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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Overhaul
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Demian found himself in a bind, caught between the maids, who tearfully looked to him with desperate pleas, and his wife, who radiated a chilling demeanor.

If there had been a direct conflict between Aracilla and the maids, he would have sided with her without hesitation. But this was a dispute concerning Aracilla's maid.

As their master and employer, Demian had to render a somewhat neutral judgment. Only then would the servants remain loyal and trusting.

First, he pushed past the maids and approached Aracilla. Standing beside her, he addressed the maids.

“Your mistress is right here. I'm not sure who you expect to save you.”

The maids' faces crumbled as if their world had ended. This was clearly a statement in Aracilla's favor.

However, Demian, turning to face Aracilla, then extended a hand to the other side.

“I understand what has happened, my wife. However, since neither side seems to have clear evidence, let us fairly dismiss everyone involved.”

“...You mean to dismiss Audrey as well?”

“That is correct. In return, please feel free to bring as many maids as you wish from the Hugo Marquisate.”

Aracilla let out a hollow laugh. No matter how many maids she brought, none could replace Audrey.

More importantly, dismissing Audrey too was not a fair measure.

“How is it fair to dismiss someone who was framed?”

“Objectively, it is difficult to prove that the maid Audrey was framed. There is only circumstantial evidence, no actual proof, is there? Therefore, it would be better for that maid to be dismissed along with the others.”

Demian's words were rational. However, this was only possible because none of his own people were implicated in the matter.

“If your butler suffered such a thing, would you fairly dismiss him too?”

“……”

At the mention of his butler, who had served him as Young Master since birth, a subtle crack appeared in Demian's composure.

Albert was one of the few people Demian truly trusted. If he were to suffer such a thing...

He gazed down at Aracilla, then stepped closer and spoke in a low voice.

“I understand your feelings, but it would still be best to send that maid back to the Hugo Marquisate for now.”

“……”

“I cannot simply side with my wife without clear grounds, can I? Later, I will...”

“Listen to me.”

Her voice, cutting off Demian, was calm. A feather-light touch rested on his broad shoulder. His large body stiffened slightly.

Aracilla, leaning in as if confiding in a lover, then whispered.

“You married me because you love me, didn't you?”

She was merely invoking the public reason for their marriage, but facing his blue eyes that stared directly into hers, Demian inexplicably felt strange.

It felt as if waves from a calm night sea were crashing over him.

He briefly considered which would be more advantageous: siding with the maids or supporting Aracilla.

The maids had worked under him for a long time, and some had considerable experience working for the Ducal Family, making them useful.

And Aracilla, for now, was the person Demian needed to keep closest to him. Only by maintaining their marriage could he secure the Ducal title.

‘The one I need more right now seems to be her.’

Demian surrendered to Aracilla, who stood ramrod straight, staring into his eyes. He decided to make a blind judgment, as a husband who had married for love would, giving her what she wanted.

“Is there anyone here who saw the maid Audrey enter the room of the maid whose necklace was stolen?”

“……”

“If not, it's hard to conclude that maid stole it. Dismiss everyone involved, except for the maid Audrey. We will reorganize the maids and restore discipline.”

Demian gave the order, citing an absurd reason. When their trusted master abandoned them, the maids immediately protested.

The Head Maid was the most vocal. Although she wasn't being dismissed, she couldn't simply let it go, as her relationship with Aracilla was already severely strained.

It would be troublesome if the maids loyal to her were dismissed now. Most of the maids who associated with Rosalyn were her faction.

“Master, this is an incredibly unfair measure! The absence of a witness to the theft cannot prove Audrey's innocence! If that's the case, we are also innocent—!”

“I can prove it.”

A faintly trembling voice, pushing aside the Head Maid's fervent speech, echoed through the hall. Everyone's gaze turned to the left corridor.

There stood Audrey, breathless and sweating, as if she had run all the way.

“I can prove my innocence.”

Even though she was breathless, Audrey enunciated each word clearly.

Aracilla, who had been staring at her with surprised eyes, seeing her completely different from when they parted, quickly approached.

“Audrey, are you alright?”

“Yes, Madam. But please read this.”

Audrey pulled something from behind her back and handed it over. It was two letters. Aracilla accepted the letters with a bewildered expression.

While her mistress examined the contents, Audrey stepped confidently forward, facing the maids.

“I've endured it all this time, even when you deliberately ostracized and tormented me. I thought it was just petty territorial behavior because I was new, and that it would get better someday. But my mind has changed.”

The reason Audrey hadn't brought the maids' actions to light until now was simple.

She had believed it was a temporary storm that would eventually subside.

But if that wasn't the case, she had no reason to endure it any longer. Audrey looked around at the maids, who couldn't even meet her gaze properly, then turned to Demian and bowed her head.

“Master, Rosalyn and some of the other maids have been insubordinate to Madam and speaking ill of her behind her back. The Head Maid, who should have disciplined them, stood by idly. Please punish them all.”

Demian's expression hardened coldly. It was the moment the Head Maid, particularly surprised among the flustered maids, was about to step forward again.

“Demian, has Rosalyn ever tried to tempt you?”

Aracilla, having finally finished reading the letters, turned around and asked. At the unexpected question, Demian's eyebrow twitched.

“Who is Rosalyn?”

“That blonde maid over there.”

Aracilla extended a slender, white finger and pointed at Rosalyn.

Rosalyn stood frozen, her face utterly pale, devoid of color. Her gaze was fixed solely on the letters in Aracilla's hand.

The name 'Bradley Brown' etched on the envelope was a pseudonym used by the Ducal Family when sending correspondence.

Why was that, there...?

