Chapter 107 (1/2)

However, when they actually got there, they were being treated so poorly. Rubica was clearly implying she was in a much higher rank than they were, and it was her decision to grant them an audience or not.

'She has already won Ann on her side.'

Zilehand glanced at Ann. She had been serving food with a cold expression and answering shortly. She wasn't just a lady-in-waiting. She was a member of the Claymore Family, so they couldn't be rude to her. The other relatives, who had come with him, had eaten the offered breakfast without complaints and were waiting at the reception room.

"I'm afraid there isn't much as you came so suddenly."

Ann wasn't just saying that. The plates really had little food. As Claymore was a huge family, it always had enough food for the guests. However, Ann had been treating them poorly so openly. Even those who were angry had now been suppressed by her.

'This can't be good.'

The surprise announcement Edgar had made at the table was enough to surprise anyone. Soon the news was spread to the annexes. There lived people who made a profit by finding mana quartz, so one of them rode a horse all night to go to Zilehan and deliver the news. Zilehan, who had been sleeping on his bed, immediately came to the mansion as soon as he heard the news.

'Many people's livings depend on it…'

Moreover, Zilehan was one of them as well since he provided supplies for adventurers such as food, and it was where most of his revenue for the year would come from. As this was the first year of Edgar's marriage, he had been thinking of proposing to organize a huge expedition to get really rare and magnificent mana quartz. He had planned to gain a lot from that as there was a good excuse for it.

'But now I am about to lose the job itself…'

"The duchess is here."

A servant announced what they had been waiting to hear. Everyone was relieved and stood up. Zilehan also stood up and waited. Soon the door was opened and Zilehan widened his eyes to see the girl who came in first.

The blue dress she was wearing was familiar to him. Every Claymore duchess had been beautiful, and Edgar's grandmother had been one of the most beautiful. However, when seeing the girl wearing the blue dress, Zilehan could almost recall her.

The clear blue color of the dress added a mysterious tint to the girl's arrogant gesture, and the jewels that glittered with her every step made her look like a princess of a wealthy kingdom.

Her short forelock that was in contrast with her thick blond hair highlighted her round face. Instead of the honest smile or shy expression girls of her age usually made when meeting adults, she was proudly looking down. However, it didn't feel rude. It was like she was born to just look down on people. Her cold attitude was impressive and admirable.

When did Rubica get herself such a pretty girl as her lady-in-waiting? Zilehan tried to think hard, but he couldn't remember anything about it. He had heard Rubica hired Elise Roan de Solana. However, he knew well about the poor girl. It had been him who advised her mother to ask the Claymore Family to take care of her daughter, but he didn't bother to do more than that. Elise clearly hadn't been able to fit in and had gotten thinner and more nervous every time he saw her, but he thought she had to handle that much to be a ward and didn't pay more attention. Still, there was one thing that made him worried about her.

'She is too ugly to get married.'

That is why he had told Mrs. Solana to hold on her dowry for her daughter's future. Moreover, she was telling her daughter not to be extravagant and was doing her best to save.

Zilehan had been quite happy and relieved to hear Rubica had hired Elise as her lady-in-waiting. The girl was neither rich not pretty. He thought she was never going to meet a good man, so it would be better to get such a good and stable job.

However, he was shocked to hear Ann speak to the girl as she led Rubica to the duchess' chair and step back.

"Elise, you've done well."

'Solana? That… that girl is Elise Solana?'

He blinked a few times and looked at the girl. The Elise who had always been afraid of others and nervous was gone. She didn't mind their gaze and proudly straightened her back. Zilehan had known she was taller than other girls, but he hadn't known her height would be so overwhelming. But everything was just too…

'She is so pretty.'

Perfect. Her face, her hair, her gesture, it was all perfect. Zilehan was so surprised that he forgot he had come to protest to the duchess. And so did the others. Elise had stayed at the main building since she decided to be a lady-in-waiting, but for less than a week. No one had known the ugly duckling would become such a beautiful swan in such a short time. They were so shocked by Elise's change that they were dumbfounded. They just opened their mouths and then closed them again like a fish.

"I know you were surprised by the duke's decision and came early in the morning. I was surprised as well, I don't know how I slept last night…"