Chapter 5

It was really tough to put on the dress. No, to be honest, everything else was fine, but the corset was the absolute worst. Taking a moment to loosen her corset slightly so that Catherine wouldn’t notice, Lilian let out a sigh.

“Ugh, this is so hard…”

It was just a slight loosening, but it made breathing a whole lot easier. Lilian took a deep breath while staring at the mirror. There, a beautiful lady with a cold demeanor looked back at her. Her silver hair shimmered like a lake reflecting the moon on a clear night, and her eyes, resembling a bright azure sky, added to the chill on her stunning face.

“Miss.”

“Oh, Catherine.”

“Which one looks better?”

Catherine presented her with a sapphire necklace and a diamond tiara. No matter how she looked at it, the diamond tiara seemed a bit over the top. With that thought in mind, Lilian pointed to the sapphire necklace.

“Got it.”

Catherine nodded, placing the diamond tiara back in its jewel box and putting the sapphire necklace around her neck.

“It’s heavy—!”

“…It’s not that heavy, is it?”

Catherine’s puzzled expression made her a bit cute. Catherine, with her cold beauty resembling her mistress, was almost intimidating with her bright red eyes. Moreover, her perpetually emotionless face made her feel like a maid robot.

Despite that, there were times when Catherine seemed cute like that. Was it just her infatuation? Or was it natural for a beauty to behave so? She couldn’t quite tell. But who cares? That beauty was attending to her after all.

Frankly, even those who weren’t gay would be enchanted by Catherine’s looks, and when she gazed solely at Lilian, it made her feel an irrational superiority. Especially since Catherine acted as if she existed solely for Lilian—more so than ever.

But that was that, and this was this. With the immense weight pressing down on her neck, Lilian shot a pleading look at Catherine.

“Ugh, can I loosen this?”

“No, you can’t. A lady of the House of Portus attending a banquet without jewelry would be a disgrace.”

“Ugh, fine…”

That damn disgrace. Was that disgrace really more important than her neck’s health? Lilian sighed at the thought.

“Stop sighing. You’ll ruin your makeup.”

“Ugh—”

‘Did all noble ladies have to go through this? Those noble ladies of the medieval times were something else. Though I’m doing it now.’

Quietly admiring the struggles of noble ladies, Lilian relaxed her body. It seemed she was destined to be a toy for Catherine until the banquet started.

“Don’t relax your body!”

“Ugh—”

#

All the nobles were looking at us—no, at Lilian. Their gazes felt like a single dagger that could slash her apart. But Lilian, with her typical cold expression, returned the looks to her admirers. That gaze was like a shield, turning the nobles’ stares into innocent sheep in an instant.

Being from the House of Portus, the ministerial family of the mightiest empire, Alexus, was significant. They bowed their heads to no one but royalty. Arrogantly noble, yet faultlessly so, they never acknowledge any shortcomings.

The lights stung my eyes. The gorgeous chandeliers and the various jewel decorations all hinted at how much had been donated to the academy. Even though it was a slightly chilly spring evening, the banquet hall was comfortably warm.

The stark difference was astounding. Compared to the cold, dark alley where I first found myself, the noble residences were always dazzling, always bright, and always warm.

That’s why I didn’t really like the nobles. I couldn’t find it in me to like them. Would it be different if I were a noble? Who knows? But even though I disliked the nobles, I adored the young lady. I recalled her habits, her breath, her scent, her graceful steps.

Even knowing the contradiction, I did it anyway. The one who brought light into my life after being dropped into this world was the young lady. It felt like a divine calling, and thus, I revered her. It was not a carnal love, but a sacred one.

Currently, Lilian closely resembled the young lady. To an unknowing eye, she would look like the perfect Lilian. Her dignified steps flowed as if her young lady was performing them.

I noticed those who regarded Lilian with reluctant faces and those who gawked at her in pure awe. I slowly followed her from a step behind. Nobles had to be perfect. Though not all nobles were perfect, the nobility of the House of Portus had to be.

