Chapter 25

Chapter 25

“…Butler? What’s wrong?”

The butler, who had been stunned for a moment, was awakened by the voice that was calling his name. Seeing Anriche glancing at him with a suspicious face, the butler hurriedly shook his head.

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

“Then, can I tell you my business?”

“Of course.”

Suddenly, she asked an unexpected question.

“Do you know Jane, the new maid?”

“Yes, I know, but…did the madam remember the maid’s name?”

Forgetting the impoliteness, the butler opened his eyes wide. Luckily, Anriche just nodded her head with a bleak expression.

“Why can’t I remember?”

“…Sorry. I must have offended the madam.”

“It’s all right. I guess it’s because of the behavior I’ve been showing so far that made you think that way.” She laughed bitterly.

The butler was once again dumbfounded by the cool acknowledgment of her improper behavior so far. Whether what the case was, Anriche continued calmly.

“Jane said that the head maid said she hated Liliana very much.”

“Yes? The head maid?” He gazed at Anriche’s face with a perplexed expression. ‘What’s happening all of a sudden?’

“The head maid is a loyal person who has followed the Duke of Valois. She had been working with us for a long time, and she’s also the nanny of the Young Master Elliot…”

“Even though the butler doesn’t explain it to me, I already know roughly what kind of person the head maid is.”

Interrupting his words, she shook her head lightly. The violet colored eyes facing the butler sat coolly.

“However, just because she is a good person to Elliot, that doesn’t mean she is also a good person to other people as well?”

The butler was caught off guard. He bit his lips firmly.

Anriche then spoke in a calm voice.

“Honestly, I don’t know what the head maid would do.”

“Ma, madam.”

“The best thing would be, if she doesn’t do anything. That’s what I really hope as well.”

Anriche genuinely meant it since she personally didn’t want the uproar happening inside the townhouse either. In addition, Meg was a trusted maid both inside and outside the family. So, she could anger Elliot as well as other people of the duchy, if she had touched her.

“But, it would be too late to deal with something after it happens, too.”

Anriche wasn’t just going to listen to Jane and not do anything. She had to make sure nothing bad would ever happen to Liliana.

“Because by then, it may cause big wounds to Liliana.”

It was because no one else but Liliana was exposed as the easiest target to the enemy. She no longer wanted to witness her precious daughter-in-law hurt her heart.

“So, I mean, could you keep an eye on the chief maid?”

“…Why are you choosing me?”

The butler, who seemed to be lost in his thoughts for a moment, questioned her back.

‘What if this tricky lady is harassing the loyal chief maid for nothing?’ His gaze towards Anriche was filled with doubts.

“I honestly don’t understand your behavior.”

As if trying to figure out her intentions, he asked. Anriche looked up at him.

The butler, who gained courage, opened his mouth again.

“You can directly select one of the maids and ask them to keep an eye on the head maid?”

“That’s true.”

“Though I don’t know why you are asking me instead.”

After saying so, he peered into her eyes. Then, he said.

“…Can I speak frankly?”

“Sure.”

“Personally, I had no reason to doubt the head maid.” The butler spoke, swallowing dry saliva. “I don’t want to be a conspirator for bullying the loyal head maid. I’m sorry.”

There was a heavy silence.

The butler was incredibly nervous, anxiously waiting for the fire spirit to appear. His mouth was dry from the anticipation.

The reaction that Anriche would show was indeed very obvious. She would say, ‘how dare you go against the Mistress of Valois like this?’

“I think it’s normal for the butler to doubt my true intentions.”

However, after a while, all of the butler’s predictions were wrong. Despite hearing insulting speculations about her, Anriche was just staring at the butler with a calm gaze.

“…Yes?”

Confused, he asked so in a dull voice. Anriche narrowed her eyes and spoke again, clearer this time.

“I said, I think it’s normal for the butler to doubt my true intentions.”

“…”

“Because I haven’t been acting like a mistress until now, so I understand that you thought based on that.”

