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Chapter : 3
“What do you mean, am I crazy? What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“Jane was my guest. And you guided her to the small reception room? On top of that, what happened for that pale, pretty girl’s face to end up so swollen? There’s a limit to how much you can humiliate your husband in front of a guest.”
“I already told you. Jane was the one who behaved rudely first.”
“And because she was rude, you slapped her?”
“She did something deserving of it. She said she would gift me the perfume oil you like. The way she said it made it sound like she had slept with you.”
Rachel glared sharply at Theodore.
“I considered reporting her to the Council of Elders, but I settled it on my own instead.”
Theodore opened and closed his mouth repeatedly. It seemed he wanted to argue, but couldn’t think of the right words.
And honestly, what could he even say?
As Rachel said, the fact that it had ended with just a slap was fortunate enough.
Dragging Jane before the Council of Elders would have been Theodore’s worst-case scenario as well.
How dare he invite a commoner mistress into his home? There’s a limit to disgracing noble authority!
Many nobles secretly committed adultery, but bringing an affair partner into one’s home was another matter entirely.
The nobles in the Council, having their own shame exposed, would likely punish both Jane and Theodore even more harshly to hide their embarrassment.
Theodore, his lips flapping like a fish, finally stammered an apology.
“Uh… I didn’t realize she was so ill-mannered. I suppose I shouldn’t bring her home again.”
That was pleasant to hear.
“I’d appreciate that.”
“I’ve just been so busy with work lately. I didn’t have the chance to carefully see what kind of person Jane was.”
“So it seems. You’ve been coming home late every day recently. Is work that busy?”
“Yeah. We’re preparing for His Highness the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet.”
“If work is that hectic, why not arrange temporary lodging near your workplace? At least until things calm down. I’m worried you’ll ruin your health at this rate.”
And that way, we wouldn’t have to see each other’s faces either.
Theodore visibly brightened at Rachel’s suggestion.
“Really? Would that be alright?”
“Of course.”
“Hahaha! Thank you so much. I’d actually been thinking about it already, but I couldn’t bring it up because I thought you’d dislike it. You always said you wanted me to come home, no matter how late it was.”
“I’m sure Mother would dislike it more than me. Don’t forget she’s coming to the estate in a few days.”
“It’s fine, it’s fine. I’ll just make it look like I’m stopping by the estate whenever Mother comes around. I should start looking for suitable lodging near work immediately.”
Please enjoy your happy little time together, and don’t even come near the estate until you absolutely have to.
Feeling much lighter, Rachel turned and headed toward the bedroom.
When Rachel woke up the next morning, Theodore had already left the house.
The butler, wearing a round monocle, greeted her with sharp eyes. It was Carl, Theodore’s right-hand man, who helped him leave the house without worry.
“You’re awake. Good morning, my lady.”
“Yes, Carl. Good morning. Where’s Graham?”
“He is having his morning playtime after breakfast.”
“With Marsha?”
“No. He is with another maid.”
Bad Marsha. She must have slept in after hiding herself until Jane left yesterday.
“That’s good. Since she’s not taking care of Graham, I have something to discuss with Marsha. Call her to the reception room right now.”
“Right now, my lady?”
“Yes. Immediately.”
She’ll probably jump up in panic and come running over.
Rachel had to struggle to suppress the corners of her lips from curling upward.
Carl stared at Rachel’s face for a moment before politely asking,
“…Understood. What are your plans for the rest of the day?”
Rachel touched her unkempt hair and let out a large yawn. She acted sleepy, lazy, and utterly carefree.
“Mmm, what should I do today? First I’ll eat, then finish the novel I was reading yesterday… Ah! I want to visit the guild. Prepare a carriage for me.”
“The guild, my lady?”
“Yes.”
Carl’s eyes sharpened behind his monocle.
And understandably so. The guild was a place where information and jobs were bought and sold. It was not somewhere an ordinary countess would frequent.
In the original story, Rachel only visited the guild after realizing Theodore was cheating on her. She intended to hire someone to tail him.
“It is a dangerous place where rough individuals gather. It is far too unsafe for you to go there personally.”
“Is it? But our wedding anniversary is coming soon. I want to prepare something special. I don’t want to give Theo some ordinary gift anyone can buy anywhere.”
“In that case, I will summon someone from the guild to the estate instead.”
“Oh my, would you? That would certainly be convenient for me.”
“I will inform them to visit the estate today.”
“Thank you, Carl.”
Rachel smiled brightly.
Carl relaxed his shoulders in relief and nodded.
“Then I shall assume you will not be leaving the estate today as well.”
After giving a stiff bow, Carl left the room.
Rachel straightened her messy clothes and hair before standing and heading toward the reception room.
It was time to scold bad Marsha.
After waiting briefly in the reception room, Marsha entered.
It was obvious she had hurriedly prepared herself before coming, but she did not appear particularly nervous. Rachel and Marsha often met to discuss Graham.
“You called for me, my lady?”
“Marsha, I’ll ask directly. Where did you go last night?”
“Why, I was by young master Graham’s side, of course.”
