I Became a Tyrant’s Maid - Chapter 36

There’s a saying in Korea that the first strike leads to victory.

But unfortunately, I missed the first strike, and the rumors already spreading in the Crown Prince’s palace were utterly sordid.

Something about me flirting with the Crown Prince or whatever.

Of course, since it was a rumor involving His Highness the Crown Prince, it spread very, very discreetly.

As a result, I couldn’t openly track down the instigators, grab them by the collar, and confront them about spreading false rumors.

‘So you want to play the media game, huh?’

Ordinary people often resorted to creating a bigger issue to cover up these kinds of rumors.

The way to cover up a scandal is with another scandal.

“What?”

“If Your Highness says it’s not possible to approve, I’ll give up.”

Of course, not wanting to lose my head for reckless actions, I spilled the entire plan to the male lead.

“So, are you saying you want to drive out the head maid?”

I nodded at the male lead’s words.

“Your Highness, as I mentioned, the head maid’s influence in the Crown Prince’s palace is excessively strong. Moreover, isn’t she a puppet of the Duke?”

The male lead smiled faintly and tilted his chin as if telling me to continue.

“Perhaps, is there a reason why you’ve kept the head maid alive until now?”

At my question, the male lead let out a groan.

And then he answered quite kindly, more than I expected.

“It’s better not to touch the First Prince’s faction yet. If I were to behead her directly, the situation would become complicated in many ways.”

I nodded at the male lead’s words.

Does that mean the head maid is a key figure in the First Prince’s faction?

“Besides, the head maid was my wet nurse. If I kill her, there will be a lot of talk.”

What? Wet nurse?

I frowned at the quite shocking statement.

The male lead sprawled on the couch, rubbing his face as if he had a headache.

I understood why he hadn’t been able to deal with the head maid until now.

But wait, for someone who kills his own brothers, why can’t he kill a wet nurse? Is he waiting for the right time?

“That’s why I want to create a reason that people can sufficiently understand.”

His red eyes focused on me as if telling me to continue. I smiled confidently and continued speaking.

“I plan to spread facts that are like rumors.”

“Facts that are like rumors?”

I gently placed the documents I had organized all night in front of the male lead.

“This is my analysis of Your Highness the Crown Prince’s current reputation. I apologize, but it’s mostly negative.”

“…Are you saying you want to try?”

I quickly shook my head at the male lead’s irritated tone.

“Most of the reputation stems from the murders Your Highness has committed. However, there were valid reasons for the murders Your Highness carried out.”

Of course, murder couldn’t be justified for any reason.

But this is inside a novel, right?

“Those who were killed were all traitors or assassins.”

The corners of the male lead’s mouth twitched with interest.

“And half of them were the machinations of the head maid and the Duke. So, I plan to fabricate this into a story that people in the Crown Prince’s palace can accept and spread it.”

“Through whom?”

The male lead picked up the paper I had put down. Then, crossing his legs, he keenly observed me.

“It’s well-known that the head chef and the head maid of the Crown Prince’s palace don’t get along. I intend to use this.”

I bent my waist to appear as earnest as possible.

“So, Your Highness, I dare to seek an opportunity to leverage Your Highness’s power.”

That’s when it happened.

The male lead suddenly stood up from his seat and approached me.

“You’re saying you want to take real power in my palace.”

Even though I knew that the male lead wouldn’t kill people recklessly without a special reason anymore, I couldn’t help but feel tense.

“Your ambitions are quite big, aren’t they?”

The male lead’s long fingers lifted my chin.

Naturally, my gaze met his.

“Your Highness, I’m only doing this for your reputation,”

“I never ordered you to protect my reputation.”

The male lead rolled his large eyes like a madman, examining every corner of my face.

“That’s why, well, I like it.”

The hand holding my chin dropped.

“You do well without being told, that’s what I mean.”

And then he grinned, but his expression was dripping with madness.

Well, his face is handsome, but his personality is rotten.

I offer my sincere condolences to myself for feeling momentary sympathy for him.

“Do as you see fit. However, if things go wrong, you’ll have to take responsibility for everything.”

What an ungrateful black-haired beast.

I saved his life twice, yet he treats me like dirt.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

But I was also one of the super-subordinates who owed him my life.

In the end, I could only respond affirmatively with a smiling face.

* * *

“Rose Estanya, let’s have a talk.”

“Head Maid?”

I greeted the head maid with a genuinely surprised face.

I knew she would come someday, but I didn’t expect it to be now.

In front of the kitchen storage, Aaron was clumsily approaching with a tomato, so I desperately shook my head and spoke loudly.

“Ah, haha! What brings you here!”

Why did she have to come while I was managing the kitchen?

