Chapter 038
“It would be good if there was an event dramatic enough to leave a strong impression.”
Janice muttered quietly.
“Is that even possible?”
“We can stage something. Like an accident happening when you meet Charlotte.”
Janice spoke in a low voice. Over her time in the Duke’s household, there had been many checks and balances. She had been in the position closest to the Duke’s bloodline. one that many had desired.
But Janice had overcome them all and survived in that position. She was confident in creating a plan.
“What exactly are you planning?”
“Something to catch the Duke’s attention. It’s fine if you get a little hurt, right?”
“What?”
Lorencia stared at Janice with a displeased expression.
She had known Janice for her whole life, though most of that time had been spent apart.
Janice had left for the North when Lorencia was just three years old. Then, later, they received news that she had been assigned to take care of the six-year-old young master. Even Baron Redfield had been amazed at her skills.
It was a little unsettling.
“Don’t worry, Lorencia. You won’t be seriously injured. Just let me know when you have a scheduled meeting with Charlotte. I’ll take care of the rest.”
Lorencia frowned. She had no idea what Janice was thinking, but in this place, Janice was the only person she could trust.
Lorencia bit her lip.
“…If I get seriously hurt, I won’t let this slide.”
“Do as you please.”
Janice replied in a gentle tone.
She was doing everything she could to make Lorencia the Duchess.
The network she had carefully built in the North was vast and intricate, impossible to ignore.
Lorencia would become the Duchess, and Janice would live in eternal glory in the North.
To achieve that, Charlotte had to be removed.
The woman who, at some point, had slipped out of Janice’s control.
The meeting with Lorencia was scheduled two hours before Theo and Stephanie’s lesson.
For Stephanie’s quick socialization, she had decided to attend the lessons, but she was a little worried.
Her plan was to observe the children’s classes three times. She had a reasonable excuse—she was concerned about suddenly leaving both children in someone else’s care.
That would also allow her to gauge Lorencia’s relationship with the children, especially how she treated Theo.
She hoped it would be enough to ease her worries before she left.
She had prepared tea in the outdoor garden and was waiting when Lorencia arrived.
Hoo. She felt nervous.
Lorencia was the protagonist of her favorite novel. According to the original description, she was proactive, intelligent, and someone who would roll up her sleeves to resolve the dangers in the Duke’s household.
Was that really true?
She watched Lorencia enter with anticipation.
Her appearance was exactly as described in the novel. She sparkled like a porcelain doll, reminding her of the Barbie dolls she had seen at a friend’s house when she was young.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Lorencia.”
“Thank you for inviting me, Duchess.”
The sunlight poured behind Lorencia as she bowed gracefully.
They said she was like sunlight, and indeed, the sun suited her well.
She could understand why she was the female lead.
Her bright smile seemed to purify the mood of those around her.
“Thank you for accepting my invitation.”
Lorencia smiled softly.
“It is me who should be grateful for your trust. Did you know that I have requested a meeting with the Duke several times?”
“Ah.”
Of course, she knew. The conversation she had with Cassius came to mind.
“I have no desire to meet her.”
“Why?”
“If she does well, I’ll keep her employed. If she causes trouble, I’ll fire her. That’s all there is to it.”
Cassius had no interest in Lorencia whatsoever.
“That woman is just a chess piece to test the nanny’s schemes.”
She recalled the cold expression Cassius had worn when he said those words.
But no matter what, Lorencia was the female lead.
One day, she would become the lady of the Duke’s household.
Even if she explained all this, Cassius wouldn’t believe her. He would probably think she was crazy.
So, she answered as calmly as possible.
“I am aware. However, Cassius is too busy to meet you. That’s why I am here in his place.”
“…I see.”
“Am I not enough?”
“That’s not it. Of course not. I also wanted to meet you, Duchess.”
Lorencia’s expression was subtle as she said that.
What was that?
But before she could question it, Lorencia’s expression quickly returned to normal.
“I asked to meet today because I have something to discuss.”
“Please, go ahead, Duchess.”
“I originally brought you here to educate Theo. However, due to some unforeseen circumstances, you ended up taking care of two children.”
“I have heard about it in advance.”
Lorencia gazed at her with clear eyes.
It was confusing.
Aren’t villains usually easy to recognize?
Even in dramas, the actresses playing villain roles always showed hints of their true nature.
But Lorencia had no trace of malice.
She looked like a saint, filled with pure joy.
That constant, warm smile…
It was supposed to feel comforting, but instead, it felt strangely unsettling.
“Both children have been sick for a long time, so they lack a foundation. They will need to start from the basics, which will be difficult for you.”
“It’s fine, Duchess. That’s why we learn—to overcome the unknown. I will teach them with sincerity.”
“Are the children too much for you?”
“They are my students, so I will not find them overwhelming.”
Every word was precise and firm, yet something about it kept bothering her.
Even people with bad intuition sometimes get things right.
She was having a calm conversation with Lorencia when suddenly—
A commotion erupted from above.
Then—
“Move! Get out of the way!!”
A sharp scream rang out.
Both she and Lorencia instinctively looked up.
A huge flowerpot was falling from the mansion.
“Watch out!”
It was heading straight for Lorencia.
She screamed without thinking, drawing people’s attention.
Crash!
The enormous flowerpot shattered, unable to be stopped.
People rushed into the garden at the sound.
“Lorencia!”
She ran toward Lorencia, who was lying on the ground. Lorencia groaned and clutched her leg.
“Are you okay? Are you hurt?”
She rapidly fired off questions, and Lorencia pointed to her ankle.
“I moved out of the way quickly, but my leg… my leg…”
Lorencia’s lips trembled. Her face was pale, and cold sweat covered her forehead.
She was in pain.
Who could have made such a dangerous mistake? But before finding out the culprit, treating Lorencia was the priority.
This scene wasn’t in the original story.
Meanwhile,
Janice’s lips curled into a cold smile. The maid who had caused the commotion and pushed the flowerpot disappeared quickly.
Janice only left after confirming that Lorencia was truly injured.
No evidence. No witnesses.
After slightly ruffling her clothes, Janice headed to the Duke’s office.
“Your Grace!”
“It’s chaos outside! I saw it from the window—Lady Lorencia was nearly hit by a falling flowerpot!”
Cassius looked surprised and started to stand up, but his movements were slow, as if his body felt heavy.
“Call a doctor immediately. Move Lady Lorencia to a room.”
“Aren’t you going to check on her yourself?” Janice asked anxiously.
“There’s no reason for me to go. What can I do even if I’m there?”
Cassius spoke rationally and calmly sat back down, flipping through his documents as if nothing had happened.
Seeing this, Janice decided to take a gamble.
“But, Your Grace, it would comfort the Duchess.”
“Charlotte?”
Cassius frowned.
“Yes, Your Grace. The Duchess was also slightly injured…”
Without another word, Cassius immediately stood up and left.
Janice watched him go, her eyes narrowing.
“…I knew it.”
Now, she finally understood the strange feeling she had all day.
Cassius was looking at Charlotte differently.
Now, she was sure of it.
