Chapter : 08
“Unni, sister-in-law!”
Bang!
The door slammed shut right in front of her face as she was shoved out near the entrance.
Blanche, biting her lip in anxiety, quickly composed her expression when she spotted the holy knights approaching from afar.
Ah, what do I do? I can’t possibly say that painting isn’t mine. I’ve already applied to become an apprentice painter at the Kaelras ducal house!
Being a painter at least gave her an excuse to talk to them.
The reason Blanche had stolen the painting and claimed it as her own was simple.
Duke Kaelras!
I want to marry him!
The Kaelras Ducal House of the North.
Ever since some time ago, his portrait had been circulating among marriageable noble ladies in the capital.
Adults avoided him, saying the family was cursed across generations, but such rumors meant nothing to young ladies obsessed with romance.
A husband only needed looks, body, and power—nothing more!
She didn’t know what kind of personality Duke Kaelras had, but in those aspects alone, he was the perfect husband.
I got so many envious looks just because I applied to be a painter at the Kaelras house. I can’t lose that.
I don’t want to be laughed at!
Pacing anxiously down the hallway, Blanche finally decided she would go cry and complain to her mother.
My brother always listens to Mother.
The reason she had come here in the first place was because of her brother.
She had been told to go apologize properly because his new sister-in-law seemed very upset.
Hmph. Just you wait. That painting is mine.
Who would give it up so easily?
Even as she walked in small hurried steps, she shrank her shoulders in unease.
No way… surely not…
Would they really humiliate me in front of everyone? They don’t have the guts.
* * *
“So she has no intention of returning my painting peacefully, after all.”
A few days later, Iona’s confinement was finally lifted.
Naturally, Blanche never once came to visit during that time.
Neither Felix nor Griselda showed any sign of life either.
She hadn’t expected them, nor had she waited.
Instead, she had been thinking only about how to get back at them.
“Madam, I’ll change all the bedding! I feel so bad I couldn’t clean for days—oh my, my heart just can’t take it!”
Tara, who had come after a long time, opened the window wide and busied herself around the room.
Iona, sitting on the sofa and sipping tea, glanced at her before noticing something and placing her cup down.
“Tara.”
“Yes?”
“Go stand over there, then walk back here.”
Step, step.
Her long maid uniform hid it somewhat, but it was obvious.
Tara’s walking was strange.
And pretending not to, she kept glancing at the clock.
“Lift your skirt.”
“Ma-Madam…”
“Turn around and lift it.”
At the short command, Tara shut her eyes tightly and raised her skirt hem.
And a moment later.
Iona fell silent.
Her leg was bruised—dark blue and yellow, as if it had been beaten repeatedly over time.
This was not something that happened in just one or two days.
“It was the Grand Lady Griselda, wasn’t it?”
“I-I…”
“Don’t lie. Tell me. Who did this?”
Tara wasn’t her personal maid, just one of the many cleaning maids. That was why they hadn’t expected retaliation to reach her.
“I’m really okay, Madam.”
“No. It looks like bruises over bruises. Did they call you in at the same time every day to beat you?”
“That’s…”
“Griselda ordered it. The head maid did the beating.”
Iona was no longer asking—she was confirming.
Tara’s gentle face crumpled as tears filled her eyes.
“Yes, Madam. T-that’s right.”
“Why?”
“I-I brought bread… and apples…”
“What!”
Such a petty reason.
Rye bread and apples were food distributed even to maids.
Just for that, they did this?
[Constellation ‘Master of Lies’ observes the situation with interest.]
[Constellation ‘Revenge Service No.1’ is enraged that this is unjust!]
[Constellation ‘ My husband was torn into 14 pieces, what do I do’ says this is clearly to weaken your influence in the household.]
There was nothing wrong with the last message.
They’re trying to isolate me so no one takes my side. The maids didn’t listen to Griselda last time.
And they probably wanted revenge too.
Iona calmly assessed the situation and pointed to the sofa opposite her.
“Sit there. You can barely stand, can you?”
“Huh? But how could someone like me possibly sit on a sofa…”
“Sit. I don’t like repeating myself.”
After forcing Tara to sit, Iona stood up.
She pulled out paper and a pen from the desk and placed them in front of her.
“You can write, can’t you? That’s basic training for a Teresia maid, I believe.”
“Yes, I can w-write.”
“Then write as I dictate.”
[Constellation ‘Serious about punishing cheaters’ wonders what she’s planning.]
Ignoring the shimmering messages, Iona smiled faintly.
“‘It was unpleasant working with you. I can’t keep working in a place that pays so miserably.’”
“W-what?!”
“Oh, the title is resignation letter.”
I should’ve said that first. How careless of me.
While the dazed Tara tremblingly wrote it down, Iona pulled the servant bell cord.
She knew once wouldn’t be enough, so she yanked it repeatedly like pumping water—though she would never admit it.
“Did you call, young madam?”
After a long wait, the butler finally appeared reluctantly.
He was an 80-year-old strict old man who had devoted his entire life to the Teresia household. Just as rigid and unfriendly as Griselda’s other half.
Arms crossed, Iona gave her orders.
“Call the head maid too. If she doesn’t come within five minutes, things will get worse than last time.”
“Please restrain yourself, young madam. If such things happen again, the lord will punish you severely.”
“Anyone listening would think you’re the lord.”
At her mocking tone, the butler, Luxen, frowned.
In his eyes, Iona was being reckless.
What kind of lady of the house would destroy paintings and sculptures, the family’s treasured possessions?
As expected, a low-born woman who serves Isys cannot be trusted.
She should have married a proper, devout lady who served Baldur!
But even as he raged internally, he could feel it.
That isn’t an empty threat.
How much time had been spent cleaning up the chaos she had caused before?
His beautiful mansion had been completely ruined…
Remembering that incident, Luxen’s mustache trembled.
“Let’s see… Felix is probably at work. We could even hire mercenaries in the meantime and tear this place down.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“You talked back. Add arson to the list. Naturally, I’ll charge the Teresia family for it. And all responsibility will fall on you.”
“…!”
What kind of person was this?!
She had seemed quiet not long ago, but now she was outrageous.
And the worst part was—it didn’t feel like empty bluffing. She might actually do it.
“What I want is simple. Bring the head maid. Can’t even do that? What a useless butler.”
“…I’ll… bring her.”
Calling the head maid was, in fact, a rightful request. The butler had no authority to refuse it.
And if the “young madam” did something extreme out of displeasure, and he failed to comply…
Yes.
Ultimately, responsibility would fall on him.
The butler gritted his teeth and turned away.
Iona snorted softly at his retreating figure.
He looks like he’s heading straight to Griselda to report this.
