Chapter 41 · Not Alone, But Two

Aeplin turned as she was and walked over to Marie, then slapped her cheek.

Smack— Just as Marie, startled, tried to raise her head, Aeplin slapped her once more, and silence fell around them.

“What, are you crazy? You hit me?”

When Marie tried to lunge at Aeplin, the servants blocked her.

Monica, who had been smoking on the stairs, was greatly startled and came running down in a single stride.

“You—did you just hit my daughter?”

“I cannot hit Mother, after all.”

“What……? You have no fear now, do you?”

“My eyes are perfectly fine. That is why I intend to properly manage the household from now on.”

The servants thoroughly isolated the mother and daughter from Aeplin.

Everyone followed only the instructions of Aeplin, the mistress, and even the servants working in the annex turned their backs on Monica and Marie.

“From now on, I will manage the…