To the Love Born in the Lowest Place

“We’re not officially in a relationship yet…”

“Miss, I’ll attend to you to the best of my ability during your stay here.”

Regardless of Emmett’s uneasy expression, Mia strode over to Liv, beaming:

“Throughout your time in this place.”

“Liv, she is the castle’s head maid.”

Observing the three smiling people before her, Liv grew increasingly bewildered. She couldn’t fathom their true feelings at all. While the Emmett she knew seemed a good man, those around him would naturally like him too. Yet she, a lowly existence by his side, should surely be viewed with wariness…

As Liv stood unmoving, unsure how to react to their warmth, Mia gestured towards the castle:

“Your Grace, let’s bring the lady inside at once. Wearing a dress in this weather, how hot she must feel?”

“You’re right, I didn’t consider that. Let’s go in, Liv.”

Emmett extended his hand, and Liv naturally took it, entering the castle as Mia and Phillip exchanged sly grins for some reason.

Once through the entrance and finally setting foot inside, Liv saw the servants lined up as if awaiting Emmett’s arrival. Though outwardly rugged, the interior was quite lavish and grandiose, the neatly dressed servants lending the Ducal castle an even grander air.

“Welcome back, Your Grace.”

“We have awaited your return!”

The servants greeted Emmett without reserve – a rarity given the class divide between nobles and servants. After Emmett responded, Liv whispered to him:

“You seem quite popular.”

“It is nothing so grand.”

“Because you are a good person, Emmett.”

If this was the Emmett she knew, he would surely treat the servants well too, so their affection was unsurprising.

As Liv stood quietly by Emmett’s side, Mia approached to ask:

“Miss, shall I have the servants carry your luggage? You didn’t bring any personal maids, did you?”

“No…”

According to Hildegard, nobles typically traveled with attendants. But Liv didn’t particularly wish for any – the Hamelsvoort servants universally disliked her, so having them attend her would only prove uncomfortable. Better for Liv to handle everything alone than bring Hamelsvoort servants.

Fortunately, Mia didn’t pry into Liv’s reasons for arriving unaccompanied, simply gesturing reassuringly:

“Then we will assign you castle maids to attend you here. Allow me to show you to your room.”

“Okay.”

Exchanging a glance with Emmett, Liv followed Mia to her guest room. The corridors were neatly maintained, showing attentive care.

Upon reaching the innermost chamber, Mia extended her hand, and the door swung open to reveal decor imbuing a different ambiance than the Hamelsvoort estate. Unlike that staunchly devout family adorned entirely in white, the Lartman furnishings were mostly wooden, lending the room a cozy atmosphere. Perhaps interior trends simply differed between the capital and Duchy.

Well, one thing was certain – Liv appreciated this castle’s unique, comforting air… She would likely come to love Lartman’s Ducal seat.

“I’ll send a maid to attend you shortly, Miss.”

After Mia’s departure, Liv surveyed the room alone. Seeming untouched as a guest room, had the castle truly received no visitors all this time? Just as Liv moved to sit on the bed, a knock sounded at the door.

“Greetings, Miss. The head maid sent me.”

“Come in.”

The door opened to reveal a young girl with her white hair tied cutely to the sides. While sharing Liv’s rare hair color, her bright expression reminded Liv of Hildegard.

“I am Laga. During your stay in the Duchy, I shall serve as your personal maid. Please feel free to make any requests of me.”

“I’m Liv.”

“Speak casually, Miss. I was told you are from the Hamelsvoort family. I will do my utmost.”

Laga smiled cheerfully at Liv, her curious gaze holding no hint of discomfort. Ever sensitive to malice, Liv could sense Laga didn’t look down on her or find her irksome.

When servants arrived with Liv’s luggage, Laga swiftly took it from them.

“Allow me to unpack for you.”

“Mm.”

The lengthy carriage journey had left Liv’s body sore and stiff. As she reclined on the bed, Laga busied herself putting away Liv’s belongings before remarking:

“I’m so delighted to finally meet you, Miss.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, for you will become the Duchy’s mistress going forward.”

“Well, we’ll have to see how things go. If all proceeds smoothly, that is…”

“Oh, but you have already accepted the Duke’s proposal, haven’t you? Of course it will work out! …Ah, perhaps I have spoken too much.”

Laga remained kindly disposed towards Liv throughout. Other nobles might have chastised a maid for such presumptuousness, but Liv didn’t mind her demeanor.

Ever since the ‘Fake Saintess’ rumors had spread, this was nearly her first experience of goodwill. In the capital, even servants unfamiliar with Liv had adopted their masters’ cold attitudes towards her. Well, perhaps the different atmospheres between the capital and Duchy influenced Laga’s manner – the nobles here might not treat servants as strictly.

‘…I should probably mention it.’

It seemed Laga viewed Liv as a highborn Hamelsvoort lady. Completely unaware of the rumors, her elegant appearance was all Laga could judge by.

While Liv could have remained silent to bask in this fleeting joy, she understood they would eventually discover the truth about her. Better for them to dislike her from the start than have their attitudes shift abruptly. Swallowing hard, Liv asked:

“Laga, have you perhaps heard that rumor?”

“No, what rumor?”

“The one about me. If you knew it, you wouldn’t treat me so kindly.”

Blinking at those words, Laga soon seemed to grasp Liv’s meaning, waving her hands dismissively:

“Oh no, I am unaware of any rumor. But there’s no need to tell me!”

“What?”

“Whatever the circumstances, no matter what rumor exists about you, Miss, we castle servants will treat you well regardless of whether we know it or not. So you don’t need to mention it.”

Seeing Liv’s incomprehension, Laga elaborated:

“You see, we truly respect His Grace the Duke. As you know, he is a good man.”

“Yes, a good man…”

“Since you are the one he loves, we will be good to you, Miss. And as one loved by our Duke, you must be a good person yourself. We trust His Grace. So there is no way we would ever show you disrespect. Of course, we know better than to dare mistreat a guest of His Grace’s lest we face severe punishment. But it goes beyond simply following rules, you could say it comes from the heart…”

Hearing that, Liv turned her face away, suddenly unable to meet Laga’s eyes.

‘They treat me well out of trust in Emmett…’

Yet she feared when this goodwill might inevitably shatter.

* * *

Before the evening meal, Emmett visited Liv’s room with a troubled expression:

“Liv, there is an issue with the southern castle wall requiring repairs… It seems an urgent matter that I must assess immediately. And with other pressing affairs, I will likely be quite occupied for the next few days… Will you be alright on your own for the time being?”

“I will be fine.”

“I had hoped to give you a proper tour, but it seems I can’t manage that yet. However, it will only be for a few days, so please rest comfortably in the meantime. I’ll introduce you to the vassals afterward.”

The postponed meeting with the vassals actually put Liv more at ease. Facing their potential rejection immediately upon arriving would have stung, so it might be better to experience the Duchy a little first, before any refusal.

After Emmett’s departure, Laga inquired:

“Miss, shall I bring your meal to your room, or will you dine in the hall?”

“I will go down to eat.”

“Allow me to escort you to the dining hall, then.”

The servants Liv encountered on the way all greeted her respectfully, a stark contrast to the Hamelsvoort staff’s treatment.

Upon reaching the dining hall, Liv’s eyes widened at the lavish spread before her. Though meals at the Hamelsvoort estate were never lacking, as piously devout nobles, they pursued an austere lifestyle befitting their values regardless of the Count and Countess’s personal temperaments.

But here in the Duchy’s dining hall, dishes Liv had never witnessed adorned the table in full splendor.