Chapter 46

“It’s my rashness. I wanted to surprise you and make you happy.”

When Daisy stayed silent, Maxim turned to Mary with a grave expression.

“Mary Gold.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“You said you had siblings depending on you?”

“Yes. Six younger brothers and sisters at home, all of them waiting for me.”

So she was supporting an entire family.

“My apologies, then. If my wife does not want you, there’s nothing to be done.”

“This is entirely my fault. Had I been more capable at my job, I wouldn’t have been rejected. I am truly sorry.”

Rejected? No, that wasn’t the case. Her presence simply wasn’t needed…

But still, Mary looked utterly defeated.

“You’re quick to know your place. It’s as you say, therefore be mindful and behave accordingly.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Both Maxim and Mary turned their eyes to Daisy.

Blink. Blink.

Mary’s wide, innocent gaze, like that of a docile cow, drew a sigh from Daisy.

“…”

Damn it. Six younger siblings depending on her?

Despite herself, Daisy felt a strange sense of kinship and pity toward this awkward human weapon of a maid.

༺♰༻

When Maxim finally left, Daisy was left with the two maids.

‘Hah, I should’ve fought harder…’

She needed to plan her divorce, but now she had not one shadow on her heels, but two.

The first was Rose, the sticky leech from Therese. The other—Mary Gold, the strong but pitiful burden from Waldeck.

Shit. The worst possible combination.

‘And their names, too. Rose and Mary Gold. Flowers, all of us… Put us together and we’re practically a bouquet.’

A surge of rage welled up inside her, but at this point, who could she blame? Her own soft heart was always her weakness.

But there was something odd about Mary’s behavior.

‘Why is she staring at me like that? And blushing?’

Her gaze was too intense to ignore.

Daisy decided to ask outright.

“Mary Gold, do you have something to say…?”

“…”

“…Mary?”

Daisy repeated, and Mary’s face turned beet red.

Good heavens. This maid and “human weapon” Maxim had gifted her already seemed broken.

“Mary, are you feeling unwell?”

“N-no! F-forgive me. I must have been too… too nervous. Please, I deserve punishment by death.”

“What?”

Just moments ago she had seemed so bold. Was that only thanks to Maxim’s influence?

Now she trembled like cattle dragged to slaughter.

“Did… someone force you into this? If so, you can tell me—”

“No, I volunteered for this position.”

That part, at least, she declared firmly.

So why come here to tremble? Daisy tilted her head.

“I’ve never seen a w-woman as b-beautiful as Your Highness…”

“What?”

“At the wedding, I thought you looked lovely in your dress. B-but even wearing something simple like this, you’re still so… so vibrantly beautiful. Y-Your Highness, you embody the very beauty I’ve always admired…”

“M-me?”

“Y-yes! Ah, n-no, of course I don’t like women or anything… I-I mean, I really do like Your Highness, b-but not like that! P-please, don’t tell the master, I beg you… I hope you understand I mean no harm.”

“All right, Mary. I do. Just calm down…”

Gone was the soldier’s discipline and composure. She was sweating nervously, and it was pitiful to see.

“I enlisted young and grew up only as a soldier. I was surrounded by grimy, smelly men, and now… oh, the f-fragrance here! It truly feels like I’ve stepped into a garden of flowers. No sweat, no stench of feet. I’m s-so happy I could cry…”

Her voice trembled on the verge of tears.

Seeing that guileless, almost childlike side of her, Daisy suddenly wanted to pull the grown woman into a hug.

“T-the truth is, I joined the army only to feed my family. I-I was never… s-suited for it at all.”