The sight that greeted her eyes felt strangely unfamiliar.
Judging by the pitch-black darkness beyond the window, it was nighttime, but the softly glowing lamp illuminated the room well enough for her to make out her surroundings.
Lucilea slowly pushed herself upright.
The moment she moved, she felt the unmistakably soft mattress beneath her palms.
'Oh…'
The exclamation escaped her in a flat, emotionless tone.
A warm, sunlit scent drifted from the bed she was buried in, while the blanket beneath her fingers felt as soft as a cloud.
Pressing her hand into the covers a few times, Lucilea finally pushed the blanket aside and climbed out completely.
As she did, a pure white curtain hanging from the square canopy above swayed gently over her head, creating an almost dreamlike atmosphere.
'What's this now?'
Needless to say, it wasn't her taste.
Brushing the curtain aside, Lucilea swung her legs over the edge of the bed.
Once the drapes were out of the way, the rest of the room came fully into view.
Black matte wooden furniture lined the walls, and atop a display cabinet sat neatly arranged ornaments carved from amethyst, each emitting a mysterious glow.
The engraved pattern on them matched the emblem she had seen on the side of the Archduke's carriage.
It was probably the symbol of the Archducal House.
Whenever moonlight slipped through the window and struck the ornaments, they sparkled like shards of ice.
Then her gaze landed on a birdcage occupying one side of the room.
Inside, Cookie was nodding off, his head bobbing sleepily.
'Cookie made it here safely too.'
Before using the gate, Lucilea had asked Elvadin for permission to bring Cookie along.
No matter how small the bird was, it felt wrong not to ask first.
Elvadin had readily agreed, and Lucilea had called out to Cookie from his hiding place before bringing him through the gate with her.
Then everything had gone dark.
After that, she remembered nothing.
'Come to think of it, why did I suddenly lose consciousness?'
Lucilea found a dark-colored blanket nearby.
She draped part of it over the birdcage before returning to the bed.
For some reason, her body felt weak.
Even that short walk had left her tired.
She tilted her head in confusion.
Just then—
The door opened, and a woman dressed as a maid entered while humming cheerfully.
"Ah! You're awake, Lady Lucilea?!"
"..."
Lady Lucilea?
Blinking her large eyes, Lucilea stared at her.
The woman looked barely older than an adult.
Her skin was pale enough to seem cold, and her long black hair, braided all the way to her waist, was perfectly neat.
The gentle curve of her eyes rarely seemed to change.
Yet for a brief moment, a pair of light green irises flashed between those crescent-shaped eyes before disappearing again.
Setting down the tray she carried on the bedside table, the maid bowed politely.
"Hello, Lady Lucilea. It's nice to meet you properly. My name is May, and from today onward I'll be your personal maid. If you ever need anything, just call for May~"
Her voice was high and clear, and her bright smile seemed second nature.
She radiated positivity.
And yet...
Something about her felt odd.
Her smile was warm, her words kind, but behind that smile lurked a shadow Lucilea couldn't quite explain.
Feeling an inexplicable sense of caution, she nevertheless returned the greeting.
"Hello. I look forward to working with you."
"The pleasure is mine!"
May soaked a towel in a basin of water and gently dabbed Lucilea's forehead.
"You slept for an entire day."
"What? A whole day?"
"Yes. Apparently you lost consciousness because of gate aftereffects. Lord Irevan came to check on you too. Everyone was so worried. Ah, Lord Irevan is His Grace's personal physician."
"..."
Gate aftereffects?
'Was that actually a thing in this novel?'
Then another thought struck her.
'My personal maid...?'
Lucilea recalled what Riat had told her before they passed through the gate.
A child chosen by the Elite Order would receive treatment equivalent to that of an imperial baron.
That was why she'd be assigned a personal maid upon entering the Archduke's household.
"Of course, there will be one final verification process to prove your claims are true. Only after receiving His Grace's official approval will you receive a personal maid and the support of the Archducal House. We'll discuss the details once we've arrived."
Lucilea tilted her head.
'That procedure happened this quickly?'
In just one day?
She turned to May.
"If you're my personal maid, does that mean His Grace already approved my staying here?"
May nodded enthusiastically.
"That's right, Lady Lucilea! Everyone in the manor is shocked! This isn't something that should've been resolved overnight."
"What do you mean?"
Helping Lucilea out of bed and leading her toward the bathroom, May explained.
"Normally, those chosen by the Elite Order go through a verification period of at least one month."
During that time, agreements between the child's family and village would be finalized, paperwork would be processed, and several additional procedures would take place.
Only after completing everything would they officially be recognized as someone chosen by the Elite Order.
Lucilea's eyes widened.
'I see. Being chosen by the Elite Order wasn't the end of it.'
Another setting never mentioned in the original story.
Which made sense.
Why would the novel waste time detailing the background process of a villainous family that disappeared early in the plot?
'Still, that verification period was drastically shortened.'
Perhaps the fact that there were no real parents to discuss her future with had played a major role.
'And I was never exactly a true resident of Mille Village anyway.'
Meanwhile, May stopped beside the bathtub and dipped a hand into the water.
"And yet His Grace granted approval overnight."
Splash.
After checking the temperature, May turned around.
"It's cooled to the perfect temperature. Now then, Lady Lucilea, shall we get in? I'll help you undress first. Arms up high!"
May raised both hands dramatically into the air like someone cheering.
But Lucilea couldn't bring herself to do the same.
"Ah... um..."
She hesitated.
'That's a bit...'
No matter her mental age or physical age, showing the scars and wounds covering her body to someone she'd met only today wasn't easy.
Those marks reminded her of memories she'd rather forget.
Fidgeting nervously, she glanced at May.
"I can... wash myself. Please let me bathe alone..."
"..."
May immediately knelt down so their eyes were level.
"Lady Lucilea."
"Yes..."
Her voice softened even further.
As though she understood exactly how Lucilea felt.
In a gentle, soothing tone, she said,
"Actually, His Grace asked something of me."
"...Asked?"
May nodded.
"Yes. His Grace is extremely perceptive."
Carefully taking Lucilea's hand, she looked down at the bluish bruises covering the back of it.
"He wants me to determine your exact condition. He said it would help in dealing with... I mean, understanding the people from that village and the adoptive father chosen through the lottery."
"Ah..."
After a brief pause, Lucilea nodded.
She understood what May meant.
'She definitely said dealing with them.'
May had corrected herself quickly, but the meaning was obvious.
'Well, if this helps with handling Shred and the people of Mille Village, then I can manage this much...!'
Besides, she was already a little disappointed she had left so suddenly.
Closing her eyes tightly, Lucilea threw both arms straight into the air and declared,
"Arms up high!"
There! Go ahead! I'm ready!
A small laugh escaped May.
"Very good—"
She gently slipped off Lucilea's outer garment.
Then—
The praise died in her throat.
The smile on her lips vanished in an instant, hardening into something else entirely.