The falling snowflakes caught the attention of the maids cleaning the corridors of the duke’s mansion. They paused in their work and looked out the window.
The snow had come down to the point of exhaustion by now. With snow falling every three days, the world outside remained constantly blanketed in white.
The servants responsible for clearing the snow were diligent, but those not directly involved occasionally lost themselves in the beautiful scenery.
And since it was nearing the year’s end, the atmosphere was heightened with excitement.
It was a time when beginnings and endings felt particularly special.
Moreover, something new had stirred in the usually quiet Valentine ducal residence, whether it was the end or beginning of the year.
This year, there was a special order to decorate the house meticulously. Even those who had worked in the Valentine family for a long time found this order unusual, and it had been a while since they had seen such excitement during the year-end season.
The maids were no exception. They had just finished decorating the central staircase with various ornaments and were now cleaning the corridors. One maid, who had been absentmindedly staring out the window at the falling snow, brushed off the sparkling dust on her hands and spoke up.
“Isn’t it a bit too exciting for no reason?”
“Yeah, you’re right. I thought this year would pass by quietly again.”
“What could be the reason?”
The questioning voice was hushed.
Another maid, looking around sneakily first, answered in an even quieter voice.
“True. Besides, both the Duke and the Young Duke have been staying at home more often these days… Could it be because of some change in their mood?”
“I think… it might be because of Katie.”
“Hey! Watch your tongue!”
“Why? At most, we’re just talking about a sinner.”
“Usually, yes. But now, that woman’s name is a taboo in the mansion.”
“I got it, I got it. Anyway, do you think His Grace might be making amends to Their Ladyships because of that woman?”
The maid, who had been cautious and looked around once again, nodded her head carefully. In fact, she shared the same thoughts.
If there was a significant event that could have triggered a change in the mood this year, it was only that.
Or…
“Maybe… It’s not because of the hunting festival, is it?”
“The hunting festival? You mean that monster hunt? What does that have to do with celebrating the end of the year?”
Frustrated by the straightforward question, the maid who spoke first thumped her chest as if she was feeling frustrated.
“Think about it. Lady Valentine was troubled by baseless rumors because of that incident. She must have been so hurt. So, maybe they’re trying to cheer her up…”
“Oh, is that so?”
Nodding came naturally in response to what seemed like a reasonable explanation.
But only for a moment.
Their attention was now drawn strangely to the intense topics of the ‘hunting festival’ and ‘rumors’. They were more curious about why the mansion was being extravagantly decorated this year, rather than the previous question.
The maid who had cleared her throat earlier leaned closer to the other maid. Then, in a voice even softer than before, almost a whisper, she continued.
“But really, those rumors… Are they really true? That Lady Valentine is behind the incident…”
The whispers ended there.
Along with a slight shuffling sound, someone appeared at the end of the corridor.
Startled, the two maids who had been talking in hushed voices immediately separated from each other as if they were thieves caught in the act, their bodies trembling.
The stiffened heads turned towards the source of the disturbance.
Gasp.
One of them gasped as she tried to catch her breath. The owner of the footsteps had somehow ended up right behind them.
“…D…Diana.”
Stammering her name, they turned to face Diana, who had been looking down at them with an expressionless face.
Then, Diana smiled.
“What were you two talking about?”
With a smirk and a playful tilt of her head, Diana’s question relieved the two maids of their hidden conversation.
Fortunately, Diana didn’t seem to have heard their conversation.
“No, um, nothing at all. We were just admiring the snow. Isn’t it beautiful?”
“Yeah, yeah. We were talking about that.”
“Oh, really? You two, it’s been snowing for days now, and suddenly…”
“Haha, yeah, isn’t it?”
With awkward responses and nudges to each other’s sides, the maids tried to break free from the uncomfortable situation.
Regardless of whether Diana had heard or not, they felt uneasy staying here.
“Then, we’ll go ahead, Diana.”
“Yeah, we’ll go ahead.”
With a brief farewell, they turned and walked away, leaving in the direction Diana had just come from.
As they left, they couldn’t help but glance back.
Diana was nowhere to be seen.
* * *
“Did something unpleasant happen on your way here, Diana?”
As Diana handed Rosetta a cup of hot chocolate, Rosetta noticed that the other woman’s expression was different from usual and subtly inquired.
Diana initially shook her head, claiming that nothing had happened, but soon her lips pursed as she couldn’t suppress the emotions welling up inside her.
“Well, you see… Milady…”
Diana hesitated for a moment before tearfully recounting what had just happened, even mentioning the names of the two maids.
Throughout the story, Rosetta maintained a faint smile, sipping her hot chocolate delicately.
“Really, it’s so distressing. I wish I had given those two a piece of my mind!”
In response to Diana’s sincere emotions, Rosetta finally burst into laughter.
Haha!
