That’s How I Became a Villainess - Chapter 30

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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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Episode 30

“I think I’d prefer a different ribbon.”
Penelope gestured to the maid who was helping her change clothes.
“Use this one instead.”
What she handed the maid was a Black Satin Ribbon.
A Blue Satin Dress paired with a Black Satin Ribbon—it was hardly a harmonious combination.
The maid held up the white ribbon she’d been carrying and checked it against the dress.
“The costume department sent this ribbon in the same box as the dress. Are you truly certain you want to wear that black ribbon instead?”
To anyone’s eye, the white ribbon was clearly meant to match the dress.
But Penelope would not be swayed.
“Black. That’s what I want.”
Since it was what she desired and there was no real reason to object, the maid tied the Black Satin Ribbon around Penelope’s waist.
Though she pretended not to notice, the maid had observed that Penelope wore black ribbon without exception every single day lately.
Yesterday it had been a hairpin, the day before a brooch. Today, a sash.
‘She wishes misfortune upon the Mistress of the House.’
The maid’s gaze turned cold as she stood behind Penelope, who was checking her appearance in the mirror.
There was a custom: when mourning during a funeral, men wore black hats or black ties, while women wore black ribbons.
Of course, black ribbon could be worn ordinarily as mere decoration without much significance, but wearing it on one’s person day after day carried a strong intention of mourning.
Penelope had received no death notices lately—what could she possibly be mourning?
Either she believed Bridget, who had vanished days ago without a word, to be dead, or else she was hoping she would be.
‘What has this woman done to the Mistress of the House?’
The maid’s suspicious gaze followed Penelope intensely.
The other Employees of the Winston Estate harbored similar thoughts.
‘What on earth happened that night when the Mistress disappeared? Night after night, the Master and this woman carry on like beasts without regard for place or propriety, so there’s been no one coming downstairs after dark……’
For weeks now, the Employees had been confined to the attic quarters during the night hours, barely daring to move.
The Butler had imposed these restrictions on them due to the shameless behavior of Isaac and Penelope.
The same had been true the night Bridget disappeared.
No one had seen her leave the Estate. Whether she’d packed a trunk, what clothes she wore, whether she took a carriage—no one knew.
Had she run away, she surely would have taken valuables. But according to Anna, not a single one of Bridget’s belongings was missing. Not even a piece of jewelry.
So Bridget’s disappearance remained deeply suspicious.
And yet there was Penelope, constantly adorning herself with black ribbons.
What’s more, Isaac had announced he was preparing for a divorce from Bridget and commanded them all to now serve Penelope as the new Mistress of the House.
So now Penelope occupied the room that had been Bridget’s.
Everything that had belonged to Bridget, in fact.
‘Poor Mistress. What have these inhuman wretches done to you? Please, let her be safe……’
The maid shuddered with horror.
Penelope, unaware of and unconcerned with the maid’s inner thoughts, finished her toilette and hummed a little tune as she left the room.
As Penelope wandered carelessly down the corridor, she thoughtlessly knocked over a Vase that stood at the corner.
It was empty—the season being too early for flowers—but Bridget had loved it enough to keep it displayed despite its emptiness, so it had never been put away.
Crash!
“Oh!”
Penelope started in alarm, her brow creasing.
“Why on earth was this left here?”
Anna, passing by, heard the sound and rushed over in shock.
“It was porcelain the Mistress loved!”
Penelope glared at Anna with exasperation.
“Did you not see that I nearly hurt myself?”
Anna reluctantly inquired after Penelope’s welfare.
“……Are you all right?”
“I’ve been thinking for a while now—you really have no manners, do you?”
Penelope, who had clashed with Anna once before, seized upon this convenient opportunity and pressed the matter.
“You have no basic sense of courtesy. When you see someone nearly hurt themselves, the first thing you should ask is whether they’re all right—that’s proper conduct. I can’t even fathom who would recommend someone like you for employment.”
