“My lady’s fiancé, Lord Callinan… was seen kissing someone.”
Even Emily’s hand, clutching at my sleeve, trembled violently. Her eyes brimmed with resentment and disgust as she stared at me.
“But the thing is,” she continued,
“my lady and I both know who that woman was. There’s no mistaking it. After all, you were the only one wearing that peculiar violet dress.”
“……”
I frowned slightly.
It wasn’t anger that came first—it was surprise.
That night, I’d had my eyes closed the entire time. I could only hear my lady’s voice and the footsteps of others.
Of course, I knew Emily had been by my lady’s side—and that she would have seen me. That was the whole point of her being there as an attendant.
So I’d assumed that she, my lady, and everyone else who had been present had seen my face.
But… did Emily not see it?
Why was she suddenly bringing up the dress?
Feeling uncertain, I decided to take a gamble. Whatever the outcome, things couldn’t possibly get worse than they already were.
“Then, Emily,” I asked calmly,
“you didn’t actually see my face last night, did you?”
“…What?”
“You said you knew it was me because I was wearing a violet dress. So your only proof that the woman was me—is the color of her dress? You say it was unusual, but that’s just your opinion. Do you even know how many people wore violet last night?”
Emily, who had spoken so confidently, faltered. Her expression stiffened as confusion spread across her face.
…Good.
That confirmed it—Emily hadn’t seen my face.
But something didn’t make sense. The garden hadn’t been that dark; the lights floating over the grounds had illuminated much of the area.
“T-that’s because it was dark! A-and he was holding the woman—you, Amel Kiselle —so I couldn’t see clearly! How could anyone look closely at someone’s face while they’re kissing? And don’t you dare pretend you weren’t wearing that dress! You showed it off in the carriage, remember? You couldn’t stop bragging about it! My lady and I recognized you immediately. The sleeves were—”
“I never bragged about the dress. You did, Emily. Don’t be so careless.”
“What? Careless? You’re the one pretending innocence when we know it was you!”
“Exactly. You can’t accuse me based on a dress color alone. You just admitted you didn’t see my face. So you’re spreading lies without even confirming the facts?”
“…Oh? So you want proof? Fine.”
Emily’s eyes flared with rage.
It seemed she was the one reaching her breaking point now.
With a sharp motion, she pulled a small pouch from her apron. A moment later, a ruby necklace slipped from her hand and fell to the floor with a clinking sound.
The pendant gleamed brilliantly under the midday sun, its delicate silver filigree scattering light across the room. Every eye in the room turned toward it.
There was no mistaking it.
It was the ruby necklace that had gone missing from my bed—the one my lady had given me.
So it really was Emily.
As I stood in silence, Emily grew triumphant once more.
“How shameless can you be? First it was the macarons, then this ruby necklace, and now our lady’s fiancé? I’m disgusted. I can’t even stand to talk to you. I should’ve believed Ann and Marie when they said you were a thief. What trick did you use to get away back then?”
Her words sent ripples through the crowd.
The moment Emily mentioned Ann and Marie, the others started murmuring.
Right. They’d accused me back then, hadn’t they?
‘Ann and Marie got expelled, didn’t they? Does that mean Amel framed them? Poor girls…’
…And just like that, I became the villain who’d driven them out of the mansion.
Apparently, everyone had forgotten that Ann and Marie had confessed themselves before leaving. Only those directly involved remember events clearly; even Emily, who had been there, had twisted the story beyond recognition.
It was no wonder the rest of the household believed her.
Whether by chance or by design, Emily had found the ruby necklace in my bed—and now she was convinced I was behind everything.
The maid who stole my lady’s macarons.
The maid who stole her ruby necklace.
The maid who stole her fiancé.
How dare you… how could you…
That was the fury burning in Emily’s eyes.
“I used to think you were decent,” she spat,
“but I had no idea you could be this vile. Pretending to be innocent while serving my lady every day—how revolting.”
“That ruby necklace is mine,” I said evenly.
