Curiously, Luna’s room was located within the mansion itself.
It was, in fact, as filthy as Luen’s room had ever been.
When Luna first opened the door, a veritable blizzard of dust billowed out, so dense it seemed to snow.
Consequently, Ariel’s hair became thoroughly caked with grime.
“……”
Seeing her state, Luna spoke with a wry expression.
“My room is a bit dirty, isn’t it?”
‘Yes, very much so.’
Ariel, despite her overwhelming desire to voice that sentiment, suppressed it with superhuman patience.
Instead, she offered a gentle smile and replied,
“It’s… manageable. Not bad at all.”
“Oh, really?”
Luna’s eyes widened into perfect circles as she gazed at Ariel.
Gone was the charismatic aura she had exuded just moments before.
She looked more like a silly older sister from the neighborhood.
‘I feel like I’m experiencing cognitive dissonance.’
Ariel’s temples throbbed in response.
Whether aware of Ariel’s plight or not, Luna beamed a brighter smile than ever before and declared,
“No one has ever told me my room is clean before. Perhaps lovely people truly have lovely hearts?”
“……”
Ariel barely managed to keep her facial muscles from contorting into a grimace.
“Pfft, I’ve rambled on a bit, haven’t I? Come in, quickly. I’m sure food has been prepared.”
Mercifully, her flirtatious banter (TL Note: ‘jujjeop’ refers to overly flattering or cheesy behavior, often with a humorous intent) seemed to have concluded for the moment.
‘If she had continued, I might have punched her, captain or not.’
With that thought, Ariel stepped inside the room.
Just as expected.
The room was an absolute disaster.
Unidentifiable metal objects littered the floor, and more significantly,
‘The dust.’
There was an overwhelming amount of dust.
‘Eating a meal in a place like this?’
‘Am I supposed to eat it with a dust dressing?’
Upon reflection,
‘Both Luen and Luna live in such conditions.’
‘Perhaps the dust acts as a supplement, forging the strongest individuals in this world?’
As Ariel mused, Luna abruptly pulled out a chair beside a desk.
“Ladies first.”
“…Thank you.”
Ariel sat down, her expression one of clear displeasure.
The table was laden with dishes Ariel had never seen before.
Among them, a whole roasted turkey commanded her attention.
‘Luen would love this if I brought it to her.’
As Ariel stared intently at it, Luna spoke softly.
“Care for some?”
“Ah, no. I’m fine.”
Ariel waved her hand dismissively and added,
“Rather… there’s something I’d like to ask the Captain.”
“Hmm? Of course, ask anything. For someone as lovely as you, I might even tell you what underwear I’m wearing right now.”
“……”
“Just kidding. So, what’s your question?”
Luna chuckled coyly.
It was clear why novels often sang praises of her beauty.
She was, indeed, stunningly beautiful.
Yet, that was one thing, and this was another.
Ariel had been curious for some time.
How could the Captain of the White Flame Knights know a mere maid, and even her name? It struck her as odd.
So she inquired,
“Why do you know about me?”
“Hmm…”
Luna hummed in thought.
But after a brief pause, she responded with a bright smile.
“Luen is an old friend of mine, you see. So I knew a bit about you. Though I didn’t realize you were such a lovely child.”
With a playful poke,
she reached out and gently poked Ariel’s cheek.
“Ah.”
Ariel let out a small gasp.
Now, it seemed all the pieces of the puzzle were falling into place.
The true reasons behind Luen’s corruption within the ducal household, and why Luna had remained by her side through it all, finally became clear.
‘They called it the ducal family’s affairs, but in reality, it was the Grand Duchess’s inner turmoil.’
“So, if you ever have a hard time looking after Luen, come to me. I don’t have any expedition schedules for a while, so I’ll always be here.”
“Yes, I will. Thank you.”
“No need for thanks. Lovely people like you are always on my side.”
Luna chuckled softly.
She smiled.
Seeing her smile, Ariel thought,
‘Somehow, I’ve gained one.’
A formidable ally.
With her help, Luen would at least never go hungry.
Still, just in case, Ariel ventured,
“Then… may I take some of the young lady’s food for a while? As you’ve seen, the chef hasn’t been giving her meals…”
“Regarding that… yes. You may.”
Luna nodded.
Just then,
—Click.
The door opened, and a knight entered.
“Captain, training time has long passed, and you haven’t arrived…”
“Oh, has it gotten that late already?”
Luna sprang to her feet.
As she hurried to follow the knight out, she seemed to remember Ariel, turning to her with a spin and saying,
“Don’t feel burdened; take what you need.”
“Thank you.”
“My pleasure, lovely. See you later?”
With that, Luna departed.
Left alone in the room, Ariel gathered the food and made her way to Luen’s chamber.
****
“Ugh, it’s heavy.”
Perhaps she had packed too much food; Ariel struggled to carry the heavy bundle as she knocked on Luen’s door.
—Knock, knock, knock.
“Enter.”
‘She answers immediately today too.’
Ariel smiled gently as she opened the door and stepped inside.
Bathed in the pouring sunlight, Luen was immediately visible, gazing out the window.
—Whoosh!
Whenever an occasional gust of wind gently lifted and then settled her crimson hair, her face, previously obscured, would shyly peek out.
Her sharp jawline and prominent nose.
Her eyes, gleaming like ruby crystals under the sunlight.
