If Elizabeth knew that her own daughter was about to be sold to the baron, and yet she was helping Gerturk, then there was nothing more to say.
But what if Elizabeth was being used by the Count and the Countess without her knowing what was happening to her own daughter?
『 If this fact is leaked, we will at least break the trust between Elizabeth and Gerturk.』
The information that the Count and the Countess adopted a daughter because they needed a girl to sell, unless known by someone who worked in the manor like Neal, was unknown.
Edith expressed her gratitude for being informed of the scandalous truth that could cause a great stir in Elizabeth.
“Thank you, Neal. You really helped me a lot.”
Neal couldn’t help but smile at her sincere voice. Since being kicked out without even receiving a letter of recommendation, this was the first time she had heard that she had been of help to anyone.
“Did it really help you?”
Edith could be sure of her question without thinking.
“It won’t be any good for the Count and Countess now that their secret has been revealed. But what you said definitely helped me a lot.”
“…”
“Of course, thanks to what you said to me, the one benefiting the most is the daughter of Count Gerturk.”
Neal looked at Edith’s smile, and remained silent for a while, holding the child without saying a word.
Due to the sudden loss of her job and being forced to raise the child alone, Neal had forgotten how courageous she had been.
⋙“Hmm, M’lady. It may be presumptuous of me to meddle, but I am very worried about the young lady marrying Baron Humphrey. The teacher who taught the young lady mentioned that the Baron often seems to resort to using a stick…”⋘
Neal said that to Countess Gerturk because she felt sorry for a child less than ten years old who was terrified at the thought of leaving for an unfamiliar territory.
The image of the growing skinny young lady who is getting brainwashed education without sleeping seems to overlap with her own child.
Although Neal knew how laughable it was for an insignificant maid to dare worry about a noble lady, she still brought up the conversation in the hope that the Countess would take notice of her daughter’s condition. Even though Neal had heard multiple times about the measures the master and mistress take when there is a servant who even slightly goes against their intentions, she still did it.
After she was kicked out, the biggest problem was making a living, so Neal had forgotten her sense of justice, but the lady in front of her made her rediscover it by expressing her gratitude and acknowledging her help.
Feeling something welling up inside, Neal tightened her lips with strength.
Before she knew it, the carriage arrived at the shabby inn where Neal was staying. Edith got off the carriage for a moment to see her off.
“If you have the skills, there’s no way you can’t get a job as a maid again. I’ll contact you soon with a family that won’t be prejudiced against you, so please buy and wear clean and warm clothes when you come.”
“Thank you so much, M’lady.”
Neal wrapped her child in her cloak and watched Edith’s carriage as it crossed the horizon.
『 Clean and warm clothes, huh.』
Maybe because she was a noble lady, she didn’t seem to know that ordinary people like her wore the same clothes for spring, fall, and winter. However, she was grateful that she even paid attention to her clothing.
“Thanks to the lady, if I get a job, I will be able to buy you your first winter clothes. Mommy has been working hard… hmm?”
Neal, gently holding the child, whispered affectionately but suddenly discovered something sparkling inside the child’s outer wrap.
It was a bracelet that, if sold, could easily buy thick winter clothes and still have some left. It was a bracelet that Edith had been holding onto until just now, and she had discreetly placed it in the child’s wrap.
──────────✿◦•
By this time, there was no one in the empire who did not know the news that the Little Duke of Lexion, who won the swordsmanship tournament, was courting the lady who saved him from the Viscount’s manor.
At the Imperial Palace, the curtains were raised for the New Year’s ball organized in the name of the Emperor.
“It’s disgusting how even those country bumpkin nobles are flocking to impress the Emperor. What do they think they can achieve in the fading light of the dying sun?”
The Imperial Consort Patricia was drinking tea in her palace and watching the procession of carriages rush by. Elizabeth, who had received her invitation and was drinking tea with her, opened her mouth with a forced smile.
“His Majesty must be concerned about his deteriorating health day by day. Requiring all the detached palaces in the capital and the hunting lodges in the vicinity to be surrendered, even demanding the attendance of provincial nobles, is probably to demonstrate solidarity.”
Gilbert felt secretly pleased as Elizabeth appeased Patricia’s mood with her calm tone.
『 I was worried that Elizabeth seemed to be looking for me less these days, but she seems to be catering to my Noonim’s mood for my sake.』
He was worried that Elizabeth showed any signs of discomfort in front of Patricia, but he was glad she didn’t. He felt relieved as he once again confirmed that he still was special and irreplaceable to her.
Even now, just like when she left for Fortrion, Elizabeth would do everything for him.
