HRNGDS 08

~Chapter 8~

Sophia’s face was full of confusion. Delfina quickly understood what was happening.

‘She planned to speak to me after the butler left.’

What Sophia wanted to say was obvious.

She intended to tell Delfina to refuse the Northern maids. But before she could speak, the butler had already sent them in.

Watching the situation unfold with a nervous face, Sophia spoke urgently.

“Lady Delfina has always been particular. You don’t even know her well, do you?”

“……”

“How do you expect to serve her? Lady Delfina, you don’t need other maids, right?”

Sophia signalled Delfina with her eyes – telling her to send them away immediately.

‘If I refuse them, the Northern maids won’t be able to serve me.’

Sophia was sure Delfina would chase them out. But Delfina’s gaze turned cold.

‘She still thinks I listen to my uncle.’

Sophia stared at Delfina with haughty eyes.

Her look said, ‘How dare you defy me?’

In House Lycaeon, whenever Sophia gave such looks, Delfina always read the mood and obeyed.

But this wasn’t House Lycaeon. It was Sophia who needed to read the mood here.

The Northern maids ignored Sophia and bowed their heads towards Delfina.

“My name is Sana, I will be serving you starting today.”

If this were the old Delfina – the one before regaining her past life memories – what would she have done?

‘I probably would have refused the maids, just as Sophia said.’

She would have done anything to remain in House Lycaeon’s favour.

She would have kept foolishly trying to become part of their family.

So Sophia’s assumption was understandable. Delfina had lived her life like that until now.

‘But I won’t let this continue any longer.’

Step by step, she would set things right. The first thing to correct was Sophia’s delusion.

Delfina never liked the class system much.

Remembering her previous life in an egalitarian society, the concept of hierarchy made her uncomfortable. But that didn’t mean she would let an insolent maid continue behaving like this.

Delfina gave a small nod to the maids.

“Alright, Sana. I’ll be in your care.”

The castle maids bowed cautiously at her words.

“Yes, Lady Delfina. Please command us as you wish.”

Their attitude was completely different from Sophia’s. Sana respectfully greeted Delfina while shooting Sophia a cold glare.

As if her insolence disgusted her.

Sophia staggered in shock.

When the maids left the room, Sophia clenched her teeth and approached Delfina.

“Lady Delfina, what are you thinking?”

“What do you mean?”

“Why did you allow the castle maids to serve you? The maids from House Lycaeon are enough!”

Delfina shrugged lightly.

“Well, Sophia, you alone aren’t enough, are you?”

“W-what did you say?”

“How could you serve properly when you don’t even know your place and act rudely to your master?”

Sophia’s face twisted.

“Do you think you can treat me like this? Have you forgotten who sent me here?”

In the past, these words would have made Delfina shrink. Her status was always below Sophia’s in House Lycaeon.

But Delfina ignored her and looked at the system window that popped up.

<Sophia>

She is too angry to endure it. Sophia still harbours impure thoughts. The system does not recommend leaving this maid alone.

Delfina narrowed her eyes.

‘The system seems oddly on my side.’

It was even giving her advice now.

Sophia shouted at her.

“Lady Delfina, the Duke will be very disappointed if he hears about your reckless behaviour!”

“……”

“What will you tell him later?”

Delfina nodded at her words and called out loudly.

“Sana!”

As soon as she spoke, Sana walked back into the room.

Delfina spoke to her in a calm voice.

“This maid came with me from House Lycaeon, but it seems she hasn’t been properly trained. I wish to punish her. Is that alright?”

“Of course. What punishment shall I give, Lady Delfina?”

“Kitchens in noble houses always lack hands. Make her wash dishes. Actually, let her handle all the dishwashing alone.”

“For how long shall she do this?”

“Three months should be enough.”

Sophia’s face crumpled miserably. Punishment?

No matter how poorly she treated Delfina, she had never been punished in House Lycaeon. On the contrary, Ivelina always praised her.

But dishwashing? That was work for the lowest maids.

It was such hard work that usually many maids rotated shifts. Doing it alone for three months?

Her hands would be ruined by the end of it.

Dishwashing was dreaded by all maids, no matter which castle they served in.

Most of all, Sophia couldn’t believe it.

‘She’s ordering me to do such filthy, exhausting work? I haven’t done that since I was a lowly maid!’

Even Ivelina might have punished her, but Delfina – the foolish, meek Delfina?

‘I thought she would remain silent and act the same as always…’

Sophia’s face filled with resentment. But Delfina wasn’t done yet.

“Until you learn how to behave towards your master, I permit corporal punishment on your legs as well.”

At that moment, Sophia saw it.

Sana’s muscular arm twitched with joy.

Sana had been itching to deal with Sophia, who treated Delfina so rudely.

Sana answered gladly.

“Understood, Lady Delfina.”

Sophia’s face turned pale.

“W-what….”

Seeing Sana’s cold eyes, Sophia realised belatedly.

This was not House Lycaeon.

Delfina spoke gently to her.

“Sophia, you can tell Ivelina everything that happened today.”

“L-Lady Delfina?”

“Go reflect in the kitchens. Learn how to serve your master properly from Sana.”

Delfina added,

“If you act like this again, you’ll have to return to House Lycaeon. I’m sure Ivelina would be very disappointed.”

‘They sent you here to watch me, didn’t they?’

If Sophia returned to House Lycaeon, Delfina wouldn’t even need to do anything.

Ivelina was merciless to maids who failed their tasks.

‘If she returns, Ivelina will show her hell.’

No one knew that better than Sophia herself.

Realising Delfina’s meaning, Sophia trembled violently and lowered her head.

Elkaian let out a sigh.

The maids were making a fuss trying to feed Aris.

“Lady Aris, please eat at least one bite. This is dangerous…”

“You must regain your strength.”

Aris shook her head.

“I don’t need it! It’s revolting.”

Elkaian’s face darkened as he watched her.

The once healthy Aris had become emaciated.

It was because of the monster’s poison slowly killing her.

Even the most renowned physicians of the North had examined her, but all shook their heads.

“Perhaps only a Saintess could heal a poison like this.”

“But there hasn’t been a Saintess of Prad in over two hundred years. In other words, it is incurable.”

If it weren’t for Aris Rohaim’s naturally strong body, she would have already died.