Secret Love Affair between a Former Saint and a Dark Hero - Chapter 90
When Shana opened the door that morning, her mind had been a whirlwind of worries. It was all thanks to the gossiping maids from House Ribandt, who shared the room with her.
‘Lady Iora? She threw away her noble dignity ages ago. Honestly, I don’t even want to call her a noble.’
‘She’s a person with absolutely no grace, the kind no one wants to work with! And she’s foolish and greedy. If something goes missing, she might accuse you of stealing. She’s never had a personal maid before.’
‘Do you know Arcanda? She was so jealous and envious of that saint. Does anyone really think our lady compares to her? But still, she won’t acknowledge it. She’s desperately trying to become the Crown Prince’s lover.’
‘Last time, she even hit and intimidated someone just because they brushed her hair too roughly!’
‘Oh my, oh my. Is that all?’
Shana trembled. She hadn’t been treated well in her previous place either. That was due to her small and delicate appearance, and she was afraid the same would happen here. She had to be extra cautious.
With that resolve, she opened the door and almost sighed in relief.
‘So… beautiful.’
She had never seen someone this pretty before. Iora, sleeping so peacefully, looked like a doll.
The rumors Shana had heard about Iora were all the same: Dry, unkempt hair, pale skin, an expressionless face with no warmth. A haughty noble who didn’t care for her servants, with an arrogant attitude. A disgusting greedy woman dreaming of becoming a saint, consumed by jealousy. A vulgar woman who didn’t care about tarnishing her family’s honor. There were countless rumors.
Nobles were terrifying. Shana knew very well what they were capable of. That’s why the rumors weren’t just baseless gossip, but had gained strength and were tightening around the maids’ necks. When you met a bad-tempered and cruel master, the aftermath was always bleak.
‘But…’
Shana cautiously approached the sleeping Iora and gently placed her hand on her. A shallow breath escaped from Iora’s lips, and her eyelids fluttered.
Could it really be? Is this beautiful lady really the wicked woman from the rumors? The silver hair that sparkled so beautifully in the sunlight made her dizzy.
‘Strange. Something doesn’t seem right.’
The Iora from yesterday, who had smiled kindly and suggested they get along, seemed so sweet and fragile. It was in that moment that Shana’s strong-willed nature began to show itself.
The small, youthful maid only believed what she had seen. Once she was set in her ways, even if others denied it, she would stick firmly to what she had experienced. Just like in this moment.
“Hello, Shana.”
Ah… yes, she’s beautiful.
Looking at that bright smile, Shana’s heart raced wildly. The voice, so sweet it felt like it could melt, was incredibly kind. In all her time as a maid, no one had ever called her so affectionately.
Her entire body twisted as her gaze softened. It felt like she had fallen in love at first sight, and the feeling was so overwhelming that she couldn’t even look properly and just grinned foolishly.
‘Is someone like that really a wicked woman?’
It was very strange. The other maids who had spoken about the rumors had never claimed to have experienced it firsthand.
‘Right. Our lady might not be a bad person at all. So! If it’s a misunderstanding, I’ll be on our lady’s side!’
She would have to experience that smile for herself and confirm if it was genuine or not. Once prepared, Shana closed the door and clenched her fist, making a resolve. And so, in a place where no one knew her, Shana’s observation of Iora began.
* * *
After finishing her preparations, Iora was about to head downstairs to the dining room when she paused for a moment.
‘What’s this?’
As Iora moved down the long staircase, her steps graceful and composed, she couldn’t help but notice the gleaming eyes of Shana, who had been looking away moments before, now fixed on her with an intensity that almost sparkled.
Iora tilted her head in curiosity, but Shana’s expression remained unchanged. The girl’s eyes, large and shining, reminded her of someone…
‘Yes. She looks just like Sol.’
The realization made her feel a little lighter, a bit happier. As she continued her walk, she glanced at Shana, who swiftly followed her, her steps quickening to match Iora’s. Iora smiled at her, and they made their way to the dining room.
But as Iora entered, the first thing that hit her wasn’t the delicious aroma of the food. It was the sight in front of her that made her furrow her brows.
‘Those damn faces.’
All eyes turned toward Iora the moment she walked in. After days of avoiding them, today, for some reason, the whole family was gathered in the dining room.
‘What’s going on today?’
The first to meet her gaze was her father, who, upon locking eyes with her, immediately shot her an angry look. Next, there was her idiot brother, who jerked his head around in surprise before hastily turning away. Finally, there was her mother, who flicked her fan and cast a quick, judgmental glance before looking elsewhere.
The atmosphere was different from the past, where she would either be scolded or locked away, but the hostility was still palpable. As Iora stepped further into the room, she could see her father’s lips twitching in an unmistakable expression of irritation.
‘I see. This is the kind of atmosphere when they want to scold me, isn’t it?’
Iora couldn’t help but wonder what had happened. She had no clue, but the tension in the room felt all too familiar, like a scene she had lived through countless times in her past life. She furrowed her brows for a brief moment, then sat down in the chair the maid pulled out for her, sipping from the glass of water as she looked ahead.
“What is this atmosphere?” she asked, her voice steady.
It was her father who spoke first.
“Do you know what happened at the tea party yesterday?”
Iora tilted her head, confused. If her father was this angry, it had to be something related to Arcanda and the Crown Prince. She cast a brief glance at Janus. Whenever her father raged like that, her detestable brother would usually chime in, adding fuel to the fire.
