CHAPTER 20
“Are you saying Lady Adele really did all this?”
Rebecca, panting with frustration, entered the kitchen and let out a scoff as she stood in front of the neatly stacked dishes.
She wanted to accuse someone else of doing it for Adele, but it was she herself who had ordered everyone else out of the kitchen.
“Get rid of any naive thoughts about fooling us with a half-hearted job! The truth will come out eventually anyway…”
“That’s why I paid extra attention to the places people wouldn’t see,” Adele replied.
As Adele flipped over a tray, Rebecca’s breathing audibly roughened. Still suspicious, she began flipping over each one to check for herself. Adele and Jacqueline exchanged a glance of pity.
Maybe I should’ve just let her nitpick a little.
Adele briefly regretted her effort—but then shook her head.
She could tolerate being scolded, that wasn’t the issue. The real problem was that Rebecca was clearly trying to find an excuse to drive her out of the Grand Temple.
And after everything it had taken just to stay here, there was no way she was going to let that happen.
Besides, having been groomed as an heir, Adele simply couldn’t do things halfway. It was practically a professional habit.
Adele quietly stepped up beside Rebecca.
“Um, I was thinking… maybe we could install a storage rack under the window for sterilization while doing the dishes. What do you think?”
“What?”
“And if you look here, the brush is so worn out that it’s not very efficient for how much effort you have to put in…”
“Did anyone ask you for your opinion?”
Wow, she’s loud.
Adele did her best not to frown. It wasn’t that she had a naturally patient personality—she just knew how to read the situation.
The fact that the High Priestess didn’t intervene earlier means…
Despite the lengthy argument just now, the High Priestess had quietly continued her meal. The only person who could’ve stopped the commotion didn’t—meaning she had given Rebecca the authority to handle Adele’s position.
That seat really isn’t for just anyone.
By siding with Rebecca—the one who harbored the strongest resentment toward Adele—the High Priestess could pacify the other priestesses while also testing Adele. A clever move.
In short, the long and tedious explanation could be summed up as:
“We’ve done enough for you. Let’s see what you do now.”
Adele swallowed a sigh.
Getting into a fight with Rebecca would only hurt her in the end.
Whatever the case, she had completed her tasks. She had nothing to feel guilty about. It was time to return to where the knights were—
“Um, in that case… may we be excused?”
“Excused?”
“We’ve completed everything we were told to do, and it’s still a while before the dinner dishes will come in.”
“No. That won’t do.”
…What now?
Adele thought she had finished everything, but Rebecca clearly didn’t agree.
She had seen that smile before—and nothing good came from it.
It had only happened once, but it was unforgettable.
“It’s rare for Lady Adele to offer suggestions for the improvement of the Grand Temple, and yet you’re just going to leave it at that?”
“Pardon? What suggestion…?”
“You just said it yourself. Something about replacing the dish brush.”
I knew she’d do this.
Adele bit her cheek to suppress the anger rising from deep within. She regretted even speaking. Rebecca had clearly made up her mind to work Adele harder—she had no intention of letting her go easily.
“Why? If you’re going to make that face, then maybe now’s the time—”
“Where is it?”
But Adele had no intention of smiling politely anymore.
She abruptly cut Rebecca off and began tying her hair back.
Rebecca frowned at Adele’s suddenly resolute energy.
“Where is what supposed to be?”
“We’re both busy, so just be direct.”
“…Be direct about what?”
I’m tying my hair back again today, huh?
Wiping the smile from her face, Adele looked at Rebecca impassively.
“Where is the brush, and how much of it do you want me to bring?”
“…”
“Ma’am.”