Ariel was instantly captivated by her appearance, which resembled a masterpiece painting.
Lost in contemplation,
Ariel gazed at Luen, heedless of the passing time, until Luen spoke in an irritated tone.
“What are you doing just standing there?”
“Ah!”
Snapping back to reality, Ariel struggled with the bundle and said,
“The young lady is so beautiful, I found myself simply staring without realizing it.”
“Wha, what?”
Luen betrayed a distinct fluster.
Although she quickly regained her composure, her vulnerability had already been exposed to Ariel.
‘I should use this tactic more often.’
With that thought, Ariel set the bundle down with a thud on the table.
Then, with gentle hands, she untied it.
A profusion of dishes tumbled out haphazardly.
Luen, seemingly unprepared for this sight, watched as her eyes widened considerably.
“Hehe. Doesn’t it look delicious?”
Luen replied with a bewildered tone.
“Wh-where did you get all this?”
“The Captain of the White Flame Knights provided it.”
“Luna…?”
‘Calling her by name so casually, they must truly be close.’
Ariel, who had briefly considered the possibility of a lie, swiftly dismissed the thought from her mind and said,
“Yes, young lady. Please, try some.”
“You sit too.”
“Yes, yes, I’ll eat too. But first, here.”
Ariel handed Luen a turkey leg wrapped in plain cloth.
Luen, wearing a bewildered expression, accepted it, glanced up at Ariel for a moment, then lowered her gaze.
She then picked up a fork and knife, carefully carved off some meat, and popped it right into her mouth.
—Munch, munch.
As Ariel stared blankly at Luen’s chewing cheeks, for some reason,
they seemed to grow progressively redder.
‘Her eyes seem a bit wider too.’
‘Is it really that delicious?’
“Hehe.”
When Ariel chuckled, Luen narrowed her eyes.
Simultaneously, the flush on her cheeks and the sparkle in her eyes vanished.
‘Oh, right.’
‘From now on, I should watch quietly.’
Having resolved this, Ariel poured milk into a glass she had brought and placed it before Luen.
Watching her immediately take a drink, Ariel retrieved her own share of bread and fruit and began her meal.
The meal concluded swiftly.
Why?
Because in that short span of time, Luen had devoured all the food.
Every last morsel.
‘I thought she would surely leave some, given the quantity.’
Ariel couldn’t help but be astonished to see Luen, even after finishing everything, still looking around for more food as if she were still hungry.
‘Luna wasn’t kidding when she mentioned Luen’s voracious appetite.’
But then again…
‘To starve a child with such a hearty appetite.’
Ariel’s feelings for the Grand Duchess Consort transcended hatred, reaching a point of utter disillusionment.
‘She’ll definitely be punished.’
‘And I’ll make sure of it.’
As she was thinking this, she suddenly felt a piercing gaze upon her.
Ariel followed the gaze downwards, her eyes meeting a pair of crimson ones.
‘Why is she looking at me?’
As Ariel tilted her head in confusion, Luen asked,
“Were you hit?”
“Ah.”
‘I forgot to cover it up.’
‘If she sees this, she’ll worry again.’
Ariel hastily pulled up her collar to cover her neck and replied,
“No, I just got pressed against something in my sleep.”
“That’s a lie.”
“It’s not a lie. More importantly, young lady, I need to clear this desk…”
Ariel, skillfully changing the subject, quietly rose from her seat.
She then gathered the haphazardly scattered dishes from the table and placed them into the bundle.
Since they were destined for disposal, her movements were unhesitant.
Having finally packed away all the dishes, Ariel tightly secured the bundle.
“Hup!”
Lifting it once, she found it wasn’t as heavy as before, likely because the food was gone.
It seemed she wouldn’t need to struggle with it again.
Ariel, feeling a sense of inner relief, looked at Luen.
Luen’s expression was profoundly dark.
‘She seems to be worried, after all…’
Ariel offered a reassuring smile and said,
“I truly wasn’t hit. I honestly just got pressed against my pillow in my sleep.”
“……”
“So please, don’t worry too much.”
Hehe.
Ariel let out a small chuckle.
Seeing Luen’s expression relax slightly, it appeared her lie had worked.
‘I should get out of here quickly before I make another mistake.’
Having decided this, Ariel bowed her head politely.
“I’ll take my leave now. If you need anything, please ring the bell by your bedside twice. I’ll be in the next room and will come right away. Farewell.”
Ariel turned to leave.
She then headed towards the door with light steps.
Just then,
“Wait.”
Luen called out, stopping her.
Ariel turned back to find Luen standing right before her.
And what’s more, she was subtly radiating an aura of killing intent.
“Ah, young lady?”
Startled, Ariel took a step back.
Luen, in turn, took a step forward.
Ariel realized that something was gravely wrong.
She continued to backpedal, thinking,
‘Was my lie exposed?’
‘That can’t be.’
‘Luen surely…’
“Ugh!”
Ariel let out a small groan.
She had reached the wall.
There was no more room to retreat.
As if aware of this, Luen took an even larger stride, closing in on her.
Finally, standing directly in front of Ariel, Luen reached out a hand.
She firmly grasped Ariel’s chin, forcing their eyes to meet.
Then she whispered coldly,
“You are my maid, and I am your master.”
“……!”
“If you ever utter another lie, I will punish you severely. Understood?”
