Victoria stood nearby, leaning against the door with her arms folded. The stern expression she had worn before was gone; instead, she studied Vanessa with a hint of amusement.
"Not used to it?"
"No..." Vanessa bit her lip. "I don't have to do anything. Someone even helps me dress, and they comb my hair for me too. It feels... strange."
"Nobles are always like this. They leave all the little chores of daily life to servants. You don't need to dress yourself or tend to your own hair. You can even have servants bathe you."
"This is so strange..."
"You'll get used to it. Soon you'll have a noble rank too. Say goodbye to your past."
"Goodbye..."
Vanessa watched the servants bustling around her, unable to describe what she felt.
Victoria was willing to invest her with a noble rank and make her a knight. Surely she meant well, and Vanessa was grateful.
Yet she felt an inexplicable sense of loss.
It was as though she was about to discard something, but she was not ready yet.
Well, what I'm discarding is probably poverty and lowliness, Vanessa thought self-mockingly.
The grime had been wiped from her body, and she had been dressed in brand-new clothes. Expensive fabrics Vanessa could not even name now covered her.
She was becoming better.
Vanessa glanced around, suddenly remembering the clothes she had worn here. She did not know where they had gone.
Dorothea had bought those clothes for her. She had only worn them twice; they were still new.
Vanessa wanted to ask, but looking at the busy maids, she felt too embarrassed to speak.
What good would finding those clothes do? She could not wear them now. Bringing them up would only cause trouble.
Surrounded by the maids, she walked toward the door