Look at her lying so calmly. There should be a limit to shamelessness.
“Then what were you doing this morning?”
“What else? Young master Graham fussed all night, so I was exhausted and overslept.”
“Really?”
Rachel would have been less angry if Marsha had simply claimed some other excuse. But hearing her smoothly use Graham as an excuse infuriated her. It wasn’t only Graham she was disregarding—it was Rachel too.
Rachel tapped the armrest of her chair with her finger.
“Marsha, I’m really angry right now.”
“My lady? Whatever do you mean all of a sudden…?”
“You went to the gathering. Yesterday and the day before as well.”
“…!”
Marsha’s face turned pale white.
The place Marsha visited every night was merely a social gathering. Just as middle-aged men gathered in salons to chat, middle-aged women like Marsha gathered together to gossip and share food.
The problem was—
“You were taking the lead there, weren’t you? Always the first to arrive and the last to leave, listening to people’s troubles, comforting them, even cleaning up afterward. Everyone seemed to trust you deeply too. The name was… the Comfort Society, was it?”
“H-how do you know that…?”
How do I know? Because I found you sneaking out through the estate’s back gate at night and followed you without much thought.
“Is how I found out important? What matters is that I’m angry because of that wonderful little gathering. Do you know why I’m angry?”
“……”
“A person who usually talks endlessly has suddenly become mute. Fine, then I’ll explain. First of all, a servant left her post without the master’s permission—and before Graham had even fallen asleep, no less.”
Rachel continued calmly while looking at the trembling Marsha.
“I saw you carrying armfuls of food prepared in the estate. The teacups and dishes used at the gathering looked familiar too. And after comforting people until dawn, you overslept. Like today.”
“M-my lady…”
“You thought I was finished? Neglecting your duties, stealing, insulting kind and gentle Graham, and deceiving me just now. To hide the fact that you abandoned your post, you constantly lied while whining about how hard things were and demanding more money.”
Marsha likely had not begun with evil intentions.
Considering the gathering was called the Comfort Society, she probably simply wanted to comfort lonely and struggling people. Perhaps helping others gave new energy to her life as a nanny.
But regardless of how it started, neglecting her duties, stealing food and objects, and taking money through lies were all actions deserving punishment.
Marsha, who had only been trembling, muttered after a long silence,
“…My lady.”
“Yes, go ahead. I’ll at least hear your excuse.”
“I… have devoted myself to the Elosa family all this time, and yet you would treat me this way?”
…What?
Rachel narrowed her eyes.
Strength gradually returned to Marsha’s voice.
“To corner me like this without any evidence is simply too cruel. I am innocent. My lady, I don’t know what stories you’ve heard from where, but I have never stolen or lied.”
“Marsha. Stop this and honestly admit your wrongdoing and apologize. If you simply return the dishes and items you took, I won’t punish you separately. I’ve paid you more than enough over the years, so think of it as severance pay and quietly leave.”
“How cruel! You threaten to dismiss me over things I never did and demand I return items I never took!”
Haah.
Rachel sighed and pressed her forehead.
So she would have to show the evidence after all.
“I clearly gave you a chance.”
She rose from her seat and walked toward the box placed in one corner of the reception room. Inside were the items she had discovered near the old house where the Comfort Society gathered.
She carried the box back, placed it on the table, and clicked open the lock.
Knock knock.
“My lady, it’s Carl. I’ve brought the guild informant you requested earlier.”
Perfect timing.
Marsha’s face turned deathly pale.
Commoners like Marsha understood better than anyone what guild informants did.
The guild did not discriminate by status when accepting requests. Talented commoners often earned decent pocket money through jobs from nobles and commoners alike.
And tailing someone required no particular skill beyond spare time. The pay compared to the effort made it an extremely popular request.
“M-my lady… Don’t tell me you had someone follow me?”
Not hired—did it myself.
But since she couldn’t exactly say that, Rachel remained silent.
She had only called for a guild informant for another matter, but she never expected it would become this useful.
“Carl, send the informant in.”
“M-my lady! My lady! I was wrong!”
Only then did Marsha seem convinced Rachel truly had evidence, and she immediately threw herself flat onto the floor.
“I told you already, Marsha. I said you should admit your mistakes and apologize. I didn’t want to punish someone who took care of Graham all this time.”
Rachel lightly tossed the items she had taken from the box.
Flyers bearing the Comfort Society’s emblem and Marsha’s name fluttered onto the floor.
A small wine cup rolled across the room and stopped in front of the prostrated Marsha. It was an expensive cup marked discreetly with the Elosa family crest to prevent theft. Only the craftsman, the caretaker, the appraiser, and the family head could recognize the symbol.
After seeing the evidence, Marsha lowered her head.
At that moment, the door opened, and a young man in a black cloak stepped into the reception room.
“I came as soon as I was summoned. I am Alias, an informant of the guild.”
“…Alias?”
Rachel, who had started walking toward the man, suddenly stopped and frowned.
Because Alias was the false name used by Sian—the empire’s only Grand Duke and the father of the original story’s heroine, Dolorasa—whenever he traveled incognito.
