"Aaagh!"
Brittany hurled the teacup she had been holding.
Crash!
While the maids hurriedly cleaned up the shattered cup in alarm, Brittany glared out the window, breathing hard. She could not forget what had happened the day Kay had visited.
For a moment she had been pleased to hear that her father had established connections with the imperial palace. But dozens, even hundreds of women wanted to become the Crown Princess. Whether she could break through that competition remained uncertain.
Yet there were also dozens, even hundreds of women who wanted to become Kayvrant Green’s wife.
And Lisi had become his wife without doing anything.
The humiliation she had felt that day refused to fade.
"So if you think about it that way, your father is the same."
Nor could she forget the words Lisi had whispered. Or the eyes with which Lisi had looked down on her when she came to the reception room.
‘Iris, that woman… pretending to be kind and obedient, but in truth she was a snake. The Count of Green needs to know what she really is.’
The fact that Kay had mocked Brittany had completely disappeared from her memory. The only thing Brittany remembered was Lisi’s arrogant and shameless behavior.
‘Iris always takes what belongs to me. Starting with our father… and then… Raford. Yes, even Raford.’
Brittany recalled the boy with sky blue hair who had once given her a gentle, warm smile. Raford, the kind and considerate boy she had loved for the first time.
"I’m sorry, Brin. I…"
When Raford rejected Brittany’s confession, his gaze had been directed toward Iris.
Iris had been cleaning a window. When she turned her head, her eyes met Raford’s. Raford had smiled sweetly at Iris.
It was a kind of smile he had never shown Brittany.
Brittany could not remember what expression Iris had made. Perhaps she had smiled one of those loose smiles she used to seduce men.
Even after Raford, similar things had happened often.
A woman who lived so loosely had entered the Green family, guardians of the sacred relics.
Kay probably had no idea how promiscuous Iris was. Iris would surely stain the reputation of the Green family.
‘If he does not know…’
Brittany’s eyes fell on Baron Alford Huchis.
A few days earlier, Alford had arrived at the Whitlow Ducal Estate with a strangely frightened expression. Even after hearing that Iris had already married Kayvrant, he refused to leave the estate and kept demanding that Iris be handed over.
He had even said the outrageous thing that if Iris could not be given to him, Brittany should be given instead.
Alford was only a baron, but he was also the master of the Huchis Grand Merchant Guild. In an age when wealth had begun to matter more than noble titles, even Duke Whitlow could not simply throw Alford out.
‘All I have to do is tell him.’
A smile spread across Brittany’s lips.
+++
A good method had come to mind. A way to drive Alford away while pouring cold water over Iris, who was probably enjoying her happiness.
As soon as she finished forming the plan, Brittany hurried out of her room and went to find Alford.
Alford was eating sweet chocolate cookies while boasting to a maid beside him about how rich he was.
"Baron Huchis."
"Oh, Miss Brittany. Just call me Alford."
Alford smiled, his greasy face shining. He firmly believed that Brittany would soon become his wife.
"How could I do that? Baron Huchis is the man of my beloved younger sister, Iris."
Alford’s face twisted.
"Did the duke not give that Iris to the Count of Green?"
"Give her away… what are you saying…?"
"Is that not what happened? According to our agreement, I should have already taken Miss Iris to my territory."
"I know, I know. Iris wished for that more than anyone."
"...Really?"
"Of course. Kayvrant Green. That man insisted on taking Iris away, using the excuse that he is the guardian of the sacred relics. And our poor Iris…"
Brittany’s eyes reddened as she recalled that day.
Of course, the tears welling in her eyes came not from sadness but from anger.
"Iris cried so much when she climbed into the Count of Green’s carriage… Even now, just thinking about it breaks my heart."
Seeing the tears rolling down Brittany’s cheeks, Alford looked at her with sympathy.
"But… but what could I do? If even Duke Whitlow cannot oppose the Count of Green, how could I possibly take Iris away from him? So, Miss Brittany, perhaps you and I—"
"You know how beautiful Iris is, don’t you? You must have seen her portrait."
"W well, of course…"
"That beautiful Iris cried while longing for you, Baron Huchis. Didn’t she?"
When Brittany asked the maid beside her, the maid hurriedly nodded.
"Y yes. Miss Iris cried a great deal."
Alford swallowed hard.
"W well, I was originally supposed to marry Miss Iris, so naturally I would prefer to marry her. But there’s no way, no way at all…"
"There is no way? A man like you…"
"Wait, what does me being a man have to do with this?"
"Baron Huchis, do you truly not understand? Why men were so fascinated with our Iris…"
"Well, because she is beautiful…"
"That too, of course. But the real reason is that our Iris is untouched. Pure. A flower blooming in the middle of a lake, untouched by any man’s hands or breath."
Alford nodded eagerly.
"That is true…"
"Count Kayvrant Green probably wanted Iris for that very reason as well. Do you understand what I’m saying?"
