Chapter 302.2

Extra Chapter - Birds of a Feather [Part 2]

Rose's Handmaid, Meg's POV

"You are looking beautiful today, too, Rose-sama."

After getting Rose-sama's hair done, I said what I always said to her.

"Fufufu, thank you."

Rose-sama was now brimming with a smile, just like she used to in the past.

It was a change that was hard to believe when I thought about how until just a few weeks ago, the only times I got to see her smile were when she laughed scornfully with a snort.

Even though Rose-sama looked happy, the mood of my seniors, who came together with me from the Royal Capital, somehow changed in the complete opposite direction as Rose-sama. Their tempers also seemed to have worsened each passing day.

"Rose-sama? Would you like to call jewelers and tailors anytime soon?"

I heard one of them shout, "Argh, I can't hold it anymore!" and saw her go to Rose-sama's place to say those words.

In the first place, Rose-sama had never lacked anything. On top of the several pieces of jewelry and dresses she brought from the Royal Capital, Marquis Valerie prepared many new ones because he didn't want his daughter, who returned to the Valerie Mansion for the first time in a while, to feel discomfort.

If it were before Rose-sama met the three siblings, she might have called them in to relieve even a bit of her irritation. But when I thought of the calm expression she recently had, I knew that that wouldn't be necessary.

"Jewelers? Tailors? I still have enough dresses and accessories from the ones Father gave me, so I have no need to call them in, do I?"

Rose-sama tilted her head in puzzlement.

This topic should have ended here, but that senior of mine strangely persisted in talking about it.

"But, didn't you usually call them more often?"

"Did I...? ...Fufufu, speaking of which, the other day, Emma-chan said something to me, you see? Something like, 'Rose-sama doesn't need jewelry.'"

"Oh..."

"'Because Rose-sama herself shines more brightly than any jewels out there!' was what she said! Isn't she so adorable? That Emma-chan."

"Oh..."

Even though Rose-sama was happily talking to my senior, an occasion we maids should cherish, my senior only replied dully, even quite rudely, in fact.

Perhaps having the same thoughts as I had, even the butler of Valerie Mansion cleared his throat and glared at her reproachfully.

Just what on earth?

Rose-sama was infamous in the Royal Capital for being bad-tempered and fussy, so only a few people wanted to be her exclusive maid. Thanks to that, even a divorcee like me could be hired. But unlike me, the senior maids who came with Rose-sama to Valerie had served her for many years. And yet, for some reason, they seemed dissatisfied with the cheerful Rose-sama, who seemed completely different from how she used to be in the Royal Capital.

"Right! Meg, Emma-chan and her brothers will also come tomorrow!"

Rose-sama looked at me gleefully without minding my senior's rude attitude.

"Yes, I am aware. Please leave the preparations for the snacks to me. What shall I prepare for tomorrow?"

"Let's see... Cookies are good, but so is chocolate. Also, if I remember correctly, George-kun said he likes financiers, didn't he?"

"I will prepare them all. Because everyone eats a lot."

"Fufufu, the children will surely be delighted."

Her soft smile... I was sure the next day would be another fun day.

♠♠♠

"Rose-sama! How about having a picnic today? The hill behind the mansion has a nice view and is spacious enough for the children to run around!"

"That's a great idea. Right Rose-sama? Let's do that!"

Next day's morning, all the senior maids suggested Rose-sama have a picnic. My senior that had been rude to her yesterday joined in and started illustrating the greatness of a picnic.

"But, won't it be a little cold?"

Rose-sama replied while tilting her head in confusion at the unusual behaviors of her maids.

"T-That's why we should bring a lot of mats and lap blankets! We should match the patterns and arrange them stylishly... A-Also, let's prepare warm soup and hot cocoa!"

"There's also a gazebo, so it might be a good idea to hang some cloth around it to block the wind."

"But Emma-chan and her brothers will come soon. Will we make it on time?"

"...We will ask the guests from House Stuart to wait shortly, so let's prepare it quickly! May we also ask for Rose-sama's help? After all, we can rely on Rose-sama's artistic sense for the mats' arrangement."

"You can rely on my... sense?"

Rose-sama twitched.