Chapter 15
I let out a hollow laugh.
Cheres didn’t seem like the kind of person who would make exceptions for anyone.
“I’m a very old friend of Cheres.”
“Unlike you, Roana.”
Now she was casually calling me by my first name.
Were we ever that close?
I don’t think so.
A chill ran down my spine.
She gave off the unmistakable aura of a psychopath.
“When we were little, we were so close.”
“I used to call Cheres ‘Ses.'”
“He was such an adorable child.”
She wore a dreamy smile as she rambled on.
She simply said whatever came to mind.
No filter.
No deep thought.
She seemed like the type who lived entirely within her own world.
What exactly was Cheres thinking…
Sending a woman like this to me?
Is this revenge against House Hezest?
Or maybe…
He’s reminding me never to let my guard down.
While I was seriously contemplating it…
Chloe continued talking without pause.
“And Cheres called me ‘Ellie.'”
“His voice was always so gentle.”
“We were such wonderful friends.”
“And we still are.”
“We always will be.”
“That’s why I’m someone special.”
Ellie?
Did she just say… Ellie?
The moment I heard that…
It felt as though someone had struck me over the head.
The original novel had all sorts of villains.
One of them…
Was a woman named Ellie.
She constantly insisted she had shared a special relationship with Cheres.
And she relentlessly criticized Hayden.
She sent letters.
She even came to visit in person.
“It’s because of you that Cheres died.”
“If it weren’t for you, I never would have lost him!”
“Ah… my dear…”
“I’m so heartbroken I could die.”
“I can still hear my friend Cheres calling my name…”
I even remembered how she’d dragged her own husband along while making a complete spectacle of herself.
She’d constantly acted like the female lead’s mother-in-law…
A completely insane woman.
That Mrs. Ellie…
Was Chloe?
W-Wait!
Why didn’t anyone tell me sooner?!
If I’d known…
I would’ve avoided stepping on this landmine at all costs!
No…
This wasn’t an ordinary landmine.
This was the ultimate, top-tier explosive trap.
Even while reading the original novel…
I’d thought she was completely crazy.
And now…
That crazy woman had become my problem.
Cheres…
Do you secretly hate me?
The biggest problem…
Was that Mrs. Ellie genuinely loved House Beredan.
She sincerely cared about Cheres.
Just…
In her own completely twisted way.
No wonder she was descended from the loyal House Maleite.
There were even stories in the original novel about how she’d supported Cheres during the war…
When the Imperial Family, manipulated by House Hezest, had abandoned him.
Which made her an even more troublesome minor villain.
In terms of being difficult to deal with…
She was practically a major villain.
“So, Roana…”
“You should listen carefully to what I tell you.”
“I’d like you to devote yourself entirely to taking care of Hayden from now on.”
“And I don’t think it’s appropriate for you to take naps during the day.”
“It also doesn’t look very dignified to eat too much.”
“I noticed at the ladies’ gathering that you’re quite fond of sweets.”
“If you gain weight…”
“Wouldn’t that only disgrace House Beredan?”
She was doing exactly the same thing she’d done to the heroine in the original story.
Unbelievable.
So she’d been like this since childhood.
Seriously…
Who on earth raised this woman?
I genuinely wanted to know.
The only reason I hadn’t recognized her immediately…
Was because she’d married into the Oyster family and changed her surname.
“Oh, and another thing.”
“You shouldn’t wear a precious keepsake like that just anywhere.”
“I can’t believe I have to explain something so obvious.”
“It’s a valuable heirloom.”
“You should only wear it on truly important occasions.”
“And you should refine your personality a little.”
“It was so unbecoming of you to criticize Countess Yotley so harshly.”
“I admit Diane was wrong…”
“But she’s still a young lady.”
I’m pretty sure she’s older than I am.
“The higher a person’s status…”
“The more they should know how to embrace those beneath them.”
“Do you understand what I’m saying?”
Would you please stop talking already?
At that moment…
I decided to stop listening altogether.
If I kept listening to this unbelievable nonsense…
I felt like I would lose my own sanity.
Tonight…
I was absolutely going to ask Cheres.
What exactly was his reason for assigning this lunatic to me?
What kind of grudge did he have against me?
That Evening
I decided not to tolerate it anymore.
Someone like Chloe should never be allowed anywhere near me.
My life was already becoming exhausting enough.
“Cheres.”
“It’s about Lady Chloe.”
“…Ah.”
The moment he heard her name…
Cheres immediately frowned.
Even someone as proper as him can make that expression?
He rubbed his forehead slightly.
Apparently…
He wasn’t particularly fond of Chloe either.
