Chapter 27
The Lady’s Toy
The news that the Prime Minister’s daughter would be staying for a while at the most luxurious Belmore Hotel in the city even made the newspapers.
From sensational tabloid articles claiming that Lord Belmore had “lured” the Prime Minister’s daughter to the hotel, even before the aristocratic vote results were out, to editorials expressing concern over the political honeymoon between the Prime Minister and Belmore, coverage was varied.
“She’s apparently a delicate young lady. She’ll stay here until the Prime Minister’s residence is remodeled. Liri, are you listening?”
“Ah, yes… I heard that Cecil is remodeling it.”
Liri echoed Summer’s words like a parrot. Her mind seemed partly left in front of the Annunciation fresco, and she was in a dazed state.
It was as if he had drawn her entire consciousness into himself—today, she was prone to mistakes. She had broken several plates in the banquet hall and, on the way back, had left the door wide open.
The steward, who had never seen such mistakes, yelled at her as if he were going mad. Since news of Cecil Hobart had spread, he had been on edge, and Liri had unfortunately crossed paths with him.
The newspaper reports were accurate. Belmore had ordered that Cecil Hobart be treated with special attention.
The moment Cecil arrived at the hotel, she summoned the steward and declared, in her exacting way, that she would personally choose the child who would serve her.
The maidservants, many of whom had skipped lunch, lined up along the hallway, hoping to be chosen by Miss Cecil. Liri, tasked with cleaning the banquet hall, was no exception.
“Liri, this is your chance to escape that dreadful banquet hall cleaning.”
“Cleaning the banquet hall isn’t bad. It’s a bit large, though, so it’s hard to do alone.”
“Shh, Miss Cecil is here.”
Next to Cecil Hobart, the steward recited brief histories of the maids. Even Cecil’s nanny acted as if selecting livestock, sometimes opening mouths and inspecting teeth.
“How about this one?”
The maids stood tensely in the hallway, unsure if being chosen by Cecil was a blessing or a curse.
The beige satin shoes stopped in front of Liri. A pale, thin-faced maid, hiding her expression by looking down.
“How about her?”
“A good choice.”
The steward flattered Cecil in a fawning tone, deliberately omitting the fact that this maid had caused the ridiculous cookie incident.
“What’s her name?”
“Elizabeth, miss.”
Her face was pretty but small and fragile. The black maid’s uniform made her look even more diminutive.
This was the maid Liri had met on the day of the cookie incident, when she had almost gotten the unlucky Phil Gordon killed.
A strange curiosity arose along with the question of why this maid was still at the hotel. If the chef could be dismissed decisively, shouldn’t this one have been too?
“How long have you worked here?”
“Not long, miss.”
An evasive answer, not specifying exact dates—but her polite tone and demeanor gave an impression of utmost courtesy.
Since Liri lingered unusually long, the steward hastily added an explanation.
“She’s a competent maid. She’s in charge of the third-floor rooms, but that can be adjusted.”
Third-floor rooms. So she had already heard the strange rumors that Lord Belmore was staying in a small room near the storage.
No wonder such a beautiful girl had access to his quarters.
Though impure thoughts naturally arose due to the girl’s fresh beauty, Cecil, a refined young lady of the aristocracy, dismissed them.
“Do you understand what I’m saying?”
Cecil looked at Liri and spoke clearly.
“Yes, miss.”
The maid still did not lift her head.
“You don’t have to be so stiff. My friends can’t always come to the hotel, so at least play along like a friend.”
At those words, Liri finally looked up, and Cecil smiled approvingly. Cecil’s benevolent expression was a useful tool to ease the tension of the subordinates.
The maids whispered among themselves; some cast envious glances at Liri.
The title “playmate” was reserved for someone of comparable or slightly lesser status.
“You may call me Miss Cecil.”
“Understood, Miss Cecil.”
Having been chosen by Cecil, Liri immediately gathered her belongings. Cecil ordered that she not use the staff quarters but instead stay in the maid’s room adjacent to the penthouse.
Just like when leaving the convent, her belongings were minimal. Even the comfortable rooms of Belmore Hotel could not feel like home to her. Consciously, she tried not to accumulate items, so she could leave at any time.
“She’s quite a cruel young lady.”
