Chapter 35


    A huge square that even if you move all the houses in Brom there, there still will be a lot of empty space. A spacious road where even even ten carriages could passed throughfortably. Arger and more splendid street building than Baron Connors mansion. People walking by dressed in all sorts of splendid clothes.


    Lucys eyes nced out of the carriage at the sight she had never seen before.


    The carriage, carrying two astonished children and a nobledy looking at them, trotted briskly toward the mansion.


    Lady Trianas residence, where Lucy and Colin will stay during their trip to the capital, was twice asrge as Baron Connors mansion. She treated Lucy and Colin as formal guests and gave each one a luxurious guest room.


    Lucy stood still for a moment, surprised by the sheer size of the room, which is as big as their house. Then, she excitedly climbed onto the luxurious, high-rise bed.


    A knock came on the door while she was admiring thefortable and fluffy bed.


    Miss, the bath is ready. Would you like to wash now?


    <em>Oh, miss?</em>


    Lucys eyes widened at the way she was called by the maid. She was never called miss before.


    When there was no answer, the maid asked again, Miss? Are you inside?


    Oh, I  Lucy immediately got out of bed and ran to the door. She opened the door and peeped outside.


    The maid, standing with a puzzled expression, looked down at Lucy in wonder, and immediately smiled kindly.


    Would you like to wash now? Or do you want to take a bath after dinner.


    <em>Oh my! Youre willing to take the trouble of preparing the bath twice just for me.</em>


    Lucy shook her hand in astonishment. I Ill do it now. She quickly left the room and followed the maid who showed her around.


    To her surprise, when she followed the maid, arge bathtub scented with perfume was waiting for her, and more surprisingly, the maid, who had guided her, helped her take a bath. She felt awkward at the unfamiliar touch of someone other than her mother and grandmother, but for a moment, her eyes, which were tired of traveling, closed smoothly.


    The subtle scent from the candle on the wall made her feelfortable.


    It was her first trip. A first-time experience.


    Lucy was excited. The Imperial Pce, the Market, the Museum and the Temple. Her heart leaped at the thought of visiting all of them.


    It was as if something extraordinary was waiting for her, something she had never even imagined before.


    * * *


    And Lucys prediction was not wrong.


    During her trip to the capital, Lucys most unforgettable memory happened in an unexpected ce. It was not at the imperial pce, a huge market, a museum, or a temple selling all kinds of strange things, which she really wanted to go to.


    It was in the Marquis of Everen, a noblemans mansion she had never heard of.


    Almost a month after her visit to the capital, Lady Triana suggested to Lucy to go to a luncheon hosted by Marquis Everen. It was said to be for women of all ages.


    Although she felt sorry that she had to leave Colin alone, Lucy readily followed Lady Triana. It was the first time she was invited to a social gathering. She was both excited and nervous.


    When she arrived at the Marquis mansion and got out of the carriage, Lucys eyes widened at the magnificent view. It seemed a little subtlepared to Lady Trianas luxurious and splendid mansion, but the enormous sense of intimidation it gave off was beyondpare.


    The luncheon was set up in the garden. Thedies who had arrived first gathered around the table decorated with fragrant roses. They stood gracefully and was talking to each other.


    Some tables were not only fordies, but also for girls of Lucys age. As soon as the children saw Lucy, they stopped talking and stared at her.


    Lucy, a little frightened, stood close to Lady Triana. She followed behind her, but it was very awkward.


    Hiding behind Lady Triana, she watched the young girls from noble families sitting together and chattering, Lucy then turned again toward the mansion.


    <em>Wow, are all the houses in the capital so nice?</em>


    The white brick mansion was the most beautiful house she had ever seen.


    Lucys eyes stopped somewhere as she looked up, enraptured by the mansion. It was a terrace toward the garden. There stood a woman in a snow-white dress.


    <em>G ghost?</em>


    Lucy opened her eyes wide.