The brief chuckle sounded cheerful.
“Well, there’s no need to react to every little thing like that. Besides, you know how people talk about even the Emperor when he’s not around.”
“In that case, I’d rather them criticize the Emperor. Tch.”
With a hearty laugh and a cheerful atmosphere, Rosetta enjoyed her hot chocolate.
For a moment, the conversation felt rather irreverent for someone who was a citizen of the empire, but Rosetta didn’t mind at all.
She gently poked the upset Diana’s crumpled nose and spoke.
“If you ever come across those people again, don’t let them get to you. Just come and tell me right away.”
“Really?”
“Whether that rumor is true or not, I’ll personally confirm it in front of them.”
That way, at least they would realize they didn’t have to deal with such monsters and that real monsters could be much scarier.
Lost in thought for a moment, Diana soon nodded with a sparkle in her eyes. It seemed that the recent incident had left her feeling somewhat disheartened.
Cute.
“By the way, the Valentine estate seems to be unusually lively! I heard that this atmosphere is unprecedented…”
“That’s true.”
Rosetta replied lightly, shrugging her shoulders as she tilted her head towards the cold window.
“I heard that it was like this while Her Grace the Duchess was still around…”
Well, it’s not like she could remember that anymore.
This lively atmosphere was a first for Rosetta, despite having regained her memories before making her wish.
In her memories, New Year’s Eve was always the same as any other day.
Most people would be excited, but the Valentine estate remained strangely quiet, which often added to the melancholy atmosphere.
Everyone seemed happy on this day, and she felt miserable in contrast.
Well, that was all in the past.
In any case, there was a reason behind this newfound atmosphere. People might think that the duke had done this because of the incident with Katie, feeling guilty towards Rosetta and Alicia, but that was not the case.
Neither the New Year’s Eve nor the incident with Katie was treated any special.
So, there had to be a different reason for this change in atmosphere.
The most reasonable and likely explanation was…
Family, probably.
In the past, Rosetta had never truly integrated into her family.
Her self-perceived impurity and the twisted behaviors that resulted from it had only widened the gap between her and her family over the years.
However, in this new life, despite the initial awkwardness, they were gradually accepting each other as family, and the icy atmosphere was slowly thawing.
‘The Duke and Young Duke both probably feel guilty towards me as well.’
It wasn’t just because of what happened with Katie, but also the guilt over not treating her as family over the years.
Such feelings naturally led to a different atmosphere during the end of the year.
It’s not like she was still a child, yet it seemed like they were trying to cheer her up with this grand preparation.
It’s a bit strange, considering she had once wished for the world to end.
But still, what’s good is good.
‘Sometimes, it’s nice to just enjoy these little moments.’
Rosetta wasn’t the type to dwell on things that she had already accepted.
While bringing her legs up so that she’d be perched on the windowsill, Rosetta took a sip of her lukewarm hot chocolate, her lips brushing against the rim of the cup.
Her gaze wandered outside, where she spotted Alicia and Ria enjoying their hot chocolates in the pure white, snow-covered garden—the closest one to the annex.
It was only thirty minutes ago that they were like little puppies, running around the open field as if it was their first time seeing snow.
Since their first meeting, Alicia occasionally spent time playing together with Ria.
It was clear that both of them had grown fond of each other.
A contented smile formed on Rosetta’s lips as she watched them.
“But I have to ask. Can Ria really play in the snow like that?”
Catching sight of the bright tinge upon the child’s cheeks, Rosetta asked Diana, breaking her silent observation of the two.
Diana cast a sidelong glance at Ria, then nodded her head.
“Yes, she’s dressed warmly, and I think she’ll be fine for about an hour. Both Sir Logan and Sir Zobel have given their approval.”
Rosetta quickly understood. If both Logan and Zobel had approved, it should be okay.
“That’s a relief. Oh, I heard from Logan that Zobel has been deeply engrossed in his potion research lately.”
“Yes, that’s right. He’s been working tirelessly. His dedication is admirable. We’re just… grateful.”
When Diana mentioned Zobel, her eyes seemed to sparkle oddly beneath her nodding head.
Rosetta wanted to ask why Diana’s cheeks had turned slightly red, but she refrained from doing so, not wanting to sound like a nosy busybody auntie.
Instead, she decided to speak with a more mature tone.
“Don’t worry. I’m sure the potion will be successful. It’s already destined to be.”
Diana’s eyes widened for a moment at Rosetta’s strangely confident statement.
However, it didn’t last long.
“Yes!”
Diana replied with a cheerful smile.
Rosetta’s words always seemed to carry an unusual power, and even her seemingly off-hand certainty sounded like a prophecy of the future.
As Diana smiled contentedly, she suddenly remembered that there was one more thing she needed to convey secretly.
A certain item she had been entrusted with.
Diana reached into her pocket.
