~Chapter 7~
It seemed that Dolores wanted to talk about the 100 million gold check I sent through Mary yesterday.
I was careful, not wanting her to misunderstand me as feeling sorry for her.
At the same time, I felt that this was the perfect opportunity to express my thoughts to her.
In fact, I still had something to offer her.
With that in mind, I gave her the most harmless and innocent smile I could muster.
“Dolores, actually, that 100 million gold was a bribe from me.”
“A bribe?” Dolores’s eyes narrowed sharply.
She clearly didn’t believe me at all.
‘It makes sense. Bribes are usually given by those lower in rank to those higher up.’
Again, this world is strictly class-based, and I am the superior while Dolores is the subordinate.
“Dolores, since you’ve become the lawyer for the Arista family, how about also serving as the head butler?”
Dolores seemed surprised by my sudden proposal, and her hands twitched.
“Head Butler?”
“Yes. I’d like you to be the head Butler of the Arista family. But don’t worry about managing the estate. The reason I want you to take the position is not for the management, but because I need a competent secretary.”
Even though I spoke smoothly, Dolores still looked confused.
But the smart woman soon caught on—she realized why I didn’t want to hire her as my secretary.
If I hired Dolores as my secretary, everyone would whisper behind my back that she was after my son’s title.
She shook her head.
“But, ma’am, the household staff won’t like it if I become the head Butler.”
“Don’t worry about that. The previous head Butler wasn’t liked by any of the servants. After all, the man who worked under my late husband could hardly have been considered normal.”
“‘The previous head Butler’… Did you fire him?”
“Yes, I dismissed him.”
Dolores’s mouth opened so wide in surprise that a bug could have flown in.
“Ma’am! What will happen if I don’t accept your offer…?”
I waved my hand lightly.
“It seems there’s been a misunderstanding. I didn’t intend to put any pressure on you.”
“…”
“Don’t feel pressured. The reason I offered you the position of head butler is separate from the fact that both the head butler and head maid needed to be fired.”
“You fired the head maid too?”
“Yes.”
I answered casually while recalling the spiteful faces of the head butler and head maid, now kicked out of the estate.
I didn’t tell Dolores the whole truth, but the two of them had never respected me since I married into the Arista family.
My late husband didn’t marry me because he was looking for a loving wife—he did it out of fear of being seen as flawed if he couldn’t remarry.
It was because of this that the head butlerand head maid felt free to ignore my commands, and I became more and more isolated in the household.
If it weren’t for servants like Mary secretly taking care of me, I might have starved to death long ago.
“Of course, there was no backlash. After all, those two didn’t even show up at my husband’s funeral.”
“Now that I think about it, I didn’t see the head butler at the funeral.”
“Yes. The two of them were fired not because of you, Dolores, but because of their poor work ethic.”
Still, Dolores seemed hesitant to make a decision.
“I don’t understand. I don’t know why you’re being so kind to me.”
“Well, I have a good eye for talent.”
I straightened my back and smiled confidently.
“Trust me, Dolores. I’ll be a master you won’t be ashamed of. Contrary to the rumors, I’m not some timid, pitiable lady.”
Dolores blinked rapidly in surprise, then returned to her usual poker face.
“Yes, it’s true that you’re not an embarrassing master.”
“Dolores…!”
I was so moved that I clasped my hands together without thinking.
But then, Dolores’s eyes widened.
“If you could just speak properly, that is.”
“Haha.”
It felt like being scolded by a strict teacher.
I just awkwardly laughed.
‘In my past life, being rude was normal, but now that I have memories of Earth, I can’t help but feel uncomfortable speaking casually to an employee.’
Maybe no one would ever understand.
‘But now that I know about democracy and basic rights, how could I not feel uncomfortable, especially when I can’t even spell correctly in English?’
After recalling my life on Earth, I knew I could never be the same person I was before.
“I might not be a revolutionary, but I won’t turn into someone who just accepts everything without appreciating it, like some people do.”
After watching Dolores for a moment, I nervously fixed my hair behind my ear.
“Then, if I stop speaking formally, will you become the head butler of the Marquis household?”
“Only temporarily. I’ll become the head butler, and I’ll write recommendations for those who need my help.”
Yes! I did it!
“Thank you, Dolores!”
“It’s temporary, though.”
“Even so! Just wait and see. I’ll make the Arista family household Dolores’s lifelong workplace!”
I tried to sound confident, but Dolores didn’t seem impressed.
She sighed, holding it back.
“Madam, considering your age, I understand, but I think you should show more of the calmness and elegance of a noblewoman from now on.”
