Chapter 25
“Let’s not be afraid in advance. These curtains have already been washed once before they were installed, so we only need to focus on washing the moldy parts. The rest can just be rinsed. Moreover, they are spring curtains, so they are much thinner than winter curtains.”
Celia spoke positively, as was her nature, but even if the curtains had just been rinsed, they still needed to be wrung out and hung to dry. This would have been impossible without Celia and Lila's help.
“I feel like Celia and Lila are being dragged into this mess because of me.”
But what else can be done?
Edel had always been obedient to Marsha. She respected her as the head servant and swore that she had never boasted of her noble status.
Marsha hated her because of her utter inferiority complex and twisted pride.
“It’s not as if the past can be erased.”
Her breath seemed hot from her nose and mouth, but Idil inhaled deeply, and sank the curtains into the sink.
“Celia, Lila, you should start with the other laundry first. Mrs. Bohen will probably check that first.”
“But washing 150 curtains is not something you can do on your own!”
“I know. I’m sorry, but I can’t even hang them up without your help. And I’m sure Mrs. Bohen knows that too.”
Idil pulled her skirt up to her waist, tied it with a string, and stepped barefoot into the bathtub. The cold water made her toes feel like they were freezing, but she gritted her teeth and began stamping her feet on the curtains.
“Mrs. Bohen will probably come by soon to check if I’m washing the curtains. If she sees you helping me, who knows what she’ll complain about next.”
Despite grinding their teeth, Celia and Lila agreed with Idil. They knew exactly what kind of person Marsha was.
“We’ll take care of the other laundry as soon as possible, and then we’ll help you. You don’t look your best today, so take it easy.”
"Thank you."
Celia took some of the hot water—only a few buckets would do—and placed it next to the sink. She wanted Idil to come out and warm her feet between them.
Edel felt more encouraged by the warmth of her colleagues’ hearts as they grew closer to her.
The cold laundry room was soon filled with the sounds of fetching water, washing laundry, and the rustling of curtains.
But as time passed, Edel's breathing became increasingly difficult. Her head felt dizzy, and she was losing strength. Every time she inhaled the cold air, her nose and throat hurt so much that it was hard to breathe.
“Idel? Idel!”
Idel, who had been unconsciously stepping on the curtains, was brought back to reality at Celia's invitation.
"…Yes?"
"Are you okay? Your face is very pale."
“I think I was stepping too hard. Oh my God…”
She tried to laugh, but Leila, who was standing nearby, approached with a frown and placed her hand on Idil's forehead.
Lila's hands were as cold as ice, because she was also washing the laundry with cold water.
“Layla! Your hand is so cold. Are you okay?”
Lila screamed in disbelief at Idel's concern.
“Edel! My hand isn’t cold, and your forehead is burning!”
"What? Edel, do you have a fever?"
“Yes, Celia! It’s not just a little warm. It’s very hot!”
After Lila's words, Celia rushed over and touched Idil's forehead.
“Oh my God, this is serious! Edel, why didn’t you say anything when you were suffering from this high fever?”
Edel couldn't respond to Celia's anxious rebuke. Celia quickly realized she had asked a foolish question.
“True, with that spiteful woman, it’s not like you can comfortably say anything. I understand.”
“But you’re that sick. Surely Mrs. Bohen wouldn’t push you that far. Wait, I’ll go and tell her.”
Lila wiped her hands with her apron and ran towards the main house.
But Edel was skeptical of Lila's idea.
'Mrs. Bohen assigned me this task because she knew I was ill. What if she said something to Lila?'
Although she was worried, she couldn't stop Layla. She began to feel dizzy, and her vision started to spin.
The hope that the cold water would alleviate the fever was just an illusion. If anything, her condition seemed to be worsening.
As Lila said, she felt she was going to die at that rate.
When Celia saw Idil's pale face covered in cold sweat, she tried to get her out of the tub.
“Edel, go outside for a bit. Sit down and relax.”
