Chapter 94
“I’ve heard rumors through the servants that your misbehavior is quite extreme… but seeing you now, it’s strange. When I asked who they heard it from, everyone said it was from Lady Odette’s maid. They say Count Albrecht dotes on Lady Odette so much — so why hasn’t he dismissed those maids?”
Another noblewoman chimed in.
“Now that you mention it, that’s true. And even if that maid Dolly is a low-ranking servant, her behavior just now was completely disrespectful. She’s even the head maid, isn’t she? To openly embarrass her mistress in a place like this!”
The young ladies and noblewomen at the tea table began to murmur.
“Come to think of it, I also heard rumors about Lady Odette from a maid of the Albrecht household.”
“…Me too.”
Odette, pretending not to hear any of it, spoke to Dolly.
“Dolly, could you pour me another cup of tea? With milk as well.”
Feeling the pressure from all the whispering, Dolly seemed relieved to be spoken to and grabbed the teapot from the table, approaching Odette’s side.
She probably thought Odette was saving her like a savior — but she judged wrong. Odette planned to use this opportunity to thoroughly humiliate her.
That girl has a habit she’ll never fix.
As always, Dolly hooked her finger through the cup and turned the teacup handle to her convenience, regardless of whether the handle ended up facing the 9 o’clock direction from Odette’s perspective.
Her convenience always came first.
“…”
Because of the topic of conversation, everyone at the table was watching Dolly’s every move intently. They frowned as if they were at a loss for words.
But Dolly, focused only on pouring, didn’t notice their stares and began pouring the milk first. When she then poured the tea over the milk, one noblewoman let out a sigh.
“It’s such a mess. Honestly, I don’t even know where to start criticizing.”
“The reason you bring an experienced maid to such gatherings is so she doesn’t embarrass her mistress. Goodness! And she’s the head maid who gets double the weekly wage of other maids — yet she does this?”
A teacup must always be placed at the 3 o’clock position relative to the person drinking.
Turning it to 9 o’clock for the maid’s convenience was not only unthinkable, but hooking fingers through the cup was a strict taboo.
“Even the lowest-ranking maids wouldn’t make the mistake of pouring milk first and then tea.”
“And the entire time she was pouring, the cup and saucer clattered together — such a racket!”
With that single action, Dolly had already broken four rules of etiquette — all considered basics among basics.
They knew that scolding another household’s maid in public was improper, but none of them could hold back from adding a remark.
“T-That’s—”
Dolly’s hands trembled.
She finally seemed to realize that everyone was focused on her manners — or rather, her lack thereof.
Odette spoke calmly.
“Could you also spread some jam and cream on the scones?”
Again, all eyes shifted to Dolly’s fingertips.
Nervous, she hesitated. She even closed her eyes as if trying to recall the correct order used in the imperial palace or their estate.
She’ll make a conclusion. That in every place, cream goes first.
As expected, Dolly scooped up a generous amount of cream with the knife and began spreading it.
But that was a mistake. On Athena Island, the order of spreading jam and cream was the opposite of the capital. Jam always came first, and cream went on top.
Because Athena Island was largely mountainous, its dairy industry thrived — and its specialty was cream. The people there were fiercely proud of it. So much so that they despised covering cream with jam. It was practically a taboo.
Everyone here spread jam first and then cream — even the emperor followed that order when on the island.
“Pfft.”
A young lady burst into blatant laughter, and Dolly, startled, dropped the knife she had just dipped in jam. The jam and cream splattered straight onto Odette’s dress.
Ha ha ha! Several of the youngest ladies at the table broke into laughter. Dolly’s face turned bright red.
Dolly won’t be able to endure this kind of humiliation. She’s too sensitive about her reputation.
The way one bullies reflects one’s own identity. Spreading rumors to harm others meant Dolly herself cared deeply about public image.
“Oh dear. I’ve gotten jam on my dress. I suppose I’ll have to change into my evening gown a bit early.”
Odette stood up as she spoke.
“It was such a lovely dress, too. Truly, you looked like a fairy…”
Odette wasn’t particularly bothered. The dress she would change into was just as beautiful — and would suit upcoming events even better.
The moment Dolly stood up to follow Odette—
“I’ll be going with Mrs. Becker. Dolly, you should stay and clean up the fallen spoon and stains on the floor.”
“I-I’ll go as well. Mrs. Becker can stay here instead—”
Dolly’s eyes were brimming with tears.
She had enjoyed tarnishing Odette’s honor so much — yet now that she was the one being laughed at, she couldn’t bear it.
But things won’t go the way you want.
Even while thinking that, Odette pretended to consider.
“Shall we do that? Then Mrs. Becker—”
“No. I’ll go. Dolly, you stay.”
As expected, Mrs. Becker stopped Odette. She was frightened as well.
The guests present had already begun to suspect something was odd about Odette’s servants. If Dolly and Odette left together, who would become the next target of scrutiny? Obvious.
“M-Mrs. Becker.”
“You dropped it, so you should be the one to clean it up, shouldn’t you?”
Mrs. Becker said firmly.
“…I-I understand.”
Even though Dolly desperately wanted to leave, she had no choice but to obey. Recently, Mrs. Becker was no mere maid — she held power within the estate.
In the end, it was Mrs. Becker who forcibly stopped Dolly — so Dolly wouldn’t even suspect that this entire situation had been orchestrated by Odette.
As Odette exited the greenhouse garden, she thought—
Enjoy the mockery, Dolly. It’ll be delightful.
Mrs. Becker sighed in relief the moment they left the garden. Odette gave her an order.
“Mrs. Becker, go wait in the guest room I’m using.”
“Just me? My lady, don’t tell me you—”
“I don’t recall giving you permission to ask questions. Just do as you always have — answer in sync with me.”
“…”
“So go first, without drawing attention.”
Mrs. Becker’s face twisted in humiliation.
She must have finally realized that the entire incident had been staged by Odette to separate Dolly from her. That she’d been used perfectly.
But it was already too late. As she had for the past two weeks, she would have no choice but to obey.
I headed straight into the hunting grounds, taking an unnoticed side path toward the thick forest.
Beside a secluded stream, where few people passed — just as promised — a horse was tied, left there by Damian.
“Honestly… Damian really is good at his job.”
Thinking that, I retrieved the hunting attire secured to the horse. Then I slipped behind a large tree and changed.
Tailored black hunting trousers modified for women, a tweed jacket, a checkered shirt, and hunting shoes.
Using the dark green ribbon from my dress, I tied my hair into a high ponytail — perfect for moving swiftly through the woods.
Just as I untied the horse’s reins—
“AAAHHHHHHH!”
The emperor’s scream rang out.
So the assassins have appeared. The emperor has likely been hit by a poisoned arrow.
I checked the time. It was exactly the same moment the assassins had appeared in my previous life.
Then the location will be the same too.
Grabbing the reins, I swung onto the horse and secured the long hunting rifle hanging from the saddle under my arm.
Then—
“Hyah!”
With a shout, I kicked the horse’s sides, sprinting toward the deeper mountains where the emperor’s scream had come from.
