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Chapter : 21
Canna looked down at Valley with an expression that showed no hint of apology.
There was no time for Valley to respond to that sharp gaze.
All she could think about was changing out of her completely soaked clothes as soon as possible.
“Ugh, just bring me some dry clothes—”
“Take them off first.”
“Y-yes?”
Canna suddenly stepped closer, reaching for Valley’s clothes.
“I made a mistake, so I’ll help you change.”
“No, it’s really not necessary—”
“I said I will!”
Before the flustered Valley could stop her, Canna irritably grabbed the shoulder of her dress and yanked it downward.
Her strength was so great that the fabric around Valley’s neck tore with a loud rip, exposing pale skin underneath.
“Ah—!”
Panicking, Valley quickly crossed her arms over her chest and held onto the slipping fabric to cover herself.
“Oh my, I got a little too eager trying to help.”
“It’s fine, just bring me a towel to dry off and some fresh clothes…”
“Please wait a moment. I’ll also bring a new blanket.”
Canna quickly left the bedroom, even taking the wet blanket with her.
Her clothes were torn, and there was nothing proper to cover herself with. Valley struggled to sit up, leaning against the headboard and curling her body as she endured the throbbing pain.
She waited for Canna to return—but even after twenty minutes, the door showed no sign of opening.
At that moment, Wayne’s words suddenly came back to her.
“Is Canna… bullying you?”
Only then, as if pieces of a puzzle were falling into place, did Valley finally understand Canna’s behavior.
“…So it was bullying.”
It was different from what had happened at the Friatin mansion, which was why she had realized it too late.
At the same time, a wave of self-loathing washed over her.
How stupid did she have to be not to realize she was being bullied?
She had left her family to live a different life, yet here she was—enduring the same thing all over again.
Feeling disgusted with herself, she gave up waiting for Canna. Trembling, she got up while clutching her clothes and rang the bell on the wall for a servant.
A moment later, there was a knock.
“Come in.”
“Lady Valley, you called for me… ah!”
“Kyaa!”
The person who entered the bedroom was a male servant.
Expecting a maid, Valley had let her guard down and quickly turned away.
The servant was equally shocked, jerking back and covering his eyes with both hands.
“S-sorry! I heard a male servant was requested to move a table in the bedroom…”
“Me?”
“Was that not the case?”
While both of them stood there in confusion, someone suddenly appeared as if she had been waiting for this exact moment.
“Oh my! Did you really bring a servant into your bedroom while undressed?!”
It was Canna.
Since it was obvious she was the one behind this situation, Valley firmly denied it.
“I rang the bell because you didn’t come back. I was going to call a maid, but he showed up instead.”
“Our servants would never commit something so indecent as entering a female guest’s bedroom. Am I wrong?”
Canna pressed the young servant with a sharp gesture.
“W-well, that’s true…”
Satisfied with that answer, Canna shot Valley a look of certainty, as if she had already judged her guilty.
But Valley could not let this go either, and met her gaze directly.
“I already said this—I rang the bell because you didn’t return. I was trying to call a maid. I was just as surprised that a man came in.”
“So you didn’t trust me when I said I’d bring your clothes?”
“You didn’t come back for twenty minutes.”
“I was preparing the best things for you, Lady Valley. So you already don’t trust me?”
She smoothly twisted the situation to make it Valley’s fault.
It was exactly the same tactic as Valley’s family.
Suppressing her rising anger, Valley spoke firmly.
“So you’re treating me this way because I’m the Duke’s guest?”
“Of course. What else would it be if not for His Grace?”
“Then is it fine for you to be this disrespectful to me?”
“What did you say?”
“Can’t you see my condition right now? Would you stand there and watch like this if His Grace’s clothes were torn?”
“Do you think you’re the same as His Grace?!”
Canna raised her voice sharply. It was so loud that even the servant, still standing with his back turned, flinched.
Valley was startled too, but tried not to show it.
“Servants are supposed to treat a guest of the Duke with the same respect as their master.”
“I would if you were a proper guest. But I can’t treat someone who tries to bring a man into His Grace’s mansion like a guest.”
Canna pointed toward the hallway and continued.
“I’ll give you one last chance to avoid more humiliation. Leave the Viterad estate right now.”
“And if I refuse?”
“I’ll tell His Grace everything about how vulgar you’ve been.”
“Go ahead.”
Canna’s eyes wavered at Valley’s unexpected answer.
“No, actually, call the Duke right now. I’ll tell him everything Canna has done to bully me as well.”
“Hah? Bully you? What did I even do?”
“Bringing me undercooked soup every day, deliberately giving me cold washing water, leaving my laundry half-dried, and even ruining my shoes—that was all you, Canna.”
“My shoes weren’t ruined!”
Canna quickly protested, then hastily covered her mouth.
“So you’re admitting everything else is true?”
Valley pressed into the opening without hesitation.
“Sir, could you please call the Duke?”
The servant, still pressed against the wall and forced to listen with his eyes covered, nodded quickly.
“Y-yes, right away, I’ll call His Grace…”
“Are you stupid? I just saved you from serious trouble, and you’re listening to her?”
Canna grabbed him loudly, stopping him in place.
Caught between Canna and Valley, the servant bit his lip, unsure what to do.
“What is all this commotion?”
A new voice cut in.
Turning their heads, they saw Susan approaching with narrowed eyes fixed on Canna.
“I’ve been hearing loud noises for a while. Canna, why are you in Lady Valley’s room again?”
“Lady Valley tried to bring a man into her bedroom while half-naked.”
The blunt accusation made even Susan pause in confusion.
“What?”
“She’s shamelessly using His Grace’s second bedroom for indecent behavior. We need to throw her out immediately.”
“That’s not something you can just—”
“Lady Susan.”
From inside the still-open bedroom, Valley quietly called out.
“Yes, Lady Valley. You called… oh.”
The moment Susan saw Valley holding her torn clothes, she immediately took off her black cardigan and draped it over her shoulders.
Then she leaned in and whispered so only Valley could hear.
“What happened? I’ll report this to His Grace right away—”
Valley quickly grabbed Susan’s hand and shook her head.
“No, please don’t.”
She had spoken strongly in front of Canna, but in truth, she did not want Wayne to find out.
Because she already knew what his decision would be.
If an incident occurs between you, who suddenly entered here, and my servants, I will of course take their side.
If this turned into a bigger incident, she could be expelled immediately.
It had taken so much effort to get here—she did not want to leave so easily.
“I just need to avoid Canna as much as possible.”
At Valley’s request, Susan nodded calmly.
“As you wish.”
“Thank you. And may I have some new clothes and bedding?”
“Of course. I’ll bring them right away.”
It was a pity she couldn’t firmly warn Canna this time, but at least she was no longer being completely trampled on—and that brought her a small sense of relief.
Wayne had briefly left the estate to retrieve relics from the Fire Attribute family.
While watching servants arrange the delivered items in a temporary exhibition space on the third floor, Susan approached him.
“Your Grace, I have a report regarding Lady Valley.”
At the mention of Valley, Wayne stepped out into the hallway, crossed his arms, and quietly listened to the report.
As he listened, the crease between his brows did not relax even once.
“She said not to report it to you?”
“Yes. It seems she didn’t want to escalate the situation.”
“And Canna?”
“I gave her a strong warning, but given her temperament, she will likely approach Lady Valley again.”
Wayne instinctively pulled out a counter device and checked the numbers, muttering under his breath.
“Those who do not follow my words have no reason to remain in this estate.”
