Chapter 25
Eliano remembered the golden cup Isabella had shown before. Since they couldn’t steal the Duchess’s belongings, using Goldstein as part of their plan was quite clever.
Eliano walked toward where her sister’s voice was coming from. The deputy steward was calmly soothing Isabella.
“Miss Isabella, if you order a search of all rooms including the servants’, the trust between employer and employee will collapse. Once broken, it’s hard to restore. Please reconsider.”
Eliano scoffed at the phrase “trust between employer and employee.” If the lady orders a search, it’s done—what’s with all the fuss? It seemed the household staff didn’t obey Isabella like a sword. Is that why she lost her temper daily and hit the maids?
Naturally, Isabella ignored the deputy steward and raised her voice.
“The trust that’s broken is mine! Do you think my jewels grew legs and ran away?”
Hands on her hips, she spoke sharply.
“If this happened once or twice, I wouldn’t be like this! If someone is going to steal, at least do it discreetly. Then I might overlook it, thinking they’re a poor soul who must steal to survive.”
That was a blatant lie. Isabella wasn’t that forgiving. Eliano felt the need to step in.
“Miller, Jonathan. Isabella’s trust is already broken. To restore it, shouldn’t we search all rooms?”
“We must report to the Duke first. He is currently absent; when he returns…”
Before the steward could finish, Isabella shouted at him.
“How dare you interfere, you steward!”
Eliano did not defend the steward. The deputy steward gave him a stern look.
“You should not trouble your busy father with such personal matters. And if the search is delayed, the thief might dispose of the evidence. Searching now is most efficient.”
“Miss Eliano is right, Jonathan. If there really is a thief, immediate punishment and expulsion are necessary.”
Head maid Miller supported Eliano. Isabella impatiently retorted to the steward.
“You think this is just about missing jewels? Jewels can be bought again. But what about Goldstein?”
The household managers who knew of Goldstein were shocked. The steward asked, pale-faced,
“Goldstein… is missing?”
“Yes! I have lost all face before Mother! Will you take responsibility?”
Isabella’s shrill act was convincing. Eliano briefly wondered if Isabella had truly lost Goldstein.
“Miss? Are you going to your room?”
Jane asked as Eliano turned.
“What else can I do here? I’m tired from going out.”
Eliano whispered to Jane while climbing the stairs. Since Isabella’s precious family heirloom from the maternal Lambert Marquis house was missing, a search order was inevitable. It was obvious.
“Miss Eliano, would you like to bathe? The water is warmed to your preferred temperature.”
Arriving in her room, Lavender greeted Eliano with a smile. Eliano shook her head at the offer to bathe.
“The household is in chaos. I have no energy to bathe.”
Lavender’s face fell. When Eliano asked if she was fully recovered from her cold, Lavender twisted her body and answered energetically that she was, thanks to her lady. Eliano smiled faintly.
“I’ll bathe later. First, go and check for news.”
Lavender left to survey the situation and soon returned.
“Miss, the family knights have arrived.”
Eliano nodded. The matter was so serious that knights had been called. Whether this was due to the steward’s authority or Goldstein’s value… probably both.
It didn’t matter much. The real target was elsewhere.
Anyway, the report would be made to her father. The arrow had already flown. Eliano only needed to wait for the prey.
“I see. Jane, bring me the Melani tea leaves.”
The silver rod from that day hadn’t discolored.
Since then, Eliano drank Melani tea without worry. Apparently, no one intended to kill the illegitimate daughter. Perhaps the Duchess had some affection for her foster daughter.
Jane began brewing tea with hot water. Eliano inhaled the aroma and opened a book. Without Pamela’s interference—who used to insist on selecting books for her—she could now read whatever she wanted.
Jane, friendly with the librarian, freely borrowed books without leaving records. She was obedient and easy to manage, so Eliano made her personal maid.
“Miss, they plan to search all servants’ rooms first, then the knights’ quarters. The knights are upset, trying hard to avoid searches. If the stolen items are found in the servants’ rooms, knights won’t be searched!”
Eliano nodded at Lavender’s report. After a while, Jane returned with news.
