The Villainess's Exclusive Maid Is Too Good at Her Job - Chapter 16
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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 16
Several days later, the investigation into Sien’s theft allegations came to a close.
As expected, the stolen items she had accumulated were discovered within her dormitory room.
Multiple instances of her selling off the pilfered valuables for profit were also confirmed.
Intentional murder of a noble, coupled with habitual theft.
Sien was dragged away to Ludwig Underground Detention on two counts of crime. She would remain there until her formal sentencing was delivered, after which she would be transferred to prison.
“Wait! Please! I was wrong! I don’t want prison, I don’t want… Nova! Please let me see Nova Morgan, the Head Maidservant! Please, let me see Nova Morgan, I beg you!”
As the guards dragged me away, I screamed desperately for them to let me see Nova Morgan, the Head Maidservant.
Eventually, without achieving anything, I disappeared into Ludwig Underground Detention.
But.
In people’s minds—
An odd question lingered: ‘Why was that criminal seeking out Nova Morgan, the Head Maidservant?’
***
“That useless wretch!”
Crash.
Nova Morgan slammed her fist against the desk, her breathing ragged. A murderous gleam flickered in her eyes.
“If you’re going to be arrested, go quietly. How dare you drag my name into this?”
Sien had been one of the maidservants loyal to Nova. She was always the first to offer bribes, her greed laid bare for all to see.
Her excessive avarice occasionally led to trouble, which was unsettling, but I never imagined she would cause such a catastrophic mess!
‘She said she would teach that new maidservant a harsh lesson.’
I approved of tormenting Janet as well.
I had hoped that foolish, dim-witted maidservant would come crying to me, begging for help.
It wasn’t merely bribes I was after.
To solidify my power within this vast Ludwig estate, it was essential to expand my circle of influence in such ways.
Above all, for ‘that person’s’ sake.
Grit.
I ground my teeth and shouted toward the door.
“Mary, Mary!”
“Yes, yes! Head Maidservant!”
A pale-faced maidservant rushed into the room.
“Report everything happening outside to me. Especially anything related to Sien—everything!”
“Yes, Head Maidservant.”
“And.”
“Yes.”
I clicked my tongue at the sight of Mary trembling before me.
“Assign someone to watch the Black Residence as well. Tell them to monitor whether the Third Prince shows any signs of movement.”
“Yes, Head Maidservant.”
Mary bowed deeply at the waist and fled the room as though escaping.
Nova Morgan’s eyes narrowed.
‘If something happens at Julietta’s residence, the Third Prince might make a move as well.’
Ideally, he would simply remain locked away in that dark Separate Residence, quiet and undisturbed.
Should he begin to crawl out from the Separate Residence, it would become poison for me in every conceivable way.
‘How did I claw my way to this position?’
I did whatever it took to establish myself as an influential figure within the Ludwig Family.
Enduring years as a nursemaid to a princess I despised, attending to that insolent child’s every whim—the exhaustion was unbearable.
Had ‘that person’ not taken notice of me, I would still be shackled to that tiresome princess’s side, playing the role of her guardian.
Feigning affection, pretending to cherish her, acting as though I cared.
All that nauseating performance.
‘This lifeline I’ve finally grasped is genuine. I cannot—will not—let it slip away.’
Crunch.
Nova Morgan’s eyes trembled with anxiety as she bit her nails.
#Chapter. An Excellent Superior
On a morning when the sky was particularly blue.
‘I’ve never worn anything like this before.’
Janet blinked as she examined her reflection in the mirror.
The hem of the blue-tinted day dress was adorned with intricately woven lace hanging in delicate layers.
A crafted ribbon decorated the chest, and cubic zirconia stones scattered throughout sparkled with every shift of light.
‘This must be expensive, surely?’
This was one of the gifts Theo had sent.
Beyond this, five more day dresses, five casual ones, and two elaborate gowns had already arrived.
I had managed to cram them all into the wardrobe in my room, but it was obvious that if even one more dress arrived, a single wardrobe would not suffice.
‘I never imagined he would send so many gifts.’
I cannot express how shocked I was when I first heard the news.
Upon seeing the gift boxes that filled the first floor room, I found myself gripped by fear without even realizing it.
Fine clothes I had never received before, and accessories that looked extraordinarily valuable at first glance.
Even delicately crafted jewels.
