CHAPTER 36
Claire coldly snapped back and turned on her heel.
Alex was dumbfounded for a moment before snapping back to his senses and shouting after her.
“Hey! You’d better stop right there! Are you done talking? Huh? You think you can just walk away?!”
No matter how loudly he shouted, Claire didn’t so much as glance back and walked away without hesitation.
Left alone, Alex just stomped his feet in frustration.
Claire leisurely climbed to the third floor but paused in front of her room, stopping at the sound of voices leaking through the door.
“What are you doing, Becca? You need to clean over there too.”
Peeking inside, she saw three maids cleaning.
To be more accurate, Ivy and Matilda were lounging on the sofa like they were in charge, bossing Becca around while she mopped the floor alone.
‘So that’s why no one came to greet me.’
Judging by the nasty smirks on their faces, they were clearly bullying Becca on purpose.
“You’re not good for anything else, so you should at least do our share of the work, don’t you think?”
“Just like that idiot Jane who got kicked out. Can’t believe this one is squandering the opportunity the madam gave her too.”
As mocking laughter erupted, Becca clenched the rag tightly in her hands and stood up.
“…That’s enough. You two should help too. Lady Claire will be back any moment now.”
“Which is exactly why you need to move faster. What’s the point of a big head if your body’s slow too?”
Becca’s face turned red from the insult. She bit her lower lip hard and glared sharply.
“And what are you going to do with that glare?”
“Don’t know your place, do you? If we report to the madam, you’ll be demoted to the lowest rank.”
Though all three were sent under the marchioness’s orders, there was a clear hierarchy between Ivy, Matilda, and Becca.
The first two had ties to the head maid or the marchioness. Becca had no backing at all. That imbalance dictated everything.
“…”
“If you understand, shut up and get back to cleaning.”
Ivy sneered, giving Becca’s shoulder a shove.
As humiliating and unfair as it was, Becca had no choice but to endure it.
She had no one on her side—
“What do you think you’re doing?”
At that moment, the door burst open and a clear, commanding voice rang out.
“O-oh, welcome back, my lady!”
Ivy and Matilda sprang up from the sofa to greet Claire.
Claire’s green eyes settled on Becca’s slumped shoulders.
‘Should I take her side… or not.’
It wouldn’t be a bad idea to have a servant she could use as her right hand.
Especially one useful in driving out the other maids.
And unlike Ivy and Matilda, who had weaknesses like theft and debt, Becca had no major flaws. Bringing her over might not be a bad move.
“Ivy, Matilda.”
“Yes, my lady?”
“You two are really lazy. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you work. You still want to receive your full salary like that?”
“W-what…?”
Her calm but sharp rebuke made Ivy and Matilda exchange panicked glances, quickly waving their hands in protest.
“That’s a misunderstanding, my lady. We were just—”
“Oh? A misunderstanding?”
Claire casually walked to her vanity.
“Then go clean the hallway. While you’re at it, wash all the windows on the third floor. I noticed from outside they were filthy.”
As she removed her earrings and placed them in her jewelry box, a heavy silence fell.
Ivy and Matilda stood there with obviously displeased faces, hesitating to respond.
“Are you ignoring me?”
“…N-no, it’s not that, but—”
“From now on, you two will clean the entire third floor under Becca’s supervision.”
Their eyes widened in disbelief. Even Becca looked at Claire, shocked.
What Claire had just said placed Becca above them.
“That’s unfair, my lady!”
“It’s ridiculous!”
“Says who?”
Claire’s cool voice silenced them, her eyes gleaming with authority.
“Who dares to decide what’s fair or not when I’m the one giving orders?”
“…”
Ivy and Matilda immediately shrank back, their shoulders drooping.
Lately, even the marchioness kept her distance from Claire. Crossing her now would only bring trouble.
“If you don’t like it, then don’t bother. I’ll just tell Maggie to cut your wages. Since you clearly aren’t working.”
The two clenched their fists.
The head maid might side with them, but they couldn’t risk this reaching her ears.
“…We’re sorry, my lady.”
“We’ll get to cleaning.”
Eventually, they submitted and left the room.
Claire beckoned to Becca, who stood frozen in shock.
As Becca approached, she cautiously said,
“My lady, wouldn’t it be better to store your jewelry box somewhere safer?”
“Why, are you worried Ivy and Matilda will touch it?”
“Yes.”
Becca had seen the greedy glint in Ivy’s eyes earlier when Claire was putting away her earrings.
