The Villainess's Exclusive Maid Is Too Good at Her Job - Chapter 44

—————

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

—————

Chapter 44

#Chapter. Reconciliation

“The Ludwig Grand Banquet Hall is truly magnificent in scale.”
A nobleman holding a champagne flute marveled lightly.
Soaring ceilings and dozens of glittering chandeliers. Fresh flower arrangements boasting sweet fragrances, and ice sculptures scattered throughout.
“Indeed, it befits a noble house second only to the Imperial Court.”
“Now that you mention it, I heard rumors that the Crown Prince himself will be attending today. Is that true?”
“It’s quite possible. The Grand Duke is the Crown Prince’s uncle, after all.”
The nobles exchanging words while nodding their heads turned their gazes toward the entrance of a new arrival.
Normally, a steward would announce the house and title, but tonight, in keeping with the masquerade’s spirit, nothing was announced.
“Who might that be?”
“Judging by his bearing, he resembles Baron David, doesn’t he?”
“It’s difficult to tell since everyone is wearing masks.”
“That’s true. But it’s rather thrilling, isn’t it?”
“Indeed!”
“There’s something mysteriously secretive about it. My heart is racing so.”
“Exactly. It feels just like being the protagonist in a novel, doesn’t it?”
The cheeks of the young ladies, barely past their coming of age, flushed a deep crimson.
Having lived their entire lives within etiquette and propriety, it was remarkable how merely concealing their faces could bring such a sense of liberation.
Of course, they had already exchanged names among themselves and knew who everyone was.
Yet even so, the atmosphere felt far more free than when they were unmasked.
“However, even with masks, the direct members of the Ludwig Family cannot hide their presence.”
“My thoughts exactly!”
Indeed, it was exactly as she said.
The Ludwig children gathered in the center of the ballroom maintained a distinctive aura despite their masks.
One might say they emanated an almost ethereal elegance.
However, this was merely the impression they gave on the surface.
“Hmm. Seeing such lovely siblings gathered here makes me feel wonderful.”
“What are you saying, Oscar? Don’t be so sentimental.”
Despite Julietta’s rebuke, Oscar’s lips maintained their smile.
“Why not? I mean it sincerely. How often do we all gather like this?”
The First Daughter, Rosina, was staying at the townhouse in the Capital for her social engagements.
The Second Son, Zephyr, was occupied with managing the Ludwig Family’s trading operations.
Moreover, due to the chaotic family circumstances, the children did not favor one another.
As Oscar said, occasions when all the children gathered were exceedingly rare.
They only came together like this during major family events.
“I too am delighted to see your face after so long, older brother.”
“Rosina! You feel the same way, don’t you?”
“Of course. Even in the Capital, I’ve been missing my brother dearly.”
Unlike Julietta Ludwig, Rosina possessed a calm and quiet temperament.
With her beautiful appearance complemented by grace and propriety, she had earned the epithet “the finest flower of High Society.”
As Rosina smiled toward Oscar, her gaze shifted to Julietta Ludwig, who stood with a stiff posture.
“It’s been a while, Julietta Ludwig.”
“…Yes. It really has been, Sister Rosina.”
“I hear there have been various incidents during that time.”
“Mm, well. There were.”
At Julietta Ludwig’s lukewarm response, Rosina’s eyes narrowed.
‘Truly. Not a shred of refinement to be found.’
A shallow disdain flickered across her narrowed eyes before fading.

Meanwhile, standing a couple of paces apart from everyone else, Zephyr kept his mouth firmly shut and maintained his silence.
His eagerness to leave this gathering was unmistakable.
His cold gaze, which had been fixed on empty space, turned toward Jeron.
The birthday boy sat in the center between the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess, receiving congratulations and gifts from those around him.
‘…What a fortunate life.’
Unlike myself, exhausted to death by mounting responsibilities, all the child had to do was smile brightly.
It was the moment when his poorly concealed negative emotions began to seep through.
The Grand Duchess, who had been smiling as she stroked Zephyr’s hair, turned around.
“…!”
Even behind the mask, he could tell their eyes had met.
Behind the mask, the Grand Duchess’s cool gaze made Zephyr’s body stiffen.
Soon after, the Grand Duchess’s lips moved slightly.
‘Don’t conduct yourself so pathetically, Zephyr.’
At his mother’s voice, clear even unspoken, Zephyr clenched his fists tightly.

