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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Crossing the Line
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Audrey was bewildered by the absurd accusation. Why would Amy's necklace be found in her room?
"What, that's ridiculous! I've never even seen Amy's necklace!"
"Then why was the necklace found in your room? You're the Madam's prized maid, so you even have a room to yourself."
One of the maids sneered. As the Madam's personal maid, Audrey received special treatment, occupying the largest single room.
This was convenient for serving Aracilla, but in the current situation, it worked against her. Since she had the room to herself, it couldn't be argued that someone else had planted it.
"I really didn't steal it!"
"Are you going to keep denying it, Audrey? Everyone knows you've been arrogant, riding on the Madam's favor!"
"What nonsense..."
Audrey felt dizzy. She had always been careful, knowing her conduct reflected on Aracilla's reputation.
Even when the other maids deliberately ostracized and ignored her, she had kept silent and endured it.
"Even so, it's too much to brazenly lay hands on my mother's keepsake!"
Amy cried out. Audrey realized for the first time that when someone is too flustered, words don't come out properly.
"No... I really didn't do it, I tell you?!"
"Stop lying! You ignored us, and now you just snatch a nice-looking necklace? How truly materialistic!"
Under the fierce assault of Amy's faction of maids, the murmuring inside the dining hall grew louder. Unfortunately for Audrey, the atmosphere was turning against her.
Unable to respond when facing so many alone, Audrey's arms were seized by the maids, who pulled her to her feet.
"What, what are you doing!"
"We're going to officially report you to the Head Maid. If you stole someone else's necklace, you deserve to be punished."
"Let go of me!"
Audrey struggled. She had noticed that the Head Maid had always shown unusual favor to Rosalyn's group.
If she was dragged away like this, she would clearly face an unjust outcome, but with several people holding and dragging her, she had no way to resist.
"Head Maid, Head Maid!"
"What's all this commotion?"
"Audrey stole Amy's necklace!"
"And what's more, it's the only jewel necklace Amy's deceased mother left her!"
The Head Maid frowned and turned to Audrey. In fact, she had already been tipped off about the current situation by Rosalyn.
Rosalyn had claimed she found suspicious documents in Aracilla's dressing room but was caught by Audrey before she could take them out.
So, they needed to silence Audrey, and since she couldn't be easily removed, Rosalyn would provide an excuse to frame her as a thief and have her expelled. She had asked for the Head Maid's cooperation.
"What? Is that true?"
The Head Maid reacted exaggeratedly, widening her eyes. Audrey frantically shook her head.
"No, Head Maid! I'm innocent!"
"The necklace was found in your room, and you're still denying it to the end?! Head Maid, I don't want to work with a liar like Audrey anymore!"
Rosalyn asserted strongly from among the maids. Audrey stared at her with a dumbfounded expression.
"Rosalyn, you..."
"The Vandermir Estate strictly punishes theft! I will report this matter to the Master, so for now, lock Audrey in the shed."
"Yes, Head Maid!"
The maids excitedly dragged Audrey away. As Audrey struggled in her indignation, she was slapped several times by them.
Her mouth split open, and the coppery taste of blood filled it instantly.
"You're a thief, so you deserve it!"
"That's right, if you don't want more, stay still!"
Under their harsh threats, Audrey had no choice but to fall silent. The maids threw her down like a pile of straw and locked the shed door.
Rosalyn, who had subtly slipped away from the maids exhilarated by their false sense of justice, went back to the Head Maid.
"You know we have to get rid of her before the Madam arrives, right?"
"Don't worry, the Master said he'd be home early today. The Madam is always late, so we should be able to get her out before then."
Normally, managing the maids was the responsibility of Aracilla, the lady of the house, but the Head Maid deliberately intended to report it to Demian.
This was because she was certain that someone of his cold and strict nature would immediately order the expulsion of a maid who had stolen.
"Even if there's trouble later, we can just say we expelled her with the Master's permission."
"Good. Then tomorrow, I'll secretly take those documents to the Vandermir Ducal Family."
Rosalyn and the Head Maid, having devised a rather plausible plan, exchanged smiles.
* * *
"You shouldn't do that, Aracilla."
Paula said, setting down her water glass. She and Aracilla were having lunch at a restaurant near the Magic Tower.
"Even without this, you'll be busy with Magic Tower work and often away from the estate. Why not use your free time to focus on managing the staff?"
Aracilla chewed the food in her mouth, listening to her friend with wide eyes.
"It's not that you're an easy target, but if you're so lenient without saying anything, they'll take advantage of you, you know?"
"Are the existing staff really that foolish? I didn't even bring any maids from outside, so it should be easier for them to do their work."
Hearing that, Paula sighed.
"That's precisely what worries me."
"Why?"
"Aracilla, do you know why women bring their own maids when they marry?"
Paula leaned across the table towards her friend, speaking seriously.
"Some maids are severely territorial towards the new Madam or refuse to acknowledge and serve her as their mistress. To prevent that, they bring their own people."
The existing maids belonged to the husband. If relations soured, the wife would have no one to rely on. That's why most women brought their own maids when they married.
"But you don't have anyone on your side besides Audrey. How can you live comfortably at home like that?"
Home, she thought.
In truth, Aracilla still hadn't grown attached to the Vandermir Estate. Until her divorce, it didn't feel like her own home.
Perhaps that's why she was leniently overlooking the maids' impudence.
After all, one usually tolerates a bit of inconvenience in someone else's house.
