Chapter 26
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Dear, I believe you may be misunderstanding.
Episode 26
The slightest movement sent waves of strain through my body.
Whether falling ill, collapsing, or weeping like a fool—it all looked equally pathetic.
The Marquess clicked his tongue in displeasure as he spoke.
"If Norman had been injured, I'd expect her to come running barefoot to nurse him back from death's door. Useless creature. Women are all so hopelessly fragile."
Marquess Kafrén's mouth spewed crude language, his anger kindled by nothing more than Norman's injury.
This was his Estate, after all, and the Butler answered to him alone—there was no need for restraint.
"Foolish. Dull as a stone and utterly worthless. Just like her wretched mother."
Tsk, tsk, tsk.
"And of all places, she had to get hurt at the Black Family Estate, displaying her stupidity for all to see."
The Marquess berated Grace with each click of his tongue.
Then, suddenly, his thoughts shifted.
'No, wait. If Grace was injured due to the Black Family's mistake, I can use this to my advantage. There's profit to be had.'
The Black Family was a founding house of the nation.
The Nobility Council was led by forty-two families, and among them stood seven houses wielding the greatest power.
Naturally, the Black Family was one of them.
Despite their immense wealth, they were closed-minded and conservative, rarely taking active roles in public affairs.
Yet the vast lands and riches they possessed were considered unparalleled in the realm.
Even the King himself was said to be unable to fathom the true extent of their fortune.
The Black Family was like a beast with hidden fangs.
But they could not be called purely dangerous.
If one appeased the beast's temperament and kept its belly full, it had no reason to strike.
Indeed, having such a beast at one's side would be a source of pride for Kafrén.
'It's unsettling, certainly, but they seemed quite fond of Grace.'
Perhaps this was an opportunity.
A chance to ride the coattails of the Black Family's prestige, however slightly.
With such an arrangement, he could accumulate considerably more influence.
Having suppressed his murky thoughts beneath the surface of consciousness, the Marquess spoke with evident displeasure.
"Hmph! If a woman is injured, one must naturally take responsibility. Tell them to ensure her complete recovery before sending her back."
The Butler immediately sent a reply to the Black Family.
Shortly after, a maid came rushing in to announce that Norman had awakened.
"Norman!"
"...Ah, Father."
"You look dreadful! What possessed you to crawl out at that ungodly hour!"
Norman spoke with indignation at his father's outburst.
"That was no ordinary horse, Father. Its eyes shone like jewels, and its size exceeded that of a birch tree! It enchanted me and drew me downward!"
"What?!"
"This—this must have been an attempt on my life by whoever sent that beast!"
Norman poured out every unspoken grievance to the Marquess, confessing all his anguish.
Before rumors could spread that he had been struck by a horse at dawn, someone had to fabricate this as an assassination attempt.
"Father, please find the culprit without fail!"
At Norman's words, Marquess Oellin's body trembled.
Norman was right.
This had to be the work of some rival faction harboring ill will toward the Oellin Family.
'This is an insult to me—no, to our entire household. I cannot let this stand. How dare they lay a hand on Norman... the firstborn of our family!'
Marquess Oellin checked on Norman lying in bed, then immediately left the Estate.
Climbing into the carriage, he issued urgent orders.
"To Corso. Move at once!"
Marquess Oellin ground his teeth and clenched his fists.
His mind held not a shred of concern for his daughter, who had supposedly been injured while dining at the Black Family Estate.
Not even a grain of salt's worth.
* * *
"Isn't that man just the most insufferable nuisance?"
"Don't even mention it. Earlier, he asked for cold water, so I brought it, and he threw it away saying it was too cold. He complains that his breastbone aches whenever cold water touches it."
"Ugh, ugh. He's absolutely ridiculous. Completely ridiculous. That whiny young lord, I tell you, truly."
"Whoever came up with that nickname really nailed it, didn't they?"
"Right?"
Three young maids huddled together, giggling as they mocked the young lord.
For them, who suffered constant disrespect and torment from Norman, Norman Oellin was the most delicious subject of ridicule.
"He's so annoying. But I heard he's entering the Temple? What's gotten into him, really. Our salty young lord is spending a fortune."
"I know! At least while he's in the Temple, we don't have to attend to him!"
"Please, never come back!"
"Ah, will our bitter young lord really stay away long? Want to bet? I say three days and he'll be back."
"I say two days!"
"Fine, then I say one day."
"Ouch, hey. That's a bit much, isn't it?"
Temple treatment was as effective as it was expensive.
Commoners couldn't even dream of affording it, and only nobles and the wealthy could barely utilize it.
Marquess Oellin had used it only once in his entire life.
Even when his wives had brushed against death countless times, he had never once sought the Temple's aid.
