🔊 TTS Settings
[Chapter 6]
“As the host, I deeply regret that you two ladies were made uncomfortable. May I escort you to the balcony?”
The young lord acted like a textbook gentleman.
“You’re just as polite as they say. Then I’ll gladly accept your kindness.”
Charlotte smiled sweetly, even though she had expected him to say that.
The ballroom was packed with people, and most balconies were already occupied. Naturally, we were led to the only one still available.
Charlotte, clearly still absorbed in her “good little sister” act, hooked her arm through mine affectionately—something she normally found disgusting—and walked toward the balcony.
She was clearly planning to use me to keep the young lord close.
Once we arrived, Charlotte pushed back the curtains and looked around.
“Oh no. There aren’t any stools out here. I’m sorry, but could we ask for a chair? I think it would be better to sit if we’re going to rest properly.”
“Of course. I’ll send a servant.”
The young lord nodded and left. Even in such a simple gesture, he moved with knightly precision, making Charlotte sigh in admiration.
She was so focused on him, she didn’t even realize where she was standing.
“Not surprising. If she had any awareness, she wouldn’t have stepped out onto this balcony.”
“Um, young lord—ah!”
Her blushing smile twisted in shock. A bucket of water had suddenly been dumped from above.
Charlotte screamed as water splashed over her, and a maid peeked out from below the balcony.
“You! What do you think you’re doing?!”
Startled by Charlotte’s glare, the maid dropped the bucket and quickly came upstairs.
“I’m sorry! I didn’t know anyone was up here…”
The maid looked more confused than apologetic—like she was thinking, “Why are you here?”
“You idiot! Can’t you do anything right?! Ugh, the incompetence! Is this why you’re still stuck doing menial labor?!”
Charlotte shouted, then sniffed and recoiled at the stench rising from her soaked dress.
“Do you even know how expensive this dress is?! You think you could afford to even speak to Madame Senianne with your salary? You useless thing!”
“I’m so sorry, miss! I really am!”
To anyone watching, it looked like the maid had simply made a mistake while cleaning.
But I knew the truth.
This was Charlotte’s plan—and the maid had been paid off.
Because in the original timeline, the one who got splashed with that dirty water was me.
Charlotte had dumped filth on me on purpose, planning to stir up a scene so she could play the role of the “concerned cousin” and earn the young lord’s sympathy.
Her plan was built around the fact that the young lord hadn’t visited the East in a long time—he wouldn’t know her reputation. She wanted to make a big, attention-grabbing impression.
But now, she’d fallen into her own trap.
“She must be furious.”
To make her even more upset, I said the very line she had originally planned to use.
“Are you alright, Charlotte?”
She trembled with rage and glared at me.
“You’re asking me if I’m okay? Of course I’m not! Do you even understand what just happened?! It’s all your—”
I was ready to let her slap me—it would make things even more dramatic. But then—
“I thought you two were like sisters.”
Smack.
Someone grabbed Charlotte’s hand.
It was the young lord. He had returned after giving the order to the servant.
“What’s going on here?”
He didn’t raise his voice. He just looked down at Charlotte calmly. But that alone was enough to shake her—her face turned beet red.
She pulled her hand back and rubbed her wrist, then bowed her head, fumbling for an excuse.
“W-Well… I thought my sister had water on her face, so I was trying to help wipe it off…”
“You’re not very good at lying, are you?”
Charlotte’s mouth snapped shut, and the young lord clicked his tongue.
“I understand your frustration. One of our maids ruined your fine dress. But it was an honest mistake. Those words were a bit much, don’t you think? Do you always speak to your maids that way?”
The young lord’s gentlemanly nature shone brightest when dealing with those weaker than him. He believed nobles should never abuse their subordinates.
“I… I…”
Any attempt to explain would only sound like excuses. Charlotte couldn’t say anything more.
The people who had gathered because of the noise began to whisper.
“Well, that personality hasn’t changed.”
“No one’s falling for her act now.”
“See? That’s why you shouldn’t pretend to be something you’re not.”
The atmosphere turned cold, and the murmurs grew louder. Charlotte bit her lip and swallowed her fury—then finally fled.
“I-I didn’t bring a change of clothes, so I’ll just go home!”
No one saw her off.
The young lord clicked his tongue again, clearly displeased, then turned to me.
“Are you alright, my lady? I recall you were standing nearby during the commotion.”
“Thank you for your concern, young lord. Fortunately, I avoided getting caught in it.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
“I just feel embarrassed… We may have disrupted your party…”
I laughed awkwardly and gestured toward the door Charlotte had exited.
That was to make it clear I had nothing to do with the incident.
“And today is such an important day—it’s all about celebrating you, after all.”
That line reminded him this was his big event.
It also hinted: Would you really let the maid who caused a scene on your special day go without consequence?
“Push him a little, and he’ll want to investigate.”
That was the final part of my plan today—to plant a seed of doubt in the young lord’s mind so he’d start questioning Charlotte.
“If I crack his trust in her now, I can bring Charlotte down faster.”
And the young lord reacted exactly as I expected.
“In that case… I’d like to apologize myself. The maid in question is employed by our house. And words alone don’t mean much, so… I’d like to offer you a small token of our regret. Would that be alright?”
Gifts given with apologies weren’t just about making amends—they were a way to measure how sincere the apology really was.
Sometimes, they even acted as bribes or informal favors.
“Then maybe I should take him up on that.”
I hesitated just a little, then accepted.
“If it would ease your mind, I’d be honored. I’m sure Charlotte will appreciate your kindness too.”
I had just come up with a great idea.
Charlotte knew I was still at the party—but she went home in the carriage alone.
So I had to return using another.
The young lord helped with that too.
“To think she would abandon a sister she claims to treat like family… Lady Charlotte must’ve had something very urgent to attend to.”
Clearly, he had already written her off. His voice even dripped with sarcasm.
“Y-Yes… Thank you again for your care. I’ll send the carriage back as soon as I arrive.”
I played dumb and thanked him politely.
The duke’s carriage had his family’s crest on it.
So when I arrived at the Count’s estate in that, the household exploded.
“What happened? What did you do at the duke’s house?!”
“What kind of scandal did you cause that made you return in that carriage?!”
The Count and Countess panicked.
“HOW?! How could you return in that carriage?! What did you do to the young lord while I was gone?! Did you seduce him, you filthy—”
“KYAAAA! It hurts! Charlotte, stop—please stop…!”
Charlotte, her eyes wild, ran at me and grabbed me by the hair.
I didn’t resist.
I let her attack me—because the duke’s coachman hadn’t left yet.
The more witnesses to Charlotte’s madness, the better.
Charlotte probably thought, “Who cares if some lowly servant sees?”
But I thought differently.
Those kinds of people—ones without ties to titles or honor—were often the biggest gossips of all.
“Spread that story far and wide.”
