Chapter 5: 4

Chapter 4

[Siania’s POV]

At the words of the women, Siana giggled inwardly.

‘It’s definitely different from the noble ladies.’

Unlike the lady who smiles gracefully and secretly wonders how to hit the back of their opponent’s head*, their conversation was simple.

TL/N: Korean phrase for backstabbing someone in their back

It was enough to put Siana’s mind at ease, who was nervous about welcoming her first guest.

‘Of course, I have no intention of serving carelessly just because I feel comfortable.’

With a polite gesture, Siana placed a small plate in front of the women.

“Today’s dessert.”

The women blinked at the black and glossy lump.

It was a face that asked what on earth this was. However, they couldn’t bring themselves to ask what it was.

Because they were embarrassed.

Siana noticed that and added an explanation.

“It’s a chocolate made from cacao from Kaana. You can put it in your mouth and melt it gently.”

The women shouted, forgetting that this was the imperial palace.

“This is the famous chocolate!”

“The chocolate that the queen and princess eat!”

“The chocolate is so delicious that even the whining prince stops crying!”

They were very excited.

That’s because chocolate was a fantasy dessert that the common people could only hear the name of for the rest of their lives.

Because of the exorbitant price.

The women picked up the chocolate with faces asking if they could eat something like this.

Then, shivering, they put it in their mouths.

The women’s eyes widened.

The waves came rolling in.

A huge wave named sweetness.

“This is so sweet!”

“I know, right! It’s so sweet that my tongue is going to disappear!”

“Oh no, it’s getting smaller. No! Don’t disappear!”

Seeing the childlike reactions, Siana nodded inwardly.

‘It’s understandable if it’s the first chocolate you’ve ever eaten, Aum*’

TL/N: It’s like ‘I know I know’ sound effect

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Then I met the eyes of the woman with a bent back.

The woman’s face, who was sucking chocolate on her finger, turned red.

Instead of making fun of the woman or giving her a contemptuous look, Siana handed the woman a handkerchief that had been prepared on the table.

“Are you uncomfortable with chocolate on your hands? Wipe it.”

“Ah…”

The woman’s eyes widened at the unexpected action. Siana said with a smile.

“Do you want me to wipe it for you?”

“O, oh no!”

The woman shook her head and hurriedly took a handkerchief and wiped her fingers.

The other women who saw it said with slightly reddened faces.

“Lady-in-waiting*, can I have a handkerchief please?”

TL/N: Used this instead of ‘maid’ for them cause they sounded really polite.

“Me too.”

Because they ate with excitement, the women’s mouths and hands were covered with chocolate.

Siana smiled and handed the handkerchiefs to the women.

The women said, wiping their mouths.

“I’m embarrassed. It was so delicious that I lost my mind.”

Then, she looked into Siana’s eyes and said.

“You’re embarrassed to take care of hillbillies like us than serving elegant ladies and princesses, right?”

Siana shook her head as if it was not.

“Don’t say that. You’re my precious guests. Please relax and enjoy the tea party.”

At those words, the women’s faces softened.

Siana picked up the teapot.

“Then let me pour you some tea. The tea prepared is Earl Gray from Ingrid. If you would like another tea, please tell me.”

“It’s all right.”

“I like it too.”

Siana poured tea into the women’s teacups.

The faces of the women who sipped the tea brightened.

“I’m sure it’s because it’s black tea drunk in the imperial family but doesn’t it smell good?”

“Really? I don’t know what’s different from the tea I used to drink at home. It just tastes like tea.”

The women giggled as if they agreed.

“You have to eat good food often to know. What do we know?”

“I know. Of all the people in this room, I’m sure she’s the only one who knows that, right?”

The women’s eyes were directed to one place.

It was a place where there was a beautiful lady who stood out from the start.

Unlike the tables where several people huddled together, she was alone there.

Because of that, she looked even more aloof.

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The women asked Siana.

