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~Chapter 54~
That was something Viola could never allow to happen.
Forcing her twisted smile into a straight one, Viola approached Bella.
Bella was reading a book she had brought from the library.
Being able to freely borrow from the library meant her influence in the mansion had grown. Viola disliked that, but endured it—for now, staying as Bella’s personal maid was better.
“I thought you might be hungry, so I prepared a snack.”
“Thank you, Viola.”
Bella didn’t even look up as she turned the page.
Between the lines of dense writing, geometric patterns appeared and disappeared.
Viola couldn’t see the cover, but she already knew the title—she’d seen it while cleaning Bella’s room the day before.
“Are you interested in magic?”
“Who wouldn’t be?”
“That’s true. I wanted to be a mage when I was young. But I gave up as I grew, thinking it was a silly dream.”
“I see.”
Bella answered indifferently, her eyes fixed on the book.
Flip, flip—pages full of dense writing turned quickly.
No ordinary person could fully read it at that speed. Viola scoffed inwardly.
‘Hah, just pretending.’
She must be pretending to read, embarrassed to admit the book was too difficult.
‘What could the master possibly like about this woman?’
Viola couldn’t understand.
One thing was certain—she had to pull this woman, who likely thought the Duke’s mansion was her world, into cold reality. Somewhere far lower and dirtier than here.
“Honored guest, if you’re bored, why not go see the master?”
“His Highness is working.”
“But… wouldn’t he be pleased if you visited? It might cheer you up.”
For the first time, Bella lifted her head and studied Viola.
Viola shrank her neck, feeling an eerie sense that Bella could see right through her.
Thankfully, Bella’s gaze dropped away quickly.
“That’s not a bad idea.”
As expected of a foolish woman—she hadn’t noticed Viola’s true intent.
“Then would you help me get ready?”
“Yes, honored guest.”
Viola replied sweetly, hiding her smirk.
Viola loitered in the hallway outside the office, peeking inside from time to time.
Bella had been in there for a while now.
‘Why is it so quiet?’
It didn’t make sense. The Duke disliked anyone entering his work space without permission—especially during work hours.
Sometimes foolish maids sneaked in just to see him, since he was usually either in his bedroom or his office.
[What are you doing here?]
[I-I hadn’t finished organizing the bookshelf…]
[Did I ever ask you to do that?]
[…]
[That excuse isn’t even funny. Get out.]
It wasn’t just maids who were thrown out.
[Beryl, can’t you stop and leave?]
Even loyal aides were not spared if they displeased him.
So Viola was secretly looking forward to seeing Bella leave in tears after being chased out.
‘…Strange. It’s been quite a while.’
She circled the hall once, then returned to stand in front of the office door.
‘Is it not here?’
No, she was sure.
After pacing a few more times—
“Viola.”
Catherine called her and pointed to the office.
“The master is calling for you. This way.”
‘Finally, he’s going to get rid of her!’
Excited, Viola entered—
“….”
Her smile vanished instantly.
The scene was the exact opposite of what she had imagined.
Bella was lying on the office sofa, asleep—using the Duke’s lap as a pillow.
And the Duke, not waking her, had moved his paperwork from his desk to the guest table so he could continue working.
‘Why her… why!’
Her stomach boiled with jealousy, especially since Bella didn’t even seem extraordinary.
If the Duke hadn’t spoken, Viola might have kept glaring.
“You’re Bella’s personal maid?”
“Yes? Yes, that’s correct, master.”
She quickly clasped her hands.
“Do you need something?”
“Bring a blanket.”
“…What?”
“She seems cold, so get a thick one if possible.”
He was letting her sleep there?
The heat in Viola’s head rose almost to pain, but she endured—an order was an order.
She had barely taken a few steps when the Duke added:
“And don’t make noise. Quietly.”
Viola bit her lip hard.
She had volunteered to serve Bella, not because she liked her, but to see the Duke more often and get noticed.
Yet he had never once looked at her. Not even for a moment.
‘What is this! What is going on!’
She stayed silent, knowing any protest would just make her look pathetic—but she was furious inside.
Armin’s retainers had one common complaint—
Their lord was too strict.
He was capable, but his sharp temperament was inseparable from his skill. If there was even a small problem, he’d throw the documents, curse, and order them to redo everything.
“Is that really true?”
Halter’s eyes widened.
“Do I look like someone who’d joke about this?”
“Absolutely not. But… it’s hard to believe!”
The lord who rejected almost every document, earning the nickname “Rejection Duke”?
“You’re saying now he doesn’t get angry, and even approves things if the flaws are small?”
“I understand your doubt. I’ve been rejected for the same report for a month now… but it’s true. I saw Polanco leave with the master’s signature earlier. I’d bet Gellion’s beard on it.”
“Why my beard…” Gellion muttered, ignored by the other two.
“That’s how certain I am. But…”
“But what?”
“Speak quietly.”
When Halter looked puzzled, Zephyros patted his shoulder knowingly.
“You’ll see when you go in.”
About thirty minutes later, Halter came out.
He held his documents and—rarely—was smiling.
“Success?”
“Failure.”
Then why smile?
Gellion tilted his head, but Halter grabbed Zephyros’s hands.
“You were right! The master didn’t get angry! I can’t remember the last time that happened!”
“I told you—if you speak quietly, it works.”
News of this quickly spread to the other retainers.
“So basically, he’s approving most documents?”
“Then I’ll try to get my reservoir expansion plan approved!”
“I’ll bring the proposal he rejected last time.”
The office nearly became a hot spot for easy approvals—
Until:
“Where do you find trash like this?”
“Get rid of it now.”
Armin’s temper returned, ending it all.
Yesterday, in the office, I hadn’t done much.
Pretending to fall for Viola’s suggestion, I entered—
“You seem… busy.”
I saw Armin’s tired face and tried to leave.
Viola had probably hoped I’d disturb him, but seeing the mountain of documents made me lose the will.
‘There’s a limit to how much you can bother someone.’
It wasn’t intentional, but I had already gotten a large sum of money from him for the clothes. On top of that, interrupting his work felt too shameless.
“Sit, Bella.”
As I turned to go, Armin called me back.
“You came because you wanted to see me, right?”
“Well… I might be disturbing you…”
“I was just about to take a break.”
He set down his pen and offered me the sofa.
When I sat, he sat beside me.
A brief silence followed.
“Aren’t you uncomfortable?”
I looked at him, thinking there might be a reason Viola had pushed me to visit.
But Armin’s face was bright.
“To be honest, I was happy. It felt like you thought of me enough to come see me for no reason.”
While I was momentarily distracted by his warm smile—
“If days like this pile up again and again…”
His warm hand covered the back of mine.
“Bella will come to truly like me too.”
