Chapter 107. Do as I Tell You
While quickly walking down the hallway after leaving the dining room, an unknown ominous fire swirled in his chest.
Although he had sharply cornered the immature Cecilia, it was actually self-reproach and anger directed at himself.
For not protecting the woman at that moment.
For making the devastated woman stand up and ordering her to bow her head in front of that trash-like bastard.
And above all, the most terrible thing was…….
That he had simply buried the matter and let it pass until now.
As if nothing had happened, just like that.
And the disgust toward himself for brazenly desiring the woman and calmly exploring her body all night.
There was no reason to blame Cecilia.
It was none other than himself who had let the woman he held in his arms drift as someone who deserved only such treatment.
That was when it happened.
-What would I do wearing a dress like this, clean while dressed up prettily? Or should I wear it at night?
-I thought…… you would explain yesterday.
-Then…… I would have said I’m sorry…… that I’m truly sorry for upsetting you back then……
-I didn’t know…… that you were waiting. I wasn’t sure…… if I was allowed to come……
That voice echoing in his head.
His steps, walking frantically without knowing where he was going, suddenly stopped dead in place.
Only then did he realize the real reason he was so angry.
A woman of lowly orphan origin who reminded him of his father and that mistress.
A woman he had tried to keep away from the very beginning.
He had pretended not to know, even though he clearly knew what her numerous hesitations meant.
He had pretended not to know the woman who feared this uncertain relationship being exposed, while showing an irresponsible attitude that it wouldn’t matter if the relationship was revealed.
Was he perhaps planning to marry a suitable partner and keep the woman by his side for life.
In the very form he despised so much, binding the woman?
Intoxicated by the sweetness of finally obtaining the one he had longed for so much, he had never once thought about the future of the two.
No, he had chosen not to think.
“…….”
Raymond now had to admit that the reason he had been postponing the engagement vow was the precursor to that hesitation.
Then, what should he do now.
I, and you…….
Raymond’s body, which had been standing still for a long time, soon turned in the opposite direction.
He should not meet the woman now.
With nothing sorted out yet, he could not meet the woman and repeat the same mistake.
Raymond’s expression as he turned and walked firmly looked somehow extremely grim.
* * *
“……Yes?”
At what she had just heard, Deborah’s golden eyes shook finely.
Madame Charlotte sitting across from her also quietly sighed as if understanding.
“For tomorrow, one full day, do not leave your quarters and wait…… That’s what he said.”
“…….”
She thought she had misheard, but even hearing it again, it was the same story.
Of course, since he was the master of Elpengrin, if he commanded, she had to follow without question, but it was so sudden that she couldn’t help but be flustered.
Unable to ask Madame Charlotte for the reason and hesitating, fortunately, she noticed first and spoke again.
“You know well that after His Highness the Crown Prince arrives today, there will be a welcome banquet tomorrow evening.”
“…….”
Deborah immediately nodded.
Hadn’t everyone in Elpengrin been sweeping and polishing to exhaustion every day for this very moment.
For the crown prince who would arrive soon.
That the banquet welcoming him would be held tomorrow evening was something every servant knew.
So the current situation was even more incomprehensible.
When it was obvious how short-handed they would be tomorrow, telling her to stay cooped up in the attic all day.
After a brief silence, Charlotte calmly continued with the next words.
“Among the invited guests for tomorrow’s banquet…… Count Reister is included.”
At the unexpected name, Deborah’s body flinched in an instant.
The events of that day, which she didn’t want to recall and had tried to seal away, flashed through her mind like lightning.
-What’s the rush, since I was just bored, keep me company for a bit and go.
-Lowly maids like you are all just playthings for men, aren’t you. Stupid thing who doesn’t know her place, thinking her fate will change by lifting her skirt once. Eek! Can’t stay still!
-Today, I’ll thoroughly correct this insolent wench’s manners!
As that nightmarish moment, the beast-like man’s violence and verbal abuse vividly resurfaced, her entire body suddenly began trembling madly.
“Oh dear-.”
At Deborah’s face turning pale and trembling like an aspen tree, Charlotte quickly stood up and poured water into a glass.
