The two people, deeply engrossed in each other, continued their conversation without any awareness of their surroundings.
“No, I want to proudly show off our relationship, but my brother said we need to demonstrate our abilities if we want to work as the count’s personal attendants.”
“Hmph, isn’t that just an excuse to have fun with me and the head maid?”
“Oh? Why are you saying such a scary thing! Veronica, you are my true love.”
“Cheh…!”
As Idel watched the two laughing and expressing their affection, she pressed her hand against her chest. She felt her heart racing beneath her palm.
‘..I’m getting a little excited.’
It wasn’t just because of the dopamine-stimulating conversation between the two; it was because this situation seemed to present another solution for her.
‘I’ll need to think a bit more, but at least I can use this affair to manipulate Sylvia.’
Being able to influence someone who wasn’t well-disposed towards her was a significant gain.
‘No, I came here just to eavesdrop on the servants’ gossip but ended up collecting several behind-the-scenes details.’
Is this what you call a melodramatic solution? Is this the kind of explosive revelation her sister was talking about?
‘It’s intuitive and immediate, which is… quite appealing.’
Idel slightly revised her earlier judgment of melodrama as pathetic.
While it might seem absurd to a reader, for someone navigating the world of melodrama, it was like a refreshing rain.
Gently tapping her throbbing legs with her fist, Idel quietly gleamed with excitement.
‘Melisa was trying to kill two birds with one stone by isolating me. Control over me and the elimination of Sylvia.’
She was relieved to discover that the person Melisa loved was the Duchess.
Because even if it led to the same outcome, knowing the opponent’s intentions would make a big difference later.
‘She probably planned to make Sylvia the implicit bystander or instigator if the servants harassed me.’
Even if she escaped that scheme, she would definitely be punished for failing to manage her subordinates.
‘Especially if I were to get seriously hurt somewhere.’
In either case, Melisa could remove Sylvia, who was a thorn in her side far from her beloved sister. Just as she wanted.
Of course, Idel had no intention of allowing things to unfold that way. Who would want such a thing?
‘I wish these two would spill a bit more information.’
As long as Sylvia was involved, this couple would inevitably hand her a card, no matter what it was.
While Idel focused with her eyes and ears open, the two, who had been playfully teasing each other, started bickering again.
“I know why my darling is sticking to the head maid, but honestly, I’m tired of this. I’m tired of fumbling when my parents ask.”
“Oh, here we go again. I even bought you a ring last time as a token of our love.”
“That one that the head maid has too?”
“Darling, that’s fake.”
Fake, my foot.
Idel smirked slightly and pulled back. She wasn’t interested in the lies he threw out without even wetting his lips, but what he was saying itself was interesting.
In the meantime, the man poked his girlfriend’s lips with his finger and continued speaking.
“It’s true. They look the same, but your ring is a gimmel ring, you know? Haven’t you ever thought of separating the rings?”
“What? Really?”
“Open it. Our names are inscribed inside the ring. My feelings for you, Veronica, too.”
Without hesitation, Veronica separated her ring. It was crafted so intricately that it was hard to tell it was a gimmel ring unless looked at closely.
[Veronica Wands*Demaric Anton, I love you forever]
She read the small inscription inside the ring aloud, sniffled, and collapsed into the man’s arms.
“…Oh my, Demaric, I love you too!”
“Veronica!”
It was truly a legendary love. Idel shook her head and covered her ears as she watched the two people embracing each other.
She felt she had overheard all the important information, but she didn’t want to hear the couple’s silly chatter.
Even after Idel covered her ears, the two continued to chatter for a while before finally disappearing.
Only then did she manage to extract herself, letting out a long sigh as she rubbed the back of her neck.
“This is exhausting.”
She had no complaints since she had gotten what she wanted.
‘I definitely need to rethink my plans.’
Now that she knew what card Melissa had played, she had no intention of letting this opportunity slip away.
Idel smirked at the thought of Melisa’s twisted expression when things didn’t go her way.
‘Hmm, should I head back to my room for now?’
She glanced back at the bamboo forest of the Duke’s mansion, as certified by her sister, and quickly turned around.
She had a feeling that if she lingered any longer, someone else would come looking for secrets.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
Back in her room, Idel decided to slightly modify her existing plans.
To be precise, she resolved to involve Gianna and Diane in her scheme.
The reason was simple.
‘There’s no way Gianna, who had somewhat reconciled with me, would stay quiet.’
She was bound to step in again the moment the maids flicked a finger at her. Like she did with Dante Knightley.
‘Honestly, it’s a miracle she hasn’t rushed to my room right now.’
She expected that she would come running to find her like a puppy at the door.
Anyway, for this reason, Idel chose to reach out to Gianna before she made any surprise moves.
[Secret Hideout. Lunch. Important!]
She decided to hold a strategy meeting at that “secret hideout” Gianna had informed her about via a note.
‘If I had stayed distant from Gianna, I wouldn’t have to worry about this…’
What could she do? She had to accept this much.
Since her regret and determination had been settled on the day of her reconciliation with Gianna, she didn’t feel anxious or scared.
‘After all, the bad second daughter image didn’t work on Gianna at all.’
Even when they were not on good terms, Gianna had fought Dante for her sake…
‘Well, I’ll have to worry more about the villain image in front of Melisa.’
As she quietly organized her thoughts, she crossed her arms and cleared her throat.
What was important now wasn’t the past, but handling the two people looking at her with identical expressions.
Meeting Gianna’s sparkling eyes, Idel spoke up.
“Listen well, Gianna. You and I need to act distant with each other from now on.”
“Distant?”
“It means we shouldn’t get too close. Just like before we reconciled.”
“What? Why?”
Gianna looked horrified, as if she absolutely disliked the idea.
As she jumped up from her seat, Idel raised an eyebrow, as if she expected this reaction. A quick response came as a bonus.
“You know the servants dislike me, right?”
“Hmm?”
“It seems they’re planning to torment me. I heard it from Diane not long ago.”
“Torment? You?”
At the shocking word, Gianna immediately turned her head away. A strong determination to hear everything was shimmering in her blue eyes.
Diane, who received Gianna’s intense gaze, awkwardly summarized the story.
“…I see.”
Even after hearing Diane’s story, surprisingly, Gianna didn’t get angry. She simply stared into space with a serious expression.
She nodded seriously, resting her chin on her small hands, and then spoke again.
“But what does it matter if we get along to the servants?”
“…Why aren’t you saying something like ‘I trust you, sister’?”
“Oh my, Idel!”
Gianna blushed shyly and rolled her eyes with a sigh.
“Well, how should I put it…”
“What?”
“Um, I know the atmosphere with the servants is different when they’re with me and you. It was like that when we first met, too.”
When we first met?
‘Ah, that golden opportunity when I could maintain my image?’
Thanks to that, she was able to stay in the annex and avoid trouble. Idel felt satisfied with the memory, but Jeiana mumbled in a dejected tone.
“Actually, it was the first time I saw Sylvia being so cold. Ah! Of course, just because Sylvia is usually a kind person doesn’t mean it’s okay for her to bully you, Idel!”
“That’s true.”
“Seriously! I was going to go tell Mom about it right after we parted ways!”
“Hey, don’t do that. Ever.”
“What? But…”
Idel quickly interrupted, shaking her head as if it weren’t necessary.
“If you do that, my plan will fall apart.”
“Plan?”
“Earlier, you asked why we shouldn’t get close, right? It’s not just you. I told Diane to spread rumors about me among the servants too.”
“Huh?”
“I need to look vulnerable and easy to deal with.”
Facing the confused Gianna, Idel smirked and smiled slyly.
