KFBRV Ch 47
- Jan 25
- 6 min read
[Maid 1] "What on earth are you talking about?"
[Maid 2] "During the Foundation Festival, a fortune teller set up a shop in Canaris Plaza. She predicted that the Crown Prince’s berserk symptoms would vanish as soon as the festival ended!"
[Maid 1] "Wait, is that the place right across from the Count’s casino?"
[Maid 2] "...You know about it too?"
[Maid 1] "Good grief. That woman even said a meteor shower would fall on the final day of the festival!"
The other maids began to chime in, their voices filled with a sense of wonder and unease.
Even as an accidental listener, the accuracy of the predictions was enough to pique one's curiosity. Paula, having just finished ladling the chicken soup, finally turned around to face them.
[Paula] "What are you talking about? Include me in the conversation."
The maids flinched, exchanging startled glances at Paula’s sudden intervention.
In that moment, she felt the weight of how far her status had fallen since her mother’s confinement.
A silent understanding had spread among the servants: Getting close to the Madam means getting on the bad side of the Master and the Young Master.
Her mother had never been on good terms with the Count, but now she had even turned her back on Ferdinand.
These wretches. Just a few days ago, they were tripping over themselves to flatter me.
In the past, she would never have needed to ask to be included. They would have come to her first, chattering away like old friends.
The maids remained hesitant, eyes darting back and forth.
[Paula] "Why? Is this something you can't say in front of me?"
Only after she narrowed her eyes into a sharp, threatening glare did one of them finally speak.
[Maid 2] "We were... we were just talking about a fortune teller who appeared at Canaris Plaza during the festival. They say her foresight is terrifyingly accurate."
[Paula] "A fortune teller?"
[Maid 2] "Apparently, she predicted every major event of the festival. She knew the Crown Prince’s condition would suddenly stabilize, and she even predicted the disaster at the Fenrir district—that all the children there would die."
[Paula] "Hmm."
[Maid 1] "No one believed such absurd prophecies at first, but they all came true. That’s why we were saying how unnerving it is."
With her mother—her great shield—currently collapsed in disgrace, her ears perked up at the news.
Should I go and ask about Mother’s situation?
It's not as if I'm the type to blindly believe a fortune teller, but what's the harm in asking once?
Just for a bit of fun.
She was already feeling suffocated by the cold treatment she was receiving in the mansion. Despite her desire to vent, he held too many secrets to complain to just anyone.
[Maid 2] "Everyone who has visited says her skill is frightening. There are even rumors that high-ranking nobles are visiting her in secret."
[Paula] "What is her name?"
Another maid cut in with a snide tone. She was a girl who had always resented Paula for her "noble-like" elegance and arrogant behavior.
[Maid 3] "You’d probably just be wasting your time. She doesn't see just anyone, even if they have the money. I heard she only accepts customers whose destinies she deems worth seeing. I doubt your fate is valuable enough to catch her interest."
Paula’s pride took a sharp hit. Just a week ago, such blatant disrespect would have been unthinkable. Yet, that very insult fueled her resolve. She decided then and there that she would meet this fortune teller, no matter what.
Do they think I'm just some common maid with a boring background like them?
Do they even know whose daughter I am?
[Paula] "I’ll handle that myself. Just give me the name of the fortune teller and the exact location of the shop."
She twisted one side of her mouth into a smirk, issuing the command like a superior.
Having finally obtained the name Gisela and the location—a small shop across from Ulrich’s casino—she turned away sharply, loading the chicken soup onto the trolley.
She carefully etched the details into her memory.
*****
The Albrecht garden was like a paradise. Odette sat at a tea table, basking in the warmth of the sun. She savored the unique, lingering fragrance of the sweet and sour lemon tea in her cup.
The servants stole glances at her with confused expressions, tilting their heads as they passed, but eventually, they simply shrugged it off.
Aside from the high-ranking staff, most of them had never even interacted with her, so they didn't realize how bizarre this sight truly was.
They probably just think the Young Lady is enjoying the sun today instead of throwing one of her fits.
They had no idea that her presence in the garden without supervision was something that should have been reported to the Count immediately. However, with the Count being so sensitive lately, the servants were too afraid to take any risks.
Their own efforts to keep the common servants away from me have finally backfired on them.
She laughed inwardly before taking a slow sip of her tea.
It had a scent as thick as soap, followed by a unique, sharp, and astringent finish. She immediately recognized the ingredients in the lemon tea.
This is Alparidilium. Where did they get this? It should be quite difficult to find.
While she was pondering the tea, Lize approached, holding a parasol to shade her.
[Lize] "My Lady, isn't the sun too hot? You’re so thin; you'll get dizzy if you stay out here too long."
[Odette] "Lize."
She placed her cup on the saucer and offered Lize a smile.
[Lize] "Oh, My Lady, what am I to do with you? You’ve lost so much weight again since the Young Master and the Count returned. It breaks my heart."
Lize was more upset than Odette herself about the fact that she was being confined to the attic again following the return of the men.
To Odette, life was already much more bearable now that Paula could no longer whip her and the Countess had become indifferent. In Lize’s eyes, however, her situation was still pitiable.
[Lize] "My Lady, should I just bash the Count over the head with a pan during dinner? Maybe if I—"
[Odette] "Lize, don't even let those words leave your mouth. Not unless you want to lose your head for insulting a noble."
[Lize] "Hmph. I’m just saying that's how I feel in my heart."
She hadn't realized it in her past life, but Lize, her personal maid, had a surprisingly bold and cheeky personality. If left to her own devices, she would likely say something even more outrageous. To keep her mouth occupied, Odette pulled a letter from her sleeve and handed it over.
[Odette] "Will you take this letter to Wolfgang’s pawnshop? And while you’re out, stop by and see Gisela for a moment."
[Lize] "You’re doing this to shut me up, aren't you? Don't worry, My Lady. I only say these things in front of you. I wouldn't dream of speaking like that to the Count."
Lize stuck her tongue out playfully as she spoke.
Lize certainly is quick-witted.
As soon as they had returned from the manor after the festival, Lize had volunteered for the duty of ordering groceries. It was a role that required her to go outside frequently, allowing her to handle Odette's errands naturally.
Despite being the least popular job among the maids because it required three trips to the market a day, she had taken it without complaint.
[Odette] "I'm counting on you, Lize."
[Lize] "I'll be back soon! You must keep the parasol up until I return!"
She handed the parasol to Odette and left the mansion.
The gatekeeper, seeing Lize with her shopping basket, let her pass without the slightest suspicion.
Ferdinand’s outing should be ending soon.
It was time to end her leisurely tea time in paradise. After all, this moment of peace was only possible because the people who tormented her had no reason to come to the garden.
The Count was currently holed up in his office, desperately trying to salvage his failing businesses, so he had no time for the garden.
The Countess, even after her confinement ended, refused to leave her room. After losing her right to manage the family's assets, she felt ashamed to face the servants.
The servants had begun to subtly avoid her as well. The person who could hand out generous budgets was no longer the Countess. Since interacting with a superior who had no real power only resulted in emotional labor with no benefit, the servants naturally wanted to stay away from her.
Since walking around the house only leads to subtle disrespect, Mother must find it unpleasant to leave her room.
She smirked as she folded the parasol.
Just as she did, a man spotted her and came running toward the tea table in a hurry.
[Ferdinand] "What are you? Why are you sitting here?"
It was him.
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