CH 41

She had also encountered the Duke of Cardian a couple of times, but she thought that person was a beast rather than a man.

Of course, he was a frighteningly handsome person on the surface, but his eyes were the problem. When she came into contact with his blazing red eyes, she felt a chill and broke out a cold sweat.

“Madam will come down soon. I was instructed to take you to the living room.”

The butler responded calmly and led her to the living room, which was not far from the entrance hall. Countess Clayton considered making a scene right away, but she considered her opponent’s position first.

‘I came here on behalf of the Empress, but a Duke is a Duke, so I should be cautious.’

Countess Clayton also worked in the Imperial Palace as the Third Empress’ maid. She trailed after the butler, her annoyance palpable.

✦ ✦ ✦

“The Duchess has arrived.”

It had been about 20 minutes since she had received tea in the living room. Celia was a Duchess, and because she was still a Countess, Countess Clayton set down her teacup and stood up.

Duchess Celia entered the room when the door opened. When she saw the lily-like figure with her head upright, Countess Clayton snorted inwardly.

‘Let’s see if you can keep your head up after receiving a gift from the Empress!’

“Long time no see, Duchess of Cardian.”

Celia squinted at Countess Clayton, who was greeting her. She recalled this scene.

“Aren’t you greeting me for the first time?”

“That’s right.”

Celia’s entrance in the banquet was small, and they were both different in some ways.

Because Countess Clayton was a Viscountess who remarried after her husband died, and Celia was a young unmarried girl, so they met and went to different places.

“It is too early.”

“It was inevitable because I had to deliver a gift at the order of the Empress. I hope you understand.”

Even so, coming here in the morning without a message was impolite. Since the opponent was the Empress’s maid of honor, she had her brought in; otherwise, she would have been impolite in front of the door.

“I’ve already received a gift, but you sent it again……”

All noble families sent gifts to the residence of the Duke of Cardian when she married Leonis. Leonis was still Duke of Cardian, no matter how much they despised him for being a devilish killer.

Celia walked over to her seat and sat down, her gaze fixed on Countess Clayton.

“You, too, take a seat. What is the present from the Empress?”

“It’s…”

Countess Clayton rose from her seat and approached Celia. She bowed her head briefly to ask permission from Celia, who looked at her with thoughtful eyes before abruptly raising her hand.

“Oh my god!”

Countess Clayton, however, was the one who let out a scream. By reading the original, Celia was aware of her actions. When she got to that part, it was only natural for her to become frustrated.

Celia not only grabbed Countess Clayton’s swaying wrist, but she also grabbed her curly hair with her other hand and shook it wildly.

Celia felt that the most basic of her divine powers was physical strength after spending long nights with Leonis. She wasn’t quite as skilled as the sword master that Leonis was, but she had a lot of stamina and was capable of reaching a certain level.

Everyone made a mistake by judging only from their appearances, but the majority of people in Montague were. Celia, who had been resurrected by the goddess’s power, was particularly strong.

“Wha-What is this…..! Kyaaah!”

“Countess!”

“Madam!”

The servants rushed in, terrified, but only blocked the maid and escort knight brought by the Countess. There appeared to be no Cardian employee who could come into contact with Celia’s body.

Because Leonis was so scary. If they made a mistake while serving her, the Duchess would take care of it, but not this time.

‘How dare you hit me this early in the morning? I saw you do this to the other victims, a Duke’s daughter and a lady in the flashback scene. Go die!’

Celia grabbed her hair with one hand and slapped her with the other. The Countess seemed to see stars [1] whenever the slapping sound rang.

“Aghh! Akk! Help me!”

‘I remember the scene of the finance minister’s daughter!’

Celia huffled and jerked her hand away, having beaten her until she was relieved of her rage. The Countess had completely forgotten her dignity and was crying. Celia had a handful of the pulled hair in her hand, but she tossed it away. The Countess burst into tears.

“How dare you do this to me, I came under the orders of the Empress! Even if you are a Duchess, you won’t be safe!”

“Did you come here under the order of the Empress? Then, did the Empress order you to slap my hand?”

The maids and escort knights who were with them were kneeling and feeling overwhelmed. The Countess then said, her face red with rage.

“How dare you tell the Duke about His Highness, the Crown Prince’s invitation and cause havoc in the imperial family! Her Majesty, the Third Empress, is the most dignified noblewoman, and she’s furious and wanted to teach….”

“Such slander!”

Celia dashed over to the Countess and slapped her once more. “Kyaaagh!” screamed the Countess, who then flopped on the ground.

