TDWO Chapter 27

Anri searched her memories in confusion.

 

Edwin’s butler wasn’t as significant as Mrs. Chester, so the information didn’t come to her immediately.

 

But soon, detailed descriptions from the original story came to her.

 

At the same time, Anri felt a shock, as if her heart had dropped.

 

‘Edwin’s butler, isn’t Albert…?’

 

Originally, Edwin’s butler was a man named Ben, who had served the previous Duke.

 

However, Ben, who was deeply loyal to the late duke, disapproved of Edwin.

 

He didn’t hesitate to criticize Edwin’s leadership style in the original family and inform the Grand Duchess of his observations.

 

Later, Edwin would chase Ben away, but not now.

 

‘So, where is Ben?’

 

Unable to contain her curiosity, Anri quietly inquired.

 

“Um, Mrs. Chester, Albert. Can I ask you something?”

 

“Yes, Miss, please go ahead.”

 

Albert and Mrs. Chester both looked welcoming, as if they were eager to answer any question.

 

“Is there a butler named Ben among your staff?”

 

“Pardon? How do you know about him, Miss?”

 

Albert was greatly surprised. Mrs. Chester was equally taken aback, and she quickly responded.

 

“He was the long-time butler of the previous Duke. However, he had already resigned before the previous Duke passed away…”

 

“Oh, I see. I must have been mistaken.”

 

“Is something wrong…?”

 

“Oh, it’s nothing. Thank you for letting me know.”

 

She wanted to ask why he had resigned.

 

However, it was normal for Anri not to know a butler named Ben right now.

 

She didn’t want to pretend to know any more than that.

 

“By the way, when did Albert start serving the Duke?”

 

Anri asked with a smile.

 

In the original story, she thought she’d seen the name Albert among the footmen.

 

He was probably one of the footmen who couldn’t stand Ben’s strict supervision and had submitted his resignation to the duke’s household.

 

Albert, still looking surprised, answered willingly.

 

“I was the first footman of the duke’s household until a few years ago. His Grace promoted me to butler when he succeeded to the title.

 

“I see. It makes me feel more at ease knowing that everyone has been with the duke’s household for a long time.”

 

“Aha, so that’s why you asked. Hmm, this is a secret, but Ben was quite a picky and eccentric old man. It’s truly a relief that he resigned—”

 

“Albert!”

 

Mrs. Chester interrupted Albert’s words sternly.

 

Albert, looking a bit awkward, cleared his throat and bowed.

 

“Well then, I’ll take my leave. There are some tasks His Grace has assigned to me.”

 

“Alright, Albert. See you later.”

 

After saying goodbye to Anri, Albert went off somewhere.

 

It seemed that Albert was indeed one of the footmen who had resigned because of Ben.

 

‘What’s going on? Why has the setting changed from the original…?’

 

Although it wasn’t a major issue, it was not something to be dismissed lightly.

 

She had always believed that nothing would change from the original story unless she influenced it in this world.

 

Yet, there were changes that existed outside of Anri’s influence.

 

A strange sense of crisis arose.

 

This was a matter related to Anri’s survival.

 

She couldn’t possibly know everything about this world.

 

However, at the very least, what was in the original story should still be the same now.

 

While Anri was lost in these puzzling thoughts, Mrs. Chester spoke kindly.

 

“Then, may I show you to the room you’ll be using from now on?”

 

“Oh, thank you, Mrs. Chester.”

 

Snapping back to reality, Anri smiled once and began to walk.

 

Meanwhile, Mrs. Chester felt her breath catch for a moment at Anri’s bright smile.

 

This was the first time she’d seen the real Young Lady of Wentworth. She was such a lovely and beautiful young woman, unlike anyone she had ever encountered.

 

She was so charming that she instantly forgot the gossip about how this young lady had captured Duke Edwin’s heart.

 

Mrs. Chester quickly understood why the servants who had seen her were so excited when they rushed into the servant’s quarters.

 

The praise from the footmen, who compared her to a flamingo, didn’t appear to be an empty boast.

 

However, the beauty of a young woman did not easily sway Mrs. Chester.

 

After all, there was no smoke without fire; how could she be certain that this lovely young lady hadn’t seduced His Grace Edwin with wicked intentions?

 

Although this young lady was now Mrs. Chester’s mistress, she hadn’t yet developed the same respect she had for Edwin.

 

Time was needed for her to build trust and loyalty toward the young lady.

 

Strangely enough, when speaking to her, the future mistress did not lower her tone.

 

She was still addressing Albert formally.

 

From the servants’ perspective, this was uncomfortable, but it wasn’t appropriate for them to tell how a noble young lady should behave.

 

Depending on the listener, encouraging her to speak freely could be considered overstepping one’s bounds.

 

In any case, those in higher positions were free to act as they pleased.

 

As Anri walked to the mansion’s porch (the protruding entrance), Mrs. Chester provided explanations about the estate.

 

The building where Anri would stay was named Mayfair House.

 

Mayfair House was the very space where Edwin resided.

