Chapter 110
It had been two months since she had first learned to read.
All she could remember was the sermon she had once overheard from the old priest while hiding in the temple long ago.
The old priest, obsessed with theology, had devoted his entire life to the study of it—a white-haired man who endlessly lectured on every imaginable topic.
He was also the kind of man who had tried to burn Odette at the stake after she had pretended to be a false purifier.
“While reading, I couldn’t keep up with my hands, so I wasn’t able to finish. When I tried to count the things I didn’t know, it went well beyond the capacity of both hands, so my hands weren’t enough to even hold the pages of the book, you see?”
This was a story the old priest loved to tell.
It was about the eccentric Albertus and the one and only friend he had. When Albertus pressed his friend about whether he had read The Commandments of God, his friend complained that it was far too difficult.
Some men, who knew this anecdote, burst out laughing again at Odette’s reply.
“That anecdote comes from the latter part of that damn book—you’ve read all of The Commandments of God!”
One of the men said loudly. Though he appeared to be praising Odette, he was really boasting that he himself had finished the book.
Another man, worried he might miss the chance to show off, nervously spoke.
“Amazing. I would never have touched it if my professor hadn’t been a disciple of that man.”
“So you were a disciple of Faust. Excuse me, but could you refrain from speaking to me?”
Odette replied in a coy, teasing tone.
She naturally revealed that she knew Faust had been Albertus’s teacher, yet she framed it as a joke rather than as a boast.
If someone who wasn’t from the Academy had forced themselves to read all those books, anyone would be consumed by a desire to show off.
That she appeared so light and effortless only highlighted Odette’s humility.
Of course, from Odette’s perspective, she genuinely hadn’t read them all—so she treated it as a joke. But the other nobles had no way of knowing that.
The reversal of “Turns out she’s a good person” always left a strong impression.
[Current Bad Reputation:]
▶ Rumors of a clueless, empty-headed young lady are reduced.
[23 → 8 (▼15)]
▶ Arrogant socialite (26 people)
[The rumor of an arrogant socialite is reduced.]
[26 → 15 (▼11)]
Odette was steadily working to fill the goals on her status screen.
At this point, it was almost laughable to suspect her. Lady Brentano pursed her lips and crossed her arms in silence.
However, Lady Brentano’s maid glared at Dolly and scolded her.
“What’s going on? This isn’t at all like what we were told!”
Yet Dolly herself struggled the most to understand the situation. She couldn’t tell exactly what the nobles found amusing, but she could see that everyone had a favorable impression of Odette.
The kind of composure only someone well-read could have.
“How can she behave like that when she hasn’t even read the books?”
“This is something. To hate even the disciples of the author herself—Lady Odette is truly fearsome and cruel.”
“Surely you’ve heard of my mischief? How could someone who read all of The Commandments of God not be eccentric?”
Odette now steered the conversation toward her next goal: eliminating rumors about her mischief.
“I understand. I, too, would have become quite eccentric had I read the entire book. I was fortunate—the Academy had summary versions prepared by seniors that were passed down.”
Hearing this, more people gathered around Odette’s table. Dolly was flustered.
The atmosphere was the exact opposite of what she had expected.
“By the way, did you say Dolly? That maid has been chattering endlessly since yesterday, saying there’s no master as difficult to serve as her lady.”
At this remark, the eyes of everyone nearby turned to Dolly.
Her face flushed red—the man’s expression was clearly displeased with her.
To bring up gossip about her mistress in such a public setting…
“Why, why? Yesterday she seemed so attentive when listening to Odette’s gossip.”
Odette smiled at Dolly’s embarrassment.
Most people think gossip only lowers the subject’s reputation, don’t they?
In reality, gossip also lowers the reputation of the one who spreads it.
People think, That person would gossip about me in the same way elsewhere.
Moreover, Dolly had overlooked one fact: she was a maid.
If a maid enthusiastically spoke ill of her mistress in front of nobles, who would seem more ridiculous?
Dolly did not understand the mindset of the nobility at all.
Masters considered it a betrayal if their maid even gossiped about them.
[Current Bad Reputation:]
▶ Mischievous villainous woman (25 people / ▼7)
▶ Selfish purifier (15 people)
▶ Arrogant socialite (15 people / ▼11)
▶ Clueless, empty-headed young lady (8 people / ▼15)
I glanced at the status screen before me, sipping my tea slowly. I wanted to prolong Dolly’s moment in the spotlight.
“Is that so? Then she deserves a stern punishment.”
“Do you intend to make her read The Commandments of God?”
“Yes. She must realize the highest good through the demands of the soul’s immortality and God’s presence.”
At this calm answer, even Lady Brentano couldn’t help but let out a faint laugh, as did the gentlemen from the Academy, though they quickly returned to serious expressions.
Those incomprehensible, convoluted sentences were exactly the kind of thing that theologians would know by heart, even in their sleep.
“You are truly cruel. Lady Odette is indeed a terrifying villainess.”
The conversation continued in that fashion. Theology, then economics, politics, international affairs.
Lady Brentano subtly tried to test me, and I used a combination of overheard knowledge to navigate the discussion.
Thanks to Hansuwan’s knowledge.
Helping my younger sister with her university assignments turned out to be unexpectedly useful.
Even though this was a game-like world, many of the theories here were borrowed directly from Hansuwan’s world.
“Remarkable. I didn’t expect you to be so well-versed in international affairs.”
Even for international affairs, by roughly matching the countries to their 19th-century historical counterparts, I could explain convincingly.
“You flatter me, gentlemen. My opinions are somewhat radical.”
“No, really. As you said, the era of railroads seems about to begin. Your points on republics were very interesting.”
[The number of people who agree with the rumor of a clueless young lady has disappeared!]
[Clueless, empty-headed young lady (rumor removed / ▼23)]
Almost everyone in the salon had gathered around this table.
Everyone moved to the largest sofa at the center of the gathering.
The servants and maids busily moved additional sofas and tables to make room.
The only idle maid was Dolly.
One young lady, picking up the last cookie from a three-tier tray, called out to Dolly.
“Dolly, why haven’t you brought a new tray when all these are empty? Bring more fruit wine, too.”
“Yes… yes?”
“You’re the only maid here—why are you just standing there? Are you here to play?”
Dolly trembled, glaring at me, startled by the young lady’s request.
“Don’t forget to bring more tea too, Dolly.”
I added my voice to encourage her. Dolly glared at me, then hurried off with the tray.
She returned shortly, pushing a trolley.
“What is this? I’ve never seen someone set up a three-tier tray like this.”
Yet the young lady clicked her tongue at Dolly. Nothing was in proper order.
‘The count does not enjoy dessert. The countess assumes that if it looks pretty, it’s fine.’
Having always arranged things prettily, Dolly had no idea how to do it properly.
“Why are there sandwiches on the top tier? With this setup, citrus fruit wine would be appropriate, wouldn’t it?”
“…”
“And this white wine? Too heavy to pair with fruit.”
The young lady went through her list of criticisms, finally closing her eyes in exasperation.
“Ugh. I’d better do it myself. Lady Odette, no wonder you’re a daughter of God. Only a saint could endure this. How did you manage to tolerate it? Who could resist causing mischief with a maid like this?”
By now, everyone in the salon had a favorable impression of me. Some would even feel guilty.
[The number of people who agree with the rumor of a mischievous villainess has disappeared!]
[Mischievous villainess (rumor removed / ▼32)]
All the nobles at the table turned their attention to Dolly, and her face flushed red.
“A clueless, empty-headed maid indeed.”