Liri smiled awkwardly at Summer’s offhand remark. Summer had no idea how Liri truly felt.
The only way for Liri to work in the hotel without encountering the guest in Room 301 again was to serve as Cecil Hobart’s personal maid.
Eventually, her punishment would end, and the day she returned to being a room maid, she would have to enter his room on her own.
“Really. You always think positively about everything.”
“I do have things I dislike. What do you take me for?”
“The saint of Londinium? Or a nun from East Longfell?”
At that, Summer playfully tossed a pillow above Liri’s head, scattering a few feathers in the air.
“Miss Cecil will surely tell you what to do.”
Liri did not agree. Yes, Cecil was a fastidious young lady, but she did not seem the type to act imperiously without reason.
“Maybe not.”
“Already taking her side? Has the honey of power already sweetened your tongue?”
“Not honey, but a noble girl like that is enough.”
As Liri sang her words syllable by syllable, Summer laughed.
“Yes, she’s very mature and proper. But don’t like her more than me.”
Summer leaned over the bed rail, and Liri, packing items into an old leather bag, gave an apologetic expression for disappointing her.
“That’s something we’ll see.”
“I didn’t expect it anyway. When you earn money, buy some clothes. Don’t send it to the convent.”
To Summer, Liri was less an orphan and more a young head of a household with dependents.
“And throw away that scrap of newspaper. I hope Miss Cecil doesn’t learn about your sordid little hobby.”
Knowing Summer’s teasing came from the loss of a close roommate, Liri silently accepted it.
That sordid newspaper scrap could only mean one thing. Liri pointed to the cartoon on the front page.
A voluptuous woman and a young gentleman were kissing, while the woman held a scepter and globe symbolizing the Prime Minister’s power behind her back.
“That poor girl is practically entering an arranged marriage with Lord Belmore.”
Summer, picking feathers from Liri’s head, muttered in a slightly melancholic tone:
“Don’t forget that the poor girl is the one letting you stay in the adjacent room. She means you’ll be at her service 24 hours, so you’d better be prepared.”
Yet Summer’s warning did not seem serious to Liri.
“But she seems to have a good eye. She chose you, who wouldn’t notice or understand private matters.”
Summer meant to tease Liri, who could not even imagine what she had done with Martin in the kitchen. But today, Liri was a little different. After hesitating, she finally spoke, which narrowed Summer’s eyes.
“Summer, can I ask you something?”
“What is it? You’re scary when you’re serious, Liri.”
“Summer… have you… ever kissed anyone?”
The moment Liri saw Summer’s expression, she regretted asking—but it was too late.
Her mouth hung open, blinking. Was this innocent young lady really asking about kissing?
“Your face is red as if you’ve been thrown into fire!”
Reading Liri’s determined expression, Summer stopped teasing and answered seriously.
“Hmm… and what about you? Kissing between a boy and a girl is natural.”
Liri was falling right into Summer’s carefully laid trap.
“No… I thought we’d kiss, but a forehead kiss…”
“Disappointing, huh?”
“No, it’s not that.”
“Elizabeth Gardner gets rejected sometimes too, so there’s hope!”
At that, Liri screamed and threw the pillow at Summer.
Just then:
“Elizabeth? The steward is calling.”
Hearing the knock, Liri immediately grabbed her belongings and took the private elevator to the penthouse. Her heart was still pounding.
She could not meet the young lady with such a burning face.
Summer would probably think she had measles.
By the time the Art Deco-style elevator, with its soft curves and ironwork, reached the top floor, her face had cooled somewhat.
The clock-like pointer inside the elevator pointed to nine.
“Remember this. Miss Cecil is to marry our master. Your mistakes are Lord Belmore’s mistakes.”
As they passed through the hallway, the steward continued to nag endlessly. In that short time, Liri had heard at least five times that Miss Cecil Hobart was “a kind, considerate young lady who enjoys riding.”
For the first time, Liri responded halfheartedly.
“…Do as you’re told. From now on, your standard is Miss Cecil. Got it? You must answer her questions honestly. Are you listening?”
When the steward pressed her, Liri finally lifted her head and nodded. He clicked his tongue in displeasure.
“I don’t know why it’s you.”
After saying that, he knocked twice on the lion-shaped door handle.
“Come in.”
