“Wow, it’s much better.”

Evely widened her eyes and looked around the room. She opened the stiffened window and breathed in the crisp air, then opened the closet as far as she could with both hands. She brushed the soft bed covers down with her hands and buried her face in it. Then, like a noblewoman on her way to a ball, she turned around, ruggedly, but with the hem in her hand. There was a satisfied smile on her face.

The room she moved into was much nicer than the one she stayed in before. The previous room was filled with beds lined up tightly together, it was at the end of the third floor where the servants gathered to sleep.

This room, however, seemed to be as big as the head servant’s room. She liked the closet that was reserved only for the master of the room, the mirror, the bed, everything, but mostly the sky that she could see through the large window.

Evely untied her hair, which was neatly braided. After a few moves, her light red hair fell calmly below her shoulders.

“I don’t have any work today. Let’s get some rest, shall we?”

She fell on the bed and felt the dry bedding pleasantly wrapped around her body. She stretched, rolled over, and waved her arms from side to side like a child lying in a field of white snow.

“If I poke you one more time, would you give me a better room?”

Evely laughed as she thought. As she lay in bed gazing at the high ceiling, the door suddenly slammed open. Evely’s gaze turned to the door, and her face turned red.

A young maid said to Evely.

“The master wants to see you.”

“Now?”

“Yes.”

Her master said she needs to be isolated, but somehow she got a better room. Are you going to say that you’re grateful or sorry that they put me in a room like this? It would be better to say I’m sorry.

‘Should I say thank you for isolating me in a room like this, or that I am sorry? I’d better say sorry.’

With many thoughts in mind, Evely arrived at the office and waited for the young servant to knock before opening the door and entering.

“You wanted to see me, sir? I’m inexperienced and made an inappropriate scene earlier.”

“I didn’t call you here for that.”

Evely gave Alec a curious look as he said something completely unexpected.

“What do women like?”

“What? Yes?”

“What do you like?”

Evely hesitated for a moment, wondering why Alec asked such a question. Then she blinked and pondered for a while before giving a cautious answer.

“I guess it’s different for everyone?”

‘I like to have a raise the most….’

Evely, who was thinking about it in her mind, flinched at the way Alec looked at her. He didn’t look at her fiercely, but she felt pressure unknowingly. Then she cautiously spoke.

“Wouldn’t ordinary women like jewelry and dresses?”

At that moment, she suddenly thought of Alec’s concern for the princess. Evely raised her voice as if she understood why her master was asking this kind of questions.

“Oh, your wife has very beautiful hair, so how about a hair ornament that matches the color of her hair?”

Then she pretended to tie her hair which was loose because she didn’t have time to tie it up when Alec called. She was glad she didn’t do it. She roughly curled the hair with her hands, but few strands of hair casually drifted down her collar through the gaps of her hands. Alec gazed fiercely at her neck. However, Evely didn’t seem to notice, and she was just busy demonstrating away.

“My hair is like the red sun. I think it would be really pretty if I put my hair up like this with a shiny decoration.”

Then, with her other hand, Evely rubbed her collarbone.

“Or perhaps a necklace would be beautiful. Dresses are nice, but the jewelry has a special meaning. Red jewels would look good.”

Then she looked at Alec and stopped talking. She felt awkward when she realized that he was staring at her neck.

“Do you really think that would look good on you?”

At that moment, Evely was at a loss for words and just went silent. He asked for her opinion himself, now what was wrong with her answers? She wanted to say something more, but she couldn’t do so. She had no choice but to answer meekly.

“Yes…”

“You can leave.”

Evely kept thinking and bowed her head. Anyway, it was unpredictable.

***

Evely was helping in the kitchen by bringing in breakfast. The sun was shining brightly through the large windows, and there was no shortage of bread, fruit, and meat prepared on the long dining table. Rose took the time to savor each item in front of her. Unlike her frail body, she ate her food quite well. Children of some families say that they deliberately eat very little for the sake of their thinness and dignity, but the princess was the one who ate almost everything that was prepared while maintaining a dignified attitude.

Sometimes, Alec jokingly suggested she eat more food even though he saw how much food the Princess already ate.

The servants usually had a quick breakfast of the leftovers after their meal was over. And as soon as they ate their breakfast, they began the work they were assigned for the day.

“Do you want me to take this to the table?”

Evely asked the noisy kitchen, and the old maid made a gesture indicated a yes. She left the kitchen carrying a generous bottle of milk. The milk looked fresh and fragrant, having been sent from the estate. She approached the table quietly. Then she tipped the bottle and poured the milk into the glass. The faintly glowing milk was placed in the glass in a parabolic pattern.

“…this is the jewel called the fragment of the sun. It’s so beautiful.”

The princess’s voice was tinged with deep admiration. On a peaceful and ordinary morning as usual, Alec presented the princess with a hair ornament with a large ruby on it. Rose was at first puzzled when she saw the gift, but soon thanked Alec in a gentle voice.

She seemed genuinely happy, but didn’t make too much of it. She simply expressed her joy with a beautiful and elegant smile. The princess reached out and lifted the headdress high in the air. The jewel glowed with more vivid colors in the bright falling sunlight. The ruby was called the fragment of the sun.

Because of its distinct and subtle color, it was a precious gem worth far more than millions of gold when auctioned off. The servants let out a small exclamation at its noble appearance, and Evely also stole a glimpse of the gem while pouring milk.

“Does it look good on me?”

The princess carefully brought the ornament towards her head. The princess’s hair, red and gorgeous, harmonized with the brilliant ruby.

“It does.”

“Would you put it on for me?”

At the princess’s words, Alec left his seat and strode over to her. With a slightly awkward hand, he placed the headdress on her head. A red ruby shone brightly through her beautifully undulating hair. She looked even more beautiful with the shining jewel on her sun-red head.

“How do you like it?”

The princess smiled gently as she tucked the wavy hair behind her ear.

“Is it bad? Why don’t you answer?” The Princess asked.

With a playful glance, Alec spoke.

“It looks great on you, especially with your hair color.”

“I think so too.”

The princess’ cheerful laughter resonated in the room. Then, Alec turned and smiled as if he was speechless. His smile was imbued with unfamiliar tenderness.

Evely, who was holding the milk bottle, glanced at him. A few days ago, he held her, and today he presented the jewel to the princess. She knew, but it was undeniable that men were mysterious animals.

***