“Here, drink.”
Approaching her side and handing it over, Deborah took the water cup with ice-cold hands.
Madame Charlotte, sitting beside her for a long while until Deborah calmed down, at some point spoke in a low voice.
“This is why he said that.”
“…….”
“Lest you accidentally run into the count, lest you faint like this.”
“…….”
Tsk, at the tongue-clicking sound, Deborah’s eyes sank low.
“So, for tomorrow, follow His Grace’s words. You’ve been moving busily all this time, so think of it as resting comfortably for one day.”
Of course, she knew it was said for her own peace of mind, but even so, she couldn’t truly rest at ease as told.
It wasn’t as if she had suffered alone, and she knew full well how much everyone else would struggle.
But for some reason, her mouth wouldn’t open.
To say it’s fine, to please tell His Grace again that she can just work.
The words she intended to say only circled in her mouth and wouldn’t come out.
Not knowing what to do, Madame Charlotte gently tapped the back of Deborah’s hand as she sat blankly for a long time.
“Then, I’ll take it as you’ll do that, and you may go now.”
At Charlotte’s words as she stood up, Deborah had no choice but to stand as well.
Madame Charlotte, returning to her desk, soon immersed herself in her work, and Deborah lingered a bit longer before opening the door and stepping outside.
And so the conversation ended there.
* * *
“What?”
At the stairs on the north side of the first floor, where people rarely passed.
A sharp woman’s voice echoed below.
“What on earth do you mean by that?”
The woman frowning deeply was Greta, a senior maid.
“Telling me to do what?”
Her tone, asking what kind of nonsense this was, sounded quite irritated.
Looking at her, Ludmilla spoke even more ominously.
“You told me before that you’re close with the personal maid of Countess Reister, didn’t you? Right?”
“That’s true, but…….”
It was true.
Although they now worked in different mansions, the lady’s maid of Countess Reister was her inseparable childhood friend who had come up to the capital Denver on the same day.
But the reason Greta was so serious was because of what Ludmilla had said just before.
Which was.
“Then, pass on exactly what I say to her.”
Yes. That very words.
At those highly suspicious words, Greta’s brow furrowed even deeper.
But thinking to at least hear what it was, she held back and spoke.
“What exactly…… do you want me to tell her?”
“That incident a while ago where that wench Deborah tried to seduce Count Reister and caused a huge commotion.”
“……What?”
“Tell her that, of course in a way that it reaches the countess’s ears.”
At Ludmilla’s unpleasant smile visible in the darkness, Greta unknowingly swallowed hard.
From the moment she was dragged here during the busy time saying let’s talk briefly, she had thought it suspicious.
But she hadn’t imagined it would be this.
It was something that absolutely should not be done.
She had no particular ill feelings toward Deborah, and even if she did, how could she, a servant of the Cheister family, dare to relay such words.
When it was obvious as fire what kind of uproar would result.
Thinking it was something she didn’t need to hear more of, Greta firmly shook her head.
“I can’t.”
“What?”
At Ludmilla’s face turning menacing, Greta shook her head once more.
“Have I gone mad? If something happens because of that, I’m the one who gets in trouble, why would I do it?”
In the past, she might have pretended to consider it out of fear of Ludmilla, but now it was different.
Daring to say anything when she had fallen out of His Grace’s favor and was just a scullery maid.
Pfft, as Greta snorted and was about to turn away, feeling her time wasted.
“You’d better not turn away like that.”
At the low resounding voice, Greta’s gaze moved back to Ludmilla’s face.
At that expression asking what you’re going to do about it, Ludmilla’s lips twisted slightly.
“What would happen if Madame Charlotte found out that you sneak into Jeremy’s quarters every night like a female cat in heat?”
“You…… how do you…… know that…….”
Greta, turning pale blue, couldn’t continue and her lips trembled.
Looking at her, Ludmilla smiled like a victor.
“How about it? Do you now feel like doing as I tell you?”
At Ludmilla’s words, grinning with teeth bared, Greta couldn’t give any answer.
Now, there was only one thing Greta could do.
To obey Ludmilla’s command, who held her weakness.
That.
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