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Chapter 6
May Lindsey stood upright before Serret. Serret silently observed the woman before her.
A servant who didn’t even greet her master’s fiancée properly—how laughable. Serret curved one side of her lips into a cold smile.
“I have something to say.”
“Go ahead.”
Leaning against the back of the couch in a relaxed posture, Serret gestured lazily.
May Lindsey wrinkled her nose, clearly displeased by Serret’s demeanor. With a stiff face, she sat in the chair across from the couch.
Hannah shot her a sharp glance.
Even if she was the head maid, how dare she sit without permission from the young lady? That was blatant disrespect. But our innocent young lady would probably let it slide.
Hannah fumed inwardly. But Serret was no longer the naïve girl Hannah once knew.
“The Duke of Prekuster must be very generous with his servants.”
Serret let out a soft, mocking laugh.
“Pardon?”
May Lindsey stared at her, confused.
“In the House of Innoheter, no servant would dare sit across from the master without permission. Isn’t that right, Hannah?”
“Yes, of course. I learned from Mrs. Hale, the head maid of the Innoheter family, that it’s proper etiquette.”
Hannah replied with a pleasant smile, backing up Serret’s words.
“I apologize. That was disrespectful of me.”
Blushing, May Lindsey stood up quickly. Serret addressed her calmly, still watching her flushed face.
“You’re May Lindsey, right? Then I can call you Mrs. Lindsey?”
“Yes.”
Mrs. Lindsey cast her eyes downward. Her face, usually full of pride, now showed traces of wounded dignity.
“It seems the absence of a mistress has led to poor management of the staff. How unfortunate. Such a thing would be unthinkable in the House of Innoheter.”
“……”
Mrs. Lindsey bit her lip, unable to refute Serret’s words—because they were true.
“So? What is it you wanted to say?”
Serret didn’t avert her gaze. Her posture now exuded the natural dignity of nobility. Even if her family held influence in the countryside, noble blood was noble blood.
Mrs. Lindsey, who had come in confidently, felt herself shrinking under Serret’s presence.
She had assumed this country girl was nothing special, but Serret was far from what she had expected.
Still, she had a duty to speak—for the sake of House Prekuster. She had long seen it as her responsibility to manage and protect this grand estate.
“I heard you requested dresses, jewelry, and shoes.”
She began, speaking with the authority of someone who oversaw the household.
In her chest, a fiery resolve grew—to educate this ignorant provincial girl on the rules of House Prekuster.
“And what if I did?”
Serret responded with a faint smile. She was honestly impressed by how predictable Mrs. Lindsey was.
From the moment she’d arrived, Serret had a fair idea of what she was going to say. After all, she remembered quite well how Mrs. Lindsey had manipulated her in her previous life.
“The House of Prekuster, unlike many shallow noble houses, has a strictly managed budget.”
“And?”
Serret’s lips curled up again.
Her past self might’ve felt guilty hearing that, but now she knew how absurd that claim really was.
That line—“unlike shallow noble houses”—was one Mrs. Lindsey used every time she looked down on the Innoheter family.
Back then, Serret didn’t even realize it was an insult.
How foolish I was, she thought.
Yes, the Innoheter family was a provincial noble house, but they were not so lowly as to be sneered at by mere servants.
“I’m here to tell you that your requests cannot be granted.”
Mrs. Lindsey raised her chin proudly.
She truly believed this was her right and duty, after managing House Prekuster for so long.
She couldn’t let this lavish future mistress squander the family’s fortune. This was her loyalty to the house.
“Hm… so the Prekuster family must be struggling financially.”
Serret muttered with a sparkle in her blue eyes.
“Pardon?”
Mrs. Lindsey flinched at Serret’s response, stunned that she would treat the duchy like some poor household.
How dare she? The Prekuster family owned multiple businesses. How could someone poised to become its lady be so clueless?
Then she realized—Serret was doing this on purpose.
“To not even set aside a dignity allowance in the budget? Tsk.”
Serret sighed and met her eyes.
