The Villainess's Exclusive Maid Is Too Good at Her Job - Chapter 20

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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 20

‘I had permitted Janet to perceive only my usual appearance.’
I was referring to how Theo appeared when conversing with her.
Yet somehow, she had seen through the magical artifact’s cognitive resistance and recognized me.
“But is it really safe to walk around like this? What if someone recognizes you?”
“That won’t happen.”
Kendrick answered with unwavering certainty.
“For one, others won’t mistake this appearance for mine.”
“Ah, I see.”
“Yes. In fact, you’re the first person to recognize me in this form.”
“My goodness.”
Janet sighed softly and murmured an addition.
“Everyone must have terrible instincts.”
Instincts? Could such a thing really be dismissed so easily?
“In any case, I never imagined that the one infiltrating Ludwig was Theo from Illinia. It’s beyond my wildest expectations.”
“Well, yes…”
“And you’re conducting infiltration yourself, despite being a vice-commander?”
She lowered her voice.
Kendrick responded in equally hushed tones.
“Ludwig is such a great noble house. If I infiltrate carelessly and get discovered, it would be catastrophic, so I’m handling this personally.”
“The vice-commander’s responsibilities are indeed weighty.”
“Well, they are, in a manner of speaking.”
“Regardless, seeing Ludwig from this perspective is refreshing and enlightening.”
Having decided to set aside unnecessary worries, Janet reached into the small bag she had brought.
“Actually, the reason I left that note asking to meet today is because I need to request an investigation.”
What Janet withdrew were two neatly folded handkerchiefs.
Something was contained within them, causing the center of each to bulge noticeably.
Kendrick accepted the handkerchiefs and examined their contents.
“Tea leaves?”
“One is from the tea leaves in the lady’s cupboard, and the other is from the tea leaves stored in the warehouse.”
No matter how much I pondered it, the only thing that seemed suspicious regarding why the word “salvation” came to mind was these tea leaves.
“Please check whether these tea leaves contain any impurities.”
“Impurities? You mean someone put something in Julietta’s—no, the lady’s tea?”
Theo asked, his face twisted with fury.
Janet nodded calmly.
Before Janet arrived, the management of tea leaves had been Sien’s responsibility. The tea leaves remaining in the warehouse now were also ones Sien had ordered.
‘If Sien mixed something into the lady’s tea leaves…’
She was someone who stole others’ belongings without hesitation, so suspicion was certainly warranted.
Yet something troubled me.
Why would Sien tamper with the Young Lady’s tea leaves?
What benefit would she gain from doing such a thing?
After much deliberation, she arrived at a single conclusion.
“Yes, that’s what I believe. It seems someone instructed Sien to tamper with the Young Lady’s tea.”
“Sien? You mean that maidservant who left a scar on Miss Janet?”
A scar?
It’s barely visible now.
Considerable time had passed since the accident, and the medicine Theo provided had been remarkably effective.
Nearly three weeks later, there wasn’t a trace of scarring left.
But now wasn’t the time to quibble over such details.
“Besides myself, Sien has been the only one with unrestricted access to the tea leaves.”
“But why would that maidservant possibly….”
Theo’s expression grew cold and rigid mid-sentence. He too had grasped something crucial.
Someone was pulling Sien’s strings.
Someone with an ulterior motive.
And I had a strong suspicion about their identity.
“Chief Maidservant, I find Nova Morgan suspicious.”
“I share that assessment.”
Throughout Sien’s removal by the guards, hadn’t she wailed “Summon the Chief Maidservant!”?
I’d assumed it was merely the desperation of someone caught in a bribery scheme.
The vanished Yellow Diamond—I suspected it had fallen into Nova’s hands as well.
I’d considered tracing the diamond back to expose Nova’s crimes, but the matter seemed to be spiraling beyond my control, so I abandoned the idea.
However.
If Nova truly had ordered Sien to harm the Young Lady…
This couldn’t be overlooked.
I bore the responsibility of protecting the Young Lady’s safety as her personal attendant.
Meanwhile, Kendrick was struggling to suppress the seething rage burning within him.
How dare that woman…
He’d long known that Nova exploited her subordinates for personal gain.
He’d simply turned a blind eye, considering that she’d been Julietta Ludwig’s governess and that Julietta still trusted and relied upon her.
Above all, he had no desire to meddle in Ludwig Family affairs.
Kendrick was thoroughly sick of the Ludwig Family. Had it not been for his sister Julietta Ludwig, he might have abandoned the family long ago.
Yet never did he imagine his inaction would yield such consequences.
“Miss Janet.”
“Yes?”
“I’m truly grateful we’ve entered into this arrangement.”
Janet blinked at the sudden statement.
Yet Kendrick’s expression was utterly sincere.
Initially, my intention was simply to place someone trustworthy beside Julietta.
An incompetent maidservant would only further tarnish Julietta’s already precarious reputation.
That was precisely the extent of my feelings when I hired Janet.
Had it not been Janet, I would have hired someone else.
But now that I think about it.
“If I had taken the hand of anyone but Miss Janet, I would surely have regretted it. I promise you this: I will take responsibility for your future from this moment forward.”
‘Take responsibility for my future?’
Janet drew in a sharp breath at this unexpectedly grand declaration.
At the same time, a question she had deliberately buried in the depths of her mind resurfaced.
‘What is the relationship between Theo and the young lady?’

