Published: August 15, 2025
A mansion standing quietly in the midst of a serene forest.
To be honest, I felt uneasy being with Ella in such a kind of closed space. Although the mansion was splendid, it was just an ordinary house that couldn’t compare to Granado Castle. Living under the same roof inevitably meant our living spaces overlapped.
Still, surprisingly, peaceful times continued. Maybe because it was awkward, Ella seemed to stay locked away in one room as much as possible, trying to erase her presence. She also appeared to stagger her meals in both time and place from ours, so we only saw her once or twice a day at most, and never spoke.
Yet, Ella took care of the household chores during the night. I hadn’t asked her to, but when I woke up, breakfast was laid out on the table, and the kitchen pots contained a day’s worth of food prepared. Marquis Dario would do the tasting for poison—or rather, taste first to confirm safety—before we ate.
To be frank, Ella’s cooking was delicious. While making sure we didn’t catch sight of her, she managed to prepare such meals—it was truly impressive.
I was grateful for her housekeeping. And I found her admirable.
Somehow... I couldn’t help but think that she wasn’t really a bad person. Maybe it was just a tiny misunderstanding, and if we could get along, things might improve.
If only I had reached out more... if only I had been more considerate of her feelings...
When I shared these thoughts with Tunic while she combed my hair at night, she shrugged her shoulders.
“Sweet, sweet, so sweet. Lady Marie, you’re too sweet.”
“R-Really?”
“Absolutely. Because it felt unpleasant. Even today’s meal was Rinderrouladen, a beef roll stew. What she’s doing is just like a spiteful mother-in-law.”
...Ah. Now that I think about it, the day after I made paella that she spat out, she cooked a perfect paella herself. Whether it was an intentional jab or purely goodwill, I don’t know—just like Tunic said.
At Granado Castle, Ella and Tunic rarely interacted. Now, living under the same roof like this, I wonder what she might be thinking.
“Tunic, do you think Ella is a bad person?”
I asked her opinion, but Tunic just let out an ambiguous “Hmm” and gave no answer. Instead, she cheerfully continued.
“We’ll be staying in this mansion for two or three more days, right? Until Duke Alfred’s museum plan is completed?”
“Yes, that’s how it will be.”
“In that case, I’ll keep quiet.”
Tunic put a finger to her lips and gave me a sly glance with her eyes.
Indeed, as Tunic said, if things go smoothly, that’s the best outcome after all...