After several hours-
As midday approached, the Grand Lady spoke to the head maid.
“Now go and get her.”
With an ominous smile, the head maid went to Cornelia's room.
Knock-!
Knock-!
Landon exited the room after a brief knock.
He narrowed his eyes and asked arrogantly, “What’s wrong?”
Seeing him dressed as a servant again, the head maid felt a twinge of twitching.
I thought it was a good thing to become an ordinary butler...
I can't believe he was reappointed as a butler.
Unlike her, a personal servant to Grand Lady Brant, she has always been dissatisfied with Landon, a fallen nobleman with no lineage.
The thought of such a lowly person usurping her son's position was not pleasant.
But if I spoil the eldest lady's mission, I will definitely be punished.
The head maid hid her feelings and answered indifferently,
“The Grand Lady would like the Duchess to join her for tea.”
In response, Landon frowned and said, “Repeat that.”
Didn't he hear me?
The head maid opened her mouth again.
“Listen carefully this time.
The eldest lady said-”
“Again.”
At that, the head maid raised her eyebrows and stared at Landon.
“What do you think you're doing?”
Landon smiled and replied, "I'm curious, Head Maid.
You're supposed to be under my command, so why are you so boldly asking me?"
A servant was responsible for supervising all household affairs, especially in noble houses, where even nobles were subject to strict treatment.
Landon was right, but the head maid felt her blood boil.
How rude.
Even your mother bowed down to me, yet she behaved arrogantly after gaining the Duchess' favor...!
However, remembering the eldest lady's order, her eyes sparkled like a poisonous snake.
Well, since this bastard is with the Duchess, he will share her fate.
If the Duchess loses the heir, her position will be diminished, and he will find it difficult to maintain his position as head butler.
With the promise of a bright future, the Grand Lady also helped.
I just need a little patience.
After calculating her next move, the head maid forced herself to smile and said, “I understand… I will be more careful in the future, servant.
Now, may I see the Duchess?”
Landon smiled sheepishly.
“Then wait outside.
I will ask the Duchess about her intentions and get back to you.”
At that, the head maid's face wrinkled.
With her status, she shouldn't have waited; She should have been able to meet the Duchess directly.
“Wait!
I will meet the Duchess personally and convey the message...”
Tack-!
Before she could finish her sentence, Landon had entered the room.
Trembling, the head maid's face wrinkled in frustration.
How dare you, you fallen noble, make me feel such shame?
She made up her mind.
I will definitely expel this insolent scoundrel from this palace.
At that moment, Landon walked out.
“The Duchess agreed, but there is a condition.”
The head maid's face, which had been relaxed and smug moments ago upon hearing the approval, hardened at the mention of the condition.
"Condition?
What is it?"
“Well, it turns out that a guest who promised to have tea with the Duchess will be arriving at noon.
If the Grand Lady permits, perhaps she can join them.”
The head maid looked puzzled for a moment before speaking quickly.
“I see!
I’ll ask the eldest lady and come back...”
“The head maid.”
Startled by Landon's low voice, she blinked before answering, "...Yes?"
When the head maid disappeared, Landon approached Cornelia with a wry smile.
“Ma’am, I have done as you asked.”
Cornelia smiled and asked, “How was it?
Did it make you feel good?”
Landon looked at Cornelia in response to her question.
In the past, he may have hidden his true feelings, but now he follows Cornelia loyally.
“Yes, I felt that way, and seeing her flustered was very interesting.”
Although he did not show it, Landon internally harbored a grudge against the head maid, who had tortured him and his dead mother throughout their time at the mansion.
“I don’t know why I underestimated this insignificant person all this time.”
Cornelia laughed as he frankly revealed his inner thoughts.
Realizing what he just said, Landon's face flushed with embarrassment.
"I shouldn't have said all that.
What if the lady thinks less of me now?"
At that moment, it happened.
“Now that you've fixed the matter of the Head Maid, your position won't be taken away from you, right?” Cornelia asked.
Landon quickly nodded in response, and said, "Yes, of course!
It's all thanks to you, ma'am."
Cornelia nodded in agreement.
“I'm so glad you liked my last gift.”
Landon groaned at the word “last,” but ignored it.
Well, the lady gave me more than a thing or two.
I think she means I shouldn't expect any more kindness from her.
Suddenly, memories of his past mistakes flooded into Landon's mind, and he felt deeply ashamed of himself.
Yes, I have to pay off my debts now.
With determination in his eyes, Landon spoke to Cornelia.
“I will serve you with loyalty for life, ma’am!
And… I really appreciate you giving me another chance despite my previous behavior.”
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When I first heard that he would work with me for life, I couldn't help but laugh.
lifelong?
This is a big commitment.
Then the moment came.
“And… I really appreciate you giving me another chance despite my previous behavior.”
I looked at Landon, smiling, but my lips twitched down at his words.
“Ah, I see.”
Although the head maid was unreliable at times, the truth was that Landon wasn't that much different from her.
But now, after him worrying about me and following my orders for a while, I no longer hold a grudge against him.
Affection is indeed scary.
At that moment, I remembered Landon's recent behavior.
Despite my attempts to console him, he couldn't sleep properly and stayed next to me.
Well, since I'm leaving anyway, I should let go of my grudge and all other feelings.
I spoke, breaking the silence.
“You will certainly make an excellent servant.”
Landon's eyes watered at my words.
“Thank you.
I will do my best to serve you.”
Those were the words I had wanted to hear ever since I first set foot in the palace.
But bitterness filled my mouth, knowing that it would never come true.
However, I can't show any sign of it.
I was about to reply nonchalantly when Sardine's voice came from outside the door.
“Ma’am, your invited guest has arrived.”
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
Hearing the head maid's words, the eldest princess pursed her lips.
“What?
That woman brought a guest?”
Honestly, this had never happened before, so I was flabbergasted.
I wonder if this will ruin my plans.
After the last incident, she realized that there was some kind of connection between Cornelia and the Duchess of Lenheim.
“If that old woman is the one who invited him, she might see through my plan.”
The eldest lady asked the head maid.
“So who did she say her guest was?”
The head maid's face hardened, and she shook her head.
“I, I was in such a hurry to get here that I didn't ask.”
Unable to hold back her anger, the eldest lady hit the head maid on the head.
“You foolish woman!”
Horrified, the head maid held her head and stared at the eldest lady, who spoke in an annoyed tone, raising her voice.
“Go and find out right away!”
Although the head maid was a commoner, there were ranks even among servants.
The duke's head maid is supposed to be a noble.
Moreover, she came from a family that had been affiliated with Brant for generations, and even the eldest lady was expected to show a certain amount of respect.
But in the face of the eldest lady's domineering behavior, in which she was treated like a slave, the head maid felt an inner burn.
How dare you treat me like this?
If I talk, you won't be safe either.
At that moment, there was a knock on the door.
“Madame, this is Robin, the servant!
I have come to inform you that Madame Madeleine has arrived.”
The head maid felt her anger rising even more upon hearing her son's voice.
Even my son lives under the tyranny of this woman.
Her eyes burned with anger.
However, the Grand Lady, who wasn't aware of this because of Roban's message, said, "What?
What is that girl doing here?
She's supposed to be banned from the palace…"
“She came to join the tea time at the invitation of the lady.”
Only now did I realize who Cornelia had called.
You fool, you are digging your own grave!
The eldest lady then turned to the head maid, who was still standing there in amazement.
“Tell Cornelia.
She will join us for tea and prepare it for us.”
The head maid clenched her fists tightly and replied, “Yes, Grand Madam.”