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Chapter 30
“Look at this!”
There was definitely something mixed into it besides tea leaves.
Unable to spit out the bitter tea, I forced myself to swallow it and immediately pulled the servant bell.
“Did you call for someone?”
It wasn’t Genie but one of the maids here.
She looked at me with strangely lifeless eyes and an indifferent expression.
“…Bring me the maid who brewed this tea.”
“I brewed it myself. Is there a problem?”
“A problem? You’re asking if there’s a problem? This is—!”
I stopped myself in the middle of my outburst.
Because I noticed the corner of the maid’s lips twitch slightly as she answered so casually.
‘This is…’
I swallowed the words I had been about to say.
Damn it, if I reacted to every little thing like this, she’d probably get even more excited and keep pushing. Just as I was about to tell her to leave, having resigned myself to it—
“…!”
My hand moved on its own.
It was a filthy sensation I hadn’t felt in a long time. The feeling of being controlled by something, and my hand suddenly lifting into the air.
My hand, filled with force against my will, struck the maid across the face.
Smack!
“Eek!”
The maid collapsed onto the floor with a cry. Her cheek instantly turned red and swollen.
‘W-What the hell am I doing…?!’
[The story flow is returning to its normal level.]
I staggered back in shock, but what was done was done.
Damn it, I’d been paying too little attention!
Back in the capital, the maids had approached me with goodwill, so there hadn’t been many occasions for this kind of hysterical behavior. And even when there were, I had only done things I intended to do.
So I had half forgotten about it…
‘This is my fault…’
I knew Evelyn had been bullied in the territory, yet I hadn’t prepared for it. I just assumed everything would be fine if I kept doing what I had been doing.
“Y-Your Grace…! I’m sorry! I-I must have accidentally brewed the tea incorrectly…”
“…”
“Your Grace, please spare me! At least spare my life!”
The maid suddenly dropped to her knees and began begging.
It was an excessive reaction.
No matter how bad Evelyn’s reputation was, she wouldn’t kill someone just because they brewed tea poorly.
Whispers came from outside the open door.
Only then did I realize her objective.
‘This crazy maid…!’
Unable to do anything about the ridiculous situation the system had created, I bit my lip.
To anyone watching, I looked completely like the aggressor.
Of course, slapping someone because of a badly made cup of tea was wrong—but her intentions had been malicious from the start! It was obvious she had done it on purpose to provoke me!
Since my freedom level had risen significantly and I had no intention of making the maids here hate me any further, I froze, unable to act.
Then someone came stomping down the hallway.
“Evelyn!”
The angry voice belonged to Killian.
Right, good timing!
I was just about to use Evelyn’s specialty—crying while insisting on my innocence—
“Brother! I—”
“Evelyn, have you caused trouble again? Don’t tell me you’re bullying the maids again. At this rate, there won’t be any maids left thanks to you!”
“…!”
You useless brother!
“What did you just say?! Why are you yelling at me the moment you arrive? What did I even do?!”
Ignoring my sharp protest, Killian surveyed the room.
The maid lying on the floor with a swollen cheek, covered in tears.
And me standing arrogantly before her.
“I was wondering why you’d been so quiet lately!”
He turned to me with an angry expression.
“Please listen to me first! What happened is—”
Before I could explain, the maid hurriedly interrupted.
“Y-Young Duke! It’s my fault! I must have brewed the tea so poorly that I offended Her Grace. P-Please spare my life!”
Hey! If you say it like that, what does that make me?!
Now it sounds like I tried to kill her because she made bad tea!
At that moment, the maid’s cheek twitched slightly.
Only I could see it from where I stood behind her.
This was exactly the kind of bullying Evelyn had suffered in this territory.
They knew Evelyn was disliked by the Duke and the Young Duke, so they used that fact to isolate her even further.
‘Getting slapped in the face and still doing this… she’s seriously addicted to drama.’
I couldn’t understand it, but perhaps this was their way of venting their resentment over being underpaid servants forced to cater to nobles.
A kind of inferiority complex, perhaps.
But that still didn’t justify this behavior!
“Evelyn, is that really true?”
“It’s not entirely wrong, but what actually happened is that she dared put something in my tea—!”
“Young Duke! Please show mercy! I have three younger siblings to support! Please spare my life!”
“I’m talking right now! Can’t you be quiet?!”
