TMOWM~29

Chapter 29

The next day, I ran straight to Tayburn at the crack of dawn. I had held in my urge to go to the bathroom all night just to tattletale about what I had overheard.

Today, it was more important than harvesting crops and going to the early morning market.

As soon as I arrived, Tayburn offered me something to eat. Every time I come over, he somehow has snacks ready.

Munching on a perfectly baked baguette, I chattered away to Tayburn.

About everything I had seen and heard yesterday.

“Rani, are you saying Kiera has joined hands with a heretic?”

“Yes. They seemed really close. She even called him by name—David, the High Priest.”

“Hoo… This is why I should have stopped that marriage with those Aites bastards.”

Tayburn muttered with a grim expression.

Aites? That must be the Duchess’s family.

“Do you have a particular reason for hating heretics so much?”

I asked while dipping my baguette into some whipped cream. Mm, delicious.

“…Everyone knows they’re money-hungry. The reason exorcism rituals were labeled heretical is because they used ghost stories to scam people out of their money.”

Tayburn explained in more detail. Apparently, exorcism rituals were quite popular 20 years ago.

With High Priests who possessed strong holy powers at the lead, they went house to house performing ‘exorcisms’ and pocketed large sums of money. If someone didn’t have any money, they’d even take and sell their frying pans.

So the previous emperor, who was ruling at the time, outlawed exorcism rituals and branded those involved as heretics.

“I knew there were shady things happening behind the scenes, but I didn’t realize it was Aites. I’ve brought a foolish daughter-in-law into my house.”

Tayburn gritted his teeth.

“So what should we do now? We can’t just sit back and take it, can we, Lord Tayburn?”

“Of course not.”

“So I’ve been thinking. Kiera plans to claim that a ghost is attached to you, right?”

“Yes. She’s pulling out all the stops to kick me out to the North.”

Tayburn gritted his teeth again. Well, it makes sense.

She poisoned Tayburn, gave him medicine to kill him, and probably even murdered Amy. And now she’s pretending she’s the one being possessed?

‘Father-in-law, please don’t hate me too much. I’m doing my best for the ducal family too! And so is Carte!’

Like she’s some kind of tragic heroine. What does she have to be so upset about?

And now, pulling this stunt to kick Tayburn out—it’s only natural to be furious.

“So I thought of a plan,” I said again.

“Hm?”

“What if we make them believe it’s the Duchess who’s possessed by a ghost, not you?”

We already knew who the audience would be. This whole show was being prepared for the Duke of Herdern and Hider.

It wasn’t like a rumor about an exorcism would be good for anyone.

“…You’re saying we should use this situation?”

“Yup!”

Unfortunately, I haven’t even had a chance to use the poison I stole from the Duchess, but this time, I’m giving her a taste of her own medicine.

At my answer, Tayburn paused to think and then nodded with a satisfied expression.

“I like your plan, Rani. Where did such a clever girl come from?”

“Right? I wonder too.”

“So what’s your plan?”

I chattered away and explained the entire scheme to Tayburn. Honestly, even if I used stealth, both Hider and Tayburn would still be able to see me.

It was better to explain the plan in advance and ask for their help.

“You got it? So you have to play your role really well, Lord Tayburn. Make it convincing.”

“Don’t worry. I’m pretty good at acting, you know.”

“By the way, Lord Tayburn, why haven’t you dismissed the head butler?”

Tayburn smiled slyly. I hate to admit it, but I could see why Kiera called him a sly old fox.

“Kiera’s only support right now is the head butler. Everyone else has already left. When someone only has one person to rely on, it’s the easiest time to extract their secrets. Just watch.”

“Aha!”

So it was a trap. And Kiera fell into it perfectly.

As expected of the hero, Tayburn!

Tayburn patted my head.

“But I’m worried about Hider. He’ll be upset if he thinks his mother’s spirit can’t pass on peacefully.”

“Don’t worry! I’ll explain everything to Young Master Hider in advance.”

“You really are clever. Want more bread?”

Tayburn looked at me like I was a golden goose.

This is what it feels like to be loved.

Hehehe, Tayburn is the best.

Tayburn filled me up with snacks. In return, I had to stay with him for quite a while and chatter nonstop.

It was around 3 p.m. I still had time, but I needed to talk to Hider so he wouldn’t be upset.

His training usually ended around 11 a.m., so it was about time.

Thanks to Lady Luella excluding me from all tasks, I had nothing to do, so I was planning to finally visit the vegetable garden.

But as I walked down the corridor, Dania suddenly rushed up to me.

She was panting as she grabbed my arm tightly.

“Did you hear?”

“Hear what?”

“I knew it! The maids have been weirdly avoiding you lately, haven’t they?”

Well, obviously. I probably seemed like a huge thorn in their side. I used to stick close to the Duchess, and now I’m sticking to Tayburn, racking up benefits.

And now I’ve even been excluded from duties?

Of course they’d feel jealous and deprived.

“Today, after 2 p.m., we’re forbidden from leaving the maid quarters for three hours. It wasn’t even the head maid—this came directly from the head butler.”

“Why?”

I blinked innocently.

“Who knows?! It’s not like they ever explain things to us. But if anyone gets caught leaving, they’ll have their salary cut for three months!”

Dania’s face was full of frustration.

“Three months’ salary?! Isn’t that insane? So now everyone’s panicking, trying to finish their tasks before 2. You should hurry too.”

“Dania.”

“Yeah?”

“We don’t have anything to do.”

“Huh?”

“Young Master is at the training grounds. And we already cleaned his room, remember?”

He was a clean freak, so he didn’t need much work unless we were doing a full deep clean.

“We already served him lunch and prepared his bath. All that’s left is dinner.”

“Oh, right?”

“So what you should do for me, Dania, is work hard making those bear slippers. You know how expensive those are, right? This whole situation works in our favor. We can just spend the three hours making slippers.”

Dania’s eyes went wide. Then she nodded innocently.

“You’re right!”

“See? It’s no big deal.”

Feeling a lot better, Dania and I stayed in the maid quarters and made bear slippers together.

Then I quietly slipped away, saying I was going to check on the young master.

“Young Master!”

I found Hider, freshly bathed and sitting neatly while reading a book. Lately, I’ve noticed how diligent he is.

He’s a model student.

Come to think of it, he probably needs other lessons besides sword training. I’ll have to talk to Tayburn about that.

Since he’s been sparing no effort when it comes to Hider lately, I bet he’ll arrange for extra classes right away.

“Rani.”

Hider smiled brightly when he saw me.

“Where were you? What are you doing today?”

“This morning, I had snacks with Lord Tayburn, then worked with Dania before coming here!”

“Is Grandfather doing okay?”

“Of course! He looked like he might start training again soon.”

“That’s a relief.”

His recovery speed was monstrous. According to Tayburn’s status screen, his recovery was already at 80 percent.

When it hits 100 percent, I guess that means he’ll be fully healed?