~Chapter 31~
‘What is he trying to say…?’
Just as my patience was slowly reaching its limit—
“I’m sorry. Actually, I overheard your conversation with Mother. I didn’t mean to listen on purpose…”
The Young Duke spoke carefully.
I looked at him with guarded eyes.
‘What if even the Young Duke has been influenced by Mrs. Howard?’
It was a reasonable suspicion.
Mrs. Howard had already won over the Duchess—there was no guarantee she hadn’t reached out to him too.
Considering how much trust she had in this household, it was even more likely.
“Mother said you seem uncomfortable around Nanny. Honestly… I was curious too.”
After taking a breath, the Young Duke asked seriously,
“Before, when we were getting your dress fitted… Nanny said she would help you change. Why did you refuse?”
“So that’s why I— …What?”
I blinked in confusion.
I thought he would question me about throwing dirty water on Mrs. Howard…
Or about being rude to her.
But that wasn’t it?
At the same time, my mind started working quickly.
‘I didn’t think much. I just refused because I don’t like her.’
…Of course, I couldn’t say that honestly.
‘There must be a reason why he’s asking me this.’
As I stayed silent, thinking—
the Young Duke asked again, a little urgently,
“Still… she treats you well, right?”
Wait.
I narrowed my eyes slightly.
He said, “to you.”
That means—
she is not treating someone else well.
‘Does that mean… the Young Duke doesn’t trust Mrs. Howard?’
If that’s true—
then how I answer now…
could make his doubts grow even stronger.
‘This is a perfect opportunity.’
My mind started spinning fast.
“…Yes. She treats me well.”
I answered with a weak smile on purpose.
Come on… take the bait.
Be curious why I look like this.
“Are you sure she treats you well?”
As expected, the Young Duke easily fell into my trap.
He frowned and asked again,
“Then why do you look like that?”
“It’s nothing.”
“That’s not a ‘nothing’ face.”
After going back and forth for a while—
I carefully opened my mouth, making sure I didn’t sound like I was complaining.
“Actually… I met Mrs. Howard before.”
“What? Nanny?”
“Yes. Back then, I was working as Cecilia unni’s maid.”
I tightly grabbed my skirt.
I deliberately looked scared and glanced around nervously.
“Mrs. Howard… called me a lowborn person.”
I spoke in a very small voice.
The Young Duke’s eyes widened.
“What?!”
“Of course, she treats me very well now… but I’m still a little scared.”
“T-that can’t be. Nanny is a very kind person…”
He was so shocked that he even stuttered.
I looked at him with wronged eyes.
“She even tried to hit me back then. Unni stopped her.”
“…Cecilia did?”
“Yes. If not for her, I would have definitely been slapped. And…”
I trailed off and shook my head on purpose.
“I think… it’s better if I don’t say the rest.”
“Don’t do that. Tell me everything.”
He urged me impatiently.
“What is it?”
After making him wait for a while—
I finally spoke again, shrinking my shoulders.
“I think… she also treated Cecilia unni harshly.”
“Is that true?”
His eyes darkened deeply.
It seemed like he had already noticed something himself.
“She scolded unni in front of me.”
My voice naturally filled with emotion.
Because I remembered—
“If you try harder, maybe your family will finally pay attention to you.”
The way she looked at Cecilia with contempt.
The way she clicked her tongue loudly.
“‘The real Cecilia’ was like an angel…
If you want to fill her place, shouldn’t you at least act like a proper lady?”
Just remembering those words—
anger rose from deep inside me.
“Honestly, I thought it was very rude to treat her like that… but I was just a maid back then. I couldn’t stop her.”
“Milena…”
“Unni looked so sad… I still remember her hurt expression.”
The Young Duke’s eyes shook violently.
I added one more push.
“And earlier… I think unni must have felt embarrassed too.”
“…Are you talking about the brooch?”
So he noticed.
I nodded and continued softly,
“I want to get closer to Cecilia unni… but whenever Mrs. Howard interferes, things don’t go the way I want…”
I gave a bitter smile.
“Maybe I’m just mistaken. Mrs. Howard has been in this family much longer than me.”
“That’s…”
“Please keep this a secret. I’m… a little scared she might get angry at me.”
I pretended to look pitiful on purpose.
As expected—
the Young Duke’s face turned cold.
Then—
“And… I’m not even the real daughter yet.”
I lowered my head sadly.
“What do you mean?”
“We haven’t even done the parentage test yet. So…”
I lowered my eyes.
“Maybe Mrs. Howard still doesn’t see me as part of this family.”
“What kind of nonsense is that?!”
He raised his voice.
“It’s okay… I understand.”
I smiled weakly.
‘He definitely suspects Mrs. Howard now.’
I carefully watched him and thought deeply.
‘Can I make him act more actively?’
After all—
he has the power to move freely in this household.
If he wants—
he can stop Mrs. Howard.
‘Then…’
