IGBD 40

Chapter 40

“Let me check this bag!”

Hannah’s voice echoed through the lobby.

A faint smile flickered across Sereret’s lips as she watched Hannah’s performance.

Our Hannah, what an actress.

Admiring Hannah’s skill, Sereret recalled what had happened just a few hours earlier.

It was when she had returned to her room after spending some time in Lady Oxenbury’s chamber. Hannah had entered with a servant girl. Looking closely, Sereret realized it was the maid who had been speaking with Anita earlier.

“Young Lady, Ann says she has something to tell you,” Hannah said.

So the maid’s name is Ann.

“All right, Ann. What is it?”

Sereret straightened up from where she had been lounging on the couch and looked at the maid.

“I saw something strange,” Ann said.

“Strange?” Sereret tilted her head.

Ann hesitated, her eyes darting nervously. After mouthing words a few times, she finally spoke.

“I… I saw the young lady of House Elliot coming out of Madam’s room. In her hand, she was holding something like a ring case….”

Her voice trailed off as she stole a glance at Sereret.

“What? A ring case?”

“Yes,” Ann nodded.

“So you’re saying Lady Elliot stole my ring from my room?”

“Yes, I believe so.”

Ann nodded vigorously, as though relieved to finally say it.

At her words, Hannah rushed to the vanity and pulled open a drawer. Her face turned pale as she looked back at Sereret.

“Young Lady, it’s gone! The ring case is really gone.”

Sereret stood and walked to the vanity. Just as Hannah said, the ring case that should have been inside was missing.

She was certain she had put it there after returning from the drawing room. Where could it have gone? With the wedding just around the corner, there was no time to replace it.

As Sereret searched the drawer in dismay, her hands slowed. A sense of déjà vu—or rather, a memory from her previous life—washed over her.

Something similar had happened back then. Only the place and the missing item were different.

When Lydia had stayed at the ducal estate, the necklace Yuhan had given Sereret as a birthday present had gone missing. Back then, too, a maid claimed to have seen Lydia steal it.

Foolishly believing the maid, Sereret had confronted Lydia in front of Yuhan, accusing her of taking the necklace.

At the time, Sereret already knew Lydia and Yuhan were carrying on an affair, and her hatred toward them ran deep. Losing her husband and now even her necklace to Lydia, she lashed out without thinking.

Lydia insisted she was innocent, and when Yuhan suggested they search again, they all went to Sereret’s room. The necklace, which Sereret was certain hadn’t been there before, was discovered near the bed.

Lydia burst into tears of frustration. Sereret tried to explain she had only acted on what the maid had told her—but the maid flatly denied ever saying such a thing.

What Sereret received in return was Yuhan’s scornful glare.

“My lady acted rashly. You must apologize properly.”

“But I truly heard it! I don’t want to apologize.”

Sereret had wept as she spoke, but Yuhan was unyielding.

From that day forward, he looked at her with cold disdain. Whereas he once shared her bed several nights a week, he never again set foot in her chambers.

His message was clear: unless she apologized, he would no longer treat her as his wife. In the end, crushed, Sereret apologized to Lydia.

The humiliation of apologizing to her husband’s mistress was unbearable. She was the one who deserved an apology, yet Lydia had smiled and said:

“You should have kept better care of your necklace, Sereret.”

The memory of Lydia’s voice rang vividly in her ears, making Sereret shudder.

She stopped searching for the wedding ring and turned her gaze on the maid, Ann.

“Young Lady, what do we do? The wedding is only days away,” Hannah fretted beside her, wringing her hands.

“Don’t worry, Hannah. I know who the thief is.”

“Young Lady, you mustn’t get involved. Please tell His Grace the Duke instead,” Hannah urged.

“There’s no need,” Sereret replied, striding purposefully toward Ann.

Ann, looking anxious, straightened and clasped her hands. She glanced nervously at Sereret.

“Ann, give me my ring,” Sereret said, extending her hand.

“…What?” Ann stared at her in shock.

“Young Lady, it wasn’t Ann! It was Miss Elliot who took it!” Hannah cried, rushing to Sereret.

“No, Ann took it. Anita told her to, didn’t she? To steal my wedding ring.”

“N-no, that’s not true! I would never!” Ann shook her head frantically.

“Oh, but it is. If I accuse Lady Elliot of stealing my wedding ring, you were planning to sneak it back into my room, weren’t you? Under the bed this time, perhaps?” Sereret pressed closer.

Ann’s eyes wavered.

So Lydia’s tricks are the same, whether in this life or the last. But not this time. Sereret sneered inwardly.

“Ann, I saw you whispering with Lydia’s maid, Anita.”

“T-that’s because… Anita and I are childhood friends. We were just catching up.”

“What is your hometown, then?” Sereret asked flatly.

“Rodilan,” Ann answered, clasping her trembling hands together. She had no idea what Anita’s hometown was, but reasoned that Sereret couldn’t possibly know either.

But Sereret studied her trembling hands. It was obvious Ann didn’t know.

