FLDR 14

CHAPTER 14……………………………….

The capital was always full of beggars, but the one who had recently appeared was different from the rest.

First of all, he limped.

“Hey you, get lost!”

At the man’s shout, the limping beggar tried to run away but tripped over a stone. He groped the ground with his hands and crawled into a dark alley.

“Don’t be so harsh,” the man’s wife said as she came out of the shop and scolded her husband. “Isn’t it pitiful? He’s not only crippled in his legs, he’s even blind.”

“That’s because you don’t know him,” the husband grumbled. “When he first came here, he used to shout at me. Said he was a servant of the Duke of Wincedius or something.”

The beggar was pitiful enough—blind and limping—but few people showed him sympathy.

That was because of his attitude.

Unlike other beggars who hunched their bodies and acted miserable, he acted proud toward merchants, insisting he had been a servant of House Wincedius and didn’t need charity.

He behaved as if even servants of high noble houses considered themselves nobles. After that arrogant display, not a single person even threw him a piece of bread.

“It might actually be true,” the wife said excitedly. “You know that rumor, right? About Lady Cardia Wincedius!”

“She supposedly crippled a servant and threw him out. The maids say she’s the worst kind of villain. And they say she even brought some monster into her house and is tormenting people.”

So that crippled servant must have been that beggar. The wife’s eyes sparkled as if she had found something fascinating.

Rumors always spread faster when they were sensational—and when the people involved seemed miserable. Soon, Cardia’s deeds would be exaggerated further, and the beggar’s condition even more pitiful, spreading across the city.

That was exactly what Elexena wanted.

And so, within less than a week, the rumor that “Lady Cardia Wincedius is a villainess” spread throughout the capital.

There wasn’t much useful information to extract from the servants and maids. A few punishments here and there were enough to maintain appearances.

After about a week, Elexena had learned most things about the household.

And by then, the rumors had spread exactly as she wanted.

“They’re talking about you everywhere.”

Panake, who had gone out once in disguise, reported back.

Elexena had expected interference from Iglea, but she had done nothing.

It’s probably one of two things.

Either Iglea thought the rumor was beneficial to her, or she had become overly cautious after seeing Panake.

Either way, her inaction worked in Elexena’s favor. The rumor had spread enough that people would soon begin to move.

Lady Cardia Wincedius is a villain.

On the surface, it was just another scandal about a noblewoman. But anyone who knew even a little about Cardia Wincedius would understand something else.

If Cardia was truly a villain, then it meant she had regained her awareness enough to commit cruel acts.

And if enough people believed that, someone would surely make contact.

Her maternal relatives. Her paternal grandfather. The elders’ council. Those who had lost power after Iglea rose to dominance.

Who will reach out first?

It didn’t matter who. As long as someone outside could provide support.

But there was one more thing needed to contact them.

That was why Tia was necessary.

“Yutino, bring Tia.”

It was time to use Tia—and feed him a piece of hope.

Tia followed behind Yutino, filled with fear.

The maids and servants of the duke’s household were barely able to breathe properly anymore. That had begun the day after the young lady awakened.

Lady Cardia had declared she would punish the servants, and on the very first day of the so-called interviews, one servant had been crippled and expelled. Those who witnessed Seto’s condition were too terrified to speak properly.

—Seto was expelled.

—Not just expelled. He was blind and crippled.

—Poor Seto… his family ran away with his money, so no one helped him.

Even whispered conversations carried clearly through the halls. The more details they heard, the more terrified everyone became.

—What will happen to us?

Some burst into tears.

—Why are you the only ones safe?!

Others grabbed servants and shouted in panic. Everyone reacted differently, but the meaning was the same.

I don’t want to end up like Seto.

Amid the fear, Jonathan—the boldest among them—spoke up.

“Th-the young lady said… she wanted to end things mercifully, like the mistress said… Seto must’ve been punished because he didn’t answer properly. Just answer well and you’ll be fine…”

It sounded more like self-convincing than reassurance. After that, Jonathan stopped speaking. Still, everyone wanted to believe him—because not a single person here had ever not mocked Cardia at least once.

Those who had served the young lady up close, like Tia, felt even more anxious.

Tia approached Senia, who was nervously biting her nails in silence.

“Senia—”

Smack!

Senia slapped Tia’s hand away. Her palm burned red instantly. Senia’s pupils trembled violently as she snapped back to awareness.

“S-sorry.”

“It’s fine.”

Ever since Senia had gone to see the mistress, she had been biting her nails every time Cardia was mentioned. Tia could only assume the mistress had no intention of protecting them.

Then light footsteps came from outside.

A cheerful maid burst in, opening the door loudly.

“Tia, the young lady is calling for you!”

Her bright smile felt unpleasant. The new maid, Yutino, seemed different from the others—poorly trained, almost naive. Tia reluctantly followed her.

“Go on in.”

Yutino stepped aside with a smile. The two knights at the door moved to let her pass.

Just days ago, opening this door had been routine. Now it was terrifying.

Tia took a breath and spoke carefully.

“My lady, it’s Tia. May I come in?”

“Come in.”

The reply was flat and emotionless.

Inside, the room looked the same—but felt unfamiliar, as if seen for the first time.

The young lady was calmly reading a book. Behind her, Panake groomed his feathers. And there was a handsome knight standing nearby.

The young lady closed her book and turned.

“Larvan, step outside.”

“I was ordered not to leave your side, my lady.”

The knight replied stiffly. It might have sounded rude, but the young lady only smiled faintly.

“Even when I change clothes?”

“Pardon?”

“Yutino isn’t very skilled at assisting. I called back the original maid.”

At those words, the knight’s face slowly turned red.

“Please inform me in advance if I am to leave.”

He spoke awkwardly, clearly embarrassed. He left the room, closing the door loudly behind him.

“Now then. Will you help me change clothes?”

Tia nodded without thinking. She flinched, realizing she hadn’t answered properly, but the young lady did not scold her.

Cardia’s chest wound had not yet fully healed, and the clothes she wore hung loosely, slipping slightly at the shoulder.

Tia selected suitable clothing and began assisting her. The young lady allowed herself to be dressed, speaking casually as if nothing had happened.

“Do you know why I called you?”

Tia swallowed hard.

“If… it’s for clothing assistance?”

The correct answer was to only think about what was asked. At her response, Cardia smiled.

“Do you really think so?”

Wrong.

“Or… is it like an interview with the others?”

“Then why would I call only you?”

Cardia shook her head.

That made sense. Normally, three servants were called together for interviews. If only one was summoned, it meant something different.

After changing, Cardia turned to look directly at Tia.

“Tia, would you like to become my personal maid again?”

“…Huh?”

Tia blinked blankly.

Cardia patiently explained.

“Yutino is still inexperienced. She’s a good girl, but I still need someone competent nearby.”

Is this an opportunity?

The thought flashed through Tia’s mind.

The mistress had said to handle things mercifully. Yet Seto had been punished immediately on the first day. If Cardia was trying to avoid the mistress’s attention and handle things gently, then perhaps—

Maybe I can avoid ending up like Seto.

Hope surged up.

“If you allow me, I would like to do so,” Tia said with a small smile.

“Good.”

Cardia narrowed her eyes.

“But you understand I cannot fully trust you, yes?”

“…Yes.”

“So if you complete the tasks I give you, I will restore your position.”

Tia’s eyes widened.

“Of course, I will also forgive your previous wrongdoing.”

Cardia’s hand rested on Tia’s shoulder. The grip was deceptively strong, holding her firmly in place.

“If you refuse, I’ll call Senia instead.”