"Welcome home, Duke and Duchess." The butler, whose hair was still dark but had wrinkles covering his face, bowed. The maids behind him followed. "Welcome home, young master and young lord and... young lady?" His dark eyes faltered as he stared at the youngest daughter of his master walking on the premises.

Elaine took a peek behind Gerard, walking in the mansion nervously. As she thought, she did not know anyone in the building. The servants who took a glance at her would frown before understanding why she suddenly returned after two years.

"Is our lunch prepared?" The Duke handed his blazer to the butler, relaxing as soon as he entered his home.

"Yes, Duke." The butler composed himself. 'So this was the reason for preparing five plates.'

The head of the family nodded and led the rest to the dining room. Instructing all the servants to give them privacy after serving their purpose, Elaine sliced the mouth-watering salmon steak on her plate and took a bite.

"What are His Majesty's instructions regarding my illness, Father?" Elaine asked as soon as she and her father finished eating.

"His Majesty wishes for it not to be disclosed to the public." The Duke answered.

"We also want to keep your condition a secret for as long as we can, Elaine." The Duchess said. "But, we will respect your wishes as well."

"It would be difficult to do so realistically," Elaine wondered. "What about the existing workers who knew me since I was a child?"

"...What do you want to do?" Her father asked.

"I wish to inform the workers loyal to the Gustova Dukedom of my memory loss." Elaine decided. "It would not bother me if word about it spread in the future, Father."

"Very well."

The Duke informed the butler to gather the workers described by Elaine in her room, where she chose to announce the devastating news.

"My lady?" A young woman in a maid uniform arrived ahead of the Gustova Family. The young maid tied her auburn hair in a braid, and her large dark eyes began watering.

"Do not forget your manners due to your excitement, child." A middle-aged woman who also had auburn hair paired with bright green eyes scolded.

"We greet the Duke and Duchess, the young master, the young lord and the young lady." They bowed respectfully towards the owners of the house after the maid realised her mistake.

"Do not be too stern on your daughter, Mary." Duchess Gustova smiled. "It is a happy occasion for Elaine to return to the house, after all."

"Yes, Duchess," Mary replied, then looked at Elaine. "The young lady must be tired. We should let her rest until dinner."

"No." Elaine shook her head. "I have something else in mind..." Noah whispered two words in Elaine's ears, and she repeated after him. "Head Maid."

"Of course, my lady." Mary nodded. She opened the doors to Elaine's room, and the owner's mouth parted a little.

The room was huge. There was a king-sized bed with a bedroom bench positioned on Elaine's left, facing east. There were nightstands on either side of her bed as well. Against the wall was her dressing table, ten steps away from her bed. To her right, there were shelves of books, accompanied by a sofa and table. There was also a balcony through the windows. Elaine thought her room was warm and comfortable, smiling at the interior.

"Thank you for maintaining the cleanliness of the room even though the owner was gone." Elaine smiled at the Head Maid and her daughter. They both flinched at her choice of words--she was speaking to them rather respectfully.

"It seems the others have arrived as well." The Duke heard the footsteps of his workers approaching his daughter's room. "Shall we prepare ourselves, Elaine?"

"Yes, Father." Elaine nodded, and the entire family headed for her bed. Elaine sat in the middle of the bedroom bench with both parents beside her. Noah and Gerard, on the other hand, remained standing due to the lack of space. The Duke gestured for the house's butler to enter and closed the door as he did so.

"Will you please tell them, Father?" Elaine held onto her parents' hands, trembling. She currently needed their strength.

The Duke looked at her daughter and exhaled, nodding to her request.

"Thank you for coming at my sudden call. It is unfortunate, but," The Duke looked at his employees, squeezing her daughter's cold hands, "your young lady has lost her memories."

The room was silent. Lady Elaine looked at their speechless faces, and she trembled more as she feared they would not be as accepting as her blood.

"Huh?" The Head Maid's daughter broke the silence, tears trickling down her cheeks. "W-What does that mean...?"

Mary lowered her head, her body shaking as well. Before she was promoted as the Head Maid, she was Elaine Louise Gustova's nanny. She treated the young child as her daughter, and the news brought indescribable grief. Mary glanced at the Duchess. 'If I am feeling this way, how depressed would her real mother be...?'

"It means my lady no longer remembers us, Violet."

Elaine smiled sadly at them.

It was the truth she dares not retort.