"Let me finish washing this."
“Why are you so stubborn? You can rest for a while and pretend to work when we hear any noise.”
“…Mrs. Bohen will certainly notice.”
Upon hearing this, Celia thumped her chest in frustration.
“She’s just a maid too! Why are you so worried? Many people have quit because of her temper, but they’ve all found other jobs and are doing just fine!”
Celia's words were spoken without malice. After spending several months together, she came to see Idil as just another maid like herself.
Idil was forced to smile.
“Celia, I’m a prisoner. I can’t leave if I want to, so it’s best for me to maintain a good relationship with the head butler.”
Celia's hand, which had been pulling on Idil's arm, froze in place.
“Oh….”
“Thank you. I am always grateful that you treat me like one of your own.”
Although her burning eyelids felt like they would burn her eyes, Idell smiled as she continued to tread on the curtains.
She was grateful because, since the curtains had been washed once, the water in the basin did not get dirty no matter how much it was stepped on.
Around that time, the door to the laundry room suddenly opened, and Marsha entered.
"What? Sick?"
“Yes, I told you! She has a very high fever, and if it continues like this, it will be really bad!”
Lila may have been trying to persuade Marsha along the way, but there was no sign of sympathy in Marsha's eyes.
"What are you talking about? It works perfectly well."
"No, go and touch her forehead! It's so hot!"
Thinking this might be the right time to ask for a favor, Edel stepped out of the cold water. Her feet were already so numb that she couldn't even feel the chill of the laundry room floor.
“Mrs. Bohen, I’m sorry. I’ve had a fever since early this morning. May I take half a day off…?”
"Hmph! Don't be silly."
Marsha's voice suddenly interrupted her, and there was even a hint of relief in her tone.
“You may be spoiled enough to want to lie down because of a simple cold, but new maids are not allowed to take any leave in the first year, no matter the reason!”
This cannot be true. Edel grew up in a count's family, was a housewife, albeit an empty one, and knew how other families operated.
Whether new or old, servants were entitled to one day off per week, and they could take two additional days off each month. Generous masters even granted these two days of paid leave, and certainly would not force a sick person to work.
Of course, it's likely that Marsha knew that but chose to ignore it.
“I don’t know how you managed to get Celia and Lila to conspire with you, but this kind of trick won’t work on me!”
“What are you talking about? She’s sick, and you think this is some kind of plot?”
Celia's explosion only served to further provoke Marsha.
Marsha glared at them fiercely and said:
“That’s enough. Celia and Lila, go inside and help the other servants fetch the firewood. And you, Idil, finish all the laundry by the end of the day.”
“Mrs. Bohen!”
"now!"
Marsha seemed concerned that Celia and Lila might disobey her orders, so she opened the door to the laundry room and called the other maids in the main house.
"Hey! Come and take Celia and Lila to help gather firewood!"
The maids who had followed Marsha quickly rushed over and pulled Celia and Lila away. It all happened in the blink of an eye.
Now, only Marsha and Idil remain in the laundry room.
Edel couldn't tell whether her dizziness and mental fog were caused by the fever or by the anger she felt towards Marsha.
Normally, she would have remained calm, but as her body weakened and her mind became confused, her mouth began to move on its own.
"What more do you want from me?"
"What?"
Marsha looked surprised, and did not expect such a question from Idel.
“I am curious why you hate and torture me. I have never defied or rebelled against you, so what more do you want from me?”
"Are you out of your mind? What are you suddenly talking about...?"
“Don’t dodge the question. Answer me directly, and stop trying to drag Celia and Lila into this.”
Feeling trapped, Marsha began to scream and hurl insults.
“You miserable little monster! Finally, your true colors are showing, huh? After saving your wretched life, now you have no fear? How dare a criminal look at me like that?”
Marsha's voice echoed in the laundry room, making Idil's head throb even more.
In a moment of impulsiveness, Idell retorted, "You speak as if you were a noblewoman, Mrs. Bohen."