Episode 14
Eliano called for the head butler of the estate. But it didn’t happen smoothly. When Pamela shouted that she couldn’t, the maids sided with her, disobeying Eliano. In the end, Eliano had to leave her room and go out herself.
In the hallway, she ran into a young butler and told him what she needed. But instead of taking her to the head butler, he tried to stop her.
“My Lady, if you tell me what it is, I’ll take care of it.”
He didn’t want to bother the head butler, who was busy. After all, what important reason could the first daughter possibly have?
“I said I want to meet with the head butler.”
“He’s very busy right now, My Lady. Why don’t you just speak to your nanny, like usual…”
When did the chain of command become so broken? Eliano was boiling with anger.
In her previous life, Eliano lived in this environment for over 20 years and never even realized how wrong it was. Because she didn’t know better. She hadn’t even realized her rights were being ignored. Now, the anger inside her felt unbearable.
Crash!
Eliano grabbed a vase nearby and smashed it on the floor.
“No one seems to listen the first time I speak.”
“M-my Lady… please don’t be upset. Just tell me what the problem is—”
“What’s this noise?”
A new voice interrupted — it was the deputy butler. Eliano tilted her head slightly.
“Hamilton, are you speaking to me that way?”
At her cold tone, the deputy butler’s eyes widened before he quickly bowed.
“Not at all, My Lady. Are you hurt?”
At his signal, the stunned servants rushed over to clean the broken vase.
“I said I wanted to meet the head butler. This man told me I couldn’t. So if the head butler is busy, I’m supposed to just walk away?”
“W-what…?”
The deputy butler looked confused, then quickly grasped the situation.
“I’m terribly sorry, My Lady. This was my failure in training our staff.”
“Take me to the head butler immediately.”
At her firm command, the deputy butler led her straight there. The supposedly “busy” head butler was in his office. Eliano gave a sarcastic laugh. The deputy butler nervously announced her arrival.
“Mr. Jonathan, Lady Eliano is here to see you.”
The man named Jonathan stood from his desk, papers piled high and exhaustion on his face. He truly looked busy — but Eliano didn’t care.
“Welcome, My Lady.”
The butler smiled gently. He had served the family for generations and quickly noticed that Eliano was in a bad mood.
“My nanny won’t listen, so I came looking for you. But even that wasn’t easy.”
As if sensing he was in trouble, the deputy butler broke into a cold sweat.
“The maids listen to my nanny more than me. The young butler says I’m being stubborn just because I want to speak to you. Do my brothers get treated this way too?”
Jonathan’s face went pale.
“So I’m not allowed to be stubborn? No, wait—do I not have the right to be?”
After that, things moved quickly.
The butler who blocked her was fired on the spot, along with all the maids who had been in her room. Eliano even pointed out other maids — somehow managing to select only the ones loyal to Pamela. Pamela tried to stop her, but nothing worked against the Lady’s orders.
“I’m firing them because they were disloyal and careless in serving me. Why does that bother you, Nanny?”
Eliano said this sweetly. The head maid, Miller, took her chance.
“No matter how long she’s cared for you, Nanny must still obey your orders, My Lady. Isn’t that right, Mr. Jonathan?”
“Yes. You must follow Lady Eliano’s command, Nanny,” the butler agreed.
Miller had a reason to support Eliano. It wasn’t about Pamela’s control over the young Lady. The real problem was that Pamela had crossed into her territory. She claimed her actions were for Eliano’s sake but used that excuse to replace Miller’s staff with her own people.
Even though Miller had been head maid for years, nothing ever went her way thanks to Pamela. The maids obeyed the nanny more than her, so she could never get the household in order. Thinking about all her past frustration made Miller grind her teeth.
She had tried before to get close to Eliano — if the nanny could do it, why couldn’t she? But Pamela kept everyone away from Eliano. And Eliano had always clung to her nanny, leaving Miller with no way in.
Pamela’s control had grown too powerful. But now, finally, things had changed.
“Miller.”
“Yes, My Lady. Please leave it to me.”
The girl who used to seem like just a child now had real authority. Miller swallowed hard — Eliano wasn’t like this before…
“You’re the only one I trust.”
“Do you need anything else? I’ll make sure to carry out your wishes.”
“Just make sure no clumsy maids come into my room. And I hate gossipers.”
Pamela may have been placed by her mother and watched over by her father, so Eliano couldn’t get rid of her directly. But she could tighten the grip around her. That was a Lady’s true power.
The Duke and Duchess of Rosana never involved themselves in petty issues like this — as long as the household ran smoothly. They didn’t care about the servants. Even if they found out, they’d probably just say, “So what if she fired a few maids?”
