Chapter 16

Finally, the day arrived.

It was the birthday of Selina Ryles, beloved by everyone in the estate.

The polished candlesticks and silver goblets gleamed on the tables, set with an array of exquisite dishes. The grand chandelier hanging from the lofty ceiling radiated brilliance more dazzling than ever.

“It’s been so long since the Ryles estate hosted a party like this,” Janice said with an excited expression, clearly proud of the scene.

Though Velita had helped prepare the estate for the event, she found it hard to share in Janice’s pride, which seemed to treat the mansion as if it were her own.

After all, no matter how beautifully it was decorated, this estate would never belong to them. And today, the spotlight was reserved for someone else entirely.

Standing on the second-floor balcony, Velita quietly observed the nobles entering one by one, careful not to draw attention to herself. She was about to leave, thinking of joining Jeremy and pretending to attend to him to escape this uncomfortable gathering.

“Velita Grandel, where are you?”

Just as she was slipping away into the corridor, a voice called her name. Turning around, she saw one of Selina’s maids stopping every passing servant, asking about her whereabouts.

Velita watched silently as the maid, spotting her from a distance, approached with hurried steps.

Though they weren’t particularly close, they at least knew each other’s faces and names since Velita had once served Selina.

“There you are. I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

“What’s the matter?”

“Just come with me.”

“Where to?”

“Where else? To Lady Selina.”

Velita froze for a moment at the maid’s presumptuous tone, even though it was obvious her current master was Jeremy.

“My master is Young Master Jeremy.”

“Have you forgotten? Lady Selina only lent you to him temporarily. Don’t forget who your true master is.”

It wasn’t entirely wrong, but Velita couldn’t help the surge of defiance rising within her. The condescension in the maid’s gaze was unmistakable.

Now that she thought about it, this maid had been one of those who subtly bullied her when she served Selina.

“I’ll ask Young Master Jeremy first before I go.”

“Are you pulling this because you’re relying on Young Master Jeremy?”

“It’s only natural to seek my master’s permission. Why twist it into something else?”

Velita’s calm response seemed to make the maid grit her teeth in frustration. But with so many esteemed guests in attendance for Selina’s birthday, causing a scene was out of the question.

Finally, the maid, her face visibly sour, relented.

“Lady Selina doesn’t want to attend the party. She’s already dressed up but suddenly took off her gown and declared she won’t go.”

“And?”

Velita replied, her voice cool, not hiding her disinterest in the matter.

“That’s why. You’re supposed to go and calm her down.”

“If you’ve been serving her for so long and can’t manage it, how am I supposed to?” Velita replied, unimpressed.

“Because she cares about you!” The maid’s voice rose sharply, but she quickly toned it down again, glancing around nervously.

“Velita Grandel, don’t you know? One of the reasons the maids disliked you was because Lady Selina favored you.”

“She… favors me?”

Angel-like Selina was kind to all her maids. Was it possible the others had been so petty as to bully her over a kindness they all received? Velita found the reasoning hard to believe.

“She treated you better than anyone else. She always wanted you by her side.”

“…”

“Do you know how much it saddened her when she sent you to Young Master Jeremy? And whenever she accidentally caught your eye afterward, she’d light up so much.”

Velita blinked, stunned. It was something she hadn’t expected.

She had always thought Selina was kind to her, but no more than to anyone else. Selina’s angelic nature didn’t leave much room for such distinctions. Yet, the idea that Selina had been so affected after sending her away to Jeremy was puzzling. If it was such a burden, why hadn’t Selina simply refused to send her in the first place?

“She cherishes you so much. If you go to her, she might at least tell you why she doesn’t want to attend the party. Young Master Jeremy will understand, so let’s go to her.”

Velita had stubbornly resisted the maid out of spite, but deep down, she knew she should go if Selina needed her. Without another word, Velita followed the maid to Selina’s bedroom.

Selina was far too gentle to throw a tantrum without reason…

But when they reached the bedroom, Velita noticed a group of maids lingering outside, all too hesitant to enter. Something was clearly wrong.

“Lady Selina sent us all out. We can’t go in,” one explained.

“Does anyone know why she’s acting this way?”

“She spoke with the count briefly, and afterward, she suddenly…”

“And no one knows what they discussed?”

All the maids shook their heads. It had been a private conversation between father and daughter.

Velita exhaled deeply, still struggling to believe Selina truly cared for her the way the maid had claimed. Taking hold of the doorknob, she let out a sigh. She doubted her presence would make a difference, but after coming this far, she couldn’t just leave.

Taking a deep breath, Velita opened the door.

