CHAPTER 13………………………………………..
“In a situation like this, if we send a princess as a maid, it’ll become a laughingstock in a different sense.”
“…So you’re saying we should send some baron’s daughter named Olive or whatever instead?”
He still sounded displeased, but his voice was more subdued than before.
“Her Highness the Imperial Princess might be offended, but then she’ll simply fail her at the document screening. If she happens to pass by luck, it won’t benefit us, but it won’t harm us either.”
At the calm explanation, Edwin nodded reluctantly.
“Fine, whatever… She won’t pass anyway, but it’s better than making a bigger fool of ourselves.”
Two days after the letter of recommendation was sent, a reply arrived from the Imperial Princess’s palace.
It stated that Olivia would be accepted as a maid.
Edwin looked slightly irritated, but perhaps deciding that what was already decided couldn’t be undone, he didn’t add anything further.
Instead, he didn’t forget to take the Grand Duke family’s seal away from Marchioness Devon.
Thanks to that, Aunt’s position has shrunk considerably.
From minor matters like hiring or dismissing servants to major ones like freely using the Grand Duke family’s assets, she had possessed broad authority—authority that was now completely stripped away.
In protest against Edwin, the marchioness declared that she would go on a trip.
And the Grand Duke family’s seal…
“I’m really glad you got the seal back, Your Highness.”
…was now in Trisha’s hands.
After all, reviewing documents related to the Grand Duke family was still Trisha’s responsibility.
“Since it’s an outing after so long, wouldn’t it be nice to dress brightly today?”
Jane, delighted just by the recovery of the seal, wore a smile all day.
“They say it’s a tea party surrounded by flowers! On a day like that, you should wear a dress in a bright, floral color!”
Seeing her so happy, Trisha decided to play along appropriately.
Today, there was a tea party she had to attend together with Edwin as a married couple.
Since Trisha had been handling all of the Grand Duke household’s affairs up until yesterday, this was officially her first outing in a month.
But then—
“I’m sorry, but I think I’ll have to go to the tea party with the princess.”
“…What?”
“She’s still a friend and a business partner, and I think I haven’t been attentive enough to her.”
After finishing their preparations and coming down to the entrance hall, Edwin suddenly announced this.
“It’s not like today is the only day. I can go with you another time, can’t I?”
In other words, he was telling her not to sulk or show hurt feelings for no reason.
He’s got some nerve, bringing his mistress to a couples’ gathering.
Though dumbfounded, Trisha nodded just as Edwin wanted.
She didn’t forget to put on a performance of disappointment.
In truth, her mood was foul anyway.
“…All right. Have a good time.”
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. But how could I refuse Eddie when he’s being so considerate of a friend like me?”
At Rizaine’s needless jab at Trisha, Jane clenched her fists.
Trisha calmly saw them off to the end, then soothed Jane by suggesting that since they were already dressed up, they should go out too.
“I’m fine, Jane.”
“…Shouldn’t you not be fine at a time like this?”
As soon as they boarded the carriage, Jane let out a sigh and glared in the direction where Edwin and Rizaine’s carriage had gone.
“I hope they get into a terrible accident on the way.”
“That wouldn’t be so bad.”
Trisha let out a small laugh.
“But when I say I’m fine, I really mean it.”
It wasn’t just something she said.
She hadn’t planned to stay long at the tea party anyway.
This actually works out better.
With a gentle expression, Trisha gazed at the blue sky beyond the carriage window.
“The weather’s nice.”
It was the perfect day to carry out what she had planned in advance.
Baron Moret was a relative of Marquis Devon. Olivia Moret was the baron’s daughter.
“When this is over, you’ll become the Countess of Rosentain.”
At Marchioness Devon’s words, Olivia felt her heart race.
So I’m finally getting married!
Thanks to her father, a relative and close aide of Marquis Devon, Olivia had been raised delicately since childhood.
Perhaps because of that, she was positive if put kindly, or hopelessly lacking in self-awareness if put bluntly.
It’s a shame my husband will only be a count, but he’s rich, and they say he’s handsome.
She wasn’t particularly smart or beautiful compared to her peers, but Olivia categorized herself as the finest lady in Efelberno.