“Anita’s hometown is Mosley,” Sereret declared firmly.

In truth, Sereret didn’t know where Anita was from either. But she could read Ann’s fear. The girl was terrified of being exposed.

“Hannah, didn’t you say Anita was a friend of your cousin?”

“Yes! She’s my cousin’s friend, so I saw her a few times in Mosley when I was young,” Hannah quickly chimed in.

Ann’s face went deathly pale. Her trembling grew so pitiful it was almost hard to watch. But Sereret’s voice was cold and unyielding.

“Now, Ann. I won’t waste more energy on this. Hand over the ring. If you return it now, I’ll hold you blameless.”

Still, Ann only wavered, glancing at Sereret.

“Think carefully, Ann. If you don’t give it back, I’ll tell His Grace you stole my ring. Do you think you’ll escape punishment then?”

“M-my Lady…”

It wasn’t just any trinket she had taken, but the wedding ring. She would never escape punishment. The Duke of Prekthuster was not a man known for mercy toward servants. Prison was a real possibility.

“Even if His Grace were to forgive you, Lady Elliot will not. You ruined her plan, after all,” Sereret added.

Ann’s eyes trembled violently. She’s right. Neither the Duke nor Lady Elliot would ever spare me. Tears welled up in her eyes.

Seeing her sobbing quietly with folded arms, Sereret softened her tone slightly.

“I’ll send you somewhere Lady Elliot can’t touch you. With a recommendation letter from House Prekthuster, you’ll be welcomed anywhere.”

“R-really?”

“Of course. I’m not like them, Ann.”

Sereret gently patted her shoulder.

“Here it is,” Ann whispered, wiping her tears. She pulled the ring case from her pocket and handed it to Sereret.

Opening it, Sereret confirmed the wedding ring was still inside. She gripped it tightly and said,

“Fetch the steward. I must write your recommendation.”

“Yes, my Lady,” Ann sobbed, then left the room.

“My goodness!” Hannah gasped, mouth agape, unable to comprehend the situation.

“Hannah, focus. You have an important role to play now,” Sereret said, waving a hand in front of her face.

“An important role?”

“We’ll need to put on a little play,” Sereret said with a sly smile.

She would repay Lydia twofold, threefold. This time she wouldn’t be the victim.

Sereret took the ring from the case and pressed it into Hannah’s hand. It would soon be “discovered” in Lydia’s possession.

“The wedding ring—it’s here!”

When Hannah shook out Lydia’s bag, she let the ring fall with the rest, as though it had come from inside.

“My ring,” Sereret whispered, clutching it with trembling hands, her chin quivering. She almost wanted to cry in relief, but she restrained herself.

“N-no! That’s not true!” Lydia stammered, visibly shaken.

“Oh, heavens… how could this be?” Lady Oxenbury bent forward in shock, and the steward rushed to support her.

“Yuhan, no! It wasn’t me,” Lydia cried, her eyes brimming with tears as she turned to him. You believe me, don’t you, Yuhan? You must. This is a trap that vile woman has set.

Yuhan looked at her with a hard expression.

Sereret watched him and smirked. Well? What will you do, now that the woman you love has been caught stealing my wedding ring?

“How could you even think of stealing our young lady’s wedding ring? She always liked you so much, Lady Elliot!”

Hannah, a natural actress, played the part of the betrayed servant to perfection.

“Hannah, don’t be rude to Lady Lydia,” Sereret scolded, before stepping toward Lydia.

Lydia’s tear-filled eyes flashed with sudden fury, so different from the pleading gaze she had turned on Yuhan. Her glare was fierce.

Sereret sneered inwardly. Glare all you want. It won’t matter. Without flinching, she took Lydia’s hand.

“Lydia, I’m sorry,” Sereret murmured.

Lydia tried to pull her hand away, but Sereret held on tighter. Not yet, Lydia. I have to keep up the act.

“Now that I think of it, perhaps Lydia only tried on the wedding ring and forgot to return it. We were all so distracted, she must have taken it by accident,” Sereret said, feigning kindness.

But her words only exposed Lydia further.

“Tried on the wedding ring?” Lady Oxenbury’s incredulous voice came from behind.

Lydia’s face turned scarlet. She yanked her hand free, unable to speak.

“Hannah, apologize to Lady Lydia at once. You’ve brought shame upon me,” Sereret said sternly.

Looking sullen, Hannah bowed to Lydia.

“Lady Elliot, I am truly sorry. I spoke out of ignorance and treated you with grave disrespect. Please forgive me.”

Lydia’s hand, clutching her dress, trembled violently as though she wanted to strike Hannah.

Sereret only stared silently at that hand. Go on. Touch her, if you dare.

“Lady Elliot, I think it best you return now,” Yuhan finally spoke, having watched silently until then.

Unable to bear Lydia’s humiliation any longer, he stepped in.

Sereret smirked crookedly.

“Sob…” Lydia burst into tears and fled the lobby.

Yuhan followed after her with a heavy sigh.

Does it hurt that much? Sereret scowled as she watched his back recede.