“That’s not what I—”
“If that’s not the case, then is it that you think it’s fine to treat a bumpkin noble from the countryside with this level of arrogance?”
“How could you say such a thing—”
“Who is your master, May Lindsey?”
Serret stood and locked eyes with her.
At first, she’d extended basic courtesy as a guest. But if Mrs. Lindsey was going to act this insolent, then there was no reason to maintain that courtesy.
“……”
“I asked you a question, Lindsey.”
A commanding aura radiated from Serret—an expression hard to believe from a twenty-year-old. It was the look forged by a lifetime of hardship.
“His Grace, the Duke of Prekuster.”
Mrs. Lindsey answered through clenched teeth.
“Then who am I?”
“……”
She bit her lip, refusing to answer.
“Do you not know who I am?”
“……”
“Must I say it myself?”
Serret stepped closer.
Their eyes met, and Mrs. Lindsey quickly looked down—but still remained stubbornly silent.
“I am, Lindsey, the woman who will become your master. Serret Innoheter, fiancée to the Duke of Prekuster.”
Serret gently brushed dust off Mrs. Lindsey’s shoulder and straightened her attire.
Mrs. Lindsey clutched her skirt tightly at the firm touch.
“Mrs. Lindsey, who am I?”
Serret took a step back and asked clearly.
The weight of the moment made Mrs. Lindsey finally lift her head and answer slowly.
“You will be my master.”
Her face flushed with shame.
“Good. Don’t forget it, Mrs. Lindsey.”
Serret sank back into the couch with a languid tone.
Mrs. Lindsey’s pride was shattered, her gaze wavering in confusion.
For so long, the real authority in the duchy had been hers. This humiliation cut deeper than anything.
To be bested by a young girl from the countryside—she wanted nothing more than to flee this room.
“Seems like you’ve already forgotten.”
Serret sneered.
“If you’re done speaking, I’ll take my leave.”
Mrs. Lindsey turned to go. Serret called out to her back.
“Mrs. Lindsey, do you think this disrespect was aimed only at me?”
Mrs. Lindsey stopped abruptly and turned around, her face twisted with confusion.
“This was His Grace’s command. Yet the head maid dares disobey her master.”
“What are you saying?!”
Mrs. Lindsey gasped in protest, but Serret cut her off with a raised hand.
“Seems the Duke is far too soft with his servants. A mere maid dares defy a direct order. That doesn’t match the rumors at all.”
The world saw Duke Yuan as cold and stern, never cruel but certainly not warm.
And in truth, that reputation was well-earned. He wasn’t the type to tolerate insubordination.
If this reached his ears, the head maid would be dismissed immediately—and Serret knew that well.
The foolish maid was too blinded by pride to consider that.
“N-no. This is…”
“I’ll give you a chance, Mrs. Lindsey. Make sure I shine at the Imperial Ball. Do that, and I won’t tell Yuan.”
Serret deliberately used his name instead of his title—subtly hinting that their relationship was closer than Mrs. Lindsey assumed.
“…I will do my best.”
Trembling, Mrs. Lindsey finally relented. She gave a formal bow and left the room.
Once the door closed, Hannah rushed over with wide eyes.
“Are you really my lady?”
She examined Serret in disbelief. Serret chuckled softly.
“Who else would I be?”
“I was worried. You’re so gentle, I wasn’t sure how you’d survive among central nobles. But I guess I worried for nothing.”
“I’m not who I used to be.”
Serret sighed with a bittersweet smile.
I’ve already died once. A power struggle with an old maid is nothing compared to that. At least Mrs. Lindsey isn’t trying to poison me.
“What do you mean, not who you used to be?”
“It’s… a long story. I’m tired, Hannah. I want to rest.”
It had been a long day.
She’d been poisoned by her husband, returned to the past, cracked his head in rage, traveled to the capital, and clashed with the head maid.
A day that felt like a year.
Exhausting, yes—but Serret was grateful. She had been given a second chance. And that alone made her