“Lady Selina?”

The room was unnervingly quiet. Her eyes scanned the disarray—a cluttered vanity, a discarded gown on the floor. Selina’s presence was evident, yet she was nowhere to be seen.

Then, a faint sound reached Velita’s ears.

She moved silently, following the noise. From the dressing room connected to the bedroom came the soft sound of muffled sobs. Yet, even there, Selina was not immediately visible.

Velita pretended to leave, her steps deliberately loud as if exiting the dressing room. Instead, she quietly closed the door and moved toward the wardrobe, where the hem of a gown grazed the floor. Without hesitation, she opened the wardrobe.

“Get out! I said I wanted to be alone!”

Selina’s tear-streaked face appeared, her voice breaking with anger and pain.

Selina, hidden among the dresses, wildly flailed her arms and shouted without even checking who had opened the wardrobe.

She was always graceful and elegant, yet had an air of naive, childlike innocence, blissfully unaware of the harsher realities of the world. But seeing her now, huddled in a wardrobe, crying so hard she could barely breathe, was a sight Velita had never expected.

After hearing what the maids said about Selina’s feelings toward her, Velita could no longer feel the unfiltered admiration she once held. The sheltered flower before her now seemed more foolish than enviable.

Still, one truth remained unchanged: Selina had been the one to pull her out of hell.

And there was something about a fragile, beautiful woman in tears that could soften anyone’s heart, regardless of gender.

“Lady Selina, it’s me,” Velita said softly.

Selina’s body flinched at the sound of her voice.

“Ve… Velita?”

Selina looked up, her tear-streaked face a mess of smudged makeup. Staring into her innocent, wide eyes, Velita felt as though she were dealing with a genuine child.

She knelt down to meet Selina at eye level.

“Why are you crying in here? You’re the star of today’s celebration.”

“Why… why are you here?” Selina stammered, turning sharply away to hide her face as she roughly wiped her tears with the back of her hand.

“You should be with my brother.”

“The other maids asked me to come and comfort you,” Velita explained calmly.

“…So you didn’t come of your own will.”

Perhaps because of what the other maid had said earlier, Velita could sense that Selina was feeling hurt.

“No, I came because I chose to. I heard what they said, and I was worried about you.”

Selina’s head tilted slightly as she glanced back, her lips pursed in a small, petulant frown.

“…Why?”

Her voice trembled, hesitant. Velita waited patiently, sensing she needed time to gather her thoughts.

“Why didn’t you look for me?”

“What…?”

“Was my brother a better master to you than I was?”

“…”

“Did my brother…?”

Selina trailed off, but her words hung heavy in the air.

There had been a time when Velita trembled at the thought of speaking with nobles, unable to manage more than a simple “yes” or “no” in response to Selina’s kind questions. But those days were gone. Velita had become someone cherished by a noble, someone who shared his nights.

Once, she had felt intimidated by Selina’s presence, but now, looking at her, Velita could only see a lost, fragile girl. She finally understood how to handle her.

“Oh, don’t even get me started. I’ve been so upset,” Velita said with an exaggerated sigh, tilting her head as if venting her frustration.

“…Why? Why are you upset?” Selina asked, her curiosity piqued despite herself.

“Young Master Jeremy claimed he was lonely and begged you to send me to him. But after all that…” Velita trailed off dramatically, drawing Selina’s full attention.

Selina thrashed through the dresses, shouting for whoever had disturbed her to leave without even looking to see who it was.

The Selina Velita remembered was graceful, poised, and yet so naive she seemed almost childlike, unaware of the harsh realities of the world. But seeing her hiding in a wardrobe, sobbing uncontrollably like a child throwing a tantrum, was something Velita had never witnessed before.

After overhearing the maids’ comments about Selina’s feelings, Velita couldn’t bring herself to admire her the way she used to. The delicate flower sheltered in a greenhouse now seemed foolish rather than enviable.

Still, one fact remained unchanged: Selina had saved her from a living hell.

And there was something undeniably disarming about seeing a beautiful, fragile woman crying, capable of softening even the coldest heart.

“Lady Selina, it’s me,” Velita called out softly.

Selina flinched, her sobs momentarily halting.

“Ve… Velita?”

Her tear-streaked face peeked out from behind her hands, makeup smudged and her expression pitiful. When Velita met her gaze, Selina’s innocent, watery eyes made her seem even more childlike.

Kneeling down to meet her at eye level, Velita spoke gently.

“Why are you crying here? You’re the star of today’s celebration.”

“Why… why are you here?” Selina stammered, turning away to hide her face, hurriedly wiping her tears with her hands.