And just as expected, no one scolded Eliano. Even at the family dinner that evening, things went on as usual. Her siblings glanced at her now and then but said nothing.
Nanny Pamela was put on indefinite probation for disturbing the order and disrespecting the first daughter. But Eliano knew it wouldn’t last long.
“Pamela is my father’s eyes and ears.”
She could already picture her sneaking back into her room, saying it was the Duke’s order. Eliano couldn’t go against her father yet — not until the right moment came. So even if her father reinstated Pamela, Eliano had to endure it.
“Miller.”
“Yes, My Lady.”
Now that Pamela had been pushed back, the head maid clearly decided to side with Eliano. As she carefully poured tea, Eliano invited her to sit.
Until now, Pamela had acted as Eliano’s personal maid, but now, Eliano needed a new one.
“I suppose I need a proper personal maid now.”
“You’re absolutely right. A nanny and a personal maid are not the same.”
“Have you filled the assistant head maid position yet?”
That spot had opened up when one of Pamela’s people was fired. Though the topic had just switched from personal maid to assistant maid, Miller calmly answered.
“There’s someone I’ve been keeping an eye on. If you’re alright with it, I’d like to promote her.”
Miller was nervous that Eliano might reject the idea. But Eliano answered without hesitation.
“The appointment is your responsibility. Do as you see fit.”
“Thank you, My Lady.”
Even though Pamela’s loyal maids were all gone, the household was peaceful. No one interfered. Miller knew why — Eliano had been smart about it. She hadn’t touched any maids serving the Duke, the Duchess, or her siblings.
As long as the higher-ups weren’t inconvenienced, what happened to the servants didn’t matter. That was how nobles thought. Eliano understood that better than anyone.
Especially her father — to him, servants weren’t people. They were just tools. Even if Eliano treated them cruelly, he wouldn’t care. That was the kind of man he was.
“I’ll choose my personal maid later. Let the others take turns until then.”
Miller understood what she meant. Eliano would pick someone after observing them.
“I want someone who’s not influenced by anyone.”
“Yes, My Lady.”
“Miller, I’m very disappointed in my nanny. I hope you won’t let me down.”
Miller bowed deeply in agreement. From that day on, new maids began taking turns serving Eliano.
Eliano had lived for years in Zacador — first as the Crown Princess, then as Empress. During that time, she had learned to judge people well. As Crown Princess, she managed the household; as Empress, she even had to handle the concubines.
But ever since coming back in time, she felt like her instincts were dull. Her senses weren’t as sharp.
“Is it because I’m younger now?”
Maybe in her past life, she had only survived those crises by pushing herself to the limit. She wasn’t really that smart. Eliano made up for her weaknesses through effort — or by keeping capable people close.
Loyal, clever aides were priceless. Thanks to them, she had managed to stay Empress for so long.
“Looking back, so many lives were wasted for nothing…”
In her past life, she lived to make her beloved husband the Emperor. Later, she just fought to keep her position. But those lives should not have been sacrificed for such foolish things. The thought left a bitter taste in her mouth.
“My Lady, is the bathwater alright?”
“A bit hotter, and add more rose oil.”
“Yes, My Lady.”
As the maid massaged her, Eliano quietly observed them. She didn’t have to choose her personal maid from this group, but she thought at least she should pick the one with the best hands. Someone who could ease her tired body. Even her sister, Isabella, kept a maid around just for her massage skills.
— “I can lend her to you if you want, but you’ll need Pamela’s permission.”
In her past life, Eliano didn’t get along with Isabella. Unlike her, Isabella was harsh with her maids. You could often hear something breaking in her room.
Isabella wasn’t shy about yelling either. Eliano used to think that made her a bad person. Probably because Pamela always whispered things in her ear.
“Hello, sister.”
As Eliano stepped out of the bath, she frowned at the sight of her younger sister. Not because it was Isabella — but because she had come in without permission. Eliano considered that rude. She looked around. The maids had their heads bowed.
“What? Are you going to scold me for hitting a maid? Want to try it yourself, with those soft and gentle hands of yours?”
Isabella had apparently slapped the maid who tried to block her entry. One young maid stood there with a tearful face and a red, swollen cheek.
Eliano looked away from her and spoke calmly. She ignored the sarcastic comment about hitting her own maids.
“I suppose I should ask why you entered my room without permission. It must be something urgent, right?”
“You’ve changed a little, sister. For a second, I thought you were Mother.”
Isabella laughed and sat down on a chair her maid had brought. When Eliano signaled, the maid who helped her bathe came over and draped a shawl over her shoulders. Her movements were quick and smooth — far better than the previous maids. That small detail improved Eliano’s mood a little.
“Sister, I have something to ask you. Come, sit with me. Please?”
