Jamie was a terrible maid.
Earlier, she only cleaned up the surrounding area and didn't say anything after seeing the blood on the pillow.
Even a tiny consolation, there was nothing.
Even though Jamie knew that something was wrong with the poor state of her master, she still complained and got irritated. Maybe that's why I don't feel bad to see her look so terrified at this moment. Rather, I feel relieved.
"Jamie, you're never a greedy child. There must be a reason for such behavior, don't you think?" I said, tucking her gray hair behind her ear.
Of course, it's a lie that Jamie was not greedy for luxury. She has often seen my dresses and accessories with envious eyes since childhood.
Jamie was just envious, never overstepping her boundaries and touching my stuff.
I spared her no mercy. It was because I was afraid of the consequences after she steals from me.
She was my maid, until up to some point of contact with Cecilia.
What kind of words did she utter to this maid to have the courage to do this?
"Jamie, if you don't tell me, I won't forgive you. This is my last mercy to you."
Then, in a hastily weeping voice, Jamie finally blurted out the reason.
"I-It's because... I just wanted to look good on Cecilia."
"Cecilia? Why?"
"She said she wanted me to be her maid. But I've worked for my lady for a long time so she can't trust me easily. I was thinking of bringing her valuables as a token of trust.”
As Jaime spoke something that doesn't make sense, I shook my head.
She's already my exclusive maid. Nothing is lacking in this position. Even in the past I just turned a blind eye to Jamie's faults and kept her by my side. It wasn't because she was particularly good at her job. She was just lucky.
We're also the same age.
There was only one. She has basic work skills, but that's all.
She's the exclusive maid of the Duke's daughter, and whatever she wants, it will be a huge luxury for her.
I wanted to kick her out right now, but I still had a lot to say.
Jamie added, clasping her hands together in a more polite gesture as I looked down coldly at her.
"In the past, when Cecilia stayed in this mansion for a while, she told me that if she had a maid of her own, she would certainly pair her up with a distinguished knight....”
The master acts as a matchmaker between the knight and the maid. That's absurd.
The knights are also nobles. Even if it's not about making a maid a concubine, ordering a knight to make her the legal wife is tantamount to insulting him.
Jamie certainly didn't even know about this fact. Did you really believe her nonsense and done this dreadful thing?
I was furious that I had suffered because of such a stupid girl.
And Jamie, as she may not know, did not end up as Cecilia's maid before I returned to the past. Perhaps Cecilia knew that Jamie wasn't worth much.
But for me, Jamie was now a pretty useful hand. It was rather fortunate that she had not yet fully obeyed Cecilia.
"Poor Jamie, you've been deceived! She made a lot of promises to me and never kept them. I was enduring with all on my own because she was my best friend. And yet she has created such tragedy!”
I spoke dramatically. To further highlight that she had been deceived and let her know that this is a huge incident, I looked down slightly to appear frail and Jamie was looking at me with a shocked face.
"Is that, is that true?"
"Yes, she has a knack for making lies truths. First, I thought she was giving me real promises, but it was never kept."
"Ah, but...!"
With shaky eyes, Jamie tried to gauge whether what I said was true or not.
At this moment, there was no wicked young lady that has committed violence against herself but an unfortunate master that is in the same position as her.
My image reflected in Jamie's eyes was pitiful enough to arouse one's sympathy with just one look.
Platinum blonde hair was damp with sweat and a few strands got stuck to the face, and fair skin had turned paler. Light blue eyes held water in as if tears were about to pour out.
This was because I spent a lot of energy hitting Jamie and getting angry to the point of tears, but the current Jamie won't be able to think that way.
"Jamie, just think about it. Among the maids around you, has there ever been a case where a knight married a maid on the orders of a noble? Innocent Jamie almost lost her job as my precious maid."
Jamie clenched her fist. Only then did she realize that she had been deceived, and looked into the distance with furious eyes.
You're probably thinking about Cecilia right now. So you have come to a conclusion with that little head of yours?
I turned away from Jamie and stood by the window. I pulled the curtains to the side and opened the window, and the pleasant wind gently dried my damp hair.
It was still a little cold, but spring was coming.
How many people are on my side in this mansion right now?
A cute little young lady lost her family and entered this large mansion alone. Everyone must have felt sympathy towards her.
Jamie quickly shifted on my side, but I couldn't trust her. How can I trust a maid who changes her master just for a man?
I looked at the maids greeting me with their heads facing down while I'm on my way to the dining hall. They're bowing but their loyalty won't be dedicated to me.
Cecilia wasn't there when I got past them. There were only my father, my mother, and maids who were serving our meal.
I greeted them in a simple, pretentious way and then sat down. It was a very insincere greeting, but it was polite enough.
There was nothing more to say to them. From my past experiences, I realized that in order to live in this house, I had to stand on my own.
I had no intention of clinging to them for the rest of my life.
"Cecilia will be here soon."
I wasn't even curious about the absent person, but it was Father who announced it. I answered with my head down.
"Yes, it was so sudden that she came last night that I didn't even welcome her. I'd like to say my greetings properly today."
My mother looked at me with loving eyes.
As I sat down and glanced at my father, I could see his eyes slightly drooping. He's quite proud of his own daughter who hasn't said a single word of complaint despite having brought a foster daughter without her consultation. Unbelievable.
Even though what I said was obviously sarcasm, it was funny that you interpreted it positively as you wished.
It was only now that I wasn't pleased to hear their praise.
Until I get out of Hailon, I'll play a harmonious family only to an extent. But before I get out of here, they won't see much.
They abandoned me quite easily, but I had nothing in me to get even with them.
Perhaps if it hadn't been for that incident, I'd rather crave their affection. Terribly so.
After returning to the past, my father and mother appeared as if they're family but not exactly family.
Perhaps because I've been apart from them for a long time. Or perhaps because they didn't trust me during that incident.
Whatever it was, I couldn't feel as much love from them as I used to.
Then the door opened and Cecilia came in. Cecilia let her long black hair down and was wearing ruby earrings crafted in a shape of a rose.
She looked at us for a moment and soon bobbed into a clumsy curtsy as she greeted us. She was fidgeting as if she doesn't know how to say her greetings to her new family.
Cecilia looked as if she had forgotten her sad days and was about to make a fresh start. But the red-rimmed eyes were telling us she was not out of grief yet.
Perhaps my father also noticed it, so he stood up and led her to her seat.
"Did you feel any discomfort last night? Our house might have been unfamiliar to you since you haven't been here for a long time."
"For me, this place is like my home. Ah... Silly me. It's also because my old friend, Rose is here."
She looked so lovely when she shyly said that to my father. I can't show that kind of loveliness in this life. To get revenge properly, I had to show myself as I am.
I've gotten a little cranky due to a rough, crude life but I'm still elegant and attractive.
I'll take off that mask of yours for myself. That mask of a young princess who will be loved by everyone and could easily kill a weak, and foolish clown.
"Yes, Cecilia, I'm with you. Let me know whenever you feel uncomfortable." I spoke with an air of acceptance. Then the end of my gaze was directed at her red earrings.
It was also the finest rubies that sparkled even when slightly hidden behind those curtains of hair. The color was intense as if it was emitting its existence for all of us to see.
That's why I was not the only one who noticed its existence. My mother also looked at Cecilia's earrings.
Comments
Post a Comment