Chapter 15
At Branda’s shout, Joshua let out a startled hiccup.
Then he ran out of the room as if fleeing.
“Joshua!”
Elysia called after him desperately, but the child who had dashed away like an arrow did not return.
Faced with the sudden turn of events, Elysia could only be horrified inside.
She had already realized from the lie that Branda’s intentions were deeply twisted, but to raise her voice in front of the Princess no less—
“Your Highness…”
Elysia hurriedly looked toward Sheila.
However, Sheila’s expression was anything but normal.
With killing intent filling her face, Sheila strode toward Branda and raised her hand high.
Smack!
Branda squeezed her eyes shut, but surprisingly, she felt no pain at all.
When she opened them, she saw Elysia standing in front of her, her head lowered.
“…Why are you…”
Branda muttered in confusion.
Caught off guard by the unexpected situation, Sheila hesitated and stepped back.
As she looked around, she noticed the maids watching nervously and Elysia, who had been slapped in her place.
Only then did the full situation gradually register in her mind, and Sheila turned her head from side to side in bewilderment.
“Your Highness.”
Maintaining her composure, Elysia gently took Sheila’s hand.
It was the same small hand that had struck her.
“No matter how angry you are, you must never hit someone.”
The hand she held was damp with sweat and trembling slightly.
Seeing fear in the child’s eyes from up close, Elysia continued.
“Hitting people is wrong.”
At Elysia’s firm voice, Sheila simply nodded, unable even to think of pulling her hand away.
Only then did Elysia offer a small smile.
Thankfully, it had been a child’s hand.
If someone else had struck her, her cheek would probably have swollen badly.
Just as the atmosphere began to ease slightly, Branda spoke.
“You’ve got some nerve, don’t you?”
When Elysia turned around, Branda rose from the floor and sneered.
“I was prepared to take that slap, but I never expected you to interfere and ruin it.”
“What do you mean?”
“So there would be clear evidence. And witnesses.”
Crossing her arms despite her disheveled appearance, Branda gestured with her chin toward the maids who still lingered in the room.
Not understanding, Elysia wrapped an arm protectively around Sheila behind her.
It was an unconscious act of protection.
Seeing that, Branda let out a scoff.
“What are you, her nanny? Anyone watching would think you were her mother, girl.”
“I asked what you meant.”
“How often do you think people of high rank come all the way to this room tucked away in the corner of the second floor? At most, there’s you, her assigned maid, or your little brother. The people in this mansion care even less about the Princess than you think.”
“…”
“Even His Grace finds her troublesome. Otherwise, would he have left his own sister in such a secluded room?”
Branda shook out her hair as she spoke, completely unrestrained despite saying it right in front of the person concerned.
“There are countless maids who have already given up on the Princess except for you. If we—or rather, if I—report this incident, what do you think will happen?”
“Her Highness could deny it herself. She saw and heard everything.”
Elysia refused to back down.
But Branda let out a deep sigh and muttered,
“This is why people from the countryside are impossible to reason with. Everyone knows the Princess never says a word. How is she supposed to deny anything? Besides the Princess, who else can testify? Ah, your brother? As if.”
It was blatant contempt and discrimination.
Just as Elysia’s expression twisted with anger, Branda glanced sideways at Sheila behind her.
“You chose the wrong side. I don’t know what tricks you used to get into the Grand Duke’s household, but who’s going to recognize a mute Princess who locks herself in her room and mistreats servants?”
“I will.”
Grinding her teeth, Elysia suppressed the urge to lunge at Branda immediately.
“I’m the one assigned to serve Her Highness. I was taught that serving a noble means even the maid must conduct herself properly.”
Though struggling to contain her fury, Elysia still kept one arm protectively around Sheila.
“What exactly gives you the confidence to slander her and behave so disrespectfully?”
“Hah. Who else is even here right now?”
At that moment—
Knock, knock.
Everyone turned toward the sound of knocking.
Standing in the wide-open doorway were Greta and Hilmaiton.
It was impossible to tell how long the two had been watching, but both wore expressionless faces.
“…How?”
Elysia murmured.
Stepping out from behind Hilmaiton was a sniffling Joshua.
Had he run straight to Hilmaiton after leaving?
While Elysia stared blankly, Branda was the first to panic.
“Assistant Hilmaiton, Head Maid Greta, this situation is completely—”
“There’s no need to discuss how much we heard.”
His sharp interruption instantly silenced Branda.
Hilmaiton looked from the frozen maids to Branda.
Then his gaze shifted to Elysia and Sheila, who was sheltered behind her.
After letting out a long breath, he spoke.
“Greta.”
“Yes, Assistant Hilmaiton.”
“I will report this matter to His Grace. The punishment will be announced separately.”
“Understood.”
“Send all the maids back to their quarters and place them under confinement. Make sure they do not encounter one another. I’ll arrange for supervisors to watch them.”
Greta silently nodded and looked at the maids.
The maids hesitantly began filing out of the room one by one.
As Branda, the last to leave, passed by, she heard Hilmaiton whisper.
“I sincerely hope you remain quiet and reflect on your actions. Depending on His Grace’s decision, your family residence may be contacted.”
At that chilling whisper, Branda’s face turned pale as she staggered away.
Following the Head Maid, the departing maids looked like criminals heading toward execution.
Before anyone realized it, only Elysia and Sheila remained in the room.
When Hilmaiton lightly patted Joshua on the shoulder, the boy finally burst into tears and ran toward Elysia.
“Noonaaa!!!”
Elysia opened her arms and caught her younger brother in a tight embrace.
“How did you… think to go to Assistant Hilmaiton?”
“Hil—hic—Hilmaiton… said… if anything happened… I should tell him…”
“Right, right.”
Elysia gently patted Joshua’s back to comfort him.
Then she noticed Sheila lingering nearby, unable to leave and glancing around uncertainly.
Quietly, Elysia extended one arm toward her.
Sheila stared at the outstretched arm, as though it were inviting her into its embrace.
She caught sight of the faint wounds and swelling that had not yet completely faded.
And Elysia’s face as well…
Pressing her lips tightly together, Sheila slowly moved forward and stepped into her embrace.
She did not know why, but she felt as though it was all right to do so.
Feeling as though tears might spill out at any moment, Sheila buried her face deep against Elysia’s chest.
Caught off guard, Elysia found herself holding both children in her arms.
Only then did the tension finally leave her body, and she let out a long breath.
Watching the scene from the doorway, Hilmaiton sank into thought.
The room was in complete disarray.
And in the middle of it stood Elysia, holding two children close.
The Grand Duke will be returning to the estate soon.
Quietly, Hilmaiton closed the door.
He had expected friction among the servants sooner or later.
But—
“I will.”
The image of Elysia standing her ground remained vivid in his mind.
More than anyone else, she had shown determination and strength.
Rubbing the stiffness at the back of his neck, Hilmaiton muttered,
“Where should I even begin the report?”
Still, one thing was certain.
Now that the servants’ actions had come fully to light, there was no way this matter could be swept under the rug.
Just then, as he casually turned his head toward the window overlooking the corridor, he spotted a familiar face riding toward the estate, followed by a group of knights.
“The report and punishment won’t take long after all.”
Murmuring those words, he turned and headed toward the Grand Duke’s office.