    The ck hair of the woman which was loosened carelessly fluttered around in the chilly autumn breeze. Her skin looks paler in contrast to the dark-night-sky-like hair color.


    The ghostly woman did not seem to be interested in the much energetic luncheon, and did not even spare them single nce. She just stood on the terrace and stared nkly somewhere beyond the garden.


    Look over there, madam, said Lucy, slightly pulling the hem of Lady Trianas dress. Lucy pointed her finger at the terrace as she turned her head. Theres a ghost.


    Not only Lady Triana, but also thedies sitting around, looked up at the terrace.


    Hush! One of them quickly put her finger to her mouth. Everyone, dont look at her, she warned. Shes the daughter of Marquis Everen. The Duchess of Berg!


    Her words hastened thedies gaze. Another woman, who was standing nearby said, I heard she had a quarrel with the duke and ran away from home.


    Hush! A nobledy warned them. Everyone, pretend you didnt see anything! If Marquis Everen was offended, nothing good wille out of it. she said, looking at the Marquis, sitting far in the upper seat. At that, thedies covered their faces with their fans and coughed loudly.


    <em>Oh, it wasnt a ghost.</em>


    While everyone looked away from the pale woman, Lucy still stared at her.


    Thedy on the terrace stood still for a long time, not knowing that thedies gathered in the luncheon were ncing at her. Shaking uncontrobly at theing autumn breeze, she finally curled up her shoulders and fastened her shawl then went into the room.


    <em>Why doesnt she get along with people?</em>


    After the woman disappeared, Lucy looked at the terrace curiously. However, thedies, who had been whispering about her secretly, quickly changed the subject of conversation.


    The topic of the conversation was too difficult for Lucy to understand and she was not interested. She began to fidget in her seat. Lucy quickly became bored as nobles of her age had formed their own group, sitting by themselves.


    Everyone was participating in this luncheon so naturally. Only Lucy was sitting far away, inconsistent with the purpose of a social gathering. She felt like she was alone in a country where she couldntmunicate. She never had the courage to talk to other girls.


    Lady Triana, Lucy called her carefully. May I take a look at the garden?


    Thedy, who was absorbed in the conversation with the otherdies, smiled graciously and looked down at Lucy.


    Yes, Lucy, I hear youre interested in flowers, arent you? Thats why I wanted to bring you here. The garden of Everen has a reputation for being beautiful throughout the empire, Lady Triana said with a proud look on her face.


    The garden is always open to invited guests. So please feel free to go there and look around.


    Lucy stood up with a bright smile at the words.


    There was a garden in Baron Connors house. It was full of simple flowers and nts of modest shape, in ordance to Baroness Connors simple taste.


    However, the garden on Everen looked extraordinary in size. Beyond the fence in full bloom of autumn roses, a mysterious flower bed spread out.


    With Lady Trianas permission, Lucy ran straight to the garden.


    As she grew farther away from the lively atmosphere of the luncheon, the tranquility and peace of the garden came.


    The only sounds she could hear were the clear cries of birds and the sound of a fountain spraying cool water from somewhere in the garden.


    Lucy felt as if she had entered a huge flower basket.


    There were flowers in the garden that she knew well, but there were also many flowers that she had never seen before. They were brought in from a region other than the Beros Empire, showing off an unfamiliar and exotic appearance.


    Lucy was dazzled by the beautiful shapes and colorful colors of the flowers. She was so preupied by the flowers that she walked for a long time.


    Soon, a fence appeared in front of her, and the garden reached its end. Beyond the fencey a thick oak forest, and somehting caught Lucys eyes argeke.


    The fallen leaves from the trees filled the edge of theke. The waves of fallen leaves fluttered slowly whenever the wind blew.


    Wow, its so pretty! Lucy eximed. In fact, the flowers in the garden were wonderful, but for Lucy, this natural beauty touched her more.


    Lucy, who was approaching theke over the fence with a smile, stopped. There was already someone by theke.