It Turned Out She Wasn't a Favored Concubine - Episode 41

I changed into comfortable indoor clothes and flopped onto the bed. The softness of the mattress was so abundant it could easily embrace me entirely.

My eyelids fluttered shut for a moment. Though the distance had been short, sitting still in the rattling carriage had left me exhausted.

If I stayed lying down like this, I’d surely fall asleep before Louie returned with the meal. I quickly sat up. Still, it wasn’t enough.

To wake myself up, I stepped out onto the balcony connected to the room. Under the fresh breeze and open sky, a well-tended garden stretched out before me. It wasn’t as extravagant as the one at Arlin Palace, but its carefully arranged beauty was pleasing.

As I stood in the refreshing wind, trying to shake off sleep, I sensed movement from the room next door.

That room belonged to Louie. It was far too luxurious for a maid, but they had made an exception so she could attend to me closely. The rustling sounds were clear through the glass window. Louie couldn’t have returned already.

Could it be that some maids were sneaking in, coveting Louie’s belongings? Surely outsiders couldn’t enter this mansion so freely. If it was a maid trying to steal, I intended to scold her and send her away myself. I rushed to the next room and flung the door open.

“Who’s there?”

At my loud shout, the maid inside was startled and dropped the clothes she was holding. The brown-haired maid, her hair tied back, looked at the fallen garments in surprise before recognizing me.

“Y-Your Highness. How did you come to this room…?”

“I should be asking you. What are you doing in Louie’s room?”

The brown-haired maid folded her hands and bowed deeply.

“I’m Mary. I’ve just transferred from the Edelheit estate to the capital mansion. I’ve known Louie since childhood and was moving some of her old belongings from her previous room.”

“What? How could someone from Edelheit have known Louie since childhood? Louie said she’s always been here.”

“I didn’t explain properly. I originally helped with chores at the capital mansion under my father, who was a stable keeper. But when he was transferred to Edelheit, I went with him. Now, after a major personnel reshuffle, I’ve returned after ten years.”

Her calm explanation didn’t feel fabricated. And the clothes she dropped were old and worn. If she had been after Louie’s belongings, she’d have taken something more valuable—not these tattered garments.

“I was out on the balcony when I heard strange noises from Louie’s room. I came to check since Louie shouldn’t be here right now.”

“Oh, I see. I’m sorry for startling you.”

Mary bowed even deeper. Embarrassed, I quickly helped her up.

“No, you’re working hard. Louie’s been so busy attending to me, she probably hasn’t had time to organize her room. So these clothes—are they Louie’s old ones?”

I picked up a skirt from the floor. Made of rough fabric, its hem was frayed and the size was too small for Louie to wear again.

But why had she kept them?

The answer came quickly.

“No, these belonged to Louie’s younger sibling. There are quite a few left in her old room.”

“What? Louie had a sibling? I had no idea. Are they working here too?”

“…No, they’re not.”

“Oh, is it because of that personnel reshuffle you mentioned? Why did that happen so suddenly?”

“I don’t know the details. I heard it’s the first time such a large-scale transfer has happened. Most of the staff from the capital mansion were sent to Edelheit’s estate and villa, and those from there came to the capital. I only arrived a few days ago.”

“Really? Then where did Louie’s sibling go?”

Mary hesitated before speaking.

“The reshuffle had nothing to do with Louie’s sibling. I’m sorry for the confusion. Louie’s sibling passed away in an accident a few years ago…”

Mary trailed off. I had been insensitive. I looked down at the rough, worn clothes scattered on the floor. There were several. Louie must have been unable to throw them away.

I carefully picked up each piece. Mary panicked, saying she’d do it, but I didn’t straighten my back until I’d gathered them all. Then I handed them to her one by one.

“How far apart were Louie and her sibling?”

“They were twins. Kind, diligent, and very devoted to Louie.”

“I see… Louie must have suffered a lot.”

Mary looked down at the rough garment in her hands.

“Yes. They didn’t exchange news often, but I’m sure she was deeply affected. Just as that child adored Louie, Louie cherished them dearly.”

