Chapter 115
The Lavish Hell
“Anyway, sweetheart, first we need to make sure of that. You can get that Odette woman out of her room, right?”
“Getting her out is easy. But lately, Odette’s been acting strangely sharp, you know? If she doesn’t have a solid reason to leave, she won’t budge.”
Dollie replied curtly.
“That’s nothing to worry about — we can create a reason. The Count’s ruby cufflinks — you have them, don’t you? Just show them to Odette and tell her it’s an order from the Count.”
The ruby cufflinks, adorned with vivid red gemstones, were a token recognized among the members of the count’s household and high-ranking employees — a symbol of the Count’s emergency orders.
Anyone holding them was considered the Count’s proxy. Whatever task others were doing, they were required to stop immediately and obey the cufflink-bearer as if the Count himself had spoken.
It was the Count’s way of issuing commands without appearing domineering in public or formal gatherings.
Ordinarily, those cufflinks were not in Dollie’s possession, but when she had left the chapel a few days ago, the Count had given her a spare pair — just in case Odette acted suspiciously.
If Odette did, she was to use the ruby cufflinks to summon Madam Becker or Fernan and stop her.
“…And what exactly do you plan to do after calling her out?”
“Oh, come on. These things depend on when, where, and with whom you call her, sweetheart. Tell her to come to the Exotic Garden at 10 p.m. — with Karl.”
Dollie tilted her head.
“What’s that supposed to do?”
Rudolph grinned, swirling his glass.
“Everyone’s already curious about Odette and Karl’s romantic connection, aren’t they? The Exotic Garden, at night, just the two of them. Can’t you imagine what people would think?”
“No way—”
“Exactly. We’ll call Odette and that battle slave together. If we capture a picture of their secret rendezvous and leak it to the press, that cheeky girl will be shattered. We’ll give her back exactly what she did to you — and worse.”
In a society built on rigid class hierarchies, a slave’s undying loyalty to a noble could be romanticized.
But a noble falling in love with a slave? That was scandalous — a vulgar stain that ruined reputations.
A slave was meant to serve, not to be loved.
Odette’s name would be dragged through the dirt.
“You’re a genius!”
Dollie threw her arms around Rudolph’s neck, delighted by the plan.
“It’ll be the biggest scandal ever! I’ve seen that battle slave’s face — he’s ridiculously handsome. That’ll make it even louder. A beautiful villainess and a gorgeous slave in a vulgar love affair — isn’t that deliciously dramatic?”
Rudolph even had a special drink he’d been given as a gift a few days ago — colorless, odorless, deceptively mild like water, yet with a dangerously high alcohol content.
If he used that to set the trap, they could capture some very convincing photographs.
While Rudolph was bubbling with excitement, Dollie made a hesitant noise.
“But honey, how do you plan to lure Karl out?”
Her tone turned dubious.
“He’s Odette’s slave, right? You could just go and tell him Lady Odette’s looking for him.”
“What? I’m supposed to be the one to fetch Karl too?”
It didn’t sound like much of a task, but Dollie recoiled as if horrified.
Then, quite absurdly, she said—
“…Then we’ll have to scrap the plan.”
“What? You can’t manage just bringing Karl along?”
“You don’t get it — he gives me the creeps.”
“Why? He’s just a slave. You’re the head maid — you outrank him. Why shouldn’t you be able to summon him?”
“It’s not about rank. He’s… weird. Just looking at him gives me chills.”
A few days ago, when she’d gone near the infirmary to spread rumors about Odette, she had locked eyes with Karl for a brief moment.
That cold, mocking curl of his lips — she could still feel it.
The instant their eyes met, she’d felt strangled — a suffocating terror, like facing a nightmare in flesh.
“Are you nervous because he’s a former crown prince? Or because he’s from the Fenrir clan?”
“No, that’s not it.”
The Fenrir clan was known for their extraordinary strength and jet-black hair — intimidating, yes, but nothing like him.
