The Servant's Sudden Resolve
No, no matter how you looked at it, Idel never imagined this person would show up so early.
‘One time is hard. Two times is easy, huh?’
Idel stared down at the scattered shards of porcelain that had fallen like they were accidentally broken, lost in thought.
‘A frog fell into my wash basin, and my favorite pillow was torn.’
How ‘convenient,’ really.
After Diane realized Idel couldn’t speak honestly to the adults, the maids quickly grew used to her ‘naughty pranks.’
Diane was shocked at how easily she could come to dislike someone, but honestly…
It wasn’t because they held real malice toward her. It was more like payback and pure amusement.
The thrill of being able to toy with something Idel couldn’t touch however she wanted.
In the end, Idel found the plan flowing perfectly to her liking.
‘Time to start.
Idel tore out letters from the newspaper and called for Diane.
“Diane, today you’re going to tell the maids that I accused you of stealing.”
“Accused me?”
“Yes. I’m supposed to provide you with a bed, and you’re making a fuss saying I took your hairpin. When I picked up something that fell behind the bed, you claimed you were just tidying up and then denied it. You said you’d go straight to Sylvia right away.”
“Aaaah…”
“And since things aren’t going exactly as I wanted, add that for now, even if nothing happens, I won’t say anything. I’ll say it’s because of her pride and that she’s somewhere else.”
Diane, who had been helping with anonymous letters beside her, blinked once.
“That means… you want someone to take the young lady’s things?”
“Exactly. That way, even if Sylvia goes looking, it’ll look like nothing’s wrong until the truth comes out.”
“Young Lady…!”
“If you’re going to make that face, write an extra letter on the paper. In any case, scatter some small, insignificant items on the floor for a while. Brooches, ribbons… whatever.”
“Yes! This letter will be sent right away. I hope the young lady’s plan succeeds quickly!”
Diane smiled softly, always on edge watching Idel.
Instead of answering, Idel scolded her to hurry and start making the letters.
After all, it was necessary to deceive Melissa.
* * *
The order given to Diane took immediate effect.
Someone had taken a piece of jewelry they found carelessly dropped near the door.
‘The excuse that she won’t find anything to complain about for a while because of her pride seems to have worked.’
Idel glanced at the clock once, then left the room. It was Sylvia’s break time. Since Diane had double-checked what Jayana told her, she was sure.
No one tried to stop Idel. No one asked where she was going.
‘Exactly as I wanted.’
Having barely calmed her expression in the satisfying situation, she stood in front of the small study reserved for Sylvia.
Soft voices were coming from inside.
‘So, Sylvia. It’s better if I go to my brother’s side quickly, right? You’d want to get married to me soon too.’
‘Even if that’s true, I can’t ask the Duchess or the Duke for a guarantee! That evaluation is their exclusive right.’
‘No, I’m not asking you to rush into a guarantee. I’m just asking you to mention that I’m a reliable person… oh… are you angry? Look at me.’
Not a tantrum. Not at all.
Idel clicked her tongue lightly at the crying that leaked out even to the outside.
‘They’re really trying to suck me dry.’
Idel had no intention of listening to a man’s sweet talk she didn’t care about. She raised her hand quickly and knocked, then opened the door without waiting for an answer.
After all, the image of ‘Idel’ maintained by the Duke’s household wasn’t that of someone who followed etiquette.
The man, who had been wrapping his arm around Sylvia’s waist to start romantic nonsense, jumped in surprise and stepped back.
Anyone would see it as suspicious behavior, but Idel didn’t care and went straight up to Sylvia.
“Sylvia.”
“Miss Idel? What brings Miss Idel here… And it’s my break time.”
“How would I know that?”
Idel cut Sylvia’s words like a child and immediately went for the main topic.
“Sylvia, something’s missing from my room. I think someone’s stealing my belongings.”
“Something’s missing?”
Sylvia’s expression turned serious for a moment.
If Idel’s words were true, it was a serious problem. It was on par with a single maid disrespecting the ducal household.
But…
‘The maids have been complaining a lot about Miss Idel lately.’
