Chapter 211
The promised day, approaching
Thea furrowed her brows occasionally as she listened to Freesia’s instructions regarding her ‘final errand’.
She had known from the very first meeting at the estate that her master was unusual.
Recently, Freesia had exuded a precarious atmosphere, one Thea preferred not to disturb.
But her curiosity itched at her, as if something teased her tongue.
When Freesia mentioned disposing of a particular valuable asset as part of this ‘errand’, Thea couldn’t hold back any longer. It felt overwhelming to be entrusted with such a large fortune, bypassing higher-ranking attendants and assigning the task to her.
“Do you really need to dispose of it, Madam? Wouldn’t it be better to keep it?”
“Why? Do you want it for yourself?”
“What? Oh, if you’re offering it to me, of course, I’d be grateful! But that’s not exactly what I meant…”
Thea squeezed out the last bit of humility she had and reluctantly declined. After all, the jewels from a fallen family were already within her grasp, but claiming this on top of them felt too bold.
‘If I get too greedy here, and the Madam turns scary, that’ll be trouble!’
Reading Thea’s thoughts like an open book, Freesia smiled, her eyes narrowing.
“Yes, it’s for someone else. Don’t get any ideas.”
“Yes, Madam!”
“And make sure to take good care of this letter. It will serve as your guarantee.”
Freesia handed Thea a sealed letter. It was the second letter she had prepared after writing one to be sent to the imperial prince.
“And when you go on this errand, take the people you’re close to with you.”
“Gasp—Are you giving me a vacation?”
“Yes. Bring along the relatives who helped at the first tea party and take a break.”
“Thank you—no, I’m honored!”
The servants working in the castle only had days off at the lord’s discretion, and apart from prayer days or grand festivals, they were rare. Overjoyed, Thea didn’t ask any further questions and left the room happily.
Watching her leave, Freesia smiled bittersweetly.
‘Is that everything I needed to prepare for Thea and Sir Dike?’
She wanted to leave something behind for those who had been loyal to her even before her true identity was revealed. The time to say goodbye to those two was approaching.
Unexpectedly, others around her had subtly begun pushing for this amicable farewell as well. The most brazen of them was the head maid, who had betrayed her former master without hesitation.
Was she now under the delusion, after the second tea party, that she was one of Freesia’s close confidantes?
“You’re a member of the imperial family now, Your Highness. Do you intend to remain satisfied with such a lowly servant as your attendant?”
“Head Maid Merope, what exactly are you implying?”
With Thea gone, the head maid slyly approached Freesia, barely masking her dissatisfaction.
“I believe it’s time to ‘refresh’ your staff, given the recent… developments.”
“……”
“You could select someone from among those who attended the tea party to serve as your new lady-in-waiting.”
Freesia lowered her gaze but knew exactly where Merope’s eyes were fixed. Even when covered by a sable-lined sleeve, her wrist injury was noticeable.
The scar from that day had left a faint, wood-like ring on her wrist. And since Merope had failed to conduct herself properly on the day that scar was inflicted, she should have been included in any ‘staff refresh’. But instead, she was trying to sell out others to secure her own position.
‘She knows that if she doesn’t cling to me quickly, Izar will kill her.’
When Freesia didn’t respond, Merope mustered her courage and pressed further.
“And if I may be so bold, wouldn’t it be wise to demote Sir Dike from his position as well?”
If she knew it was bold, she should have kept her mouth shut.
Freesia wanted to laugh at her, but she masked it with a soft, unreadable smile.
“Then whom would you recommend for the role of chief guard?”
“Ahem. To properly serve a member of the imperial family, wouldn’t it be ideal to choose someone from a noble lineage with deep roots in this land?”
The head maid was clearly weighing how gullible this shepherd-turned-royalty could be. The Dike family was loyal but lacked the prestige of other vassal houses.
Meanwhile, Merope, being a victim of Elder Madam Electra’s schemes, was angling to place one of her own allies in the role… It was so obvious.
‘How amusing.’
People always viewed their own wrongdoing as a minor slip-up committed by an ‘inner demon’ and believed that once forgiven, the matter was over.
‘It seems the ones on Károli’s side are regaining their nerve as well. They must be teaming up with the head maid.’
Although the injury was a humiliation, Merope and the others thought that, having received Freesia’s forgiveness, they were free to start scheming again. Freesia was well aware of the subtle tensions brewing between those taking turns guarding her, especially since her injury.
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