* * *

The once quiet front of Blanche’s annex was bustling with strong men.

They were loading all sorts of travel supplies onto a huge four-wheeled carriage, while the maids watching whispered among themselves.

“What’s all that?”

“I heard the young lady is going on a trip?”

“Then… will she take one of us with her?”

With that one sentence, a strange tension spread among the maids.

As Belinda began to actively use Mary, an implicit hierarchy started to form among the maids of similar age.

Moreover, the person called the head maid showed no interest in the mansion’s affairs and was rarely seen, so whoever gained Belinda’s trust could wield power in place of the head maid.

The maids’ eyes glinted with ambition.

The work at the annex wasn’t as hard as they had thought, and above all, if they gained Belinda’s trust, they could be invited to the Sunset Tea Party.

The Sunset Tea Party.

It was the maids’ code word for the luxurious tea party that Belinda hosted in the annex.

The reason they longed to be invited to that party was because the guest list consisted of employees.

The maids were filled with hope that if they received recognition from Belinda, they might someday attend that party and at least smell the sweet scent of sugar.

And if there was someone among them closest to the honor of being invited to the Sunset Tea Party…

“Mary, the young lady is calling for you.”

It was Mary.

Just like this, three days ago, Belinda had called Mary alone and left her in charge of dressing her up.

“Mary, you’ve done well so far. Have a seat.”

And finally, she was able to attend the Sunset Tea Party that everyone envied so much.

Ah, at last!

Mary carefully sat down where Belinda pointed.

Unlike usual, she was the only one invited, but Mary suppressed her excitement and took a bite of the crème brûlée prepared for her.

“Is it edible?”

“Yes, yes! Thank you so much, my lady.”

Mary’s smile was innocent, but her mind was racing.

If she could become a maid that Belinda trusted and relied on, she could pass more confidential information to Sybel, and then receive more money as an information fee.

‘I must definitely go on this trip and gain recognition in front of everyone.’

When she judged the atmosphere had become somewhat relaxed, Mary opened her mouth.

“My lady, I heard you’re going on a trip. If you’re considering a maid to serve you, I could…”

Just as she said that.

Knock knock.

As soon as Belinda gave permission after hearing the knock, the maids from the annex filed in.

Seemingly called suddenly, they all lined up with puzzled expressions, then widened their eyes upon discovering Mary being served an exquisite dessert.

“Ah, young lady, as you ordered, I’ve brought all the maids working in the annex.”

“I see.”

Belinda replied indifferently, poking at her pie with the tip of her knife.

Then, as if reciting her afternoon schedule, she continued in a monotone voice.

“I hear there’s a little rat among you who’s been reporting my every move to those mongrels in the main building?”

“…!”

Mary almost choked, nearly spitting out what was in her mouth.

The other maids’ faces turned pale as well.

Undisguised shock flashed across everyone’s face except Belinda’s.

Mary, in particular, could barely breathe.

Because Belinda’s gleaming purple eyes were staring directly at her.

As if she knew Mary was the culprit.

Suppressing the rising nausea, Mary abruptly stood up and bowed politely.

Her head was spinning. Perhaps that meal just now might have been her last.

“I’ve been pondering for three days on how to deal with that little rat.”

Screech.

Belinda rose from her seat, pulling her chair back irritably.

She passed by the bowing Mary and slowly paced in front of the line of maids.

“It was fun watching the little rat squeaking around, unaware of its fate, but now it’s getting a bit tedious.”

Click, click.

As she heard Belinda’s heel sounds moving away and then coming closer again, Mary tightly shut her eyes.

And the moment Belinda stood right behind Mary.

“Did you enjoy your three days of freedom?”

With her back to Mary, Belinda gently whispered as she lifted the chin of the maid standing in front of her with the tip of her fan.

‘Ah…’

“Ah, young lady! I, I’m not! I, I, I’m not the culprit!”

Mary unconsciously clasped her hands together as if in prayer.

‘I’m saved!’

“Leave this little rat and everyone else may go.”

At Belinda’s sentence, the maids, terrified of being implicated, hurriedly left the room.

Mary too was about to slip out among them.

“Mary, where are you going?”

“Pardon?”

Belinda stopped her.

She sat back down at the tea table, elegantly tilting her teacup, and calmly whispered.