It was common knowledge that she threw tantrums several times a day, and recently they had even started saying Miss Idel lied.
‘She claims the maid stole something that only fell behind the bed.’
As a person serving in the Clementine Duchy, she tried to keep personal feelings out as much as possible… but…
‘Honestly, it’s hard to believe Miss Idel.’
Ever since the time she raised her hand at Jayana, and now this theft case, it hadn’t been just once or twice.
If the Duchess hadn’t asked her to watch for a while, she would have made a decision long ago.
Having organized the unnecessary thoughts with a light sigh, Sylvia nodded calmly and spoke.
“I understand, Miss Idel. I will send Veronica to investigate.”
“What? Investigate? If that’s what you’re saying, why the investigation?”
“Does Miss Idel remember who took which item? If so, please tell me the maid’s name. I’ll investigate right away.”
“T-That…”
Idel, hearing Sylvia’s words, pouted her lips in protest, as if her pride was hurt. It was a problem she couldn’t answer as Idel.
“Hmph! What do I care about that?”
Pretending to be annoyed, Idel turned her head and secretly raised her eyebrow.
“What’s that?”
“That…”
Sylvia, who had turned toward the direction Idel was looking, let out a small exclamation of surprise. The man standing in the corner was none other than her fiancé, Demaric.
Noticing Idel’s gaze, Demaric quickly bowed his head in greeting.
“Ah, hello, Miss Idel.”
“I thought you were a ghost! What are you doing in the corner?”
“Haha, I, I was here from the beginning… I’m sorry.”
Scratching the back of his head awkwardly, he made a careful protest that wasn’t really one. Of course, Idel ignored him.
“So you’ve been here the whole time and didn’t even greet me?”
“Ah, that… I thought Miss Idel was having an important conversation with Sylvia…”
“Excuses. Wait a minute, though—why Sylvia?”
It wasn’t Demaric who answered, but Sylvia.
She was watching the situation unfold and thought it might never end.
Or maybe Demaric would suffer a harsh scolding from Idel.
“Miss Idel, let me introduce you properly. This is Demaric Anton, the assistant who works in the Duke’s office. Personally, he’s my fiancé.”
“Ah, so that’s why you called her Sylvia?”
“Yes.”
Idel alternated her gaze between Demaric and Sylvia, then let out a short snort.
Hearing it now, there wasn’t much to it, and her interest faded.
“Well, that’s fine. But hurry and solve my problem, would you? How long until the investigation?”
“It shouldn’t take long. These kinds of things are important, so timing matters. Actually, I was just about to go explain the situation to Veronica.”
“Aha, good. Then I’ll go?”
Sylvia let out a light sigh at Idel’s gesture that seemed to say hurry up and stop talking.
Clearly, she had forgotten she had already told Idel it was break time when she first asked.
‘Or does she not care whether the underlings rest or not?’
Suppressing the rising private feelings, Sylvia was about to nod in agreement.
“Wait! Miss Idel, Sylvia is still on break!”
“What?”
“I haven’t been able to rest since yesterday. I was finally taking a break after working so hard.”
“Demaric.”
Even Sylvia’s voice trying to stop him didn’t make Demaric back down.
“No, Sylvia, resting is really an important issue.”
“My item is missing, that’s not important?”
“T-That’s what I mean. I-I’ll pass it on to Veronica! Instead of Sylvia.”
“You?”
“Yes, it’s right next door anyway… and it’s not something only the lady-in-waiting has to deliver.”
Explaining to Idel in a fluster, he looked at Sylvia and patted his chest as if telling her to trust him.
“Sylvia, if you think I’m not trustworthy, I can even send a letter! So please rest. I hope you value your time.”
“…Thank you, Demaric. Then I’ll ask for your favor.”
“Yes, just believe in me!”
With that final word, Demaric quickly left the study. He seemed like he couldn’t waste even a second.
Watching his retreating back with cold eyes, Idel spoke to Sylvia, who had an impressed expression.
“…Your fiancé is really kind.”
“Yes, I think that’s enough.”
“…”
Because she was looking at him with eyes too perfectly trusting, Idel’s own problem felt inexplicably suffocating.
* * *