“There is still the First Empress, but you are referring the Third Empress as the Empire’s greatest noblewoman? Besides, as a member of the imperial family, she has no right to send and order you to beat me!”

The Countess’ jaw dropped after what she heard from Celia.

It was her task to humiliate Celia, which was why the Third Empress sent her, who was originally an illegitimate child, to accuse the Duchess.

However, the situation made it difficult to explain.

“It will not end like this because you dare to frame your master and His Highness, desecrating the imperial family. I’ll tell His Majesty the Emperor about it, and I’ll accuse you of deceiving the Third Empress!”

The sudden escalation of the situation bewildered Countess Clayton. It wasn’t like the times she’d assaulted and threatened the Second Prince’s victims in the past.

When she assaulted, humiliated, and pressed with the power of the Empress, they usually gave up accusations because she made a fuss by mentioning the Empress’s name. Some of them committed suicide, such as the finance minister’s daughter, and others went to the countryside to recuperate for years.

Even if it wasn’t the same this time, she hoped the Third Empress would at least avenge her anger…

‘Who the hell is this?’

There didn’t seem to be a single quiet young lady in the ballroom who only spoke to a few ladies and didn’t even dance with anyone except her fiance.

‘If she had been Celia, she would have been embarrassed after being hit.’

Lily was the same way in the original. Lily had even kept the fact from Leonis. Although Leonis later noticed this and retaliated.

‘But do I have to be hit?’

There was no need to leave the imperial family alone, but she had to pretend to be on good terms with the Second Prince, who had already begun to quarrel.

To bring Michael to the side. Michael was the main villain in the original, but when he was used, he did not hide his true intention to become a villain.

“….What’s all this commotion about?”

Even the air seemed to freeze with Leonis’ appearance in front of them. ‘Why did Leonis already return?’ Celia wondered. Others, on the other hand, were terrified.

✦ ✦ ✦

Leonis was the one who thought Celia had died the day before yesterday, and he was very concerned. Naturally, if anything happened in the Duke’s mansion, they should inform him as soon as possible.

The orders were faithfully carried out by the servants of the Duke of Cardian. They set out to inform the Duke as soon as Countess Clayton, the Third Empress’s maid in honor, arrived.

She was simply taken aback because not even Celia was aware of the situation.

“Your Excellency.”

“Are you alright, Celia?”

Countess Clayton had obviously been beaten over there, but Leonis only cares about Celia. Since the moment he appeared, Countess Clayton hasn’t lifted her head.

At first glance, she was afraid that just looking into his eyes would cause her blood to freeze.

‘Why, why did you come so fast!’

The Duke of Cardian was a thousand times scarier than the Duchess who beat her. Leonis looked at the Countess holding Celia by one arm. The Countess trembled like an aspen tree, even stupid people could even notice it.

“How dare…..you come to the Duke’s mansion and commit heinous acts.”

Leonis didn’t say anything to Celia by his side, but he didn’t intend to ignore her. He also considered killing Countess Clayton and the third Empress, whom he believed to be her master.

Even if he didn’t do it right now, he would eventually.

If it was Countess Clayton, however, it would make no difference if he killed her right away. The Emperor would even think it would be better if Leonis’ madness was relieved by doing so.

“Du-Duke! Please save me!”

The Countess knelt at his feet in a matter of seconds. She hit her head but did not raise it.

Because she was quick-witted, she was able to change her husband and her status from Viscountess to Countess, and even became a maid in honor of the Third Empress.

Because of his noble status as an imperial family member, the Duke of Cardian was “guaranteed” to some degree of slaughter under the pretext of madness. Even a high-ranking noble would face a minimum punishment for murdering other nobles, but the Duke of Cardian had none.

They were powerless to stop him because he was cursed and he was a member of the imperial family. At the same time, no one attempted to imprison him. The Emperor doesn’t dare to put a bell around his cat’s neck because the Emperor was all around him.

After the Duke had left, Countess Clayton planned to slightly annoy Celia. She intended to return before the Duke arrived, having given Celia nothing but fear and humiliation.

For him…

‘Who the hell was it that told the Duke of Cardian?’

If the Duke appeared to be returning home, someone had to come and inform him first. The Countess couldn’t even lift her head; all she could do was resent him.

“Leon.”

Celia drew Leonis’ arm, blocking the bloodthirsty aura that emanated from his body. It was not the appropriate time. It would be nice to get rid of the Third Empress and Second Prince, but he didn’t need to make a big fuss.

“…You’d better not think it’ll end like this.”

Leonis said so, and the servants were ordered to kick them out.

TL/N:

[1] “See stars” usually means the head is soundly beaten.