Episode 5

‘You are just like me, destined to be discarded.’

I didn’t say it out loud, but the maids probably realized it to some extent.

It doesn’t matter how much they cherish Aria. What’s important is making them understand that their positions in the duke’s household are not secure.

‘From the beginning, my maid position was where the least favored servants were assigned.’

They were the ones who could be dismissed without any recommendation letter, the ones who lost the internal power struggle among the servants.

‘And they took out that anger on me.’

At first, it was just mild venting. But their bullying became more overt and cruel after Aria entered the household.

‘They must have realized that treating me poorly wouldn’t raise any concern.’

I recalled their hands shoving me into the bath and pouring cold water over me. They would push me aside, saying I was in the way of their cleaning, and throw food at me as if it were garbage.

Remembering these things, instead of getting angry or yelling, I whispered calmly.

“Come here.”

“…”

“Hurry up. I don’t want to say it twice.”

The maids, faces pale, staggered towards me and bowed their heads low. They must have sensed that my demeanor was different from usual.

I sighed lightly and sang softly.

“To be honest, I don’t really want to forgive you. Frankly, I’d be glad if you all got fired.”

“Hic.”

The maids trembled at my words, swallowing hard. I continued, smiling quietly.

“But I’m willing to do it this time.”

“…!”

“Not for free, though. There’s something I need from you.”

I gently stroked the fingers of the maid caught in the trap. Her face twisted in pain.

When my hand gripped the trap, fear filled the maid’s eyes. She probably thought I was going to cut off her fingers.

Click!

I pressed the release mechanism of the trap, freeing her hand.

“Hic.”

I quietly pulled out a vial and handed it to her as she struggled to hold back tears.

“Use this. It won’t leave a scar.”

It was the medicine I had saved for my own wounds. Their eyes widened, recognizing its value.

“Listen carefully. Continue to treat me as you usually do in front of others.”

I had considered hiring new maids from the start. But I didn’t want to draw attention by replacing them all at once.

‘Moreover, these maids have been working in the duke’s household for quite some time.’

I needed maids who knew enough about the workings of the household.

“If you do this, I’ll make sure none of you face any repercussions. And in return, you’ll owe me.”

The maids exchanged glances, clearly understanding the weight of my words. Their lives and jobs were now in my hands.

At that moment, one of the maids, trembling, asked.

“…You want us to treat you poorly?”

They were aware of how they had been treating me. I smiled crookedly and replied.

“It would be troublesome if people became suspicious because your attitude suddenly changed.”

“…”

“But when no one else is around, don’t touch me.”

I looked at the pale-faced maids.

“And if anything like this happens again, report it to me first. If you pull something like this without telling me, I’ll have you all dismissed for theft today.”

The maids’ eyes darted around nervously. I added slowly.

“Not a bad deal, right? It’s not much different from how things are now.”

“But…”

“What are you worried about? Do you think you’ll suddenly become Aria’s maids or get called to serve Servi or Seth?”

The maids went stiff and pale. They knew it would never happen.

“Remember, you serve me.”

“…”

“For what it’s worth, I appreciate how pragmatic you are.”

Silence fell once more.

“You were so pragmatic that you weren’t even afraid to insult me.”

“…!”

“So now, I’d like you to be that pragmatic in being useful to me.”

I dropped the trap on the floor.

Clang!

The trap snapped shut with a sharp sound.

“This is your final warning.”

The maids quickly took the vial and left, leaving the room quiet once again.

‘At least now I won’t have to deal with discomfort from my maids.’

A strange fatigue washed over me. I closed my eyes and let sleep take me.

* * *

In my dream, I was once again imprisoned in the underground dungeon.

My hands and feet, numb from the relentless torture, felt unfamiliar. My throat was parched and cracked, producing only a faint hissing sound.

But I had to speak.

‘…Are you still alive?’

I asked in a trembling voice. It was the same greeting I whispered every night.

At the end of my cracked voice, hope and despair clung simultaneously.

Please, let me not be alone.

Please, don’t leave me.

‘Are you still there?’

Each night, after enduring torture and lying on the cold floor, I feared the darkness. What scared me most was being left alone. I wanted to die, yet I didn’t want to die.

I wished everything would end quickly, like the time I was swiftly executed for stabbing Seth at the tribunal.

But each time, a voice would come as a comfort.

‘…I am here.’

‘…’

‘I am here.’

…Chris.

—

I couldn’t call out his name and woke from the dream.

