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Chapter 23
This is exhilarating.
Yes, up to here, everything was fine. But now I had no idea what I was supposed to do. I had never even properly rebelled before. What was I supposed to do now?
Go back into my room like nothing happened? That would feel… too uncool. I had said all that like I’d never come back again, but thinking about it, I’d still have to face them in this house. And I couldn’t forget the presence of Jemma, the head maid, watching from the corner of the corridor.
As if reading my mind, the man held out his hand.
“Are you hungry? Shall we go eat breakfast?”
“Where to?”
“Where else? Our house. Arne is waiting too.”
Since when did the Glentino ducal residence become “our house”?
Still, Owen’s suggestion was extremely appealing. It meant I could break both the house arrest order and the fasting order at the same time.
The marquis only glared at me, unable to move. He had realized he had already lost in this situation.
Owen took my hand and walked past the marquis, then suddenly turned back.
“Oh, a marriage proposal letter from the family will arrive today. But there’s no need for you to worry about it, father-in-law.”
As soon as he finished speaking, a butler came up the stairs from the end of the corridor. Behind him was a man in a neat outfit I had never seen before.
The butler, sweating nervously, said,
“Master, I’m sorry for the disturbance, but we have a guest. It seems this is something that must be delivered to you personally…”
The man behind the butler opened the lid of a long cylindrical case. Inside was a deep crimson tube studded with small jewels along its rim. When it opened, a rolled document popped out.
The brown-haired man handed the document to the marquis and said,
“This is a marriage proposal letter from the Glentino ducal house.”
“What?”
The butler quickly interjected.
“However, this is not from Lady’s former fiancé, young lord Arnold…”
“It’s me.”
Owen finished the sentence.
Then he frowned at the man who delivered the proposal.
“You’re late.”
The two seemed to know each other well. The brown-haired man looked flustered and said,
“If you were going to be here anyway, why didn’t you just pick it up yourself!”
“Etiquette must be observed.”
Not exactly something to say after proposing before the official letter even arrived.
The father (marquis) was now no longer even paying attention to me, only tearing open the proposal letter with an enraged expression. The brown-haired man quickly moved to block his view, trying to stall him.
This works out too.
The order was a bit reversed, but the proposal I received was now flawless.
As I walked out feeling relieved after passing the marquis, Owen whispered to me,
“Sophia, are you really going to end it like this?”
“Pardon?”
“I only managed to deal with one fly on your father-in-law’s face because I was saving your part.”
I burst out laughing.
Well, he wasn’t wrong. Since I was already planning to run away from home, why not make a proper scene while I’m at it? Conveniently, the butler was here, and so were the head maid Jemma and the factional servants in this estate.
I called out loudly.
“Hans!”
“Yes, young lady.”
The butler bowed before me.
With Owen holding my hand as if supporting me, I spoke calmly.
“From today, I won’t be coming home. About a week. Let everyone know.”
“E-excuse me?”
“Oh, and gather all the servants in the first-floor hall. I have something to tell them.”
Though confused, the butler agreed and left.
From this moment on, I felt strangely satisfied with everything I was about to do.
* * *
Now that my mother was gone, I was the rightful mistress of the Bartoli family. However, most of the servants had likely forgotten that fact.
Proof of that was how they were all gathered in the first-floor hall, still not understanding why I stood at the top of the grand staircase looking down at them. Po-po was curled up at my feet.
So many people when gathered at once.
There were three butlers, kitchen staff including the head chef and maids, male servants, and Jemma the head maid. Familiar faces like Bessie and Liz were there too, and in the distance I even saw Shima, the maid I had dealt with yesterday.
When I raised my hand, the murmuring instantly died down.
I spoke loudly.
“Everyone gets a week of vacation starting today. Paid leave, of course. Get your wages from the butler. Oh, except Jemma. The head maid has to stay and work.”
At my shocking declaration, the servants began murmuring again. Most households would only give three days at most, so they couldn’t believe it.
Jemma’s face turned bright red even from this distance. Nearby servants glanced at her.