A shiver ran down her spine. She should have disposed of it immediately, but she'd put it off, intending to burn it after sending a reply.

Then Aracilla's summons came, and she hadn't been able to send the reply yet, having just hidden the letter behind the bedside table before coming out.

But why did Aracilla have the Ducal Family's correspondence and the reply she hadn't been able to send?

“She has been troublesome. But I believe she was scheduled to leave soon.”

“You mustn't dismiss her. She seems to be a spy sent by your enemy.”

Aracilla's gentle voice pierced Rosalyn's ears like a death sentence.

At the same time, Demian's eyes, cold with anger as he stared at her, were like the blade of a guillotine.

It's over, I'm ruined.

Feeling a strong sense of danger, Rosalyn instinctively turned and attempted to flee.

“Get out of my way!”

She roughly pushed past the maids and dashed towards the door. However, she didn't get far before she thudded and fell.

Aracilla had bound her feet using restraining magic. A beam of light, like a rope, tightly wrapped around Rosalyn's legs.

Rosalyn struggled to crawl away, even on her hands and knees. Someone blocked her path.

She lifted her head to see who it was. It was Aracilla, beautiful as an angel, yet almost demonic.

“She was caught by another maid rummaging through Madam's dressing room.”

Aracilla unfolded Rosalyn's reply and read out a portion. Her clear, resonant voice distinctly reached everyone's ears.

“I will frame her for theft and have her dismissed, so please take care of her.”

“……”

“The Head Maid has also cooperated, so there should be no hitches in the plan.”

Thud. Someone collapsed behind her. It was the Head Maid. Her lips trembled, sensing the end.

Aracilla silently looked down at Rosalyn, then handed a handkerchief to Demian. Aracilla's gaze wrapped around Rosalyn's body like chains, leaving her unable to move a muscle.

“Use this to gag the Head Maid. It would be troublesome if she bit her tongue.”

Demian silently took Aracilla's handkerchief and shoved it into the Head Maid's mouth.

Rosalyn, who had been trembling, suddenly sprang to her feet. The pressure to do anything to survive choked her. Rosalyn desperately waved her hands.

“No, it's not! That's a fake letter! Someone... yes, Audrey, who brought that letter, fabricated it! I'm not a spy—!”

“Give me your hand.”

“...Pardon?”

Rosalyn, flustered, extended her hand. Aracilla placed her hand on top and sent a flow of magic. Rosalyn's fingers gradually turned red.

Demian's blue eyes, watching the scene, narrowed meaningfully. As expected, she had touched the prenuptial agreement.

“Wh-what is this...?”

“There's a magic on the object you touched that leaves a mark on anyone who touches it without permission.”

Rosalyn stared blankly up at Aracilla. Aracilla, with an elegant curve of her lips, extended her hand. Audrey quickly pulled a handkerchief from her pocket.

“See? You shouldn't have touched what's mine.”

“……”

Aracilla's smiling face floated above Rosalyn's helpless eyes.

She personally took Rosalyn's chin and placed the handkerchief in her mouth. Though her grip wasn't strong, Rosalyn couldn't shake her off.

“Take her to the dungeon.”

Demian, who had summoned knights at some point, commanded. The bound Head Maid and Rosalyn were dragged away, unable to even scream.

Aracilla, with light steps, approached her husband. As she slipped the letter into his uniform pocket, she rose on her tiptoes and whispered.

“Don't worry. The prenuptial agreement wasn't exposed.”

In truth, even if Rosalyn had gotten her hands on the document and left the mansion, she would have gained nothing. Magic had been cast to prevent just anyone from viewing the agreement.

“Make sure to thoroughly deal with them and let me know the outcome.”

Aracilla, smiling radiantly as if she had just whispered sweet nothings, stepped back.

Demian, letting out a humorless laugh, asked.

“What will you do with the remaining maids?”

“I'll handle them.”

“Understood.”

Demian turned, his face cold. His golden eyes, heading towards the dungeon, gleamed like a beast of prey. Just from his gaze, the price of betrayal seemed destined to be severe.

Among those remaining, a heavy silence settled. The maids' expressions varied slightly, but despair was common among them.

Having been incited by a spy to cause trouble for Madam, the punishment would not be light.

“You admit you've been working negligently, treating me lightly, don't you?”

They affirmed with their silence. Aracilla looked around at them and clapped her hands once, sharply.

“Alright, let's begin the purge.”

* * *

A meticulous investigation was conducted to see if any of the remaining maids, like Rosalyn and the Head Maid, had been bribed by the Ducal Family.

Fortunately enough, no additional bribed individuals were found.

Over several days, Aracilla compiled a list of those to be dismissed. Those who had been closely associated with the two spies were first on the dismissal list. Even if not directly bribed, they were not entirely blameless.

Some of them came to her, shedding tears and pleading their innocence.

“We truly didn't know! If we had known Rosalyn and the Head Maid were such bad people, we would never have associated with them!”

“That's right, it was a mistake made purely out of ignorance. If you give us one more chance, we will never repeat the same mistake!”

“Please have mercy, Madam. I have a family depending on me for their livelihood...”

Aracilla looked at them with a smile on her lips, but her eyes were cold. Their pleas now didn't even anger her; they were merely amusing.

Tapping the desk with the end of her pen, she slowly spoke.

“It was fun, wasn't it, when you all gathered and laughed and gossiped? Even when you spread unconfirmed rumors as facts, and when you singled out one person to torment and corner them.”

“……”

“It wasn't out of ignorance, was it? You knew that tormenting Audrey and speaking ill of me was wrong, yet you still did it.”

Even without raising her voice, the maids stood frozen, as if struck by lightning.

They couldn't refute a single word of Aracilla's.