Patricia, too, was secretly harboring thoughts similar to her younger brother’s.
『 Among the women close to me, Elizabeth is the only one who is somewhat useful. Although she is an illegitimate daughter, but…』
Elizabeth was quick-witted, and most of all, her love for Gilbert was remarkable. Although she ended up failing, it was clear that doing espionage work in Fortrion for several years was not something anyone could accomplish.
Although Gilbert didn’t seem to reciprocate the same level of affection towards her, Patricia found that to be rather convenient.
『 It’s convenient to use her without any burden, and it’s perfect to discard her when she becomes useless.』
She was still looking for a lady-in-waiting. Due to the exceptional job performance of her former lady-in-waiting, who had to quit due to pregnancy, her standards became higher, and most of the applicants didn’t meet her expectations.
Patricia didn’t like people like Viscountess Carter who were imprudent and loose-tongued, as well as naive girls who grew up dignifiedly without showing flexibility, as per their parents’ teachings.
On the other hand, Elizabeth in front of her not only quickly grasped what she was saying and adjusted her mood accordingly but also had a quick wit and was not hesitant to dirty her hands on Gerturk’s behalf.
『 Well, it doesn’t matter where she comes from; her background can be appropriately adjusted.』
As Elizabeth said, the Emperor’s health had deteriorated to the point that he needed to demonstrate his authority.
When he dies, Patricia’s son Claude will soon become emperor and she can then begin the regency she has longed for. It was practically her own coronation.
If she grants Elizabeth generosity now, when she eventually reaches the pinnacle of power, Elizabeth would have no choice but to feel indebted and loyal to her.
After finishing thinking, Patricia put her teacup down on the table and said.
“By the way, Elizabeth. It seems I have never properly rewarded you for the hardships you endured in Fortrion.”
“No, I only did it because I wanted to.”
Elizabeth tried to play it down, but she couldn’t help but perk up at the mention of the word ‘reward.’ Considering the circumstances, where she was labeled as Nicholas’ murderer and lost her inheritance to Isabelle, she felt she should accept anything, even if it were crumbs.
“Alright. I understand you intend to join our family, so how about working as my lady-in-waiting?”
“Lady-in-waiting…”
Elizabeth covered her mouth in genuine surprise. Of course, Patricia had a difficult personality, but she will become a powerful person in the future.
If rumors spread that the Imperial Consort, dissatisfied with other candidates, chose her as her lady-in-waiting, public opinion would quickly change, especially in the current situation.
『 I don’t want to completely cut ties with the Imperial Consort in a situation like this.』
Moreover, if she became the Imperial Consort’s lady-in-waiting, the salary would be quite high, and bribes from people wanting to curry favor would undoubtedly be substantial.
『 If I take on the job of a lady-in-waiting, my reputation and wealth will be restored, and I can bring Elise back as my daughter.』
Elizabeth was well aware that this was one of the best offers she could receive at the moment. Both the Imperial Consort and Gilbert were suspicious, but she could temporarily set aside her mistrust if they offered her money. She imagined how much salary and bribes she could receive and then bowed her head.
“Being a lady-in-waiting to Your Highness would be an honor that no lady in Agnas could refuse.”
“Thank you for saying so. As soon as the New Year’s festival is over, I will inform the department in charge of personnel management, so it would be a good idea to prepare mentally from now on.”
“I will do my best as much as you trust me, Your Highness.”
Elizabeth was not lying. In fact, the previous evening, she had received an interesting report from a private investigator she had secretly hired without Gilbert’s knowledge.
⋙“That guy named Benjamin I mentioned earlier. He is neither married nor has a lover, but he can’t take his eyes off when he sees something that would only be given as a gift to women with children these days.”⋘
⋙“What do you mean?”⋘
⋙“Well, things like children’s shoes or socks needed for pregnant women. He specifically purchases the most expensive ones and asks to wrap them as gifts.”⋘
Elizabeth, who had already learned from another private investigator that Benjamin’s only friend of the opposite sex was Edith.
The fact that he, who used to linger around her at the Fortrion Manor and continued to stay in touch even in the capital, suddenly started preparing gifts for pregnant women—.
『 There is a very high probability that Edith is pregnant.』
Coincidentally, today was the New Year’s celebration. If she were to approach Edith discreetly, reveal that she knows about her pregnancy, and then mention that she has been offered the position of the Imperial Consort’s lady-in-waiting, how much could Edith offer in return for keeping the secret from Gerturk?
『 You tried to get Elise away from me by spilling the beans to the journalists…』
Elizabeth just smiled as she anticipated the direction the conversation with Edith would take on the New Year’s evening.
❀.°• ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ •°.❀