Sitting at her vanity, Claire looked at Becca for a long moment.
“Why are you worried about that? Aren’t you all the same—sent by my grandmother to spy on me?”
“…”
Becca couldn’t even deny it. She lowered her head in shame.
Living with Claire had changed her.
Her original master, the marchioness, was cruel and unpredictable—she used and discarded maids like disposable items.
Becca had never trusted her. She only obeyed out of fear.
But Claire, while strict, was rational and fair. Becca felt she could be trusted.
And for a maid who would serve under someone for life, choosing the right master was the most crucial decision of all.
Claire, seeing that Becca remained even while discouraged, asked casually,
“Do you want to serve a different master?”
“…If you’ll have me, yes.”
Becca gulped nervously as she responded.
Claire stared at her in silence for a moment.
‘It’s not enough just to get rid of Ivy and Matilda. I need full control over the servants to make sure no more spies get planted.’
That meant taking down those who supported them—
Head maid Maggie and the marchioness.
Claire’s gaze shifted to the velvet box on the vanity—the one containing the jewels gifted by the crown prince.
“Hm.”
Recalling Ivy and Matilda’s weaknesses, she also remembered a secret between the head maid and the marchioness.
‘Maybe it’s time to tie those two together in this mess.’
If executed well, the results could be satisfying.
“If you do a good job from now on, I’ll accept you.”
“Please, command me, my lady.”
Becca responded with resolve. Claire tapped the jewelry box with her finger.
“Lure Ivy and Matilda into stealing from it. Make them take the jewels.”
Shocked at the unexpected order, Becca quickly bowed.
“Yes, understood.”
“No complaints? Good. Also, find out what they do with the stolen items.”
“Yes.”
Claire smiled faintly, satisfied with her clean response.
While she was setting the stage for the people in the marquess’s residence, she was laying another trap elsewhere.
Episteme Guild was reporting every movement of Countess Macquarie’s schedule and whereabouts.
Using the information, Claire started planning her next move.
‘I need to expose Alex and the countess’s affair publicly.’
The two were more cautious than expected—there was little physical evidence of their meetings, and aside from Theodore, there were no eyewitnesses.
Even though Theodore was the crown prince, relying solely on his testimony might provoke backlash.
‘I’ll have to provoke them into slipping up.’
She needed to push them until they couldn’t help but reveal their scandalous relationship.
Claire intentionally arranged to meet Nina at the countess’s favorite dessert house and called a famous jeweler to the Ravello estate.
Coincidentally, the dress they ordered from Darling’s boutique had just been completed.
She bought matching accessories, kept some in her jewelry box, and sent the rest to Nina via Becca as gifts.
Nina also sent a gift in return—a fresh flower corsage made by her maid.
Becca pinned it in Claire’s hair. The white rose atop her golden hair added a refined and graceful touch.
Wearing the necklace and earrings Theodore had given her, Claire headed to the meeting spot.
People glanced at Claire as she walked alone down 4th Avenue.
“Isn’t the crown prince with her today?”
“Did she come out alone?”
They were surprised, since Theodore had recently been stuck to her side.
“Lady Ravello!”
Nina stepped out of a nearby carriage, beaming brightly.
People gasped at the sight of her, dressed elegantly and cutely.
“Oh my goodness… Is that really Lady Merrison?”
“The same Lady Merrison who always looked so plain?”
“Wow, I almost didn’t recognize her!”
Multiple eyes flicked back and forth between the two.
Matching dress designs, identical corsages, their hands clasped together warmly—
To any observer, Claire Ravello and Nina Merrison looked extremely close.
“When did those two become friends?”
“I heard they spoke at Countess Gordon’s salon, but…”
“They seem much closer now than back then.”
Ignoring the murmurs, Claire spoke to Nina as if nothing were unusual.
“They say the lemon cake here is amazing. Let’s eat lots of delicious things today.”
“Yes! I’m so excited.”
As they entered the shop, Claire discreetly scanned the room.
‘There she is.’
Just as she expected, Countess Macquarie was seated near the window.
Claire deliberately chose a table not far from her. As they sat, the countess’s eyes followed them—filled with a mix of surprise and suspicion.
“Phew…”
Nina noticed her too and showed signs of tension.
“Don’t be nervous, Lady Merrison.”
“Yes… but I’m not sure if I can do everything the way you said.”
She whispered nervously. Her hair, ears, and neck glittered with dazzling jewelry—all gifted by Claire.
When Claire sent them through Becca, she gave her a special instruction…
