Chapter 11
"The pain really seems to be lessening."
"Is that right? Should I apply some of it to your back and shoulders too?"
“Oh, no, I can do that myself.”
“But it seems that it may be difficult to reach him. Don’t be shy, we are both women.”
Daisy smiled broadly and urged Idell.
Although she felt as though she had been swept away, for some reason, Idell didn't mind. She unbuttoned her nightgown and revealed her back.
“Wow… I’ve never seen anyone with such a beautiful back.”
Awkwardly, Daisy murmured in admiration.
But her admiration didn't last long, brazenly. She skillfully applied the ointment to Idil's shoulder blades, under her shoulders, and along the muscles on either side of her spine.
When spread thinly and widely, it was not very sticky, yet it looked cool and refreshing.
'Knowing what hurts her so well at such a young age must mean that she has faced many difficulties since she was younger.'
She felt the pangs of sympathy, and Idil smiled as much as she could.
“Thank you, Miss Daisy.”
"Just call me Daisy."
“Then you can call me, Edel.”
“That’s not enough… Can I call you ‘sister’?”
The word “sister” sounded a little unfamiliar and made her feel a little embarrassed, but Idil nodded.
"It feels like I have a cute little sister now."
"Nice? Impossible."
Despite waving her hand dismissively, Daisy's cheeks flushed as she laughed, then she wrapped herself back into her shawl.
"Then I'll go now, Sister Edel. Get some good rest."
Although she felt a pang of regret at seeing Daisy leave so quickly, Idil couldn't restrain herself.
Daisy had her tiring duties, and a good night's sleep was crucial for those who worked hard.
"Sleep well, Daisy."
Edel waved at the door, looking much more relaxed than before.
Although the room fell silent again after Daisy left, the lingering scent of mint and the faint sounds behind the thin walls made her feel an odd warmth inside.
If she were still noble, she would have immediately taken out her diary and started writing it with the words, “I made a new friend today.”
* * *
“Mrs. Bohen! The bathroom is ready.”
“Thank you, Mina. You worked hard.”
"Oh, it wasn't anything. Hehe."
Marsha soaked herself in the warm tub that Mina had prepared.
Mina quickly washed a soft towel with soap and began rubbing Marsha's shoulders.
"You've had a lot on your mind lately, haven't you?"
"Ah, you mean that girl, Idil?"
Marsha sighed exaggeratedly and shook her head.
"She's a real troublemaker. She's not ordinary at all. How did she manage to win Celia over to her side?"
“Celia has a rather strange personality. She doesn’t know anything about morals.”
“Exactly! She doesn’t even seem to know who her bosses are. Tsk.”
As the discomfort spread across Marsha’s face, Mina gently rubbed her arm.
“Actually, it’s not just Celia. Lila and Daisy are alike. Especially Daisy, who looks very close to Idil because she’s her neighbor.”
“Relying on her father, she dares to challenge me. What a rude girl.”
“She’s just a driver’s daughter after all. They stick together.”
But this wasn't enough to appease Marsha. And the growing number of servants defying her wasn't good news either.
“Those who don’t know their place need to be taught a lesson. Otherwise, they’ll soon be climbing over me.”
"What will you do?"
Mina asked with a hint of anticipation in her eyes.
"Just wait. In three months, I'll have Edel and her cronies crawling before me. The 100 ringgit tribute is just the beginning!"
Mina laughed at that.
There was an unwritten rule that in order to live comfortably here, one had to pay Marsha 100 ringgit a month, and five servants complied willingly.
Of them, Mina was the most diligent in flattering Marsha. Besides the 100 ringgit, she often brought Marsha nice things whenever she found them.
Thanks to this, Mina lived more comfortably than any other servant in the house, and sometimes she would steal things from the Count's house with Marsha's tacit approval.
“The money I make from selling stolen goods is much more than 100 ringgit.”
In addition, I can live comfortably like a head maid.
Only Marsha and Mina, apart from other family members, are allowed to take hot showers in this house.
