Chapter Title: The First Night
But Epony responded with the expected businesslike tone.
"A young lady of a noble family does not bathe alone."
"No one is watching. You already know that I'm a shoe shiner, Epony…"
"I am watching. And do not mention that fact within the mansion. Also."
"…"
"What I am saying is not a request. All of this is by the young master's command, who wishes for you to become a fine lady. If I do not assist you, the young master will come and attend to your bath himself."
Her attitude was firm. It was clear that if Adèle refused, Cesare would be informed.
Adèle slowly let go of her grip on her clothes.
"…Fine. Help me bathe."
As they moved to the bathroom, Adèle removed her hat with a resigned expression. Her wavy hair flowed down like a waterfall. Epony helped her out of her tattered shoe shiner clothes.
"…"
When Epony saw Adèle naked, her eyes widened with surprise.
Adèle looked away. She didn't want anyone to see her ragged undergarments or the bruises blooming like mold all over her body.
Feeling uncomfortable, Adèle spoke softly.
"The bruises will disappear soon. I know because I've been beaten often. These kinds of things don't even leave a mark."
"…"
Even so, Epony remained silent, and Adèle felt a sudden anxiety.
_What if they decide they can't use me because my body is too dirty?_
"…Will you report this?"
Adèle's trembling eyes met Epony's. The faint emotion in Epony's blue eyes vanished instantly.
"The young master's 'arrangement' with you is only until the marriage with Della Valle. As long as you don't show your body to the young master of Della Valle before the marriage, it will be fine."
"…That's a relief."
Adèle muttered quietly. Epony firmly took the dirty clothes.
"…But Fornatie's dresses are made of thin fabric. We need to recover your body quickly. Can I discard these clothes?"
"Yes."
"Thank you. It would be best if you ate more than four meals a day for a while. A lady needs to have some flesh. You're too thin now."
She then paused, thinking for a moment, before asking.
"I suggest you eat something now. Is there anything you would like?"
It was the most welcome question in the world.
---
Before entering the dining room, Epony asked.
"You are not yet accustomed to the formal meals of a noble family, so please tell me your preferences, and I will select the dishes. Is that okay?"
After a moment of hesitation, Adèle replied.
"Nothing rotten, please. I can eat anything else, even insects."
"…You are not picky. That is an admirable quality in a lady. I will take charge of your meals for now."
The lunch menu Epony chose was truly delightful. There was no other way to describe it.
A perfumed white wine was served as the aperitif, followed by smoked salmon bruschetta wrapped in watercress as the starter. Next came beef carpaccio with arugula and celery, linguine with mackerel and abalone, and flounder wrapped in potatoes with tomato sauce.
Every dish was superb. She almost wanted to lick the plates. If Epony hadn't been there, she might have done so.
Epony, who had transformed Adèle into someone fit to dine, provided various pieces of advice throughout the meal.
"Use the cutlery from the outside in. Do not place your elbows on the table. Keep your hands visible at all times. During the meal, both hands should not go below the table."
There was no look of disdain. Epony was truly an excellent maid.
Adèle appreciated her detached manner and listened carefully to her teachings. She longed to eat her food before it got cold next time.
Even cold, it was still delicious.
Adèle finished the panna cotta that came as dessert and then glanced at Epony.
_Did I eat too much like a beggar?_
"You ate well, which is very good to see."
Fortunately, Epony seemed quite satisfied with Adèle's appetite, as befitting a middle-aged woman.
After the meal, Adèle put on a fine muslin dress and wrapped a thin shawl woven with cashmere over her shoulders before touring the mansion.
"Since you are now a member of the Bonaparte family, you should know the layout of the mansion. This is the library. This is the meeting room, the long gallery, the billiard room, and the dining hall…"
The explanations continued without pause. Adèle quietly followed Epony, memorizing the paths.
Unlike the tangled back alleys of Fornatie, the spaces were large and the paths simple, making it easy to remember.
While crossing the courtyard on the first floor, Adèle noticed a large window shining at the top of the garden.
_Could that be Eva Bonaparte's room?_
She wanted to ask, but the residence of the chairwoman might be confidential. Instead, she asked something else.
"The chairwoman?"
"You should refer to her as 'Elder.'"
Epony, walking ahead, spoke in a low voice.
"'Chairwoman' is her public title. But since you are part of the family, it is appropriate to use 'Elder' to refer to the head of the family."
Epony hesitated before adding.
"Technically, 'Grandmother' would be correct, but for now…"
It meant they should consider Eva's feelings about being called grandmother by a shoe shiner. Adèle nodded.
"I understand. Where is the Elder?"
"The right wing on the first floor is where the Elder resides. She is currently out on Signoria business."
_I should avoid that area._
"And where does my brother stay?"
"He resides in the central area of the first floor."
"I see."
_I should avoid that area too. This mansion is full of mines._
Having set her own restricted zones, Adèle continued to follow Epony around the mansion. It took an entire day just to cover that.
Even after that, there were places left to see, and Epony added at the end of the tour.
"It would be best to tour the nine gardens around the mansion later. You will also need the young master's permission to explore the outer palace."
Thus, the first night at Bonaparte arrived.
Returning to her soft green room, Epony explained each item in the room to Adèle.
"If you need anything, pull the servant bell. This is the bell. Normally, a maid would come, but I will personally attend to you. I will come within ten minutes if you call."
Though she had no intention of making such a request, Adèle agreed for now.
"Then, may the sea goddess watch over your night, Miss."
"Uh… You too, Epony."
Epony quietly left. Now Adèle was alone in the room.
She changed into a nightdress and crawled under the covers. Lying on her side like a small caterpillar, she looked at the servant bell above her head.
The golden rope hanging by the bed was quite thick.
_If I ever need to die here, I could hang myself with that._
She praised herself for coming up with such an ingenious method and looked around the dark room.
Santnar did not decorate interiors heavily. Even with the curtains drawn, they were not thick, so the moonlight outside filtered gently into the room.
_…It's quiet._
In the museum-like mansion, there was no noise. In the shack in the streets, the sounds of thugs fighting, sailors' drunken brawls after returning to land, and unhappy families breaking apart over money could be heard until dawn.
Without blinking, Adèle curled up more tightly.
It was truly amazing.
_There is a world like this. Life didn't have to be harsh._
_It would have been nice if Clarice could have come too._
Clarice was Adèle's roommate and only friend. When Adèle worked as the "mute shoe shiner Abel," Clarice was the only one who knew she was a girl.
She should have told her, but she didn't. Clarice often stayed out, and last night she hadn't come home. Adèle had left a vague letter explaining the situation, but there was no telling when Clarice would see it.
_Clarice would be so surprised if she knew._
"Adèle! Living in a room like a princess! I'm so jealous! …You'll hire me as a maid, right? Please?"
Adèle laughed at the vivid image of Clarice's reaction.
"That's right. I'm sleeping in a princess's room…"
It was unbelievable. Just yesterday, she hadn't even eaten a piece of barley bread and had drunk fountain water to fill her stomach.