“I understand. Thank you for telling me.”

It was the first time I’d learned this.

That Louie had a sibling. That she cared deeply for them. And that they had died in an accident.

Louie had always been meticulous in caring for me, but she’d never once spoken of herself. I had been too indifferent. I’d taken her service for granted.

Even after Louie was seriously injured because of me, she continued to serve me without fully recovering. I’d accepted it, thinking she wanted to, and hadn’t stopped her. I’d been especially dependent on Louie, more than any other maid.

Because Louie accepted my dependence. Because she always put me first. Even considering our roles as mistress and maid, it was far more than I deserved.

And I had done nothing for Louie in return.

If I hadn’t met Mary, would I have ever known about Louie’s sibling? It was a heavy question.

The next day marked the beginning of life at the Edelheit estate. The room suited my tastes, and the breakfast Louie prepared was delightful. But adapting to the unfamiliar environment would take time.

More importantly, I had already achieved my main goal—meeting Lean—so I had little to do here. Louie told me to treat it as a vacation, but I couldn’t relax.

The unfamiliar surroundings reminded me of when I first entered Arne’s body.

Waking up in a stranger’s body in a different world, the anxiety, and the hostile, fearful stares had been mentally exhausting.

My plan to improve my image had been a way to prepare for the future, but also to rid myself of those unpleasant gazes.

Through effort, I had managed to minimize those stares at Arlin Palace.

But at Edelheit, I had to endure them again. And this was where Arne had grown up.

Arne had only spent about a year at the palace. If the stares there were that bad, how much worse would they be here? The staff at Edelheit likely held even stronger negative views of Arne.

And then there was the awkwardness I felt during my first meeting with the head of the Edelheit family, Giscal. I was already worried about how I’d survive the next month.

“The lord asked if you’d like to have lunch in the garden today, since the weather is nice.”

At Ortelang’s message, I forced a smile and agreed, though cold sweat trickled down my back.

I’d expected it, but hadn’t been ready. Louie praised the garden’s beauty, but I barely heard her.

Then I asked, right after Louie mentioned the garden was far from the main building.

“Far? Even farther than the annex?”

“Yes, farther. It’s almost at the northern edge of the estate grounds.”

“That’s quite a distance. Louie, have you had lunch?”

“Pardon? No, Your Highness hasn’t eaten yet…”

I sighed inwardly. Louie had always prioritized my meals since the palace. She only ate after ensuring I was fed. She likely never ate on time. I decided to act on the resolution I made yesterday.

“Then Louie, rest in your room. I’ll ask another maid to guide me to the garden.”

“What are you saying? I’m Your Highness’s personal maid.”

“I know. But this isn’t the palace, and no one will scold us for not following palace etiquette. So don’t worry and rest. Here, you don’t have to follow me around so closely.”

Surely Louie would understand I wanted her to rest. I checked her reflection in the mirror. But something was off.

“D-Did I do something wrong?”

Louie trembled and dropped her comb. Alarmed, I turned and shouted.

“No!”

I hadn’t explained enough. I placed a hand on her shaking shoulder and tried to clarify.

“It’s not because you did anything wrong. I just don’t want you to overexert yourself. Your leg isn’t fully healed yet.”

“I insisted on serving Your Highness even though you told me to rest. And my leg is fine now.”

“No, I should’ve stopped you. That’s why I want you to relax here. This is your hometown, right? You can meet old friends, sort through your things… Didn’t you say your sibling’s clothes are still in your old room?”

“My sibling… How do you know?”

Louie’s eyes trembled. Her pale face looked as if a secret had been exposed. I quickly explained what happened yesterday.

“I met a maid named Mary. She was moving your sibling’s clothes and told me about them.”

Louie clasped her hands. They trembled slightly. I realized I’d made a mistake. I’d spoken with good intentions, but ended up hurting Louie.

I knew her sibling had died in an accident. I knew she cherished them deeply.

I had overlooked the fact that Louie’s wounds hadn’t healed.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“…”

Louie said nothing

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