“But madam, some of the servants are complaining about bathing in cold water.”
"What? Did you spread rumors that we use warm water?"
“Impossible! I have vehemently denied it. But some clever people seem to doubt it.”
Mina bit her lips.
After Marsha finished her bath, Mina used the remaining warm water to wash herself, but she completely hid this fact from the other servants.
But as winter deepened, it was impossible not to notice that the others were getting dirtier while the two of them always looked clean.
Marsha was silent for a moment, then spoke with great anger.
“Tell them to stop being so arrogant. Since when did they think they deserved to bathe in hot water?”
"exactly."
"Be careful too. The Count or Miss Linnea must not find out. Do you understand?"
"I understand. Hehe."
Mina massaged Marsha's shoulders, trying to flatter her, but Marsha was preoccupied, trying to figure out where the secret might have leaked.
She was saving on firewood costs while pretending that the servants were bathing in hot water, so catching them would be a problem.
But she quickly clicked her tongue and got rid of her fears.
“The Count rarely comes home anyway, and Miss Linnea isn’t interested in such things, so everything should be fine.”
Even if things escalated into a crisis, she could find a way out. After all, she practically had this family in her grasp.
* * *
Today, Laszlo received a letter from a noblewoman he had never spoken to before.
The missionary was Barbara Celestine, the widowed Marchioness, whose son inherited the Marchioness, and whose daughter-in-law now held the title of Marchioness. Despite her decline, Barbara's presence remained significant.
She was also known as a reclusive noblewoman who never mixed with the vulgar or the greedy.
In order to write to him, Laszlo checked the recipient's name several times, thinking that it might have been delivered incorrectly.
The content was equally surprising.
“To the brave and loyal Count Crisis,
…(in brief)… Although I know that my words, like an old woman in the back room, may carry no weight with you, I could not remain silent after hearing the news and felt compelled to write.
…(in brief)… Please do not treat Miss Edel harshly.
She knows nothing about the secret “incident” within the Duchy of Lancaster. The entire Duke’s family has completely isolated her.
Miss Edel is simply a victim of a transaction between families.
…(in brief)… She is very kind, graceful, wise, and benevolent.
Please don't push someone like this into further despair. I'm begging you.
After sending this message, I will be returning to the capital soon. I hope we can share a cup of tea sometime soon. This is where I end my message.
Barbara M. Celestine
Laszlo read the letter back and forth, and let out a small, muffled laugh.
"What? Don't push her to even more despair? She seems to see me as a complete monster."
While he was somewhat angry, he was also curious. The letter was dated a week after Idil's arrival, and since she was staying in the area to recuperate, she clearly wrote it as soon as she heard the news.
'Why would the widowed Marchioness Celestine go so far? Even if they were acquaintances, sending such a message risks being implicated in treason…'
Despite his lack of interest in the social scene, he knew a great deal about the nobility.
He had a good memory for faces and names, and as an imperial guard, he needed to be well-versed in the details and personal relationships of the nobility.
However, he had no reason to investigate the relationship between the widowed Marchioness Celestine and the Duchess of Lancaster.
"Now I suddenly feel curious."
He was now fascinated not only by their relationship but also by Edel herself. What he knew about Edel Lancaster had been largely based on rumors and assumptions derived from the dynamics surrounding her.
“Count Canyon raised her rigorously to be the perfect bride from a young age, didn’t he? However, I have no idea what that ‘perfection’ entails.”
The fact that she had received a thorough education from Count Canyon actually gave him a negative impression of her.
From his experience, Count Canyon was greedy, vile, and cowardly. If he raised Edel with the intention of selling her to a great noble family, what could he possibly teach her?
“Well… he must have hired good teachers to teach her manners and morals, but her essence should be clear. You reap what you sow.”
Of course, he had to admit that Edel's aristocratic behavior had never faltered since she was captured on the duke's estate.
But there were many nobles who looked good on the outside. Judging them based on appearances would be foolish.