Chapter 56
I was now realizing the truth of the saying that sharing food builds affection. Merbel and Lucille were showing me that eating was not just an act of filling the stomach.
The pace at which they ate was never constant.
When they told funny anecdotes, their spoons and forks danced in the air. When recounting something that made them angry, they stuffed their mouths full, chewing mercilessly as though the food itself were to blame.
Though the two had never spoken to each other before, they got along surprisingly well. Especially when the topic was Letisa.
“Are you saying she acted mean when no one was watching?”
“Mean doesn’t even cover it. When she was in a bad mood, she even raised her hand against us.”
“Raised her hand? Even Lady Ellicia never treats her maids that way, yet she dared such a thing!”
“She thinks she’s the duke’s daughter.”
Lucille tattled like a little girl telling her mother about a fight with a friend. Merbel eagerly agreed with her and steered the conversation toward Lucille’s personal experiences.
But the person I was truly interested in was not Lucille but her brother, Briel. The impression I had gotten of him earlier was kind and sincere, making him seem suitable as a new coachman.
Lucille herself was likeable enough too. If I kept his younger sister close, his loyalty would only grow stronger, which would be all the better for me.
In the front courtyard of the Verato ducal residence, the butler Brikt and a messenger from the Shiton family were standing off against each other.
Coming out for a moment, Kais shook his head when he saw that the situation was still unchanged even an hour later. Neither side was willing to back down, for neither master was known for having a mild temper.
On his way out to enter the palace, Tirchen called the butler.
“Why are the trash still here?”
At his words, the Shiton servant flinched. The “trash” the duke referred to were in fact the gifts sent from the Shiton household.
“I told them to take back what they brought, but they insist they cannot.”
“Then kill them.”
“Gasp!”
The Shiton servant sucked in a sharp breath, stepping back in fright. Tirchen’s words, spoken with an utterly calm expression, did not sound like a joke.
“Need a sword?”
At those words, Kais drew the longsword at his waist and handed it to Brikt.
“T-these are… return gifts from Lady Delina.”
“By the time I return, make sure the trash and the corpses are sent back.”
“Right away, Your Grace.”
Brikt raised the sword without the slightest hesitation. At that, the Shiton servant scrambled onto his carriage and bolted away like an arrow.
“What kind of gift did you send Lady Shiton that made her return something so lavishly?”
“I don’t care what was sent. What matters is who sent it.”
“Going to confront them? Don’t be too harsh. She’s much older than you.”
Since Tirchen would never send such gifts, Kais easily guessed who the culprit was. The one who most desired Tirchen’s marriage, and the only person in the Netor Empire who could pull such a stunt and remain unscathed.
“From now on, no visitor from the Shiton household is to cross the gate.”
After giving the order, Tirchen casually mounted his horse.
When Lucille delivered the message, I wondered if I had misheard.
“Who came to see me?”
“He said he was Sir Verato.”
“You don’t mean the Duke of Verato?”
“Wasn’t the man who carried you in a few days ago the Duke himself? This one isn’t him.”
Since all the household staff had rushed out that day when Tirchen carried me in with my injured foot, Lucille clearly recognized his face.
I had no desire to see Gustavo’s face, nor was I curious about his reasons for coming. They were obvious enough—and would only lead to unpleasantness.
“Tell him I can’t move right now. Ask what business he has and deliver only the message.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Lucille was about to leave the room when a good idea struck me.
“Lucille.”
“Yes, my lady?”
“I think I’ll meet Sir Verato. Could you ask Letisa to come to my room?”
At the name Letisa, Lucille instantly went pale. Considering how much she had suffered under her, just hearing the name must have been a nightmare. Now she would have to go to Letisa with a message—no wonder her face darkened.
“If Letisa says anything, tell her you’ll report it all to me.”
“What?”
Lucille widened her eyes like a startled rabbit.
“Too childish for your taste?”
“No, it’s just… am I really allowed to say that?”
Not sure if I was serious, Lucille looked at me nervously. At fifteen, she was still an innocent girl who would do exactly as I instructed.
“Of course you are. And if she threatens you not to tell me, then you must also come and tell me that.”
“But… that’s tattling, isn’t it?”
Tattling wasn’t something to be proud of, but when it came to Letisa, it was necessary. I had no intention of letting her continue her misdeeds unnoticed.
I put on a stern expression and looked straight at Lucille.
“Nothing concerning me should happen without my knowledge. You are my maid, so of course, anything that happens to you in this household, I must know. Isn’t that right?”
“Yes, my lady.”
“When I ask you something, you must answer honestly regardless of who is present. Even if it’s in front of the duchess herself, and even if it concerns her. That is my right and your duty. Understood?”
“Yes, my lady!”
