TSODTAM | Ch 10

Episode 10. Awkward and Strange Feelings

The big event—the banquet—was finally over, and the mansion went back to its usual rhythm.

Honestly, things weren’t as busy as Sola expected.

The imperial knights mostly ordered around the servants they brought with them or just found what they needed on their own.

So, the house staff’s workload didn’t really increase much.

That’s how Sola ended up wandering the halls by herself.

The butler had told her vaguely to “help here and there,” then disappeared.

The truth was, the butler had a headache over her.

She wasn’t strong enough to handle the usual heavy chores for footmen, and the maids already had their set areas for cleaning and laundry.

The head maid was at a loss over how to assign her.

Sola, completely unaware of the butler’s dilemma, just roamed around freely.

That’s when she froze.

A baby crying?

She tilted her head.

‘Ah… that baby?’

In the original novel, that baby died young—basically a throwaway character created only to fuel the heroine’s sad backstory.

Curious, Sola followed the sound of crying.

She peeked through a half-open door and saw a nanny murmuring, “Oh dear, oh dear,” while rocking the baby helplessly.

“Is something wrong?” Sola asked, poking her head in.

The nanny’s face brightened a little.

“Ah. Could you help me? I left the baby’s favorite toy out in the sun to dry, but I forgot to tell the maid to bring it back.

It should be on a tray on the terrace of the upstairs room at the end. Could you fetch it?”

“Of course.”

Sola hurried off. The room smelled sweet, like milk and baby powder.

Definitely the nanny’s quarters.

On the sunny terrace, she found the tray with the toys and quickly brought them back.

As soon as the toy touched the baby’s hand, the crying stopped.

The baby laughed, “Kyahaha!”—all smiles as if nothing had happened.

Sola had never seen such an adorable child.

Soft platinum-blond hair, bright amber eyes, chubby cheeks, and tiny teeth poking out.

Absolutely precious.

It almost made her sad—because this sweet baby, fated to die, looked so much like the infamous villainess of the story.

Unable to resist, she gently touched the baby’s plump little fingers.

The nanny noticed but said nothing.

The warm, soft feel of the baby’s hand made Sola smile without thinking.

She had never touched a baby in her previous life, so it was a totally new experience.

“Beautiful, isn’t she?” the nanny said.

“Yes… so beautiful,” Sola murmured, unable to take her eyes off the child chewing on the toy.

She wanted to wipe the drool from the baby’s chin but hesitated, unsure if it was okay to get that close.

That’s when the nanny asked suddenly, “So, you’re Morant, right?”

Sola flinched.

“Ah… sorry, I should’ve introduced myself first,” she said quickly, embarrassed.

The nanny chuckled. “It’s fine. I just heard a new servant came, but I hadn’t seen you yet.”

Relieved, Sola grinned and touched her own face shyly.

“Then… can I come visit her often?” she asked brightly. The nanny smiled kindly. “That’s not for me to decide. If the Duke and Duchess give permission, then yes.”

“I’ll make sure to get permission!” Sola said, staring at the baby with shining eyes.

Even her tiny fingernails looked perfect. She was simply too adorable.

Meanwhile, the knight commander arrived at a shabby house that reeked of medicine and illness.

Inside, constant coughing came from behind a closed door.

Dust covered the hearth and vegetable basket—it was clear nobody had cooked there in a long time.

The physician who had accompanied him looked nervous.

Having a Stroud knight by his side made him sweat.

He had a guilty conscience, and it showed.

“Is this the room?” the commander asked.

“Y-yes. Yes, it is,” the physician stammered.

He dreaded what they might see inside.

Would Morant be wearing women’s clothing? Or men’s? If it was men’s clothes, at least he could excuse it as “better for treatment than a dress.”

Carefully, he pushed the door open.

“Uncle… cough cough… you’re here?”

Morant was propped up in bed, but when he saw the knight enter behind the physician, his eyes widened.

Sola had warned him something like this might happen, but he didn’t expect it today.

The physician panicked when he noticed faint stubble along Morant’s jawline.

Trying to cover his nerves, he spoke loudly while fussing with the blankets.

“This illness presses on the chest, so—hahaha—it’s healthier to wear a shirt than a tight dress.”

“I see,” the commander said calmly.

“Yes, yes. Lie back now. Sitting up makes it worse.”

He helped Morant lie down and pulled the blanket all the way up to his chin.

Dust puffed up, making Morant cough harder into the blanket.

“Morant.”

Just hearing his name from the knight made both Morant and the physician jump.

“…Your sister is ill, so I came to check on you. It’s not much, but please use this money for treatment.”

The commander placed coins on the table.

The physician quickly bowed. “Thank you, truly, thank you.”

Morant, too stunned to speak, only dipped his head slightly.

Not wishing to linger, the knight commander left the house right away.

He needed to report to the Duchess that her suspicions were indeed correct.

Back at the mansion, Sola felt restless. She was tired of waiting around with nothing to do.

In the original story, the heroine had always been left alone by the male lead—but Sola wanted to change that.

She wanted to make her presence known.

So she went straight to Ryan’s office.

Baron Christie opened the door for her, and inside, the Duke sat at his desk—handsome as always.

Sola didn’t waste time. After a quick bow, she spoke firmly.

“Duke. I don’t like getting paid for doing nothing.”

“I told you—if you have work, the butler will assign it,” Ryan replied without looking up.

“But the butler never gives me any work.”

“Isn’t that a good thing? Most servants wish they could slack off.”

“I don’t! I want to help you, my lord,” Sola insisted.

Ryan finally looked up, studying her face.

She looked so determined, lips pressed tight.

Her sincerity was obvious.

“…So what is it you want?”

“I want to serve you. Please let me wait on Prince Barnes Hilbardo.”

Ryan’s expression immediately darkened.

Sola stood tall, not backing down.

“I know you’re wary of him. So let me stay by his side and keep watch.”

“That’s not happening,” Ryan snapped.

He remembered very well what this young servant could do.

Putting her near his half-brother, the Prince, was unthinkable.

“Morant, you’re my attendant. And if the Prince is plotting anything dangerous, someone with foresight like you will sense it first, won’t you?”

Sola bit her lip.

She’d prepared another excuse for this exact pushback.

“You know I can only see the future under certain conditions.”

“Perfect, then. Use your free time to figure out exactly what those conditions are,” Ryan said coldly.

Sola’s heart sank.

She had expected hardships—after all, the heroine in the story always suffered—but his words still cut deep.

“…So without my ability, I’m worthless to you?” she asked quietly.

“What are you—”

“To you, am I just a tool to be used and thrown away?”

Tears welled in her eyes.

Ryan blinked, startled, the ink on his paper smudging as he froze.

Looking every bit like a tragic heroine, Sola turned away and wiped her tears with her hand.

She only wanted Ryan to love her, even just a little.

Even if she told herself it was only fiction, a part of her still hoped for happiness.

Unable to hide her wounded heart, she left the office.

Ryan just sat there, stunned, as if someone had hit him over the head.

The image of his young servant crying wouldn’t leave his mind.

Her sweet words—“I want to work for you”—echoed louder than they should.

And those strange, unfamiliar emotions swirling inside him… they felt awkward and wrong.

Like they didn’t even belong to him.