Chapter 25: What Aracila Will Never Forgive
Aracila gently caressed Audrey’s bruised cheek and spoke again.
“Tell me immediately—who dared to lay a hand on my maid, Audrey?”
Tears streamed down Audrey’s face.
All the fear and humiliation she had endured alone seemed to be washed away by those simple words—“my maid.”
Choking on her sobs, she recounted everything that had happened that day.
The blue eyes that listened so attentively gradually turned icy cold.
It wasn’t enough that they had plotted together to frame Audrey as a thief.
They hadn’t even given her a chance to explain, instead choosing to beat her and throw her in the barn.
This had crossed the line.
The angrier she got, the calmer Aracila’s voice became.
“So, you think Rosalyn was the one behind this?”
“Yes, my lady.”
Audrey nodded, her tear-streaked face still damp.
Rosalyn had a clear motive—she had been caught snooping through Aracila’s dressing room by Audrey.
And coincidentally, the maid whose necklace had supposedly been stolen was also Rosalyn’s roommate.
Suspicious, to say the least.
“Alright, listen carefully, Audrey. Do exactly as I say.”
Aracila unfastened the necklace hidden beneath her collar and placed it in Audrey’s hand.
“While I gather the maids, you go and plant this in Rosalyn’s room. Make it look like she stole it.”
She intended to recreate the same situation—to prove how meaningless it was to accuse someone just because an item was found in their room.
She would trap Rosalyn the same way they had trapped Audrey.
Let her experience how unfair and humiliating it felt.
“I’ll handle the rest.”
“Understood.”
Audrey stood up resolutely, determination flashing in her eyes.
Once she was safely out of the barn, Aracila turned her attention to the anxious maids still hovering near the entrance.
“Follow me. Quietly.”
Her sharp tone left no room for argument.
“And keep your mouths shut until I say otherwise. Understood?”
With no choice but to comply, the maids silently trailed behind her.
The Gathering
Upon returning to the main house, Aracila immediately summoned the head maid.
“Gather every single maid on the first floor. No exceptions.”
“May I ask why, my lady?”
The head maid spoke in a calm voice, but internally, she was rattled.
‘She’s always late coming home. Why did she have to come early today of all days?!’
Only Audrey had known about Aracila’s early return, so the head maid was caught completely off guard.
‘Stay calm. Don’t let her take control of the situation so easily.’
But the moment she met Aracila’s piercing gaze, her resolve crumbled.
“Head maid, did I ask for your opinion?”
“…….”
The even, emotionless voice held a pressure so heavy that it needed no embellishment to sound threatening.
Despite her slender frame, the sheer authority Aracila exuded made the head maid’s knees weaken.
Without another word, she hurried to obey.
Soon, every maid had been gathered on the first floor.
None of them dared to speak.
This silence only infuriated Aracila more.
They all knew what had happened to Audrey, yet none of them had spoken up.
‘So this is what Paula meant.’
If they had truly acknowledged and respected her as their mistress, they never would have dared to lay a hand on her personal maid.
Paula’s advice was completely right—Aracila could see that now.
Folding her arms, she gracefully walked forward, her gaze sweeping over the assembled maids.
Her features were soft and delicate, her eyes naturally gentle—yet, standing so close to her, an unmistakable pressure weighed down on them.
Slowly, deliberately, she spoke.
“You all seem to already know why I’ve called you here.”
No one answered.
Rosalyn, standing among the maids, lifted her chin proudly.
She wasn’t afraid.
She had a valid reason for punishing Audrey—Aracila couldn’t scold them for dealing with a thief.
Even if she tried to defend Audrey, it would only make her look like she was playing favorites.
‘It’s a shame we couldn’t get rid of Audrey before the mistress returned.’
Just as Rosalyn clicked her tongue in mild regret, Aracila’s voice rang out once more.
“Step forward if you were involved in framing Audrey as a thief.”
The maids stiffened, startled.
They had truly believed Audrey was guilty, so Aracila’s words completely blindsided them.
“Anyone who accused Audrey and locked her in the barn—step forward.”
At the firm command, several maids hesitantly stepped forward.
Among them were Rosalyn and the head maid.
“So it was all of you.”
“M-My lady, Audrey didn’t just get accused—she really did steal my necklace!”
Amy stepped forward, her voice trembling.
In her mind, she was the victim—her mother’s keepsake had been stolen, and the necklace had been found in Audrey’s room.
“The necklace was found in Audrey’s room. The others can confirm it!”
Aracila’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“Who found it?”
“Pardon?”
“Who was the one that found the necklace in Audrey’s room? Was it you, Amy?”
Amy shook her head.
It had been Rosalyn who had discovered it.
“I found it, my lady.”
Before anyone else could speak, Rosalyn answered immediately.
Aracila’s gaze shifted to her.
“There are witnesses who saw me take the necklace from Audrey’s room. It’s not a lie…”
“Where exactly did you find it?”
“Behind the wardrobe.”
“Is that so?”
Aracila’s lips curled slightly.
“You sure seemed to know exactly where it was hidden, Rosalyn. Almost as if… you knew it was there beforehand.”
Rosalyn’s expression stiffened.