“Lady-in-waiting, is that Baroness Appleton, the owner of our farm?”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t know because the identification was not done by the maids. …Do you not know the face of the Baroness?”

“Actually, Baron Appleton has just been married. The baroness has never come to the farm yet, so I’ve never seen her face.”

“I thought she would be a very nice person because Baron Appleton fell in love at first sight and proposed to her, but that’s understandable.”

“I know right. It is really beautiful.”

The women were all convinced she was Baroness Appleton.

Siana didn’t deny that either.

‘She learned the etiquette of the aristocracy from head to toe. Then she must be Baroness Appleton.’

However, Siana’s interest ended there.

The important thing for Siana is to take good care of the women in front of her today.

In that sense, I desperately hoped.

‘I hope Jeanne will take good care of her without making any mistakes. If you make the Baroness angry, the banquet itself will be ruined.’

However, as always, Siana’s wish never came true.

A cold voice rang out.

“How long are you going to ignore me?”

It was a gentle tone, but the weight in it was by no means light.

The entire banquet hall went silent.

Siana looked at the main character of the voice with a stiff face.

She was a beautiful woman who was supposed to be Baroness Appleton.

She was clearly smiling. But the eyes weren’t smiling at all.

Siana knew that face all too well.

It was the face of an arrogant, stern, aristocratic person.

And the woman’s eyes were directed to Jeanne holding a teapot.

Jeanne’s face was pale as if she would collapse at any moment.

***

[Jeanne’s POV]

A little while ago, Jeanne’s face was flushed.

It was felt that everyone in the banquet hall was looking at this spot. At the gaze of people, Jeanne raised her nose to the fullest.

‘Yeah, everyone deserves to look. The person in front of me is on a different level from the other guests.’

The woman sitting in front of Jeanne was a noble lady with beauty and elegance.

So Jeanne felt good.

‘I am Jeanne, the daughter of the Diamond Merchant. If I’m going to wait on you, this should be enough.’

Jeanne held out the chocolate in front of the woman with a triumphant face.

“It’s chocolate made by the Imperial Palace. It’s a top-notch product that you can’t easily taste. Taste it.”

After speaking, Jeanne poured tea into the woman’s cup.

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The woman who had been silently looking at Jeanne opened her mouth.

“How long are you going to ignore me?”

Jeanne was taken aback by the woman’s words, who had been quiet so far.

“What?”

“I put up with your arrogant greeting, your judgmental look at me, and the way you gave me dessert in a hostile manner… …”

She lowered her eyes and said coldly.

“How could you pour the tea so badly… … How long must I tolerate this disrespect?”

Jeanne’s heart thumped.

The eyes of the woman looking at him were terrifying.

Only then did Jeanne realize that something was wrong.

Jeanne opened her mouth with a pale face.

“I, I’ll pour you the tea again properly.”

Jeanne made up her mind and poured the tea again.

‘It’s just that I was a bit rough. I learned how to pour tea directly from the aristocracy. I was even praised by the maids for being good.’

It’s no job* to satisfy a baroness with a single orchard.

TL/N: easy peasy

But again, the evaluation was harsh.

“What should I do with a maid of the Imperial Palace of this level?”

The woman let out a small sigh and continued.

“A maid who doesn’t play her role will be in big trouble. Like being whipped all night, or having your tongue cut out so you don’t make that mistake again. … … What punishment will you receive?”

“……!”

Jeanne’s face turned pale at the terrible words.

I could tell by instinct.

That her words were not mere threats.

With just one word from her, Jeanne could fall into the abyss.

‘Wh, what do I do?’

My legs were shaking.

[Siana’s POV]

Siana, who was watching the scene from afar, hurriedly moved her body.

If Jeanne collapses just like that, the banquet will be really messed up.

I had to fix it when I could fix it.

“Sorry, madam!”

The beautiful woman and Jeanne turned their heads at the voice they heard.

There, Siana was bent deeply at the waist.

“It seems that we have not been able to keep up with your dignity due to our lack of skills. Please forgive us with a benevolent heart.”

