Chapter 35: Turning Crisis into Opportunity
Aracila thought calmly.
What would happen if she refused the Grand Madam’s order and confronted her head-on? While it might feel satisfying in the moment, it wouldn’t be beneficial in the long run.
The Grand Madam might use her defiance as an excuse to settle permanently in the mansion.
If that happened, Damian might not be able to do anything about his grandmother either. That was something she had to prevent.
Slowly, Aracila bent down and picked up the basket.
Watching this, Audrey urgently intervened.
“My lady, I will—!”
“How dare a mere maid interrupt!”
The Grand Madam silenced Audrey with a thunderous rebuke.
Holding the basket, Aracila subtly signaled to her maid not to interfere.
In the end, Audrey had no choice but to step back with her head bowed in apology.
“Then, I shall take my leave.”
“Wait. You might try to push the task onto someone else, so take my maid with you.”
The Grand Madam, ever thorough, assigned her own maid as a watchdog.
Aracila simply looked at her for a moment before nodding.
Without resistance, she left with the Grand Madam’s maid, heading toward the laundry area at the back of the mansion.
The maid, who bore a haughty demeanor much like her mistress, followed stiffly behind. She didn’t even offer, out of courtesy, to carry the basket.
Instead, she kept a sharp eye on Aracila, as if making sure she wouldn’t sneak off elsewhere. And upon arrival at the laundry area, she acted like a prison guard watching over a criminal.
“This is a cherished garment of the Grand Madam’s. Handle it with care.”
Even the simple act of pulling the dress from the basket was met with immediate interference.
For a mere maid to use such a tone with a noblewoman was inappropriate, but emboldened by her mistress’s backing, she had no reservations.
‘She’s nothing like my sweet, adorable, and kind Audrey.’
Aracila clicked her tongue inwardly and ignored the maid’s words, dunking the dress unceremoniously into the water.
A cherished garment? Hardly.
If it were truly precious, the Grand Madam wouldn’t have entrusted it to her as a jest. The slightly faded lace on the sleeves made it clear—it was an old dress that hadn’t been worn in ages.
Rolling up her sleeves, Aracila began washing the dress with clumsy hands.
As a noblewoman born and raised in an esteemed family, this was something she had never done before.
Aside from bathing, she had never kept her hands submerged in water for so long.
However, using magic discreetly when the maid wasn’t looking, she managed to finish the washing successfully.
“It’s done. Let’s go.”
“…Understood.”
The maid inspected the dress with a scrutinizing glare, searching for any faults.
Yet, thanks to Aracila’s clever use of magic, there was nothing to criticize. Despite it being her first time washing clothes, the results were flawless.
After hanging the dress to dry, they returned inside—only to find the Grand Madam absent.
Audrey, who had been waiting in the empty room, spoke in a troubled tone.
“The Grand Madam has gone to the dining hall. She instructed that you join her immediately upon your return, my lady.”
Aracila let out a short, incredulous laugh.
If she had been informed in advance, she wouldn’t have bothered coming all the way here and could have gone straight to the dining hall.
It was clear the Grand Madam had intentionally withheld that information just to inconvenience her.
Composing herself, she adjusted her expression and posture before making her way downstairs.
Inside the grand dining hall, an unusually heavy silence loomed.
At the far end of the long, oval-shaped table, the Grand Madam sat waiting.
“Tsk, tsk. You’re so slow, what use are you? I nearly starved to death waiting for you!”
The moment Aracila appeared, the Grand Madam’s voice boomed, echoing through the hall.
“I apologize. I’ll start the meal ri—”
“Bring the food.”
The commanding tone was not directed at the maids standing nearby.
The Grand Madam’s gaze and words were aimed directly at Aracila.
She was ordering her to bring the food.
For a brief moment, Aracila stood in place, looking at the Grand Madam before silently stepping forward.
The Grand Madam held her ground, locking eyes with her as she spoke.
“You lack manners and respect for your elders. This is the only way to teach you a lesson.”
Her words carried a clear intent—to completely break Aracila’s spirit.
Aracila quietly glanced around the hall.
The maids, their heads lowered, looked more anxious than she did, as if sitting on pins and needles.
Sigh.
With a soft exhale, she moved toward the kitchen.
Passing by the startled servants, she pointed at a tray of food.
“Is this the one?”
“Pardon? …Ah, yes, my lady.”
The head chef hurried over, bowing as he handed her the tray.
One by one, Aracila delivered the dishes to the Grand Madam.
Satisfied, the Grand Madam began eating, but as the food continued piling up before her, she soon scowled.
“I’ll get indigestion! Bring them more slowly! I told you to learn respect for me, yet you’re only focused on getting this over with quickly!”
Aracila had yet to eat a single bite, yet here was someone comfortably seated, doing nothing but cutting her food, speaking such absurd words.
Holding back her frustration, she deliberately slowed her pace as she brought out the dishes.
The Grand Madam, as if to flaunt her authority, took small bites, savoring her meal at leisure.
“Pour me some water.”
“…….”
A strong temptation arose—to pour the entire pitcher over the Grand Madam’s head instead of into her cup.
