88

"You were very upset yesterday, weren't you?"

Elena gently tucked a strand of Anne's hair behind her ear when she couldn't lift her head.

"N-No, there's nothing to be upset about."

"You looked upset to me?"

"That's…"

Anne couldn't help but slur her words. She didn't hide her disappointment openly, so she said no, but she looked worried that she would be scolded.

"Anne, you know I trust and depend on you the most among the maids in the world, right?"

"Yes? Yes, of course."

Contrary to worries, Anne quietly looked up to a friendly tone.

"You know, when I become the Crown Princess and enter the Imperial Palace, I don't know about the other maids, but I'm definitely taking Anne with me."

"R-really?"

Elena nodded with a smile.

"Then. If I stay at the Imperial Palace, I will become the Empress someday. Then Anne, I want to entrust you as the court lady of the Imperial Palace."

"C-court lady?!"

Anne's eyes were so big that they could pop out. She was so surprised that her heart was pounding.

"Yeah. I don't know why, the ladies of the fallen family must be an imperial court lady. Look at you. Regardless of your status, how capable are you as a lady-in-waiting?"

"Court lady, me…"

Anne's eyes were dazed. She was overwhelmed by the imagination that she could become a court lady of the imperial palace.

"Anne, look far away. It's not because you're lacking that I don't take you when I go out."

"What then?"

"If you want to be a court lady, don't you have to know how to control your subordinates?"

"…!"

Anne's eyes opened after she understood Elena.

"So… when the lady is away, I have to take care of all the maids…"

"Only then, will you be able to properly police those below me when you become head maid."

Elena smiled and opened the jewelry box organized by May and took out a bright ruby ring. Elena held it out to Ann.

"Take it."

"Oh, miss."

Anne's eyes were stained with greed, unlike her speech, which was at a loss for words. Elena did not lose sight of such greed and further fueled it.

"You decide how to use this ring. You can carry it with you, and I hope you'll use it wisely, whether it's used to manage the bottom."

"Thank you, miss! I will never let you down like this again."

Elena smiled contentedly at Anne, who was so happy that she was at a loss for what to do. Anne's vanity made an excuse to separate her every time she went out. There would be no more perfect treatment than this.

Elena and May left the Great House. They were escorted by Hurelbard and loaded into the waiting carriage. The carriage began to move and quickly passed the gate and strayed through the streets of the capital.

"May."

"Yes, miss."

At Elena's call, May, who was looking out the window casually, replied politely.

"There will be many surprises when you go to the salon."

"Surprises?"

May had been supporting outstanding talent in L's name. However, Khalif established himself as an art broker, transferring the management and support of artists. As a result, it was the first time to talk about L.

"You'll find out now. Why I hate my father."

"…!"

The carriage entered the road through the capital in a straight line based on the imperial palace. Elena, who looked at the panorama outside the window, couldn't hide her excitement. Her heart was overwhelmed by the expectation that she could face the substance of her efforts. The central intersection was crowded with people. As Khalif said, people gathered to see the exterior of the secret salon, which had become a landmark. They should have already arrived as scheduled, but the carriage moved slowly. By the time she felt the time was long, she could see a huge dome-shaped building over the building outside the window.

'There you go. The fruits of my efforts.'

As the carriage proceeded, the structures that had been blocking our view disappeared one by one. Eventually, the main building of the majestic salon came into view. The walls were decorated with pillars and windows in the style of the ancient Holy Felician Empire, and the huge dome-shaped exterior seemed to incorporate the sky.

Towards the main gate of the salon, carriages carrying aristocrats went back and forth constantly. The aristocrats who covered their faces with masks entered as if they were enjoying the masquerade. In response to the salon's request to hide their identity thoroughly, it was seen that the family pattern on the carriage was covered with cloth. The nobles faithfully complied with the salon's requirements for entry.

The nobles loved the masquerade. It was because of the unique fun of hiding one's identity, meeting and getting to know each other, and reasoning about who it is. The nobles could not refuse the opportunity to enjoy these pleasures.

'It must feel like they have a new playground.'

Elena rode in a high-class carriage that was used by ordinary aristocrats, instead of an overly glamorous private carriage. Just before her departure, she did not forget to instruct Hurelbard to hide the pattern engraved on the carriage.

"Give me a mask."

May opened the box and crossed the butterfly mask. The mask, reminiscent of the fluttering wings of a butterfly, went well with Elena's green dress, which had been made in the shape of a flower. May also wore a mask that she had prepared. Elena had carefully dressed her in an appropriate dress, giving her the appearance of a poor noblewoman, if not a wealthy one.

Kiiik. The door of the stalled carriage opened. Masked Hurelbard escorted Elena and stepped back. In principle, he had to guard Elena's side as an escort, but she told him to wait outside the salon, saying that it was not necessary today.

