Episode 21

【 An Unexpected Visit 】

Her reaction was so blatant that no response was necessary. I shrugged lightly.

‘It was just a casual remark, but it seems she really did wear it.’

This person had a surprisingly shameless side.

“Tut tut.”

I clicked my tongue exaggeratedly. Then, I approached her and whispered.

“So, does Aria know?”

“Wh-what…?”

“That you’ve been sneaking into His Grace’s bedroom since before she was even born, instead of the ailing Duchess?”

“…!”

“You weren’t even her nanny back then. Weren’t you a mistress?”

She initially came to the Duke’s household as a guest, then became a mistress, and ultimately stayed on as a nanny. The affair likely started when she was still a guest.

“You were quite bold. Was it a youthful folly?”

I added as I watched Lady Ellie’s expression, which looked like she was being strangled.

“Indeed. Considering you went back to His Grace wearing the negligee Aria gave you, it seems you’re still quite bold.”

Lady Ellie flinched, raising her arm. She must be itching to slap me. I shook my head.

“My lady, I understand how you feel, but calm down. I’m here to propose a deal.”

“…What are you talking about?”

“Imagine what would happen if the others found out about this, especially young Lord Servi.”

“…”

I didn’t miss the momentary flash of despair on her face.

“Exactly. Servi and Seth trust their nanny. But they also dearly love their late mother.”

This was one of the reasons why Aria was so beloved.

Aria was the spitting image of the long-deceased Duchess, more than anyone else in this household.

There must be a reason why Lady Ellie was so eager to help and protect Aria.

I recalled the stories I had repeatedly overheard since my childhood in the Duke’s household. Stories that I had merely listened to and ignored in previous lives, but now, thinking back…

“Your misdeeds didn’t end with just an affair, did they?”

“Utter… nonsense…”

“You know, the late Duchess was a beloved and cherished person. The servants spoke of her often.”

“What about it…?”

“I heard that while she was frail, she wasn’t someone who would pass away overnight.”

Though she had been frequently ill since soon after her marriage, she wasn’t so sick as to suddenly collapse and die.

“But one morning, she fell ill from shock.”

“I…”

“Isn’t it strange? They said she was just taking a walk for her health. What could have shocked her so?”

I saw Lady Ellie’s red eyes trembling. Her dilated pupils were noticeable.

“The Duchess would have only walked around the nearby garden and His Grace’s bedroom.”

“…”

“What could have startled her within the Duke’s estate? Especially when she was well enough to go for a walk?”

“Stop…”

“Perhaps she saw something unexpected? Like you coming out of His Grace’s bedroom?”

I wasn’t speaking with certainty. I had merely pieced together the clues.

 

‘She passed away so strangely.’

‘She was such a kind lady…’

‘She was just taking walks to improve her health, so why…’

‘At least we have Lady Aria. If we hadn’t regained her, we’d have no face before the Duchess.’

Recalling the servants’ words, I too began to have doubts.

“I thought it would take something significant to make a person fall ill with a broken heart.”

With each word I uttered, the silence grew heavier.

“When the Duchess was at her worst, she and His Grace were said to have slept in separate rooms, right?”

“…”

“So, she wouldn’t have known what was happening in His Grace’s bedroom until she went there herself.”

Whoosh.

In the next moment, my wrist was once again seized with quite a bit of force. A trembling voice muttered.

“Who would believe you? Who would believe your words, huh?”

“Well, does anyone need to believe me?”

“What?”

“I only need to drop a hint.”

Lady Ellie’s grip tightened painfully, but I ignored it and continued.

“All I have to do is spread a rumor that something seemed off about your behavior, that there might be another woman in His Grace’s life.”

“…”

“If it’s you, someone will start to wonder. Maybe they’ve been together for longer than expected? Then they’ll recall old incidents.”

“Huff…”

“You know how obsessed the Duke’s servants are with gossip, right? That’s why they tear into me so vigorously, and you joined in too.”

