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Chapter 11
Judy swallowed sharply at that proposal.
Then, with eyes full of caution, she stared at Elodie.
“If anything were to happen to me or my brother…”
“Ah, come on. That won’t happen,” Elodie said lightly, shaking her head with a smile.
“There’s only one thing I want.”
Click, click.
The sound of high heels echoed clearly.
Elodie stepped right up to Judy, tilting her head slightly.
Whispering softly into Judy’s ear, which had gone rigid with tension, she said:
“If there’s ever a chance to reveal the truth between your mother and your sister-in-law…”
A chance to reveal the truth?
Judy’s eyes widened slightly.
At the same time, Elodie calmly finished her sentence:
“I hope you can testify objectively about everything that has happened so far.”
“R-really… that’s all?”
Judy swallowed nervously and asked Elodie.
“Of course,” Elodie nodded lightly, then reversed the question onto Judy.
“So, what do you want to do from now on?”
“Huh?”
“Do you want to keep working as your mother’s personal maid like before? Or would you rather step away from the affairs of the ducal household?”
…If that’s the case, does it mean I could be free from the lady of the house?
No more beatings, no more tiptoeing around her every mood, no more anxiety over every single glance.
Just… living freely.
Judy’s face unintentionally brightened, her anticipation swelling like a balloon.
Elodie lightly shrugged her shoulders toward Judy.
“If you want to quit, I can help you.”
At that moment, Judy’s gaze shone with determination.
She parted her lips.
“I…”
Later
After parting with Judy, I walked down the hospital corridor with a complex expression.
‘This is really… unexpected.’
In truth, I had only two objectives.
First, to prevent Judy from interfering with Isabel in the future.
Second, to have Judy as a witness for Isabel if she ever pursued a divorce.
Honestly, there was some temptation.
I could have persuaded Judy to act as a double agent, sticking close to Marisa.
But wasn’t Judy already feeling guilty?
I didn’t want to make someone who was already struggling suffer more because of my greed.
So, I deliberately avoided mentioning that route.
‘And yet, Judy offered it first.’
I replayed our conversation in my mind.
At first, she seemed like she would quit her role as Marisa’s maid immediately.
Then Judy suddenly went quiet, deep in thought.
And then:
“I’ve caused the young lady so much trouble all this time.”
With a flushed face, Judy said,
“So this time, I want to help her, even if just a little.”
“You don’t have to push yourself.”
I waved my hands quickly.
But Judy’s resolve was firm.
“No, what you said is right, noble lady.”
“…Judy.”
“No matter my circumstances, it doesn’t change that my actions were wrong.”
Indeed, Marisa had treated Judy cruelly.
Not only did she exploit her brother as a weakness, she even physically struck her.
In a way, it wasn’t just Isabel who suffered under Marisa.
In the end, I couldn’t break Judy’s resolve.
“Don’t worry too much about your brother. Even if your mother cuts support, I’ll help.”
At that promise, Judy’s expression brightened so much that it lifted my own spirits.
“Keep our meeting a secret, alright?”
I made Judy promise one last time, and our conversation ended.
Then, absentmindedly, I looked up—and my eyes went wide.
Far ahead, a man was speaking with a hospital physician.
The familiar upright posture of a knight who had held a sword for many years immediately caught my attention.
‘Wait, why is he here?!’
Jet-black hair like the night sky, noble violet eyes.
Perfect features as if crafted with divine care.
And a sculpted, athletic build.
No matter where he stood, he was breathtakingly handsome—the male lead of this world…
‘It’s him! The male lead!!’
Joshua Cayel de Eisenach.
Crown Prince of the Eisenach Empire in the original story, and the male lead in this world.
Meaning… he is the man who will be with Isabel after her divorce.
Handsome, kind, and capable, he is a flawless male lead who supports Isabel without prejudice as a divorcee.
But I didn’t particularly want to encounter him.
Because…
‘In the original story, Elodie had a crush on the Crown Prince!’
The villainess really played her role in meddling with the love interests.
If the prince so much as brushed shoulders with another lady, she would intervene immediately.
She even monitored the prince fiercely, preventing ladies from approaching him.
Once, just because he had spoken a few words to a lady, she secretly summoned her to kneel.
And Elodie had no actual relationship with the prince.
She just abused her position in the Lavantes household.
The main reason she targeted Isabel was because Joshua chose Isabel over her.
‘How dare you choose that lowly divorcee over me!!’
In the original story, she raged so violently that the comment section read: “Please get rid of this lunatic.”
‘Wow… creating a dark past, that’s insane.’
Fortunately, this was just the beginning of the original story.
Elodie hadn’t caused serious trouble yet.
Though she still had her villainous nature, and the prince had long grown tired of her…
‘But why is someone like the Crown Prince at the hospital?’
I peeked from behind to assess the situation.
At that moment, the prince spoke seriously:
“Do everything possible to ensure a swift recovery.”
“Yes, and…”
Huh? Did someone fall ill?
Curious, I quietly stepped back, trying to make no noise.
‘Better not to meet him directly.’
After all, he already dislikes me.
It’s best to slip away quietly.
As I tried to retreat, however…
“Lady Lavantes?”
Damn.
A curious voice from behind made me close my eyes tightly.
Can’t you just pretend you don’t see me?
You know I dislike you too.
Do we really need to have an awkward conversation face-to-face?!
…Of course, I couldn’t say that.
I turned around with a squeak, smiling brightly as I greeted him formally.
“Elodie von Lavantes, Your Highness.”
“It’s been a while,” the prince said, meeting my gaze with a peculiar expression.
“So, what brings you here?”
“I… came to pay a visit,” I answered.
The prince looked genuinely surprised.
“A visit?”
“Yes. The younger brother of one of my household maids is admitted here…”
For a moment, the prince’s eyes narrowed.
You? Visiting? Even a servant’s family?
His gaze was filled with that meaning.
