The Knight Who Broke Off Our Engagement and Told Me to Never Show My Face Again Still Clings to Me Today, Even Though I Was Possessed and Turned Into a Villainess for Ten Years - 60 - Precious Things 1
“Good morning, Mathilda.”
“Good morning, Lady Eliza.”
Today, like always, my personal maid took care of me kindly.
Mathilda, one of the two maids assigned to me, was eighteen—the same age as me—with long black hair that suited her well.
“The weather is really nice today. I can clearly see the flowers in the garden from the window. It makes me happy.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
At first, I kept begging them to let me out of this room. I cried that I wasn’t Eliza, but they only gave me pitiful looks.
But once I calmed down, I stopped asking for anything and stopped complaining. I made sure to stay calm, smile, and only have normal, everyday conversations.
I tried to speak and act like the Eliza Haynes that Mabel used to pretend to be.
—So that they would believe I was mentally stable.
“For lunch, we’re having your favorite fish dish.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful! I can’t wait.”
Because of all my effort, Mathilda, who used to only speak the bare minimum, began to talk to me a little more.
Honestly, I wanted to ask her to let me talk to my parents or Rufus right away. But I kept telling myself not to rush. It’s still too early.
“Has anything been happening outside lately?”
“There will be a hunting festival next week.”
“Oh, it’s that season already.”
Maybe she feels sorry for me being locked up here, because she sometimes tells me a little about what’s happening outside.
There’s more I want to ask, but I’ve spoken enough for today. I should stop here.
“Then, I’ll call for you again after I finish eating.”
“Understood.”
Tomorrow, I’ll try to bring up a topic she likes again so we can talk more. I want her to relax around me, even if just a little.
Hiding my frustration, I tightly clasped both hands under the table, holding onto that hope.
The next morning, Mathilda came again.
“Let’s get you dressed first. Lord Gerald has sent a beautiful dress for you.”
“Yes, thank you.”
I changed into a dress the same color as Gerald’s eyes and sat down at the dressing table.
“What hairstyle would you like today?”
“Gerald seems to like it when I wear my hair down, so a half-up style would be nice.”
“Fufu, as you wish.”
I said it shyly on purpose, and she gave me a warm, happy look.
Mathilda seemed to think Gerald was the perfect fiancé. Whenever I mentioned him, she looked delighted. Seeing her react just as I expected made me feel relieved, so I changed the subject.
“Hey, Mathilda, do you have a boyfriend?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, how lovely! What kind of person is he?”
Then I listened happily while she talked about her boyfriend.
“He works as a gardener at a noble household—”
She became more talkative than usual and seemed really happy. I guess women our age really enjoy love stories.
She told me they both wanted to get married but didn’t have enough money. So they both worked all the time.
I was able to hear more than I expected. I was sure she was slowly starting to open her heart to me.
If things were different, we might have become normal friends.
“We’re planning to go to the hunting festival together.”
“Oh, I’m so jealous.”
At those words, Mathilda looked a little sad. She must really feel sorry for me, being stuck in this room all the time.
“I’m sure you’ll be able to go one day—with Lord Gerald.”
“Thank you. Maybe I’ll try asking him.”
While we were talking, she finished the cute half-up braid hairstyle.
The maids always dressed me so carefully—even though I never left this room and never saw anyone except them and Gerald.
“I think your favorite hair ornament would go perfectly with today’s dress. Shall I bring it out?”
“Yes, please.”
I said yes without thinking much, and Mathilda took a jewelry box with a lock out of the closet.
It was my first time seeing it. Since it had a lock, I could tell the accessories inside were all very expensive. I watched her in the mirror as she took out a hair ornament with a big emerald that sparkled brightly.
“Did I keep my precious things in there?”
“Rather than precious, I think it’s just for expensive things. One of the maids tried to steal something once, so…”
“I see.”
I wondered where Mabel had kept the magical tools. From what Tabatha and the others said, she didn’t trust anyone. I doubted she would’ve let someone else hold them.