Translator and Editor: Effe and Nabi

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Chapter 31

Anriche’s eyes widened a little.

It was Alexei.

The inscrutable blue eyes were gazing straight at her, making her a little nervous.

“Wh, what is the Duke doing here?”

“I’ve come to see you about the problem that the missus is worried about now.” Alexei, who answered so, turned to the butler with a glance.

Eventually, the butler realized what he meant and slowly slipped out of the room.

“…”

“…”

Between the two, silence fell.

‘You’ve come to talk about the problem I’m worried about?’ Anriche faced Alexei with a puzzled expression.

Meanwhile, he was reflecting on the incident of Liliana and Meg’s work the other day. He had unintentionally gotten to learn more about this incident.

[ “Duke, I feel so wronged!” ]

…It was because Meg ran and told him about it after the incident.

[ “The madam caught me like a rat!” ]Meg, who was struggling with resentment, raised her voice, forgetting that she was in front of the master. She continued screaming, [ “No, a rat would not have been treated like me! How can this be…!” ]

Alexei narrowed his eyes.

In the past, he would have covered it up and thought that it was Anriche’s fault. Because of the behavior that she had shown him up until now, while Meg, on the other hand, was a maid who had been sincerely working at the Valois for a long time.

‘Though… I had already heard from the butler that Meg was said to have framed Liliana.’

In fact, the butler didn’t like Anriche very much. So, there is no reason that such a butler would cover for her by making up something that never happened. In addition, the butler had also been cautious about the relationship between Londini and Meg recently.

[ “There is a situation in which cash of unknown origin has been deposited to Meg’s account periodically.” ]

[ “…What?” ]

[ “Aside from that, it seems to be true that the Meg and the Londini family are closely intertwined.” ]

It was at that moment that Alexei felt an intense betrayal. On the other hand, the recent Anriche…

‘Somehow, I think she has changed a little.’ Alexei unknowingly recalled Anriche’s expression as she gazed at the children. The soft eyes were filled with only affection for them.

[ “I have already heard everything from the butler about what happened.” ]

At that cold voice, Meg, who was crying loudly, raised her head.

[ “Ye, yes?” ]

[ “You stole my wife’s stuff and tried to put the blame on Liliana?” ]

My wife.

The word unfamiliarly touched the tip of his tongue. As if to shake off that strangeness, Alexei spoke coldly.

[ “If you were really treated like that by my wife…” ]

[ “Du, Duke?” ]

[ “That’s probably because you’ve done something to deserved it.” ]

‘Wha, what is the Duke saying right now…?’ Meg doubted her ears.

Until now, she had been a ‘nanny who Elliot follows best,’ and ‘a head maid who is trusted by the maids.’ Besides, she was also a childhood friend who shared a childhood with Alexei. That was why Alexei respected her opinion in consideration of that.

However, now, he was like a darkly high ice wall.

He’s stubborn and cold, so she can’t even talk to him.

[ “Meg. If you are an adult with perfect judgment, why don’t you reflect on your own actions? ]

[ “Wh-what do you mean…” ]

[ “I’m saying that it’s very presumptuous and impudent that you come and bother me like this.” ]

The blue eyes flashed sharply.

His eyes were cold like ice, which she had never seen before as blood drained from Meg’s face. Alexei buried himself deep in his chair. He spoke again.

[ “My son said he would guarantee you this month’s salary and severance pay.” ]

[ “…Du, duke?” ]

[ “But I have no intention of guaranteeing that.” ]

Meg froze like a rat in front of a beast.

Of course, she would, because Alexei glared at her with his eyes that were full of life.

[ “The head maid chief always told me…” ]

[ “Ye, yes?” ]

[ “The cost of living that the Londinis received regularly is always being used legally and reasonably.” ]

‘W…what is he saying now?’

Meg’s heart pounded rapidly. But Alexei’s words aren’t over yet.

[ “Also, Liliana was said to be living happily and healthily under the protection of her relatives, right?” ]

[ “What, what is it…” ]

[ “But according to my investigation, the head maid’s words were all falsehoods from start to finish.” ]

‘…That, how…?’

Shocked, she stared at Alexei with her mouth gaped wide open. At the same time, he greeted the gaze with a grim face.

[ “In fact, personally, I even want the head maid to face Valois’ private sanctions.” ]

‘Valois’ private sanctions?!’ As words kept coming out of the duke’s mouth, Meg’s eyes continued to open wider, terrified.

