Chapter 46


    <strong><em>Chapter 46</em></strong>


    It wasn’t like Cami didn’t know what I was talking about. She might just be pretending to be clueless.


    “When someone has been in power for a long time, he or she tends to be negligent. I’m wary of that happening in this household,” I persuaded Cami further. “A temporary demotion ismonce everywhere. It’s just like a probation.”


    <i>Knock, knock.</i>


    “I brought the tea, Madam.”


    Greta appeared with a tray in her hands. She seemed to have noticed the tension in the air, but she continued walking toward us without letting it show.


    “Greta, you came just in time.”


    “Yes, Madam.”


    Greta looked down slightly and nced in my direction.


    “I heard you’ve been abusing your authority as the head maid. So Selena here is asking for your temporary demotion.”


    “…”


    After the prolonged silence, Greta lowered her gaze and spoke.


    “I am just one servant among many. Sometimes, coercive means are needed to make them follow,” she said calmly. “Perhaps there may have been someints with my methods.”


    Greta looked into my eyes.


    “…”


    “But this was all ording to my loyalty to you, Madam. I have to be strict lest everyone be inefficient with their work.”


    Greta defended herself in a rxed manner.


    It was like a dictator rationalizing her dictatorship.


    Above all, the confidence she carried herself with was based on the fact that she was confident in the support of the greatest wielder of power in this household.


    So I decided to hit Cami where it hurts.


    “But what if it was Amoide’s room and not mine?”


    Cami’s eyes trembled as soon as Amoide’s name left my lips.


    “Imagine if that snake had entered Amoide’s room… Goodness, isn’t it horrible just thinking about it, Mother?”


    “…”


    Cami bit her lower lip as the scene yed out in her head. Of course it would be terrible. Any mother would think this.


    “As Mother had said just earlier, Amoide is still weak. And a snake bite would be more lethal to himpared to other people.”


    Then, I lowered my voice in the most sullen tone I could emte.


    “Think about it, Mother. What would happen if Amoide gets bitten by a snake?”


    This time, Cami’s eyes quivered even more.


    “That’s why you can’t just let this pass.”


    “Madam!”


    Greta’s sudden exmation almost made me drop the teacup I was holding.


    “Greta?”


    Greta was on her knees in front of Cami.


    “I’ve lived my entire life serving the Madam sincerely.”


    “It’s a temporary demotion, Greta.”


    Temporary, not permanent.


    Greta looked absolutely crestfallen, as if she was about to lose her life instead of her job, and just temporarily, too, because it was only for a certain period of time.


    “If I’m not by the Madam’s side, the household would not be managed properly,” Greta said as she clung to the skirt of Cami’s dress. “The Madam is already busy taking care of His Grace’s health, and there’s a lot of other things that need your attention, so if I’m not here…”


    Cami’s eyes shook again at Greta’s plea. However, I emphasized again—


    “Amoide could have been in danger.”


    Every time Greta and I took turns to say something, Cami would teeter from one side to another.


    I never knew Cami was this indecisive.


    ‘You’re weaker than I thought for Greta.’


    Well, I knew that Greta was a maid from Cami’s family from when she wasn’t married yet, but why did she cherish the maid so much? It’s to the point that it really got me jealous.


    The trust she had in Greta was unique because it was fostered since she was young, but I didn’t know that Cami, who was a snooty noblewoman to the core, had this side to her.


    Then, while Cami was still conflicted between me and Greta, someone intervened.


    “What if it’s mymand, Mother?”


    It was a familiar voice. But it was a voice that I never thought I’d hear at this moment.


    I turned my gaze behind me immediately.


    “Amoide.”


    My contract husband was here.


    ‘Why did youe here?’


    Whether or not he could hear what I was thinking, Amoide walked towards me and stood beside me.


    “Amoide?”


    Thoroughly surprised, Cami could only stare at her son.


    “Why… What brings you here?”


    “I’m here to tell you something,” he said, looking alternately between me and Greta. “I think Greta needs to reflect on what it means to be the head maid.”


    “Amoide?” Cami looked up at him, and for a moment, it was like she couldn’t recognize her own son.


    “Other than the snake showing upst night, there are more reasons to hold her ountable.” Amoide maintained a calm demeanor. “It hasn’t been mentioned yet, but there was a servant that came to me earlier and said that the Duchess had disappeared.”


