CH 32

Ricardo’s exclamation raised questions which could be seen on Blanche’s face.

“Why?”

“That is-…”

“What?”

At her tenacious gaze, Ricardo reluctantly confessed his thoughts.

“I just remembered. Why did I come to Count Juan?”

In an instant, something flashed through Blanche’s mind.

‘Right. Ricardo had come to collect payment from Count Juan.’

Ricardo scratched the back of his head.

“Isn’t it funny? I’m worried about money that I won’t be able to take now.”

“No. It’s not funny at all.”

“Blanche?”

A twinkle flashed in her green eyes. Ricardo looked at her with half excitement and half worry.

Finally, Blanche declared.

“I will take that debt. We must.”

How can he explain the aura that suddenly exudes from her? How can Ricardo convey the horror that he instinctively felt?

Ricardo just swallowed his saliva without saying a word, because he couldn’t ask Blanche for details. He had a feeling that it was never going to happen.

Meanwhile, Blanche thought.

‘Why didn’t I think of opening the treasury in the Count’s castle? Yes, it’s not enough just to go back with Ricardo.’

Blanche imagined hitting Illia in the face with a gold coin. His stomach would go cold. Besides, if she opened the treasury, the source of Count Juan’s wealth, the Marquis Marquette would also be in trouble in the future.

Blanche’s reasons to rob the treasury did not end there.

Spring is coming soon. This spring, dungeons will randomly appear all over the continent.

‘I will use Count Juan’s money to make the Giotto family my own army.’

Blanche smiled in conversion.

* * *

Time passed, and it is now the evening three days before Mariette’s wedding. As usual, Blanche returned to her room after eating dinner alone in a remote place.

She no longer stayed with the temporary maids. Yes, even though her room was the most remote and old place in the castle.

Still, there was a small fireplace that did not exist in the room she stayed in before, so Blanche was quite satisfied with her new room. Besides, she was left alone in her room until two of the maids, who were duly hired, came in.

It was welcomed by Blanche, who was often away late at night. But that happiness also ended today.

Surprisingly, Blanche’s roommates were Agat and Phoebe.

When Blanche returned to her quarters, the two girls welcomed her with her open arms.

“Irene! Come on! You don’t know how worried we were because we didn’t see you in the dining area.”

“They said you got the three maids who came at you kicked out? Awesome, Irene!”

At the faces of the two people as bright as sunflowers, Blanche drew deep curves on her forehead.

“Congratulations on being officially hired. Agat. Phoebe. I’m glad you guys are happy.”

Unfortunately, it seems that the meaning of the words was not conveyed properly because the burn stickers covered the expression. Otherwise, the two of them would not be able to cheerfully hug Blanche.

“Of course I am happy! Thanks to you, I can send money to my family on a regular basis!”

“Thanks for the congratulations, Irene!”

They even shook her while hugging, so Blanche was worried that the burn disguise would be exposed.

‘I can’t go to Ricardo today.’

Blanche, who had given up drinking for the night, had no choice but to put up with the chatter of the two unwelcome girls.

Even as they put out the candles and laid on their beds, the two continued talking non-stop. Besides, they made sure that Blanche was listening in the midst of their conversation.

Because of this, Blanche felt a tiredness she had never felt even when she smashed Amerigo in Digitalis.

Agat asked.

“Yes, Irene. Who is Mr. Giacomo?”

“Someone who is busy paying taxes.”

“Oh my. Don’t be like that!”

“Who wants to get rid of one of the two legs?”

Phoebe laughed softly.

“Irene. Your jokes are so funny!”

“It’s not a joke.”

In spite of her dreary voice, Agat chimed in.

“I heard that he was kind to the maids?”

Phoebe spoke out too.

“Besides, he is very trusted by the Count! By the way, does the Count share the key to the castle’s treasury with him?”

Blanche felt bored after that.

“One of the keys to the treasury belongs to Giacomo?”

Agat mumbled with a yawn.

“Giacomo should be called ‘Sir’, Irene… This is why I can’t leave you alone… … .”

“Right. I can’t help it, I rarely pay attention.”

When she wanted to rest, they talked freely, and when she asked for information, they mumbled.

With great patience, Blanche asked for information about the treasury over and over again. But nothing came of it.

Like Blanche, Agat and Phoebe were just newbies.

And just like that, it was dawn.

The wedding was now only two days away.

* * *

It was in the afternoon, just after lunch when Pierre arrived at the Count’s Castle with Segolene.

Mariette greeted the man and woman who came to her room with a faint smile. But she pretended to know only one person.

