“Please, spare us, My Lady. Please don’t cast us aside.”
“It must have been because of my son’s tuition. I’ll accept any punishment, just let us work here!”
I looked down at Hans and Arthur, who were prostrated before me.
Hans might not understand the situation fully, but Arthur still remembered Astel’s influence.
“Isn’t this too much? We don’t even give this to the laborers! It would be one thing if it were used as animal feed.”
“You don’t even have the ability to distinguish what you’re eating, so what’s not to be done?”
“The condition has worsened since last time! Ugh, the smell! Isn’t this spoiled? Doesn’t the steward say anything about it?”
“The steward is already so busy. How can he personally check every little thing? He doesn’t pay attention to matters that the Duke himself has lost interest in.”
“Ugh, this won’t do. If we accept this, we’ll have to eat it too. I absolutely can’t eat something like this!”
“Who said you have to eat this? The Lady’s meals are made from these ingredients, and you can eat the food assigned to the hired help. Isn’t that sufficient?”
“…”
“Do you know how expensive the ingredients and items that come from the Lady’s share are? If I sell them, I could easily earn a monthly allowance. Hey, I’m not doing this just for my own benefit. I’m working hard for everyone’s sake.”
To be discreet, one should speak quietly. Yet, those two were talking carelessly in front of the annex.
➤ Astel had to listen attentively to Arthur and Vivian’s conversation from the confines of her bedroom.
But she remained silent.
She knew all too well that there was no one who would believe her words.
There was only one reason why I accepted Genia.
Even if she only served bread with soup, she never made food with rotten ingredients.
Genia was also the one who pulled Astel out from under the bed when she was suffering from a panic attack.
I responded nonchalantly.
“What difference does it make if we punish only these people?”
“What do you mean? Are you saying there are others who have committed sins besides them?”
“Yes.”
“Who are they?”
“Everyone here.”
“…”
“The one among them who is most at fault is you, Duke.”
The countenance of Duke Luteous turned pale blue.
Was he angry or shocked?
I erased my smile.
“Do you think no one knew that they were stealing goods? Did the maids who manage the mansion really not know? Do you think Frank and Marilyn, who oversee the employees, knew nothing? If you truly believe that, then you are not fit to lead the family, Duke.”
“…”
“You know it too, Duke. They all had a vague sense of what was happening. But they turned a blind eye. Why do you think that was?”
I pointed at Duke Luteous.
As if my hand was an arrow, Duke Luteous momentarily halted his breath.
“Because of you, Duke. Because you ignored me! Because you treated me like a ghost! Because you cast me aside in the annex and didn’t acknowledge my existence!”
I took in the sight of the employees and Duke Luteous.
The true faces of those whom Astel had yearned for so much.
“You’re all accomplices. Punishment? How about we all join hands and jump off the rooftop?”
I turned away, leaving the frozen individuals behind.
As I ascended the stairs, Alex rushed over and grabbed hold of me.
“Astel!”
“What?”
“I didn’t know! How dare they touch the Lady’s belongings? If I had known, I wouldn’t have let it slide. I really didn’t know.”
“So what?”
I shrugged off Alex’s hand and continued up the stairs.
Step by step. In the quiet lobby, only the sound of my footsteps reverberated calmly.
* * *
A large-scale reshuffle of the employees began. Except for a few, most of them received termination notices.
Frank and Marilyn were fortunate enough not to be fired, but that didn’t mean the situation was favorable for them.
Amidst the chaotic rush to replenish the workforce, they had to personally step in where immediate manpower was needed.
Engaged in tending to the gardens and working in the kitchen at their advanced age, the scent of muscle pain ointment lingered around them.
New employees were quickly hired.
They were individuals who had heard about the presence of hunters within the Luteous family and applied for positions.
Upon being employed, they received strict training on how to treat Astel.
Those who fell out of favor with her were immediately dismissed.
Within a matter of days, the once-chaotic mansion gradually found its footing.
The heavy atmosphere that had weighed it down also improved little by little.
Thanks to the training, there were no longer any slips where someone would mistakenly call me a mad Lady or rudely beg for something.
The new employees cautiously treated me, much like they would Duke Luteous.
