Missing Cinderella

“I will probably take some time,” Siella said to the coachman as she got off the carriage. “I will finish my business here as soon as possible, but just in case.” 

“Yes, sure. You can go and take your time. My job is to wait after all….” 

The coachman trudged to the coach house with a grimace on his face. Although he wasn’t very trustworthy, Siella still hurried her steps while thinking that she should finish her business as soon as possible. 

‘I didn’t know it was this long since I’ve been out on my own.’ 

The streets were filled with life in the afternoon. To the point that she wants to melt into that joyful atmosphere without any worries. However, Siella couldn’t let go of the tension she was feeling and kept looking back behind her. She wasn’t being followed by anyone, but she felt that way. 

She felt ominous. She felt like she was revealing herself without any defenses. And she couldn’t easily shake off that feeling – the feeling that someone would suddenly attack her from behind. 

Siella quickly moved her feet. Eventually, she was rushing in her steps and it seemed like she was running. Finally getting inside the bank while panting, she still couldn’t relax. 

When she was roughly wiping her cold sweat that had formed on her forehead with her sleeve, “How can I help you?”

Siella raised her head and looked at the person talking to her across from her. The man was wearing a uniform with a rigid face, enough to tell anyone that he was in charge of the bank’s security. She had a hard time looking back into his eyes so she lowered her gaze and looked at the sword dangling on his waist. 

“Do you have business here in the bank? Or do you need some help?” 

The man glanced at the shivering Siella while looking her up and down and asked her. Only then did Siella realize she had been trembling all this time. 

‘Just like an idiot.’ 

She was so nervous just walking down the street alone, to the point that a man she met for the first time asked her if she needed help. She felt a sense of shame whenever she realized that she was strangely breaking down. 

But she couldn’t live like this forever. Since she decided that she would leave by herself, then she shouldn’t be swayed by her past trauma. She had to come through somehow. 

‘I’m going to live a good life.’ 

Determined and trying to calm her mind, Siella raised her head again. 

The man in front of her was peering at her through the transparent glass with his sharp eyes. Not finding anything particularly strange after a while, he looked back at Siella and said, “You can tell me what’s going on if you need help….” 

“What is it?” 

All of sudden, a kind voice echoed. Just like the man in front of her, the woman was neatly dressed in a formal attire with a rather gentle smile. Seeing Siella looking at her, breathing slowly and deeply, she approached Siella while maintaining her kind smile. 

Inching closer, she made eye contact with Siella and asked her again, “What could be the matter, Miss?” 

Siella couldn’t open her mouth in front of the unfamiliar man as if it were glued together, but in front of the woman, her words came out. Siella replied, “… I came here to retrieve the portion of the money I deposited here.” 

“Oh, then I’ll help guide you the right way.” The woman smiled and told the man, “Well done, Chestnut. You can go now.” 

Although he was puzzled when Siella came in as if she was being chased by someone, he responded calmly without showing it. 

“My name is Janet, the chief clerk of this bank. I will take care of your business quickly.” In a sweet voice, she said, “Would you come this way first?” 

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

The news that Siella went out of the mansion first reaches Patrick, the Head Butler of the mansion. 

“… Miss Siella went out?” 

Patrick couldn’t hide the fact that he was taken aback. It was enough of a surprise to him that Eschert’s fiancée, one who didn’t leave the mansion for the past five years, went out by herself out of the blue. And the person who told him that surprising event was even one of the two escorts that Eschert personally assigned to Siella. They were also the ones who were ordered to keep an eye on her from a distance, lest Siella would feel discomfort, and they wouldn’t catch her attention. 

“Yes, and I am on my way to the Family Head right now.” 

“…” 

Patrick couldn’t speak and just stared at the man in front of him for a while. 

There were many employees working on the entrance of the mansion, yet none of those people came to him and informed him first that Siella was going out. Patrick wouldn’t even know that Siella was out if this man hadn’t informed him now. Patrick was furious about that. He should be the one who should know everything going on in this mansion.

“When did Miss Siella leave?” 

“It has been a while.” 

“I’m asking you exactly when…?!” 

“…”

“Hah, but before that, why didn’t you follow her? Aren’t you Miss Siella’s escort?” 

“That….” 

Patrick hesitated, then looked at the man who kept his mouth shut. 

It didn’t matter if he wasn’t faithful and negligent to his duty as Siella’s escort. The important thing now was that Eschert was having a rare peaceful time. 

Making up his mind, Patrick said, “Alright. I got it, you can go now.” 

“What? But I have to inform the Duke about this….” 

“I will tell him, so you can go now.” 

(T/N: Patrick’s intention wasn’t bad, but he was intentionally delaying the news of his master’s fiancée – a person who should be more important than Eschert’s peaceful time right now. And of course, a person who should be more important than any woman. [roll eyes])

When Patrick cut off his words, the man bowed his head without retorting any further. 

“… I understand.” 

Patrick turned around after a while and looked at Siella’s escort before letting out a deep sigh. He was stunned that for some reason, Siella went out on a whim. 

Eschert is having a good time with Camellia now.  Eschert took a break from his work after Camellia came to the mansion. And he spent that break with Camellia. He didn’t even go to the company housing in the vicinity of the mine as he had been in the past years to be considerate of Siella. And such change on Patrick’s eyes just looked good. 

Most of all, he liked that Eschert, the Duchy’s Family Head, continued to stay in the mansion. It was Camellia who changed Eschert, a person who refused to listen to Patrick no matter how much he begged him to come to the mansion. It was only now that everything seemed to be falling into its place little by little. 

That means Patrick had no intention of interrupting Eschert from spending time with Siella. 

(T/N: So you mean, the Head Butler Patrick liked that the Duchy’s Family Head was blatantly and openly cheating on his fiancée? Wow, I really~ hate that [roll eyes])

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

“Then, I’ll see you again in two days.” 

Janet turned around and smiled at Siella after closing her safe. Siella got up from her seat. 

“Thank you, Janet.” 

“Ah, and….” 

“Yes?” 

“If you don’t mind, please visit this place.” 

Janet suddenly stretched her hand and placed something on Siella’s hand. Siella lowered her head and spread her hands open with a bewildered expression. She then saw a small note. It was the address of the Tartan Guild, and the name ‘Taylor’ was written in round letters. 

“Although this is not the biggest and best guild in the Duchy, I can guarantee that they are a stable and trustworthy guild.” 

Janet softly smiled at Siella, who raised her head in disbelief. 

“It’s quite well-known that when you hire escorts or bodyguards there, they select them solely based on their skills.” Janet spoke as if she knew what Siella needed the most. “Our bank has been using their security personnel for several years already.” 

“…” 

“Chestnut, whom you met earlier, was from the Tartan Guild as well.” 

Siella was surprised by her sudden suggestion, but she was clearly doing her a favor. Siella stared blankly at Janet, then she lowered her head again and turned to look at the note in her hand. 

“I also heard that there are many female mercenaries who are superior to most male mercenaries.” 

“… Thank you.” 

Janet lightly shook her head with a smile on her face as Siella thanked her in a confused voice. 

“You’re welcome. Hopefully, it will be helpful to you.”