The morning at Count Travel’s estate was always the same.
The immediate family would gather in the main house to have breakfast with the Count and Countess.
Although it wasn’t mandatory, the eldest son, Hevant, started a tradition after his marriage of bringing his family over for morning greetings. Following his lead, Marian and Yossel began bringing their families without fail every day.
Today was no different.
The family members present at the table included those who hadn’t traveled to the imperial city, nor the Quartz father-daughter duo who never visited, and Kane, who was still at the academy.
“………”
Marian silently sliced a tomato with her knife, reminiscing about the events from the previous day.
Right after the auction ended, she went to see her mother.
Marian had requested Priscilla, ‘Whatever I do, please watch over me.’
Her goal was to ensure that Reytan would never be able to return to the position of Grand Master.
She confidently declared that she would make it happen. However, since things had gone awry, she now needed to explain the situation to Priscilla.
Bearing the bitterness of a 1.2 billion Kona loss, she approached Priscilla.
Priscilla, who was in a waiting room after overseeing the auction, embraced Marian before she even had a chance to speak.
“Thank goodness, Marian. I’m glad you won the bid.”
“…What?”
“The earrings turned out to be fake. I heard Reytan knew beforehand and joined the auction anyway. He apparently wanted to win the bid to cover my shame but couldn’t bear the amount, so he conceded it to you.”
“………..”
As if that’s compromise.
What a mockery. That man had known the earrings were fake! How dare he!
As Marian’s face flushed with anger, Priscilla gently placed her hand on her daughter’s cheek, lovingly caressing her as she spoke.
“I’ve released the maid who was locked in the punishment room.”
“You released her?”
“Since it was proven to be a fake, accusing her of theft would have been unfair, wouldn’t it?”
“Mother, releasing the maid without even consulting me—!”
“I didn’t know I had to report such trivial matters to you.”
Marian felt as if she had been struck hard on the back of her head.
Her mother had collaborated with Reytan.
She wanted to find Anne to vent her anger, but Anne had mysteriously disappeared overnight.
Then, this morning, Marian heard shocking news. Anne had been fired on charges of knocking out Priscilla’s attendant and was now employed by Reytan.
This meant that Anne had slipped out of Marian’s grasp.
Since Anne was no longer a maid in Count Travel’s household, Marian couldn’t impose any punishment on her. With Anne under the protection of Count Travel’s estate, Marian couldn’t even send an assassin after her.
‘That despicable brat.’
Marian had momentarily forgotten how sharp Reytan’s instincts could be in these matters. His reputation as the ‘Minus Touch’ was only due to his lack of success, not his inability to sense threats aimed at him.
A fleeting image of a sixteen-year-old Reytan flashed through Marian’s mind. Surviving a carriage accident, he had returned alone, glaring at her with piercing blue eyes.
‘How much does he know, and how is he acting on it?’
Marian clenched her teeth.
“My dear.”
Her husband, seated next to her, gently called her name.
Only then did Marian break out of her thoughts and become aware of her surroundings. She seemed to have been gripping her fork and knife too tightly.
Juice was spilling from the poorly cut tomato, staining the white tablecloth.
She had no appetite anyway, and just as she was about to set down her utensils—
“It hasn’t been exactly peaceful around the mansion these past few days, has it?”
Priscilla, sitting next to the eldest son Hevant, broke the silence. She ordered a servant to bring her a warm tea and then continued speaking.
“The commotion has been giving me quite the headache lately. For the time being, I would appreciate it if there were no more disruptions in the mansion. Especially no unfortunate incidents among the family members.”
Though she framed it as a general remark about ‘the family,’ it was clearly a warning not to provoke Reytan.
A short, hollow laugh escaped Marian’s lips, and her husband and Yossel’s wife looked at Priscilla in surprise.
Only Hevant immediately affirmed his mother’s words.
“Of course. Families should indeed be close-knit.”
‘Is this man out of his mind?’
Marian looked across the table at Hevant. His wife, too, nodded with a gentle smile.
“………”
Marian turned her head away, unable to comprehend the behavior of the eldest son and his wife.
Across from her husband, she locked eyes with Yossel.
Startled, Yossel held his breath in fear, then quickly shook his head to indicate that he also had no idea about the situation.
On the other side of the table, Priscilla began speaking in a gentle voice.
“Children.”
This was directed at Ciel, Calypso, Marty, and Harty, who were sitting nearby. The children, sensing the tension in the air, were cautiously observing the adults.
“Did you hear what your uncle said? Make sure to get along well, including with Berry.”
Essentially, they were being told to get along with the ‘outsider.’
“Ciel, you should take the lead. Since Kane is absent, you’re now the oldest among them.”
Although they didn’t want to, the children had been raised hearing from a young age that they must never do anything to displease their grandparents.
