Chapter 12: Who’s Behind You?

The head maid, like the butler, is the one who manages the maids of the Ducal estate.

Why would such a person have that kind of look in her eyes, lacking even basic awareness?

Having risen to that position, she should have eaten her fair share of humble pie.

I don’t know her intentions, but she must have someone backing her up.

Otherwise, she couldn’t act so boldly.

Especially knowing the situation of the Duchy estate…

“Head Maid.”

“Your command, Your Grace.”

The Head Maid, Medea, lowered the eyes that had been glaring at me at Lilac’s cold tone and bowed her head deeply.
Then she bent her waist, asking for the command.

Lilac frowned and dismissed the other maids.

The only ones left in the room were me, Lilac, and the Head Maid, Medea.

Medea didn’t care and just stood her ground silently.

There was a slight flustered movement, but the current Duchess’s aura felt like it pinned her feet to the floor.

“Lift your head and come here.”

“Pardon?”

“…Must I repeat myself.”

Lilac, forming an intimidating aura, spoke calmly and gestured.

Medea hid her flustered state and straightened her back confidently, walking towards us on the bed.

Lilac tapped her fingers twice, gesturing for her to come closer.

After hesitating briefly, Medea finally approached, and Lilac raised her prepared right hand and slammed it into Medea’s stomach.

Pow!

I didn’t understand why a sound like a balloon popping came from a person simply thrusting their hand, but the scene made me think that messing with Lilac meant death.

Thud.

“Kuhk. Guuuh! Ggeokgeo…”

Medea flew back, hit the wall, clutched her stomach, and started gasping.

She seemed unable to breathe properly, her breathing unstable, so Lilac reached out, manipulated mana, and helped her breathe.

After a few minutes, Medea, whose breathing had stabilized thanks to the mana, screamed at us with malice.

“Harboring a lowly, dirty commoner! You sit in a position you don’t deserve! It’s unacceptable!! That position belongs to Lord Huster!!!!”

I stared at Medea, spouting cliché lines like a third-rate villain, with eyes gone cold.

‘Risking her life and causing trouble for such a reason?’

Would Lilac really let this slide… Probably a hundred percent certainty the head maid position would change.

If the head maid changes, well… Medea would likely cease to exist in this world.

“You wouldn’t cause trouble like this just for that reason. Who is behind you?”

‘Though I also didn’t understand Lilac overreacting like this just from one sharp glance.’

As I thought that, the latter part of Lilac’s words suddenly caught my attention.

‘Backing? Could the head maid have taken a bribe and caused trouble?’

It’s hard to even call it ‘trouble’… Anyway, if Medea acted under someone’s orders, it must be someone on par with Lilac or higher.

‘Isn’t Lilac at a disadvantage here? What idiot would reveal their backer’s name just to save themselves-.’

“Ha! Who’s behind me, you ask? Someone so noble you’ve never even met. His Highness, the 3rd Imperial Prince, who illuminates the night sky!”

‘So she was just an idiot.’

“He stands behind me! And Lord Huster, His Highness’s close friend, is the one truly suited for the Duke’s position… It’s a luxury for a wicked woman like you to sit there!”

‘How did you even become the head maid…?’

“Heh. Like master, like servant. How foolish.”

“His Highness said he would visit within the day. When he arrives, you’re finished!!”

I looked at Medea with pity.

It must be hard to be that stupid.

Anyone watching would think she’s a child throwing a tantrum because her toy was taken.

‘Her intelligence level…’

My perception of noble families had already soured, but it really seemed, as Lilac said, that if the upper water is dirty, the lower water will be too.

‘The former Duchess probably insisted on appointing Medea, saying they got along well.’

I remembered asking about Lilac’s family relationships out of boredom.

I even found out who the Duchess was close to and how close.

Lilac, uneducated and incompetent in her youth, could only watch her family from afar, she said.

‘What a messed-up house. A real dysfunctional family.’

Given Lilac’s miserable childhood, it’s understandable why her personality became twisted.

But what’s past is past.

Spilled water cannot be gathered again.

If I were Medea, I would have bolted the moment Lilac returned to the mansion.

Escaping Lilac’s grasp was impossible, but she wasn’t the type to strike first unless direct hostility was shown.

