Spoils of War Duchess

Chapter 45

The next morning at breakfast, Masha looked as if she were furious beyond measure.

Well, it made sense. After all, she had lost her position as Linia’s personal maid, a position that likely came with its perks.

“I just can’t figure out what she’s scheming. What does she plan to do by coaxing innocent Miss Linia like that?”

Masha glared at Edel as if grinding her teeth, spitting out accusations. But Edel wanted to throw those words right back at her—What had you planned to do by controlling Linia so tightly?

‘Still, it’s better to stay quiet. If I engage with her, she’ll try to find fault with anything I say.’

But Masha, unable to contain herself, hurled insults at Edel.

“Did you seduce the Count too? Did you strip in front of him or what? Otherwise, how could he allow a traitorous criminal to stay by Miss Linia’s side? Isn’t that right?”

She seemed to expect the other servants around them to agree with her.

Ignoring most of her nonsense was easy, but that last accusation couldn’t be let go.

“Shall I deliver those exact words to the Count? Are you sure your tongue won’t be cut off?”

“What? You insolent brat!”

“Wasn’t it you who just slandered the master? Why call me insolent when you’re the one spreading lies? And I don’t even understand why you’re this angry in the first place.”

Some of the other servants nodded in agreement, while those loyal to Masha anxiously gauged her reaction.

“If Miss Linia wanted a new personal maid, what could either of us do about it? Do you think yelling at me will change anything?”

“What lies did you fill Miss Linia’s head with?”

“I didn’t tell her anything. I only helped her choose dresses and jewelry that suited her and applied makeup to match her style.”

Masha, who was about to lash out again, clamped her jaw shut as if she couldn’t find the words. No matter how long she had worked as a maid, it was clear she couldn’t match Edel, who had lived at the pinnacle of high society.

A few people couldn’t suppress their smirks and turned their heads to hide their amusement.

It was becoming apparent, even at the breakfast table, that Masha’s influence as head maid was starting to wane.

‘I’ll bring you down entirely, Lady Bochen. I have no intention of serving a rotten person like you forever.’

Edel steeled her resolve, recalling Masha’s embezzlement and misconduct.

---

Edel had become Linia’s personal maid, at Linia’s insistent request.

Laszlo felt somewhat relieved—perhaps now he could interact with the Grand Duchess Celestine with less awkwardness. But he couldn’t deny the strange heaviness in his heart.

“Brother! Give me Edel Lancaster!”

Linia burst into his room, exclaiming something bizarre after returning from a party.

When Laszlo asked what was going on, Linia eagerly recounted the events of the past three days.

On the first day of the party hosted by Camille Emerson, she hadn’t been able to hold a proper conversation with anyone and had only faced ridicule. Hearing that, Laszlo clenched his fists.

But what came next was the real story.

“So, when I went back to the party dressed up the way Edel styled me, everyone treated me differently! Some people even complimented me.”

“Are you sure you didn’t misunderstand?”

“No! They never said anything nice to me before.”

Laszlo found it hard to believe that nobles would change their attitudes so easily just because of a change in clothes, jewelry, or makeup.

But Linia insisted it was true, waving an invitation in front of him.

“Someone even gave me an invitation to another party! They probably hadn’t intended to invite me initially, but after seeing how different I looked, they handed it to me on the spot.”

She sounded like she didn’t care anymore.

“Even if they were mocking me, just like you said, it doesn’t matter. Thanks to Edel, it was the first time I didn’t feel humiliated. I need her!”

“The first time”… “without being humiliated.”

Each of Linia’s words pierced Laszlo’s heart like a knife.

Even though she spoke so earnestly, he couldn’t refuse Edel now. He had been surprised to see Edel arrive late at night, draped in a shawl over her nightgown, but it had been worth it to see Linia’s joy—a rare sight these days.

‘I haven’t seen her that excited in so long.’

Linia used to always have that bright, cheerful expression, but after becoming a noblewoman, her spirit seemed to fade bit by bit.