***

“Miss Graham.”
“Ah, Mrs. Sinclair.”
It was Betty Sinclair who approached Janet, who had been standing apart like an isolated island within the ballroom.
“Why are you here alone? It hardly suits a party.”
“Ah, well…”
Janet offered an awkward smile, her tone sheepish.
“This is my first time attending a ball like this. I don’t really know any of the nobility here. So…”
“In other words, you’ve been standing out like a sore thumb?”
Her kind words struck the mark so precisely that the sting doubled.
“That’s exactly right. You’ve hit the nail on the head, Mrs. Sinclair.”
“Still, hiding away in a corner like this won’t do. Since you’ve come to the ball, you ought to enjoy it.”
“…I suppose you’re right.”
“Of course. Besides, Miss Graham is the Grand Duchess’s lady’s maid, isn’t she? A maid must be her mistress’s eyes and ears. The conversations that emerge at a ball like this are as valuable as intelligence itself. It’s part of your duties to listen carefully and relay what you hear to the Grand Duchess.”
At her deliberately firm rebuke, Janet nodded in agreement.
“Now that you mention it, you’re absolutely right. I had momentarily forgotten my responsibilities.”
“If you’d like, I can introduce you to a few people. I have quite an extensive network, you see.”
“Would it be too much to ask?”
Janet was the type to seize every opportunity that came her way.
Anyone Mrs. Sinclair introduced would surely be trustworthy.
“Come along, then.”
Indeed.
Janet’s choice proved to be the right one.
Mrs. Sinclair introduced Janet to various people throughout the evening.
Since everyone wore masks, their faces remained hidden, so Janet meticulously committed their voices, mannerisms, and even their gaits to memory.
Heirs to families operating vast trading enterprises, and noble ladies from distinguished lineages.
Even aristocrats who had journeyed from the distant Eastern and Northern Regions.
‘She really does have an impressive network.’
Moreover, everyone she met treated Mrs. Sinclair with considerable warmth and respect.
While it was true that Mrs. Sinclair was a genuinely kind person, there seemed to be something more to it than that.
“Excuse me, Mrs. Sinclair.”
“Yes, Miss Graham?”
“If you don’t mind my asking, what did you do before becoming a lady’s maid?”
She didn’t seem to be merely a household mistress.
There was a subtle reverence in the voices of those who spoke with her.
“My, didn’t I mention it?”
She let out a soft laugh and was about to speak when—
“Madam Betty was a renowned etiquette instructor. Haven’t you read it? 【Madam Betty’s Fundamentals of Etiquette】.”
At the arrival of someone who joined the conversation so naturally, Janet blinked in surprise.
“Joanna?”
“My, you recognized me at once, miss. I’m afraid I can’t quite place everyone here.”
“Because the voice sounded familiar.”
At Janet’s response, Joanna broke into a pleased smile.
“Are you certain you can come down here? Shouldn’t you be staying by Jeron’s side?”
“If a governess continues to linger at his side on a day like this, it might become fodder for the nobility’s gossip.”
At Joanna’s words, Betty nodded in agreement.
“High Society is a terrifying place, after all.”
“Indeed, you understand it well.”
“I understand it all too well. That’s precisely why I became a librarian.”
At Betty’s remark, Joanna let out a bitter laugh.
“I never expected you would come to Ludwig.”
“The Steward recommended it to me, saying I could read as many books as I liked.”
With those words, Janet found the answer to a question she had harbored quite some time ago.
‘Ah, that explains it. The Steward and she seem to know each other well.’
It was the Steward who had introduced her to the librarian position in the first place.
But what a surprise it was.
Mrs. Sinclair was the author of that famous etiquette guide.
Janet too had read “Madam Betty’s Fundamentals of Etiquette” when she first became a lady’s maid.
She had thought it an invaluable book, never imagining its author was Mrs. Sinclair.

—————

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

—————