In that sense, the lady, no, the vulgar woman who was Lilian’s mother was not at all noble by House of Portus standards. However, the Lilian before me was truly the perfect noble of the House of Portus.

With that in mind, as her servant, I had to uphold the utmost courtesy.

“Hello.”

Someone dared to breach the imposing ice fortress where nobody approached us. It was a beautiful woman with golden hair braided into a neat plait. She radiated no sense of noble dignity, yet there was an aura of some sanctity about her. Because of that, I didn’t stop her from approaching. No, I didn’t even think to.

“Hello there.”

Having greeted first, she received a response, but Lilian said nothing. She merely uttered a cold “hello” with a doll-like face. Which was quite normal. Whoever that woman was, I doubted she was one of the royal family. If so, she would have to introduce herself first.

“Oh, I’m Yulia,” she introduced herself, as if she’d read my mind. The name Yulia rang a bell; she was the girl who had divine power strong enough to enter the academy. If she had divine power, she could probably attain at least the rank of a lesser count. Too bad the reincarnator didn’t get any benefits.

Cheers to the damned god of this damn world. I quietly thought and regarded the girl before me.

“Got it. I’m Lilian Beon Portus, the eldest daughter of the House of Portus.”

Lilian answered in a whisper, signaling for her to state her business. Whether she caught that cue or not, Yulia blushed slightly and opened her mouth. Before long, the gazes around us shifted our way. After all, a meeting between the girl with divine power and the daughter of the family holding the empire’s central power was quite the spectacle.

Lilian didn’t want to be a spectacle, but what could I, a maid, do about it?

“Uh, may I get to know the person next to you…?”

“Not of so noble a status that I would provide my name.”

“B-but I’m just a commoner!”

Hey, you’re a “commoner with divine power.” I’m just a maid. I swallowed a sigh and glanced at Lilian. To my surprise, Lilian was looking at me with an expression I had never seen before.

“…This is my servant, Catherine.”

Lilian emphasized the term “my servant” in a strange way as her lips curled into a quiet smile. It was as serene as the stillness in a teacup, yet it felt like a storm was brewing.

“Oh, so you’re Catherine!”

Yulia exclaimed with clapping hands and a bright smile. Truly, her description matched perfectly; it was adorable like a small critter, and I thought she seemed out of place in this environment. As I thought, nobles in a corner began to chitchat about Yulia. Of course, those whispers wouldn’t reach her ears, yet I felt a tinge of pity for her.

“You both are so beautiful… I wanted to befriend you.”

“Is that so?”

Lilian raised her lips slightly, gently lifting her gloved hand. I placed a handkerchief on her palm. Lilian then wiped around Yulia’s mouth and handed her the handkerchief.

“Take it. Looks like you’ve enjoyed your food.”

“Ah, yes…”

Yulia’s face flushed slightly. She probably didn’t grasp the meaning behind those words. It was a scolding remark for being messy before the proper banquet had even started, but unfamiliar with the nuances of noble speech, Yulia must have taken it literally and felt embarrassed.

However, Lilian didn’t tell Yulia to go away, seeming somewhat charmed by her. The young lady was known for being blunt with those she didn’t like. Though the character of this young lady had changed considerably, she still seemed capable of brushing off anyone she didn’t fancy.

“Miss Portus, may I possibly—”

“Get lost.”

The young bloke, clearly trying to ask for a dance, sulked his shoulders and trudged away.

I silently applauded Lilian’s display of textbook noble behavior. Was it possible I was mistaken? Perhaps she’s merely changed a little, and my sensitivity towards it was exaggerated. I found myself wondering.

“Lilian, long time no see.”

“…Get lost.”

Hmm, maybe not. I sighed while watching Lilian tell Prince Bellus to get lost. I just couldn’t wrap my head around why she was acting like this all of a sudden.