“Milady, this…”
The falling snowflakes caught the attention of the maids cleaning the corridors of the duke’s mansion. They paused in their work and looked out the window.
The snow had come down to the point of exhaustion by now. With snow falling every three days, the world outside remained constantly blanketed in white.
The servants responsible for clearing the snow were diligent, but those not directly involved occasionally lost themselves in the beautiful scenery.
And since it was nearing the year’s end, the atmosphere was heightened with excitement.
It was a time when beginnings and endings felt particularly special.
Moreover, something new had stirred in the usually quiet Valentine ducal residence, whether it was the end or beginning of the year.
This year, there was a special order to decorate the house meticulously. Even those who had worked in the Valentine family for a long time found this order unusual, and it had been a while since they had seen such excitement during the year-end season.
The maids were no exception. They had just finished decorating the central staircase with various ornaments and were now cleaning the corridors. One maid, who had been absentmindedly staring out the window at the falling snow, brushed off the sparkling dust on her hands and spoke up.
“Isn’t it a bit too exciting for no reason?”
“Yeah, you’re right. I thought this year would pass by quietly again.”
“What could be the reason?”
The questioning voice was hushed.
Another maid, looking around sneakily first, answered in an even quieter voice.
“True. Besides, both the Duke and the Young Duke have been staying at home more often these days… Could it be because of some change in their mood?”
“I think… it might be because of Katie.”
“Hey! Watch your tongue!”
“Why? At most, we’re just talking about a sinner.”
“Usually, yes. But now, that woman’s name is a taboo in the mansion.”
“I got it, I got it. Anyway, do you think His Grace might be making amends to Their Ladyships because of that woman?”
The maid, who had been cautious and looked around once again, nodded her head carefully. In fact, she shared the same thoughts.
If there was a significant event that could have triggered a change in the mood this year, it was only that.
Or…
“Maybe… It’s not because of the hunting festival, is it?”
“The hunting festival? You mean that monster hunt? What does that have to do with celebrating the end of the year?”
Frustrated by the straightforward question, the maid who spoke first thumped her chest as if she was feeling frustrated.
“Think about it. Lady Valentine was troubled by baseless rumors because of that incident. She must have been so hurt. So, maybe they’re trying to cheer her up…”
“Oh, is that so?”
Nodding came naturally in response to what seemed like a reasonable explanation.
But only for a moment.
Their attention was now drawn strangely to the intense topics of the ‘hunting festival’ and ‘rumors’. They were more curious about why the mansion was being extravagantly decorated this year, rather than the previous question.
The maid who had cleared her throat earlier leaned closer to the other maid. Then, in a voice even softer than before, almost a whisper, she continued.
“But really, those rumors… Are they really true? That Lady Valentine is behind the incident…”
The whispers ended there.
Along with a slight shuffling sound, someone appeared at the end of the corridor.
Startled, the two maids who had been talking in hushed voices immediately separated from each other as if they were thieves caught in the act, their bodies trembling.
The stiffened heads turned towards the source of the disturbance.
Gasp.
One of them gasped as she tried to catch her breath. The owner of the footsteps had somehow ended up right behind them.
“…D…Diana.”
Stammering her name, they turned to face Diana, who had been looking down at them with an expressionless face.
Then, Diana smiled.
“What were you two talking about?”
With a smirk and a playful tilt of her head, Diana’s question relieved the two maids of their hidden conversation.
Fortunately, Diana didn’t seem to have heard their conversation.
“No, um, nothing at all. We were just admiring the snow. Isn’t it beautiful?”
“Yeah, yeah. We were talking about that.”
“Oh, really? You two, it’s been snowing for days now, and suddenly…”
“Haha, yeah, isn’t it?”
With awkward responses and nudges to each other’s sides, the maids tried to break free from the uncomfortable situation.
Regardless of whether Diana had heard or not, they felt uneasy staying here.
“Then, we’ll go ahead, Diana.”
“Yeah, we’ll go ahead.”
With a brief farewell, they turned and walked away, leaving in the direction Diana had just come from.
As they left, they couldn’t help but glance back.
Diana was nowhere to be seen.
* * *
“Did something unpleasant happen on your way here, Diana?”
As Diana handed Rosetta a cup of hot chocolate, Rosetta noticed that the other woman’s expression was different from usual and subtly inquired.
Diana initially shook her head, claiming that nothing had happened, but soon her lips pursed as she couldn’t suppress the emotions welling up inside her.
“Well, you see… Milady…”
Diana hesitated for a moment before tearfully recounting what had just happened, even mentioning the names of the two maids.
Throughout the story, Rosetta maintained a faint smile, sipping her hot chocolate delicately.
“Really, it’s so distressing. I wish I had given those two a piece of my mind!”
In response to Diana’s sincere emotions, Rosetta finally burst into laughter.
Haha!
