13.
Indeed.
Even for Judith, who was seeing scenes she had previously only read about in the original novel, Sarah’s malice made her skin crawl. Because the woman spoke in such a gentle, soft-spoken voice, the dissonance made the malice all the more terrifying.
‘No wonder the Master is furious.’
Judith swallowed hard, the contents of the original novel flooding back.
Once the marriage to Ekian—which Sarah had coveted for so long—was thwarted, she began to harbor a poisonous grudge against the Mayous Ducal House itself. Using the bond she had forged with Karl since childhood, she set her sights on their destruction.
Her reasoning was simple: if she could not have them, she would only be satisfied if they were ruined beyond repair.
The young Karl believed everything Sarah said, as she had been his primary caretaker for so long. It did not help that the Duke and Duchess of Mayous had been somewhat neglectful of the boy while consumed by their search for Ekian.
“How is your weight? I assume you haven’t been eating well, have you?”
“…I can’t help but eat. Mother monitors me constantly. She gets so sad if I don’t eat…”
“But if you grow up tall and healthy, Young Duke Ekian will be disappointed. He’ll think, ‘Even without me, my brother eats and sleeps well’… just like that.”
“But what can I do? I can’t upset Mother, who is already so troubled because of my brother.”
“Hmm.”
Sarah spoke quietly.
“Then, after you finish your meal, please come to the back garden for a moment.”
“The back garden?”
“Yes. I will help you throw it back up.”
The Master, standing next to Judith, held his breath. Judith was on edge, watching him cautiously, terrified that he would erupt in a fit of rage again.
Meanwhile, Sarah gently stroked Karl’s cheek and continued.
“That way, without hurting the Marchioness’s feelings, you can send the message to Young Duke Ekian that you are waiting for him, all while looking thin and frail.”
“Ah, good. Sarah.”
Karl nodded naively. His voice was filled with unmistakable, heartbreaking trust.
“As expected, you’re the only one who truly thinks of my brother. I can trust anything you say.”
That was when it happened. The Master moved as if he were about to bolt out right then and there.
“No!”
Judith whispered desperately, clutching his waist.
She understood his fury. What kind of person does that to a child? Forbidding him to read, forcing him to skip meals, and training him to vomit what he did eat—it was monstrous.
“Master, please!”
Judith pleaded in a whisper, but she knew the truth: there was no way she could restrain his solid, muscular frame if he truly decided to move.
“If you go out now, you won’t change a thing. Would Young Duke Karl take the side of intruders he’s seeing for the first time, or would he side with Sarah?”
Just then, Sarah turned her head slowly.
“Hmm, Young Duke?”
“Why?”
“Did you perhaps hear a noise just now?”
Judith’s heart sank. At the same time, the Master, perhaps regaining his composure, froze.
“Really? I didn’t hear anything.”
“Did you let anyone in?”
“No.”
Karl also furrowed his brows and narrowed his eyes.
“Did you really hear something? From where?”
“I wonder…”
Sarah stood up and approached the wardrobe. Her eyes widened, alert. She had indeed heard the thumping.
“Hmm.”
Sarah approached the wardrobe without hesitation.
“It seems to be coming from around here.”
With one swift motion, she threw the wardrobe door open.
“Hm?”
She tilted her head.
“There’s no one here… Did I hear it wrong?”
*Haa, haa, haa…*
Judith, pressed against the Master, gasped for air.
When Sarah had first asked about the noise, the Master had swept Judith up and made a frantic escape, hiding inside the secret passage entrance just in time. Though Sarah had opened the wardrobe door, they had successfully concealed themselves in the shadows.
“Hmm. Perhaps there’s a water leak somewhere. I shall mention it to the head maid.”
Through the narrow gap in the passage, Sarah’s elegant face was partially visible. Judith desperately held her breath. The woman had such a beautiful face, yet the malice behind it was nothing short of horrific.
Blue eyes scanned the interior of the wardrobe one last time with chilling nonchalance. As soon as the door clicked shut, Judith finally released her breath.
