SDVMN Chapter 55

 

Idel repeated Diane’s words as a habit.

“…laxative?”

“Yes! When I asked if it was okay, Veronica said she allowed it! She even gave them the medicine!”

“Aha, Veronica…”

“Honestly… thinking that this is all to cover up her own mistakes makes me furious!”

Diane’s voice, which had barely settled, began to fill with excitement again.

She vented her frustration and then, as if she couldn’t take it anymore, turned to Idel once more.

“I understand your intentions, but it’s still better to tell the duchess, right? I’ll testify to everything!”

“What kind of nonsense is that?”

“Huh? I’m not scared of those kids at all anymore!”

“That’s not the issue.”

“If that’s not the issue…”

Following Idel’s words, Diane looked at her with a shocked expression.

“C-could it be that what they said is true…? That the duchess has given up on you, Miss Idel…? Then what do we do?”

“What do you mean, we just have to play along with their plan.”

“Uh… what?”

Idel stretched comfortably, leaving a bewildered Diane behind.

She felt the drowsiness that had been filling her just moments ago disappear as soon as she heard the news she had been waiting for.

‘They want to make me look foolish at the banquet with the laxative…’

Idel’s blue eyes narrowed slightly.

No matter how she thought about it, she couldn’t believe Veronica would be satisfied with such childish antics.

She didn’t know how effective the laxative would be, but it surely wouldn’t be enough to instill fear to the point of silencing her.

‘Then it means they’ve made some additional plans. Diane will be able to figure it out.’

After all, to proceed with the plan, they would have to follow Veronica for a while.

That way, Sylvia would be able to witness the two of them meeting in secret at just the right moment.

Idel lightly pondered and turned her head to face Diane again. First, she needed to calm her down and share her thoughts.

“Diane, calm down and think carefully. This is exactly something we should be happy about. We can directly point out the servants’ bad deeds in front of the duke and duchess.”

“Ah!”

“There’s no reason to stop them when they’re the ones walking into a trap, right?”

“Certainly, that’s true!”

As soon as Diane heard Idel’s words, she quickly changed her mindset.

In fact, when she thought about it calmly, it was obvious, but she had been so worried about Idel getting hurt that she had missed it.

‘The banquet is indeed a perfect place for Idel to show her true self. It’s also a good opportunity to reveal the truth she has been hiding!’

Diane’s eyes sparkled with a completely different attitude than when she had rushed to wake Idel to share the news.

“Then should I send a letter to Sylvia as planned and follow Veronica to see when we can meet with Demaric?”

“Yes, that’s right. Sylvia isn’t someone who moves easily, so take this ring with you.”

“Okay! Um, is it really okay to reveal my identity and plans to Sylvia?”

“Yes, she’s smart, so once she understands the situation, she’ll act without any problems. She’ll handle the medicine as well.”

Diane nodded resolutely as she received the ring from Idel.

“If it’s the head maid, she’ll definitely be able to bring the incident to light while keeping you safe, Idel! Well, like intercepting the medicine…?”

“Exactly.”

“Phew, now that I think Idel won’t get hurt, I feel relieved. Ah, of course, I have to do well too!”

Idel silently shrugged at Diane, who was now at ease.

Although it was unfortunate for Diane, her “real plan” was not that.

The reason she was willing to play along with the servants’ mischievous antics was solely to deceive Melisa and disrupt her plans.

‘So, at the banquet, I need to show the side that Melisa wants to see.’

For example, she could hesitate to ask for help until the banquet, only to reach out after being humiliated.

‘After that, she’ll realize that Sylvia is not involved in this incident and will be furious…’

But it made Idel feel good that even in her anger, she wouldn’t be able to blame her.

Idel didn’t bring up Veronica and Demaric’s affair just to draw Sylvia away.

‘It’s more because Melisa is unaware of their relationship.’

She wanted Melissa to blame the failed plan on their dirty love affair, which she didn’t know about.

‘I know that this isn’t the best way to bring down Melisa.’

No matter how morally reprehensible the affair surrounding the three of them was, exploiting someone else’s secrets was a different matter.

‘Well, even if I wanted to use it, I wouldn’t have been able to if Veronica had made a different choice.’

Idel briefly recalled one of the anonymous letters she had sent to Veronica.

The letter in which she stated she would quit if she confessed.

‘In the end, Veronica didn’t choose that path.’

For now, it was a pointless thought.

Idel swallowed her thoughts along with the water Diane had handed her.

Even without such musings, she had plenty to think about immediately.

‘For example, how can I effectively show Melissa that I’m hesitant?’

Counting the things she absolutely couldn’t afford to fail at, Idel quickened her pace.

The first thing she needed to do was, yes.

‘Find out what the menu will be at the banquet. That way, I can guide where to put the medicine.’

First, she should go to Gianna.

 

☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓

 

Around the time Idel and Veronica were busily moving for their respective plans, Sylvia received an unexpected request for a meeting.

Diane, who had been attending to Idel since she caught her eye by chance, cautiously approached her.

“Headmaid, I have something to discuss with you privately. Would it be alright if I came to see you during bedtime?”

“You have something to tell me?”

“Ah, yes!”

Sylvia quietly scanned Diane, who appeared extremely tense.

Diane was usually a very quiet and timid maid.

‘Whether it’s because of my status or my position as head maid, she definitely seems to be afraid of me.’

For her to ask for advice?

Feeling that something was off, Sylvia spoke again.

“Is it something related to work? Have you encountered any difficulties while attending to Lady Idel?”

“Um, it’s not a difficulty, but it is related, well… it’s a bit personal.”

“Is it something hard to discuss in the office?”

“Y-yes…”

As Sylvia observed Diane shrinking further with each question, she lightly nodded.

“I understand. Then come find me after finishing your work. I’ll treat you to a cup of tea.”

“Ah…! Yes! Thank you, Miss Sylvia!”

Although Sylvia had no idea what Diane wanted to consult her about, it wasn’t something to worry about too much.

At least, the Diane she knew wasn’t the type to speak nonsense.

‘She might be burdened because she suddenly took on the role of a maid.’

Perhaps she could infer something from what Idel had wanted to say previously.

She briefly recalled a recent incident but quickly shook her head.

‘That’s not important right now. The materials regarding the Marquis family that the lady requested should be somewhere here…’

As Sylvia rummaged through the papers piled in one corner of the office, she completely erased the confusion she had just felt.

Until this point, Diane’s request for a meeting seemed trivial.

Although she had granted the request, it was a minor promise that could easily be forgotten while focusing on her duties as head maid.

So, she had thought lightly about the meeting with Diane…

“I’m really sorry for bringing this up suddenly, Sylvia! Um… I’ve been thinking a lot about whether I should say this or not, but… it seems that Ms. Veronica and your fiancé, Demaric, have been meeting in secret!”

She never imagined she would hear such a story.