“…”
“Otherwise, you’ll just look like a foolish widow in other people’s eyes.”
However, I wasn’t ready to accept Dolores’s advice at all.
“Thank you for thinking of it. But I don’t want to live pretending anymore.”
Dolores raised her eyebrows, but I just smiled brightly, like a naive young lady.
My soul was that of a 70-year-old woman, after all.
“I’ll live my life enjoying happy moments to the fullest. I don’t want to waste the rest of my life being worried about other people’s opinions.”
Other people’s opinions? That doesn’t matter when facing death.
Besides, I’ve already been through enough in my past life.
Pretending not to hurt when I was in pain, pretending not to be happy when I was joyful, just to be a mother without shame.
“So from now on, I want to live more honestly. I don’t want to regret anything, no matter when I die.”
“Wow, you really make it sound like you can’t speak formally to your employees.”
Oops!
I quickly waved my hands.
“No, no. Dolores, if you want, I’ll speak formally!”
“Please, do.”
“Okay, Dolores!”
After saying her name, Dolores’s eyes narrowed in displeasure for a moment, then returned to normal.
From that point on, Dolores began calling me “Madam” instead of “Marquis’s wife.”
“Then, Madam, I would like to hear your first order as both the lawyer and head butler of the Arista household.”
I had been waiting for this moment, so my response came quickly, without hesitation.
“We need to prepare for a visit. A huge thief is coming to the mansion soon.”
Dolores’s forehead wrinkled in confusion, as if she didn’t understand.
“Madam, if a thief is coming, we should be kicking them out, not welcoming them! Who is this thief that you’re so happy about?”
“Do you know Julia?”
Dolores’s voice became agitated.
“Isn’t that the late Marquis’s mistress?”
“Yes. She’s the woman who ran to the mansion as soon as the former head butler and head maid were fired. She’s coming to visit soon.”
Heh heh.
I narrowed my eyes, remembering the grudge I held against her.
“I can’t just let her go easily after everything she’s done to me.”
Finally, Dolores understood the true meaning of “preparing to welcome” and nodded seriously.
Yes. The stage for revenge is finally set.
***
Julia, with platinum blonde hair and blue eyes, was quite a pretty woman.
Especially with her slender waist and delicate hands, far from the struggles of hard work, she used these features to appear innocent and pitiful.
In reality, she was a money-grubber, a coward in front of strong people, but a bully to the weak—a piece of human trash.
And right now, she was no different.
Late at night, Julia visited the former head butler and head maid’s house to check on Charlotte’s situation.
Even after the foolish Marquis Arista’s death, Julia had no intention of leaving the Marquis household empty-handed.
In a cozy two-story house, Julia eagerly listened to the couple’s grievances as if she were part of their family.
“From what I’m hearing, I think the Marquis’s wife has been too harsh. I mean, how could she just kick out such loyal employees like you two? And to fire both of you at once!”
Julia’s tone made it sound as though Charlotte’s decision to fire them was terribly unjust, and the couple was struggling to make a living.
What a ridiculous accusation.
The proof was in the fact that, for the past three years, the head butler and head maid had been wearing shiny silk clothes, just like Julia.
They, along with her, had been leeching off the Arista family’s wealth.
But instead of feeling guilty, the couple was eager to get Julia’s sympathy.
“Sniff, sniff. As expected, you understand, Miss. We knew you’d understand our unfair situation!”
“We were so frustrated, we spent last night without sleeping.”
“Of course! Every time we almost fell asleep, we’d remember the cruel face of the Marquis’s wife kicking us out, and we couldn’t rest!”
Julia comforted them once again.
“Wilson, Hazel, don’t worry too much. I’ll talk to Bliss.”
At last, the couple’s reason for letting Julia into their home became clear.
They believed that, with Julia, they could return to the prestigious Arista household now that the Marquis had died.
There was still a place for her, and they believed that with her help, they’d return to their old positions.
Wilson and Hazel spoke one after the other.
“Of course, Miss, you are so different from that wicked Marquis’s wife! Bliss, too, should learn from your silk-soft heart!”
“And I’m sure poor Bliss must miss you terribly.”
“Indeed. I’m worried about our son, Bliss. He’s never been apart from me for so long—how scared must he be by now?”
Julia feigned concern for Bliss, pretending to care.
It was all an act.
At that moment, Wilson, who was quicker than his wife, spoke the words Julia had been waiting for.
“Miss, don’t be like this. As soon as daylight comes, let’s go back to the mansion together. As long as Master Bliss supports you, even the Marquis’s wife won’t dare treat you badly.”
