The Villainess's Exclusive Maid Is Too Good at Her Job - Chapter 26

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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 26

“How is the young lady’s condition?”
“The examination has already concluded. Fortunately, there are no serious complications, but it appears that medicinal compounds accumulated over a prolonged period still remain in her body.”
“You mean she ingested medication for such an extended period that it accumulated?”
“Yes. The physician estimates she has been consuming it for at least several years.”
Several years?
A heavy sigh escaped.
William exhaled deeply, his shoulders sagging with the weight of the revelation.
Despite all my years serving the Ludwig Family, I never suspected such treachery was unfolding beneath our roof.
“For now, I shall contact the Prison separately. That maidservant remains our most likely suspect, so we must interrogate her.”
“I appreciate your assistance, Head Butler.”
William nodded as he observed Janet bowing deeply before him.
“Truly, it is fortunate that the young lady of Graham has become the young lady’s attendant.”
“You are too kind. I merely happened to discover it by chance.”
When I reported the poisoned tea leaves to the Head Butler, I had explained that I had attended several tea times with her, and each occasion I found it peculiar that I could not sleep, so I investigated further.
“We intend to conduct another examination of the recovered tea leaves.”
“Understood.”
“And, just to be safe, I am considering testing the newly acquired tea leaves as well.”
“Then, shall I set aside the tea leaves separately?”
“No need. We shall handle the collection ourselves.”
“Very well. If you require any assistance later, please do not hesitate to inform me.”
William nodded at Janet’s courteous response.
“As the investigation progresses, I shall keep you informed of any developments.”
“Yes. I shall await your word.”
“Then, I shall take my leave.”
William offered her a brief, satisfied smile before his expression hardened once more as he departed.
After seeing him off with care, I made my way directly to Julietta’s Room.
Julietta sat propped against the bed, her gaze hollow and distant as she stared into the void.
“Young lady.”
“Oh, Janet.”
At my arrival, a faint flush of color returned to her pallid complexion.
The shock must have been profound.
It was understandable.
Someone had been poisoning the very tea she drank every single day. Anyone would be consumed by terror at such a revelation.
Seeing Julietta so lost in her thoughts filled me with unease.
A fleeting doubt crossed my mind—had I done the right thing?—but—
No. This was for the young lady’s sake as well.
Steeling my resolve, I took my place at Julietta’s side.
“Are you feeling any better?”
“Yes. My body is fine, but….”
Julietta Ludwig answered in a more subdued tone than usual, then sighed and let her head fall heavily against the pillow with a soft groan.
“Come to think of it, I’ve been sleeping far too well lately.”
“The newly ordered tea leaves shouldn’t have contained any medication, so that’s not the cause.”
“Who on earth would do such a thing, and why?”
Julietta Ludwig trembled visibly.
To think that an unknown perpetrator could inspire such fear. It seemed that even without the sleep-inducing drug, she would struggle to rest at all.
Janet gazed at Julietta Ludwig with sympathy before speaking.
“Young Lady, please don’t worry too much. The culprit is most likely Sien.”
“Sien?”
“Yes. She’s already scheduled to be interrogated as the prime suspect. Since Sien is already in Prison, she won’t be able to harm you any further.”
I deliberately spoke as though Sien were the culprit.
If I didn’t reassure Julietta Ludwig this way, her already fragile nerves would only grow more anxious.
Strictly speaking, Sien was indeed one of the culprits anyway.
Fortunately, my strategy seemed to work.
“…Is that truly the case?”
“Of course. And if anyone should try to harm you, then I will protect you.”
Julietta Ludwig blinked at my words.
“You’ll protect me?”
“Yes. I’m quite confident in my strength, despite appearances.”
Julietta Ludwig’s gaze drifted to my slender wrist.
She looked as though she couldn’t even lift anything heavy, yet here she was boasting about her strength.
But somehow, that wasn’t entirely unpleasant, and a laugh escaped her lips.
A soft chuckle, and I felt my heart grow considerably lighter.
And as my mind eased, a small question began to surface.
‘That’s strange, though.’
I understood why I couldn’t sleep when Sien had drugged the tea.
But.
‘Then why did I sleep so well only on the days I met Nova Morgan?’
Until now, I had simply attributed my insomnia to stress.
I had believed that because my heart felt at ease when I was with Nova Morgan, I could sleep thanks to that.
‘If that was due to medication, doesn’t something seem off?’
Could such a coincidence truly exist in this world?
I glanced at Julietta Ludwig’s profile as she fell into thought.
‘It would be ideal if this incident planted suspicion about Nova Morgan in the Young Lady’s mind.’
So that when I finally eliminate Nova Morgan completely, the Young Lady would suffer less heartache.
“In any case. From now on, you must always be the one to drive my carriage, Janet. Understood?”
“Yes, understood.”
“And my meals. You prepare those as well.”
“That would be difficult, Young Lady. The head chef should be the one to prepare your meals.”
“No, but….”
Janet shook her head firmly.
While I was delighted that she had come to trust me, I couldn’t allow myself to fall into complete distrust of humanity.
“This was Sien’s doing. If you suspect everyone else as well, it will only cause you the greatest suffering, my lady.”
“That may be true, but I’m still anxious.”
“Then, before you eat anything from now on, I shall taste it first. That way, you can have peace of mind, can’t you?”
“Well, if that’s the case….”
Julietta Ludwig, who had delayed her response, blinked her eyes. After staring intently at the composed Janet, she asked with a petulant tone.
“…You’re not afraid of anything, are you?”
“How could I not be afraid of anything? Damp and dark places, loud noises, hunger. There’s plenty to fear.”
“No. That’s not what I’m really asking.”
“Pardon? Then what were you asking about?”
“….”
Faced with such innocent candor, Julietta Ludwig’s words caught in her throat.
Julietta Ludwig, who had been gazing at Janet with those peculiar eyes, shook her head.
“Never mind. Let’s just drop it. That would be better.”
Her pouting lips curved upward into a subtle smile. By then, the anxiety that had been weighing so heavily on her heart had already begun to fade.
After confirming that Julietta Ludwig’s expression had grown considerably more at ease, Janet also offered a faint smile.
The tumultuous day was passing quietly into evening.
And a few days later, word arrived that Sien, who had been marked as the prime suspect, had taken her own life.