But Aracila endured once more.
After using her like a serving maid for the entire meal, the Grand Madam finally finished eating and gracefully rose from her seat.
She dabbed at her mouth and casually tossed her napkin, which landed at Aracila’s feet.
“Hmph. The food was unimpressive. Tell the kitchen staff to adjust the dishes to my taste from now on.”
Then, with an air of superiority, she strode out of the dining hall, her maids trailing behind.
Only then was Aracila able to sit down.
Resting her elbows on the table and clasping her hands together, she leaned her forehead against them.
Her legs ached from standing so long, but more than that, the sheer indignation was what truly burned inside her.
“Shall I prepare your meal, my lady?”
Audrey approached cautiously.
But Aracila waved her off.
“I’ve lost my appetite.”
If she ate anything now, she felt like it would just sit heavily in her stomach.
Watching the Grand Madam eat had already completely killed her hunger.
When a person used food as a means to humiliate someone, the very act of eating itself became revolting.
Letting out a deep sigh, Aracila stood up.
With the Grand Madam gone, there was no reason to remain in the dining hall any longer.
“I want to rest. Let’s go to my room.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Audrey swiftly guided her exhausted mistress to her quarters.
As Aracila sank into the sofa, Audrey, looking distressed, inspected her hands.
Though she had used magic, washing clothes and carrying trays had left the once flawless skin slightly reddened.
“You really went through so much today, my lady.”
“No. If anything, it’s you all who truly suffer every day doing this work.”
If even a brief taste of it was this exhausting, how much harder must it be for the maids, who performed these tasks daily without rest?
She genuinely respected their hard work.
Sitting up straight, Aracila gently placed her hands on Audrey’s shoulders.
“Thank you, as always, Audrey.”
“Oh, not at all, my lady.”
Audrey’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Receiving such gratitude for something that was merely her duty felt awkward.
With a gentle smile, Aracila leaned back against the sofa, lost in thought.
There were still more than ten days left before Damian returned. Even then, there was no guarantee that he would be able to drive the Grand Madam out immediately.
Rather than simply enduring the Grand Madam’s tyranny and waiting for her husband, Aracila needed to set a trap of her own.
As she carefully considered her next move, she finally spoke.
“Audrey, spread the word throughout the mansion about what happened today. Exaggerate it as much as possible. Say that the Grand Madam has completely broken my spirit, that I’m deeply distressed, and that—even though I don’t show it—I’ve probably cried alone in my room.”
“What…? But my lady, wouldn’t that harm your dignity…?”
If word spread that Aracila, the mistress of the mansion, had been utterly subdued by the Grand Madam, some servants might start looking down on her.
And without a doubt, the Grand Madam and her maids would become even more arrogant, strutting around the estate as if they owned the place.
“It’s fine. I don’t mind, so make sure everyone hears about it.”
But that was exactly what Aracila wanted.
To turn a crisis into an opportunity, one had to be willing to take some losses.
“Even if I lose a little now, I’ll gain much more later.”
A bright smile formed on her lips.
Audrey didn’t know what scheme her mistress had in mind, but she had seen that smile before—whenever Aracila had a plan.
So, without further question, she silently obeyed.
After the laundry ordeal and serving at dinner, Aracila became noticeably more docile and obedient.
The maids whispered that she had even cried in secret.
To the Grand Madam, this was immensely satisfying.
See? That brat was all talk.
Even if she had managed to outmaneuver the Duchess, there was no way she could stand against her.
Still, the Grand Madam remained vigilant, constantly finding faults in Aracila and bombarding her with criticism.
She had no hesitation in launching personal attacks, aiming to crush her self-esteem and confidence.
“A woman with such a heavy backside is utterly useless. Tsk, tsk. Lose some weight.”
“Don’t you dare bring up your family in front of me! A woman belongs to her husband’s household once she marries!”
“Tsk. You’re so full of foolish ideas. Stop wasting your energy on nonsense and focus on your household!”
“You lack intelligence and judgment, so just obey me. That is your role and duty.”
Even the most prideful individuals crumbled when exposed to this kind of treatment for long enough.
The Grand Madam had already broken two of her sons’ wives like this.
A young girl like Aracila would be an easy target.
At first, she had talked back defiantly, but now her words had dwindled significantly—clear proof that the method was working.
A little longer, and her spirit would shatter completely.
Soon, she would be trembling in fear, utterly submissive.
Imagining the satisfaction of having this insolent child at her feet, the Grand Madam suddenly winced.
“Ah!”
The mansion’s maid, kneeling at her feet to tend to her nails, had accidentally pressed too hard and scratched the tender skin beneath her fingernail.
The Grand Madam had deliberately chosen one of the mansion’s maids—not one of her own—to serve her.
This was to both demonstrate her dominance over Aracila and undermine her authority as mistress of the house.
“You! How dare you harm the Grand Madam?!”
One of the Grand Madam’s personal maids, who had been standing watch, immediately rushed forward in outrage.
The young maid, terrified, began trembling.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ✧: *. ꕥ .* :✧ﾟ. ───
