Chapter 35: Hierarchy
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 35: Hierarchy
In matters like this, seizing the initiative is everything. There was no need to listen to her until the end.
“The Head Maid’s role is to manage the servants under my direction, not to engage in a power struggle with me.”
“I apologize. I did not dare intend to…”
“Hold your tongue when I am speaking. The Grand Duke is the only person in this castle permitted to interrupt me.”
“……I will keep that in mind.”
“If you understand, you may leave.”
Marzella glanced around. Realizing that further resistance was futile, she quietly bowed her head.
“And one more thing.”
Marzella, who had been about to retreat, froze.
“In the future, do not open my door without permission. As the Head Maid, you should be ashamed of your lack of basic etiquette.”
“……My apologies.”
At those words, Marzella’s face turned ashen. She gathered the other maids and withdrew.
Even after the room fell silent, my heart refused to stop racing.
Was it the thrill of victory, or the relief that Marzella had backed down so easily? Or perhaps it was the fear that my display of anger had seemed clumsy?
It’s fine. For a first time, I did well. I looked like someone who’d been a noble my entire life.
After a moment, Whitley approached, discarded the cooled tea, and poured a fresh cup.
Come to think of it, the loyal butler showed no reaction, even though the Grand Duchess—who had been acting so refined until now—had just engaged in a heated confrontation. Norton, too, stood silently as if nothing had happened.
Realizing I was the only one in the room still huffing with indignation, a wave of embarrassment washed over me.
Did I react too impulsively?
Should I have reprimanded her with more elegance? I had been trying so hard to maintain my dignity as a lady. It felt as though my hidden, unrefined self had been exposed, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth.
At this rate, the rumors of me being a villainess won't seem like baseless gossip anymore.
Furthermore, I had resolved not to make enemies in Blenheim, yet I had gone and crossed paths with Marzella of all people. I must have completely forgotten my vow to stay quiet and then leave.
Pathetic. I couldn't even hold back for that short moment.
I let out a sigh of self-reproach, only to realize when I locked eyes with Reta that I hadn't even gotten to the main point yet.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself.
“Now, speak.”
Reta, seemingly deciding that stalling would only make things worse, spoke immediately.
“I was momentarily blinded by greed for money.”
“Money?”
“I truly had no other intentions. Since the paper is of such high quality, I thought I could make some money by selling the scraps… Since it was something you were going to throw away, I didn't think it would be a major problem.”
“So you’re saying you stole the paper?”
“I-I apologize, Your Highness. I knew it was wrong, but I gave in to my wicked greed.”
Selling scraps for money? If she were struggling financially, she would have gone for jewelry or at least the silverware, not stationery. She didn't seem like such a foolish girl.
Suddenly, I’m even more suspicious.
“This child was only doing an errand. She is a poor girl with no connection to me, so please, do not punish her.”
Reta clasped her hands together, her face full of earnestness. Her expression, which hadn't faltered once until now, was now pale with dread.
I could have investigated the circumstances and let it go with a light punishment, but many maids had already witnessed this. They would all judge the mistress of the castle based on my handling of this matter. Besides…
You two look far too much alike to be strangers.
I was about to tell them to be honest if they wanted leniency, regardless of their relationship.
“It’s because of me!”
It was the young girl who found her courage.
“Your Highness! My sister only stole the paper for me.”
“Sister?”
“Morina!”
“No, she wasn't trying to steal it!”
Reta shouted hurriedly as if to silence the girl, but the girl continued desperately, her mind made up.
I knew they were sisters.
The girl’s clenched fists were trembling as much as her voice.
“She just thought it was a waste for such precious paper to be thrown away, so she wanted to give it to me.”
“N-no, Your Highness! That child and I are just…!”
“Shh.”
I gave a warning look to the frantic Reta.
“If you deceive me any further, I will truly be angry. Be quiet.”
At those words, Reta’s mouth clamped shut.
“And you.”
I turned my head toward the girl, who was at least being cooperative.
“Tell me why Reta gave you the paper.”
“I… I actually draw pictures, and…”
“Pictures?”
“The paper I use tears easily and is hard to come by.”
The girl’s voice grew smaller, as if she were embarrassed.
“My sister saw the good paper and wanted to give it to me…”
I was momentarily speechless at the unexpected explanation. She had secretly taken discarded letters to give to her sister who was studying art?
I swallowed an uncomfortable groan.
Was the salary for a maid in the Grand Duke’s Castle really that meager? So much so that they couldn't even afford a single sheet of drawing paper?
