Chapter 10: Master and Disciple
2023.11.10
“It’s so nice and quiet without that woman.”
After about two days had passed, Leonard found the peaceful routine incredibly satisfying.
But by the third and fourth day, everything started to get on his nerves.
“Close the curtains. It’s too bright.”
“Excuse me? But just a moment ago, you told us to open them because the room felt gloomy…”
“Did you not hear me say to close them?”
“…Yes, Master.”
Leonard behaved like a grumpy old man, constantly changing his orders and contradicting himself.
The servants were run ragged because of it.
“Four days should be enough.”
“…Pardon?”
“How long am I supposed to wait?”
He grumbled into the air.
He thought he’d feel refreshed now that the person who used to pester him every day was gone—but instead, he was annoyed.
The image of Cordelia forcing a smile at the end resurfaced in his mind, and Leonard kicked the blanket in frustration.
“Hey, you. Come here and help me up. I’m going to get some fresh air in the garden.”
“Yes, Master.”
Leonard, hoping to clear his head, stepped outside with the help of a servant.
Compared to the main Atillay estate, the garden at the Abrams residence was more like a quaint vegetable patch, but it wasn’t bad to look at.
The sun was warm, perfect for a slow stroll. However, in the distance, a maid froze the moment she saw Leonard.
When he approached her, she blocked his path with a troubled expression.
“What’s this? Move.”
“I’m terribly sorry, Master. The Madam Dowager and Countess Dalia are having tea just ahead.”
Normally, he would’ve avoided them, but today something felt off—cold.
“So what? Are you mad, standing in my way?”
Faced with his icy tone, the maid reluctantly stepped aside.
A few steps later, Leonard witnessed a startling sight on a small patio. In that moment, he understood the maid’s pale expression.
“What the hell is going on?”
“Oh my, Craig. Are you feeling well enough to walk around now?”
“You still haven’t answered my question.”
He was staring at Cordelia, who stood there soaked in wine.
Startled to see Leonard, Cordelia quickly averted her gaze.
“What does it look like? Etiquette training,” Helena replied nonchalantly, almost impressively so.
“Etiquette? In this household, do you educate people by pouring wine on their heads?”
“Craig, don’t worry about it. She deserved it. You should’ve seen how insolently she spoke to my mother. Besides, I’m still not over it.”
“Hah.”
“Let’s go hunting later, and I’ll forgive you.”
Apparently oblivious to Leonard’s hardening expression, Lily clung to his arm and smiled sweetly.
“Oh, Lily. It’s still cold outside. What if you catch a cold?”
“It’s fine. I’ll just wear that new fur coat I got.”
The mother and daughter chatted and laughed affectionately, not even acknowledging Cordelia as a subject worth discussing.
The nearby maids didn’t look surprised—this must’ve been a common sight.
Leonard knew Cordelia was mistreated in this household, but not to this extent.
His head cooled instantly. Leonard abruptly pulled his arm from Lily’s and muttered,
“I suppose you really can’t hide a lowly lineage.”
“What? Who are you talking to?”
“Who do you think? Who here comes from low stock?”
He glared coldly at Helena and Lily, making Helena’s face flush red with anger.
“I’ll overlook your rudeness this once. Now go back, Craig.”
“Rudeness? Who are you to give me orders? This house really doesn’t know its place.”
Sensing the tension escalating, Cordelia quickly stepped between them.
Leonard’s already precarious reputation didn’t need another scandal. Provoking Helena wouldn’t help.
Cordelia lightly tugged at his sleeve and whispered,
“Craig. Please, let’s go back inside.”
“What happened to you…? Forget it. We’ll talk later.”
“Madam, Craig’s only recently gotten out of bed. He’s still very weak. Please, forgive him.”
“You’re not the one who should be asking for forgiveness—it’s that woman.”
“That woman? Craig! I am your mother and the lady of House Abrams! How dare you—”
But Leonard didn’t care. He pushed Cordelia behind him and stepped forward.
“Lady of the house? You dare call yourself that?”
“What are you talking about?”
“The moment the former count—my father—died, you started siphoning money from the estate.”
“W-What?”
“And without any shame, you’ve been bringing young servants to your bed. Lady of the house? Or is that the new standard here?”
“You—you—what are you talking about?”
Helena’s face turned as pale as milk. Cordelia looked between her and Leonard in shock.
Lily gasped and stammered.
“Cr-Craig! What are you saying? Mother would never—she couldn’t—”
“Still don’t get it? This woman has been embezzling from the Abrams estate and sleeping with the servants. Your mother.”
