DDFF | Chapter 06

Chapter 06

Pop! Pop! Pop!

Fluffy, cotton-ball-looking things began appearing one by one behind Blaine.

They were round and puffy like cotton candy, and looked soft like a puppy’s fur.

Sparkling particles floated around them, so they didn’t seem like ordinary living creatures.

‘What… is that? Is it alive?’

Thinking she might have imagined it, Elisha blinked.

But the five or six glowing cotton-ball lights were still floating around Elisha and Blaine, circling them.

They bounced around as they flew, looking strangely excited.

It even felt like she could hear tiny giggling sounds, like kyah-hah-hah, very faintly.

“Elisha?”

Hearing Blaine call her, Elisha snapped back to her senses.

In that instant, the cotton-balls vanished.

When she lifted her head, Blaine was looking down at her.

“Is something wrong?”

“Huh? Ah, no… Did you not see them? The things flying around us?”

“Pardon? Around us?”

But Blaine truly looked like he had no idea.

Elisha’s face burned hot.

Had she seen things because she was tired?

Just then, there was a knock, followed by a servant’s voice.

“Sir Blaine, the Duke is looking for you.”

“…That’s unfortunate.”

Blaine sighed quietly.

He let go of Elisha, but he looked reluctant to.

“Elisha. It’s a shame, but I have to go now. Rest comfortably.”

“Huh? Ah, y-yes…”

Blaine gave her a light smile, then left the room.

Elisha cracked the door open a little and peeked her head out.

She could see Blaine’s back as he walked farther down the hallway.

‘I definitely saw them behind the Young Grand Duke…’

Elisha narrowed her eyes sharply and stared at Blaine’s back.

Maybe he sensed her intense gaze, because Blaine turned around.

“Ah!”

Elisha jumped in shock and quickly slammed the door shut.

Her heart wouldn’t stop pounding.

‘I-I definitely imagined it. It’s because I’m tired. I’m tired!’

***

The next morning, after Elisha somehow ended up staying at the ducal house.

“…My dear. What are you doing right now?”

Duchess Felicia Lindberg looked at Elisha, who had been moving busily and groaning from early morning, with a puzzled expression.

Elisha had a scarf wrapped firmly around her head, and she was diligently scrubbing the staircase with a mop.

Noticing Felicia a bit late, Elisha bowed deeply, almost folding her body in half.

“Y-You’re awake! Duchess! Good morning!”

“Yes, but…”

Felicia looked around with a bewildered face.

“Don’t tell me… you cleaned all of this by yourself?”

The marble stairs were shining brightly.

But Felicia wasn’t surprised only because they were clean.

The Lindberg ducal house was an old mansion, deeply marked by the passage of time.

The marble was, of course, top quality, but over long years its shine had naturally faded.

But the places Elisha had touched were dazzling—shining like new.

“It’s almost like you used healing magic. How did you do this?”

“Huh? I-I just cleaned it…”

“Just… cleaned it?”

“I wanted to be of some help to the ducal house…”

Elisha added cautiously and watched Felicia’s expression.

The guilt of making Blaine drink the potion was weighing heavily on her heart.

She felt like she needed to make up for it, even if it was in a small way.

“My goodness…”

Felicia held her forehead and let out a groaning sound.

Seeing that, Elisha became completely intimidated.

Was she angry because Elisha had done something pointless?

Because she dared to touch things in the ducal house?

But then Felicia, who had turned away, was crying.

“My dear… your heart is so beautiful.”

“…Pardon?”

“I’ve never seen a noble young lady with such a pure and kind heart. And yet, I tried to oppose you just because you were living under a baron’s roof. I’ve been trapped in my own prejudice all this time.”

Looking at the moved Felicia, Elisha pressed her lips tightly together.

It wasn’t a matter of being kind or not, but she couldn’t tell the Duchess the truth.

No—she couldn’t tell anyone.

It was a secret she could never reveal.

‘I’m sorry! I’m really sorry! I’m actually a demon who uses love potions!’

Elisha wanted to cry and run away, wailing, but she forced herself to hold it in.

Felicia gently took the mop from Elisha’s hands.

“My dear. I understand your beautiful heart, but cleaning is the servants’ duty. Don’t take away their pride.”

“But…”

“More importantly, I came because I have something to tell you. Come with me.”

Felicia brought Elisha into the sitting room.

Elisha followed awkwardly, not sure what to do.

“Madam, you called for us.”

“Good morning!”

“Greetings.”

As soon as they entered, three people standing in a row bowed at the same time.

