As Always, It Started Small.
There were new eyes following Eleanor.
At first, it might not have seemed like an issue—after all, the servants often glanced at her as she passed by.
But there was a difference between fleeting curiosity and stares laced with clear intent.
The latter was more unsettling. Ominous, even.
Every maid they passed cast sidelong glances at Eleanor, and when she turned to catch their gaze, they would quickly scurry off as if nothing had happened.
It was impossible not to find it strange.
“The atmosphere feels kind of tense today,” Eleanor murmured.
“Right? Why do they keep looking over here?” Lisa tilted her head, resting a cheek on her hand, not yet sensing the seriousness of it. Eleanor just shrugged.
They both thought it was a passing incident, something that would blow over in a day.
But the gazes lingered the next day.
By the time evening came around, both Eleanor and Lisa could no longer dismiss the tension.
Sharp, biting stares stabbed at them from the blind spots all over the estate.
It wasn’t positive energy—more like a gloomy unease. And while it didn’t openly cross the line into hostility, it wasn’t harmless either.
Back in their room, Lisa and Eleanor put their heads together, trying to understand.
They’d been here for some time already—why would people suddenly start staring like this now?
“Why are the people in the castle acting like this all of a sudden? Could it be because of what happened in Levin?”
Lisa shook her head in frustration, utterly clueless.
“I don’t think it’s because of Levin.”
“Then what’s the reason?”
“I’m not sure… but it doesn’t feel like a good sign.”
If Eleanor had to pick a similar moment in her life, it would be when she had broken off her second engagement because of Lydia.
The servants in the manor had whispered about her behind her back. The timing had overlapped with her withdrawal from the academy, feeding all kinds of rumors.
The Stikoff household had always prioritized Lydia’s wellbeing over Eleanor’s, leading to constant speculation and gossip about Eleanor. The staff often forgot their place and stared or whispered behind her back.
If this situation was anything like that—then it certainly wasn’t a good omen.
The memory of being painted as a cruel villain one moment and a pitiful girl the next made Eleanor frown. This time, it felt like she was being painted as only the villain.
“Lisa, can you look into this for me?”
“Yes, my lady. Don’t worry.” Lisa placed a reassuring hand on Eleanor’s shoulder. But Eleanor couldn’t shake off her unease.
Her instincts, sharpened by years of experience, flashed a red warning light.
This couldn’t be dismissed as a small matter.
Something had definitely triggered this shift among the people of the castle.
Some incident that made them look at Eleanor with caution.
Though they were mere employees, they were people of Pongfury and Oklama. If Eleanor truly wanted to become baroness, she would need their support.
If it was just petty territorial resistance, it could be handled. Eleanor was generous enough to let that slide.
Even if it was ridiculous for commoners to display such behavior toward a noblewoman.
Still, considering their years of loyalty to Oklama, she could understand.
If it had just stayed at subtle stares, that would’ve been fine.
Lately, Anna had become the most popular maid among the staff.
Other than Lisa, who was brought directly from the capital, Anna was the first local maid Eleanor had kept close by.
Because of this, she received immense interest from the other maids, especially those who admired Eleanor.
“What kind of diet does the lady usually follow?”
“Where does she get those gloves she always wears?”
“Was that dress she wore the other day from a current capital fashion trend?”
“Does she use perfume? She always smells so good when she passes by!”
The maids bombarded Anna with endless questions about Eleanor.
To girls in a rural estate, a noble lady from the capital was naturally a figure of fascination and admiration.
With platinum-blonde hair, sapphire-blue eyes that sparkled like jewels, porcelain features, and an elegant air, Eleanor’s beauty was dazzling.
To them, Eleanor was like a prince from a fairytale—or rather, a lady as charming as one.
The Baron of Pongfury might have been a good person, but he certainly wasn’t entertaining for girls their age.
“She doesn’t manage her diet—she’s just naturally slim. The gloves are custom-made at a boutique she frequents in the capital. She doesn’t chase trends; she chooses clothes that suit her own style. And no, she doesn’t wear perfume—she naturally smells nice.”
Anna proudly answered all their questions with her chin held high.
Though she wasn’t an official lady-in-waiting like Lisa, she had clearly become the closest maid to Eleanor within Oklama Castle.
“Do you think she’ll hire more maids? It’s always just you and the capital maid with her,” Sally, another maid, asked hopefully.
Anna shook her head slowly, pity in her eyes.
“Probably not…”
“Why not?!”
“She’s not like other nobles who treat their servants arrogantly or extravagantly.”
Anna’s voice turned slightly downcast.
“She didn’t even keep many maids back in the capital. Mostly just Lisa.”
In truth, Anna had once asked Lisa the same thing—hoping to become Eleanor’s maid.
But Eleanor, exhausted from dealing with maids who sided with Lydia despite being under her service, had deliberately chosen to keep only a few close.
And since Lisa was capable of handling nearly everything, there hadn’t been a need for others.
Had it not been for the guidance task in Oklama, Anna wouldn’t have had any opportunity to grow close to Eleanor.
