Chapter 50
“Don’t tell me it was you?”
“If you’re asking about the one who reported you, yes, it was me.”
“…Why would you do that?”
“I told you just now. It doesn’t look good, a group of people ganging up on one person like that.”
“Oh my. So the traitor we’ve been looking for was this close all along!”
Miya’s expression, always so lively when dealing with Luirene, turned vicious. Realizing that this was the face she had shown Eneka all along, Luirene only felt regret that she hadn’t stepped in sooner.
Miya began walking toward her with long strides. Her momentum was fierce enough that she might slap Luirene at any moment. Remembering the venom with which she had tormented Eneka, it seemed like something she wouldn’t hesitate to do.
If offering her cheek submissively could end this situation, that would be enough—thinking that, Luirene didn’t flinch.
“What are you people doing?”
A shrill voice split the air. Eneka, having overheard from somewhere, was approaching in a huff.
“Well, well, if it isn’t Miss Eneka, who wouldn’t even glance our way.”
“Miya. What are you trying to do?”
“What does it look like? Punishing the one who reported us.”
“The one who reported you?”
Miya crossed her arms and lifted her chin.
“You know who reported us the other day? I thought it was you, trying to make us look bad. But turns out Luirene was the culprit.”
“…What? It was Luirene?”
“Yeah. Looks like you two are pretty close, huh?”
While Eneka glanced at Luirene to confirm, Miya inspected her own nails and sneered.
“Eneka, this hurts our feelings. You treat us like idiots, but you’re close with Luirene? Ah—is it because Luirene is a special servant who’s favored by the old lady? I didn’t think you were that kind of snob, but I guess you are?”
“What do I care? I guess she thought you lot were pathetic, whatever Luirene sees.”
Miya’s upturned lips quivered. “Oh, really?” she said in a low, dark voice, then raised what she was holding. Eneka’s expression, which had been indifferent until now, completely changed.
“Where did you get that…!”
“Everyone’s been slacking off so much lately, garbage like this was lying around in the hallway. Might as well throw it away, right, Eneka?”
Miya approached with the dirty bucket. Luirene realized she was about to dump Eneka’s precious practice sheets into the filthy water. She tried to stop her, but Eneka moved first.
“I’ve had enough.”
“Kya!”
Eneka grabbed Miya by the hair. The practice sheets flew far out of her hand. Startled, Luirene tried to approach and calm them down, but Miya’s swinging arm caught her across the cheek.
The others who had been watching from a distance joined in, and in an instant, chaos erupted.
The situation only calmed down after the Nanny summoned everyone.
“You all look absolutely dreadful.”
At the Nanny’s stern voice, everyone hunched their shoulders and lowered their heads. Her fiery gaze targeted the line of servants one by one.
“What exactly is going on here?”
“Head Nanny! We didn’t do anything wrong.”
“That’s right. Eneka suddenly attacked and grabbed Miya by the hair, so…”
“This whole commotion is Eneka’s fault, isn’t it?”
“Enough!”
The Nanny rubbed her forehead with a pained expression. After a moment, her gaze fell on Luirene.
“This is unexpected, Luirene. You getting involved in something like this.”
“I apologize for causing a disturbance. However, to avoid misunderstandings, I hope you will listen carefully to what everyone summoned here has to say. Every single person.”
“That’s for me to decide.”
“……..”
“Causing a commotion on an important day like this of all days. Especially you, Miya—you’re the lady’s personal maid. Do you have no sense at all?”
“I-I wasn’t on duty today, so…”
Even Miya, who had been so aggressive, was like a meek lamb before the Nanny. Luirene soon understood why the Nanny was so troubled.
“What’s going on?”
A voice from the spiral staircase threw cold water on the atmosphere. Luirene, lifting her head to follow the sound, felt her heart stop.
Hitaon, dressed in a dark, elegant tailcoat that fit him perfectly, was descending the stairs, adjusting his crisp cravat. Two knights followed behind him.
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