Chapter 24
Lily begged me to lighten her punishment.
But I’m not that kind. She should be grateful I’m letting her leave alive at all.
“Until now, no matter how many times I apologized, no matter how much I pleaded for you to stop and help me, you never did. You always called me the disgrace of the ducal family, a failure, and hurled endless insults at me. And now you expect forgiveness? You were never on my side.”
I told Lily this, recalling everything that had happened up to now.
“Th-that can’t be…”
She must have thought I would forgive her. Lily’s face instantly went pale, and she was left speechless.
“W-what…what will happen to me…?”
She began muttering something under her breath.
She probably realized she couldn’t go on living anymore.
“Duke!”
Suddenly, a loud voice came from beside me—it was the head maid, Isabella.
This time it was her? I was the one with the right to decide the punishment, so why was she now trying to appeal to the Duke?
The Duke turned his gaze toward Isabella.
“I was personally recommended by Duchess Flora herself to become head maid. When Lady Flora married into the Aster family, I became her personal maid and served faithfully at her side for many years. If you drive me out now and treat me as a criminal, then the Duchess you love so dearly will surely be grieved.”
Indeed, Duchess Flora would probably feel guilty for not seeing through Isabella’s true nature.
But in short, Isabella was saying: If you punish me, it will sadden the Duchess.
After seeing me refuse Lily forgiveness and dole out punishment, she must have switched tactics.
What would the Duke say?
Would he lessen the punishment out of consideration for the Duchess?
Isabella had always boasted that her position and influence were thanks to Duchess Flora.
It was that arrogance—that belief she could get away with anything—that led her to fabricate the necklace theft case, and commit countless other acts of embezzlement.
Frankly, I don’t believe there’s any room for leniency.
The atmosphere in the room suddenly grew heavy. It felt as though the Duke himself was radiating a killing intent, and my chest tightened painfully, as if gripped by an unseen hand.
“I see. So you mean to threaten me.”
“N-no, not at all! I only thought that if I were cast out, Lady Flora would be saddened… I had no intention of threatening you!”
That’s what she said, but hearing her words, it really did sound like a threat.
“If you committed crimes, Flora would not grieve. On the contrary, Flora cherished Tiana. If she knew you had spread malicious rumors, she would only feel anger. It has already been revealed that you abused your authority to unjustly dismiss servants.”
The Duke spoke firmly.
“…!”
Isabella was at a loss for words.
