~Chapter 26~
“Ah, Miss…!”
Carrie’s lips trembled at the sight of Camilla—the lady who was said to be the Young Duke’s close friend.
Camilla asked, “I’m just curious. What did you talk about with Marie that made you look so upset?”
“…It’s nothing. Just… we just chatted a bit…”
Camilla folded her arms and spoke coolly, cutting through Carrie’s excuses.
“I heard everything. Are you really going to act like that?”
Only then did Carrie’s face go pale. She dropped to her knees.
“F-forgive me, Miss! I—I’ll confess everything to the head maid myself! Please, just don’t tell the Young Duke…!”
Meanwhile, Camilla stood in front of Carrie, trying to keep a poker face.
‘Actually, I didn’t hear everything.’
She had just guessed that Marie would try something, so she secretly followed her and hid behind a tree. Just as she expected, it happened.
She couldn’t hear the whole conversation, but Marie’s threatening tone was obvious.
So, Camilla pretended to know everything, and Carrie got scared and told her everything—from stealing herbs for her sick little sister, to Marie telling her to give false testimony.
‘A little sister, huh?’
Watching Carrie beg for her sick sister, Camilla thought of Nina.
“Is your sister better now?”
“…What? Oh, not yet… She still has a high fever. I wanted to ask the doctors for medicine, but it’s just too expensive…”
At last, Carrie burst into tears.
“What kind of herbs did you use? I know a bit about herbs.”
Carrie wiped her tears and sniffled.
“I-I thought it was just a fever. So I used a little bit of kudzu root. I really only used the leftover parts the doctors threw away. Sniff…”
‘Kudzu root?’
That wasn’t a bad choice for a fever, but—
‘Maybe she misdiagnosed it.’
Camilla told Carrie to describe the symptoms in detail. Carrie nervously explained her sister’s illness.
Camilla thought for a moment.
“It might be tonsillitis, not just a fever. Why didn’t you use sinistra? I saw some in the greenhouse earlier.”
“T-that’s… There aren’t any leftover parts, so I couldn’t use it.”
‘She really knows her stuff,’ Camilla thought.
She had only wanted to use Carrie to deal with Marie, but now she was impressed by Carrie’s answers.
“I haven’t seen your sister myself, so I can’t be sure, but there are herbs that can replace sinistra. I brought some samples to the mansion. Do you want to take some?”
At that, Carrie looked up at Camilla in a daze—and then began to cry loudly.
“I’m so sorry, Miss. You’re so kind… But I was going to…!”
‘Wait, that’s too loud,’ Camilla thought. If Marie heard crying from inside the greenhouse, it would be trouble.
Camilla put her finger to her lips, signaling Carrie to be quiet, and pulled her behind a tree.
“Let’s stay here until Marie comes out. After that, I’ll give you the herb samples at the mansion.”
“Th-thank you…!”
Camilla looked at Carrie carefully.
‘How much does this girl actually know about herbs?’
“Carrie.”
“Yes?”
“Do you know what aquilia is used for?”
“Oh, aquilia? That’s for stopping bleeding…”
Camilla’s eyes sparkled.
“And?”
“It’s also good for the stomach. Helps with digestion…”
“What herb helps with menstrual pain?”
“What? Oh, that’s… evening primrose…”
Even though Carrie stuttered, her answers were quick and correct.
‘She’s actually pretty good,’ Camilla thought.
She didn’t remember a maid like Carrie from the original story, but she was glad.
Camilla, finding it fun, kept asking more questions. Just then, they heard the greenhouse door open. Camilla motioned for Carrie to stay quiet.
They saw Marie leaving the greenhouse with a basket, walking away.
Once Marie was gone, Camilla signaled Carrie.
Carrie nodded and led the way into the greenhouse. When they reached the back, Carrie gasped at what she saw.
“Oh my…”
‘Wow, this is pretty bad,’ Camilla thought.
The special herbs from the Eastern Continent were all a mess—ripped out and trampled. Camilla frowned.
