Chapter 09
“I’ll read it for you!”
Before I could stop her, Liza had already opened the thin envelope and started reading it aloud without permission.
“Dear Carla, thank you so very, very much for your…”
“Stop.”
Opening someone else’s invitation is only allowed between very close people. Even the Count never opened letters addressed to me.
Unless the Baroness is incredibly foolish, Liza had clearly crossed the line. Her lips, which had been reading the letter like she was already the lady of the house, froze. Her big round eyes looked at me.
“Did no one teach you manners?”
“But I was told to bring the letter…”
“I told you to bring it, not read it.”
I sighed.
“A servant who touches their master’s things without permission is not useful.”
“I’m sorry, madam. I didn’t know.”
Tears welled up in Liza’s bright blue eyes. She spoke pitifully. Of course, I wasn’t going to fire her. The Count wouldn’t allow it anyway, and I preferred keeping a potential danger close where I could watch it.
“I didn’t do it on purpose, madam…”
Her voice was shaky, like she could cry any second. If someone heard her, they might think I was being cruel for no reason.
I held out my hand silently. She understood and placed the torn paper gently in my palm. It was an invitation, not a letter.
“Please forgive me, madam.”
Ignoring her tearful voice, I read the invitation. It was nothing special—an invitation to go to the riding grounds together.
Not a bad suggestion. I smiled slightly, as if I was no longer upset, and gave the invitation back.
“It’s a riding invitation. We’ll go soon. Be ready.”
Liza’s face lit up.
“Thank you for forgiving me!”
She bowed deeply. The earrings dangling from her ears were clearly a gift from the Count.
She looked like the main character in a novel. Oh right—she was the main character of this world.
Beautiful, cheerful, lovable, and strong in the face of hardship. Some people might find her charming. But I was not one of those people.
“What are you saying? You opened the invitation without permission, so you should be punished.”
I said coldly. Liza turned pale.
“You won’t be eating dinner tonight or breakfast tomorrow. Tell Bella and the butler.”
Liza looked close to tears until she left the room. They say withholding food is the cruelest punishment. I wanted to make the Count’s mistress feel a little miserable.
She wouldn’t die from missing two meals. But being forced to starve is a miserable feeling. She might sneak into the kitchen and steal some boiled potatoes or eggs.
But the next morning, before I even saw her face, I heard the loud growl of her empty stomach. She had actually skipped dinner.
“Please eat, madam,” she said while helping me with breakfast, even licking her lips at the smell. I expected her to run to the Count and complain, but it seems she didn’t.
I purposely dropped an apple under the table near her feet. It was the kind of food she couldn’t eat, couldn’t kick away—just had to stare at. A small punishment.
“These rolls are so tasty.”
I ripped up the bread and spread it thickly with jam and butter, letting the smell waft through the room. I heard Liza swallow hard.
Go on, run to your lover and cry about being hungry, I thought.
Even after breakfast, she just glanced sadly at the plates. She didn’t complain. So I decided to be even meaner. No breaks today.
“Let’s get ready for riding.”
Normally I’d tell Bella to get my clothes, but instead I told Liza to do it. And then I complained about every outfit she brought.
“I’m going to ride a horse, not dance.”
“But madam, you can ride in a dress too.”
“You could’ve just said you wanted my skirt to rip.”
Of course, noblewomen can ride in dresses for light outings. But she brought a fancy evening gown that clearly wasn’t for horseback riding. It made it easier for me to scold her.
“Bring something else.”
After a few more tries, Liza finally brought some riding pants and a jacket. But they were so flashy, I didn’t even know where to look.
I couldn’t even sigh. Did she really think I’d wear this? Or was she being defiant?
“You must think I’m a clown.”
I mocked her. Liza looked like she might cry. Her clear eyes filled with tears, her cheeks turned red with shame or anger, and her lips trembled. If I touched her, the tears might fall right away.
For a second, I actually wanted to wipe her tears. I sighed loudly.
“Bella.”
“Yes, madam?”
“You choose something suitable.”
Then I turned to Liza again and scolded her.
“What are you even good at?”
She lowered her head. A tear dropped to the floor, but I ignored it and whispered coldly near her head.
“As punishment, no dinner for the next week.”
Liza sniffled but didn’t speak up. I almost patted her shoulder but pulled my hand back.
I was being terrible. Truly awful. Before I could finish convincing myself of that, Bella returned with a normal riding outfit.
After Liza became my personal maid, the Count often invited me to eat first. We didn’t have meaningful conversations. He just exchanged glances with Liza over my shoulder. Ridiculous.
He treated people like ingredients for a spicy love story. I guess he liked dramatic affairs.
Even on the day we planned to ride, the Count invited me to breakfast.
“Ahem.”
“Cough, cough.”
They kept sending secret signals to each other like I couldn’t hear them. I just smiled. The Count didn’t know—his beloved was being starved by his own wife.
So much for his sweet words. He couldn’t even feed the woman he loved. Pathetic.
“I’ll be riding horses this afternoon,” I said casually.
He nodded without much interest.
“I hope your riding skills improve.”
He just had to get a jab in. He lifted his chin, daring me to talk back. Of course, I didn’t stay quiet.
“I’m bringing a maid who’s good at riding. I’m sure I’ll get better quickly.”
His face twisted in frustration. He always lost verbal fights but started them anyway.
“Since she’s bad at everything else, she should at least be good at that.”
I looked at Liza for confirmation. She jumped, nervous.
“Madam, I… I can’t ride a horse.”
I was speechless. Then she smiled brightly and added:
“But I can learn quickly! I’m a fast learner!”
She looked so confident, like she truly believed I would teach her. In this society, where class mattered, her attitude wasn’t brave—it was just stupid.
I lowered my opinion of her from a slightly foolish dreamer to a full-blown idiot.
“You learn quickly? That’s surprising.”
Before the Count could speak, I said it sarcastically. Liza blinked and looked at him for help. I looked at him too.
“Maids don’t usually get to ride horses, right?”
“Well, you never know…”
“True. She walks loudly like a knight, so maybe she’ll be promoted to a squire someday. Though commoners can’t be knights… but who knows.”
I made fun of her status completely. I felt a little guilty, but mocking people works best when you’re mean.
I thought she might cry, but she just bit her lip and held back. Still, she had to be upset.
I kept my expression blank and stared at the Count. He looked uncomfortable and rushed to finish his meal.
