Chapter 8
This Is Kidnapping!
Everyone looked as if they had seen the Reaper himself.
Lyla quickly bowed politely to me, and even her stiff friends instinctively lowered their heads.
I raised the corners of my lips in a soft smile as I stood before them.
“Oh my, Lyla, you were having a little tea party with your friends here, weren’t you?”
“Yes, yes, madam,” Lyla stammered.
I then smiled gently at Lyla’s trembling companions.
“Pleased to meet you. You all seem to be having a lovely time, which makes me happy.”
I tilted my fingers toward Lyla, summoning her. She stepped forward, hands folded demurely before her.
“Stand here for a moment,” I instructed.
Then I turned to Lord Mild, signaling him to open the picnic basket.
“I’ve brought some cakes and pies, in place of the maids,” I said.
From the basket, I lifted a generous chocolate cake.
“Looks absolutely delicious.”
I had a maid slice the cake into three portions and place them on individual plates.
The three friends, previously tense, exhaled in relief at my composed demeanor. They looked as if wondering whether I had heard everything they had said.
Originally, I was supposed to say, “I hope you build a deep friendship with our Lyla.”
But my mind had shifted.
Being the villain isn’t so bad right now. Deep friendship? Forget it!
I opened my eyes wide, and with a flourish, hurled the cake slices directly at Ai, Vivi, and Cici.
“Eat this! You insolent brats! I heard everything!”
“Kyah!”
“Ugh!”
In an instant, the three were smothered in chocolate cake. They began begging for mercy with every fiber of their being, as if their lives depended on it.
“Please, save us! Madam!”
“We were wrong! Forgive us!”
“Wrong or forgiven, try running and see! You’ll get whipped instead of cake!”
I made my threat a reality, flinging apple pies, sandwiches, and cookies from the picnic basket at them with reckless abandon.
“Kyahhh!”
“Waaahhh!”
The three screamed as though their lives were ending, unable to dodge, taking each blow as I aimed.
“What exactly happened in bed? Huh? Acting all aristocratic again?”
After making a mess of them, I yanked the tablecloth with a violent tug.
Crash!
Teacups shattered loudly across the table.
“Do you even know who you’re dealing with? I treated you like friends, and this is your gratitude? Too full to have any guts, are you?”
“Waaahhh! Countess! Have mercy, please!”
Terrified, the three could barely stand, crawling on the floor in despair.
“I don’t need friends like you!”
I shrieked and prepared to fling the now-empty picnic basket at them.
At that moment, strong arms wrapped around my waist from behind.
“Let go!”
The muscles gripping me were thick and firm.
“Lord Mild! I said let go!”
I needed to show those who tormented Lyla a real lesson!
But the man’s grip only tightened, and I found myself lifted lightly off the ground.
Ridiculously light.
“Madam. Maintain your composure.”
“…!”
It was Philip.
I didn’t even notice when Lord Marboro stepped back, shielding Lyla’s shoulders, keeping a safe distance.
“I saw everything as I approached. You were hiding behind the wall, so I was curious… only to see you causing this outrageous scene.”
“Let go!” I struggled, thinking my weight alone would be enough to break free.
Yet Philip’s strength was beyond my reckoning. Escaping his hold was impossible without fighting him.
“Clean up this mess.”
Philip commanded the maids tersely. Then he spoke to Lyla’s friends, trembling and nearly breathless.
“I’m sorry your tea party was ruined. Once I investigate the situation, we can offer apologies if necessary.”
And with that, Philip carried me toward the mansion. I thrashed with all my might.
“Apologies? They were the rude ones!”
Philip said nothing, holding me tight as he walked. I eventually gave up trying to escape, resorting instead to shaking my fist and yelling until Lyla’s friends were out of sight.
“You better consider yourselves lucky this is all! Get lost immediately!”
“Madam, calm down,” Philip urged, but I ignored him.
“Do not play with Lyla! Do not contact her! And if I see you again—!”
At the mansion entrance, the maids we had passed earlier waited, visibly anxious. They must have informed Philip the moment the basket changed hands.
“You told the Count, didn’t you?” I asked.
The maids trembled as if facing death. Philip’s calm voice answered for them.
“You have nothing to say to the maids. I simply instructed them to report immediately if they saw you.”
“Excuse me?”
“It’s not the first time you’ve sought out Marboro and Lyla without prior notice.”
“I was just trying to be nice this time!”
“Indeed.”
“What’s with that reaction?”
“Considering how you wrecked the tea party, your complaint seems misplaced.”
He was right; I felt deflated.
Once inside, Philip set me down and adjusted his own disheveled attire.
“Philip, I’ll explain everything,” I said, hoping to clear up the misunderstanding.
