Chapter 7

Paula, a maid who had worked in the Duke of Blumhardt’s mansion for ten years, was heading to the third-floor room with clothes for a guest who had stirred up quite the drama in the household.

Since no one wanted to go near the guest—who happened to be the Duke’s child’s birth mother—Paula volunteered.

Someone had to deliver the clothes anyway.

“The Duke has officially acknowledged Lady Raphaella as his daughter, and her mother is to be treated as an honored guest,” the butler had announced earlier in the staff hall.

The news threw the household staff into a frenzy—especially since it was shared during their short break time.

Most reactions were negative.

To them, even if she was called “Lady,” the Duke having a child while still unmarried meant only one thing: she was illegitimate.

They thought Raphaella was just a “bastard,” and her mother, Leah, was a scheming woman who seduced the Duke while he had memory loss.

If she had at least been a noblewoman, they might have been more accepting.

But she wasn’t just any commoner—she came from some rural northern village.

That made her seem even lower in their eyes.

“It’s disgusting that someone like her is staying in the Duke’s house.”

“Even a rich merchant’s daughter would’ve been better.”

“She just took advantage of the Duke when he was sick.”

“What luck—just a bumpkin from the countryside trying to rise above her place.”

“And the Duke’s fiance is a royal princess! Who does that woman think she is?” “How do we even know she really saved the Duke’s life?”

Men and women alike gossiped and insulted Leah.

Even those who stayed silent clearly didn’t welcome her.

But Paula didn’t have any strong feelings about it.

She wasn’t the type to overthink what went on around her.

Besides, she was an orphan who got lucky and was hired at the mansion.

“I’m not in a position to judge anyone’s background.”

Who was she to talk?

“I’ll just do what I’m told.

Whatever she is, it’s none of my business.”

That’s what she was thinking when she reached the third-floor room—only to hear a sharp slapping sound from inside.

Startled, Paula peeked into the open room.

Inside, she saw the child’s mother and the true power of the household—Carolina.

“Ugh, I’d recognize that figure anywhere.”

Carolina was lecturing the woman with her usual snooty tone about “proper manners” and “respectability.”

Then, pushing past Paula, she walked out with the maid she brought along.

Their eyes met—Leah’s cheek was red and swollen, her eyes welling with tears.

—

Leah’s cheek stung from Carolina’s slap, and tears welled up in her eyes.

“What if Raphaella saw that happen?!”

She quickly turned around.

Luckily, the child hadn’t come out of the dressing room.

But she must’ve heard the sound because she came out looking worried.

“Mom…”

“It’s okay, Rafi.

That lady is just—”

Carolina cut her off.

“So, you’re Johan’s daughter.

What’s your name again?”

“Raphaella,” Leah answered for her.

“When you see an adult, you greet them. Why are you just standing there?”

“…Hello.”

Raphaella placed her hands on her belly and bowed politely.

“Pfft.

That’s what you call a greeting?”

Carolina sneered, clearly unimpressed that Raphaella didn’t do a formal noble greeting.

“I can’t believe trash like this is entering our family…”

She shook her head in disgust.

“It’s disgusting!”

“That’s going too far,” Leah finally said, unable to hold back anymore.

“I’m holding back because you’re Johan’s daughter’s mother.

Don’t talk back—just teach your kid proper manners! So rude!”

Carolina gave both Leah and Raphaella a dirty look and stormed out.

The one being truly rude from start to finish was her.

“She didn’t even introduce herself—just walked in, hit me, then left like that.”

Leah glanced toward the door and noticed a maid standing there.

“Ah… I brought some clothes since I heard you didn’t have any.”

The maid was a little flustered, likely because she had seen everything.

Leah suddenly felt embarrassed.

“Hello.

Nice to meet you, Lady Raphaella and Miss Leah.”

The maid greeted them calmly, as if nothing had happened.

Leah returned the greeting.

“Please have a seat for a moment.”

The maid noticed Leah’s red cheek and went into the bathroom to get a towel.

Leah sat on the sofa with Raphaella, who was now clinging tightly to her.

“That must really hurt.

Lady Carolina is… well, she’s not exactly gentle.”

The maid gently dabbed Leah’s cheek with the wet towel.

“She’s the Duke’s aunt, but she’s basically in charge of the mansion right now.”

