“I still don’t need any money beyond my current wages, no matter how much I think about it. What use would fine clothes or jewelry be to me when I have nowhere to go?”
At those words, Laslo’s lips stiffened.
The only reason she hadn’t met with any trouble while trapping herself in this house was precisely because she had nowhere else to go. After all, there was no place that would welcome a traitor.
Laslo faltered, unable to find a reply, when Edel seemed to recall something and spoke up.
“If you truly wish to bestow something upon me, my Count, I would like to ask for something other than money.”
That was a welcome proposal.
“Anything.”
“Please believe that my words are not lies.”
“Understood. Speak.”
After a moment of silence, Edel offered a slightly awkward smile and spoke again.
“That was my request just now. That you believe in me, my Count.”
Laslo stared at Edel for a long time with an expression of utter bewilderment before saying, “I truly do not understand how that could possibly be a reward equal to a blank check.”
“The day will come when you understand. I hope that when that time arrives, you will believe what I say.”
Seeing the earnest look in Edel’s eyes, Laslo’s expression gradually grew serious as well. Then, he slowly nodded.
“I understand. I shall do so.”
“Thank you.”
Edel thanked Laslo and exited his room. However, Laslo, left behind, ran a hand through his hair before ruffling it in frustration.
*‘I’m the one who stripped away every place she could possibly go, yet I had the nerve to ask why she locked herself in here. Ha, really….’*
He was astonished by his own lack of sensitivity that surfaced only in front of Edel. Perhaps, in her eyes, he was nothing more than a monster—a man who regarded all the killings he had committed as if they were nothing.
* * *
“It’s so sad that you’re moving away from me, Unnie.”
Daisy sighed as she helped Edel carry her belongings.
“Anyone hearing you would think we were drifting apart. I’m just moving rooms, that’s all.”
“I know, but now we probably won’t be able to have our midnight snacks together anymore….”
Daisy’s voice trailed off.
Edel was in the middle of moving her things into the maid’s room attached to Lynnia’s chambers. Although it had been a few days since she became Lynnia’s dedicated maid, that room had been used as storage, so it had taken several days just to clean it out.
While Daisy sincerely congratulated Edel on her promotion, she felt quite sad about the move. Deep down, Edel was pleased by her show of sadness.
*‘So, being the wife of a traitor didn’t mean I couldn’t make friends after all.’*
Daisy was the one who had offered her hand cream, ointment, and kind words without expecting anything in return when Edel thought her only friends would be the moon and stars. Edel would never forget that visit—it was the day she had made a friend for the first time since losing everything.
Daisy, who insisted on carrying half of the meager belongings—hardly enough to be called luggage—and sacrificing her precious rest time to help, was just as lovely as she had been back then.
“Wow…! I’ve never been inside this room before.”
Daisy marveled as she looked around Edel’s new quarters, which were far better than the servants’ quarters in the West Wing.
The room was larger, and the furniture was of much better quality. While her old room at the end of the hall had only a worn, narrow bed, a table, and a single chair, this one had a proper table, two chairs, a spacious wardrobe, and a mirror large enough to see her reflection down to her chest.
Though it had been a struggle to clear out the space, it was perfectly clean now.
“I feel a bit sorry to be using such a nice room all by myself.”
“Sorry? Why? A dedicated maid to a lady deserves a room like this, obviously. Even Mina Unnie, who’s nothing special, gets a nice room.”
Edel paused at the unexpected news.
“Wasn’t Mina’s room on the same floor as ours?”
“Well, yes. But the rooms for the servants vary in size. The ones we were in are the small ones, and the area where Mina Unnie stays is a bit larger.”
“There were several empty rooms in that area, so they left the larger ones open while giving the other maids the smaller ones?”
“Yes. Salia Unnie says it’s all about ‘class division.’ Isn’t it ridiculous to have classes among the same maids?”
It wasn’t just ridiculous; it was absurd. Until now, Edel had assumed Mina’s room was similar to hers or Daisy’s. She hadn’t thought it strange that the maids living in that section were all the type to flatter Marsha, assuming they were just close friends sharing nearby rooms, but….
