea.
His voice seemed a bit lower than before.
‘Maybe it’s my imagination. He’s probably growing.’
Johan was fourteen, after all — the prime age to be growing up.
Chirp chirp chirp!
Suddenly, I heard bird sounds from Verdi.
“Ah, sorry!”
Verdi hurriedly searched her clothes and took out a small watch to turn off the alarm.
‘It’s time to study with Lilith.’
Normally, Verdi taught Lilith writing at this time.
She set an alarm so she wouldn’t forget.
‘Looks like today she’ll have to rest.’
I glanced at Verdi, signaling with my eyes.
She nodded in understanding.
“Chirp?”
Lilith stopped eating and looked up.
“Miss?”
“Chirp sounds!”
“What’s wrong, Lilith?”
Bliss asked.
“I have to study. When I hear chirps, I study!”
“Chirp?”
Bliss looked at me, puzzled.
She probably only knew about the annex’s finances.
She hadn’t heard about the tutor.
“I’ve been teaching Lilith to read for a few days now.”
“Read? Is it study time now? What about the tutor?”
“It’s not enough, but Verdi is teaching her…”
“Seems the tutor wasn’t approved.”
Bliss’s gaze turned to Verdi, who flinched and bowed her head.
“Verdi, study!”
“I’m not blaming you, so don’t worry. Since Lilith likes it, how about studying beside her today?”
“Beside?”
Verdi stammered.
“Lilith, do you want to study beside me?”
“Mm!”
“Prepare a table and chair. Tell me if you need anything.”
As soon as Bliss finished speaking, her maids started moving.
Bliss’s maids quickly prepared a new table and chair.
‘Good thing I cleaned up in advance.’
Otherwise, they’d have found dusty furniture.
After preparation, Bliss left only a minimal number of maids.
Because of that, three annex maids also had to leave, looking disappointed.
They probably thought it was a chance to work in another noble household.
‘But there aren’t many places hiring commoner maids.’
Especially ones without proper education.
Soon, Lilith and Verdi began studying as usual.
Of course, Verdi was more nervous than usual.
Noel sat opposite Lilith, watching with interest.
Eventually, only Bliss, Johan, and I were left at the original parlor table.
‘Awkward.’
I sipped cold tea, glancing around.
Bliss watched Lilith studying with warm eyes.
“I’m glad Lilith doesn’t hate studying.”
“She seems to like learning.”
“I see…”
She couldn’t take her eyes off Lilith.
Suddenly, a white handkerchief was extended in front of me.
“…?”
I turned to Johan, who held it out.
“Lord Johan?”
“You seem to have hurt your right cheek.”
“Ah…”
I quickly touched it and found a scab. Some blood stained my fingertip.
It was from the fight with Anne.
Earlier, when I scratched my cheek, the wound must have reopened.
‘I’m okay.’
Johan seemed determined not to lower his hand until I took the handkerchief.
In the end, I had no choice but to accept it.
“Thank you.”
At this rate, I might end up with a stack of handkerchiefs.
When I wiped my cheek, red blood showed clearly on the white cloth.
“Oh dear, is it badly hurt?”
Bliss checked my cheek.
“It’s nothing to worry about.”
“The maid who was with you… Anne, right?”
I nodded quietly, careful not to let Lilith hear.
“But what about Anne…”
I hadn’t heard what happened after the maids took her away.
Bliss’s expression stiffened.
“We can’t leave such a maid near Lilith. I plan to take her away.”
“Is that okay? Anne is a Shainon maid.”
“She’s the maid who tried to harm Lilith. Mother and brother wouldn’t want this known, so it’ll be fine.”
“…I heard Anne’s sister was also Lilith’s maid.”
“Yes. I didn’t know either, but apparently that’s true. Probably brother was aiming for that.”
Bliss added, “He used Anne’s desire for revenge after losing her sister.”
Was Gideon Shainon, the Shainon master, the one who hired Anne?
Anne’s fierce eyes lingered in my mind.
‘Anne’s sister was probably also ordered by Gideon Shainon to kill Lilith.’
Though I stopped Anne, I didn’t feel good about it.
Still, it was better for Anne to be with Bliss than with Gideon.
I glanced at Johan sitting at the table and he read my eyes.
“I’ve heard roughly what happened, so I don’t need to worry.”
Johan said calmly.
I gave an awkward laugh, and Bliss’s fingers touched my right cheek.
My head naturally turned toward her, feeling relief.
“It’ll be okay now.”
When she touched the cheek, the wound disappeared.