“You should be with my brother.”

“The other maids asked me to come and comfort you,” Velita replied.

“…So you didn’t come of your own will.”

Velita hesitated, realizing Selina was upset with her.

“No, I heard what they said, and I came here because I wanted to. I was worried about you.”

Selina’s pout softened slightly as she glanced at Velita, her tone hesitant.

“…Why?”

Velita waited patiently for her to speak.

“Why didn’t you come find me?”

“…?”

“Was my brother a better master than I was?”

Velita blinked, taken aback by the question, unsure how to respond. Selina’s vulnerability reminded her of the days when she had trembled in the presence of nobles, barely able to answer with more than a “yes” or “no.” But those days were long gone.

Now, Velita knew how to handle her.

“Oh, don’t even get me started. I’ve been so upset!” Velita said with a dramatic sigh, tilting her head as if confiding a secret.

“…Why? Why are you upset?” Selina asked, her curiosity outweighing her sulkiness.

“Young Master Jeremy begged you to send me to him because he was lonely, but now he leaves every day! Even when he’s home, all he does is give me errands—he doesn’t care about me at all.”

Selina’s brows furrowed, doubt creeping into her voice.

“But the other maids said you and my brother…”

Velita felt her stomach tighten. Clearly, some had already noticed the truth of her relationship with Jeremy. While Jeremy seemed indifferent to hiding it, Velita knew it was crucial to keep Selina in the dark. No good would come from stirring jealousy, whether directed at Jeremy or herself.

“Young Master Jeremy treats me well, but only as a servant. Nothing more.”

Selina’s expression flickered with a mix of emotions. “So… do you like me more than him?”

“Of course! I’ve missed you so much,” Velita replied, her voice warm but calculated.

Selina’s cheeks flushed, clearly pleased by the flattery.

“Then why didn’t you come see me?”

“I’m the young master’s maid now. I have to stay where he can find me,” Velita answered.

“Then I’ll speak to him! Visit me often, okay? I’ve missed you, too…”

Velita watched Selina drop her gaze and mumble, guilt evident in her voice.

“Why did you send me to him in the first place, then?”

“I regret it now,” Selina admitted quietly. “But I couldn’t disobey my brother. Father said we must always listen to him, and…”

Selina trailed off, leaving her thoughts unfinished.

Velita glanced at the clock and decided to change tactics.

“Lady Selina, you really should go to the party now…”

“I don’t want to.”

“Why not? You’re the main star today!”

“…”

“Do you have a reason you don’t want to go?” Velita pressed gently.

Selina hesitated for a long time before finally answering.

“Father told me not to speak much with the other ladies and to stay close to my brother during the party.”

“And why does that bother you?”

“….”

Velita sighed inwardly. It seemed coaxing Selina to reveal her true feelings would take too long. She decided on a different approach.

“Lady Selina, will you attend the party if I ask you to?”

“Not even for you,” Selina replied stubbornly.

“But you’ll dress up beautifully for the party, won’t you?”

“So what?”

“I want to see how beautiful you’ll look.”

Selina’s sulky expression softened instantly, her cheeks faintly pink.

“And after the party, we’ll share the leftover food and catch up, just the two of us.”

“But… what about my brother?”

“Young Master Jeremy won’t bother me after the party—he’ll be too tired.”

Velita was bluffing, of course. Her priority was to convince Selina to attend the party, no matter what.

“Let’s spend some time together, just the two of us.”

“…After the party?”

“Yes, after the party,” Velita said with a reassuring smile.

Watching Selina’s eyes dart around as she weighed her options, Velita felt certain she had succeeded.

She’s convinced.

Velita stood and extended her hand toward Selina, who was still curled under the dresses.

“Come now, Lady Selina.”

Selina hesitated for only a moment before taking Velita’s hand, as though enchanted.

From then on, everything moved swiftly. Maids rushed in to fix Selina’s ruined makeup and fetch a fresh gown to replace the wrinkled one. When the count’s steward arrived to check on her, Selina, now back in her element, remained composed and radiant.

Each time their eyes met in the mirror, Selina’s gaze softened, and she would mouth the words, Look as much as you want.

Velita couldn’t help but smile at Selina’s transformation, though her earlier compliment now felt ironic.

Selina was beautiful even without adornment, but dressed to the nines, her beauty was almost blinding. It was the kind of beauty that could lift spirits, though it held no deeper meaning for Velita.

Selina’s charm and loveliness had no bearing on Velita’s safety, survival, or peace of mind. It was simply something pleasant to look at, nothing more.