Karl was something else entirely — the kind of existence that would unsettle any living creature.
“I can’t even explain it properly… he’s like a demon. Like a nightmare shaped into a man.”
“Oh, sweetheart, you just don’t want to do it, huh? Fine — how about this? You call him just twenty minutes before. That way, you won’t have to spend much time around him.”
“Still…”
“Please, do it? Hmm?”
“I really can’t…”
“Sweetheart, all you have to do is bring Odette and Karl. That’s it. I’ll take care of everything else — writing the article, staging the scene, everything. Leave it all to me!”
Even with Rudolph’s coaxing, Dollie still looked queasy.
“Sweetheart, remember what happened at the salon — that humiliation. If you give up now, there’ll be no revenge at all. Is that really okay with you?”
At that, something changed in Dollie’s frightened eyes — resolve flickered there.
After a long silence, she finally nodded, voice firm.
“…Alright.”
Still, even the thought of Karl made her anxious; she chewed on her nails nervously.
“Bringing Karl will be a huge ordeal, you know. I’ll be sacrificing myself for this. Got it?”
“Got it. My brave little darling,” Rudolph said with a smirk, ruffling her hair like she was a pet.
“Rudolph, since we’re going this far, we should make it big. After all the humiliation I went through, I want Odette to be so disgraced she can’t even show her face in the Empire again.”
“Hmmm, if my sweetheart says so… Fine, then I’ll gather as many reporters as I can. We’ll make sure it becomes front-page news.”
“Weren’t you going to monopolize the story yourself?”
“Pfft, you come first, sweetheart! And anyway, you’re the only one who can give firsthand testimony — which means only my paper, ‘Secret Leak,’ can print the juiciest story. My article will sell the most, no matter what.”
Rudolph licked his lips, already savoring it.
Because of the Emperor’s upcoming tour, numerous journalists had been invited to Athena Island — many nobles among them owned newspapers.
If Odette and Karl were caught in such a scene before that crowd, even the ants of the Empire would hear of their “burning love affair.”
‘…Besides, no other reporter can write with my flair for scandal.’
Rudolph was gifted in the art of voyeuristic storytelling.
A proud, untouchable flower — falling in love with a slave.
He could already see the story unfold vividly in his head.
And he was confident — no matter how many reporters witnessed it, his article would outsell them all.
Dollie would supply the “insider testimony,” and all he had to do was stamp it with that phrase — “an account from a close confidante.”
Watching someone plummet because of a rumor he’d crafted always made Rudolph feel alive.
The higher and purer the target, the sweeter the fall.
To drag the socialite flower of high society down into the mud — what could be more thrilling?
Rudolph was already dizzy with anticipation.
And all of it — every word, every plan — was being watched by Odette.
Dollie had probably chosen that particular beach, one invisible from Odette’s quarters, as their secret meeting place.
But that was her fatal mistake.
From the infirmary where Karl was stationed, it was actually the most visible spot.
‘So… you’re doing the exact same thing you did in my past life.’
Good. That’s how it should be. Dollie needed to act like herself — that made the revenge worthwhile.
Turning her into a beggar wasn’t enough to make her taste living hell.
Even a beautiful beggar could still breathe.
True ruin came only when public scandal branded a woman as a “fallen whore.”
Once that rumor stuck, no matter what circle she belonged to, society deemed her “fit to be defiled.”
Losing dignity — that was more painful than losing wealth.
To be stripped of even the bare minimum of human respect, treated like meat — that was the true bottom of existence.
Odette quietly turned to Karl, who stood beside her like a shadow.
“Karl, I have a favor to ask.”
“My lady need not ask. Merely command me.”
Karl’s tone was calm and obedient.
“Alright then, Karl — I’ll give you an order.”
This would be a test for him as well — to see how precisely and effectively he could understand and execute Odette’s will as her servant.
