Chapter 29

Chapter 29

“Ma, Master Elliot!!”

Meg desperately called for him, but he no longer gave a glance at her. Instead, he looked back at Anriche, who was standing behind him.

“Mother.”

A calm voice rang.

Anriche gazed into Elliott’s eyes. His violet gaze, which resembled herself, was filled with disappointment and betrayal towards Meg.

“I have the right to fire the maid… don’t I?”

“Of course.”

After hearing her definite answer, he fixed his gaze towards Meg, who is trembling her whole body like a swaying tree.

“No, this is not… Young master, no way…”

“I don’t want to see you in the Valois’s mansion anymore.”

“Young Master, what the hell are you talking about?! How can you do this to me!!”

After his words, Meg screamed in fits hysterically. Nonetheless, he continued slowly with an expressionless face. “I’ll pay this month’s salary and severance pay for what you’ve worked so far.”

“Young master!!”

“But I can’t write you a recommendation letter. I can’t send a bad-handed maid to another house.”

At that moment, Meg, who had lost all strength, slumped down on the floor.

The fact that Valois does not offer a letter of recommendation would suggest that there was a good reason. New employers may wonder why she is trying to find a job without a single recommendation letter.

Therefore, it was as if Elliot had now declared, ‘You will no longer be able to work in any noble family.’

“Please pack up and leave right now.”

Elliot concluded his words then shut his mouth firmly.

Meg, crawling on her knees, grasped Elliot’s leg. The self-confident expression she had so far had disappeared, as though washed away in an instant.

“Young master? Young master! You can’t do this to me! I…!”

The employees were frozen tightly on the spot as they watched Meg, full of tears and clinging to Elliot. Even listening to her sorrowful pleas, he was still motionless. Finally, the employees at the order of the butler pulled her out.

“Let go! Let go of me! Young Master! Young Maaasteeer!”

She tried desperately to escape from the employees’ grasps, but to no avail. And after a long struggle, she was eventually dragged out of the room.

Cold silence fell.

“…”

“…”

The silence was so heavy that no one could open their mouths easily.

It was Anriche who broke the silence.

“Elliot.”

Even at her call, he was silent.

So, she decided to place her hand on his shoulder gently. She could sense his tiny shoulders trembling, the child’s pale face who tried to squeeze numerous emotions that were bottled up.

She just felt sorry for him.

“Today, you were very great.”

“…”

“As the next Master of Valois, it was impeccable.”

So, cheer up.

With that in mind, Anriche continued to gently sweep his shoulder.

All of a sudden, tears dripped from Elliot’s open eyes.

“How, how… can Meg do this to me?”

As if the dam had burst, the feeling of shame that was barely restrained, poured out rapidly. “I really liked Meg, and I followed her like my family.”

“Elliot.”

“She tried to fool me, and even asked m—me to pretend I didn’t see her…”

If he had made it known from the beginning that Meg had entered his mother’s room, would this have happened? It was pathetic to him, who had been smitten by Meg’s pitiful expression that she made up.

Frustrated, he bit his lips till it bled.

Seeing the child, Anriche reached out her hand and brushed Elliot’s lips kindly. She said, “Don’t do that. Your lips will hurt even more.”

“Mo, mother.”

“And, you can cry.”

Hearing her words, he glanced up at her with moist eyes. Anriche quickly nodded at him.

“You don’t have to try and suppress your upset heart.”

She meant it. To be betrayed by someone you believed, and the favor replied with malice… It’s a difficult thing even for adults to bear, but that little kid had to go through it.

With regrets, Anriche brushed his back.

“At least, because I know how painful you are right now.”

“Well, still. I’m the Heir Apparent of Valois, so if I were to shed tears recklessly…”

“Before you were the Heir Apparent of Valois, you’re my son who is only seven years old, right?”

She playfully added her words. “Regardless, in your mother’s arms, you can cry as much as you want.”

The moment he heard her words, Elliot’s face was distorted.

As he released his throat and wept, he dug into Anriche’s arms.

“Uhk, heuk… huwaaang…”

“Yes, rather cry your heart out. After crying like this…” She embraced Elliot with all of her strength. “Your mind may feel a little relieved.”

The kind voice rang in his head.

Leaning on the words, Elliott kept on weeping for a long time as Anriche tenderly cared for her son in her arms.

Soon after, some time had passed.

“I’m sorry, Elliot…”

‘Huh?’ Elliot, who was crying in tears, raised his head swiftly.

It was Liliana.

Her light green eyes were filled with tears, gazing towards Elliot.

“Oh, I’m really sorry for my mother, too.”

Yes?

‘Liliana, why are you all of a sudden…?’

Anriche couldn’t hide her confused expression.

She couldn’t overcome her guilt, and Liliana tightened her two tiny fists. “…I don’t think I should be here.”

‘What does that mean? Why is our cute daughter-in-law digging herself and her hands?’ Liliana’s words caused Anriche to narrow her eyes. Still, her trembling voice resumed.

“Be, because of me… there’s a lot of trouble in Valois.”

“No, why is that your fault? You’re the victim.”

“That’s right, it’s Meg’s fault!”

Forgetting even his cries, Elliot strengthened his eyes and looked at Liliana. However, rather than feeling rejuvenated, her shoulders tightened.

“But this happened because I was hated by everyone…”

Had it not been for her, the Duchy would have remained peaceful.

Those thoughts were filled in her mind. And when Liliana was huddling her body in a guilty conscience…

“That, that is not true.”

Someone raised their voice nearby.

It was Jane.

At the sudden voice, she looked up at Jane with a puzzled face. “Huh?”

Nevertheless, Jane had a determined expression. She walked in front of Liliana and spoke her words clearly.

“Everyone doesn’t hate you. Absolutely not.”

“…Really?”

“Yes! First, first of all. I… I like you.”

She agreed with strength. Then, Jane turned towards Anriche nervously, swallowing her dry saliva.

Anriche nodded her head lightly.

It meant she could speak comfortably.

Seeing the madam’s reassurement, she gained her courage and spoke up. “And other maids beside me, there are a lot of people who like you!”

“Yes, I like Liliana, too.”

“Me, me, too! I love Liliana!”

Anriche, who was watching the situation, added her words with a smile, and Elliot hurriedly followed his mother. As soon as she heard the voices, the light-green eyes swelled up with tears.

“Mother, Elliot…”

Liliana finished her sentence as her lips quivered. Gazing at the helpless child, a smile appeared in Anriche’s eyes.

“Wh-what the madam and the Young Master Elliot had said… You hear that, right?”

Then, Jane turned to Liliana. “There are so many people who like Miss Liliana.”

“Ja, Jane.”

“So, please don’t think that way.”

The maid shook her head lightly and added words in a soft tone. “Besides, I’m always grateful to you, Miss.’’

“To me? Why?”

The abrupt confession made her eyes widened.

“The other day, when Meg was tormenting me… the Miss helped me, right?”

“Well, that’s what Elliot did. I didn’t help anything…”

“Of course, I am grateful to Master Elliot.”

Jane’s smile grew a little deeper.

“But the first person who took the first step for me was the Miss.”

At that, Liliana bit her lips tightly. Because otherwise, she would break down.

‘I wasn’t being hated…’ Even though there were certainly maids in favor of Meg, many were also on her side.

Realizing the fact, she smiled with tearful eyes. “At that time in the garden, you covered for me as well.”

“Miss…”

“So, thank you, too…”