“Will this be enough, miss?”
Olivia nodded. What she had to do today was simple.
At the time given by the marchioness, she would block the road pretending that her carriage wheel had come off.
Then, in a narrow path just wide enough for another carriage to barely pass behind her, she would have a pit dug.
The carriage coming from behind would jolt because of the pit and collide with Olivia’s carriage.
It’s a little scary, but… she said she’d already bribed the coachman of the other carriage.
She’d also been told that since they had deliberately chosen a secluded road, there was no risk of someone else falling into the trap.
“It’s about time you got into the carriage, miss.”
At the servant’s words, Olivia boarded the carriage.
She had even prepared a bottle filled with animal blood.
“Stimulate Count Rosentain’s sense of guilt as much as possible. After that, use a visit of concern as an excuse to call him to your home, give him medicine, and pretend you spent the night together.”
For Olivia, it seemed excessive to go this far just to marry a mere count, but since it was Marchioness Devon’s command, she decided to follow it.
That was when—
“Kyaaah!”
The carriage shook from a sudden collision.
The bottle she was holding spilled, soaking her dress and handkerchief with animal blood.
With a tearful expression, Olivia sensed someone approaching and hurriedly composed her face.
As the carriage door opened behind her, Olivia spoke in a frail voice.
“E-excuse me, sir, could you help support me? I think I hurt my ankle in that shock just now—I can’t seem to walk…”
At her words, the other party hesitated.
Don’t tell me he’s already fallen for my looks? I don’t think I’ve even shown more than my profile yet.
“What do you mean, ‘sir’?”
“Huh?!”
But the voice that answered wasn’t a low male voice—it was an elegant, gentle woman’s voice.
Startled, Olivia sprang to her feet. When she recognized who it was, her panic was obvious.
“Y-Your Grace, Duchess Mason? Why are you here…?”
“That’s what I’d like to ask. In fact, there are one or two other things I’m curious about as well.”
Trisha slowly folded her fingers.
“First, calling me a gentleman without even looking at me. Second, claiming you couldn’t walk, yet standing perfectly fine. Third, the clear signs that the carriage wheel was deliberately removed.”
“……”
“Don’t tell me you dug a trap on purpose, targeting someone in particular, Miss Moret?”
Faced with Trisha’s graceful yet relentless questioning, Olivia broke into a cold sweat.
“I-I have no idea what you’re talking about! My carriage wheel simply came off, and I was asking a passerby for help!”
“Is that so?”
Trisha’s face made it clear she didn’t believe her. Flustered, Olivia rushed to explain.
“I mistook you for a gentleman because of the shadow…! You’re so tall, Your Grace, that I just made a mistake!”
“Then what about the carriage wheel?”
“That was, of course, just an unfortunate accident…”
“Even though your servant has already confessed that he deliberately removed the wheel, you still intend to deny it?”
Olivia flinched.
How clumsy. Trisha pointed outside and continued pressing her.
“And that pit over there—he says he dug it on your orders.”
“N-no, that’s—!”
Olivia, about to say that she had done it on Marchioness Devon’s orders, clamped her mouth shut.
She might lack self-awareness, but even she knew better than to mention Marchioness Devon’s name here.
“And on top of that, why claim your leg was injured? Why is your dress soaked in blood when you’re not seriously hurt? Can you explain even one of these things?”
“My leg, well, I mean…”
Unable to come up with any excuse, Olivia’s face crumpled. Trisha sighed.
“For now, get down. You should see a physician.”
“Y-Yes!”
Olivia hurriedly got out of the carriage.
They said she was a stupid, pathetic mongrel woman! This isn’t what the rumors said at all!
At this rate, she’d be overwhelmed by the duchess’s presence and accomplish none of her goals.
No—
Olivia shook her head.
This is actually better. What’s a mere countess’s title worth? Someone like me deserves at least a marquis…
That was when she sensed new people approaching from behind.
“What’s going on?”
At the soft, beautiful voice, Olivia instinctively turned her head and gasped.
He’s unbelievably handsome?!
And then she was shocked once more.
“…Trisha?”
“…Brother Lloyd?”
He was none other than Count Rosentain—the very man Olivia had been targeting.