“But someday she’ll need more maids. If she becomes the Lord of this estate, it’s only natural.”
Anna’s tone brightened again. Eleanor couldn’t rule a barony with just one maid by her side.
Even without inheriting the title, just becoming the official successor would necessitate more attendants.
Anna was determined to be chosen when that day came.
“Oh, you’re right! I’ll aim for that too.”
“Me too! I’d love to serve her just once!”
The maids laughed and shoved each other playfully.
But among them, a group of four other maids eyed them bitterly. One of them approached Anna.
“Isn’t that kind of arrogant, though?” she sneered.
“What?”
Anna frowned at the sharp voice.
It was Bianca—a maid who had often subtly criticized Eleanor.
She was a prominent member of the ‘Vanessa faction’, in contrast to the neutral and Eleanor-aligned maids.
“Maybe she just doesn’t want to be served by us country bumpkins. That’s why she brought her own maid from the capital.”
“That’s not it!”
Anna snapped back, her jaw clenched.
“Then why else? She obviously thinks we’re beneath her.”
“I said that’s not true! You’ve never even talked to her, so why are you saying that?”
Anna stood tall, recalling the day she and Eleanor visited the Merva market. Eleanor had gently held her dirt-covered hand and kindly forgiven her brother’s rudeness.
How could someone like that be accused of looking down on people from the countryside?
“That one moment doesn’t mean anything.”
Bianca refused to back down.
“You didn’t even see that moment, so how can you judge?”
Anna muttered in disbelief. Bianca scowled.
“She even disrespected Lady Vanessa—why would she treat us any better?”
“…What?”
Anna froze, caught off guard. Bianca pressed on.
“Ivy said so. She overheard Eleanor bullying Lady Vanessa yesterday in Levin, along with the Duvar ladies.”
Ivy was part of the neutral faction. Hearing her name made Anna waver, and the other maids murmured uneasily.
“Really? She bullied Lady Vanessa?”
“That’s so disappointing…”
Bianca smiled smugly, and Anna tried to fight back.
“But Ivy didn’t even go to Levin. How would she know? Is there proof?”
“She said she overheard them talking in front of the carriage.”
Bianca had been expecting this question.
“What did she say exactly…?”
“That Eleanor told Vanessa she never intended to help her, and that she should stop overstepping or risk ruining the baron’s reputation. Lady Vanessa had to bow her head and apologize.”
This was a highly embellished version of what Ivy had actually heard.
She’d only caught bits and pieces of the conversation and mentioned it casually to Bianca—who, through a night of speculation and reinterpretation, turned it into a scandal.
Anna knew the Eleanor she’d met couldn’t have done that—but she was the only one who believed that.
The other maids didn’t know Eleanor as she did.
“She’s awful. How can she be so cold-hearted?”
“I’m so disappointed. I don’t like her anymore.”
As Eleanor’s reputation crumbled, Anna wanted to speak up but had no support. Ivy wasn’t even there to clarify things.
“Eleanor isn’t like that!”
“Yeah, right.”
Bianca scoffed loudly.
“She grew up rich and spoiled in the capital. Of course she looks down on us hicks. Can you imagine someone like her becoming the lord of this estate? It’s terrifying.”
“Yeah. What if she fires all of us once she takes over?”
Another maid from the Vanessa faction chimed in.
Anna looked on in despair as more and more maids turned their backs on Eleanor. There was nothing she could do.
“Better wake up, Anna. If Eleanor becomes the lord, you’ll be the first one fired.”
Bianca shoved Anna’s shoulder hard and walked away, laughing.
Anna rubbed her shoulder and sniffled. Only Sally approached to ask if she was okay.
And just like that, the resentment toward Eleanor began to spread like wildfire.
It was easy to take a step further from glances to whispered insults.
They cursed her for being wicked, but none realized that Eleanor had never once treated them harshly.
They began to see her as someone easy to dismiss.
The next step after glances was action.
Thud.
A roughly placed cup splashed a drop of water onto the table.
Eleanor stared blankly at the droplet as it traced a path down the glass.
Even the way the cup was filled—completely to the brim—was insulting.
It was etiquette to only fill it halfway.
Giving her an overfilled cup like this?
They’re really pushing it now.
Eleanor had hoped they wouldn’t be this foolish. But not everyone could be clever.
She would’ve let it slide if it stopped at just staring.
But since yesterday, some maids had taken things a step further.
They weren’t bold enough to be openly hostile—but they started doing petty, annoying things.
Not yet, Eleanor reminded herself as she looked at the maid who’d placed the cup without a shred of guilt.
She needed to wait until she understood the cause.
She waited until Lisa returned with an answer.
“What’s the reason behind all this?” Eleanor asked.
“I asked around—mostly Anna and the maids close to her—and I’ve got a rough idea.”
Lisa’s face was grim. She had quietly gathered information despite being snubbed by the other maids.
Thankfully, Anna had cooperated—sometimes with money, sometimes with favors—and had gotten them to talk.
“I see. Then let’s hear it directly from Anna.”
What do you mean Vanessa faction??