Yet this stubborn nobleman, upon hearing that his son might become crippled, finally knocked on the Temple's doors.
"I wonder how much that rigid nobleman's hands are shaking? Ah, if only that black horse hadn't been caught!"
"Right! If he was going to be hit anyway, it should've kicked him with its hind legs and left. Why did it have to ram him? What a waste."
"Ugh. Hey, if that happened, the whiny young lord would already be dead."
"I know. I said it knowing that."
"What?"
The three maids locked eyes and giggled.
The young lord they had already ground between their teeth more than once.
While the joke wouldn't become reality, if it were discovered, those three would lose their heads.
"You three."
At the head maid's voice calling out the three who had been whispering in secret, I couldn't help but jump in alarm.
"Yes, yes!"
"If you're going to chatter like that, you'd better go outside to do it. Unless you'd prefer to keep your neck and shoulders attached."
At Elia's menacing warning, the three young maids' heads shrank down into their shoulders.
Elia stared at them quietly for a moment, then sighed and shook her head disapprovingly before heading upstairs.
The moment she disappeared, the three maids huddled together again.
"Sigh. Does the head maid dislike us gossiping about the young master?"
"Right? She's so scary!"
Behind the frightened maids, the Cook emerged with a chuckle and offered them comfort.
"You foolish things, it's not that—it's because if the Butler finds out, you'll be scolded severely, so she's warning you in advance. Elia must be feeling quite frustrated right now. If we're counting what she's endured, she's suffered far more over the years."
"What? The head maid has suffered? From whom?"
"From whom else? From the one you call the young master."
The Cook's voice lowered.
"Do you know why your Elia limps when it rains?"
"Why, why is that?"
"Someone pushed her down the stairs years ago. Said he was annoyed."
No way!
Three pairs of eyes widened simultaneously.
The Cook chuckled and tapped the table repeatedly.
"Today Elia ate two whole bowls of rice. She must have had quite an appetite. She even drank a glass of cold water in one go and let out a satisfying belch before leaving."
Oh my, oh my!
The three maids burst into giggles.
Their innocent laughter echoed all the way to the staircase beyond the kitchen.
Standing at the top of the stairs, Elia shook her head in disapproval.
"Sigh, those foolish things will get a proper scolding one day."
No matter how much warning one gave, they wouldn't understand fear until they experienced it themselves.
There was nothing to be done about it.
"Do as you please."
I resigned myself to the situation and headed to Grace's room on the second floor.
Julie was in the lobby.
She was gathering some of her belongings and asked me to bring her a few of Grace's things.
I quickly gathered and packed the items Grace typically used.
Thanks to my keen eye, everything I selected was something Grace cherished or regularly used.
Just before closing the box, my gaze caught on the edge of Grace's drawer.
My eyes narrowed with complicated emotion.
After deliberating for some time, I finally opened the drawer and looked inside.
My brow furrowed immediately.
* * *
'Why is she taking so long?'
Knowing how quick and efficient Elia typically was, I found it strange that she hadn't come down even after all this time.
'Should I have gone up myself?'
I had asked Elia to return to Miss Grace's side as quickly as possible,
and I was just about to climb the stairs to the second floor when she appeared.
"Julie."
Elia descended the stairs carrying a box filled with Grace's belongings.
"Head Maid!"
"Here, this should be everything. If she needs anything else, just come ask for it."
"Thank you so much! Since you packed it, Head Maid, I'm sure you were incredibly thorough!"
Watching me grin cheerfully, Elia let out a soft laugh despite herself.
Originally, it had been Elia who cared for Grace.
That was true until four years ago, when the previous head maid left the Estate due to some accident, before Elia became head maid.
Elia appeared stern, but she cherished Grace deeply.
It was a maid Elia whom the late mistress had brought personally, and it was Elia who had cared for Grace during her childhood.
Around that same time, young Julie had entered as a kitchen assistant.
'You're too small to work in the kitchen.'
Watching my clumsy hands, Elia had assigned me to be Grace's maid instead.
A young maid of similar age was needed just then, and I had caught her eye.
Thus, Elia and I formed a bond through Grace.
Caring for our delicate young mistress, who looked after us both so thoughtfully, had become the most natural thing in the world for both of us.
"Please don't feel too lonely even when I'm not here."
"Enough. You just make noise when you're around. Take good care of Miss Grace. If she needs anything, ask quietly."
Elia glanced at the long shadow beyond the staircase.
Thomas, the Estate's butler and the Marquess's trusted aide, was watching over the Lobby.
"Understood! I'll be going now!"
"Julie, wait a moment."
Elia quickly caught my arm.
Then, mindful of our surroundings, she discreetly pressed something into my palm.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org