chapter 20
Soon, an unfamiliar voice followed.
“I noticed you haven’t been eating much, so I brought something.”
A maid?
Though, for that, her voice carried some age.
Based on the conversation she had been having with Fiorentia, Theodore began to gauge the visitor’s status.
“Ah, it’s fi—”
Fiorentia, who was about to refuse, trailed off.
He thought she seemed hesitant to decline the meal.
He slightly opened his eyes—and met Fiorentia’s gaze just as she turned toward him.
Through the mask, he saw her narrow her eyes slightly, as if scolding him.
Theodore shamelessly closed his eyes again.
Meanwhile, when Fiorentia stopped mid-sentence, the visitor called out to her as if urging her.
“My lady?”
Only then did Fiorentia turn her gaze back and clear her throat briefly.
She didn’t particularly enjoy eating, so she honestly didn’t feel much appetite.
She had been about to send the food back, but since Theodore had just recovered from being ill, she thought it might be good to have him eat something.
“I got so absorbed in playing with the doll that I forgot to eat. Now that I think about it, I do feel a bit hungry. Could you bring what you have inside?”
“Yes, my lady. I will do so.”
Fiorentia stepped aside slightly so she could enter.
The visitor placed the meal near the table, but instead of leaving immediately, she bowed politely.
“And, my lady, there is one more thing I must inform you of.”
“Hm? What is it?”
Theodore slightly opened his eyes again.
A middle-aged woman with dark brown hair stood with her back to him, bowing toward Fiorentia.
She seemed extremely meticulous, as her hair was tightly pulled back without a single strand out of place.
Who is she?
Before he could dwell on the question, the woman continued.
“This Esther, by the head of the family’s order, will be serving you here in the annex from today onward.”
“The head maid… personally?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
Fiorentia, standing while facing the bed, seemed to have a somewhat displeased look in her eyes.
And Theodore’s guess was more or less correct.
It had to be—because both the butler and the head maid were Desdemona’s closest aides.
‘Is it because I forced my way into the main house recently?’
It seemed she had drawn too much attention.
‘…First, calm down. I can’t look anxious.’
Fiorentia steadied her breathing.
Esther was quick-witted and perceptive.
Showing even the slightest hesitation in front of her would be a shortcut to self-destruction.
Esther glanced toward the bed.
“But, my lady. Is that doll perhaps ill? Why is it lying down?”
“Ah, it’s not sick…”
Fiorentia didn’t panic and smoothly began acting.
Since she had already decided to appear somewhat foolish, she figured she might as well do it properly.
She smiled shyly, as if embarrassed.
“I was just… putting it to sleep.”
“…Putting it to sleep?”
“Well… it’s just play. Pretending to put it to sleep… You know, head maid. Like when you were young, playing house with dolls…”
“Ah… I see.”
Esther nodded roughly, responding with a somewhat lukewarm tone.
Before coming to the annex, she had met Desdemona.
Desdemona had mocked Fiorentia for quite a while, saying that despite being eighteen, she still clung to dolls because of her severe lack of affection.
Perhaps because she had just heard all that, Esther found Fiorentia’s behavior pathetic—but not particularly strange.
In the meantime, Fiorentia skillfully changed the subject.
“Anyway, Esther. I look forward to working with you. Please make sure to tell my sister I’m grateful for her consideration. Ah! Or… could I meet her in person to thank her?”
“No, my lady. I will convey it to the head of the family.”
“As expected… my sister must be very busy and unable to make time to see me, right?”
Theodore, with his eyes closed, thought her act of sounding disappointed was quite impressive.
“No, it’s fine. I just got a little excited. I shouldn’t take up my sister’s time. Please make sure to pass on my thanks instead.”
“Yes, I will do so. And if you need anything, please let me know at any time.”
“Alright. You may go.”
Esther bowed politely until the very end and quietly left the room.
Only then did Fiorentia form a faint smile behind her mask.
‘I knew it…’
That night, Desdemona had handed Theodore over far too easily.
She began to think intensely.
Why had Desdemona sent the head maid to watch her?
‘The most likely reason is still that visit to the main house.’
Did the butler and head maid reveal that she had entered the office?
For a moment, anxiety surged—but she quickly suppressed it.
‘No. If they did that, the burden on them would be too great.’
That day, Fiorentia had briefly checked the ledger. After that, she made a deal with the butler and head maid—if they met her demands promptly, she would keep quiet about their embezzlement as before.
‘But if they were worried I might keep checking the ledger, it’s more likely they just hinted something to Desdemona to stop me from coming to the main house again.’
So, it was unlikely that her entering the office had been exposed.
Fiorentia considered the next possibility.
A very small chance was that they wanted to check on Theodore Beringham’s condition.
And lastly…
‘She probably just wants to hear how ridiculous her half-sister is acting. That might be the biggest reason.’
Desdemona was always ready to mock and trample Fiorentia.
She was the type who derived great satisfaction and enjoyment from such unproductive things.
‘If she could, she’d probably want to see it with her own eyes.’
A hateful younger sister, already at an age where marriage would be natural, clinging to a doll and playing house like someone without a sense of self—though in reality, she wasn’t.
However, for the sake of appearances, she couldn’t come herself, so she sent one of her most trusted servants instead.
‘And she’s actually entering a busy period as well.’
From now on, Esther would likely report every single detail of Fiorentia’s actions to her master.
Fiorentia smiled coldly.
‘Fine. I’ll play along.’
Acting submissive in front of Desdemona was already part of the act—there was no reason she couldn’t do the same in front of Esther.
She could just think of it as the performance being extended a little longer.
Fiorentia turned her gaze and glanced at Theodore, who still had his eyes closed.
She had no doubt that this humiliation she was enduring now would one day be repaid to Desdemona by the man beside her.
Soon, the sound of the door closing was heard.
Only then did Theodore open his eyes again.
At the same time, Fiorentia turned toward him and collapsed into the chair as if all her strength had drained away.
“Seriously, why did she come?”
“Seems like my visit to the main house a few days ago reached Desdemona’s ears. It might have bothered her.”
At that, Theodore looked slightly surprised and stayed silent for a moment before asking,
“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t go back then?”
“I just… changed my mind.”
She answered briefly in a careless tone, closing her eyes as if frowning and pressing her forehead.
“Anyway, you heard everything just now from right beside me, so you understand the situation. Desdemona has placed someone here. So even if it’s uncomfortable, please go along with the doll-playing. I have no doubt you’ll do well.”
“Ha… seriously.”
At her one-sided notice, Theodore’s face filled with disbelief.
