Isn’t Being A Wicked Woman Much Better? - Chapter 82

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 82
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‘Creating clothes for Deborah Simour doesn’t seem nearly as terrible as I initially thought.’
Helen Jigoto found herself thinking this as she left Duke Simour’s Residence.
‘Of course, it’s still terrifying.’
When Deborah Simour had first commanded her to make clothes without preamble, Helen had felt the urge to flee to a foreign land. She’d even gone so far as to inquire about smuggling ships.
Each time she visited this grand mansion, she still felt the precarious sensation of walking a tightrope.
Yet despite her apprehension, since the prestigious Simour Family had become her client, she no longer worried about operating expenses for her dress shop, and she could freely create the designs she’d long envisioned.
‘Realistically, they’re far better than those nobles who endlessly delay their final payments.’
She’d assumed the noblewoman cared only for flashy garments, but surprisingly, Deborah Simour possessed excellent taste and often inspired Helen with her insights.
The audacious violet dress she’d created for the Spring Flower Festival had been possible only because of the noblewoman’s instruction to focus solely on the wearer’s image.
‘Working alongside a menswear designer was also valuable experience.’
Through it, she’d learned about various fabrics and sewing techniques, broadening her perspective on garment design.
The final dress had been a tremendous challenge for Helen. Rather than chasing established conventions and High Society trends, she’d created it by imagining what would suit the noblewoman alone.
If asked why she’d attempted something so reckless while fearing her, Helen had no good answer.
‘I must have lost my nerve.’
Helen rubbed her trembling chest with her hand.
‘Fortunately, she seemed pleased with it.’
Deborah Simour was not the type to hold back complaints. Had she disliked it, she would have pointed out the flaw immediately.
‘Perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to incorporate one or two bold designs among ten dresses? The noblewoman seems to appreciate them.’
Whispers of temptation kept echoing in her ears.
“Sigh, to think my muse is Deborah Simour….”
She was terrified of her, yet inspiration struck like madness whenever she saw her—Helen felt like weeping.
* * *
“My lady, you are absolutely radiant.”
“Like an elegant swan, madam.”
“However do you possess such urban sophistication!”
Amid the servants’ relentless torrent of flattery, I tossed my hair back with aristocratic indifference.
“Of course.”
“….”
My acting ability and shamelessness grew by the day.
Descending the stairs in Helen’s new dress—a creation infused with artistic passion—I encountered a composed woman with a neat impression waiting for me in proper posture.
“It is my honor to meet you. By order of Duke Simour, I have come to serve the noble lady from this day forward.”
She was the attendant the Duke had assigned to me as compensation for exposing the malicious nanny’s crimes.
At last, I had a maid of my own!
Two days prior.
With the school term approaching, Father summoned me.
“Deborah.”
“Yes, Father.”
He paused for a moment before speaking.
“Thank you, youngest. I’m grateful.”
I was startled by his direct expression of gratitude—not the indirect, roundabout manner favored by high nobility.
Grateful? These were words I hadn’t heard even when I’d found and delivered the Duchess’s letter.
“I merely did what was expected of me as your sister.”
I responded, feeling oddly flustered.
“I heard you’ve been giving Enrique private tutoring. You even prepared teaching materials for him yourself.”
“He’s intelligent, so I’m cultivating him as my prized student. Enrique enjoys learning new things.”
“He’d be delighted to hear that. It seems he’s quite fond of you and follows your lead well.”
“Perhaps he’d enjoy taking walks through the Rose Garden with you even more.”
I spoke with conviction.
“He seems to find me intimidating.”
The Duke’s silver eyes, murmuring softly, brimmed with complex emotions—regret and self-reproach mingled together.
I ventured to speak carefully.
“Even if something seems difficult at first, if you keep pondering and trying, it eventually becomes easy. Perhaps time will resolve it in the end?”
“You’re right. I was thinking too hastily. I’ve burdened you with my needless complaints again.”
“Not at all.”
“Why didn’t I notice your depth of character sooner?”
