While You're In Love

 

The incident occurred when Duke Tordell and the Duchess had been married for about six months.

Due to the gossip that had been circulating even before their marriage, the Tordell manor’s servants harbored negative prejudices about the new Duchess.

At first, they hid their negative feelings towards her.

But thorns inevitably stick out, no matter how hard you try to conceal them, and they end up pricking people.

The servants often made mistakes, caused accidents with carelessness while handling things, and even took shortcuts without putting in the effort.

The problem was that the Duchess didn’t react much to such incidents. Despite knowing that they weren’t following her, she didn’t take any further action.

Since she didn’t criticize their mistakes, those who had initially been cautious around her gradually became more reckless.

Jenna, the head maid, remained loyal to the Duchess, but the same couldn’t be said for the other servants.

When the Duchess called for someone, except Jenna, no one rush to her side. They would even sneak out during working hours to be lazy among themselves.

They thought they could avoid the attention of the butler, Dalton, and indulged in their lazy and undisciplined days.

The servants’ lax attitude came to be known during a time when they were overly relaxed.

On a day when Jenna was on vacation and not present at the manor.

With no one to watch over her, the Duchess was wandering the grounds alone and collapsed.

She had a cold and fever, and when she moved to get some water, she suddenly became dizzy and collapsed.

To make matters worse, she collapsed in a secluded place where there were few people, and there was no one to protect or help the Duchess.

Collapsed, she remained unattended for a long time.

It wasn’t until Duke Tordell, who had returned to the mansion quite late, ordered them to find his absent wife.

Seeing his weakened wife, who had been lying on the cold floor for so long, the Duke fell into contemplation.

[My love, wake up, please!]

Seeing the Duke, who was glued to his wife’s side and not moving, the servants finally realized their own mistakes.

All along, they had believed that the Duke and Duchess didn’t love each other, based on rumors, and had disregarded the Duchess.

They had forgotten that she was the one who should be cherished and respected as the Duchess.

They had been so wrong because they considered the Duchess to be in a weak and subservient position.

The servants finally realized their grave mistake.

It was a failure on their part to try to fathom the inner thoughts of their master and mistress.

Despite outward appearances, there were many couples who cherished each other deeply inside.

Seeing the way Duke Tordell cherished his wife, the servants realized their sins might be exposed, and trembled in fear.

Since the Duchess hadn’t awakened yet, they decided to stay quiet for a while and tried to comfort each other for the time being.

Once the Duchess will regain consciousness, it was possible that all their wrongdoings would come to light, but they thought the chances of that were low.

The Duchess was gentle-hearted. She wouldn’t want to witness the punishment of the servants for something she had caused.

Above all, revealing that she was being disregarded would hurt her pride.

The servants were sure that the Duchess won’t reveal their mistakes. They hoped it would be that way.

However, they still couldn’t avoid their master’s gaze.

The Duke learned the entire story of the incident.

And he immediately gathered all the servants in the manor.

That day.

The servants of the mansion had to accept the cold but terrifying anger of Duke Tordell.

To describe it merely as “scary” was not enough.

More than half of them received reprimands and were dismissed, and that was just the beginning.

The remaining servants had heard enough about what happened to those who were chased away, those who ignored and ridiculed the Duchess, they were secretly tormented.

It was intentional. It was a quiet warning from Duke Aslan Tordell, telling them to be careful too.

The servants who remembered that day were on edge.

Among the servants who joined afterwards, especially those who had belittled the Duchess, they couldn’t understand their seniors’ attitudes.

(Now the maid’s pov will start)

“She left on her own, so why do we have to suffer like this?”

The maid who was always busy criticizing the Duchess complained.

Although she was glad that the only flaw of the perfect Tordell Manor had disappeared, she was annoyed that it was causing her hardship.

“Oh, I’m tired. She didn’t like anything when she was here, and now she’s only causing trouble until the end.”

The people around the grumbling maid kept their distance.

They looked as if they were afraid they might get into trouble for being near her.

“Hush! Be quiet! If you want to say something, do it somewhere without us around. Don’t drag us into it!”

The maid frowned at the words of a fellow maid who confronted her in every case. Last time they had a disagreement like this in the hallway about the Duchess being pushed out by Rosalyn.

I sensed a flurry of activity nearby, so I peeked out from behind my coworker’s back and found evidence that the Duchess had overheard our conversation.

