Ruby's tone changed to become sharp: "Why are you so curious about this?"
She responded sharply, intending not to ask her sister more.
But Bess did not back down: “Is it strange for a sister to be curious about the person you serve and see every day?”
At first glance, there didn't seem to be any problem with her speech.
It is natural for a sister to be interested in where her sister works.
But the problem is that…
Ruby never told her sister that she had been transferred to the “Almond Wing.”
This was a very big problem.
[Mission]: Anyone approaching the Almond Pavilion, or any conversation taking place around it, must be reported in detail to the head maid Mrs.
Watch.
Should anyone inquiring about the Almond Pavilion be considered a “target of reporting,” regardless of location or kinship?
It was a meaningless question.
Ruby knew the answer better than anyone else.
Of course, it should be treated as the target of reporting.
‘…Ah, could she also be an owl?’
Are you trying to test it with an owl task?
Are you doing this to make sure that I do my job faithfully and put it above all else?
This possibility was not entirely unlikely.
The owls don't know each other's identities, and Bess grew up dreaming of working in the imperial palace like her sister.
'Okay.
Since Miss Atha is a very important person, these measures may be necessary.’
However, she couldn't ask her sister if she was an “owl” or not.
An owl should never reveal its identity, and in the worst cases...
And that's what she was really afraid to think about, her sister might not be an owl at all.
Ruby moistened her dry lips and answered carefully: “She is a pure and kind-hearted person.
She treats the maids very kindly, so don’t worry and prepare to enter the academy.”
Then she left the house quickly, as if to escape, before her sister added another word.
From behind her, Bess shouted: “You said you came to take something!” But selling rubies is no longer the problem.
Ruby ran without knowing how, and when she regained her senses, she found herself in front of the southern entrance of the Imperial Palace.
***
Once the meal was over, Alisto took out a dark blue velvet box he had prepared.
The saint’s eyes widened immediately: “Is this mine?”
When he nodded, she carefully opened the package.
Inside was a jewelry set with pink diamonds cut in the shape of a water drop.
He had carefully chosen this design after barely carving out time to go to the jewelry store yesterday evening.
Fortunately, his effort paid off; The saint's eyes sparkled as soon as she saw the jewels.
Alisto extended his hand towards the saint who was holding the necklace and contemplating it in the sunlight: “I will help you put it on.”
The Saint nodded her head in agreement, of course, while he hid a triumphant smile.
Alisto's plan to win her heart was still on.
For him to be able to use her power as he wished, just a little admiration or a promise of marriage was not enough.
He wanted a deeper love.
How does admiration turn into love?
He has to provide her with constant moments of emotional excitement.
So, what's the best way to trigger those feelings?
Of course, it is the physical closeness.
And from here came his plan—to wear the necklace himself.
And not by simply closing the clasp at the back, but by standing facing her so that they can feel each other's breathing.
Of course, he had to avoid appearing like a 'playful' man, and not give the impression that he was belittling her.
He completely cleared his air of any hints of harassment or suspicious looks.
Next, approach the saint carefully while holding the necklace.
For this moment, prepare a refreshing, masculine soap scent.
He also wore a three-piece formal suit that highlighted his toned body.
In short, he dressed up to the max to show off his manhood.
Alisto wrapped his arms around the saint's neck as if he was hugging her.
And when he approached a distance that made the situation critical.
'...What is this?'
A delicate scent that he had never smelled before caressed his nose.
He instinctively realized that this scent, softer than warm milk and more fragrant than freesia flowers, emanated from her.
The saint's white neck.
'Is this...natural body odor they're talking about?'
His eyes, whose direction he could not control, fell on the soft fluff at the back of her neck.
“Is there a problem?”
Alisto regained his senses after he found himself unconsciously inhaling her scent deeply: “I’m done.”
He quickly closed the clasp of the necklace, and stepped back, pretending to be normal while sneakily observing her facial expressions.
Slightly reddened cheeks.
An expression that appears touched.
Perhaps you felt a kind of incomprehensible shame.
She lowered her head slightly, and continued to fiddle with the end of the necklace with her fingers.
Clearly, the plan worked resoundingly.
There was silence between them for a while, and the atmosphere suddenly became awkward.
But he made no effort to break this strange atmosphere.
Because, for some unexpected reason, he felt that this time spent looking in different directions and pretending to be busy was a beautiful time.
He felt a gentle tingling in one side of his heart.
***
After returning to Blossom Mansion—
Ruby hesitated for a while before turning to Ms.
Watch.
She didn't know how to report this.
But she couldn't evade forever, so she finally knocked on the door of the head maid's suite.
Mrs.
Watch put the papers she was looking at in the drawer and closed it forcefully.
She watched Ruby's tense state, then said slowly: “Report.”
Ruby began to report cautiously and nervously, choosing her words carefully.
She did her best to describe her sister not as someone trying to infiltrate the Almond Ward, but rather as just an ignorant child interested in her “sister’s workplace.”
She also emphasized that the dialogue was very simple.
“Although it is a simple dialogue between two sisters, I reported it because the word ‘Almond Pavilion’ was mentioned in it.
That’s all.”
"Who ended the conversation, Miss Bess?
Or was it you who ended it unilaterally?" asked Mrs.
Watch coldly.
Ruby's throat moved as she swallowed: "The conversation broke off naturally.
I was in a hurry because it was almost time for Miss Atha to return from the tea party, and my sister was busy shaking the covers..."
When Ruby couldn't finish her sentence, Mrs.
Watch nodded: "I understand.
You can go."
Ruby bowed as usual to leave, but stopped and looked at Mrs.
Watch again and said cautiously: “I know the rule about revealing the identities of owls, but is Bess… an owl?”
Mrs.
Watch nodded as if she understood Ruby's feelings.
“I understand you.
It is normal for the heart to soften in front of the family.”
While Ruby was gathering the courage to speak thanks to Ms.
Watch's gentle tone, the latter continued, "But this does not apply to the owls assigned to the [coffin] duties.
You should not hesitate, even if it is about the death of a member of your family."
“……”
“Miss Ruby, choose now.
Will you abandon the mission, or will you continue?
I will answer your question then.”
The head maid gave Ruby two options.
Abandon or continue the task.
It may seem like a nice offer, but it never was.
Even the novice gray owl knows one truth.
There are only two ways to get rid of the [Coffin] quests.
Either complete it.
Or death.
If she said she was going to give it up now, her body would be discovered somewhere just like Mr.
Ferrell's.
In fact, she had no choice.
From the moment she took over the duties of the [Coffin], Ruby never had a choice.
“I will continue”
Mrs.
Watch’s gaze became sharp: “Can you not hesitate?”
Even in the face of your family's death?
Ruby thought about her siblings that she had to support.
She had three other siblings besides Bess.
It was sad, but Bess' matter seemed to be out of her hands now.
Ruby inhaled a deep, calm air and then exhaled slowly: “Yes.
I will continue.”
Mrs.
Watch sighed softly after hearing the final answer.
She then answered Ruby's question, but it wasn't the answer she was hoping for.
“Miss Bess is not an owl.”
Ruby stared at Mrs.
Watch for a while without a word, then quietly walked out of the head maid's suite.