Chapter 26
“Yesterday was the same as usual. She did not leave her bedroom in the morning. In the afternoon, she read in the study for about three hours, then returned to her room and did not step out again. No one entered either.”
“…Not even a single step?”
At Tenus’ question, Selachia’s face flushed bright red. She hadn’t done anything shameful, yet having her mundane routine laid bare made her feel deeply embarrassed.
“Yes. She took her meals in her room and did not go for a walk at night either.”
Selachia glared at Tenus, her face still burning, forgetting her current situation.
So Roberta wasn’t enough, and now he’s set another spy? Without even telling me?
Suddenly, Selachia remembered the times when Roberta had stared at her from the garden. She had thought it was just boredom, but perhaps the knight—sensitive to energy—had known something all along.
“If Selachia didn’t use the balcony leading to the cliff, then the maid’s statement must be false.”
Tenus tilted his head toward Aldritch’s flushed face.
“You still suspect Selachia’s innocence?”
“But… the evidence… What about the jewel? How do you explain that girl possessing Selachia’s brooch?”
Was he persistent or just foolish?
Aldritch clung to the brooch like it was his last hope.
“That trinket? You call that evidence?”
Tenus let out a short laugh, crushing Aldritch’s fragile hope.
“Seems the discipline in the Duke’s household has fallen. A maid steals from her mistress and then tries to use it against her.”
Leaning back lazily in his chair, Tenus swirled the wine in his glass. He looked more bored than relaxed.
Selachia sensed it was time for her to step forward. As much as she disliked Tenus, she had to put that aside for now.
“Oh… I was wondering.”
Aldritch’s darting eyes turned to Selachia. She sighed deeply, feigning sorrow.
“A few treasured jewels had gone missing recently. They were handpicked by the Duke himself, so I was disappointed… but I chose to overlook it generously.”
Her cold gaze turned to Sophie, who was kneeling on the floor.
“And this is how you repay my generosity?”
“N-No! I didn’t steal it! My lady gave it to me—with a letter—!”
“Then show us the letter. We’ll identify the handwriting and catch the real culprit.”
With Sophie flustered and Selachia in control, the situation shifted. The servants’ shocked gazes now turned toward Sophie.
She must’ve realized it too—her trembling intensified.
“If… if I hand over the letter…”
“Then your innocence will be proven. I won’t punish your loyalty if you confess now—”
Before Selachia could finish her sentence, Aldritch suddenly lunged forward and slapped Sophie across the face. Not satisfied with just one hit, he struck the other cheek as well. With a sharp sound, Sophie collapsed to the floor.
“What do you think you’re doing?!”
Selachia ran forward and shielded Sophie, while Aldritch shouted furiously.
“If she’s innocent, don’t stop me! She not only tried to frame you, but dared attempt to poison Tenus! Even execution isn’t enough!”
To some, his anger may have seemed justified. But to Selachia, it looked like nothing more than a desperate attempt to cut off the tail. Aldritch was throwing Sophie away.
Tears silently streamed down Sophie’s face. Her blank, hollow expression was one of someone who had accepted death. The fact that she didn’t plead to Aldritch showed she had no idea what was really going on.
If she were dragged to the underground prison, she’d likely be found dead before dawn. The supposed letter would also vanish without a trace.
…Should I save her?
The question rose in her mind.
Selachia had no reason to defend Sophie. The false accusations were cleared, and she could leave now. Part of her wanted to laugh in Aldritch’s face and casually return to her bedroom.
After all, she hadn’t orchestrated this, and the decision to cooperate had been Sophie’s.
“I’ll carry out the execution myself. Take her to the dungeon at once!”
But… was this really Sophie’s choice?
Selachia looked at Aldritch, whose neck veins bulged as he screamed, with cold eyes.
Some choices in life are forced. She knew that powerlessness better than anyone. Just as Selachia had been assigned the role of “Duchess,” Sophie had been assigned the role of the “used maid.” It had nothing to do with right or wrong—it was just how things were.
It could’ve been any servant in the mansion. Who could resist a letter that looked like it came from the Duchess, accompanied by expensive jewels?
“What are you all doing? Move!”
At Aldritch’s roar, several knights approached and grabbed Sophie roughly. Tenus remained silent, watching with no intention of intervening.
Once she was taken to the underground prison, it would be too late. If Selachia tried to smuggle her out later, Aldritch might grow suspicious. Now was her only chance.
“If it’s an immediate execution, I’ll do it.”
Before she finished processing the thought, the words had already left her mouth.
“That I would poison the Duke… the injustice still lingers deeply within me.”
Selachia motioned with her eyes for the knights holding Sophie to step back. They hesitated, but withdrew once they saw Tenus wasn’t stopping her.
With no one holding her up, Sophie collapsed to the floor again.
Selachia approached her.
“Sophie. Do you admit to trying to poison the Duke and frame me?”
“…”
“If you don’t answer, you might lose your life. Think carefully.”
Sophie remained silent, as though she had given up.
That’s a relief.
Without a word, Selachia lifted the hem of her skirt with her left hand. Digging through layers of lace, her fingers brushed against the smoothest lining and found a small hidden slit near her thigh.
The only time she could evade Nancy and Roberta’s eyes was when Tenus was around. She had hastily prepared this slot during the short moment he stepped out to change clothes.
The dress, adorned with extravagant frills, was clearly designed for such hidden compartments. Even if the fabric was scratched, it wouldn’t stretch or sag. It concealed what was hidden perfectly.
She hadn’t wanted to use her leg holster like this, but—
She couldn’t tell whether to praise her preparedness or curse her fate. From the small slit, she slowly pulled out a dagger.
“W-What’s that?!”
“A sword? From that dress?!”
Gasps filled the air as the sharp blade appeared from her dress with no pockets.
“W-What are you doing?!”
Aldritch looked ready to faint from shock.
Amid the chaos, Selachia let out a soft, deflating chuckle. Even without looking, she knew who had laughed.
She tightened her grip to make sure the blade didn’t point toward Tenus and bent down to meet Sophie’s gaze.
“Stop this! What do you think you’re doing?!”
“Wasn’t it Lord Logue who said immediate execution was fitting?”
“Still, drawing a blade inside the mansion—!”
Aldritch looked to Tenus, desperate for him to intervene.
“Leave her be. Imagine how hurt the lady must be to be falsely accused of trying to poison her beloved husband.”
Tenus said it with a hint of laughter. She couldn’t tell whether he was defending her or mocking her.
Selachia exhaled deeply. If she didn’t remind herself constantly who her real enemy was, she might turn the blade in the wrong direction.
“Sophie. Lift your head.”
Sophie didn’t budge. Reluctantly, Selachia used the dagger’s tip to raise her chin.
A single line of red trickled down from Sophie’s jaw.
She had tried to control her strength, but the razor-sharp blade, untouched by use, was difficult to handle with precision.
“This is your final chance. Was this truly all your doing?”
Sophie’s lips twitched, as if entranced by the sweet, almost coaxing tone.
But before she could speak, Selachia cut her off. She didn’t want Sophie to talk.
“Your silence means you admit your guilt. Then I have no choice.”
“This isn’t your burden to carry!”
Aldritch rushed over, panicking as things slipped from his control.
“Step back. The blood might splash.”
Aldritch’s eyes widened in refusal.
“Don’t refuse Lady Selachia’s kindness.”
Even Tenus pressured him, and Aldritch reluctantly stepped back.
Selachia readjusted her grip on the dagger.
