Chapter 24: Crossing the Line
Audrey was stunned by the absurd accusation.
How could Amy’s necklace have possibly been found in her room?
“W-What? That’s ridiculous! I’ve never even seen Amy’s necklace before!”
“Then why was it in your room?” one of the maids sneered. “You’re the mistress’s precious maid, so you even get your own room, don’t you?”
As Aracila’s personal maid, Audrey enjoyed special privileges, including the largest private room among the staff.
While this made serving her mistress more convenient, it was now working against her.
Since she lived alone, there was no way to claim that someone else had placed the necklace there.
“I swear, I didn’t steal it!”
“Are you still denying it, Audrey? We all know how arrogant you’ve been, hiding behind the mistress’s favor!”
“What nonsense are you talking about…?”
Audrey felt dizzy.
She had always been careful with her actions, knowing that her behavior would reflect on Aracila.
Even when the other maids ostracized and ignored her, she had never complained or retaliated.
“But stealing my mother’s keepsake is unforgivable!”
Amy wailed, tears streaming down her face.
Audrey realized for the first time that when someone is truly shocked, they struggle to form words.
“No, really… I didn’t do it!”
“Stop lying! You always looked down on us, but now you’re quick to snatch up a pretty necklace, huh? How greedy!”
Amy’s allies attacked Audrey with relentless accusations, and the commotion inside the dining hall grew louder.
Unfortunately, the situation was turning against her.
Outnumbered, Audrey struggled to defend herself, but before she could gather her thoughts, several maids grabbed her arms and forced her up.
“W-What are you doing?!”
“We’re reporting you to the head maid. If you stole something, you should be punished.”
“Let me go!”
Audrey struggled, but she already knew—the head maid had been favoring Rosaline’s group for a while now.
If she was dragged away like this, she would inevitably be unfairly convicted.
However, with several maids restraining her, she had no chance of escaping.
“Head Maid! Head Maid!”
“What is this commotion?”
“Audrey stole Amy’s necklace!”
“And it wasn’t just any necklace—it was the only keepsake from Amy’s late mother!”
The head maid frowned, turning to Audrey.
In truth, she had already been informed about this plan by Rosaline.
Rosaline had reported finding a suspicious document in Aracila’s dressing room but failed to take it because Audrey had caught her.
Thus, Audrey needed to be silenced.
However, simply getting rid of her wasn’t easy.
Framing her as a thief provided the perfect excuse for her expulsion.
“What did you say? Is this true?”
The head maid exaggerated her reaction, widening her eyes as if genuinely shocked.
Audrey vehemently shook her head.
“No, Head Maid! This is a setup—I swear!”
“The necklace was found in your room, and you’re still denying it?!”
Rosaline stepped forward, her voice filled with righteous anger.
Audrey gaped at her in disbelief.
“Rosaline… You…!”
“The Vandermir estate does not tolerate theft!” the head maid declared coldly. “I will report this to the master myself. Until then, lock Audrey in the barn.”
“Yes, Head Maid!”
The maids cheered, dragging Audrey away.
She struggled fiercely, but they slapped her across the face multiple times.
The taste of blood filled her mouth almost instantly.
“You’re a thief! You deserve to be beaten!”
“That’s right! If you don’t want more, stay still!”
The harsh threats forced Audrey to bite her tongue and endure.
The maids shoved her into the barn, throwing her onto a pile of hay like discarded trash, then bolted the door shut.
A Secret Deal
While the other maids reveled in their false sense of justice, Rosaline quietly slipped away to meet the head maid.
“We have to get rid of her before the mistress returns.”
“Don’t worry. The master is expected to arrive home early today, and the mistress always returns late. We’ll handle it before she finds out.”
Normally, dealing with maid-related matters was the mistress’s responsibility.
However, the head maid deliberately planned to report this to Damien instead.
Given his strict nature, he was likely to order Audrey’s immediate dismissal without hesitation.
“Even if this causes problems later, we can always say the master approved it.”
“Perfect. Then tomorrow, I’ll secretly retrieve that document and deliver it to House Vandermir.”
Rosaline and the head maid exchanged satisfied smiles.
Everything was going exactly as planned.
“You Can’t Let This Happen, Aracila.”
Paula set down her glass of water as she spoke. She and Aracila were having lunch together at a restaurant near the Mage Tower.
“You’re already busy with work at the Mage Tower and barely at the mansion. Shouldn’t you at least take the time to manage the servants when you are home?”
Aracila chewed her food, blinking at her friend’s words.
“It’s not that I think you’re an easy target, but if you keep letting things slide without saying anything, they’ll start thinking you are.”
“The existing servants wouldn’t be that foolish, would they? I didn’t even bring my own maids, so they actually have it easier without new people disrupting their work.”
Hearing this, Paula sighed.
“That’s exactly what I’m worried about.”
“Why?”
“Do you know why noblewomen bring their personal maids when they get married?”
Resting her elbow on the table, Paula leaned in with a serious expression.
“Some maids are hostile to a new mistress and refuse to serve her properly. That’s why women bring their own people—to prevent that kind of resistance.”
The existing maids were her husband’s people. If things went wrong, she would have no one to rely on. That’s why most women brought their maids with them when they married.
“But you only have Audrey on your side. Do you really think you can live comfortably at home like that?”
Home.
Aracila still hadn’t come to see Vandermir Mansion as her home.
Until she got divorced, the idea that this place belonged to her didn’t quite sink in.