Of course, I paid no attention to it whatsoever.
“Sigh…”
It wasn’t the employees who bothered me, but rather the wealthy Duke Luteous.
I nervously set down my butter knife.
From across the table, Duke Luteous, sipping his coffee and reviewing documents, briefly glanced at me.
Alex, who was sitting beside me, slicing steak since morning, asked, “Does it taste bad?”
“Could it taste good?”
“Why? Did someone play a prank on your food again? These things are real…”
“No, the food is excellent.”
“Then why do you say that?”
I stared intently at Duke Luteous.
“If you, Your Grace, are going to have a cup of coffee in the morning, is it really necessary for you to come all the way to the dining room?”
“It’s my house.”
Duke Luteous calmly replied without even lifting his gaze from the documents.
The employees were collectively dismissed, and for about two days, there was no sign of the Duke’s presence.
‘If only it had stayed that way.’
I couldn’t understand why he reappeared yesterday and started bothering me again.
I glared at Alex.
“Didn’t you say you don’t eat breakfast?”
“What are you talking about? People need breakfast to have energy.”
“You used to chase after me every morning and disrupt my meal.”
“…Me?”
“You don’t eat breakfast either, yet you lecture a murderer about the importance of breakfast. Don’t you remember?”
Alex, whom I expected to retort, surprisingly remained quiet.
For some reason, Alex and Duke Luteous were looking at each other.
‘What are they up to?’
Before I could ask, Alex stammered, his face turning red, clearly embarrassed by something.
“T-That, when did that happen? How do you still remember?”
“I’m sorry, but I remember even earlier incidents. Should I remind you of each one?”
“I-It was when I was naive. I’m not like that anymore…really.”
Alex’s expression truly seemed remorseful.
But is that genuine?
‘He’s just putting on an act.’
I swallowed my laughter inwardly.
<Viewer Count: 57>
Even though I had only been idling around at home, the viewer count had increased.
There were no incidents or accidents, and no clips were uploaded to the Holy See community.
That meant there was only one reason. The Seers who had migrated from Alex’s room.
There were even chats confirming that they had actually moved from Alex’s room.
Though he didn’t show it, Alex must be feeling the pressure now.
It was probably because he was worried about losing more viewers. That’s why he’s pretending to reflect and regret.
“Did the viewer count drop significantly?”
“What? No, it didn’t!”
“Should I tell the Sees who moved to my room? They’re feeling sorry for you. Show them some consideration, since they’re pitiful.”
“I told you, it’s not like that!”
Alex snapped in frustration.
At that moment, Duke Luteous set aside his documents
“Enough for now, prepare yourself. It’s time to attend the memorial service.”
“Good. I didn’t want to sit here any longer. I’ll get up first.”
I left the dining room and made my way up to the bedroom.
After taking a meticulous bath, I emerged from the bathroom, and Genia presented me with a dress.
It was a black dress with a black nose veil, fitting for the memorial service.
“What do you think, my lady?”
“It’s fine.”
I changed into the dress, neatly pinned up my hair, and put on the nose veil.
The elegant veil, adorned with small pearls in a regular pattern, covered my nose.
There were no jewels attached to the black dress. However, the fabric itself was luxurious lace, so it didn’t appear dull.
But the problem was that strands of silver hair and green eyes were clearly visible through the veil.
It wasn’t meant to hide the face, but there was no other choice.
If I were to appear at the memorial service like this, everyone would recognize me.
‘And they would point fingers at the mad lady.’
Genia, sensing my unease, cautiously asked, “My lady, should I look for a denser veil?”
“It’s fine.”
It didn’t matter anyway. I would return immediately. If it weren’t for the quest, I wouldn’t have even considered attending.
“Sigh, I’m so tired of memorial services.”
I disliked funerals.
It felt like it was my fault, like I couldn’t protect, like I was weak.
“If only I had been a little stronger, that person wouldn’t have died.”
Attending a funeral once would leave those thoughts lingering in my mind, making me feel uneasy for days.
Yet, in my previous life, I had to attend memorial services as if it were a regular meal.
It was because everyone, not just those I knew, expected the attendance of the top-ranked Hunter.
I stood in front of the mirror, turning away.