Philip shook his head with a sigh.
“I’ll handle the investigation. You rest.”
He strode out, closing the door. But the sound was unusual—it clicked locked.
I yanked at the door. Locked.
“What is this? Are you imprisoning me?”
Philip’s voice came from the other side.
“It’s for the maids’ safety while I investigate.”
“Who would harm them?”
“I said before, you were far too agitated. Calm down for a moment. I’ll return shortly.”
“This may be short, but it’s still kidnapping!”
“I ask for your understanding, madam. I don’t wish this either.”
“Understanding? Are you joking? Do you think I’ll tolerate this injustice?”
My protests fell silent beyond the door; Philip was already gone.
“Fool, idiot… acting without knowing the facts.”
Annoying as it was, I knew why Philip did this. After all, I, Ellen, had caused my share of trouble before.
Sigh. If I don’t comply, what then?
All I could do was sink into the sofa, hoping the investigation would end quickly.
An hour later, Philip returned and opened the door.
“I have heard everything from Lyla, her friends, the maids, and Lord Mild regarding what happened.”
I lifted my chin proudly.
“The friends were strange, weren’t they?”
“They each told different stories,” Philip said. Marboro and the maids were truthful, while Lyla’s friends claimed I suddenly appeared and caused chaos.
“Marboro and the maids are right. Didn’t Lyla say the same?”
Philip rubbed his temple, sighing.
“Lyla did, but she also protected her friends. Nevertheless, the fault was clear.”
Hmph. Even protecting them in that mess? Overly generous isn’t always good.
I shook my head, and Philip cleared his throat.
“Anyway, I asked how you would handle the friendship situation.”
“Obviously, sever ties with such rude friends.”
No need to deliberate. They were utterly useless.
“And Lyla? What did she decide?”
“She apologized for the trouble and will formally apologize after ending the friendships.”
Lyla’s conclusion: complete severance from her friends.
“Good. That’s settled then.”
Although Lyla had no friends left, I felt no regret. Alternatives existed.
“Now she can make new, better friends.”
Philip, however, looked incredulous.
“Did you eat crow or something? Giving a gift and poisoning the well?”
“Excuse me?”
“You’re the one who expelled all of Lyla’s noble friends.”
“…Right.”
Speechless, I realized the truth of my actions.
Philip stood.
“Lyla is unfortunate, but you were right. Rest now.”
I tried to stop him.
“Wait!”
But Philip had already gone.
“Ugh, the inconsiderate fool. Locks me up and doesn’t even apologize.”
I crossed my arms, muttering, before remembering my original self, shrugging in quiet triumph.
“Philip admitted it. That’s enough.”
I had wreaked havoc at Lyla’s tea party, but the nuisances had been removed.
Even a broken clock is right twice a day. Philip must have felt that way today.
Now, all that remained was to find a house to live in, especially since I couldn’t twist the original story much.
From the next day, I began touring the estates with Lord Mild, inspecting the houses Philip had prepared.
We traveled in a small, elegant, open-air, two-person black carriage, pulled by a single black horse. It was light, compact, and practical.
Seated in the carriage with my white lace parasol, I enjoyed the rhythmic clip-clop of hooves, the gentle sway of the carriage, and the quaint medieval European town scenery. Though not all of it was picturesque, it had a fairytale charm.
Philip had ten houses under consideration for me, all purchased and vacant.
Only one two-story house fits the conditions of the one I lived in… that’ll be last.
I inspected the other nine carefully: small homes, large houses, even mansions on the outskirts. New civil servants would soon rent these at slightly lower than market price.
Though the houses were reasonable, nothing pleased me—they lacked the refinement I was accustomed to in a countess’s mansion.
After two days of inspection, only the two-story house remained.
It was located down a narrow alley leading into the slums. Only three people could pass side by side. The carriage had to be left behind, and we walked using a map.
Philip actually prepared a candidate this far down?
I wondered if we’d run into thugs, but considering the worst-case scenario, I understood Philip’s strategy. Still, of the ten houses, giving me the absolute worst-condition two-story house as alimony felt absurd.
Even if I enjoyed Ellen’s misfortune as a reader, living it myself feels different.
Passing through the crooked alley, I saw vagrants leaning against the walls, eyeing us. The stench of alcohol and filth wrinkled my nose.
Should I run or fight?
There were six of them, counting those slightly further ahead. In such a narrow alley, escape would be difficult, and a fight could be risky.
I glanced at Lord Mild, calm as ever, and drew courage from his composed presence. One more step forward.
Then—
Clatter!
An old wooden bottle dropped from a vagrant’s grasp, rolling across the ground.
The situation shifted.
