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Chapter 11
“Did you tell me to come down?”
“Yes, yes!”
Diane tilted her head. Hearing that the guests were looking for her made a small spark of hope rise in her chest. Perhaps her aunt was finally going to officially introduce her into southern high society!
Now that things had come to this, maybe she would even find her a good marriage prospect!
There was a clear difference between secretly going out to social gatherings and being officially recognized by the family and entering society properly.
That hope grew rapidly inside her.
The thought that her fraud might be exposed had completely disappeared over the past few days. The calm had led to carelessness.
In truth, it was hard to imagine the Duchess—who wasn’t even truly acknowledged by the ducal household—participating in high society, and the cold, war-obsessed Duke didn’t seem like the type to interfere in ladies’ gatherings either. And Hayden was too young.
So perhaps this was her chance to debut into society by using that gap. Her age was a slight concern, though.
Maybe her experience working as a nanny in the ducal household would help her marriage prospects. And no one knew that the ducal nanny was the niece of Countess Yotley.
‘What if I reveal everything now?’
The Countess of Yotley held a respected position in the ladies’ society. Maybe this could even lead to a good match. She just needed to marry quickly before any strange rumors spread.
“What are you doing? Hurry up and help me get dressed.”
“Yes, miss!”
Diane hummed happily as she changed into her best dress—one of the few things she had managed to keep when she was expelled from the ducal house.
If she spoke well today among the noble ladies, she might marry into a good family, live lavishly, and become a proper noble lady.
Just like when she worked as a nanny!
With light, excited steps, Diane descended to the first floor. Her dreams, hopes, and delusions had been growing steadily all this time.
The moment she entered the greenhouse—
She locked eyes with Roana, who was sitting wearing that famous necklace. And she also saw Countess Yotley, whose face had turned ashen as she lowered her head.
‘Why is that woman here?!’
Diane staggered back a step.
“Oh my, look who it is.”
Roana spoke gently.
“A very familiar face.”
At her words, the noble ladies added their own remarks.
“Duchess, do you already know the Countess’s niece? Ah, I think I’ve seen her before too.”
“She does look familiar… Oh! Isn’t she Master Hayden’s nanny?”
“Oh my. As expected of Yotley. The niece of the Countess working as Master Hayden’s nanny! But I heard she came here for medical rest…”
“Come here and sit down, Lady Diane.”
Roana said gracefully. The aggressive, shrieking version of her from earlier was completely gone.
Diane looked behind her. The maids stood stiffly, guarding her escape route.
“Now.”
Roana’s voice turned cold.
Diane realized it instantly.
This was not a peaceful flower garden.
It was Roana’s hellish trap.
Diane clenched her teeth.
“I-I think I should go back. I’m not feeling well…”
“Even if you are unwell, you should be treated here, Lady Diane. Or do you think I am overstepping my authority again?”
The atmosphere in the greenhouse froze instantly.
It was not something a fallen noble girl should ever say to a duchess. Murmurs of criticism rose among the noble ladies.
“W-when did I ever—!”
“Are you saying I’m lying? Surely not.”
Roana deliberately brushed her hand near the necklace at her neck, as if to say, Look at this. This was given to me by Cheres. I am recognized by the ducal house.
As if that could be true.
Weren’t the Duke and Duchess supposed to be like cat and dog—completely indifferent to each other? Everyone knew they weren’t even spending their first night together.
‘That shameless woman!’
But this was not the time to expose that truth. Diane was about to be branded a liar.
“By the way, who would have thought the Countess’s niece was Master Hayden’s nanny. The woman who starved him and stole money meant for baby supplies to buy jewelry before being expelled.”
Roana spoke slowly and clearly, then turned her gaze to Countess Yotley.
“Did you know about this, Countess?”
In this situation, there was only one thing the Countess could do.
“…I-I didn’t know.”
“Aunt!!”
“Shut your mouth! How dare you act so shameless after doing such disgraceful things!”
The Countess gestured to the maids, and they quickly restrained Diane, covering her mouth.
Watching the scene unfold, Roana smiled faintly.
“Mission complete.”
“Do not dirty the Duchess’s hands. Give the blade to Countess Yotley instead. She will choose to abandon her niece to save herself.”
Lady Yurein’s precise tutoring had worked perfectly.
Just as she predicted, Countess Yotley did not hesitate even for a moment to throw her niece aside.
While Diane screamed like an animal, held down by maids, the Countess personally reprimanded her.
‘You’ve lost your mind! How can you still show your face after doing such things?! I thought you were doing well after finding work here! But you were disgracing me all along! I’m sorry, Duchess. I clearly raised her wrong…’
‘…Did you really not know? Not even a little? I heard you are quite informed about rumors, Countess.’
With just that trailing sentence from Roana, everything collapsed.
The noble ladies immediately turned their criticism toward Countess Yotley.
Someone like me—who had once been suppressed and gaslit at home—was now conducting a full-scale social attack.
The Yotley family and Diane would be completely ruined in high society.
Hayden, my little star! I avenged you!
Feeling like a victorious general, I returned to the estate. I intended to eat twice as much dinner as usual today. I deserved it.
Dinner was just as satisfying as expected.
And best of all—no one interrupted my meal.
“I wish Cheres could have seen that expression. It was so satisfying. Honestly, Countess Yotley will never be able to show her face in the South again. If it were me, I’d emigrate.”
“…It’s all thanks to you. We were able to sever ties with the Yotley family cleanly, without complications. There won’t be any backlash. And I intend to make sure they pay for everything they did.”
“I just did what I could, Cheres.”
Acknowledge how competent I am already. I can do anything I’m told. I smiled brightly at Cheres.
“I’m glad I was helpful.”
So if you ever need my help again, just tell me easily. I’m a fully prepared worker.
I filled my smile with that meaning, though I wasn’t sure he understood.
Cheres exhaled deeply.
“About what I said before… I apologize.”
“Huh? What did you say…?”
“I told you not to do anything. That you didn’t need to perform any duties as Duchess.”
Cheres spoke with a composed expression.
“I hurt you with words I couldn’t even uphold myself. I sincerely apologize.”
Wait—he’s apologizing this directly?
Even in extreme situations, Hayden growing up so properly makes sense now. He definitely takes after Cheres.
Is it even possible for a person to be this upright?