***

Swish, swish.
A large comb glided through the dazzling golden hair. Janet had grown quite skilled at combing Julietta Ludwig’s locks.
A yawn.
“Did you not sleep well last night either?”
“…Yes, a little.”
Another yawn.
Julietta Ludwig yawned again, squeezing her drowsy eyes shut before opening them once more.
“It’s fine. I’m used to this much.”
A wave of sympathy washed over me at the sight of her dismissive gesture.
Nearly a month had passed since the incident with Sien and when Julietta Ludwig opened her heart to me.
During that time, I had come to learn various things about Julietta Ludwig.
That the young lady harbored intense anxiety and fear about revealing her weaknesses to others.
Whether as a consequence of this or not, she also suffered from chronic insomnia.
‘As for the former, most people are said to feel that way, but….’
Who would enjoy exposing their weaknesses to others?
Yet from what I could see, Julietta Ludwig’s case seemed severe.
By the medical knowledge of my previous life, it was suspicious enough to suggest moderate anxiety disorder or paranoia.
I began to wonder if perhaps the reason she was rumored to be a “villainess” was because of this very thing.
After all, there were cases where fear of a situation manifested as anger.
“Young lady.”
“Hmm?”
“If you’re feeling unwell, you must tell me immediately.”
At my words, Julietta Ludwig’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Who was worrying about whom, really.
But this kind of concern was rare enough that it wasn’t unwelcome.
“I’ll think about it.”
At her coy response, the two of us burst into laughter together.
Knock, knock.
Along with the knock came the voice of a Maidservant from outside the room.
“My lady, Nova Morgan, the head maidservant, has invited you to join her for tea. What shall we do?”
“What? Nova?!”
At the mention of Nova Morgan’s name, Julietta Ludwig’s eyes sparkled with unmistakable delight.
“Tell her I’ll be right there—no, tell her I’m coming immediately!”
Watching her beam with the unbridled joy of an excited child, I couldn’t conceal the heaviness settling in my chest.

***

“Welcome, my lady. And Miss Graham.”
Nova Morgan greeted the two of us with a radiant smile.
“I do apologize for not visiting you sooner, my lady.”
“Think nothing of it. You’ve become head maidservant, so you must be terribly busy. I understand perfectly.”
“Thank you for your kind understanding.”
A soft laugh escaped her lips.
Nova Morgan covered her mouth as she smiled, then cast a sidelong glance in my direction.
“And how are you faring, Miss Graham? Have you adjusted well to your duties as a maidservant?”
“Yes. I’ve adapted well, thanks to your support.”
At my courteous reply, Nova Morgan’s brow twitched slightly.
“Support? What could I have possibly done?”
Her words carried an edge that cut to the bone, and I simply smiled as if I hadn’t heard.

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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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