Episode 36
“Your Grace?”
As Rose hurried over, Reina asked abruptly.
“The scarf?”
“Huh?”
Rose looked stunned, especially guilty since she’d just passed her task to Lady Mary.
“The scarf? Lady Mary took it just now. I was going to handle it, but…”
As she started to explain, Reina cut her off.
“Lady Mary took it?”
Rose felt annoyed at being interrupted but sensed the tense atmosphere and softened her tone.
“Yes. I don’t want you to misunderstand—I didn’t shirk my duty. Lady Mary insisted on taking it, so I had no choice.”
Even so, her irritation spilled out in a sharp defense, worn out from the overnight questioning.
Meanwhile, Reina’s expression hardened at the mention of Lady Mary.
Her suspicions grew stronger.
After a moment, Reina said coldly.
“Call Lady Mary at once. Tell her to bring the scarf as is.”
“Your Grace?”
“No, let’s go together. That’ll be faster.”
The laundry wasn’t far.
Since they’d just parted, Lady Mary couldn’t have gone far.
Worried she might destroy evidence, Reina grew urgent.
At her insistence, they hurried off, when Aiden, overhearing, joined them.
“I’ll come along.”
“Aiden?”
Reina looked conflicted.
It wasn’t certain Lady Mary was the culprit.
Though she was half-convinced, confronting her in front of Aiden, who trusted her, felt awkward.
As Reina hesitated, Aiden spoke.
“Did Lady Mary do something wrong?”
“What?”
“I overheard by chance. It sounds like she’s involved in this incident, correct?”
“It’s not confirmed yet.”
“Then I should definitely come. This involves Dahlia too, doesn’t it? I have a right to know.”
“But…”
“I may look frail, but I’m good at supporting.”
Aiden naturally steadied Reina.
Likely referring to his late wife, who’d been frail.
Surprised by his firm stance, Reina let him support her.
“Alright, please.”
* * *
After taking the scarf from Rose, Lady Mary rushed down the hallway.
Reaching a secluded spot, she swapped the scarf in the basket with a new one from her pocket.
‘Phew, that was close.’
She’d only meant to cause a little trouble, but things had spiraled.
Who would’ve thought the Duke would order a full investigation…!
Swapping the map while Rose was distracted had been a stroke of genius.
Without that, she’d have been suspected first, missing her chance to destroy evidence.
While suspicion fell on Rose, Lady Mary secretly took Dahlia’s lost scarf.
Without it, no one could prove her involvement.
Before the incident, Lady Mary tampered with the scarves while Reina and Dahlia ate sandwiches.
She’d laced them with an aphrodisiac only snowfoxes could detect, and the effect was potent.
She hadn’t anticipated a pack breaching the safety zone, though.
Her plan was to cause minor chaos and “save” Dahlia dramatically.
But it happened while she was away, leaving no chance to intervene.
Reina nearly died, nearly making her an attempted assassin of the Duchess.
If caught, her years of service would be for naught, so Lady Mary was on edge.
Pretending calm, she headed to the laundry.
Just as she arrived, Lily, lying in wait, grabbed her wrist.
“Oh! Lily, what’s this about?”
“Why so startled? Got something to hide?”
Lily’s menacing look made Lady Mary flush.
“How rude. What’s this all about…”
She tried to pull away, but Lily gripped the basket tighter.
“Give me the basket.”
“Oh.”
Lady Mary, caught off guard, pulled it back.
But Lily, quicker, snatched it and checked inside, growling.
“This isn’t the scarf. You didn’t wash it already, did you? Where’s Her Grace’s scarf?”
“I don’t know! I just brought what I was given.”
As Lady Mary played dumb, Lily fumed, shouting.
“Don’t lie! Did you plan to frame my sister from the start?”
“No, I said it’s not like that!”
Cornered, Lady Mary yelled, drawing the attention of nearby servants.
Embarrassed by the stares, she panicked.
The evidence was still in her pocket.
As she awkwardly hid it, Lily grabbed her skirt.
“It’s here, isn’t it!”
“No, I said it’s not!”
Should she run and deny it later?
As she considered, a familiar voice stopped her.
“Stop.”
Lady Mary flinched. It was the last person she wanted here.
Turning, she saw Aiden staring at her, his face stern.
Dahlia and Reina were with him.
Pale, Lady Mary stammered.
“Y-Young Lord…”
At that moment, Lily swiftly pulled the scarf from her pocket.
“Here it is, Your Grace!”
“Oh.”
It was over.
Lady Mary grimaced as her attempt to hide the scarf was exposed.
“No, right?”
Aiden’s stern question made her bite her lip.
In front of Aiden and Dahlia.
What was the point of running now?
Bowing her head, Lady Mary said.
“I’m sorry, Young Lord.”
Admitting her fault, Aiden sighed, touching his forehead.
Dahlia looked confused, still unaware.
Reina spoke to Lily.
“Can you take Dahlia away?”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Lily quickly took Dahlia’s hand and left.
Dahlia kept looking back, trying to understand.
“Did Nanny make a mistake?”
“No, my lady.”
Lily smiled awkwardly, hurrying Dahlia away.
* * *
After Dahlia left, a cold silence settled in the hallway.
With many eyes watching, they moved to a quiet room.
Aiden first inspected the scarf.
The scarf, mixed with aphrodisiac and blood, shimmered blue.
Instantly recognizing tampering, Aiden interrogated Lady Mary.
“Did you put an aphrodisiac on this?”
“I only wanted to show my loyalty…”
“Who shows loyalty by endangering their master?! Dahlia could’ve been hurt. And Her Grace is already badly injured! Why, why would you do this?!”
As Aiden fumed, Reina stood silently.
After a moment, she spoke.
“Lord Aiden, calm down.”
“Aren’t you angry?”
“I am.”
Aiden flinched at Reina’s low voice.
Her tone was gentle, but her eyes were ice-cold.
Ofcoarse she’s furious. That woman not only almost killed her but the child as well. There’s absolutely no excuse. Technically she almost assassinated the duchess. Honestly she shouldn’t just be fired but removed entirely