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163: A Secret She Cannot Tell.
"Hey, Ortansia."
Called upon by Marguerite, who was elegantly sipping tea in her room, Ortansia hastily straightened her posture.
At present, Marguerite was relaxing in her chambers. Pamela was working elsewhere, leaving only Marguerite and Ortansia in the room.
"Yes, my lady?"
"You know of my elder brother, don't you?"
At this sudden question, Ortansia blinked in surprise.
‘Well, of course I do... but why ask such a thing?’
There couldn't be anyone working in this mansion who didn't know of GĂ©rard's existence.
"Master GĂ©rard, yes. Of course I know of him."
Naturally, Ortansia answered positively.
It should have been a perfectly normal response.
But the moment Ortansia said this, Marguerite rather roughly set her teacup back on its saucer with a clatter.
At the gesture, as though she were irritated about something, Ortansia’s shoulders jumped.
Directing a probing gaze at the startled Ortansia, Marguerite continued questioning in a somewhat stiff voice.
"A short while ago, I saw you talking with my brother in the garden."
At Marguerite's words, Ortansia's heart gave a loud thump.
...She had been seen.
When she had gone out to the garden searching for Marguerite, she'd encountered GĂ©rard, and when Ortansia had swayed unsteadily, he'd supported her.
"...Since then, have you had any difficulties with life here?"
…"If you have any more troubles, tell me."
His words still lingered in her ears.
"...You seemed rather familiar with one another."
"...!"
At Marguerite's barbed words, Ortansia involuntarily caught her breath.
...GĂ©rard was concerned about Ortansia.
Surely in a different way than he treated other servants.
He'd found Ortansia crying at night, homesick for her original world, and comforted her.
That might be why he couldn't leave Ortansia alone.
But... she didn't feel she could explain that well to Marguerite.
Though Marguerite's unrestrained behaviour stood out, she was someone who possessed the firm pride of a duke's daughter.
From her perspective, it must seem incomprehensible that GĂ©rard, the ducal heir, would concern himself with a mere servant.
‘Even if it was for the inspection, I absolutely cannot tell her we went out together and he gave me a brooch…’
Marguerite wouldn't take kindly to GĂ©rard giving special treatment to a particular servant.
No matter what reasons there might be.
Though she hadn't served Marguerite for long, Ortansia already knew how strong-willed she was.
If she incurred even the slightest displeasure, the unpleasant consequences were plain to see.
‘I have to somehow deflect this…’
Ortansia put on a smile suggesting "there's nothing whatsoever for you to worry about, my lady," and opened her mouth, feigning composure.
"Actually... we were discussing you, Lady Marguerite."
"What?"
Ortansia continued when Marguerite’s eye widened in surprise.
"At that time, I was searching for you, Lady Marguerite. Just then, I happened to meet Master GĂ©rard."
"I see, so that's what it was..."
Marguerite looked away, somewhat bashfully.
At this reaction, Ortansia felt relieved.
‘Right, if I can just somehow change the subject…’
"So... what did my brother say about me?"
‘Ugh…’
Pressed by Marguerite, Ortansia broke into a cold sweat whilst maintaining her smile.
At that time, upon hearing that Marguerite had fled from lessons again, Gérard had said, "That girl lacks awareness that she's a member of the Vérité ducal family."
But there was no way she could honestly tell the proud Marguerite such a thing.
"Well, Master GĂ©rard said..."
Desperately racking her brain, Ortansia somehow managed to find an excuse.
"That whilst Lady Marguerite has a somewhat free-spirited side, that's what makes you charming..."
"Really!?"
The moment she heard Ortansia’s words, Marguerite's expression lit up brilliantly.
"Oh, Brother... How embarrassing!"
Though she said it was embarrassing, Marguerite's expression was proud.
Watching such a Marguerite made her heart ache, but Ortansia felt relieved that her thoughts had been diverted.
‘Master GĂ©rard is concerned about me. ...But that's inherently strange.’
Ortansia was just a servant. She wasn't someone GĂ©rard should be overly concerned about.
‘I mustn't keep relying on Master GĂ©rard either.’
GĂ©rard in this world wasn't Ortansia's brother.
The one he should protect, the one he should bestow his affection upon, was Marguerite.
...It would be fine. If Ortansia showed herself to be capable from now on, GĂ©rard would feel reassured.
And soon, he would treat Ortansia the same as any other servant.
‘...It would be a lie to say I'm not lonely, but…’
That was the proper way to live in this world.
She had to live on strongly, clutching the memories with GĂ©rard and the brooch that remained in her hands.
Ortansia resolved herself thus.
She resolved herself, but....
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