The butler beside me asked,
“Lady, do you mean all the servants?”
“…Hmm, maybe not all of them. What should I do…”
I slowly scanned the gathered servants. As expected, the “lion faction” maids flinched noticeably. Understandably so—if half the workforce took leave, the rest would be overwhelmed.
Shima, in particular, was nervously biting her nails.
After pretending to think for a moment, I gave my answer.
“No, all of them is better. And give them a generous bonus too.”
“Yes, young lady.”
“But Hans, wouldn’t you say there are servants who have served the masters faithfully, and those who haven’t?”
At my words, the butler understood immediately and lowered his head.
“Indeed. Regrettably, there are some who are not deserving of bonuses.”
“Good. You decide who deserves it. And after giving out the bonuses, the butlers should also take a vacation.”
At that, all three butlers looked up at once.
“Us as well?”
“Yes. You haven’t seen your wives in a long time, right? Take the chance to go to a hot spring or something. I heard Capoletti territory is famous for them.”
The butlers exchanged glances and smiled excitedly.
It wasn’t common for butlers, who normally must serve their masters first, to be given vacations.
Now only the head maid and my father would remain in this massive estate. No cooks, no cleaners, no one to serve meals.
Let them starve for a week.
On top of that, I had deliberately given equal paid leave to both factions—the lion faction and the Lira faction.
If I showed this much generosity, they would start realizing where they should stand.
I clapped my hands.
“Oh, almost forgot. All ingredients that came in today, take them home as gifts. Working at the marquis’s house, you should brag about eating such good food. Make sure to take everything.”
The servants, now fully aware, rushed toward the kitchen.
Beside me, Owen smiled and held my hand.
“While I admire your generosity, I worry about your father-in-law staying alone. Someone might break in, or something could happen when he goes outside. May I place my people in the estate to monitor things?”
It was obvious—he meant surveillance to prevent the marquis from escaping or seeking help.
A very satisfying suggestion.
I smiled brightly.
“Oh my, how thoughtful. I’m sure my father will be very moved.”
“I only care about you being moved. Shall we go eat now?”
I took his hand. A pink diamond ring on my finger shimmered in the sunlight.
“Yes. It’s time to go see my son.”
* * *
“Arne!”
“Mom!”
We ran toward each other like a family reunited after a long separation and hugged tightly.
I had been worried about Arne while he was confined. Considering Elise had practically dumped him on me, it was strange—but this child had crossed mountains and rivers just to see the “mother” he believed in.
And most importantly—
Arne was adorable!
With his soft baby fat cheeks and bright smile, he looked like he could conquer an empire.
“Have you been well, Arne?”
“Yes. I’ve been eating and sleeping well.”
Of course, that was Owen answering.
Arne, already used to ignoring him, continued speaking.
“Everyone treated me well. But now that Mom is here, I think I’ll be even better.”
How sweet. Not even ten years old, and already speaking like this.
Owen muttered from behind,
“I’m hungry, Sophia.”
I ignored him completely.
“Have you eaten breakfast, Arne?”
“No! I was waiting to eat with Mom!”
“Oh dear, you must be hungry. Shall we go eat together?”
“Yes!”
Arne and I held hands and walked into the ducal townhouse. Owen followed behind us casually.
After thinking for a moment, I turned back. I held out my empty hand, and Owen immediately took it.
He even slipped his fingers between mine. I didn’t mind, so I held his hand back lightly.
The three of us walked toward the dining room together.
The corridor of the ducal residence was beautiful, bathed in warm sunlight. On both sides of me walked the empire’s most handsome man and a beautiful young boy, both holding my hands.
Come to think of it, had I ever walked like this to eat a meal with family in the marquis’s estate?
The last memory was from when I was very young—when my mother was still alive.
I felt strange.
Mom… I think I’m doing okay.
My eyes stung. I forced myself to keep walking more cheerfully.
Then Owen spoke softly beside me.
“Sophia.”
“What is it, Owen?”
He pointed down the right hallway.
“The dining room is this way.”