He murmured softly.
‘That’s not quite it.’
Recalling the incident where I’d hastily resold the pink diamond, I felt oddly embarrassed, when the Duke slowly sipped his tea and handed me a document.
“This is my gesture. I’m not sure if it will please you.”
‘What is this?’
I tilted my head as I flipped through the papers.
“Last semester, you said the maid candidates didn’t suit you for attending alone, so I assembled them myself.”
At his words, I quickly looked up. I’d thought it better to go without maids than to be accompanied by incompetent nuisances. In fact, I’d been planning to attend the autumn semester alone as well…
“You should have capable maids at your side.”
“Yes.”
I answered quickly.
Arin Oslot was certainly competent, but as a researcher, she wasn’t suited to serve as a maid. The information she diligently gathered was mostly limited to incidents within the School of Magic.
“Choose which noblewoman you’d like as your maid. They’re all well-regarded and thoroughly vetted talents.”
I was surprised once more as I reviewed the documents containing information about the noblewomen.
‘They’re all from houses serving Simour.’
The fact that the family head personally recommended noblewomen from houses serving Simour as my maids carried symbolic weight.
‘I was completely sidelined.’
Deborah Simour, who’d caused trouble without restraint and possessed no competence, had been effectively forbidden from utilizing Simour’s human resources.
‘That’s why my maids came from applications by external noble families.’
Compared to the Selig Family Noblewoman, who had capable retainers and even private soldiers, I was nothing but a puppet. That my father—who’d kept me from accessing the household’s people—was now making this proposal meant he was willing to bury the past and trust me going forward.
‘Who should I choose?’
I wanted to select a noblewoman who was discreet and loyal. Any choice would be better than before, but reviewing the résumés, I could sense how carefully Father had selected these candidates.
“Since this is important to you, take your time deciding.”
“Thank you, Father.”
I returned to my room and meticulously reviewed the documents before heading to the Duke’s Office the following afternoon.
“Have you decided?”
“Yes. The noblewoman I have chosen is Margaret Luxel.”
The Aide standing beside Father flinched, his shoulders trembling the moment my words left my lips.
The Aide who always attended Duke Simour was named Clyde Luxel. Throughout all this time, I had come and gone from the office carrying letters from the Duchess, yet not a whisper of this matter had leaked to the outside world. That his daughter was the Aide’s child made her all the more trustworthy.
“Your reasoning?”
“Because she is the daughter of Father’s right hand and most capable Aide. Moreover, she was also the first noblewoman Father recommended.”
Being at the very front of the resume carried considerable significance. And there was the most decisive reason.
I had seen Margaret Luxel in the novel.
‘I feel like I’ve seen this person’s name in the novel.’
She was a minor character who appeared for only a few lines, so at first I was uncertain where I had seen her. But as I read the resume—noting her high loyalty to the Simour Family and her deep expertise in law, particularly religious law—a scene flashed through my mind like lightning.
“For the charge of blasphemy to be established, the premise that Miya Binoshu is the incarnation of the Saint must be true. However, there is no material evidence such as a monument or sacred relic to prove this.”
There had been a noblewoman who defended Deborah Simour in the public trial.
“In the thousand years of history, there has never been a single instance where a noblewoman of the great Simour Family was condemned as a criminal without evidence.”
A trial where everyone supported Miya, with clear lines between good and evil. Moreover, even with all the jurors already bribed and the verdict predetermined, it was not easy to take Deborah’s side.
When I was a reader, I thought it was a light device meant to create tension, but now I realized that no one in Simour possessed loyalty quite like Margaret’s.
Recalling the reason I had chosen her as my maid, I stepped closer to Margaret, who stood with an upright posture.
“I look forward to working with you.”
Standing before the noblewoman with neat features resembling the Aide’s, I offered my hand. Margaret blinked in slight surprise before grasping my hand firmly.
“It is an honor, Lady Deborah Simour. I also look forward to serving you.”
Yes, let us get along well from now on.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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