Maybe that’s why she had been overlooking the maids’ rudeness—because it still felt like she was simply staying in someone else’s house.
When staying at another person’s house, you naturally put up with some level of discomfort.
“In the past, mistresses would punish their maids with the cane to keep them in line.”
“Who does that anymore? That’s outdated.”
“I’m not saying you should beat them, but you should at least fire a few troublesome ones as an example.”
Aracila frowned.
The maids had been showing poor attitudes lately, but she didn’t feel strongly enough to ruin their livelihoods just because she was irritated.
For now, they hadn’t crossed the line, and their behavior was still at a level she could ignore.
“At the very least, make it clear that you are the mistress of this house. Otherwise, they won’t recognize you as their master and will continue to disrespect you.”
“Alright, I’ll think about it.”
“At least you’re not living with the rest of the Vandermir family—that’s a relief.”
Paula shook her head.
She was right. The Duke’s family remained in their territory, while Aracila lived with Damien in the capital.
At the very least, she wouldn’t have to suffer through sharing a roof with her husband’s family.
“For your own sake, you need to pay attention to what’s happening in that mansion. Understood?”
“Got it, got it.”
Aracila nodded absentmindedly, having grown accustomed to hearing this kind of nagging ever since she got married.
An Early Return
After her meal with Paula, Aracila returned to the Mage Tower and focused on finishing her work.
She had already informed Audrey about her schedule, and her junior colleagues would naturally leave when she did.
Thanks to that, she managed to finish early and got up from her seat.
“Good work today.”
“You too, senior. You worked hard as always. You’re leaving early today, huh?”
Rudy peeked over a stack of books, his eyes wide with surprise.
Sally also looked shocked.
“Why? Am I not allowed to?”
“Of course you are! You’re newlyweds! Sally and I were actually worried because you never go home early after getting married.”
“That’s right! We didn’t want to pry, but… you and your husband are getting along well, right?”
Before her wedding, Aracila had frequently left early, using her meetings with Damien as an excuse.
Of course, back then, it was because of their prenuptial agreement, but her juniors didn’t know that.
They had assumed she had been eager to see him—but after the wedding, she suddenly stopped going home early.
Naturally, they worried that her marriage wasn’t going well.
‘I should start showing that I’m committed to my home life.’
She had revealed her workaholic tendencies a bit too quickly.
Feeling slightly guilty, Aracila waved her hand to reassure them.
“Of course, we’re doing fine. Just because I’m married doesn’t mean I can abandon my research, so stop worrying about it.”
“Yes, senior!”
“Alright, you two should wrap up and head home too. See you tomorrow.”
Waving briefly, Aracila left the tower.
Since their superior had gone home, Rudy and Sally would soon follow suit.
How long had it been since she last left work while the sun was still up?
With a light heart, she headed straight to Vandermir Mansion.
She had decided to focus on her new home, so she didn’t even stop by the Hugo Marquisate.
However, as soon as she stepped through the mansion gates, a strange feeling crept over her.
‘Something feels… off.’
Audrey, who always came out first to greet her, was nowhere to be seen.
Even the other maids were noticeably absent.
“Welcome home, madam.”
“Butler, where is Audrey?”
The butler, who rarely concerned himself with the maids, tilted his head in confusion.
Aracila scanned the maids gathered to greet her, but Audrey was not among them.
Feeling uneasy, she went up to her room.
“Audrey? Are you here?”
No matter how much she called, Audrey did not appear.
Even when she was sick, Audrey had always made sure to greet her.
A bad feeling settled in her gut.
Her instincts told her that something had happened.
Aracila stepped into the hallway, her sharp gaze sweeping over the lingering maids.
From the moment she had arrived, they had been acting strangely, stealing glances at her.
Now, as soon as her gaze landed on them, they scattered like cockroaches.
“You. Come here.”
She called out to the youngest maid, who had been too slow to run away.
The girl hesitated before stepping forward.
“W-What is it, madam?”
“Where is Audrey?”
The direct question made the maid flinch. Her wide eyes darted around nervously.
“I-I don’t know…”
“What’s your name?”
“Becky…”
“Alright, Becky. I don’t like liars.”
“…….”
“And I especially hate it when people lie so obviously. You understand, don’t you?”
Aracila smiled as she firmly gripped Becky’s shoulder.
Her lips curved upward, but her eyes did not.
It was terrifying—how could such a beautiful face look so menacing?
Terrified, Becky finally spilled the truth.
“A-Audrey… is locked in the barn.”
“Why?”
“Because… she was caught stealing…”
That was all Aracila needed to hear.
She turned sharply and strode off, her long lavender hair swaying behind her like a dark storm brewing.
It didn’t take long to find the barn—there were two suspicious maids standing guard in front of it.
“Move.”
The maids stiffened, exchanging nervous glances.
“Madam, until the master arrives—”
“The master is already here.”
“…….”
“Unless you think you have the authority to decide who the master is in this house, step aside. Now.”
The piercing gaze sent shivers down their spines.
The head maid had ordered that no one was allowed inside, but Aracila did not require permission from anyone.
She never had, and never would.
Without hesitation, she kicked open the door.
Audrey was curled up in the corner, her body bruised and battered.
“Audrey!”
Audrey lifted her tear-streaked face.
Her swollen cheek came into view, and Aracila’s expression froze over like ice.
“Who did this?”
─── ･ ｡ﾟ✧: *. ꕥ .* :✧ﾟ. ───