 

Within the duchy, there were two mansions used for residential purposes, and Mayfair House was one of them.

 

Anri took in the entire view of the mansion.

 

The house, built in a balanced medieval Gothic style, had a ㄷ-shaped structure and was three stories tall.

 

Just seeing the well-maintained structure standing firmly on the green lawn gave a sense of calmness and serenity.

 

However, because of its vast scale, it’s inevitable for newcomers to get lost.

 

Anri felt that Mayfair House resembled a maze rather than a mansion during her stay in the guest room the previous night.

 

“This is the room, Miss. It’s a room with a long history, used by past Duchesses.”

 

Mrs. Chester, holding the doorknob, was excited to finally open the door to this room.

 

Anri gave a somewhat awkward smile, feeling a bit embarrassed.

 

It was as if the fake Duchess was intruding on the historic room.

 

“We’ve been waiting so long for the rightful mistress of this room to appear.”

 

Finally, Mrs. Chester opened the double doors with a nostalgic expression.

 

The room of the previous duchesses was different from the others, starting from the doors.

 

The surface was intricately carved from dark brown wood, which was distinctly different from the restrained appearance of Mayfair House.

 

Soon, Anri saw the interior.

 

She stepped inside slowly. Light poured in through the window, where the curtains had been drawn back.

 

It was as if the light was guiding her, and she found herself moving inside almost unconsciously.

 

“Do you like it?”

 

Mrs. Chester, standing behind Anri with her hands clasped, could not hide her excitement.

 

The room had been tidy up all night by the servants, as they hadn’t expected the mistress to arrive so suddenly.

 

Anri’s room looked like something out of a painting.

 

Overall, the walls and ceiling were unified in cream color, giving a soft impression.

 

An elegant crystal chandelier sparkled transparently from the ceiling.

 

“Wow….”

 

Classical details decorated the cream-colored columns along the wall, evoking the columns of a Greek temple.

 

The Corinthian style, shaped like acanthus leaves, adorned the capitals lavishly.

 

Moreover, cream-colored plaster decorations carved like lace adorned the corners where the ceiling and walls met.

 

The carpet and sofa were filled with romantic floral patterns, perfectly capturing Anri’s heart.

 

“Goodness! It’s so beautiful!”

 

Anri, forgetting her dignity, glided around the room as if in a dream.

 

Her slender arms floated up involuntarily.

 

From the waist up, it looked as though she was ice skating.

 

Mrs. Chester, standing with her hands clasped, couldn’t help but smile at Anri’s childlike delight.

 

Realizing this, she quickly composed herself.

 

It reminded her of the rumors that Anri was a poor Cinderella, aiming for the duke’s fortune.

 

However, perhaps because her reaction was so pure, that innocent joy was conveyed to Mrs. Chester as well.

 

She had to force herself to appear impassive once more.

 

ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚

 

‘I can’t believe I’ll be living here from now on.’

 

Left alone, Anri looked around the room.

 

She examined and touched every item, even opening all the drawers.

 

Though the drawers were empty, she felt as though she had everything in the world.

 

She then looked out the window and admired the view for a while.

 

Although the room was on the second floor, the sky was vast and unobstructed, as if she were on a higher floor.

 

Below, a straight path extended from the porch.

 

There was a flat, well-kept lawn on both sides of the road.

 

“This is nice, very nice.”

 

Lying on the bed, Anri rolled around and enjoyed the comfort.

 

Just a short while ago, she had been lounging on a small seating area of the Roses & Hounds carriage, but now she was rolling on a cloud-like bed!

 

She felt like she could spend the rest of her life just lounging in this room, doing nothing.

 

Moreover, there were no annoying family members around!

 

Suddenly, Anri had a thought.

 

‘To think that such a lovely and elegant room was just gathering dust in the original story… I thought, ‘If you’re not going to use this room, give it to me!’ And now, it’s really mine…!’

 

Of course, it was only temporary.

 

Anri lay back on the bed, staring blankly at the interior.

 

The cream-colored ceiling filled her view.

 

As she lay there for a while, her unresolved worries resurfaced.

 

‘Why did Ben resign and Albert become the butler?’

 

If Edwin’s butler had been Ben, Anri would have figured out Edwin’s identity long ago.

 

Because Ben would have shown up at Wentworth Manor and introduced himself instead of Albert.

 

It wasn’t common to find a butler named Ben who had dark hair, deep brown eyes, handsome looks, and a duke’s status all at once.

 

‘What else is different from the original…?’

 

Anri recalled her encounters with Edwin up to this point and thought in order.

 

Is there anything else besides the aura he gives off?

 

Suddenly, a phrase flashed through her mind like lightning.

 

‘As the head of the family, I am certainly interested in not only our household employees but even a single chick.’

 

“……”

 

It was something Edwin had said when they first met.

 

But when Anri thought about the original Edwin saying those words, it felt a bit off.

 

‘Hmm…?’

 

Since when did he have such an interest in chicks as the head of the family?