“You know well what you need to do to become my personal maid.”

Mary looked at Tanya, the maid who had been pointed out as the culprit by Belinda.

Tanya looked up at Mary with a frightened face, shaking her head as if pleading.

“Mary, no. I really didn’t do it.”

The shrewd Mary instinctively realized she was at a crossroads.

Either beg along with Tanya that she was innocent, or…

‘I could use this opportunity to frame Tanya as the culprit and clear myself of suspicion.’

As soon as that thought dominated her mind, the hesitation in Mary’s hand disappeared.

Slap!

A sharp sound of a palm striking a cheek echoed through the room.

“How dare you betray the young lady? Confess right now and beg for forgiveness from the young lady!”

As if she hadn’t expected to be hit, Tanya clutched her cheek with a dazed expression.

“Why… why…”

Ignoring Tanya, who could barely speak and only stared with wide eyes, Mary first checked Belinda’s reaction.

As if still not satisfied, she showed no signs of approval and focused only on cutting her cake.

Just as Mary gritted her teeth and raised her hand again.

“That’s enough.”

Belinda’s gentle voice stopped Mary.

As if finally recovering from the shock, Tanya immediately crawled on her knees to Belinda’s feet.

“Y-Young lady! I really didn’t do it! Please believe me, please. This is a false accusation! It’s all a misunderstanding!”

“False accusation?”

Only then did Belinda turn to look at Tanya.

The berry juice on the knife looked just like blood.

Tanya, sensing this might be her last chance, desperately pleaded.

“Yes, yes! I will definitely uncover the real culprit! And I’ll drag that woman who betrayed you…”

“Can’t you be quiet? How dare you lie in front of the young lady!”

Suddenly, Mary, who had been watching from behind, hastily intervened and roughly pulled Tanya’s shoulder.

“Let go of me! What lie? I’m innocent! Young lady! If you give me just one chance, just one, I’ll definitely find the traitor!”

Belinda leisurely observed the dogfight unfolding before her eyes.

At that moment, without even waiting for Belinda’s permission, the door burst open and Terry rushed into the room.

“What are you all doing in front of the Master!”

“B-Butler…”

At the appearance of the usually kind butler, Tanya looked up at Terry with teary eyes, feeling relieved.

Surely she would save her from this absurd false accusation.

“Master, I’ve heard the situation from the maids. Please reconsider. Tanya is diligent and has an excellent reputation…”

“If I said she’s a rat, then she’s a rat. Are you now saying that I should reconsider and take this lowly one’s circumstances into account?”

“…I apologize.”

Clang.

Belinda clicked her tongue, throwing her fork irritably.

“I’ve lost my appetite. I don’t want to see that insolent thing, so lock her in a room. Inform the main building that I won’t be sending her back for a while.”

“…!”

Tanya tried to say something, but Terry shook her head to stop her.

Terry lowered her waist so as not to upset Belinda, then supported Tanya and left the room.

Half-dragged out, Tanya was immediately moved to an empty room.

She grabbed Terry’s trouser leg and cried out with a tear-stained face.

“Butler, I really didn’t do it. I didn’t do it. Please believe me. Please save me, I beg you.”

“Of course, I believe it wasn’t Tanya’s doing. But… there was actually an eyewitness, so the Master has been pondering for days.”

“An eyewitness? Who is it? Who on earth…”

“I can’t tell you that. Just know that the Master trusts the eyewitness’s words. It’s a maid she cherishes.”

At that moment, seeing Tanya deep in thought, Terry hastily shook her head as if she had made a slip of the tongue.

“Oh my, I’ve said too much. I’ll try to explain Tanya’s situation well to the Master.”

“….”

“I’ll come back with something to eat at night. Surely there must be someone who framed Tanya. You must hold on until we find that person.”

“…Someone who framed me.”

With those final words, Terry left without hesitation.

Click.

The sound of the door closing and the bolt locking echoed, but Tanya remained seated for a long time without moving.

Eventually, a single name escaped her lips.

“…Mary.”

The report from three days ago.

The maid that Belinda cherishes.

The sudden invitation to the sunset tea party, as if receiving a reward.

And even the suspicious attitude of desperately trying to stop her.

“That wench, blinded by power…”

In the dark room, Tanya’s eyes flashed with intense resentment.