“Uh…”
The hand-waving from just a moment ago was gone, and now she hesitated, as if finding it difficult to answer.
I understood Anne’s feelings.
In truth, she’d never received such instruction from anyone, so how curious she must be.
She hadn’t been able to say anything, but Anne must have had more than a few frustrations while adorning me.
However, there was one thing I was worried about.
‘I’ve heard there’s a hierarchy even among maids.’
Like how good students come from good teachers.
Surely, there were many who took great pride in this work.
No matter how small the task, they would have their own rules, and if someone learned the job by paying for it, they might see it as undermining their tradition and look down on maids from training centers.
Perhaps that was what Anne was worried about.
If so, I had to clear up Anne’s complicated feelings at this point.
“Anne, don’t worry about anything else. There’s more than one way to get to the capital, right?”
“Yes? What do you mean by that?”
“I know what you’re worried about right now.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
Sometimes there are things you can know without being told.
The years we’ve spent together can’t be faked.
More than anything…
I already know Anne’s future.
Near the ending scene, Anne died from a long-hidden illness. Lovesickness, for which there was no cure.
No matter how I changed my strategy, Anne’s future remained the same.
There was nothing I could do in the game, but it’s different now.
‘I think I’ve found the cause.’
But for now, I pretended not to know.
“What if bad rumors spread because of me? I absolutely don’t want to cause any trouble for you, Master, or Miss.”
As always, only I can talk bad about my own.
“Who dares to insult our Anne? Does she have two lives? Who is it! Tell me!”
“Ah, no! Miss, nothing has happened yet.”
Anne, flustered, frantically waved her hands.
She probably didn’t expect me to react so strongly.
“Just let me catch them. I won’t let them get away with it!”
I swung my still-growing arms in the air, pretending to punch.
Not only that, but I also pretended to kick with my legs.
I didn’t go to the martial arts gym for nothing.
Actually, there was another reason why I was really doing this.
I wanted to give Anne everything I couldn’t give her in the previous life through this life.
‘Thank you for filling the void of my mother’s absence, Anne.’
I hope I get a chance to tell her these words someday.
“So Anne, just trust me and follow me!”
“Okay! Then, I’ll trust you, Miss!”
Anne smiled brightly.
I added this, lest I miss it.
“Anne, make sure you do my hair with the bunny pin today.”
I headed straight to ‘Bling Bling’ with Anne.
It was close enough to walk, but I deliberately took a carriage.
“Miss, you don’t have to do this because of me.”
“Anne, we’re already on our way.”
“But still…”
“Do you want to get off?”
“Ah, if you’d let me, I would. I think that would make me feel more comfortable.”
“Forget it, let’s just go.”
Anne insisted, but she couldn’t break my stubbornness.
I wanted to show everyone.
Anne wasn’t just an ordinary maid, but a precious person who received this much affection and attention from her master.
Before long, the carriage stopped.
“Miss! We’re here.”
“That was fast. Shall we get off?”
“Yes!”
We confidently opened the door of ‘Bling Bling’ and entered.
The salon was filled with the slow melody played by the orchestra and a subtle floral scent.
At the same time, my gaze moved busily.
The crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling shone, creating an elegant atmosphere, and the luxurious carpet on the floor even silenced the sound of shoes.
As most of the customers were from the upper class, the salon had an overall antique feel.
‘It feels like the facilities have gotten better.’
It already had the image of a luxury salon, but for some reason, I couldn’t shake the feeling that it had been upgraded.
Were they paying attention to the Charming Class opening?
Whatever it was, I liked it.
If the training center was established in a place like this, the facilities would be excellent.
My heart swelled at the thought of sending Anne here.
‘Was this how Anne felt?’
The feeling of always supporting me with a worried heart when I went to take classes.
Being on the opposite side, I felt like I understood a little.
After a simple registration process, I was led to the reception room.
‘I’m nervous!’
Was it because I was filled with anticipation?
My heart was pounding strangely.
What should I say first when I meet her?
When the reception room door opened, I couldn’t hide my joy.
“Sister!”
The moment my expectations became reality.
“Say?”
My sister widened her eyes as if surprised.
She didn’t expect to run into me here at all.
It was only natural.
If Anne hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t have even thought of coming to this place.
“Did you come to get your hair done, Sister?”
I pretended not to know.
It hurt a little to see my sister’s flustered face.
“Well, what about you?”
My sister’s reaction was quite different from usual.
She probably couldn’t bring up this kind of story easily.
So I decided to show my hand first.
“I was thinking of registering our Anne for the Charming Class.”
“What?”
My sister’s brow furrowed strangely.
She must have been either very surprised or unhappy with my answer.
‘I hope it’s the former.’
Soon after, a salon employee placed dessert plates and teacups neatly on the table.
No wonder I smelled such a sweet scent from the door.
“Here’s some warm cocoa and chocolate cookies. Enjoy.”
“Thank you!”
I really liked this place.
If you think my heart was moved by this cocoa alone, that’s a big mistake.
I liked the cocoa ‘too’.
“The director said she’ll call you two separately when the class is over.”
“Okay.”
“Yes, I understand!”
I picked up the cocoa cup with a cheerful answer.