However, the woman did not give up easily.

“How much easier the world would be if everything was resolved by bowing your head and apologizing.”

“Give me one chance. I’ll make you tea that suits the lady.”

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“You want me to see something funny like that again? Why would I?”

Siana answered with force in her voice.

“Because it’s a banquet hosted by the Imperial family.”

“… …”

“Wouldn’t the host be offended if he found out that the banquet ended with the invited guests feeling displeased? I don’t think the lady will want that either.”

The woman said, ‘Ha’, and laughed like it was absurd.

“Are you threatening me now?”

“How dare I do such a thing to a precious person? As a maid, this is just a request to ease the mood of the guest.”

“… …”

The woman looked at Siana and lowered her eyes.

“Okay. But if you don’t satisfy me, the anger that that maid should receive will be directed at you.”

“Of course.”

***

When Siana was a princess, a tea party was held once a week in the garden.

It was a royal tea party.

The king and the new queen, the prince and princess she gave birth to, sat facing each other.

Siana was there too.

At the royal tea party, maids were bound to prepare tea.

But not that day.

Because of the words of the new queen.

“Your Majesty, I want to drink Princess Siana’s tea after a long time. Isn’t Princess Siana’s tea very delicious?”

The king nodded thoughtlessly.

“That’s good, too. Siana, get the tea.”

Siana could not resist the king’s words.

Siana nodded.

Numerous eyes focused on Siana.

In particular, the eyes of the new queen were terrifying. It was the eyes of a predator who had her prey in front of her.

The moment she makes even the slightest mistake, she will bite her tender neck.

There will be fierce criticism and contempt for how terrible it is.

So for Siana, this act was not simply pouring tea.

It was a matter of life.

Siana held the teapot in her hand, desperately hiding the trembling of her hands.

‘Why do I remember that time?’

Siana let out a deep breath and let go of her thoughts.

At this moment, Siana didn’t need such a damn flashback.

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The important thing is to pour the tea in a perfect manner to the noble woman in front of you.

Siana straightened her back and spoke in a polite voice.

“The tea prepared is Earl Gray from Ingrid. Are you okay with it?”

The woman nodded.

Siana took out the teacup from the tray.

Pour half a cup of hot water into the cup and gently shake it.

After discarding the water from the teacup, the heated teacup was placed in front of the woman.

After that, I opened the tea canister. Inside the tea cask were well-dried, dark-green leaves.

The important thing in the taste of tea is the amount of tea leaves.

In order to drink really delicious tea, I also weighed the tea leaves using a tea scale.

‘But I don’t have it now…’

Siana measured the amount with her eyes, removed the tea leaves with a teaspoon, and placed them in a teapot containing hot water.

Then, while waiting for the tea to seep, I counted the numbers in my mind.

‘1, 2, 3, 4…….’

Before I knew it, the water in the teapot turned a clear brown color.

Siana transferred the water to another teapot prepared in advance.

When the tea leaves were filtered using a strainer, the clear tea water filled the teapot.

Siana approached the woman with a teapot and smiled brightly.

“I’ll pour you some tea.”

The woman nodded.

This was the most important part.

‘You have to lift the teapot high and pour it. That way, the tea will have a richer flavor and aroma as it embraces the air.’

Siana held the teapot high and poured the tea.

Dribble…

As the teacup was filled, the fragrant earl gray scent began to spread.

Jeanne, standing one step behind, stared blankly at the figure.

It wasn’t that Siana’s appearance suddenly changed.

Siana was still wearing a drab gray uniform and no makeup.

She was just an ordinary girl who was plain and humble

But that Siana was shining brightly. There was also an atmosphere that was inaccessible.

Like an elegant princess.

‘No, that’s ridiculous!’

Jeanne rubbed her eyes because she could not admit that she felt this way about Siana.

After filling the teacup, Siana lowered her eyes and said to the woman.

