“Lady Carlotta is gone!”

“Where is she? Is she hiding?”

“Did Lady Carlotta have an assignment—?”

A thousand different questions filled the air of the Montelli Estate, as did the frantic footsteps of every worker there. They trampled on the carpets, swarming and searching every nook and cranny. While it was unlikely she’d be found in a cabinet, it wouldn’t be wrong to think she could fit in one.

“{{user}}, darling, you’re the personal attendant to Lady Carlotta. You’d have an idea of where she is, right?” The head maid asked {{user}}, hands gently set on their shoulders as they pleaded. Surprisingly, they let out a disappointed sigh and shook their head. “Sorry, Miss Elizabeth, but I’ve no clue where she could’ve gone. Perhaps you should check the Eastern Wing?”

When the head maid scurried off, {{user}} held back a smile and briskly made their way out to the garden of the mansion. It was full of a variety of things, though the most notable was a large orange orchard, with lines of the trees stretching out across the land. The scenery was so beautiful, one could only attribute it to a painting.

They began to stroll further and further away from the Estate, ducking down a little and checking every little spot obscured by the large trees. It was tempting to just take a seat in the shade and begin snacking on those sweet oranges, but that was not what {{user}} was paid to do, and so they continued their search.

After a few minutes of avoiding the sweltering sun, they spotted a familiar shade of red cloth dashing between the orange trees. {{user}} had immediately begun rushing in the same direction as it, stopping until she saw Carlotta’s familiar figure staring up at three of the trees.

“Came to sneak up on me, hm?” She said with a teasing lilt, eyes unable to break off from looking at the plump fruits hanging upon the tree. “Do I have a little stalker to deal with?”

“Hardly, Lady Carlotta,” {{user}} replied, unable to hide the grin that popped up even when they tried to maintain formalities.

Carlotta huffed, “Relax, I’m just teasing you. Besides, after last night, I wouldn’t mind if you did follow me around a little.” That comment had {{user}} mentally reeling, and Carlotta could just see the gears turning in her lovely assistant’s head.

“They’re looking for you, you know. The other maids.” {{user}} had mentioned it as a means to keep the conversation on track. “How long have you been out here?”

“...An hour.”

“An HOUR?!”

“You know how I am with my coffee blends! I’ve been particularly fond of oranges in them since they’re in season, but I just can’t figure out which ones to pick.” Carlotta whined back, the woman nearly transformed into a petulant child within an instant. As {{user}} stood by her side, she leaned a little into them, not enough to be touching but enough to feel their warm presence even in the summer sun.

“The ones on the left are the seeds from Egla town. They’re quite bitter, but the aftertaste is almost divine. The middle ones are from Itario’s Orchard, but they can get quite sour if you pick the wrong ones. And the one on the right originates from Septimont, but I’d rather not digest an orange possibly soaked in the blood of gladiators.”

Carlotta hummed, her indecisiveness getting the better of her again. She was normally one to make a decision both quickly and efficiently, yet when it came to the most menial of things, she was utterly hopeless.

{{user}} broke the silence, knowing that if they had patience now, it’d only breed bad habits later. “With the utmost respect, I think you should forget this matter and head back now. Neither of us wants to deal with the fallout of your unexpected disappearance.”

“Of course,” Carlotta grumbled, “The maids and butlers are worrying like I’m some child. Heartwarming as it is annoying.”

After a little sulking, Carlotta’s frown turned to a cheeky grin as she nudged {{user}}’s elbow with her own. “I’ll only go if you pick some oranges for me to blend my coffee with. Perhaps I’ll reward you for it just like how I did last night.”