Valois private sanctions refer to personal punishment by using Valois’ force and wealth instead of legal sanctions. Since Valois was the most powerful family in the empire, the retaliation they exerted at their utmost was unimaginable and cruel.

Of course, Alexei was a common-sense man, so no such sanctions have been made since he became the duke…

Saying so, it must have meant that Alexei was fuming with rage.

[ “However, the head maid’s family has been devoted to Valois from generation to generation.” ] His cool voice cut through her thoughts yet again.

[ “I have also taken into account that the maid chief has been taking care of Elliot for a long time, so I intend to end it with legal punishment.” ]

Then, with a chin gesture, he points to the tightly closed door.

[ “Though, if you don’t get out of my sight right now…” ]

As he said so, Alexei twisted the tip of his lips coldly. [ “You won’t be able to receive even the last mercy I have given you.” ]

[ “Du, Duke…” ]

Meg murmured to him in a trembling voice. Still, Alexei simply asked back with an expressionless face. [ “Will you go out on your feet, or will you be dragged out by the knights of the Duchy?” ]

[ “Yo, you can’t do this to me!” ]

At the same time, Meg started screaming in a fit.

[ “The Duke abandoned me because of his status!” ]

[ “…What?” ]

[ “But even though I suffered such a betrayal, I continued to be loyal to the Duke…!” ]

Alexei frowned, not understanding a word that Meg was spouting out of her mouth. She gasped a short breath.

[ “The duke knew about it, didn’t you? I, I…!” ]

With that, her eyes had a strange light. Meg spoke again, [ “I had been passionately yearning for the Duke!” ]

By then, Alexei completely lost his words.

‘…Who adores who?’

Still, she constantly poured out words as if the dam had burst.

[ “Honestly, it wasn’t like the Master had no heart for me at all, right?!” ]

[ “Wait, wait a second. What are you saying now…” ]

[ “That’s why you brought me here! Even giving me the title of the head maid!” ]

At the voice, Alexei looked at Meg blankly.

The reason he brought Meg as the head maid was because the chief butler had begged earnestly for his daughter. In order to get a good marriage, he pleaded that it would be better for her to be in the Duchy of Valois.

That was why he gave Meg the status of the head maid.

If she were a maid in charge of a townhouse, she would still have a pretty good future in the marriage market. So, even though Meg had never thought of finding a marriage, Alexei just thought she had no intention of getting married and left her alone…

[ “So, now… The head maid thought we both shared rational feelings…?” ]

[ “Are you going to deny that?!” ]

Saying so, Meg stares straight at him through her tearful eyes. Alexei couldn’t hide his stunned face. And, as he understood the situation now…

[ “Head maid. You are being delusional. You seemed to be mentally ill.” ]

Cold rage filled her whole body. At Alexei’s blatant remarks, Meg clenched her shoulders.

[ “What… what are you…” ]

[ “I have not done anything that’s remotely shameful since I was appointed as the Master of the Duchy of Valois until now.” ]

Alexei concluded his words bluntly. [ “That means, I was also faithful to Anriche, the Mistress of Valois, who I married through a divine marriage.” ]

[ “I know that kind of thing! But…!” ]

[ “I don’t know how long you’ve been having your delusions, head maid.” ]

His blade-like gaze was bloody, as if he would tear Meg to pieces right away.

[ “The nonsense you’ve been talking about now seems to have enough grounds to reap the mercy I’ve been trying to give you.” ]

[ “…Yes?” ]

[ “Do you really want to be subject to Valois’s private sanctions?” ]

At the same words as the death penalty uttered, Meg’s face turned pale.

[ “The reason I’m putting up with your ridiculous nonsense right now.” ]

Alexei grinds his teeth. Needless to say, his anger was now through the roof. [ “It’s because I don’t want to defile the joyful memories that I shared with the maid chief when I was younger.” ]

[ “Ma, master.” ]

[ “I mean, right now, when I can still hold on to my reasons…” ]

As he glared at Meg, shaking her whole body, Alexei pushed the tip of her lips up. [ “It would be best if you disappear right in front of my eyes and never appear, ever again.” ]

[ “Heuk, uheuk…” ]

[ “If I see the head maid once again, I wonder how I will behave at that time…” ]

Looking straight into Meg’s eyes, he concluded coldly.

[ “…because I’m not sure either.” ]

It was a warning about life.

Meg quickly rose from her seat, as if bouncing off, rushed out of the door in an instant.

And at last, her back figure was the last thing that he saw.

“…Well, duke?”

At that call, Alexei finally came to his senses.

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