“Sir Nutreon said the knights’ captain ordered anyone who is a thief to confess now.”
Lavender and Jane went back and forth, bringing news diligently. Eliano enjoyed her tea, listening to the updates outside. The tea tasted especially good today.
“Huff, huff! Miss! No evidence has been found yet. They’re about to search the managers’ rooms!”
Eliano stood up. It was time to act.
When Eliano descended the stairs, the stewards’ rooms were already being searched. The steward and head maid wore sour expressions. Soon they would be searched too; it was no laughing matter.
Meanwhile, the knights looked worried when they saw Eliano. Their faces said, “What if she insists on searching the nanny’s room?” But Eliano’s words were clear.
“Start with my nanny’s room, as it is the closest.”
Eliano spoke softly with a lovely smile. Her recently warm attitude brightened the knights’ faces.
Since one knight was dismissed for misconduct, they had been very polite to Eliano. The captain had ordered them to consider themselves lucky not to be caught by the Duchess. The knights had stopped their annoying flirtations and harassment, now eagerly heading to Pamela’s room hoping for Eliano’s kindness to return.
“What are you doing! I am the nanny to the first lady! How dare you enter my room without permission? Are you in your right mind, Sir Senar?”
Pamela’s angry cries were heard. But the weakened old woman with a bad leg couldn’t stop the sturdy knights.
Eliano quietly entered Pamela’s room, deliberately whining in tone.
“Nanny, it seems we have a thief in the mansion. Isabella’s jewels and a gift from Mother have been stolen. So please cooperate, even if it’s inconvenient.”
“Nanny Ria, it’s good to see you at last. Are your things alright?”
Pamela felt hurt that Eliano rarely visited. After all, she had raised Eliano from head to toe. That beauty and elegance were made by her. Eliano belonged to her. She was sure the sly head maid had conspired against her.
Though she had lost her maids and broken her leg due to the head maid’s schemes, she planned to lure Eliano back once healed. Seducing Eliano was her specialty.
“My things are managed by the nanny. I don’t know where anything is. Come back soon and check.”
The lady smiled innocently, like a child. Yes, a childish and foolish lady acting like an adult. Feeling the nanny’s absence, she was calling her back.
Feeling her efforts were paying off, Pamela smiled brightly. Though unpleasant to have her room searched, she would cooperate this much.
Pamela limped slightly to the bed and lay down again, watching the knights search with displeasure. She felt uneasy but smiled anyway.
A knight opened the door to a small room where a wooden chest was. Carrying the heavy chest to the center, the knight set it down. Pamela smiled confidently—it was all her belongings.
Opening the chest revealed assorted items and colorful jeweled accessories: ruby necklaces, diamond earrings, sapphire bracelets… even several whole jewelry boxes. Too precious to be carried by a nanny. The knight narrowed his eyes.
“Are all these the nanny’s?”
Picking up some jeweled accessories, the knight asked. Pamela blinked blankly. What were all these? Why were they in her chest?
Isabella stomped over, yelling,
“Pamela, you thief!”
Pamela’s smile vanished as she realized the situation. She looked at Eliano in confusion, but a sharper pain came first—Isabella had slapped her hard.
“Why aren’t you dragging this thief out immediately?”
Isabella shouted at the knights, accusing Pamela of stealing her jewels in rapid-fire.
“Please don’t! Miss Isabella! There must be some mistake. Check again… Ah!”
Startled by approaching knights, Pamela fell from the bed, screaming from the pain in her injured leg.
“No! This is…!”
A knight rummaging through a wardrobe shouted, having found something—a crimson antique box with the Lambert Marquis family crest. Pamela’s eyes widened in shock. Why was that in her wardrobe?
Opening the box revealed a golden cup. The knights shouted,
“There’s the golden cup!”
“Please confirm it is the Goldstein!”
Isabella stomped on Pamela’s leg and ran off. Her face visibly brightened with joy and excitement at the imminent victory.
“My Goldstein!!”
At her shout, the knights rushed in and began dragging Pamela out. Her situation was quickly deteriorating.
