Chapter 10
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 10
The maids, including Aubrey’s head maid, bowed their heads in shock.
Aubrey was no exception. She had been preoccupied with doubling the year-end gift order to console her son, Tedric, who was heartbroken after having the Grand Duke’s Necklace confiscated.
“Rumors are spreading like wildfire among the vassals that we haven't sent Tulia even a single proper maid!”
Lilius had always been obsessed with his public reputation.
“They’re even saying that I’m secretly jealous of my older brother, Marquis Aster, and that I’m childishly bullying his daughter! What are you going to do about this?!”
While these rumors had only started circulating among a small group, they were a fatal blow to Lilius, who, as the youngest, had to maintain the facade of being the least interested in power.
Aubrey’s face naturally turned pale.
“That boy was stupid enough to get the Lineage Pendant taken away, so why on earth are you showering him with gifts? Don’t give him a single one!”
“But Tedric has been crying all day and won’t even eat! As his parents, we have to do at least this much to soothe him!”
“Be quiet!”
Lilius shouted, pointing a finger at Aubrey.
“Send a proper head maid and a staff of maids to Tulia immediately! Just how pathetic must she look for the vassals to be wagging their tongues like this? We have to silence these rumors at once!”
He then looked at the list of gifts intended for Tedric and scowled deeply.
He was already busy groveling before Grand Duke Asis Frezier because of that boy, yet the list was full of absurdly expensive luxury items.
“Pen!”
The royal advisor following behind him hurriedly handed over a pen.
“This, this, and this. Give all of these to Tulia as well. And don’t forget to make sure the vassals and noblewomen find out about it!”
An ermine cloak with lotus flowers embroidered in golden thread on the lining; ten bolts of the finest artisan Baroque lace, which cost a staggering 300,000 gold for a mere ten centimeters.
There was also an incredibly lavish gold pendant, its frame densely packed with small diamonds.
They were the most exceptionally expensive items on the list—the very luxuries Tedric had wanted most.
Lilius wiped away the affable smile he usually wore in public and huffed in anger.
“That girl, Tulia, has changed quite strangely. Perhaps…”
Lilius thought of Marquis Aster Frezier. Though the Marquis hadn't returned to the Grand Duchy in over ten years, he still held the greatest influence among the vassals and elders as the next in line for the title. Lilius’s expression twisted with rage.
“She must have made some kind of deal with her father. Otherwise, there’s no way that stupid girl could mess with us like this.”
Lilius leaned in and whispered a final instruction to Aubrey.
“Plant a head maid with Tulia who will listen to us.”
* * *
“Hmm. Good. Even the temperature of the food is starting to change.”
It was worth intentionally keeping that bird’s nest hair and showing my pathetic self to the vassals, taking a hint from Luc’s words.
Since arriving at the main castle, the food had been far from satisfying.
I mean, compared to when I was in the ‘warehouse,’ the variety was much better, but the dishes were almost always stone-cold.
Warm soup? I’d never even seen such a thing.
So, after making a few appearances before the vassals and acting all sorrowful, it seemed Lilius had finally torn into his wife, Aubrey.
“Of course. Discriminating with food is the pettiest thing you can do.”
I shoveled a spoonful of cream stew, filled with tender, well-cooked vegetables, into my mouth. The feeling of the warm food filling my stomach was reassuring.
I’m sure they’ll send proper maids within a day or two.
They’ll be girls under their thumb, though—spies who will report my every move back to them.
Since the once-extravagant and foolish Tulia had suddenly become sharp, they would be desperate to find out why.
Maybe they think I received some kind of instructions from Tulia’s father, Marquis Aster Frezier, and they might even ransack my room while I’m out?
“Yeah, but they won’t find anything.”
Because there’s nothing to find.
The thing that made me like this was right here.
I glanced at the floating star—the status window—and finished my meal.
I stood up and began to tidily clear the table.
When I played as Corico, I didn’t even have to do this much cleaning.
But for now, I was in the bad graces of Viscount Lilius and his wife, Aubrey, and even the low-ranking maids were giving me the cold shoulder, so I had no choice.
Besides, compared to my life as Han Ina, where doing the dishes myself was a given, this was much more comfortable.
Knock, knock.
That was when I heard a knock at the door.
“Lady Tulia.”
Recognizing the familiar voice, I turned around, my eyes widening. Luc was walking in.
“Luc? What brings you here?”
“Did you enjoy your dinner?”
Luc was practically the only person in this massive castle who actually spoke to me.
Moreover, after seeing nothing but Grand Duke Asis, seeing Luc sometimes gave me the illusion that his smile was gentle.
As expected of the true advisor of Frezier, who treats people based on their lineage without prejudice!
Luc walked toward me, but suddenly, his expression hardened.
What’s wrong with him?
Luc turned around with cold eyes.
“Why is the Lady clearing the table herself?”
“…!”
Luc hadn't come in alone.
Two maids were following behind him, looking anxious, and their already pale faces turned ghostly white.
“Did you not hear me?”
“T-that is…”
“You excused yourselves from attending to Lady Tulia’s meals by telling me she disliked being disturbed. How do you intend to explain this?”
When neither of them could say a word, as if their lips had been glued shut, the furrow in Luc’s brow deepened.
“She is of the direct Frezier lineage. Do you dare to insult your superior?”
“N-no! Chief Aide!”
One of the pale-faced maids glanced at me and hurriedly spoke up.
“The Lady is so considerate that she wanted to lighten our workload, so she…”
“That’s right, Chief Aide!”
“Lighten your workload? Who? Lady Tulia?”
Tulia Frezier, of all people, helping a maid?
The sheer skepticism in his voice silenced the maids instantly. They fidgeted, unable to come up with any more excuses.
“Pathetic wretches.”
When Luc coldly told them to leave and await their punishment, the maids clung to me with ashen faces, but it was no use.
“Lady Tulia. You must have suffered greatly. I will see to it that proper maids are selected for you.”
“Uh, yeah. Thanks.”
I gave a lukewarm smile at Luc’s words.
It was nice of him to help, but why did it feel like he was insulting me at the same time…?
I figured it was best to change the subject.
Just then, a boisterous voice echoed through the room before I could speak.
“Oh, Tulia!”
I turned my head. It was a face I was seeing for the first time since coming here, but one I had seen thousands of times in The Milk Bread.
It was Viscountess Aubrey Frezier.
“Lady Aubrey.”
Luc Kelposher gave a polite greeting. Aubrey, who had elegantly extended her hand for him to kiss the back of it, immediately put on a venomous expression.
“I heard everything from outside! You lot! How dare you persecute my precious niece?!”
“N-no, Viscountess!”
“It’s not like that!”
“How dare you wag your tongues in this place!”
As Aubrey shouted, the maids who had been following her in a line stepped forward aggressively.
Slap!
Slap!
I’ve seen this in historical dramas before.
Like vicious court ladies slapping a palace maid, Aubrey’s personal maids ruthlessly struck the other maids' cheeks. Their lips split and blood began to flow instantly.
“We’re sorry! We’re sorry, My Lady!”
Ignoring the sobbing maids entirely, Aubrey took both of my hands.
The hands of a well-groomed noblewoman were smooth, yet they felt as cold as a viper.
Aubrey consoled me like a doting aunt.
“There now, I shall punish these wicked things exactly as you wish. What shall I do with them?”