Ch#15
Edel, who had always been strong even while being used by her father's vulgar greed, had shown tears before me only once—when announcing her marriage to the Lancaster Duke.
I can't even count how many times I've regretted not trying harder to stop her then.
No, I shouldn't have given Edel a choice in the first place.
How could she possibly choose to 'run away' on her own? Why did I offer her the option of helping her escape? I should have just kidnapped her and hidden her away first.
'That marriage ultimately dragged Edel to ruin.'
If she hadn't married the Lancaster Duke, that noble Edel would never have been dragged off by a mercenary-born man.
Barbara took a deep breath and unfolded the letter again.
……I know you must be greatly worried, but I am doing well.
*Spoils of war*
*Duchess*
Count Criserus is curt but a gentlemanly man... (excerpt) I am working as a laundry maid here. Nothing more than a literal laundry maid—no vulgar affairs as others might imagine.
I am striving to get used to the work as quickly as possible, since my inexperience is causing trouble for those around me.
……(excerpt) Though it is improper for a mere maid like me to write directly to you, at Count Criserus's suggestion that only my reply would ease your mind, I send these words of well-being…
I also sincerely pray for your health and peace.
- With endless respect and affection, Edel.
Truly written by Lemon Frog
Barbara wiped away the tears that had suddenly welled up and read Edel's letter once more.
She carefully checked to ensure she hadn't missed any hidden plea for help, fearing inspection.
Yet Edel's writing style astonishingly resembled her own—calm and composed. Nowhere did it hint at the shock of any horrific ordeal.
The only thing that stood out was the repeated gratitude toward Count Criserus.
She must have written with inspection in mind, but it didn't seem merely intended to appease him.
Barbara had neither trusted nor acknowledged Laslo as a noble, worrying her letter might twist his judgment.
However, the mere fact that he hadn't laid a finger on Edel prompted Barbara to greatly revise her opinion of him.
- 2 -
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*Of course, it angers me that he's using Edel as a laundry maid, but treating the wife of a traitor as a noble would have been problematic too.*
Marsha was still lying in wait to pick faults, but since all Edel did was laundry, there was nothing to nitpick.
Even the fact that her wake-up time hadn't changed from her duchess days, nor were her duties more complex, made it easy.
"How can I save Edel? What must I do?"
Her workday even ended far earlier than during her duchess days, when wrestling with ledgers and documents until dawn was commonplace.
Moreover, gradually building bonds with the other maids was another factor helping her endure this life.
The closest was Daisy from the next room.
'If Count Criserus has any discernment, he won't keep Edel as a maid forever, but the issue is how good his judgment of people really is.'
"Ow, my shoulders. I mopped so much today my arms feel like they're going to fall off. Everything hurts."
Laslo remained an unverified man.
Daisy, as usual, brought a small loaf of bread to share and chattered away.
Of course, his martial prowess was perfectly proven by the last conquest war and the Lancaster Duke suppression, but compared to that fame, the man Laslo Criserus was shrouded in mystery.
Edel felt sorry seeing her pat her slender shoulders and asked,
Thus, countless rumors swirled, and few had met anyone who truly knew him.
Barbara clutched Edel's letter, pondering deeply before reaching a conclusion.
"Even guests coming? Such thorough mopping all of a sudden."
"No guests come here."
I need to meet Count Criserus myself...
Edel paused at Daisy's casual remark.
But he, basking in the emperor's favor, wouldn't grant a meeting with no gain. Thus, she needed bait to make Laslo want to see her.
And the most fitting bait was likely a declaration of support from the neutral House Celestine.
Come to think of it, it's been over a month since I arrived, and I've seen no visitors.
I should discuss with my son and daughter-in-law.
Though it was midwinter when travel was sparse, a great noble's mansion like an emperor's confidant should always have guests regardless of season.
Of course, she knew why no guests came to the Criserus mansion.
He generally accepted her opinions without resistance, but she wasn't sure about something for Edel, the former mistress of a traitorous house.
With a heavy heart, Barbara rose and headed to her son's study,
The rumors about Count Criserus weren't good. It was mostly his background...
limping on her bone-chilling left leg.
In truth, she too had initially formed a poor impression of Laslo.
Due to his unkempt hair and patchy beard, clothing out of step with high society fashion, scary expression and curt demeanor, and the terrifying rumors about him.
'Human adaptability is truly amazing.'
*In the empire, mercenaries are seen as people who would have become criminals if they couldn't make it as mercenaries.*
Feeling that she, who had been a duchess not long ago, was growing accustomed to laundry work, Edel chuckled softly. Piles of bleached-white rags lay beside her.
It was hard to view positively a profession that killed for money.
Perhaps overconfident, but she now felt she was pulling her weight in the laundry room.
Laslo even bore the nickname 'Mercenary King,' so nobles said granting him a countship was excessive despite his military merits.
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