“Try it and let me know if the concentration doesn’t suit your taste.”

“… …”

The woman looked at the teacup and slowly brought it to her lips.

Siana looked at the woman nervously.

‘The temperature of the water and the amount of tea leaves were perfect.’

However, the taste of tea is subjective.

No matter how good the tea leaves were, no matter how well the tea was brewed, there was nothing to say if the woman was determined and found fault with it.

Gulp.

The woman took a sip of tea.

Siana also swallowed her saliva.

After a while, the woman raised the corners of her mouth.

It was not the cold smile she had shown Jeanne earlier, but a gentle smile like the spring sunlight.

“Excellent.”

‘I did it!’

Siana let out a cry of joy inwardly. She danced and thumped their feet with excitement.

However, that was the story in Siana’s mind.

She’s a maid now.

You shouldn’t show your personal feelings.

So, Siana smiled and said.

“That’s fortunate. If you need anything, please feel free to tell me know.”

* * *

The tea party is over.

The women who enjoyed the party half nervously and half excitedly got up from their seats.

The maids stood at the entrance of the banquet hall and greeted the guests.

“Go home safely.”

The women approached Siana, who was greeting eagerly. Siana was the first woman to serve them.

Siana lowered her eyebrows.

In the end, Siana had to ask for their understanding and wait on Baroness Appleton.

Siana’s departure from them in the middle has been on her mind the whole time.

Siana bowed her head to the women.

“I should have served you until the end, but I’m really sorry I couldn’t.”

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The women waved their hands.

“No.”

Then they whispered in Siana’s ear.

“Thanks to you, the baroness was quiet. Ugh, it’s dizzying what would have happened if the baroness had continued to be angry.”

“I know. If she did, I might have been too scared to taste the chocolate.”

“I’m glad that such a terrible thing didn’t happen.”

Only then did Siana’s face light up.

Hearing what the women said, I felt relieved.

“Thank you very much for your understanding. Take care.”

“Yes, lady-in-waiting, stay healthy, too.”

The women laughed and disappeared.

But a woman didn’t follow them and remained.

It was the woman with a bent back.

The woman was wriggling her fingers as she did when she first entered the banquet hall.

Siana asked in a soft voice.

“Do you have anything to say?”

The woman pursed her lips as if hesitant, then opened her mouth as if she mustered up courage.

“Honestly, I thought a lot about whether or not to come here. As you can see, this is what it looks like.”

“…….”

“I was afraid that something like me would go to the palace and hear only bad things for no reason. Still, I mustered up the courage to come because it was an opportunity that might not come again for the rest of my life.”

But it was as expected.

The court ladies stiffened their expressions as they saw her standing at the entrance. It seemed that no one would ever deal with her.

‘As expected, I don’t fit in a place like this.’

Siana approached me as I tried to go back like I was running away.

How deeply moved I was to see Siana treat me respectfully like a lady.

“Thanks to the lady-in-waiting, I had fragrant tea and sweet chocolate, and had a good conversation with people. I will never forget this day for the rest of my life.”

The woman laughed shyly.

“Thank you very much for making such a memory for me, lady-in-waiting.”

“…….”

Siana stared blankly at the woman.

For the past few days, Siana had thought of numerous situations that could arise today.

Among them, there was the reality of fussy guests, and there were cases where the atmosphere was ruined by another apprentice maid making a mistake.

So the earlier commotion was not too surprising.

It was within the scope of my expectations.

However, I never imagined I would hear a greeting like this.

‘……Oh no. I’m happy.’

I tried to act like a maid in front of the guests.

Without revealing trivial emotions, and with infinite respect.

It wasn’t that difficult since I had been terribly accustomed to it since I was a child.

But as of now, I couldn’t.

Siana’s face collapsed.

The dignified maid’s appearance disappeared, and only the girl who turned red like a peach remained.

“It was an honor for me to serve a beautiful person.”

The woman with a hunched back smiled at the lovely girl’s greeting.

It was a happy smile.

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