A lock of brown hair and a small piece of jewelry in the corner.

Brown hair is common, but the jewelry, which had obviously fallen from the fabric, belonged to a noble.

The only nobles here were the Duchess and Rosalyn, and Rosalyn had red hair.

So it could only be the duchess who overheard their conversation in the corner.

Unbeknownst to the Duchess, I blabbered on about how she was about to be sent away.

The terrified maid couldn’t sleep that night. But after a day or two passed without the Duchess calling for her, she soon regained her spirits.

‘That woman really doesn’t suit the position of the Duchess.’

It felt even more ridiculous when I realized that I couldn’t do anything about the other maids who didn’t want to talk about the duchess.

Now that I think about it, I’m pretty sure she locked herself in her room after hearing my rant.

I wonder if that hurt her that much?

‘Maybe I was one of the reasons the Duchess left.’

Among the supporters of Rosalyn, the maid who was particularly passionate felt proud, as if she had achieved something significant.

Feeling elated, she continued to talk recklessly.

“You’re all too scared. It’s just a show! The woman will be forgotten soon, and the master will be with Lady Rosalyn.”

Before she knew it, the atmosphere around her had become so quiet that it was terrifying.

The maid, carried away by her emotions, caught on to the mood and frowned.

People a few steps away from her looked scared, tightly sealing their lips.

“What’s with all of you? Why are you all like this?”

The colleague in front rolled her eyes and gave a warning glance in response to the maid’s words.

However, the oblivious maid just tilted her head and said.

“Huh? What are you saying? What? Behind? …!!!”

After the colleague gestured to her and informed her, the maid turned her head and froze in place when she saw the person behind her.

“What an interesting story,”

Aslan Tordell, the owner of the mansion,said in a calm and gentle tone.

“……gasp.“

The pale maid couldn’t even breathe, and as she looked at Aslan, who was gazing down at her from above, she couldn’t believe he was the same person as the usual generous and kind Duke Tordell.

The eyes of Aslan staring at her were burning with tranquil fury. If looks could kill, she would have died on the spot.

Like a prey in front of a predator, the maid remained frozen.

“Ah…”

Before she could properly form her words, the trembling maid was met with the icy expression on Aslan’s face.

Her instincts warned her that something was wrong.

But before she could bow her head in compliance, Aslan spoke.

“Dalton.”

“Yes, Sir”

Dalton, who had been observing the unusual situation, quickly stepped forward.

Without even glancing at him, Aslan said in a calm tone.

“I trusted you, but it seems that my trust has been betrayed repeatedly.”

“I apologize.”

Dalton lowered his head with a grim expression.

It was his responsibility for not properly serving the Duchess and managing the servants.

“Considering what we’ve been through, I will trust you one last time. Handle it yourself.”

“Yes. Please leave it to me.”

Dalton, who had bowed deeply in front of Aslan, gave instructions to two burly male servants nearby.

“Seize her.”

The servants moved swiftly and grabbed the trembling maid by both arms.

As she was dragged away, the maid cried out.

“I’m sorry! It’s because of my stupidity and ignorance that I rudely mocked her grace! Just this once, please forgive me!”

Her pitiful plea, mixed with sobs, echoed throughout the mansion.

Even the servants who were following behind, as well as those dragging her away, trembled in response.

“Silence! And you, why aren’t you doing anything? Follow my orders!”

After Dalton scolded , the servants regained their composure and continued walking.

Despite the commotion behind him, Aslan, who had ordered everything, remained unmoved.

His piercing gaze fell on the servants who were secretly watching.

“…!”

The servants immediately straightened their postures.

Aslan then looked at them with a cold gaze as he spoke.

“I hope you don’t have the luxury of wasting time here.”

Though his voice was calm, the servants perceived it as a threat.

“There isn’t much time left. If everything isn’t restored to its original state before the morning sun rises…”

“…”

“Those who didn’t do what they should have done will all have to pay the price.”

Chills ran down the spines of those who heard his words.

‘We must find the duchess no matter what.’

If they couldn’t find her, they didn’t even want to imagine what kind of disaster would befall their future.    

 

{TL/N : I have to say the maid is born in the wrong era😭😭 she looks like someone who’d stay in stan twitter 24/7}

 

 

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