The Grand Duke doesn't seem like such a stingy man.
“So, were you planning to take the letters I wrote out of the castle?”
“Truly, that was never our intention!”
Reta hurriedly fell to her knees, bowing until her forehead touched the floor. The girl followed her sister’s lead, prostrating herself.
“I was simply greedy because the back of the paper was blank and it seemed like a waste.”
“Even though the front contained my private correspondence.”
I knew what was on them. Dear Brother, I hope you are well, and so on. To a maid, it might have seemed trivial at a glance.
In truth, if we were to be technical, it wasn't entirely without my fault for leaving them tossed in a corner of the desk as if they were trash.
“My lowly thoughts were short-sighted, Your Highness! But I swear…”
“Enough. I understand the situation well enough.”
What should I do?
While I sat thinking, tapping my finger on the armrest of the sofa, Reta and the girl remained as silent as mice, awaiting my judgment.
Finally, having made my decision, I spoke.
“Let me… see it.”
Startled by the unexpected request, two pairs of small eyes blinked in confusion.
*
Since returning to the Head Maid’s parlor, Marzella had not uttered a single word.
The senior maids sitting before her began to disparage the Grand Duchess, sensing their superior’s mood.
“After all the years you’ve dedicated to this castle, Head Maid!”
“She surely hasn't even shared a wedding night with the Grand Duke yet, so how can she act like the mistress of the house so brazenly?”
“Honestly, she’s just a Lady with a fierce reputation from the capital, isn't she? Nothing special.”
“The one who’s actually famous in society is Lady Ladriel.”
“Quiet.”
Marzella spoke, glancing coldly at the maids.
Contrary to the senior maids' concerns, Marzella wasn't particularly angry.
After all, her opponent was a noble. She had endured far too many years to be enraged by such a minor humiliation. Rather than anger, Marzella felt a sense of bewilderment.
Was I too hasty?
At first, she thought the woman would only be linked to the Grand Duke on paper. Even when the Grand Duchess followed him to the castle, Marzella hadn't been overly concerned, thinking she would leave soon.
However, when she heard that the Grand Duchess had officially greeted the knights, she couldn't stay still.
I need to see for myself how the wind is blowing.
Marzella had tried to meet the Grand Duchess under the pretext of a greeting, but the slippery butler had made various excuses to prevent a meeting.
Then, just in time, a maid had caused trouble, and she thought it was the perfect opportunity to barge in.
But the image of the Grand Duchess she encountered was vastly different from what she had imagined.
She’s nothing like the rumors.
They said she had a soft personality and wouldn't find fault with anything. Was she finally living up to her name as a villainess? Seeing the way the Grand Duchess asserted her authority, it didn't seem like she would be leaving anytime soon.
I must send a letter immediately.
“Benet, call a messenger.”
Marzella gave the order to the senior maid who had been watching her. There was someone she needed to inform of this fact right away.
*
This is actually better than I expected.
I looked down at the result in my hand. It was the drawing the girl had just finished.
The teapot and teacup that had been sitting in front of me were perfectly captured on the paper.
In a way, it looks like a very well-done doodle.
Seeing the drawing, I finally understood why the girl practiced on stationery instead of a canvas. Her style was different from the landscapes or still lifes hanging in the Marquis’s estate.
If I had to categorize it, it was a small-scale sketch done with a pen. It looked closer to a modern illustration.
The depiction is simple, but the characteristics are captured well, and the lines are clean. It’s very eye-catching.
Above all, the drawing itself had a strange charm that drew the eye.
Asking the girl to draw had been a somewhat impulsive decision. Had it been any other maid, I would have handed them over to the Grand Duke for punishment without hesitation.
While managing the maids is the mistress's duty, taking items out of the castle is a matter directly related to security.
However, Reta didn't seem like the type of person to do such a thing.
I’m not saying this out of some naive belief that this stoic-looking maid couldn't be a bad person. On the contrary, given Reta’s patience and composure, I thought she would have made a very convincing spy if she had been one.
That was exactly it. Reta was not the type to handle things so sloppily. If she had truly intended to leak the letters, she wouldn't have been caught in such a clumsy manner in the first place.
Furthermore, with her personality, she would have done the important work herself; she certainly wouldn't have involved a child.
So, giving a small chance to the sister of the only maid whose name I knew in the castle was not entirely out of personal sentiment.
Of course, with Marzella so intent on punishing Reta, I also simply didn't want to give her the satisfaction.