***

The arrest of Nova Morgan, the Head Maidservant.
A poisoning incident targeting Julietta Ludwig, the Grand Duchess.
Even the death of Sien, the prime suspect.
With such grave incidents unfolding one after another, a peculiar tension had settled over the Ludwig Family.
‘Well, that atmosphere will dissipate soon enough.’
People were naturally inclined to forget matters that didn’t concern them directly.
In truth, what I had worried about most was Julietta’s reaction.
I had feared that she, already weakened in body and spirit from the poisoning incident, might suffer a severe shock upon learning of Nova Morgan’s arrest—someone she had trusted and relied upon.
Yet it seemed the compounding of one crisis after another had paradoxically cushioned the impact of each.
It was as though two negatives had somehow multiplied into a positive.
“Sandy.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
“Would you go fetch Mary for me?”
“Of course! I’ll be right back!”
I had reassigned Sandy’s duties from the Kitchen to the area near Julietta’s Room.
I had also exerted my influence to have Mary transferred from the Main Residence to Julietta’s Separate Residence.
Since I was already planning to request additional personnel for the Main Residence to fill the vacancy left by Sien’s departure, the justification was more than sufficient.
This was to keep both of them close and under my protection.
Despite Sien’s death as the prime suspect, the investigation continued.
‘There’s no certainty that Sien was the culprit.’
In fact, the investigation had intensified even more after Sien’s death.
The death of a prime suspect typically signaled an attempt to cover one’s tracks.
With the Ludwig Family’s investigative forces currently concentrated on Julietta’s Separate Residence, this place had become the safest location within the entire Ludwig estate.

“Just to be safe, I’ll assign people to watch over their families as well.”
“I appreciate it.”

Theo had taken responsibility for watching over the families of those outside.
As a noblewoman, Nova Morgan was being held under investigative custody at her residence within the Ludwig estate rather than in the Underground Prison.
‘When will she try to contact the mastermind?’
For now, she would remain quiet to avoid drawing attention, but eventually she would surely attempt contact with whoever was behind this.
If only to suppress the bribery matter and devise countermeasures regarding the poisoning incident.
With that resolve, I decided to refocus on my daily duties.

However, this peaceful routine would not last long.
“We greet Your Highness the Grand Duke and Her Highness the Grand Duchess.”

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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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