When Elena stepped at the entrance of the salon, people's eyes poured out. At first glance, the curiosity toward the mysterious woman wearing an unusual expensive dress and accessories grew.

"Who is she? She's not a regular aristocrat."

"She looks familar. Who is she?"

"I can tell who it is. It's her."

Elena strode up the stairs to the salon with a gait that never lost its noble grace. Some of the noblemen saw Elena and made constant efforts to find out who she was. Among them, those with keen eyes knew quickly.

'Find out as much as you want. That's why I dressed up so nicely.'

From the start, Elena had no intention of hiding that she had come to the salon. It was because it wasn't even a beauty that could be covered with the mask, and the fact that Princess Veronica visited the salon was an opportunity to show the presence of the salon among the luxury. After entering the salon, Elena received a guide and entered the hall of the main building.

'Wow.'

Elena was overwhelmed by the high ceilings and huge chandelier. The large space under the huge dome gave the room a greater sense of openness than the outdoors, even though it was indoors. The pattern of the walls, as simple as impermanence, was the pinnacle of harmony.

'You did a better job than I expected. Both Khalif and Randol.'

Elena looked around the hall with a pleased smile. It was to intentionally show visitors that Princess Veronica has come to the salon.

'I'm sure everybody knows. Shall I get out of here?'

Elena followed the stairs inside the hall to the second floor. In the hallway, which overlooked the view of the hall, visitors were waiting for the announcement of Raphael's work in the hall. When she passed them, dozens of rooms written as waiting rooms were lined up. It was a drawing room that could be used freely. Elena, who entered the empty room, locked the door inside.

"Is there anything you don't like about it? Shall I take a look at it for you?"

Whichever banquet hall they went to, it would provide a space for the ladies to prepare themselves and rest. Inwardly, May guessed that her feet must be sore from the shoes she had worn for the first time today.

"It's not like that, so come here."

Elena, standing in front of the bookshelf next to the window, gestured. As May came wondering, Elena stepped on the marble floor under the bookshelf.

The floor was shaking and the bookshelf was pushed aside, and the stairs leading downstairs were revealed between the room and the wall blocking the room.

"My lady, this is…"

"Let's go down."

With May, confused, Elena went down the stairs. As they walked through the secret passage, relying on the floating candles on the wall, they faced a dead end.

Tap, tap, tap, tap.

Elena tapped the wall with a promised number of times with the back of her hand, and the wall in front of her collapsed and the light poured out.

"Welcome."

The man who pretended to know her was Khalif who dressed up in a lotus flower suit.

"You're wearing a mask, but you can't hide your beauty… Do you know that? Take my hand and come in."

"What? Me?"

As an art dealer, he went back and forth between the dormitory and the Grand Duchy, and May felt embarrassed by the cheesy words and actions of Khalif, who stood face to face with May.

"May, never hold that hand. That hand makes women unhappy."

"How can you say such mean things?"

Ignoring Khalif's accusations, Elena walked into the middle of the luxurious room.

"Long time no see, benefactor."

It was Emilio.

"I wanted to see you, but I couldn't. I'm sorry for leaving so much work to you."

"No, thanks to my benefactor, I'm living my life to the fullest, remembering my passion when I was young."

Emilio's eyes were full of life. He was preparing a side project within the capital that might help Elena. As it was a field that he had never done before, he was feeling great interest and fun.

"Let's say hello later. You don't have time to say hello as the owner of the salon before the work is announced. Hurry up. Come on."

Elena nodded and took May to the next room. Already, there were not only the disguise tools used to disguise as Lucia, but also a dress that stands out with lace, and a calm mask that matches the outfit.

"May, can you help me?"

May assisted Elena in disguise, nodding her head with a blank face. Elena, who wore a bobbed-haired wig and changed her dress, wore a mask, and it was nowhere to be seen that Elena entered the salon. In particular, her atmosphere was completely different, making it hard to believe that even those who knew Lucia were the same person.

"You don't know what it is yet, do you?"

"Yes."

May nodded frankly.

"Sometimes it's faster to see with your eyes than a hundred explanations. You'll find out soon enough."

Khalif urged Elena with a meaningful smile.

"It's been too long. We have to go down now."

"Go, senior."

Elena left the room with the excitement she felt for the first time in her life. As she walked through the hallway leading to the main hall, Elena felt overwhelmed.

'We've come all the way here. Finally.'

In her previous life, even now, Elena was just a substitute and not the real Princess Veronica. Lucia was also disguised as a necessity, not Elena.

L.

Elena's acronym L was her only life and name.

"When you open this door, it's the main hall. Here we go."

Khalif opened the marble door with all his might. It was not long before the sound of applause greeted the owner of the Secret Salon, which was wrapped in a veil, as she went down the curved stairs leading to the main hall. Elena stepped down the stairs with the spectacular lights of the chandelier hanging high in her eyes.

'I'm not going to live another's life anymore. In the name of L, I'll get my lost life back.'