Chapter 9
Episode 9
Instead of handling delicate laundry that required finesse but less physical effort and used warm water—like the clothes of the master siblings—the task assigned to Edel was piles of bed sheets and single-layer blankets, tablecloths, towels and dishcloths used in the estate, napkins and various covers, and even mops.
*At least it's a relief that the servants handle their own clothes and undergarments.*
As Celia had instructed, Edel sat on the wooden chair in front of the large tub and began washing the towering stack of mops first.
The water was already cold in late autumn, but thinking of how much colder it would get, she couldn't complain yet.
“Since it's your first day, I'm assigning you the easiest things to wash... the mops and dishcloths. You just have to beat them with the laundry bat until they're white. It shouldn't be hard... right?”
Whether this was truly the easiest task was questionable, but Edel nodded without objection.
Just kneading the mops a few times turned the water in the tub murky black.
*Spoils of war*
*Duchess*
What had these been used to wipe?
Repulsive imaginings kept surfacing, but she tried to push them aside—or rather, tried to think of nothing at all—as she continued washing.
The other person in the laundry room, Layla, had also taken her seat by then, and soon the room filled with the chatter of Celia and Layla, along with the sounds of scrubbing laundry.
The laundry room suddenly fell silent about an hour after they started.
*Written by ruly lemon frog*
“Ahem!”
At the sound of Marsha's sudden fake cough upon arrival, Celia and Layla abruptly stopped talking and silently focused on their washing.
Marsha paced between them, pretending to check the laundry, and predictably stopped in front of Edel.
“What's this?”
Edel's body stiffened at the sudden accusatory tone.
However, as if wanting her to panic more, Marsha lifted a fully washed mop with her fingertips, shook it lightly, and dropped it to the floor.
- 2 -
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“Hey, Duchess. Did they wipe banisters with filthy mops like this in the Lancaster Duke's residence? In this house, you'd get your hair yanked by Lady Lynia for it.”
A gloomy atmosphere spread like storm clouds. Still, all she could do now was wash the mop even cleaner.
But the mop Marsha had dropped was nearly spotless. The faint remaining stains were old ones that wouldn't come out no matter how much she scrubbed.
Of course, protesting would only bring louder scolding and mockery.
The head maid was trampling on her days as duchess to show off her power.
*She's picking on the hands of someone starting work today for being too soft.*
How sweet it must be—the reversal of power, lording over a noble.
The Canian Count family, who had shoved their blooming daughter into the elderly duke's arms to worm their way in, had once been on the brink of extermination.
Yet Dustin Canian had slyly navigated the crisis this time too with quick calculations and a glib tongue.
Edel suppressed her churning stomach once more.
“Please believe me, Your Majesty. How could I refuse the Lancaster Duke's coercive orders? He forcibly took my daughter Edel and still wasn't satisfied, threatening me to assist in this matter.”
“I'm sorry. It's my first time, so I rushed. I'll wash it again.”
Everyone in society knew he had done everything possible to marry into one of the 'Four Great Houses,' yet he insisted she had been 'taken.'
“You talk well. You're going easy to keep those pretty hands nice, and that's the result! What good are soft hands for a laundry maid?”
Of course, his plea had been accepted thanks to trading confidential information and a massive bribe.
“Damn it...”
Still, Edel bowed her head.
Dustin ground his teeth, checking his halved fortune.
“I'll work harder.”
“That's obvious. Celia! Don't go easy on her—keep a close eye! Who knows what dangerous schemes a traitor's accomplice might plot?”
“That senile old fool, getting delusions of grandeur at the end...!”
The term for Edel had finally sunk to 'that bitch.'
The secret duchy independence plan had been discovered prematurely because the Lancaster Duke, believing himself future king, grew arrogant and lax.
Edel nearly twitched her brows but clenched her molars and maintained her expression to the end.
Even knowing the incompetent father-turned-emperor Dimarcus was desperate to strengthen imperial power!
What they wanted was for her to get excited and rebel. That would give them an excuse to crush her thoroughly.
*There's no need for that... I just want to quietly wash laundry for the rest of my life.*
“I thought it would succeed if we just held on a bit longer, but the emperor decided to make an example of us.”
The Lancaster Duke's house had been as powerful as the imperial family, making it the perfect target for an example.
Edel pitied herself for being worn out at just twenty-four, but she now knew sweet moments had no place in her life.
In truth, a few years ago, the emperor couldn't have touched the Lancaster Duke's house.
So she only prayed she could live contentedly with this much.
The man who made it all possible was 'Mercenary King' Laslo Crisus, who led the mercenaries and sided with the emperor.
As she meekly bowed her head repeatedly, apologizing profusely, Marsha scowled in dissatisfaction but couldn't find more fault and left.
After Marsha departed, Celia and Layla whispered to each other, glancing at Edel.
“Some bastard becomes a count...! Damn it! Damn it!”
What would become of her now?
Even more infuriating was that the emperor had bestowed Edel, once the Lancaster Duchess, upon Laslo.
Not out of sympathy for her daughter's hardship, but as a warning to the anti-emperor nobles—more precisely, the Canian Count family. That's why she couldn't contain her anger.
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