It was the day of the banquet, so I couldn’t afford to sleep longer.

It was still early dawn, with everyone else still asleep, but I got up, washed, and returned to my room. That’s when it happened.

“My lady.”

Creak, the door opened slowly.

I immediately recognized the figure standing at the door.

“Marie, didn’t you sleep?”

“No. I was going to get some water but noticed you were awake.”

Marie quietly looked around and then stepped inside.

“You’re attending the banquet today, right? Let me help you get ready.”

“You?”

“I’m actually a maid specialized in grooming.”

Marie’s hands were gentle and soft as she brushed my hair, not rough or clumsy.

“You are already beautiful, my lady. Just a little touch-up is enough.”

“You’re kind, Marie.”

“…You probably think I’m doing this for the money, right?”

Marie smiled sheepishly.

“…Actually, I’ve always thought everyone was a bit too harsh on you, my lady.”

“Is that why you helped me?”

“I overheard the maids talking. They were ordered to sneak into your room at night and retrieve Miss Aria’s dress.”

“Thanks to you, it was handled well.”

“That’s a relief. I had a feeling you would handle it well.”

“You had a feeling?”

Marie hesitated for a moment before continuing.

“You seemed different somehow. You looked a bit different from before.”

“Really? How so?”

“…There was a lord I used to serve… and yesterday, your eyes looked a bit like his when you spoke to me.”

Marie didn’t stop working on my hair as she spoke.

“If you dress like this, His Grace will like you more.”

“Do you know His Grace’s preferences?”

“Not exactly… but this is a Northern style braid. He might appreciate it, especially if he’s looking for a bride.”

“A bride?”

I exaggeratedly widened my eyes. Marie eagerly explained.

“His Grace is already twenty-eight years old. Considering most imperial nobles marry as soon as they reach adulthood, he’s quite late.”

“Is that so? The news said that His Grace has no interest in marriage.”

“He might say that, but you never know what’s going on behind the scenes. He could be looking for a lady from a good family to strengthen the ducal house…”

“But I’m the duchess of Reinhardt. The mortal enemy of the ducal house.”

Marie looked uncomfortable, realizing I had struck a nerve. I continued to lighten the mood.

“Would he like it if I approached him?”

“…What gentleman wouldn’t like a lady like you?”

Marie said this as if trying to convince herself, gently stroking my hair.

“All done, my lady.”

“Oh my.”

I looked in the mirror and was pleasantly surprised by the reflection.

The overly flashy and extravagant makeup and clothes I used to wear were gone, replaced with a more elegant and fitting appearance. I almost laughed out loud at how much I liked it.

“Wonderful, Marie.”

“Do you like it?”

“Of course.”

Marie fetched some powder from the corner and looked at the scars on my arm. It seemed she couldn’t find the vial I had given to the maids.

“I’ll cover them for you.”

The dress I received from Aria had slightly short sleeves, so my arm scars would be visible if I lifted my arm even a little. I shook my head.

“No, it’s fine. Powder just makes it itchy.”

“But…”

“Can you get me a fur shawl from the wardrobe? It will cover them enough.”

I draped the white fur shawl over Aria’s white dress, covering most of the scars. It was one of the few nice pieces of clothing I had.

“Do you think His Grace will like it if I wear this?”

“Of course.”

And then I thought of Chris again.

If I approached him, how would he look at me? Would he, while internally despising the duke’s household, be willing to use me for his own purposes?

‘Please.’

Please let it be so.

Soon, Marie brought out tea to warm me up. It happened to be lemon tea.

“…”

“Oh. Do you not like lemon tea, my lady? Should I bring something else?”

“No, this is fine.”

I stared at the floating lemon slices and drank the tea in one gulp.

It was time to go.

To Chris.

* * *

“Your Grace.”

Chris turned around, clad in his black armor.

Behind him stood men also wearing black armor, symbolizing the North. Knights who were not attending the event added their comments.

“Be careful. You never know what the snakes in the capital might try.”

“Especially beware of the Reinhardts. I heard some young ladies from there will be present; they might try to use their beauty to deceive…”

“…Everyone is overly concerned.”

Jade, who was accompanying the Duke, added in a scolding tone.

“You fools! Talking about the Reinhardts like that! Stop jinxing it with your bad luck!”

Jade, who had been shaking his fist, then straightened up and spoke formally.

“Shall we proceed, Your Grace?”

“Yes.”

Chris took a deep breath and started to walk.