“What about the Duke’s parents?”

“The previous Duke passed away two years ago, and the Duchess is currently caring for her sick daughter, Lady Penelope.”

“Penelope?”

“Yes, the Duke’s younger sister.

She should’ve had her social debut by now, but she’s ill.”

Ah.

That’s why the Duke’s married aunt was acting like the lady of the house.

The Duke was busy managing things outside, and the Duchess was too preoccupied caring for her daughter.

So it was only natural that Carolina ended up running the house.

“Um… Please don’t tell anyone I said all this.”

The maid—Paula—looked around nervously, worried someone might overhear.

Whether it was sympathy or just her kind nature, she quietly told Leah about the household dynamics.

“Lady Carolina is actually the former Marchioness of Sprecher.”

But her husband, the Marquess, died young.

And not only did he die, he left behind a mountain of debt.

That debt was because of the lavish lifestyle Carolina and her husband led.

After the funeral, the rest of the family scrambled to pay it off.

But Carolina kept spending, using her son’s seal even though he was still a child.

Eventually, the family had no choice but to beg the imperial court and the temple for help.

They requested that Carolina and her son be stripped of their titles and authority to save the family.

The court agreed.

They lost everything—except the “Sprecher” name—and were kicked out.

The Duke’s father couldn’t protest the decision because even he knew Carolina had gone too far.

But she was still his little sister, and he felt bad for her.

“Brother, I just want to live like I used to at the Duke’s mansion…” “If you abandon me too, I’ll have no one…”

“I promise I’ll be better.

Just let me live here like before…”

The former Duke couldn’t say no.

Even though he knew she wouldn’t change, he let her back in—hoping.

No one, not even him, could’ve guessed she’d end up bullying his granddaughter one day.

“So that’s why she acts like she owns the place.

There’s no one around to keep her in check.”

A lion playing king where no dragon exists.

That’s exactly what it felt like.

“Anyway, we just call her ‘Lady Carolina’ now.

She’s no longer a Marchioness.”

“Thanks for telling me.”

“Also… please don’t ever mention the word ‘Sprecher’ around her.

She hates it.”

“Got it.”

“And, one more thing…”

Paula glanced at Raphaella with concern.

“Her son, Master Marco, has a really mean streak.”

“Mean?”

“Yeah… He’s about two years older than Lady Raphaella, and since Lady Carolina dotes on him so much…”

Leah remembered something.

A dream she had—of her daughter being bullied by her cousin.

She clenched her fists.

“I can’t let that happen again.”

“He can’t sit still and always causes trouble.”

“Thanks for the warning.

I’ll be careful.”

Paula was clearly worried that Marco would make Raphaella his next target.

Leah was truly grateful for that.

“I need to make Paula an ally.”

Not just her husband’s relatives—she had to win over the staff, too.

If they didn’t like her, it would likely affect how they treated Raphaella.

“Last time, even the staff looked down on her.

That can’t happen again.”

She was determined to change things this time.

Paula suddenly remembered why she came.

“Oh right! I came to give you these.”

She handed over a few spare outfits—simple, made of plain cotton like a maid’s uniform.

“Thanks.

I’ll wear them well.”

“There aren’t many, so you might want to buy more when you get the chance.”

After saying that, she bowed to Raphaella and went back to her duties.

“Haaah…”

“Mom, are you okay?”

Leah had sighed without thinking, and quickly covered her mouth.

“I’m okay, really.”

“Liar! You look like it hurts.”

“Your cheek’s all red—she’s a bad lady!”

“Pfft, she’s not an evil villain.

She’s… um, your great-aunt.”

Hearing her daughter use a word like “villain” from fairy tales made Leah chuckle.

“Then she’s a mean grandma!”

Leah couldn’t say she was wrong—but she couldn’t say she was right either.

After a first meeting like that, there was no telling what the future would bring.

Carolina held real power in the house, especially with the Duchess practically absent.

If Leah could so

mehow get her on their side—on Raphaella’s side—she’d feel a lot more at ease about leaving her daughter behind.

But the fact she slapped her right off the bat didn’t bode well.

With a powerful aunt and a cruel cousin…

“Can I really change them?”

Leah kissed both of Raphaella’s cheeks and fell into deep thought.