“Shall we stay like this for a moment? Just in case.”
The Master whispered against her ear. Because he was still holding her tight, keeping his body low, Judith was effectively trapped against him.
“Yes…”
In the pitch-black darkness, she placed her hand on his firm chest and waited. She could feel his heart thumping, steady and strong.
“Ahem… my apologies for getting excited.”
The Master seemed to have regained his composure. Finding the proximity somewhat awkward, he spoke in a low, strained voice.
“That maid named Sarah—I never imagined she was capable of such things.”
“Who would have?”
Not even the head maid or the Duke and Duchess knew, after all. As Judith shrugged, he asked quietly.
“But what do you intend to do?”
“Pardon?”
“You stopped me earlier; surely you had another plan in mind?”
“Ah.”
“From the start, the fact that you came here like this suggests you couldn’t just leave Young Duke Karl alone.”
“Wow.”
Judith’s tension eased, and she let out a soft chuckle.
“Master, this is the first time I’ve heard you speak so much. I suppose you like children.”
The sudden realization brought a small laugh. Up until now, the Master had been more of a character in a book than a human being to her. Perhaps that was why, even after their previous parting, she hadn’t been able to recall the sound of his voice.
“…Stop…”
The Master muttered, his voice raspy.
“Stop laughing.”
“Yes? Why?”
“…Every time you laugh, your breath hits my neck, and it’s distracting.”
“That’s really too much. Getting worked up over someone laughing.”
Judith complained, feigning a sulk.
“Just endure it. It’s not like anything significant is touching you.”
“Judith.”
“Yes?”
“One thing is certain.”
“What is?”
“That you are not pregnant.”
“Well, what an obvious fact to point out…”
“And I also know very well that you don’t know much about men.”
Before she could think of a sharp retort, the Master let out a faint, pained groan and asked again.
“In any case, what will you do?”
“What else can I do?”
She shrugged.
“The goal for today was achieved. Now, we can handle it.”
She spoke with sudden confidence.
“We are not the ones who can save Young Duke Karl from that situation.”
“Does that mean…”
“It’s his parents who must do it.”
The Master nodded, finally catching on to her plan.
* * *
The next day.
It was the day Duke Mayous was returning from inspecting the territory, and the day the Duchess, Isabella, had promised to introduce Judith to the Duke.
A letter arrived from the Mayous Ducal Mansion that morning.
[How about having lunch with me today?
We are going to be family soon, so I will introduce you to Karl as well.
The Duke is scheduled to arrive this afternoon.
I think it would be good to see the Duke at afternoon tea time.]
Judith told the servant to wait while she drafted a reply, then picked up her pen.
“A reply?”
The Master, sitting in front of her, tilted his head.
“Isn’t it lunchtime in a little while?”
He was implying it would be better to just leave now.
Judith sighed deeply, looking at the Master. He had been lurking in her boarding house since this morning.
“Master, are you not busy?”
“I am busy.”
The Master answered with a sly, knowing tone.
“Trying to figure out what Judith is thinking.”
“Ha. I told you I’d handle it well, so don’t worry…”
The reason he was lingering in her cramped room was obvious.
‘It must be because of Karl.’
Hadn’t he been so furious that he lost his composure yesterday? She was secretly surprised to find his emotional range was far wider than she had ever imagined.
“I have a younger brother about Karl’s age, too.”
Perhaps guessing her thoughts, the Master said quietly.
“So, it doesn’t feel like someone else’s business.”
“Is that so?”
Judith looked at him with lingering surprise.
“What is that look?”
“It’s just surprising to realize that you have a family, too. I thought you were a man without blood, tears, friends, or family.”
“Is that a compliment?”
“Hardly.”
Judith answered playfully, then quickly returned to her quill before the Master could say anything else.
Her reply was as follows:
[My apologies, Duchess.
I have a prior engagement for lunch.
I will arrive in time for tea.
The roses in the garden were blooming quite beautifully.
I look forward to our tea time together.]