Fortunately, Milla, who was nearby, grabbed Aaron by the scruff of his neck and hid him in the storage room.

I let out a sigh of relief and smiled innocently as if I knew nothing.

Regardless, the head maid looked at me with her characteristic cynical expression.

‘I know what you’re going to say.’

She seemed quite angry as she looked around, then immediately questioned me accusingly.

“That rumor. You spread it, didn’t you?”

“What?”

Is she an idiot?

Did she think I would admit it if she asked the person responsible directly?

Frowning, I spoke to the head maid accusingly.

“Head Maid, what rumor are you talking about?”

“Don’t play dumb. Aren’t you the one who spread the rumor that His Grace the Duke and I were fooling around!”

At the head maid’s words, I widened my eyes, made an exaggerated gesture, and even covered my mouth.

“Oh my, this is the first I’ve heard of this? You and His Grace the Duke were fooling around? Who would spread such an absurd rumor!”

Seemingly irritated by my reaction, she slightly raised her voice and questioned me again.

“If it wasn’t you who spread such rumors to the people in the Crown Prince’s kitchen, then who was it?”

“Well, Head Maid, you suddenly came here and started accusing me like this, I’m quite flustered.”

I lowered my eyes glumly as if I was truly troubled. Even more enraged by my brazen attitude, she gritted her teeth and unleashed her excitement.

“Do you know how much trouble I’m in because of your rumor?”

“Head Maid, you keep talking about a rumor, but I don’t know anything about it.”

“Me being the Duke’s mistress! As if I don’t already have to watch my words because of the illegitimate child!”

For a moment, I blinked and replayed the sentence I had just heard.

Illegitimate child?

“Illegitimate child?”

As I asked back, the head maid seemed flustered and tried to change the subject. Even she looked surprised as if it had slipped out unintentionally.

“I mean, uh, the Duke and I don’t have that kind of relationship…”

Got her.

I caught onto the head maid’s words, my eyes sparkling.

“What illegitimate child are you talking about, Head Maid?”

“You don’t need to know.”

“Oh, come on. I’ve already heard it, though. An illegitimate child…”

As I covered my mouth and laughed, her face twisted mercilessly. It seemed she had long since lost her composure.

“Are you saying, Head Maid, that it would be troublesome if His Grace the Duke, who already has an illegitimate child, were to be involved in a scandal with the Crown Prince’s head maid?”

“You, you wench! Do you have a death wish? How dare you speak of such things!”

I applauded, marveling at her intelligence level as she flared up without being able to refute.

I had unintentionally caught a big fish.

“Oh my. It seems to be true. Are you and His Grace the Duke closer than I thought?”

“You have no right to speak so casually about him!”

I glanced at the clock.

Ah, the situation is flowing more easily than I expected.

It’s about time for Teiron to do his kitchen patrol.

You’d be surprised how many people like me are raiding the ingredient storage late at night.

“Hmm, but even someone as dim-witted as me knows that His Grace the Duke is aligned with the First Prince’s faction, you know?”

“Do you realize what you’re saying right now?”

“Of course. His Grace the Duke even gave me poison directly. To kill His Highness, that is.”

At my words, the head maid’s expression hardened.

“How do you think I’m still alive?”

I took one step closer to the head maid and whispered.

“You’ve completely backed the wrong horse, Head Maid.”

The headmaid suddenly screamed and shoved me away as I approached.

“You, you traitor! You think His Grace the Duke will let you live!”

That’s when it happened.

Thud.

With perfect timing, Teiron dropped the lantern he was holding onto the floor.

Behind him appeared the kitchen staff carrying ingredients for tomorrow’s pork steak.

The head maid’s head whipped around. Her face was grotesquely distorted as she confirmed the presence of people.

Regardless, I deliberately slumped down on the floor.

And then, sobbing, I sputtered out words.

“He-Head Maid, please, at least don’t tell the Duke, I don’t want to die yet. I’ve done nothing wrong.”

“Get up this instant!”

The head maid’s face turned bright red.

Pretending to wail, I collapsed on the floor, covering my face with my hands as I spoke.

“I didn’t know that you were following His Grace the Duke. Really!”

“Rose Estanya!”

I quickly counted the number of people who had entered the kitchen.

About 10 people.

If it were two or three, the Duke might have been able to kill them, but it was virtually impossible to kill that many people without leaving evidence.

I wiped away tears that hadn’t even formed.

Then, casually dusting off my knees, I stood up, looked at the head maid, and smiled broadly.

“But, as the head maid of the Crown Prince’s household, you shouldn’t be following the Duke, should you?”

Really, she picked the wrong person to mess with, by a long shot.

“Isn’t that right?”

It was my perfect victory.