“What’s with that look?”
Julieta shot back sharply when she noticed the concern in Janette’s eyes.
“My lady.”
“What.”
“Are you perhaps feeling unwell?”
“What kind of nonsense is that? Why would I be sick?”
“Well, yesterday your complexion—”
“My complexion was perfectly fine. Nothing hurt, and I was completely healthy.”
The answer came so firm and cutting that it practically screamed, Take the hint.
After hesitating for a moment, Janette obediently nodded.
She does seem fine today, at least.
Besides, Julieta had even accepted her morning greeting.
Maybe it was simply one of those rare days when the young duchess was in a good mood. If Janette kept prying and ruined it, that would only make things worse.
“Prepare me some tea.”
“Me?”
“Who else would do it? Aren’t you my maid?”
Well, that was true.
But ever since the transcription work had begun, all of Julieta’s personal service had become Sienne’s responsibility.
Naturally, preparing tea was included in that, which meant Janette had not gone anywhere near the teapot in quite some time.
What’s this all of a sudden? Why is she asking her to do it?
Sienne, who had been standing quietly in the corner awaiting Julieta’s orders, looked just as startled.
Her narrowed eyes darted sharply between Julieta and Janette.
She quickly lowered her head before anyone caught her staring.
“Then… may I step into my room for a moment?”
“Your room? Why suddenly?”
“There’s a special tea I’d like to recommend to you, my lady.”
Special tea?
Watching the exchange anxiously, Sienne hurriedly interrupted.
“W-wait a moment! Bringing tea from your room? The young lady’s tea should be brewed only with leaves kept in the detached kitchen! Who knows what dangerous thing you might bring—!”
“That may be the rule,” Janette replied calmly, “but if my lady permits it, there’s no issue. Besides, the tea I wish to serve her was a gift from the head butler himself, so there’s nothing dangerous about it.”
Sienne’s eyes widened.
“Th-the head butler gave it to you…?”
“Yes.”
Janette answered firmly before turning back to Julieta.
“He gave me the leaves personally. The flavor was so good that I wanted you to try them as well.”
“Hm. What kind of tea is it?”
“It’s made from the leaves of a northern flower called Frost Snow Tale. The color and fragrance are quite unique.”
Sienne shot Julieta a desperate look.
You promised you’d take my side!
But Julieta did not spare Sienne even a glance. She merely tilted her chin.
“Tea from the north? I suppose I am curious. Go bring it.”
“Yes, my lady. I’ll return as quickly as possible.”
Janette answered brightly and hurried from the room.
The moment she disappeared, Sienne rushed to Julieta’s side.
“M-my lady, are you really just going to let her do as she pleases? You loosened the reins for a second and she’s already—”
“Sienne.”
“…Yes?”
“‘Her,’ ‘that thing’… Janette is still the daughter of a noble family. She is not someone you may refer to so carelessly.”
“Th-that’s…”
“And another thing. You once said you wanted to help me, didn’t you?”
“Yes! I did! I’m relieved you remembered!”
Sienne brightened immediately.
Just as I thought. My lady hasn’t forgotten.
But then—
“Stop doing that from now on.”
“…What?”
Sienne blinked in disbelief.
Julieta glanced sideways at her and added lazily,
“I’m getting tired of childish games. I’ll deal with that girl myself, so you are to leave her alone.”
“But—”
Before Sienne could protest further—
“I’ve returned, my lady.”
Janette entered with a cheerful smile, carrying the tea leaves.
Sienne bit her lip hard and had no choice but to retreat.
After all, she could hardly blurt out, We agreed to drive that woman out together! right in front of Janette herself.
“I’ll prepare it immediately.”
“Do your best. You know what happens if it tastes awful.”
Julieta’s arrogant remark made Janette nod earnestly.
Truthfully, Janette was fairly confident.
She had secretly practiced brewing tea whenever she had spare time, and the butler had also taught her several useful techniques.
With surprisingly practiced movements, she brewed the tea and lifted the pot to carry it to the table.
Then—
“Oh my!”
At some point Sienne had quietly approached from behind and pretended to slip, shoving Janette hard in the back.
If she gets drenched in boiling water, she won’t even think about staying here any longer!
The girl clearly came from some insignificant household, but she was still technically a noble lady.
If she were injured even slightly, she would surely burst into tears and flee, swearing never to do maid work again.
The young lady told me to stop… but can people really change their minds that quickly?
Once it was done, surely Julieta would secretly approve.
And then Sienne alone would have Julieta’s favor.
However—
“W-wha—?!”
Even Sienne had not expected the water to spill toward Julieta instead.
“Aah!”
Terrified, Sienne screamed at the horrifying sight unfolding before her.
Julieta’s eyes widened as well as she stared at the scalding water flying toward her.
They said that in moments of danger, everything seemed to move in slow motion.
That was exactly how it felt now.
Janette stumbling.
The teapot lid falling open helplessly.
The stream of liquid pouring directly toward her.
N-no!
Frozen in shock, Julieta could do nothing but squeeze her eyes shut.
But strangely enough—
Though she had clearly seen steaming water spilling toward her, she felt no heat at all.
In fact, she could not even feel a single drop.
W-what…?
Julieta cautiously opened her eyes.
The first thing she saw was someone’s back blocking her entirely.
Black clothing.
Dark blue hair cascading down over it.
As she lifted her gaze, she saw Janette’s profile, brows tightly furrowed.
“Ugh.”
A faint groan escaped her lips.
Clang—
The teapot rolled across the floor.
Most of the water had already spilled, so little remained in the shattered pot.
“J-Janette!”
Startled, Julieta jumped to her feet and caught Janette as she staggered.
Janette’s face was twisted in pain, and both her arm and stomach were soaked through.
Don’t tell me…
Had she wrapped herself around the teapot to stop the water?
To save… me?
Through the soaked sleeve, Julieta caught sight of reddened skin swelling across Janette’s arm.
“Sienne, you—!”
“M-my lady, I didn’t mean to—!”
“Enough excuses. Go bring a doctor. Right now!”
At the harsh command, Sienne burst into tears and fled from the room.
“…My lady.”
“Janette. Are you alright? Are you really alright?”
At Julieta’s frantic question, Janette forced a smile.
“Yes. I’m fine—”
But before she could finish speaking, her eyes rolled back and she collapsed unconscious.
Days of sleep deprivation combined with unbearable pain had finally taken their toll.
While unconscious, Janette dreamed.
In the dream, she was lying on the ground, staring up at the sky.
A brilliant blue sky without a single cloud.
Yet beneath that cruelly beautiful weather, the earth itself was a living hell.
Arrows flew through the air, piercing bodies.
Heads severed by swords rolled across the dirt.
Blood sprayed from torn flesh and soaked the ground crimson.
Lying in the center of that nightmare, Janette could barely move even a finger.
Haah…
Every breath she exhaled felt like another step closer to death.
And it probably was.
A sword thicker than her own arm was embedded deep in her abdomen.
Am I… dying?
Faced with death so directly, terror consumed her whole.
I don’t want to die…
She wanted to live.
She didn’t want to die like this.
Just once—someone, please, just once, save me.
And then it happened.
A faint light began to glow from the inside of her bruised wrist where it scraped against the dirt.
At the same time, a streak of light flashed across the piercing blue sky above.
Light…?
The light drew closer and closer.
Like a falling star, it descended straight toward her.
The moment it touched Janette—
“Hah!”
Janette jolted awake with a ragged gasp.