“The room assignments must have been done by Lady Bohen, right?”
“Of course.”
Edel had just confirmed yet another instance of Marsha’s corruption.
For some time now, she had been secretly investigating the embezzlement Marsha had committed, gathering evidence. That woman was like an onion—the more she peeled, the more dirt kept coming to the surface.
*‘To think a single head maid could ruin a noble estate to this extent; in a way, she’s quite something.’*
Of course, no matter how “something” that woman was, this was unacceptable. If Laslo hadn’t been such an incredibly busy man, Edel would have been deeply disappointed in him.
*‘It’s not like there are many people to act on behalf of the head of the house like other families, and he didn’t exactly become a noble with everything prepared in advance, so that’s probably how it ended up like this.’*
He didn’t even have anyone to help him. Honestly, Edel felt the Emperor should have stepped in, but given Laslo’s personality, it seemed unlikely he would have readily accepted help from others.
“Unnie, Unnie!”
“Ah, yes!”
Lost in thought, Edel came back to her senses at Daisy’s call. Daisy was looking at her with dreamy eyes.
“How are you going to decorate this room, Unnie? It’s trendy these days to hang several small portrait frames…. They say there’s a street filled with portrait artists. It’s a bit pricey, but they say they draw them really quickly. And they make you look really pretty, too.”
She chattered away, as excited as if she were the one getting a new room. It was adorable how she pretended not to be curious about the portrait street.
Portrait painting was originally a luxury for nobles, but it seemed to have spread like a trend among commoners. Pastels were cheap and quick to work with, making them popular. Edel had no interest in getting a cheap portrait, but the idea of being captured in a frame together with Daisy didn’t seem so bad.
*‘Since I now know I’m allowed to go out….’*
Edel smiled and offered a suggestion.
“Then shall we go to that portrait street together this weekend? Only if you’re available, of course.”
“R-really? With me?”
“Yes. While we’re out, we can do some shopping and buy something delicious to eat, too.”
“Wow! I want to go! I definitely want to go! This is so exciting!”
Seeing Daisy jumping for joy made Edel feel even happier and more at ease. They settled on a time and parted ways. With Daisy gone, Edel suddenly felt the room turn quiet.
*‘It’s a bit… lonely, I suppose.’*
Even though the room was better, it felt empty. She had always been alone, so she wondered when she had started developing such extravagant feelings.
*‘Nothing to do—should I just get some sleep early?’*
Usually, this would be the time she would be chatting with Daisy over snacks, but since that wouldn’t be the case with Lynnia, Edel began to change into her nightclothes.
Just then, someone knocked on the door.
“Daisy?”
Thinking Daisy might have forgotten something or that her errand with Mr. Marco had been canceled, Edel opened the door with a welcoming smile.
However, standing outside was, quite unexpectedly, Laslo.
“……I thought you might at least ask who it was. You’re unexpectedly careless.”
“My Count?”
“May I come in for a moment?”
“O-of course. Please, come in.”
Edel awkwardly ushered him inside. Laslo stepped in while keeping the door wide open.
*‘He’s surprisingly a gentleman, after all.’*
Edel was grateful he was mindful of her reputation. Still, it was strange that he had come at this hour. The fact that he had come in person was startling enough in itself.
“The room is a bit small, isn’t it? It was built this way from the start. And I can’t exactly move Lynnia’s room.”
“It is much larger and better than the room I lived in before. It is well-furnished, making it quite comfortable to stay in.”
“……‘Much’ larger and better than the room you were in?”
“Yes.”
“Just what kind of room were you living in?”
He clearly hadn’t inspected every part of this mansion. Edel simply offered a faint smile.
“However…… may I ask what brought you here?”
“Ah.”
He turned his gaze away, pretending to inspect the room.
“No, well, it might sound like I’m repeating myself, but…… thanks to you, Lynnia seems to have become much brighter.”
“Lady Lynnia’s nature is inherently bright and spirited.”
“That’s true. She was that kind of child, but for a while…… well, you probably know the gist of it.”
Laslo sighed with a bitter smile.