They had red hair and identical faces—anyone could tell they were triplets.

Felicia introduced them one by one.

“They will be your personal maids from now on. From the left: Spinel, Garnet, and Ruby.”

“Forgive me, Madam.”

The maid standing on the far left lifted her head.

Her eyes flashed sharply.

“You got it wrong again today. I am Garnet. Next to me is Ruby, and the last one is Spinel.”

Garnet spoke politely, but an unhappy feeling radiated from the triplets.

They didn’t look intimidated at all, even in front of their employer.

“To not recognize us every time… we truly cannot hide how hurt we are.”

“That’s right. We’ve been working in this house for over ten years!”

“Disappointed.”

At Garnet’s words, Ruby and Spinel added their own comments.

“Alright, alright. I’m sorry again today.”

Felicia held her forehead and shook her head.

Then she whispered to Elisha.

“They get upset like that if you can’t tell them apart. But their faces are exactly the same, so what can I do?”

“Ahaha…”

“Still, they’re the most capable girls in this ducal house. They will be a great help to you, my dear.”

While Elisha gave an awkward smile, the three maids knelt on one knee in front of her.

Under their round puff sleeves, their well-trained arm muscles stood out clearly.

Their tough appearance was a strong contrast to their jewel-like names.

“Little Madam. Order us anything. We will serve you with loyalty.”

“If there’s anyone who bothers you, just say the word at any time!”

“Immediate execution.”

Loyalty sparkled in the eyes of the Jewel Sisters.

Felicia stood up with a pleased expression.

“I’ll be going now. Isaac will return this afternoon. His birthday is soon, so we must prepare a banquet.”

Isaac Lindberg, whom Felicia mentioned, was the youngest young master of the ducal house, born late.

Luckily, during the assassin attack, Isaac had been staying at his maternal relatives’ home.

The ducal couple considered it a great relief that ten-year-old Isaac hadn’t witnessed such a shocking scene.

“Anyway, you three, teach our daughter-in-law many things about the ducal house. I’m counting on you.”

“Yes, Madam! Leave it to us!”

As soon as Felicia left, the three maids stared intensely at Elisha.

Under their passionate gaze, Elisha strangely felt the back of her neck tickle.

“Uh, um… Kyaaak?”

At that moment, the maids suddenly stood up.

Elisha stepped back instinctively, startled.

At the same time, all three of their faces rushed close—right in front of her nose.

“Oh my. I’ve never seen someone so small, cute, and angel-like in my life.”

“That’s right! We heard you crushed the assassins, so we imagined a powerful warrior… but what is this? You’re like a sugar fairy!”

“Precious.”

“A-Ahahaha…”

At the triplets’ intense praise, Elisha smiled awkwardly, not knowing what to do.

For a while, the Jewel Sisters continued passionately praising Elisha’s legendary heroics from yesterday and her adorable looks.

For Elisha, it was the first time in her life she had received such full attention and compliments.

Even her ears turned red from embarrassment.

“The way you’re getting shy… cute…”

The Jewel Sisters murmured with faces full of emotion.

Elisha didn’t know where to look, turning her head side to side.

In the meantime, the three sisters exchanged looks, then stepped forward as if they had made a decision.

“Little Madam.”

“Huh? W-Why are you suddenly kneeling…?”

Elisha stared at the Jewel Sisters, who had suddenly dropped to their knees again, looking flustered.

Garnet opened her mouth with a determined expression.

“Actually, there is something we truly wanted to ask of you.”

“A-A request?”

“Yes, Little Madam. Would you be willing to teach us just one thing?”

What in the world was this now?

While Elisha stood there blankly, Ruby and Spinel also joined in.

“The very technique you used to defeat the assassin—the ‘Flowerpot Throwing’!”

“Even we, who have mastered every form of martial arts, have never seen such a bold technique before…”

“Master.”

…Could you even call that a technique?

She had only thrown the pot in a panic.

But their eyes were already filled with admiration for her.

Elisha was so flustered she couldn’t even speak properly.

“Huh? Uh… um…”

At that, Garnet’s face immediately brightened.

“You just said ‘Uh.’ Ruby, Spinel, did you hear? She clearly gave her permission!”

“Kyaa! I’m so happy! We can become even stronger!”

“Looking forward to it!”

“Huh?! W-Wait!”

Elisha hurriedly waved her hands, but the Jewel Sisters ran out with huge smiles.

Left all alone in the sitting room, Elisha grabbed her cheeks with both hands.

‘I don’t even know how to do that! That thing!’