Alford was a quick thinking man.
"But who would believe such a thing?"
"Do not worry, Baron Huchis. Behind you stands the Whitlow Ducal House. And we will make the words that come from your mouth become the truth."
+++
The most famous designer and tailor in the city of Dakot, where the Green Count Estate stood, came to visit.
Lisi opened the design book the designer brought and chose several styles she liked.
Two luxurious dresses, one elegant dress, three one piece dresses, several sets of everyday clothing, and nightwear.
For the fabric she chose materials a few grades below the most expensive. For now it was better to conserve the Green family’s money.
"For everyday wear… are you truly certain about this?"
The designer asked with a puzzled expression. The designs Lisi had chosen for everyday wear were not something a noble lady would normally wear.
"Those are fine."
The designer replied uncertainly.
"Very well. Ah, the Count asked me to bring several dresses you could wear immediately. Would you like to try them?"
"Yes."
With the maids’ assistance, Lisi tried on several dresses and selected a few she would wear for the time being. She also chose several pieces from the jewelry box the designer had brought.
"You have excellent taste."
Lisi smiled at the designer’s words.
It was only natural. In her previous life she had lived for quite a long time as the mistress of a merchant guild.
After the designer and tailor left, Lisi picked up a green dress. The bodice was such a pale green it almost appeared white, gradually deepening in color toward the hem.
With the help of the maids she changed into the dress.
‘When will the maid arrive?’
The servants had never helped a noble lady change dresses before, so they assisted awkwardly, unsure of what to do. None of them knew how to arrange hair either, so once again Lisi left her long hair loose.
When Lisi stepped outside the room, she noticed a woman walking down the corridor.
She had brown hair and green eyes and was quite pretty. Lisi had noticed her several times over the past few days.
Whenever the woman saw Lisi, she simply gave a casual nod and passed by.
Among servants there were always some who could not accept a new mistress and felt jealous. But it was rare for someone to show it so openly.
‘How irritating.’
Lisi had only recently entered the Green House, so she had been giving the people in the estate time to adjust. But such an attitude was unacceptable.
"Count, I’m here."
The woman’s coquettish voice came from behind.
She was standing in front of Kay’s room.
Although Kay and Lisi shared a bedroom, their personal rooms were located on either side of it. Even Lisi herself did not enter Kay’s room carelessly.
Yet the woman stood before his door without even announcing her name and said only, "I’m here," asking to be let in.
Perhaps Kay had permitted it, because the door opened.
‘So she is not an ordinary maid.’
Perhaps she was Kay’s mistress. It was common for nobles to keep a maid or lady in waiting as a mistress within their estate. Kay was a young man, so having one or two mistresses was understandable.
But it was unacceptable for a mistress to show such an attitude toward the lady of the house.
"Who is that woman?"
At Lisi’s question, a maid answered awkwardly.
"She is the Count’s… personal maid."
"Her name?"
"Gillette Merdi. She is the daughter of Baron Merdi…"
"A baron’s daughter?"
"Yes."
The maid who answered lowered her head deeply, as though she also believed Gillette to be Kay’s mistress.
‘A baron’s daughter serving as a count’s maid…’
It sometimes happened that daughters of lesser noble houses served as attendants in houses of marquis or higher. But it was extremely rare for the daughter of a baron to serve as a maid in a count’s household.
‘So she really is Kay’s mistress.’
Lisi frowned slightly.
Even if Gillette were a commoner, such behavior would be troublesome. If she were the daughter of a baron, the situation could become even more complicated.
Lisi wanted a peaceful and quiet life. She did not want anyone disturbing her nest.
‘She must be removed from my sight. Or made unable to even lift her head before me.’
She felt slightly sorry for Kay, but she could not simply ignore a woman who treated the lady of the house like that.
"Iris."
Jamie’s voice pulled her from her thoughts.
"I have brought the maids. They are waiting in the reception room. Would you like to meet them?"
"Yes."
As they walked toward the reception room, Jamie spoke.
"I could only find two on such short notice. If our captain… the Count had informed me about the marriage in advance, I would not have had to rush like this."
It seemed he was still upset about not being told about the marriage earlier.
Lisi hesitated, unsure how to respond, but Jamie did not seem to expect an answer and continued speaking.
"However, I am very capable, so even in a situation like this I perform my duties perfectly. The Count is truly fortunate to have a subordinate like me."
"Yes. He is fortunate."
This time Lisi managed to answer properly.
Jamie nodded in satisfaction, humming to himself as they arrived in front of the reception room.
Before opening the door, Jamie explained the two maids waiting inside.
Erwell of the Lutek family and Krisina of the Ferni family. Both families were technically commoners but respected enough to be treated almost like minor nobility.
Before entering the reception room, Lisi said to Jamie,
"There is someone else in this estate whom I would like to make my maid."
"Yes. Please tell me."
"Gillette Merdi."
"Tell her to wait in my room."