“I may return it someday, but it was a gift from my lady. Now hand it over, Emily.”
“Ha! As if my lady would ever give you something like this. Have you lost your mind? Do you think everything that belongs to her is yours now?”
“Please, stop. That’s your proof? If anything, it’s proof that you’re the thief—for taking what’s mine without permission.”
“You—!”
Emily shrieked, her voice echoing off the walls. The situation had devolved into pure absurdity. My head throbbed.
Everyone around us had stopped working and was just staring. Even the family’s pride and decorum couldn’t stop gossip from spreading. Only Meg and Matthew, perhaps, would have remained calm in such a mess.
“Stop accusing people and get back to work, Emily,” I said firmly.
“And if you spread any more lies around the mansion, I won’t stay quiet.”
I made sure my words were loud enough for everyone to hear. I was done being silent—done cowering while rumors tore through the halls.
Whether or not my warning made a difference, I didn’t know.
I stepped forward.
Emily froze as I approached. We stood barely a hand’s width apart.
In a low, deliberate voice, I whispered,
“Emily. I won’t accuse you of theft—not yet. We’ve known each other too long for that. But think carefully. Put that necklace back where you found it before tonight.”
“……”
“If it’s still missing tomorrow, I’ll tell my lady you’re the thief. Understood?”
But her wide eyes blazed with defiance.
It felt like she might lash out at any moment—with words, or something worse.
I sighed quietly and stepped back.
That ruby necklace was no ordinary trinket; I doubted Emily would do anything reckless with it.
She’d probably keep it safe, planning to report it to my lady, Meg, the butler, or even the mistress herself. For now, retreating was the wiser move.
If Emily had even the faintest understanding of my connection to my lady, she’d return it. If not—then it would be out of my hands.
I’d have to tell my lady.
After all, it was hers to begin with.
Still, I hoped it wouldn’t come to that.
Please, Emily. Understand what I meant.
With that, I turned to head toward my lady’s chambers.
The onlookers’ gazes followed me.
Some whispered, some covered their mouths, others glared openly. I kept my eyes fixed straight ahead.
It felt as if overnight, I had become the most talked-about person in the entire mansion.
“…!”
Splash—!
Cold. No—freezing.
The sudden downpour made me gasp, the chill seizing my lungs. My vision blurred; I couldn’t open my eyes. Water streamed down my face, soaking me completely from head to toe.
“……”
If the goal was to stop me from walking away, Emily had certainly succeeded.
I exhaled shakily. The icy water made it hard to think straight. When I finally forced my eyes open, several horrified faces stared back at me.
Unlike before, most of them were covering their mouths in shock. That could only mean one thing—my state was truly pitiful.
…Just like yesterday.
There wasn’t much difference between this and when Lady Hazel Luxan had poured champagne on me.
If there was a difference—it was that this time, it hurt much more to endure.
That was all.
“Who are you calling a thief?”
Emily sneered behind me.
“The real thief is you, Amel.”
“……”
“You just don’t get it, do you? People like you never listen unless it’s forced into your head. Do I really have to go this far to make you understand?”
Her mocking voice made my throat tighten.
Damn it.
I felt tears threatening to spill.
I was angry—furious—but instead of burning, the anger melted into something painfully fragile.
I didn’t want to cry. Not here. Not in front of them.
I’d already been drenched; crying wouldn’t even show—but still, I refused.
Don’t be stupid. Don’t cry.
Swallowing hard, I turned to face Emily.
Beside her, a bucket lay on its side, its contents pooling across the polished floor. The water must have been for cleaning the annex floors.
Whether it had been used or not didn’t matter now; the mess was already made.
Around me, the water had spread in a wide circle.
“Amel,” Emily said coldly.
“If you have even the slightest bit of conscience left—and I doubt you do—leave this mansion on your own. Don’t think my lady will show you mercy again—”
“What do you think you’re doing?”
Emily froze.
I turned toward the familiar voice.
Lady Dianther stood at the entrance of the annex.