The children suppressed their reluctance and replied obediently.
“……Understood.”
***
I wished Anne could escape from Count Travel’s estate.
I hoped she would live happily somewhere far from here, with a recovered Jeffrey.
Though life would be tough in a foreign land, the Hayshal Empire was a place where even commoners could make a living. With her skills, Anne would be able to get by without having to work as a maid.
But then…
‘Why is Anne still at the Travel household?’
I sat on my bed, looking at Anne with a bewildered expression. Anne, who had entered my room with Sherry, didn’t seem hurt in any way.
Anne spoke confidently.
“Madam said I’m not a thief!”
“Grandmother did? Personally?”
[What is this? What is this?]
I couldn’t help but ask in surprise. Aqum perked up, showing interest.
Sherry sighed and explained.
“But what’s the use? She was fired, after all.”
“Fired?”
“Yes. Last night, madam sent someone to release Anne from the punishment room, but Anne ended up knocking out the attendant. Because of that, Anne is no longer a maid of the Travel family as of today.”
“Sherry, should you really be telling to young miss such an embarrassing story?”
“But it’s true, isn’t it?”
“I was worried about my sick brother, and who knew how long I’d be kept in the punishment room. Jeffrey isn’t well. Sometimes a cornered mouse will bite a cat, you know?”
Anne, hands confidently on her hips, looked like a different person from the one I had seen a few days ago. Back then, she had been cautious, trying to gather useful information. But now, she seemed completely free of any constraints.
Maybe it was because she had lost her job.
‘Did Jeffrey survive, changing her future?’
I don’t remember Anne ever being fired.
But this outcome seemed better for her. I gave her a farewell message.
“Sister Anne, are you leaving? Take care and live well.”
I wanted to tell her to remember the ten thousand Kona and keep it hidden at the Evening Primrose Inn, but I didn’t say it aloud. The note was a secret, after all. Thankfully, Anne hadn’t mentioned the note at all until now.
Anne stood still, seeming confused by my farewell.
“Leaving? Why would I? I’m now a maid employed by young master Reytan.”
“Huh?”
“Getting a job right after being dismissed. I’m quite capable, aren’t I?”
“Anne… It was young master Reytan who saved you.”
What was going on?
I could understand Anne being dismissed from the Travel household, but to be hired by my dad?
In a single night?
I couldn’t make sense of the conversation.
‘Before anything else—’
Anne had been a spy sent by Aunt Marian.
My head filled with questions. As I stood in confusion, Anne clenched her fist with determination.
“Yes, Sherry. young master Reytan saved me. So I am going to swear my loyalty to him! Even if he doesn’t pay me, I will stay by his side and repay his kindness for life.”
“Then, please do so.”
“Sherry, you won’t betray him either, right? Even if someone offers you a pouch of gold coins?”
“Yes. I’ll keep that advice in mind, based on experience.”
Sherry gave a smile full of hidden meaning, and Anne thanked me, saying she would rely on me for the rest of her life.
I awkwardly shook Anne’s hand.
***
Dad had definitely done something.
Breakfast was nearly finished when Aqum went out, saying it was off to find the ancient language.
I stared at Dad as he ate beside me. He felt my gaze and looked back at me.
“Berry, you got jam on your sleeve.”
“Huh?”
Some apricot jam from my plate had smeared onto my sleeve. Dad reached over and wiped my sleeve with a napkin.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Now, finish your meal.”
Throughout breakfast, I tried to find out what happened the previous night by subtly questioning Dad, but as expected, he skillfully evaded all my questions.
The only thing I managed to learn was that Dad planned to go to the Main Temple tomorrow.
He mentioned that he needed to leave by tomorrow to arrive before Wyndis began to act up.
“Can I come too?”
“…To the Main Temple? It’s a two-day journey by carriage, so you’d be away for about five days. Are you sure you’ll be okay with that?”
“Oh, I can handle it! I’m already seven, you know.”
“Think about it until dinner.”
“Alright! Theon, you want to come too, don’t you?”
“I… I’m fine. Teacher instructed me to stay with you.”
“Exactly! So you can come with me and Dad to the Main Temple! You might even get to see Wyndis.”
“Wyndis?”
Theon’s voice, from across the table, suddenly brightened. Anyway, Dad was a dead end.
‘I’ll only feel better once I know why Anne was hired by Dad.’
In the Travel household, one had to constantly distinguish between friends and enemies each day.
There was no one who would explain the adults’ complicated affairs to a seven-year-old.
Where could I even go to find this out?
I looked around, turning my head left and right. My eyes landed on Theon, who was watching Dad with bright, admiring eyes.
“I’m going to run an errand for Teacher.”
Oh, I found someone.