“…”

“As soon as a hint drops, someone will begin to watch you.”

Honestly, that’s enough. Just one doubt.

Lady Ellie’s lips quivered, her eyes filled with panic.

“I didn’t mean to do that to the Duchess.”

“…”

“I really didn’t mean it! That day, the door to His Grace’s bedroom wasn’t locked for some reason! I always locked it. Why wasn’t it locked that day…”

Her admission was almost a confession.

“I hadn’t even planned on going that day. If His Grace hadn’t suddenly called me…”

Lady Ellie let go of my hand, startled when our eyes met. She seemed shocked at her own actions.

I sighed deeply and stared straight at Lady Ellie.

I saw cold sweat dripping from her forehead, hanging at her chin. When I spoke, it fell to the floor with a plop.

“Aria’s gentle and kind nature resembles the late Duchess, doesn’t it?”

“…”

“How gentle must she have been to fall ill and pass away without even confronting anyone.”

Soon, more sweat began to flow from Lady Ellie’s forehead and neck. There was nothing more to see.

“So, it was true.”

Lady Ellie tried to maintain a neutral expression, but it was too late. Her face contorted grotesquely. I stared at her and whispered.

“You feel guilty about the Duchess, don’t you?”

As I let the silence stretch, Lady Ellie panicked. Her mouth opened and closed repeatedly. I emphasized my point.

“If not guilt, then fear.”

“I…”

“The fear of the truth coming out.”

Lady Ellie’s hands shook violently.

“If young Lord Servi finds out, he won’t hesitate to expel you after His Grace passes away.”

Servi would never let the truth slide.

For now, he was held back by the Duke’s authority, but one day he would become the next Duke of Reinhardt. And because he dearly loved his late mother, whom he treated as his own mother…

He would seek to punish Lady Ellie severely. Betrayal always breeds the deepest resentment.

“You’d be lucky to leave the Duke’s estate alive. Don’t you agree?”

Moreover, Servi’s nature was rather cruel. I knew that all too well from personal experience. Lady Ellie, having witnessed my suffering, would realize that she could be next.

“Think carefully, Nanny. You know His Grace has been diligently training Servi to be his successor. He could become the Duke at any moment.”

Lady Ellie couldn’t utter a word. Once Servi became Duke and the truth came out, her end would be certain.

After a long silence, she finally spoke.

“Are you going to tell?”

“It depends on your actions, Nanny.”

“What do you want?”

“It’s simple. Just translate a few documents for me. And note down the translation methods as well.”

“…Translate?”

Strictly speaking, it’s decoding rather than translating.

I had a reason for bringing this up. In my past life, Lady Ellie had denounced me, and hearing her strong foreign accent triggered additional memories.

 

‘Madam, tell me about the documents Mindia Reinhardt exchanged with an unfamiliar man.’

‘I felt something was off, so I sneaked into the room and stole a glance. It was horrifying.’

‘Horrifying?’

‘Yes. Even though it was in code, I could understand it easily. It was based on my native language. It contained plans to undermine the royal family! I brought the documents with me!’

‘I see, Mindia Reinhardt. Verify if these are the documents you exchanged.’

‘…’

‘It seems you have no defense.’

 

There was no point in responding, so I stayed silent.

In any case, the documents she saw were not much different from the ones I found in the library. They were coded documents from the Oracle, an information guild.

‘It’s a complete lie that I received them from a man.’

But she wouldn’t have fabricated the content of the documents. She must have taken actual coded documents used by the Duke’s household to add credibility to her testimony and ensure my downfall.

Based on her testimony back then, Lady Ellie knows how to decode the documents. She could decode the ones I found in the library as well.

“There are a few things you need to decode for me. Perhaps not just once, but multiple times.”

“Will you keep the secret if I refuse to decode them?”

“Nanny, I didn’t want to have to say this…”

I stated firmly.

“Honestly, you have no choice.”