The gifts were so burdensome that I considered returning them, but as though she had read my mind, a note arrived the next day along with a ‘gift list’.
「I have no hobby of taking back gifts I’ve given. The moment they’re returned, everything will be discarded, so I hope you’ll simply accept them with joy.」
Whether it was blackmail or a letter remained unclear.
‘Regardless, thanks to it, I was able to determine the circumstances of Sien’s theft.’
While carefully examining the gift list, I discovered that a jewel had gone missing.
Based on the testimonies of the servants working at the Separate Residence, I came to suspect Sien.
However, the yellow diamond was never found in Sien’s room.
I didn’t think Sien was innocent.
‘She must have already handed it off somewhere.’
Or perhaps to ‘someone’ in particular.
My sharp gaze turned toward the direction of the main residence. Only for a moment.
“Oh, the time has gotten away from me already.”
I needed to leave soon, or I’d be late for my appointment.
Today was my day off, and I had promised to meet with Theo.
In other words, it was my day to report.
The meeting place was the cafeteria, Soluna.
Among the bustling crowd, the two of us found seats in the quietest corner.
“Is there a menu item you particularly enjoy?”
A menu item I particularly enjoyed.
At Kendrick’s question, my gaze lifted from the menu to meet his.
“Meat.”
“Meat?”
“Yes. I love meat most of all. Beef, chicken, pork—it doesn’t matter which.”
My eyes were earnest as I answered.
To answer with such a serious expression about something like that.
Kendrick let out a soft laugh and nodded.
“Then let’s go with today’s special recommendation. Grilled beef tenderloin and a mixed salad. How does that sound?”
“I appreciate it, but aren’t you tailoring everything just for me?”
“Not at all. I enjoy meat as well. I simply can’t eat it as often as I’d like.”
At his smooth addition, I laughed and nodded.
“So, how has life been at the Ludwig Family Home?”
“Well, you see—”
After ordering and while waiting for the food to arrive, I gave Kendrick a general report on the situation since I’d started working there.
Everything from the atmosphere in Julietta Ludwig’s Separate Residence, to the story of my chance encounter with the butler, to how I’d grown close with the Eastern Library’s librarian.
“Is that so?”
“That’s impressive.”
“That’s fortunate.”
Kendrick had been offering appropriate responses, but his reaction abruptly stopped when the topic turned to Sien.
I blinked at the noticeably chilled expression that crossed his face.
‘What is this? Why does he have that expression?’
I had been certain he would be delighted to see a maidservant with a negative influence on the young lady removed, yet Kendrick appeared anything but pleased.
“….”
His gaze hardened in silence, then slowly drifted toward Janet’s hand.
“Your wounds still haven’t fully healed.”
“Pardon? Ah, yes.”
Janet nodded awkwardly at his unexpected remark.
“It seems to be because they’re burn scars.”
Just as Kendrick said, pale marks from the incident still lingered on her white hands.
Though, unless one looked closely, they weren’t particularly noticeable.
“Still, they’ve improved considerably. Miss Julietta checks every day to ensure I’m applying the medicine properly.”
“Miss Julietta does?”
“Yes. She insists on verifying it daily, saying she won’t tolerate me skipping even a single day of treatment.”
Kendrick’s expression grew peculiar at Janet’s words.
‘So that girl does worry about someone to that extent.’
It appeared she had genuinely opened her heart to Janet.
Yes, that was certainly a good thing, but….
‘Why does Janet seem so unfazed by it all?’
Regardless of the favorable outcome, burn scars could have formed on her hands.
Though unseen, the other wounded areas concealed beneath her clothing likely bore similar marks.
Yet throughout her account of Sien’s situation, Janet had shown nothing but pride, never once wincing.
As though her own injuries were beneath her notice.
As though such things simply didn’t matter.
‘Is it truly her upbringing?’
He already knew that Janet possessed no memories before the age of fifteen.
He had already completed his investigation into how she had been treated within the Graham Family Home.
‘No memories before fifteen, and treated as less than human from fifteen onward.’
Perhaps she simply didn’t understand that her own body deserved care.
Perhaps she lacked that very instinct.
Damn the Graham Family.
Kendrick clicked his tongue softly and withdrew a small bottle from his pocket, setting it on the table.
“This is an excellent salve for burns. Apply it daily without fail.”
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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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