Leonard pointed directly at Helena and sneered.
The surrounding servants began murmuring, clearly shaken. Sensing the shift, Helena snapped and barked orders at a nearby servant.
“Where did you hear such nonsense?! You must’ve lost your mind after almost dying. James! Escort Craig back to his room! Now!”
A young servant named James approached hesitantly.
“M-Master, allow me to take you back to your room.”
“Ken, Reynald, Charles, Edward.”
“…”
“Men who’ve been in your bed. Shall I name more?”
Helena’s lips trembled violently. Leonard remained completely calm.
Taking a deep breath, she gritted her teeth and hissed,
“You’re clearly still not in your right mind. Spouting such outrageous lies—”
“Lies? Why would I make up something so easy to disprove? I’ve locked up the servants you slept with in the dungeon. Want me to bring them here? Maybe their faces will jog your memory.”
“Ridiculous! Those men left the country—”
Helena stopped mid-sentence, realizing too late what she had admitted. The air turned frigid.
“No! No! That’s not true! This is Craig’s plot to get rid of me! He’s trying to frame me with lies!”
“Old women should stay tucked away quietly. Cross me one more time, and I’ll have you exiled to the wastelands.”
“Y-You—how dare you—”
“James.”
Leonard addressed the servant who had come to retrieve him with commanding coldness.
“It seems my mother is unwell. Escort her to her room. Now.”
“…Yes, Master.”
His voice held surprising authority.
The servant didn’t even consider disobeying.
Two others stepped forward and grabbed Helena’s arms without hesitation.
“Let go! How dare you! Let go of me, now!”
“I’m sorry, Madam.”
Servants were always sensitive to shifts in power. They instinctively knew who would rule the household now.
“I am the lady of this house! Not that degenerate bastard! I built this family from nothing!”
Helena fought with all her strength, but she couldn’t overpower the strength of grown men.
Lily stood frozen, watching her mother get dragged away, then quickly ran after her.
Everything passed like a storm.
Even the nearby maids withdrew, leaving only Leonard and Cordelia behind. Staring in the direction Helena had vanished, Cordelia quietly said,
“Is this really okay? The Madam Dowager won’t stay silent…”
“Why are you soaked in wine?”
“It’s nothing. Just her usual way of venting on me.”
“Venting?”
“I guess after Lily got kicked out of your room that day, she must’ve told her mother. That’s what triggered today’s outburst.”
She spoke lightly. That was Cordelia’s way of protecting herself.
This kind of abuse was nothing. Therefore, it didn’t hurt.
“I’m okay.”
She smiled, trying to reassure him.
Leonard had, in his own way, defended her. Whatever his motives, Cordelia appreciated it.
But the moment their eyes met, her shoulders shrank instinctively.
Leonard looked visibly furious.
‘Why is he angry…?’
“Are you an idiot? Have you no pride?”
“…What?”
Cordelia was startled by his cutting tone.
Leonard looked at her wine-soaked hair and continued coldly,
“You think if you bow and grovel, they’ll give you more money when you leave?”
“…”
“Get a grip, Cordelia Vasquez. No matter how hard you crawl, nothing will change.”
‘Crawl.’
The word pierced like a knife. It felt like every moment she had forced herself to smile and endure in this house had been belittled.
‘It’s fine. I’m okay.’
Still, she tried to smile and endure, as always.
“That’s… a bit harsh.”
“You’re a Vasquez. One of the Eight Sacred Houses. Why bow so pathetically?”
“…”
“So stop lowering your head like some fool—”
“What do you even know about me to say something like that?!”
At that moment, her long-suppressed patience snapped.
She had endured Helena’s insults, but somehow, Leonard’s words stabbed straight through her heart.
“Crawling? Sure, I probably look like that to you. So pathetic. No pride.”
“…Wait. I didn’t mean—”
“What do you know about my life to say something like that?!”
Cordelia looked him straight in the eyes. She was so furious, her head had gone cold.
Leonard opened his mouth but said nothing.
“My own father sold me into this hell for a handful of coins! Told me never to come back, even as a corpse! What am I supposed to do?! You think you know what it’s like to be born into a crumbling house, watching how you’ll live and die with no choice?! Do you?!”
She screamed at him for the first time.
She didn’t even know what emotions were bursting out of her.
“Of course you wouldn’t know. You were born with everything. Blessed from the start, never lacking anything.”
“…”
“You want to know why I bow so pathetically? Why I smile even with wine poured over my head?”
Unintentionally, her voice began to tremble. She fought the tears, but couldn’t stop one from trailing down her cheek.
Good. Tell him what for.