SOWD Chapter 81

Chapter 81

Angela wasn’t the only one causing trouble; there was another person adding to the tension.

“So even the Duchess’s judgment can’t be trusted.”

Edmund clicked his tongue as he watched Idel dance with Laszlo from a distance.

Idel, who seemed to be falling into his grasp, had withdrawn at the critical moment, stepping back instead.

“It seems you have something else you want from me.”

“Nothing of the sort. I’m merely asking for the chance to treat you to fine food and wine. Let’s have a pleasant conversation about how you’ve been living.”

“How I’ve been living…?”

“If there’s anything troubling or difficult about being here, let me know. I’ll do whatever I can to help.”

Idel slowly nodded, but Edmund lowered his voice and whispered near her ear to coax her further.

“It must be hard for you, right? For someone as noble as you to be treated as a laundry maid—Count Chrysus has truly gone too far!”

“Thank you for your concern, but actually, I’ve never felt more at ease in my life than I do here.”

“…What?”

At first, Edmund thought he’d misheard her. Perhaps there was some hidden meaning behind her words.

However, Idel met his gaze steadily, her expression unwavering.

“Count Chrysus is a gentleman and a man of proper manners. His sister, Miss Rinia, is bright and kind. Even the staff I work with are kind-hearted, diligent, and supportive of me.”

“O-of course, but someone like you belongs in a higher place, not down here.”

“A higher place?”

Idel suddenly burst into laughter, but there was something hollow and faintly angry in it.

“I’ve already fallen and been hurt badly once. Do you really think I’d want to climb back up there again?”

“I know you’ve been deeply hurt. But you belong in high society. I can help you get there. Don’t be afraid.”

“No, I don’t wish for that. Idel Canyon and Idel Lancaster served their purposes long ago. I’m perfectly content living as Idel, the housekeeper of the Chrysus estate.”

At that moment, a servant approached and informed Idel that Laszlo was looking for her.

“I must take my leave. Enjoy the party.”

With impeccable poise, Idel bowed and left without hesitation.

Though Edmund politely replied, “I hope to see you again,” he couldn’t shake the feeling that she had played him, leaving him in a sour mood.

And to make matters worse, what did she do with Laszlo? They began to dance together.

“Damn it. Did Laszlo and she conspire to humiliate me? Insolent woman. When Laszlo falls, I’ll personally drag her down into the dirt with him.”

Grinding his teeth, Edmund quickly masked his emotions with a smooth smile as someone approached.

---

The party ended at 2 a.m., but the lights of the Chrysus estate remained on.

“Thank you for your hard work, my lord. And you too, Miss Rinia.”

At Idel’s words, Laszlo chuckled and surveyed the ballroom.

The space, where so many had feasted and danced, was surprisingly clean. He had expected a mess by the end of the party, but it seemed someone’s invisible efforts had kept it orderly throughout.

“What did I do to deserve thanks? The hard work was all done by you and the rest of the staff.”

Looking at the assembled servants, Laszlo spoke sincerely.

“You’ve all done incredibly well. I’ll make sure you’re properly rewarded for your efforts. For now, tidy up quickly and get some well-deserved rest.”

Knowing their master wasn’t stingy with rewards, tired faces lit up with smiles.

Just then, the chef Oliver poked his head out of the kitchen and shouted, “Why don’t we all have something to eat first? I’m starving!”

Realizing the staff likely hadn’t eaten properly all day, Laszlo smirked.

“Thank you for not abandoning this thoughtless master of yours. Let’s eat, as Oliver suggested. I’m feeling a bit hungry myself.”

Amid laughter, everyone moved to the dining room, where leftover party food had been neatly arranged.

As they began to sit down, Idel whispered to Laszlo, “This might be against etiquette, but may I request your permission for the staff to dine here with you?”

“It’d be ridiculous to refuse after everything’s already set up.”

“Even if you refused, our loyalty wouldn’t waver. It’s no big deal to eat in another room or even on the floor. What’s more important is your comfort, my lord.”

“You’re quite the persuader.”

Laszlo grinned and nodded.

“Everyone here deserves to be treated well. Don’t squeeze into the small tables; join me at the big one. Now!”

Under his generous approval, all the staff gathered at the grand table and helped themselves to the food.

The food, though slightly cold, was still delicious, and the servants forgot their fatigue as they ate happily.

The most excited person, however, was Rinia, who had essentially been reborn through the party.

“Miss! Tell us about the dance requests you received tonight!”

When Colette teased her, Rinia’s face flushed bright red, prompting laughter.

As the servants chimed in, Laszlo interjected, “It wasn’t some grand romance. It was Talon Count’s son. I mentioned Rinia didn’t have a partner, so the Count must have asked his son to step in.”

Despite Rinia’s protests, her glowing cheeks and shy smile betrayed her feelings.

 

The table erupted in cheerful chatter, a sense of camaraderie filling the air.

“With this party, the Count of Chrysus will be newly in the spotlight. So, just a word of caution—it’s okay not to accept every dance invitation you receive. Tomorrow, I’ll teach you how to decline them.”

Rinia nodded absentmindedly, her expression unsure of what kind of face to make. She seemed lost in thought, but since Laszlo tapped his glass with a spoon, Idel couldn’t observe her condition any further.

“You really did a great job today. I’m not just saying that—I never imagined such an elegant party could be held in this mansion.”

The usually reticent head of the household spoke at length, prompting the staff to fall silent.

“I know that some of you have endured hardships for quite a while due to my neglect of this mansion. I’d like to take this opportunity to apologize.”

A noble apologizing to servants was an unusual sight.

But the real surprise came after that.

“Chef Oliver, sous-chef Philip, and Charlotte, May, Bianca—the dishes you prepared today were truly outstanding. You must have worked hard in front of the stove.”

“Th-Thank you, sir.”

“Margaret, the head maid—the grand banquet hall and every corner where the guests could walk were remarkably clean. I know Daisy, Dina, Elliot, Lily, Ditto, and John all worked hard too. Well done.”

He called each servant by name, acknowledged their specific efforts, and expressed his gratitude. This was the same man who, just three months ago, only knew the names of the former head maid Marsha and the stableman Marco.

“My lord…!”

“Thank you for remembering my name.”

“Oh dear, these tears… how embarrassing.”

It’s often not the hardship itself but the feeling that no one acknowledges or understands that hardship, which brings about greater despair and emptiness.

But right now, Laszlo was saying, “I know what you’ve gone through, and I sincerely thank you for it.”

At the height of this emotional moment, Laszlo’s gaze shifted toward Idel.