"They say in the old days, they used to discipline maids with a switch."
"Who uses such old-fashioned methods these days?"
"I'm not saying you should hit them. But at least dismiss a few maids you don't like as an example."
Aracilla wrinkled her nose at her friend's words.
While the estate maids had been displaying some unruly behavior lately, she didn't want to dismiss them on a whim and make their livelihoods difficult.
So far, no one had crossed the line, and their antics were still within a level Aracilla could tolerate.
"Anyway, you'd better make it clear that you're the mistress of this house. Otherwise, they might not see you as their master and ignore you."
"Alright. I'll think about it."
"Ugh, at least you don't live with the Vandermir Ducal Family. That's a relief."
Paula shook her head.
As she said, the Duke's Family resided in the ducal territory, while Aracilla lived in the capital with Demian.
It was at least fortunate that she wouldn't have to endure all sorts of hardships living under the same roof as her husband's family.
"At any rate, for your own sake, pay some attention to how things are run in the estate. Understand?"
"I get it, I get it."
Aracilla, who had been hearing a lot of this kind of nagging since her marriage, nodded vaguely.
After dining with her friend, Aracilla returned to the Magic Tower and focused on finishing her remaining work. She had told Audrey she would be leaving early, and her junior colleagues wouldn't leave until she did.
Thanks to this, Aracilla finished her work earlier than the official closing time and rose from her seat.
"Good work today."
"Yes, Senior. You worked hard today. You're going home early for once, aren't you?"
Rudy, who peeked his head over a tall stack of books, widened his eyes. Sally also looked surprised.
"Why, is that not allowed?"
"Of course not! You're newlyweds, after all! Sally and I were actually worried because you haven't been going home at all since you got married."
"That's right, we were hesitant to ask... but you're getting along well with your husband, aren't you?"
Before her marriage, Aracilla had frequently left work early under the pretense of seeing Demian. In reality, it was due to issues with the prenuptial agreement, but her juniors had no way of knowing that.
They had thought she was doing it because she liked and missed Demian, so when her behavior changed after marriage, they secretly worried that her marital life might have hit a snag.
'I guess I really need to show some devotion to my home now.'
It seemed she had revealed her workaholic nature too quickly. Aracilla, realizing her mistake, waved her hand to reassure her juniors.
"Of course we're getting along well. I just can't abandon my research just because I'm married, so both of you, put your unnecessary worries aside."
"Understood, Senior."
"Alright, you two should finish up and head home too. See you tomorrow."
Aracilla gave a brief wave and left the Magic Tower. Since their senior had left first, Rudy and Sally would soon head home too.
How long had it been since she left work while the sun was still out?
With light steps, she headed straight back to the Vandermir Estate. Since she had resolved to focus on her new home, she didn't even stop by the Hugo Marquisate.
Entering through the main gate with a sense of satisfaction, Aracilla soon felt a pang of doubt.
'Hmm? Something feels off?'
Audrey, who always came out to greet her first, was nowhere to be seen.
What's more, for some reason, hardly any other maids were visible either.
"Welcome, Madam."
"Butler, where's Audrey?"
The butler, who wasn't well-versed in maid affairs, shook his head with a puzzled expression.
Unable to find Audrey among the maids who came to greet her, Aracilla ascended to her room alone, feeling perplexed.
"Audrey? Audrey, are you here?"
No matter how many times she called, Audrey didn't appear. She was someone who always came out to greet Aracilla, even when she was sick...
A strange feeling settled over her. Instinctively sensing that something had happened, Aracilla stepped out into the hallway.
The maids, who had been subtly avoiding her gaze since she was greeted in the foyer, flinched and scattered in all directions like cockroaches.
"You, come here."
Aracilla called out to a young maid who was too slow-footed to escape. The maid hesitated, then stood before her.
"W-what is it, Madam?"
"Where is Audrey?"
At the direct question, the maid's shoulders shot up. Her eyes flickered nervously.
"I-I don't really know..."
"What's your name?"
"It's Vicky."
"Alright, Vicky. I dislike liars."
"..."
"Especially when they make it obvious they're lying. You understand what I mean, don't you?"
Aracilla pressed down on the maid's shoulder and smiled. It was a truly terrifying expression, her lips smiling while her eyes remained cold.
To think such a beautiful face could be so frightening.
The terrified maid finally spilled Audrey's whereabouts.
"O-Oh, Miss Audrey is locked in the shed."
"Why?"
"She was caught stealing..."
Hearing only that much, Aracilla strode away. It was as if black smoke billowed from her back, her lilac hair swaying with each step.
She quickly found the shed where Audrey was imprisoned. It was easy to locate because two maids were suspiciously guarding the front.
"Move."
Among the two maids who were flustered by her sudden appearance, the one on the left spoke.
"Madam, until the Master arrives..."
"The master is here."
"..."
"Unless you intend to judge my authority as the mistress, move aside, now."
Feeling a chill from her piercing gaze, the maids stepped back. The Head Maid had ordered them not to let anyone in without permission, but Aracilla was not someone who dared to seek anyone's permission.
She wasn't that kind of person to begin with.
Aracilla burst through the door as if to break it and scanned the shed. She saw Audrey huddled in a corner.
"Audrey!"
"...Madam."
Audrey lifted her tear-stained face. Upon seeing her swollen cheek, Aracilla's expression instantly turned to ice.
"Who did this?"