“My apologies.”
Anna seethed at the sight of Penelope acting like a fox ruling in the absence of tigers, now that Bridget was gone, but she could only swallow her anger.
‘A cunning fox who has devoured the tiger. What can I do about it? Ah, Mistress……! Where on earth are you?’
Hiding her true feelings, Anna bowed her head.
“Shall I collect these ceramic shards and have them mended?”
On Craftsman Street, there were artisans who specialized in repairing broken ceramics.
Nobility often had their cherished pieces restored into new works of art, so Employees were trained never to discard ceramic fragments carelessly.
But Penelope, who regarded Anna as a thorn in her side, seized upon a petty excuse.
“Are you telling me to use broken things again? Because it’s what Bridget liked, I should repair and use it without complaint?”
“No, that’s not what I meant at all. I simply thought it seemed like a valuable piece, so I asked…….”
“What do you know about whether some worthless dish is valuable or not? How dare you order me around?”
“I wasn’t trying to order you around…….”
Just then, the Butler Cedric heard the commotion and approached.
“What seems to be the matter?”
“Butler, fire this insolent girl at once!”
“For what reason, ma’am?”
Penelope shot the Butler a sharp glare.
“For what reason? Can’t I dismiss a single maid as I see fit?”
Penelope saw this as her chance to establish her authority as the new Mistress of the House.
Bridget’s shadow had to be erased quickly, or the Employees would never obey her properly.
She believed the Butler would comply with her wishes, having once made a confidential arrangement with him.
“I’m soon to be the Countess of Winston, and the Mistress of the House has personnel authority.”
“Please, calm yourself. Anna is a faithful Employee. Whatever the grievance, allow me to hear it, and if there’s been any misunderstanding, I can mediate…….”
“Butler!”
When the Butler failed to take her side as she’d expected, Penelope shrieked indignantly.
But Cedric didn’t so much as blink.
When Bridget had vanished and Penelope suddenly became his Mistress, all he could think was that he wanted to quit.
He’d wanted to leave long ago, but had stayed out of regard for Bridget. Now he had no reason to remain.
Working under an employer he found shameful wounded Cedric’s pride deeply.
Pride and dignity were not the exclusive province of the highborn.
“Do not raise your voice at me. If you dismiss Anna without cause, I shall resign as well. It is the Butler’s duty to mediate between employer and Employee, and if you dismiss my role, there is no reason for me to remain in this household.”
“What? You’re actually protecting this one maid? Don’t be foolish.”
“I am capable of judging whether an action is foolish or not.”
Curious Employees began drifting toward the commotion, and Isaac, hearing the din from his room, emerged to investigate.
“What on earth is happening? Why is it so loud?”
Penelope scurried toward Isaac.
“Isaac! These people are conspiring to make things difficult for me!”
“What do you mean?”
“The maid was being rude to me, so I told the Butler to fire her, but now he says he’ll quit too!”
Isaac’s face darkened.
“Butler, is this really worth all this? If the Mistress is displeased, she can dismiss a single maid. Why make such a fuss? I have enough to worry about without this headache.”
He pressed his temples absently, applying pressure to Cedric with casual menace.
“If you act so irresponsibly, do you think no one else will hear of this misconduct? You may find yourself unable to work anywhere again.”
The Butler held a critical position managing the household’s overall operations.
Since he shared responsibility with the Mistress for the estate’s finances and administration, his reputation was paramount—one whisper of scandal and a man could never work as a Butler again.
To lose such a prestigious, well-compensated position—one befitting a quasi-noble—would be a devastating blow.
And yet Cedric could not endure it.
“I do not care. I……!”
He was about to say he was leaving effective immediately.
“Everyone, stop.”
A familiar voice cut through them from somewhere, silencing the scene.
Every face turned toward the sound, eyes wide with astonishment.
“The person who holds personnel authority over this household has not changed.”
Bridget parted the crowd and stepped into view.

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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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