Published: August 15, 2025
At first, I thought it was just dust. Her shape was nothing more than a "gray lump."
Probably for warmth, she wore multiple layers of undyed cotton clothes, creating a bulky, rounded silhouette. Her hair, long enough to cover half her face, lacked the shine of silver hair and was so thick it resembled a sheep’s wool. Judging by her age... she was probably in her twenties. It was hard to tell clearly since her face was mostly hidden.
Overall, she was fluffy and had a color as if dusted with ash. Now, she sat on the ground in a collapsed posture.
“...Um...?”
Thomas and I were puzzled. From Marquis Dario’s demeanor, we suspected something was hidden among the cargo, but to think a person was concealed!
And a young woman at that. This was the first time we’d met her... or so I thought. Why was she in the Sphain noble’s carriage? Her appearance didn’t look like that of a noble lady. But she moved too sluggishly to be a thief... Who was she? What exactly was she?
“Um... may I ask who you are?”
I inquired, and suddenly, she sprang up energetically.
“G-go-go-go-go—”
“Go?”
“I’m so sorry!!”
Shouting that, she bowed deeply again. Her long hair flowing down to her waist swayed like a tidal wave.
...She apologized to us.
“Um... yes. But more importantly, who are you?”
“I’m sorry, truly sorry, please forgive me.”
“I-I got that already... But please explain the situation. You’re connected to Marquis Dario, right?”
“Nice to meet you. My name is Ella.”
“Oh, hello... Then, Nanny Ella, why were you in the marquis’s carriage?”
“Yes, I am a housemaid at the marquis’s residence... and when he goes out, I serve as his lady’s maid.”
“Hm? And...?”
“The reason I was in the marquis’s carriage is...”
Ah! Something felt off—her answers were always a beat behind the questions!?
Still, she seemed willing to answer, so I waited patiently. But when it came to the crucial part, she clamped her mouth shut, mumbling softly with just her lips moving and looking downward. Apparently, the marquis had ordered her to keep quiet.
While I was questioning her, Lord Cyrus had heard the whole story from Thomas. He frowned deeply and approached the gray figure—Ella, was it?
“Ella, you said? You are Sophia’s retainer, correct?”
“Eh?”
Both Ella and I uttered the same word. Sophia was Lord Cyrus’s older sister, the daughter of Lady Laura, Lord Alfred’s first wife. She had now married Marquis Dario of Sphain nobility. So, was this an infiltration into the carriage arranged by Lady Sophia...? But judging by Marquis Dario’s attitude, it didn’t seem like he was unaware.
“Um, well... I mean—”
Ella mumbled again. Lord Cyrus pressed further.
“I just heard from Thomas, and I don’t know the details, but this carriage belongs to the marquis’s family, right?”
“Yes...”
“And since you snuck into it, you must be one of the marquis’s people, no?”
“N-no... that’s not...”
She denied it but had no excuse to offer.
Lord Cyrus furrowed his brow even more.
“I see. But I’ve heard that Marquis Dario tried to force this carriage into Granado Castle. He lied to the gatekeepers and smuggled a person disguised as cargo into the castle. What is the meaning of this?”
“I... I don’t know. I’m just a servant...”
“What did the marquis tell you? If Marie and the others hadn’t found out, what would have happened? What were you planning to do inside this castle?”
“Do what? I... I wasn’t planning anything that grand...”
“This situation makes suspicion inevitable. If you’re innocent, you should explain properly.”
“..............”
“If you stay silent, I can’t understand.”
Ella’s lips tightened further, and she lowered her gaze in response to Lord Cyrus’s words. Her clenched fists trembled. It wasn’t just because she was strictly ordered to keep silent—it looked like she was trembling in fear from the interrogation, lost for words.
—Déjà vu. Seeing her shrink her small shoulders like that stirred deep emotions within me.