Secret Plot and a Careful Pretend of Closeness
Two people completely smitten with each other continued their conversation without noticing the world around them at all.>
“No, I want to proudly brag about my boyfriend too~ But Dad said if I want him to work as a knight, I have to show off my abilities, right?”>
“Hmph, you’re not using that as an excuse to enjoy yourself with the maid too much, are you?”>
“Eep? What terrifying things to say! Veronica, you are my true love.”>
“Tch…!”>
Idel watched the two of them laughing and expressing their affection, then pressed her hand firmly against her own chest.>
She could feel her heart beating rapidly beneath her palm.>
‘……It’s a bit thrilling.’>
It wasn’t the excessive dopamine from the couple’s conversation that made her heart race.>
Rather, the current situation felt like it could offer another solution.>
‘I’ll have to think it through more carefully, but at the very least I can use this affair to move Sylvia.’>
Being able to move someone who is not friendly toward her was a huge gain.>
‘No, I only came here to pick up some maid gossip, and now I’ve collected several blackmailed cards.’>
Is this the ultimate makjang solution? Is this what my brother meant by a cider bombing attack?>
‘It’s direct and immediate, which… I actually like.’>
Idel made a slight adjustment to the low-class makjang evaluation she had once had.>
As a reader, it might seem unbelievable, but for someone who actually had to navigate a makjang world, it was no different from a lifeline.>
Idel quietly brightened her eyes as she quietly tapped her leg, which was starting to ache.>
‘Melissa was trying to catch two rabbits with the same shot—control over me and the elimination of Sylvia.’>
It was fortunate that she had learned Melissa loved the duke’s wife.>
Even if the results were the same, knowing the opponent’s true intentions would make a huge difference later.>
‘She probably planned to link Sylvia as an implicit bystander or mastermind if the maids harassed me.’>
Even if she avoided that trap, failing to manage her subordinates would not save her from punishment.>
‘Especially if I get hurt badly.’>
No matter which way it went, Melissa would be able to remove Sylvia, the thorn in her eye, from beside her beloved sister.>
As she wanted, of course.>
Idel, however, had no intention of letting things happen so conveniently.>
Why should she let it happen for someone else’s sake?>
‘It would be nice if they leaked a little more information.’>
Since Sylvia was involved, no matter what this couple did, they were bound to hand her a winning hand.>
While Idel kept her eyes and ears open to focus, the couple continued to whisper for a while before starting to squabble again.>
“I know why Darling is attached to the maid, but… honestly, this is getting old. I’m tired of dodging when my parents ask.”>
“Oh, here we go again. I bought you a matching ring to use as our own secret symbol last time.”>
“The one that the maid also has, right?”>
“My love, that’s just for show.”>
Show? What show?>
Idel let out a small snort and slightly pulled her body back.>
She didn’t care about the lie thrown without a drop of saliva in its mouth, but the content itself was interesting.>
Meanwhile, the man poked his lover’s lips with his finger and continued.>
“It’s real. They look the same, but this is a Gimmel ring, right? You didn’t think of splitting the ring?”>
“What? Really?”>
“Open it. It has both our names written inside. Mine for you, Veronica, and my feelings.”>
Veronica did not hesitate to separate her ring.>
It was so finely crafted that without looking closely, it was hard to tell it was a Gimmel ring.>
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