So, if Medea had fled upon Lilac’s return, she could have lived longer without causing Lilac harm, at least.

But Medea was too foolish even to think of that.

I somewhat understand why the Duchess’s friend and Huster’s wet nurse would act like this.

However, her methods were so crude she didn’t seem worth talking to.

“I hoped the Imperial family wouldn’t get involved if possible…”

Lilac whispered lowly, staring at Medea with a hardened face.

Because of her, the Imperial family would now interfere.

I felt a headache coming on.

Lilac opened her mouth.

“Butler.”

Her voice was so low it momentarily startled me, making me tremble.

I hadn’t seen Lilac truly angry yet, but I had a feeling I might see it today.

“Loyalty.”

Butler appeared instantly, knelt, and waited for Lilac’s command.

Seeing Butler eased my unpleasant mood. It was fortunate he only showed his neighborhood-grandpa vibe to me.

Butler still didn’t know the situation, but if Lilac called, he would carry out the task immediately without question.
That was the role of confidants.

Though his head was bowed, his gaze met mine, and I slightly lifted the corners of my lips, smiled, and gave a small wave.

Butler’s lips twitched and quivered, but unfortunately, he had to carry out Lilac’s given command.

“Destroy all carriages coming from the Imperial Palace or arriving at the mansion before evening. If the destroyed carriage contains a prince, don’t kill him, just bring him here.”

“Loyalty.”

Butler vanished immediately.

I didn’t quite know what Lilac was thinking, but even she, who usually didn’t think much, seemed to have faster brain processing when troublesome matters arose.

‘She’ll handle it well, I guess.’

I can’t interfere beyond this point.

Not that I ever interfered…

‘I really am useless.’

My current state is worse than a child’s, almost feeling like I’ve devolved into a mere beast.

Therefore, there was no way I could help Lilac.

Trying to lift her spirits, even just a little, I moved my hand and tapped Lilac’s thigh beside me.

“?”

“Do your best.”

Lilac paused briefly at the whispered words and wiped her face.

“Next time, just say it louder…”

“? Yes.”

‘Was it because her ear tickled?’

Looking closely, the tips of Lilac’s ears were slightly red.

‘Why is she like that…?’

“Y-you! Trying to antagonize the Imperial family right now!”

“Ah. I forgot. Edwyn.”

“Loyalty!”

As Medea shouted at Lilac with a panicked face, Lilac called for Edwyn this time.

He opened the door from outside the room and immediately prostrated himself; his posture was impeccable.

‘If only I had one knight like that, I’d be safe 24/7.’

‘Then again, since I’m with Lilac 24/7 anyway, does it matter?’

I started having foolish thoughts too.

Children learn by watching adults…

Though calling her an adult seems flawed, given her many issues…

Age-wise, Medea had probably lived twice as long as me.

Anyway, more than that, I was curious how Lilac would use Edwyn.

My guess?

Something like putting Medea in the underground prison?

“Put the head maid in prison. I’ll interrogate her separately later.”

“Loyalty!”

“Ah, and. The most important thing.”

Just as Edwyn stood up and was about to grab Medea and leave, Lilac looked at me as if she’d forgotten to say something belatedly.

“Shouldn’t there be compensation.”

Saying that, Lilac moved her lips towards Edwyn again.

What would she say?

Did she stop him to make Medea apologize to me?

Or would she give me the initiative, letting me punish her directly?

Either way didn’t matter, but receiving an apology was better.

Naturally, being powerless and a violence-opposing citizen of the Republic of Korea, I couldn’t hit someone.

So receiving an apology was better.

Then I would feel better too.

Of course, given Medea’s personality, it seemed unlikely she’d bow her head and apologize to a commoner even if she died and came back.

She probably wouldn’t apologize obediently even if Lilac ordered it.

From my brief observation, her pride seemed immense.

So I was curious what words would come out of Lilac’s mouth.

Whatever the situation, I believed she would resolve it.

If Medea lunged at me, she’s the type to throw her against the wall without hesitation.

But as I said before, Saeongjima…

“On your way, tell the chef to make hot cocoa with marshmallows and bring it here.”

The words that came out of Lilac’s mouth were unexpected by anyone in the room.

‘Marshmallow hot cocoa…?’

The image I had of Lilac until now shattered in that moment.