~CMWDD 08~

Chapter 8

Olentia quickly picked the sleep from her eyes and washed her face with the water brought by her maid, Bobby.

Since Venus’s house had various servants besides Bobby, she had wanted to give Bobby a bit of a break. But Bobby insisted she could never allow it.

“Miss, I have to serve you personally. You’re so particular—if anyone else took care of you, they’d quit before long.”

Bobby’s voice echoed in her mind again. Olentia dried her face with a thick towel and said:

“Why don’t you just quietly act as the head maid? If it’s not you, who else would do it?”

Olentia’s voice carried genuine concern for her.

Bobby, who understood this better than anyone, let out a small laugh.

“Haha! My capacity isn’t that great yet, so I can’t quite manage that.”

“No, don’t be like that. If it had been someone else, they’d think, ‘Finally, my suffering ends, happiness begins.’”

Even though she spoke plainly, Bobby’s expression remained ambiguous.

Bobby combed Olentia’s soft hair with a fine-tooth comb and said:

“Miss, back when I was suffering as the youngest maid at the Armenia Count’s mansion, I can’t tell you how grateful I was when you called me to serve you personally.”

Bobby lowered her head slightly, perhaps feeling a little shy.

Olentia felt equally embarrassed. She hadn’t realized Bobby had kept such a memory close to her heart.

About twelve years ago, Olentia had personally assigned Bobby—the youngest, smallest, least experienced, and youngest maid—as her dedicated maid.

There wasn’t any grand reason for it.

She was simply worried about Bobby, who was growing thinner by the day.

Seeing such a dark expression as if she might give up life at any moment was a strange experience for Olentia, who had grown up surrounded by parental love.

Since Olentia was in a state of comfort and abundance, she wanted to share it with someone.

That’s how her bond with Bobby began.

Olentia briefly looked away and scratched her itchy eyebrows.

“I think I was a bit arrogant back then.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, I arrogantly believed that if you came to my side, you’d definitely be happy. You know how I was back then, don’t you?”

Thinking back to the past made Olentia blush.

After making Bobby her personal maid, she lavished her with kindness as if she were a beggar receiving alms.

“Do you want to eat this? You’re so thin.”

She fussed over every little thing she couldn’t help with.

“How are you these days? Isn’t it great to be by my side?”

She prompted answers to receive praise.

“You’re really lucky to have an owner like me.”

She even praised herself.

Olentia closed her eyes.

“Ah… why did I do that? I still regret it.”

But Bobby’s eyes widened.

“Don’t say that! I never felt any resentment toward you back then; I just thought you were adorable. And you still are.”

“That doesn’t mean you think I’m still childish, right?”

“Of course not. You hate that most of all. I just really love being your personal maid.”

“Ah! You don’t have to say it like that, like when you were little!”

“Fine. Miss, I’m truly happy.”

“I see… I must look really pleased since I’m teasing you on purpose.”

Olentia chuckled softly, then thought of the information she had obtained last night from the Guild after paying a huge sum. Now, she had to focus on persuading Archbishop Werbu.

“Archbishop Werbu has headed to the Odor Territory to handle unofficial business.”

How shocked she had been to hear that!

The Count of Odor, who oversaw the Odor Territory, was Malisa’s brother—Olentia’s maternal uncle.

Since she regularly exchanged letters with him, she thought she might stay at the Count of Odor’s mansion for a while if she went to the Odor Territory.

Though it was very far from Noctifer, requiring a train journey, she was prepared to endure that.

Olentia wore a muslin dress suitable for sweat evaporation. The days were gradually getting warmer.

“I’ve never gone without notifying them first… I hope it’ll be fine…”

Waiting for a reply after sending word to the Count of Odor would take too long. In the meantime, Archbishop Werbu might move elsewhere.

So, even if reckless, she had no choice but to leave immediately.

She put on a bonnet with a simple pattern and left Venus’s house. The spring sun felt hot even through the bonnet.

“It’s going to be a rough trip, I suppose.”