‘Is she not upset with me?’

The butler reflexively peered at Anriche’s expression. Her face was just calm. As before, there was no sign of being irritated or swearing.

“But it is true that the butler’s guess is too rude to say, especially about the mistress of the family.”

Her words were undeniable, so the butler only bit his lips silently. Anriche calmly added.

“So, how about this.”

“Wh-what do you mean?”

“If this is over, and it turns out that I really tried to harm the head maid…”

Anriche, who wanted to blur the end of her words at that moment, was resolutely speaking.

“I will, of course, politely apologize to the head maid and you and pay you half of the indemnity money given to me.”

“…Indemnity?”

“Yes, because my actions have caused you mental distress. So, shouldn’t you be compensated for the damage?”

The butler was dumbfounded.

The lady who favors the money was willing to give away half of it to him? In addition, the amount of indemnity money usually given to Anriche was enormous. It was more than enough to consider that as the damage compensation…

‘Is the madam in her right mind?’ He licked his dry lips.

“However, if the head maid really had disrespectful intentions, she would not be able to avoid punishment.”

She lifted her head slightly, staring straight into the butler’s eyes. The violet-colored eyes, which were not at all shaking, gave a strange feeling of pressure.

“Also, the butler would have to apologize for the rudeness he had committed.”

Anriche spoke with a strong sense of dignity, unlike usual.

She nailed her words once again.

“Do you understand?”

“Yes, I understand.” The butler nodded his head.

Suddenly, the butler was listening to the madam’s words after correcting his posture.

“First of all, the reason why I asked the butler to ‘keep an eye on the head maid’ is because…” Anriche grinned with her eyes.

“You are the most reliable person to keep an eye on her.”

“…Reliable?”

“Yes. Right now, the butler thinks that I’m deliberately trying to harass the chief maid, right?”

Hearing the voice that flowed like a joke, the butler blushed in fear since the suspicion he showed was inappropriate behavior for an employee to the master.

“If you’re the one I choose, I wouldn’t be misunderstood because of my intentions.”

“Ah…”

“Because even if I have the best evidence, you might still think that the evidence may have been manipulated to suit my side.”

Anriche swayed her words like water flowing. All her words made perfect sense.

“For the same reason, I couldn’t try to get the head maid myself.”

“Why is that?”

“In the first place, not only do my employees not believe me at all, and above all, I’m in the position to crush the chief maid with my status. Everyone would think it’s unfair.”

Anriche was looking at herself in this situation very objectively.

“Although the butler is different because the butler is one of the duke’s most loyal vassals.”

“…Madam.”

“So, you would be able to give an unbiased testimony to either side. There would be no reason to be biased.”

He doesn’t know how many times he was surprised today. The butler stared at Anriche with wide opened eyes.

‘I wonder if the madam chose me considering that…’

In response to the gaze, she just shrugged her shoulders lightly. “And… It’s all right for you to tell the duke, but I hope you’ll be careful with the children.”

“Well, you’re not telling the young master and the young lady in advance?”

“I’m thinking so.”

“May I ask why?”

To the butler’s cautious question, Anriche replied casually.

“I don’t want Liliana and Elliot to be prejudiced against the chief maid.”

“Yes? Why is that… Ah!”

The butler, who was digesting on Anriche’s answer, soon expressed a sense of realization moments later.

“From the head maid’s point of view, it would be unpleasant to be suspicious of already.”

“Well, I think she would be…”

“So, in such a situation, even the children are suspicious. Wouldn’t it be a little cruel to the head maid?”

‘No way, was she even considering the position of the head maid…?’ The butler had a new look. The madam he knew so far never had such a meticulous personality.

“Doesn’t Elliot also listen to the head maid very well?”

She sighed briefly.

“If he finds out that the head maid has been the subject of my suspicion, Elliot could be very hurt.”

‘If something could hurt the children, shouldn’t we somehow try to reduce it to a minimum?’ At least she thought so.

“So, it’s enough that I’m doubting the head maid.”