Then I smiled brightly at the employee.
It was a silent greeting to ask for the same menu next time.
The employee seemed to understand and smiled back before turning away.
Now only my sister and I were left in the reception room.
I quickly asked a question, lest the atmosphere become awkward.
“Sister, do you like cocoa?”
“Well, I don’t dislike it.”
“Really? I love it.”
I answered a question she didn’t even ask and bit into a chocolate cookie.
Unlike its hard exterior, the inside was moist.
‘Wow, it’s so soft.’
The sweet taste quickly took over my mouth.
I didn’t want to feel this taste alone.
Originally, delicious things taste better when shared.
“Try this too, Sister.”
I quickly held out a chocolate cookie to my sister.
“I’ll eat it myself.”
“Say ah, ah.”
I tried to narrow the distance with my sister in any way I could.
Knowing the timing of pushing and pulling is also important.
Therefore, now is the time to pull!
I smiled brightly so that my sister couldn’t refuse.
For a brief moment, my sister’s eyebrows twitched.
But the result was successful!
“How is it? Delicious, right?”
I finally managed to put the cookie in my sister’s mouth.
“Mmm. I’ll eat it myself.”
My sister nodded, munching on the cookie.
Is this happiness?
Is this what it feels like to be full even without eating?
I decided to give all the remaining cookies to my sister.
I thought the satisfaction of watching my sister eat would be much greater than me eating them.
“Oh, I’m full. Maybe it’s because I ate not too long ago.”
I pretended to pat my stomach and gently pushed the dessert plate towards my sister.
“Sister, do you want to eat it all? I’m full.”
“Can I?”
“Of course.”
Please eat as much as you want.
That’s exactly what I want.
A smile bloomed on my face every time a cookie entered my sister’s mouth.
I felt like my heart was falling into the sweet scent of cocoa.
As I was intoxicated by the scent and the atmosphere, enjoying the feeling of walking on clouds.
My sister cautiously opened her mouth.
“You have the bunny pin.”
Oh, right!
I was so engrossed in the cookies that I forgot to thank my sister.
But my heart fluttered at my sister’s words, who recognized it first.
What a delicate person.
“I really like the gift. Thank you, Sister.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
Of course, who gave it to me?
“I’ll wear it often!”
I smiled brightly with my answer.
Hoping that all of this heart would be conveyed.
However, unlike me, who was so excited, my sister opened her mouth in a subdued voice.
“Hey, Say.”
What was she about to say?
I subtly straightened my posture in the strange atmosphere.
“Yes?”
“Why did you come here?”
I paused for a moment.
My sister’s question was subtly ambiguous.
It was as if she knew I was possessed and was asking me.
Of course, the probability that it wasn’t was overwhelmingly high, but it wouldn’t hurt to be careful.
When I couldn’t answer easily, my sister continued.
“Ahem, I mean, I thought there might be a reason why you registered Anne here.”
Phew!
I sighed inwardly in relief.
As expected, she wasn’t asking about possession.
‘How would my sister know that I’m a possessor?’
So, I replied calmly.
“I wanted to give Anne a chance to learn.”
“A chance to learn?”
My sister asked back as if surprised by the unexpected answer.
“Yes, the more Anne learns, the more helpful it will be to me. I also want Anne to gain confidence.”
My sister nodded slowly.
It was probably the most convincing answer.
Most importantly, I had a chance to resolve my doubts.
“What about you, Sister? What brings you to the salon?”
“Ah for the same reason.”
“The same reason? Then, did you also register a maid here?”
“Not a maid, but similar.”
“Huh? Who? No matter how I look at it, Parker is the only one who came with you.”
I already knew all the facts from Anne, but I pretended not to know and asked casually.
“That’s right, Parker.”
“Wow! Surprise!”
I widened my eyes, pretending to be surprised. It wasn’t as much as when I first heard about it from Anne, but an appropriate reaction was necessary.
And then I asked.
“But, why did you register Parker of all people?”
Perhaps she didn’t expect me to ask.
My sister’s emerald eyes wavered strangely.
She seemed hesitant to answer, but soon opened her mouth.
“One of the maids hurt her hand.”
“Oh no, that happened?”
“She needs to rest for a few months, but it seems like her family circumstances aren’t good. Mother told me to hire a new person right away.”
Ah!
I could see the situation unfolding.
My sister didn’t want to heartlessly kick out her own people.
“So you’re going to have Parker take on that role instead?”
“That’s right. It might attract some attention for a while, but Parker is a man.”
My sister swallowed the rest of her words.
Those words clearly contained the part I was worried about.
The gaze of others.
The part where they might disregard the legitimacy of a maid who learned the job by paying for it.
But since Parker was a man, he could avoid such problems.
This was an era where there was discrimination between men and women even among servants.
Anyway, how can my sister be so kind to her family?
‘If I could live as my sister’s maid.’
Brushing my sister’s hair every day, dressing her.
If I could see my sister up close every day.
That would be the life of a successful fan.
Just thinking about it was thrilling!
“I’m jealous.”
“What?”
“That maid. My sister cares so much about her.”
Oops!
My personal feelings came out of my mouth without me realizing it.