Squaring her shoulders, Lucille answered firmly and left with a lively step.
After some time, Lucille returned with Letisa, whose face was twisted with annoyance. Behind her, Lucille was puffing her cheeks in anger. Judging from their appearance, the two had already clashed on the way.
“Ellicia, I think you should change your personal maid. Lucille is far too rude to be kept by your side!”
Letisa vented her frustration, while Lucille behind her looked like a little squirrel hiding acorns in her cheeks. The sight made me burst out laughing.
“You think this is funny? That insolent maid should be thrown out of this household at once!”
Misinterpreting my laugh, Letisa kept ranting nonsense.
Instead of answering her, I beckoned Lucille closer. With the two of them standing side by side before me, I felt like an inquisitor about to deliver a fair and wise judgment.
“Lucille, did you convey the message properly?”
“Yes. I told her that you summoned her, my lady.”
“Letisa, was it my summons that upset you?”
“It wasn’t your words. It was the maid’s attitude.”
Letisa shot Lucille a fierce glare, making her flinch. But Lucille quickly straightened her shoulders and stood proud.
“What about her attitude? Did she curse at you?”
“No, not that.”
“Did she strike you?”
“As if that lowly thing could dare lay a hand on me!”
“Then there’s nothing wrong at all.”
I delivered my verdict coolly.
When Letisa tried to argue, I silenced her with a raised hand and continued questioning Lucille. Because I had already instructed her, Lucille reported in detail, unfazed by Letisa’s menacing stare.
“So, she cursed at you even before you could deliver the message?”
“Yes.”
“And when you told her I summoned her, she tried to slap you for looking her in the eye?”
“Yes, my lady.”
Letisa’s face flushed red with fury, but I raised my hand again to silence her.
“Lucille is my personal maid. You are not to treat her carelessly, Letisa.”
“So you’ll ignore my words and take the maid’s side?”
“Don’t twist things. I listened to your account first, didn’t I?”
“Do you value a maid more than me?”
“I value myself more than you. For me to receive the best service, my maid must be in the best condition. So stop provoking Lucille from now on. This isn’t a request—it’s a warning.”
Their expressions could not have been more different. Letisa bit back her words as I narrowed my eyes, while Lucille looked elated.
When I stood up, Lucille came to support me. Though my injured foot had already healed, since Gustavo was here, I intended to pretend for one more day.
“So, Sir Verato came to see me.”
“What? You? Why?”
Letisa’s eyes bulged as if I had intruded between them.
That she revealed her feelings so plainly was pitiful—it killed even my will to argue.
“I’ll hear what he has to say. Would you help me downstairs?”
“Ah? Yes.”
Letisa offered her hand, but I only touched the fabric of her sleeve. Any direct contact with her was unpleasant, so I avoided it as much as possible.
‘There should be some amusing spectacle waiting downstairs. I’ll bear this much discomfort for it.’
As she offered me her arm, Letisa chewed her nails restlessly.
When the parlor door opened, the unwelcome Gustavo greeted me with a wide grin. But upon seeing Letisa come in right after me, his face froze.
‘Surely he knew he might run into her in this house. And yet he looks surprised.’
Their reactions contrasted starkly: Letisa strained to catch his gaze, while Gustavo acted as if she weren’t even there.
“What brings you here, Sir Verato?”
“I heard you had recovered, so I came to pay my respects.”
“A needless visit. I doubt we’re on terms to exchange pleasantries.”
At my cold words, Gustavo clenched his fist and coughed awkwardly.
“Even the brush of sleeves is said to be fate. Surely our bond is not a trivial one?”
His shameless remark made my blood boil. He was right—ours was no ordinary connection. It was the worst possible entanglement.
“I don’t follow what you’re trying to say.”
“We were once set to marry, were we not? Of course, I worried and came to see you.”
“What sense is there in worrying over someone already healthy? Instead of clinging to a past bond, shouldn’t you focus more on your new one?”
“New bond?”
“I heard you have a companion. That you go out together sometimes, enjoying little dates.”
At that, his eyes flicked briefly toward Letisa before returning to me.
“There must be some misunderstanding. I have no such companion.”
We sat at a round tea table, so I could easily see both their faces.
At his shameless denial, Letisa’s complexion turned deathly pale. Though she was denied outright, she had no courage to protest.
I had cast him aside for being a worthless scoundrel, but Letisa was not yet ready to give him up.
“Is that so? Someone said they saw you on a date at Lake Flor, so I assumed it was a young noblewoman. Perhaps she was just a passing amusement.”
“She wasn’t even that. Just a girl who tagged along while I was out with friends.”
“From the way you speak, it sounds like you picked her up off the street.”
“Well… something like that.”