    “It’s only because the Duchess has suddenly disappeared, Your Grace. I was only worried…” Greta hastily defended herself, but it didn’t work.


    “Rather than concern, you were sowing seeds of doubt.”


    Amoide spoke in a dry tone.


    “I-I heard that the Young Madam sneaked out of the estate!”


    “My wife was with me.”


    “B-But it wasn’t even the designated day.”


    Greta struggled to get the words out.


    “Do I have to get your permission, Greta?”


    However, only a cold voice answered her.


    “I-I’m just…”


    Her face was so pale as she looked up at Amoide.


    “I’ll say it again. Selena was with mest night.”


    His low voice wasn’t loud at all, but there was a considerable pressure carrying it.


    To the point that goosebumps rose up my spine.


    ‘This is the kind of man he really is.’


    I trembled under the pressure he exuded. And seeing Greta as the target for this hostility… It almost made me feel sorry for her.


    ‘If it was me…’


    Just imagining it was scary. I even thought it’s lucky that it wasn’t me in her position.


    Cami watched everything unfold with a strange look on her face.


    “I didn’t know you love your wife this much, Amoide.”


    “…”


    “…”


    “I am the lord of this estate and the head of the Efret family. Even if I’m sick.”


    “I know,” Cami said with a frown.


    “If my wife’s honor is tarnished, this is a direct challenge to my own honor.”


    His icy blue eyes turned towards Greta.


    “A mere maid did something that could have tarnished the Duchess’ reputation.”


    Cami’s eyes quivered nervously at Amoide’s words.


    “I respect your opinions, Amoide.”


    At Cami’s words, Greta looked at her master in surprise.


    “…Greta. Heed the Duke’s order.”


    “Madam…”


    Greta was stunned by Cami’s assent, then her eyes flitted to me.


    ‘This is an unexpected development.’


    I looked up at Amoide in a stupor, and he met my gaze before wordlessly walking out of the room.


    ‘He’s being weird.’


    He looked the same on the outside, but there was something I couldn’t put my finger on that seemed off.


    ‘Did I dream that up or something?’


    Towards a formidable man who exuded such a presence… it was strange to feel that way.


    “Wait.”


    I tried to follow Amoide out, but Cami stopped me, so I had to sit back down.


    “Greta’s position is now currently vacant, so someone will need to rece her in the meantime.”


    “Yes.”


    I felt so nervous anticipating her next words.


    “I have a lot of things on my te. Social gatherings, external activities, and my work with Her Majesty the Empress.”


    “I am aware.”


    Cami was actually a very busy person. Ever since her husband, the previous Duke, passed away and from when Amoide got bedridden, she took up the role of the family head.


    She wasn’t a knight, so most of her activities mainly focused on work within the Imperial Pce and with social circles. That’s why she left the household’s internal affairs to Greta while she was outside.


    “You will need to take care of the estate for a while.”


    “…”


    “You don’t want to?”


    “That’s not the case, Mother.”


    I shook my head quickly.


    “I’ll do my best. Thank you for trusting me.”


    I curtsied low and turned my head to the side to avoid Greta’s intense re.


    Anyway, it all worked out as I hoped. It was a smoother ride than I thought it’d be.


    But I couldn’t forget how Amoide looked earlier.


    <center>* * *</center>


    As soon as I left Cami’s room, I rushed to Amoide’s.


    “Um, Amoide.”


    When I entered, Amoide was in his usual spot by the window.


    “You juste here whenever you want now, huh?”


    He replied with a curt tone, but I carefully studied his mood.


    “What do you want?”


    “Are you feeling well?”


    “…”


    He just stared at me without answering.


    “I thought you looked a bit under the weather earlier when you were at Mother’s room.”


    “Did it seem like that?”


    “You’re okay, right?”


    “It’s only because it’s spring that I feel drowsier.”


    He leaned his head against the window frame and closed his eyes.


    “Well, um… Thank you.”


    “For what?”


    “You took my side.”


    What he did was really unexpected. He took my side against his mother’s and listened to my opinions.


    “Did I?”


    …But of course, he wouldn’t admit it.


    His tired face gradually became redder by the second.