“This…”
Following Carrie’s finger, Camilla spotted the fountain pen she had brought from the mansion.
‘It even has the Mowin family crest on it.’
It looked so staged, it was almost funny. But with Carrie’s testimony, things were different.
‘They want me to look like an idiot who snuck into the greenhouse at night, stole rare herbs, and left proof behind.’
Just thinking about it made Camilla angry.
“Carrie.”
“Y-yes…?”
Carrie squeezed her eyes shut, already knowing what Camilla would say.
‘She’ll tell me to testify against Marie.’
Even a kind lady couldn’t be merciful forever.
‘Well, she said she’d give me herbs. If only Emil gets better, I can find another job.’
But as Carrie held her fists and braced herself, Camilla said something unexpected.
“You should testify exactly like Marie told you.”
“What…?”
“If you don’t, Marie will use what she has on you and things will get worse.”
Carrie stared in shock. Camilla took a brooch from her dress.
“But there’s something else you have to do for me.”
‘Yes! It worked!’ Marie cheered inside as she brushed Camilla’s hair.
Today would be the last time she had to fix up this gloomy girl. After today, Camilla would be thrown out!
‘The Empress Dowager will be so happy when she finds out I got rid of the pest next to the Young Duke. Maybe she’ll even reward me!’
Marie’s plan was simple.
The Grand Duchess, who used to be a doctor, treasured the greenhouse. She took special care of the herbs from the Eastern Continent.
‘I know that weird girl helps the baron’s house with their medicine business.’
So, if Camilla snuck into the greenhouse, took the rare herbs, and made a mess—
‘Even the Young Duke’s favorite will get thrown out when the Grand Duchess finds out!’
The Grand Duchess had always punished servants harshly for stealing herbs, so it was certain.
‘I even put some of the rare herbs under the bastard’s bed last night, before she came in.’
That would be solid evidence to trap Camilla.
‘I kept the rest, too. I’ll sell them later for pocket money.’
Actually, Marie herself had stolen herbs before. She got away with it thanks to her friendship with the head maid, but she never stopped.
Working at the ducal house was a great deal for Marie—a good side income, and an important place for medical work.
While humming, Marie finished brushing Camilla’s hair and started putting fragrant oil on it.
Knock, knock.
“Yes, come in.”
The door burst open. A maid with a stiff face said politely,
“Excuse me, Miss. The Grand Duchess has called everyone who went to the greenhouse yesterday. She says something has happened.”
As expected, the Grand Duchess herself had started the investigation. Marie could hardly hide her excitement.
Then, the maid glanced at Marie.
“And Marie, you should come with me too.”
“Yes,” Marie answered, secretly grinning.
‘They probably want to see if I noticed anything strange about the bastard.’
Camilla went into the Grand Duchess’s room first. Not long after, Marie was called in.
“Come in.”
“Yes.”
Inside, the Grand Duchess stood tall, her eyes cold. Even pregnant, her back was straight and her gaze icy.
“You took care of Camilla while she was recovering, didn’t you?”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Marie checked to see that Carrie and Camilla were there too, and struggled to keep from laughing.
“Did any of Camilla’s things go missing lately? Or did you notice anything strange about her yesterday or today?”
Marie pretended to think, then answered.
“…Actually, Camilla’s fountain pen—she always carried it—but it disappeared yesterday.”
“What?!”
Camilla shouted as if offended. But the Grand Duchess didn’t seem to care.
“Is that so? And Carrie, you said you saw Camilla going into the greenhouse.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
‘She’s doing a good job,’ Marie thought. It was time to finish the story.
“This is hard to say, but…”
Marie said that Camilla came in late last night, and that this morning, while cleaning, she smelled strange herbs by Camilla’s bed.
Camilla protested,
“That’s a ridiculous lie!”
The Grand Duchess thought for a moment, then ordered her maid to check Camilla’s room for herbs, just as Marie described.
‘It’s done!’ Marie thought. She could already taste victory.
But then, the maid came back, bowed, and announced,
“No herbs were found anywhere in Miss Camilla’s room.”
‘What?!’