She hadn’t expected Aracila to turn the accusation on her so quickly.
The slight smirk on Aracila’s face was far too composed—far too confident.
“Did you enter Audrey’s room alone?”
“…Yes, my lady.”
“Then it’s entirely possible that you were the one who stole Amy’s necklace and planted it in Audrey’s room, isn’t it?”
“That’s Impossible!”
Rosalyn flared up in anger.
But in truth, she had stolen Amy’s necklace and planted it in Audrey’s room herself.
Her mouth felt parched, and sweat gathered in her palms.
Even so, she refused to back down, stiffening her neck in defiance.
“Why is it impossible?” Aracila took a step closer, her voice laced with quiet menace.
“If you think about it, as her roommate, you had the easiest opportunity to steal it.”
“Why would I do such a thing?!” Rosalyn retorted sharply.
“Then why would Audrey?”
At that, Rosalyn’s eyes wavered.
The head maid, who had been observing the exchange, also grew uneasy.
If Rosalyn crumbled, then she too would be implicated—she had been the one assisting in this scheme, after all.
She quickly intervened.
“My lady, we intended to report this matter to the master for judgment from the start. I understand that you’re upset because your favored maid has been wronged, but please don’t let emotions cloud your judgment against the others.”
The moment the head maid finished speaking, a dry chuckle escaped Aracila’s lips.
She had to admire the way the woman was trying to manipulate the narrative—twisting a rightful interrogation into an emotional outburst.
Her expression turned cold as she turned to face the head maid.
“Tell me, who is the maid you trust and favor the most?”
“Pardon? Why do you—”
“Hurry up and answer.”
After a moment of hesitation, the head maid pointed to Anna, a maid she had worked with for a long time and trusted.
“Anna, go to Audrey’s room and bring back every single piece of jewelry you see.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Anna quickly left, returning shortly with a pile of expensive earrings and necklaces that were clearly of great value.
Aracila held them up for all to see.
“Do you know what these are? These are gifts I personally gave to Audrey.
“She didn’t even ask for them—I gave them willingly.
“If she wanted wealth, she could have asked me for something even more expensive.
“So why would someone like her steal from another maid?”
Hushed whispers spread through the assembled maids.
It was well known that clever maids who earned their mistress’s favor often asked for extra gifts.
But Audrey was humble and modest—if Aracila didn’t personally insist, she never took more than her wages.
If Audrey were truly a thief, she would have stolen from Aracila first.
“Unless someone framed her, there is absolutely no way Audrey would steal.”
Aracila’s grip tightened around the jewelry.
To falsely accuse someone who had lived their entire life honorably and honestly—
It was infuriating.
Her voice dropped to a dangerous level.
“I will never forgive anyone who dares to touch someone who belongs to me.”
Her severe words struck the maids like a blade.
If they had targeted her personally, she might have shown mercy, considering the power imbalance between them.
But targeting Audrey? That was unacceptable.
“If this turns out to be a false accusation, everyone involved will be punished. At least half of you will be dismissed without a recommendation letter.”
At that, fear gripped the maids.
Being fired without a recommendation meant they would never work as maids again—such maids were seen as troublemakers and blacklisted from noble households.
The head maid and Rosalyn desperately racked their brains for a way out.
Just then—
“What is the meaning of this?”
The central doors swung open, and Damian stepped inside.
It was already time for his return home.
The room fell silent, and every pair of eyes turned to him.
Seeing her chance, the head maid rushed toward him in a panic.
“Master, please help us!”
“Help?” Damian repeated coolly.
“Yes! The maid the lady brought with her was caught stealing, but instead of punishing her, the lady refuses to believe any of us and is threatening to fire us all!”
Tears welled up in the head maid’s eyes as she pleaded.
It was a carefully crafted explanation, twisting the situation entirely in her favor.
As if on cue, the other maids also flocked toward Damian, crying out.
“Please save us, Master!”
“We have served you faithfully—don’t abandon us!”
“Master, please be fair and pass judgment!”
Like lost chicks searching for their mother hen, the maids clung to Damian.
But despite calling Aracila “My Lady” and Damian “Master”, their actions made it clear—
They only saw Damian as their true master.
They had completely disregarded Aracila’s authority.
Aracila was dumbfounded.
Just moments ago, they had been watching her warily, but now they clung to Damian like he was their savior.
What a joke.
She turned to look at Damian, her expression incredulous.
Damian, who had been calmly scanning the scene, finally met her gaze.
Meanwhile…
Following Aracila’s orders, Audrey had sneaked into Rosalyn and Amy’s room.
‘Now, where should I hide this?’
If she hid it carelessly, Rosalyn might find it first, which would ruin everything.
Carefully, Audrey scanned the room, searching for the perfect spot.
Then—her eyes landed on a small gap between the bed and the nightstand.
‘If I slip it in here, no one will notice…’
Audrey pushed the nightstand aside and prepared to place the necklace inside the gap.
But—
Thud.
Something fell out from behind the nightstand.
‘Huh? What’s this?’
Confused, Audrey pulled the nightstand away completely to take a closer look.
Lying on the floor were two sealed envelopes.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ✧: *. ꕥ .* :✧ﾟ. ───
