Chapter 45
The following morning, while having breakfast, Marsha looked extremely angry.
Well, it made sense. After all, she had lost her position as Linnea's personal maid, a position that likely came with privileges.
'I can't tell what you're planning. What are you planning to do by persuading the innocent Miss Linnea in this way?'
Marsha glared at Edel as if gritting her teeth, hurling accusations. But Edel wanted to answer those words directly: What were you planning to do by controlling Linnea so tightly?
'However, it's best to remain calm. If you engage with her, she'll try to find fault with anything I say.'
But Marsha, unable to contain herself, hurled insults at Idil.
“Did you seduce the Count too? Did you undress in front of him or what? Otherwise, how could he allow a traitorous criminal to stay by Miss Linnea’s side? Isn’t that right?”
She seems to expect the other servants around them to agree with her.
Ignoring most of her nonsense was easy, but this last accusation could not be overlooked.
"Should I hand these exact words to the Count? Are you sure your tongue won't be cut out?"
"What? You're naughty and rude!"
“Weren’t you the one who just slandered the master? Why are you calling me rude when you’re the one spreading lies? And I don’t even understand why you’re angry in the first place.”
Some of the other servants nodded in approval, while Marsha's loyalists anxiously gauged her reaction.
“If Miss Linnea wants a new personal maid, what can any of us do about it? Do you think yelling at me will change anything?”
"What lies did you fill Miss Linnea's head with?"
“I didn’t tell her anything. I just helped her choose dresses and jewelry that suited her and put on makeup that matched her style.”
Marsha, who was about to attack again, closed her jaw as if she couldn't find the words. No matter how long she had worked as a maid, it was clear she couldn't keep up with Edel, who lived at the very top of high society.
A few people were unable to suppress their smiles and turned their heads to hide their amusement.
It became clear, even at the breakfast table, that Marsha's influence as head butler was beginning to wane.
'I will bring you down completely, Mrs. Bohen. I have no intention of ever serving a corrupt person like you.'
Edel strengthened her resolve, remembering Marsha's embezzlement and misconduct.
**
Idyll became Linnea's personal maid, at Linnea's insistent request.
Laszlo felt somewhat relieved; perhaps he could now interact with Grand Duchess Celestine with less embarrassment. But he couldn't deny the strange heaviness in his heart.
“Brother! Give me an Edel Lancaster!”
Linnea burst into his room and screamed something strange after returning from the party.
When Laszlo asked what was happening, Linnea eagerly recounted the events of the past three days.
On the first day of the party hosted by Camille Emerson, she was unable to have a proper conversation with anyone and was met only with ridicule. Upon hearing this, Laszlo clenched his fists.
But what happened next was the real story.
“So, when I came back to the party dressed the way Adele styled me, everyone treated me differently! Some people even complimented me.”
"Are you sure you didn't misunderstand?"
“No! They’ve never said anything nice to me before.”
Laszlo found it hard to believe that nobles would change their attitudes so easily just by changing clothes, jewelry, or makeup.
But Linnea insisted that it was true, and waved the invitation in front of him.
“Someone even gave me an invitation to another party! They probably didn’t intend to invite me at first, but after they saw how different I looked, they handed it to me immediately.”
She seemed to no longer care.
“Even if they’re making fun of me, just like I said, it doesn’t matter. Thanks to Idil, this was the first time I didn’t feel insulted. I need her!”
"The first time"... "Without insult"
Every word Linnea pierced Laszlo's heart like a knife.
Although she spoke with great seriousness, he couldn't refuse Idil now. He was surprised to see Idil arrive so late at night, wrapped in a shawl over her nightgown, but it was worth it to see Linnea's joy—a rare sight these days.
"I haven't seen her this excited in a long time."
Linnea had always had this bright and cheerful expression, but after she became a noblewoman, her spirit seemed to fade away little by little.
She was once an energetic girl, full of honesty and intelligence, capable of managing the household even at a young age.
For this reason, Laszlo assumed that things would go smoothly.
It was believed that Linnea would adapt well to a noble life, and grow into a confident and balanced lady.
"What made me think that?"
Despite the large house, the wealth, and the many servants, Linnea seemed more unhappy than ever. Laszlo felt increasingly uneasy, but he didn't know how to make her happy—there was always so much work to do. Linnea's problems kept slipping down his list of priorities.
And now, unexpectedly, Edel was the answer. It was hard not to feel grateful.
'Helping Linnea, the same girl she once made kneel… Doesn't Edel have any pride? Or… Is she really an angel?'
Laszlo wasn't lying when he told Edel she didn't have to accept the job if she didn't want it. But Edel readily offered to do her best.
At that moment, Laszlo felt a genuine sense of gratitude towards her.
In addition to the usual perks of being a personal maid – such as a better room and higher pay – he wanted to do something extra for her.
So he called her.
"She called me."
Edel arrived, looking calmer than when she was working in the laundry room or the kitchen.
She had always looked more elegant than the other servants, but now that her clothes were no longer wet, dirty, or wrinkled, she looked even more radiant.
'It's as if the clothes are the ones benefiting from it, not the other way around.'
The maid's outfit, like everyone else's, looked like a duchess's dress.
"…my lord?"
“Ah! Hmm.”
Laszlo was interrupted from his thoughts when Edel called him. He seemed to have been staring at her for a long time.
To hide his embarrassment, he spoke hastily.
“I called you because I wanted to thank you personally.”
"Thank you? I'm not sure what you mean..."
"To help my sister."
Idell shook her head immediately.
“I did not do that expecting any kind of reward. Moreover, my promotion from kitchen maid to Miss Linnea’s personal maid is already a reward enough.”
“This is hardly what I would call a promotion. Taming that troublemaker won't be easy. And that's the biggest reason for me to reward you properly.”
So, Laszlo drew a blank check that he had prepared earlier and gave it to Idel.
“I doubt any gift I choose will suit your taste, so I thought this would be better. Take it.”
Edel stared at the check with a puzzled expression but shook her head again.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t think I did anything to deserve this. Even if I took it, I wouldn’t benefit from such a large sum of money.”
“You have earned it. What do you mean you have no benefit from it? You can buy clothes, jewelry, perfumes, and anything you want.”
"How can I do that when I can't even leave the estate...?"
Laszlo's eyes widened upon hearing her words.
“What do you mean, you can’t leave? What is that supposed to mean?”
"Well... I mean..."
Idil was late, clearly hesitant.
Laszlo suddenly realized that she had misunderstood something fundamental.
“Wait a second. Do you think you were under house arrest in this property? Because you were brought here as a prisoner?”
“…”
At that moment, everything fell into place.
It became clear why Edel tolerated Marsha's unreasonable behavior without protest, why she lived so cautiously, and why she stayed out of sight as much as possible.
"Did I ever say that I intended to keep you here as a prisoner?"
“N-no.”
"then?"
“You said…that you would use me as a maid.”
"exactly!"
Laszlo crossed his arms and tilted his head as he examined her with mild amusement.
“As far as I know, you were receiving the same wage as any other maid. Did someone withhold your salary?”
“No, I received it every month.”
"Were you treated differently from the other maids?"
"no."
"So why did you limit yourself to the inheritance?"
“…Good question.”
Laszlo gave a short laugh at her unexpected answer.
"And here I thought you were always sharp. It turns out you have a clumsy side too."
Laszlo noticed that Idel's earlobe was turning red with embarrassment, and he couldn't help but feel amused.
He handed her the blank check again.
"Come on, now you can accept that, right? I'm sure you know how to fill one out."
But Edel, after staring at the check for a moment, shook her head again.