She had once been an energetic girl, full of honesty and wit, capable of managing a household even at a young age.

That was why Laszlo had assumed things would go smoothly.

He had believed that Linia would adapt well to noble life, growing into a confident, poised lady.

‘What made me think that?’

Despite the larger house, the wealth, and the numerous servants, Linia looked unhappier than ever. Laszlo felt increasingly uneasy, but he didn’t know how to make her happy—and there was always too much work to do. Linia’s troubles kept slipping down his list of priorities.

And now, unexpectedly, Edel had become the solution. It was hard not to feel grateful.

‘Helping Linia, the same girl who once made her kneel… Does Edel have no pride? Or… is she really an angel or something?’

Laszlo hadn’t lied when he told Edel she didn’t have to take the job if she didn’t want to. But Edel had willingly offered to do her best.

In that moment, Laszlo felt a genuine sense of gratitude toward her.

Beyond the usual perks of being a personal maid—like a better room and higher wages—he wanted to do something extra for her.

So, he summoned her.

“You called for me.”

Edel arrived, looking far more composed than when she had been working in the laundry or kitchen.

She had always looked neater than the other servants, but now that her clothes weren’t wet, dirty, or wrinkled, she seemed to shine even more.

‘It’s as if the clothes are benefiting from her, not the other way around.’

Her maid’s uniform, the same as everyone else’s, looked like it could be a duchess’s lounge dress.

“…My Lord?”

“Ah! Ahem.”

Laszlo snapped out of his thoughts at Edel’s call. It seemed he had been staring at her for too long.

To hide his embarrassment, he hurriedly spoke.

“I called you because I wanted to thank you personally.”

“Thank me? I’m not sure what you mean…”

“For helping my sister.”

Edel shook her head immediately.

“I didn’t do it expecting any kind of reward. Besides, being promoted from a kitchen maid to Miss Linia’s personal maid is already reward enough.”

“That’s hardly what I’d call a promotion. Taming that troublemaker won’t be easy. That’s all the more reason for me to properly reward you.”

With that, Laszlo pulled out a blank check he had prepared earlier and held it out to Edel.

“I doubt any gift I choose would match your taste, so I figured this would be better. Take it.”

Edel stared at the check with a puzzled expression but shook her head again.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t think I’ve done anything to deserve this. Even if I took it, I wouldn’t have any use for such a large sum.”

“You *have* earned it. And what do you mean you have no use for it? You could buy clothes, jewelry, perfume—anything you want.”

“How could I do that when I can’t even leave the estate…?”

Laszlo’s eyes widened at her words.

“What do you mean, you can’t leave? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Well… I mean…” Edel trailed off, clearly hesitant.

Laszlo suddenly realized she had misunderstood something fundamental.

“Wait a second. Did you think you were under house arrest in this estate? Because you were brought here as a prisoner?”

“…”

At that moment, everything clicked into place.

It explained why Edel had endured Masha’s unreasonable behavior without protest, why she lived so cautiously, and why she stayed out of sight as much as possible.

“Did I ever say I intended to keep you here as a slave?”

“N-no.”

“Then?”

“You said… you’d use me as a maid.”

“Exactly!”

Laszlo crossed his arms and tilted his head, studying her with mild amusement.

“As far as I know, you’ve been receiving the same wages as every other maid. Has someone been withholding your pay?”

“No, I’ve received it every month.”

“Have you been treated any differently from the other maids?”

“No.”

“Then why on earth did you confine yourself to the estate?”

“…Good question.”

Laszlo let out a short laugh at her unexpected answer.

“And here I thought you were always sharp. Turns out you’ve got a clumsy side too.”

Noticing Edel’s earlobes flush red with embarrassment, Laszlo couldn’t help but feel amused.

He extended the blank check to her again.

“Come on, now you can accept it, right? I’m sure you know how to fill one out.”

But Edel, after gazing at the check for a moment, shook her head once more.