"Y—Yes?" Lyla's eyes widened is disbelief.
"Do you think I have time to be bothered by them?" Elara passed the two wine bottles in her grip to Lyla.
"Th—that's not what I—"
"Maids like them have their uses. Sometimes, their nonsense could be a blessing in disguise."
The two bottles at the corner of the wine shelf made Elara stretch onto her toes to reach them.
"The last time I did charity work quietly, they spread malicious rumors. But in the end, it made my charity well-known, and suddenly, all the noble ladies wanted to join the hype."
Lyla nodded, remembering the home sanitation charity. Originally, the royal court had banned it for the lower class, fear that nobles visiting the slums might catch infectious diseases.
Recalling the commotion that followed made Lyla smile—because, in the end, noblewomen became fascinated by Elara's handmade fragrances, which kept bath chambers free from pests while smelling like aromatherapy.