Olentia let out a small, ironic laugh.

“First-class? You mean I can’t get on? Why not?”

Olentia asked the station attendant directly, staring at his embarrassed expression.

She was at the Geranium train station ticket office, intending to buy a first-class ticket. But today, all first-class seats were sold out.

Unless it was a ticket to a popular tourist destination, first-class seats wouldn’t sell out. Odor Territory was not a famous tourist spot.

“Something’s suspicious.”

Olentia sensed something was off and asked the attendant.

“What’s the matter? Did some rogue occupy all the first-class seats?”

Judging by the attendant’s expression, she seemed to be right.

She had heard of selfish nobles or bourgeois buying all the first-class tickets, occupying an entire carriage.

Olentia had money too. She could have bought all the first-class seats if she wanted. But she didn’t, out of courtesy for those who genuinely needed tickets.

And yet, today some inconsiderate person had claimed them all.

Olentia didn’t mind taking second class, but she was curious about who that rogue was.

“Who on earth is that person?”

Her brows furrowed like a small animal whose food was stolen.

The attendant, clearly unwilling to tell her, handed over a second-class ticket.

“Sorry, I can’t tell you. Could you just take second class today?”

“I don’t mind the second class…”

“Then have a pleasant journey! Next!”

With the second-class ticket, Olentia was gently guided by Bobby onto the train. The attendant focused on someone who had been waiting behind her, and Olentia pouted.

“Who could it be? Who did such a ridiculous thing? I can’t be the only one needing first-class tickets.”

“It’s not illegal. What are you going to do? Let’s just go, Miss.”

Reluctantly, Olentia boarded the train.

The train passing through Odor Territory was reasonably comfortable. Though it wasn’t first-class, apart from lacking a lounge and having narrower seat spacing, the exterior was fine.

As soon as she sat down, her complaints surfaced.

“I can’t stretch my legs at all…”

Better than third-class, yes, but not being able to fully extend her legs was shocking.

She sighed and glanced at the first-class carriage, curious who had taken those seats. Guards in black uniforms stood by the doors, so she couldn’t check.

“They look like knights, but no family crest…”

Knights usually bore their family crest. The Armenia Counts’ crest was an apricot tree, the Luxos Marquises’ an eagle, and the Odor Counts’ a crescent moon.

Mercenaries tended to be free-spirited, while knights carried a composed demeanor.

So Olentia guessed those guarding first-class were knights.

“Whatever. It’s none of my business. They’re probably moving in secret anyway.”

Time passed. Olentia stopped thinking about first-class and looked outside.

Bobby, seated next to the window, seemed tired and dozed off, nodding back and forth. She must have been worn out from packing at dawn.

Olentia gently lifted Bobby’s head and leaned it on the leather seat. She also covered her with a blanket in case her thin skirt left her cold and brushed her bangs aside.

“Sleep well, Bobby.”

As she took care of Bobby, the guards at the first-class doors suddenly disappeared.

Did they all go to relieve themselves at once?

Olentia glanced at Bobby sleeping against the seat, then quietly stood up. She intended to sneak into first-class to check something briefly.

She only planned to see the face of whoever had taken first-class; it seemed harmless. Olentia couldn’t tolerate vague discomfort or unease.

She stepped into the aisle. The others in second-class either slept or went about their business, seemingly unconcerned about first-class.

Olentia opened the door to the adjacent carriage.

It was very quiet.

She noticed a large brown briefcase on one seat but no one nearby.

“Perhaps they’re in the lounge?”

Olentia walked naturally toward the lounge as if she had a first-class ticket.

Unlike first-class, the lounge felt odd. It should have had staff, but it was empty…

“Be quiet.”

A strange man’s voice came from nearby.

“What… is happening?”

Before she could react, someone firmly grabbed her. The large hands and solid chest suggested it was a man.

A man in a black mask held her with one hand while pressing a silver dagger precisely at her neck.

It was real.

She tried to stay calm, but fear overwhelmed her, and she screamed:

“Ahk!”