“It’s been a while. Segolene.”

“Hello, Lady Mariette.”

“You’re not gonna say hi to me? I…”

When Pierre had finished speaking, Mariette gave him a hateful look.

Pierre, who fully understood his sister’s heart, colored his handsome face with sadness, regret, and sympathy.

“Mariette. I…”

Before his voice could be heard, Mariette called out to Blanche, who was preparing tea for the three of them.

“Irene! There is no need to prepare tea for this man.”

“I understand.”

Only then Segolene and Pierre discovered Blanche.

Surprisingly, the two were neither surprised nor disgusted by Blanche’s burn scar. Above all, the two of them seemed to care more about Mariette than Blanche.

Pierre smiled bitterly at Mariette, who raised her eyes and looked at him.

“Mariette. It seems that you are still very angry with me.”

Mariette frowned even more.

“Angry? Do you think I’m just angry? You’ll see. Pierre Marquette. I will never forget my grudge.”

Segolene rolled her eyes and interrupted the sibling’s ‘friendly’ conversation.

“It seems like I have to go now so you two can talk.”

Gritting her teeth, Mariette caught her.

“Don’t go, Segolene! I don’t know what I could do to this shameless man if I was to be left alone with him!”

Then Segolene looked at Pierre with a worried look.

“What should I do, Lord Pierre?”

“Please give us a moment, Segolene.”

“Yes. However… The maid there.”

Segolene suddenly looked at Blanche. Blanche asked, being careful of her voice.

“Are you talking about me?”

“Yes. Did you say your name was Irene? The burn scars are severe.”

“It’s fine. It doesn’t hurt that much.”

“How can that be? You don’t have to worry. Irene. Even though I look like this, I serve under the Temple of Healing. My specialty is also burns treatment.”

She truly was. Burns and burn scars were also illnesses that can be treated with divine power. But only for those with money.

In general, meeting a priest was very expensive.

Blanche had no choice but to show displeasure.

“No. I don’t have any offerings for the precious priest.”

Then, Segolene’s brown eyes curved softly. Segolene shook her head.

“Do not worry. I am just a servant of God who wants your sincere thanks.”

Pierre was also involved in her good deeds. Besides, she even used honorifics with Blanche for some reason.

It was because, seeing her maid, Irene, who was uncomfortable in her body, she thought of Blanche.

“Ms. Irene. I know you don’t trust Segolene as you met her for the first time today. But, as the brother of the prospective Countess, I guarantee. Segolene is different from ‘ordinary priests’. She is a priest who truly takes pity on her patients, consistent with her doctrine.”

It rarely happened but a cold sweat was welling up on Blanche’s back.

‘I can’t be treated by Segolene like this! If a burn scar that doesn’t heal is discovered, my identity will be revealed in an instant!’

The attention and focus of Segolene, Pierre, and Mariette turned to Blanche.

Blanche clenched her fists involuntarily.

[System/ Stress is increasing.]

But the helping hand was not far away.

Suddenly, Mariette shouted.

“No!”

Mariette got up from her seat at once and she stood in front of Blanche.

“Irene. Just go ahead and try to get a burn treatment! I will kick you out of the Count’s castle on that very day!”

While setting tea in front of the table, Blanche welcomed her twin sister’s threats for the first time.

Segolene and Pierre could not hide their embarrassment at Mariette’s threat. However, the good and ignorant two did not give up on the poor maid like this.

Segolene and Pierre asked Mariette.

“Lady Mariette. Please reconsider.”

“Don’t be mean to the innocent maidservant because of me, Mariette.”

Mariette felt a headache rising.

“Are you two crazy? Irene is a maid of this castle! She’s mine! But you dare do this without the owner’s permission? I keep this terrible monster by my side, for a reason!”

“Why?”

“You don’t know why brother Pierre? When I’m with Irene, I look prettier.”

She didn’t feel any shame as she spit those words out.

Pierre’s lips were wrinkled like a crumpled piece of paper.

“Mariette. you are really…”

This time, even Segolene could not hide her contempt for Mariette.

“Irene. Follow me. We will heal your scars. And if you’re worried about your job, I’ll write a letter of recommendation for you, so don’t worry too much.”

Mariette’s tearing screams followed. She even grabbed Blanche’s wrist tightly.

“No! Irene, don’t go!”

Pierre, who couldn’t stand it, got up so quickly that the chair he was sitting on tipped over.

[T/N: Hi all! This is the end of Volume 1 (well somewhere in the middle of the chapter), can’t believe that  Ricardo still hasn’t escaped TT]