The brief chuckle sounded cheerful.
“Well, there’s no need to react to every little thing like that. Besides, you know how people talk about even the Emperor when he’s not around.”
“In that case, I’d rather them criticize the Emperor. Tch.”
With a hearty laugh and a cheerful atmosphere, Rosetta enjoyed her hot chocolate.
For a moment, the conversation felt rather irreverent for someone who was a citizen of the empire, but Rosetta didn’t mind at all.
She gently poked the upset Diana’s crumpled nose and spoke.
“If you ever come across those people again, don’t let them get to you. Just come and tell me right away.”
“Really?”
“Whether that rumor is true or not, I’ll personally confirm it in front of them.”
That way, at least they would realize they didn’t have to deal with such monsters and that real monsters could be much scarier.
Lost in thought for a moment, Diana soon nodded with a sparkle in her eyes. It seemed that the recent incident had left her feeling somewhat disheartened.
Cute.
“By the way, the Valentine estate seems to be unusually lively! I heard that this atmosphere is unprecedented…”
“That’s true.”
Rosetta replied lightly, shrugging her shoulders as she tilted her head towards the cold window.
“I heard that it was like this while Her Grace the Duchess was still around…”
Well, it’s not like she could remember that anymore.
This lively atmosphere was a first for Rosetta, despite having regained her memories before making her wish.
In her memories, New Year’s Eve was always the same as any other day.
Most people would be excited, but the Valentine estate remained strangely quiet, which often added to the melancholy atmosphere.
Everyone seemed happy on this day, and she felt miserable in contrast.
Well, that was all in the past.
In any case, there was a reason behind this newfound atmosphere. People might think that the duke had done this because of the incident with Katie, feeling guilty towards Rosetta and Alicia, but that was not the case.
Neither the New Year’s Eve nor the incident with Katie was treated any special.
So, there had to be a different reason for this change in atmosphere.
The most reasonable and likely explanation was…
Family, probably.
In the past, Rosetta had never truly integrated into her family.
Her self-perceived impurity and the twisted behaviors that resulted from it had only widened the gap between her and her family over the years.
However, in this new life, despite the initial awkwardness, they were gradually accepting each other as family, and the icy atmosphere was slowly thawing.
‘The Duke and Young Duke both probably feel guilty towards me as well.’
It wasn’t just because of what happened with Katie, but also the guilt over not treating her as family over the years.
Such feelings naturally led to a different atmosphere during the end of the year.
It’s not like she was still a child, yet it seemed like they were trying to cheer her up with this grand preparation.
It’s a bit strange, considering she had once wished for the world to end.
But still, what’s good is good.
‘Sometimes, it’s nice to just enjoy these little moments.’
Rosetta wasn’t the type to dwell on things that she had already accepted.
While bringing her legs up so that she’d be perched on the windowsill, Rosetta took a sip of her lukewarm hot chocolate, her lips brushing against the rim of the cup.
Her gaze wandered outside, where she spotted Alicia and Ria enjoying their hot chocolates in the pure white, snow-covered garden—the closest one to the annex.
It was only thirty minutes ago that they were like little puppies, running around the open field as if it was their first time seeing snow.
Since their first meeting, Alicia occasionally spent time playing together with Ria.
It was clear that both of them had grown fond of each other.
A contented smile formed on Rosetta’s lips as she watched them.
“But I have to ask. Can Ria really play in the snow like that?”
Catching sight of the bright tinge upon the child’s cheeks, Rosetta asked Diana, breaking her silent observation of the two.
Diana cast a sidelong glance at Ria, then nodded her head.
“Yes, she’s dressed warmly, and I think she’ll be fine for about an hour. Both Sir Logan and Sir Zobel have given their approval.”
Rosetta quickly understood. If both Logan and Zobel had approved, it should be okay.
“That’s a relief. Oh, I heard from Logan that Zobel has been deeply engrossed in his potion research lately.”
“Yes, that’s right. He’s been working tirelessly. His dedication is admirable. We’re just… grateful.”
When Diana mentioned Zobel, her eyes seemed to sparkle oddly beneath her nodding head.
Rosetta wanted to ask why Diana’s cheeks had turned slightly red, but she refrained from doing so, not wanting to sound like a nosy busybody auntie.
Instead, she decided to speak with a more mature tone.
“Don’t worry. I’m sure the potion will be successful. It’s already destined to be.”
Diana’s eyes widened for a moment at Rosetta’s strangely confident statement.
However, it didn’t last long.
“Yes!”
Diana replied with a cheerful smile.
Rosetta’s words always seemed to carry an unusual power, and even her seemingly off-hand certainty sounded like a prophecy of the future.
As Diana smiled contentedly, she suddenly remembered that there was one more thing she needed to convey secretly.
A certain item she had been entrusted with.
Diana reached into her pocket.
“Milady, this…”