I shouted furiously.
The maid finally startled and shut her mouth.
Even Killian flinched for a moment.
“Brother, listen carefully. This maid put something in my tea. It tasted absolutely awful—”
“Evelyn.”
Killian sighed and rubbed his face with one hand.
‘This doesn’t feel good…’
He raised his head and spoke with obvious exhaustion.
“Evelyn, you were just punished by Father and came straight down here only to cause another incident? You slapped a maid just because the tea tasted bad?”
He’s not listening to a single word I’m saying!
I knew what kind of image Killian had of Evelyn, but couldn’t he trust his own sister at least once?
Yet he seemed convinced that everything was Evelyn’s fault.
I replied irritably.
“I’m telling you, it wasn’t just bad! If you don’t believe me, check it yourself. The tea I drank is still sitting right there!”
I pointed at the table, but Killian only sighed again.
“Do you truly want me to verify it? You really are…!”
Just as he began speaking angrily—
“Young Duke!”
Someone called from outside.
The voice wasn’t loud, but it was enough to catch Killian’s attention.
“…Sir Maren?”
He turned with a puzzled expression.
What, did he come after hearing the commotion?
Meanwhile, I used this brief reprieve to desperately think of a way out of the situation.
Biting my lip, I eventually opened the system window.
I intended to reactivate the choice function.
‘I’ve been trying to avoid this.’
The more I used the system’s functions, the more uneasy I felt.
Still, maybe the choices would offer some alternative.
“Young Duke, forgive me for interrupting, but… there’s something I must say…”
“…What is it?”
Killian frowned, clearly displeased at being interrupted.
Maren’s face was slightly flushed as he spoke.
He seemed unaccustomed to speaking while everyone’s attention was focused on him, but he persisted.
“I-I think… perhaps it would be best to listen to Her Grace’s explanation more carefully…”
I froze.
My finger, which had been about to open the choices, stopped.
“What?”
Killian asked incredulously.
Maren’s eyes widened in panic, and he waved his hands.
“N-No! That’s not what I mean! I just…”
“Princess Evelyn isn’t the kind of person who would act without a reason. She might scold someone for brewing tea badly, but she would never try to kill someone over it…”
“…!”
I slowly turned to look at Maren and lowered my hand completely.
His face was now red enough to burst, but his eyes remained serious.
As if it were absolutely necessary for people to believe what he was saying.
‘What…’
…What is he thinking?
My lips parted blankly.
“So please, just listen to Her Grace’s explanation once!”
He shouted with his eyes tightly shut.
I examined him suspiciously.
‘Why is he taking my side?’
There was nothing for him to gain.
Everyone ignored Evelyn.
Supporting her wouldn’t benefit him in the slightest.
“…So you’re saying my judgment is wrong?”
Killian asked in a cold voice.
Startled, Maren frantically shook his hands.
“N-No! That’s not it! I just…”
“I would like to say the same thing, Young Duke!”
Another voice suddenly joined in.
It was one I heard every day.
“…Genie.”
I murmured quietly.
A maid interfering in something like this should have been unthinkable.
If she overstepped her place, she could even be charged with insulting nobility.
I stared at the two of them in disbelief.
‘…Why?’
Yet Genie declared confidently,
“Her Grace is not someone who would strike another person without reason!”
“…”
Th-Thanks, I guess…
But doesn’t that imply I hit people when I do have a reason?
I rubbed the back of my neck, unable to hide my bewilderment.
As I looked at them, my mouth went dry and I felt strangely thirsty.
My mind searched for reasons why they had stepped in.
Yet the moment our eyes met, all my suspicion melted away like snow.
“…Fine.”
After a moment of thought, Killian spoke.
His expression had become strangely rigid.
‘Why is he the one looking upset?’
Wasn’t I supposed to be the angry one here?
“Evelyn, I’ll ask you first. Why did you hit the maid?”
“Y-Young Duke! It’s my fault! I brewed the tea incorrectly—!”
“Silence!”
His thunderous shout fell upon the interrupting maid.
Moments like this really reminded me that he was the Duke of Rosenthal’s son.
“I’m speaking to Evelyn.”
His gaze returned to me.
His blue eyes settled on me quietly.
“Evelyn.”
The surroundings became so silent that not even breathing could be heard.
Everyone was watching me.