“…May I speak honestly?”
Cheres nodded.
“…Is there something exceptionally outstanding about her?”
“I mean…”
“Something that qualified her to become the Duchess’s maid?”
“Perhaps in terms of ability?”
Because mentally…
She’s exceptionally insane.
Cheres answered with a weary sigh.
“After experiencing her yourself…”
“What do you think?”
“You may speak freely.”
“…At the very least…”
“She doesn’t seem particularly capable.”
“So I wondered…”
“If perhaps you hired her for some other reason.”
Cheres quietly looked into my eyes.
His gaze felt like permission.
So I finally voiced the thought I’d been keeping inside.
“Were you trying to place a spy beside me?”
He didn’t answer.
…So I wasn’t wrong.
“…Then…”
“Could you assign me a different spy instead?”
At my words…
Cheres let out a quiet laugh.
So he knows exactly what kind of person she is.
I narrowed my eyes at him.
“Cheres?”
“Bogus…”
“Seems to think of Chloe as a kind of entrance examination.”
“An entrance examination?”
“He believes…”
“If someone can tolerate Chloe…”
“Then there’s no reason to doubt that person’s character.”
I stared at him blankly.
“To be more honest…”
“He said you’d eventually reveal your true nature in front of Chloe.”
So…
His aide still distrusted me because I belonged to House Hezest.
And to test me…
He’d deliberately assigned Chloe to my side.
Judging by the situation…
Cheres seemed to agree with that decision to some extent.
Otherwise…
He never would’ve placed her beside me in the first place.
Why are you doing this to me…?
“…I understand.”
Honestly…
I couldn’t really blame them.
If Beredan’s loyal retainers trusted someone from House Hezest so easily…
They wouldn’t be loyal retainers.
In that case…
I’ll have to overcome this problem in my own way.
“Could you tell me about House Maleite?”
“What kind of person is Countess Maleite?”
“What does she value?”
“And…”
“How does she treat her daughter?”
Cheres brushed a hand across his mouth.
Amusement shimmered in his eyes.
I’m losing my mind over here…
And he actually finds this entertaining.
Ha…
Five Days Later
Five days after Chloe became my maid…
Her presence was becoming more overwhelming with each passing day.
She had begun putting all of her ideas into action.
That morning…
While happily helping herself to my tea and snacks in the drawing room…
She suddenly announced,
“Your Grace…”
“Don’t you think this mansion’s interior is terribly gloomy?”
“It feels like a place that’s just returned from a battlefield.”
“I want Cheres to be able to rest in a warm, comfortable space.”
“Wouldn’t it be much nicer if everything looked more lovely?”
What’s wrong with the interior?
I don’t see anything strange.
Mrs. Urein had been taking excellent care of everything.
She’d even told me that Cheres felt particularly comfortable around the deep brown tones of oak wood.
I simply stared at Chloe in silence.
Apparently…
She mistook my silence for agreement.
“I’ll change everything.”
“Don’t worry.”
“I have exceptional artistic taste.”
“Oh…”
“Do you think I’m working too hard?”
“It’s alright.”
“I consider this part of my job.”
“I’m the Duchess’s maid.”
“So naturally, I should handle things like this.”
I wonder if everyone else would agree with that.
I almost stopped her…
Then closed my mouth.
First…
I needed to fully experience what kind of person Chloe really was.
So did Bogus.
And Cheres.
Only then…
Would I have sufficient justification for whatever I planned to do afterward.
A faint smile crossed my lips as I sipped my tea.
With Hayden asleep…
The room was wonderfully peaceful.
If Chloe’s sense of aesthetics is anything like the dresses she wears…
I can already imagine exactly what’s going to happen to this mansion.
I suddenly became curious.
Just how destructive can she really be?
How far will she go?
Cheres’ smug smile suddenly flashed through my mind.
That’s right.
You’ll only understand once you’ve experienced it yourself.
I spoke gently.
“Chloe.”
“You can’t spend the family’s budget without Cheres’ permission.”
I casually pushed the decision onto him.
Honestly…
I couldn’t care less about the mansion’s interior.
“Really?”
“Then I’ll go ask Cheres!”
“I’ll take care of everything.”
“So don’t worry.”
“Roana…”
“You should just focus on Hayden.”
After finishing every last bite of my refreshments…
Chloe immediately stood up.
She was astonishingly impatient.
Once she decided to do something…
She acted on it with incredible speed.
The sound of her footsteps gradually faded down the corridor.
Sip.
Listening to her leave…
I quietly drank my tea.
A satisfied smile spread across my face as I nodded to myself.
