Chapter 9 – Part 3

Olivia realized how effective the painkillers in this world were. After sleeping for half a day, she felt much lighter. Although the pain was still there, it was heaven compared to before.

However, as soon as she felt better, the scolding from those around her came down mercilessly.

“How long has it been since you returned, and you’re already making us worry like this? Why do you always get hurt just when we start to care for you?”

“Melanie… please calm down…”

“It’s not like you ever calm down, so why should I?”

Melanie roared, and Olivia trembled like a small chick. Unfortunately, Melanie was right, so there was nothing more Olivia could say.

“And how did you even manage to hurt your back like this? Don’t you realize that your body doesn’t belong only to you? Do you not see the people who are here to support you? I’m so worried about you that I can’t even eat properly!”

Olivia flinched and covered her ears lightly. This only made Melanie even angrier.

“Are you even listening to me? I’m really at my wit’s end! If I had a disobedient younger sister, I’d imagine this is exactly how it would feel—constantly stressed out!”

“I’ve committed a grave sin…”

Olivia looked to Illehan and Glenn with pleading eyes, but they coldly ignored her.

“It’s good to be strict with yourself, but pushing yourself to the point of worrying everyone around you is a crime! You’re committing a very serious wrong!”

It had been a long time since Olivia had been scolded like this, and it felt both strange and oddly familiar, reminding her of her sister from her past life. At least Melanie wasn’t physically hitting her.

“I think you’re the one who should be put under house arrest, not the duke. Can’t you stay in your room for just one month?”

Melanie’s eyes gleamed as she said this, and Olivia pressed herself closer to the bed.

‘This is completely crazy…’

They say quiet people are scarier when they get angry, and Olivia realized she had underestimated Melanie.

“Let’s… calm down, Melanie.”

“Yeah, let’s calm down a bit.”

“This is all your fault!”

The fire that had been dying down flared up again with just a slight comment from Olivia. She clutched the blanket tightly, tears welling up.

“Glenn… Sir Illehan… are you just going to leave me like this?”

“It’s your karma, after all,” Glenn said, nodding approvingly at Melanie’s stern reprimand. That ungrateful bodyguard.

“Let’s have lunch first, and then we’ll continue this conversation.”

“Lunch…? It’s not over yet?”

Olivia’s brief relief at the mention of lunch quickly turned into dismay. Melanie’s lips curled into a smirk.

“I’ve got a lot built up over time. Once you retire to the countryside, there won’t be many opportunities for this, so I have to get it all out now.”

“No! I’m going to catch the culprit!”

Olivia glared defiantly at Melanie, who stood her ground with hands on her hips.

“With you getting hurt all the time, when exactly do you plan to catch them? We’ll catch them ourselves, so just go wherever you want.”

“…….”

Kneeling on the bed, Olivia’s angry energy slowly deflated. She could finally see Melanie’s true intentions.

She had always assumed Melanie was just like any other noble lady, wearing a mask of grace, but now she realizes Melanie is much purer and more genuine. Living with her had revealed this truth, but it struck Olivia more deeply now.

“If I become a commoner, will you still come visit? Or will you just look down on me and refuse to acknowledge me?”

“Oh, come on, what do you take me for? I’m not that cold-hearted.”

So, Olivia playfully poked Melanie’s arm. Melanie’s expression softened, becoming much gentler than before.

“I’m hungry. Listening to all that nagging made me so hungry.”

“Goodness, it’s the person who’s doing the nagging that gets hungry, not the one listening.”

Despite her words, Melanie helped Olivia get ready.

“Please, don’t get hurt again. It really upsets me.”

“Okay.”

Instead of feeling annoyed by Melanie’s unusually honest concern, Olivia felt comforted and warm.

“Come to think of it, where’s Mas?”

“Oh, the Duke is in the kitchen right now…”

Melanie was about to explain that Marsden was doing a final check on the food for Olivia when a sudden knock interrupted her.

“Marchioness, someone has arrived from Flatd Castle.”

Olivia and Melanie exchanged glances, as did Glens and Illehan. News arriving in such peaceful moments was often not good.

And Olivia’s prediction was spot on. The knight who entered after receiving Olivia’s permission was clad in heavy armor.

“My apologies for disturbing you while you’re resting, Marchioness, but… there has been an attack by Katlan on the Roskal Demilitarized Zone.”

“When did it happen?”

“An hour ago. It seems to be in retaliation for the previous incident.”

* * *

Meanwhile, Bay had successfully infiltrated the Count of Gael’s manor as a servant after meticulous preparation. He managed to convince a retainer who was on the verge of turning against Gael to help him.

“I’ll arrange a position for you, but he’s not someone who trusts easily. I can’t guarantee your life.”

“Just helping me is more than enough. But, may I ask why you’re assisting me?”

Originally, Bay had offered the retainer a fair reward in exchange for cooperation, but the retainer refused. He simply told Bay to prepare a fake identity, and he would handle the rest.

This had been quite surprising for Bay. He knew through various sources that the retainer had clashed with Gael, but he was still considered a trusted subordinate of the Abyss family. Bay had risked his life to propose the deal, so the unexpected assistance without any reward was quite remarkable.

“Well… I’m human too. I can’t continue serving someone I don’t trust or understand. I just want to be remembered as someone who wasn’t ashamed of my family and the people I served.”

He then mentioned that he planned to retire soon, citing his age, and return to his hometown to care for his ill grandson.

Bay promised to repay the favor and cut his medium-length hair even shorter. He then spent the entire night practicing mopping, ensuring his actions wouldn’t appear awkward.

“Vivi, how old did you say you were? You’re doing quite well for your first day.”

Thanks to this, Bay received praise from the head maid within hours. Bay smiled pleasantly.

“I’m twenty now. I’ve been working since I was young, and I got praised a lot.”

“I can see why Sir Reed recommended you.”

Contrary to her sharp first impression, the head maid was quite a hearty person. Bay, with a mop in hand, kept up the charm.

“By the way… is it always this tense around here? I’m sorry if I’m out of line, but it seems like you’re also worried about something.”

Bay didn’t particularly care about the head maid’s feelings or expressions, but he said it to win her over, and it worked well.

“Oh my, you noticed? I try to hide it… but yes, the atmosphere has been tense lately. Be careful. Even if I like you, I can’t protect you if you fall out of favor with the master.”

“So it really is tense around here. It must be exhausting for you too.”

Bay probed a bit further, but the head maid waved it off this time.

“That’s enough. He’s just a strict person. Anyway, make sure to clean thoroughly; I’ll be off now.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Bay retreated gracefully. He hadn’t infiltrated the manor for the head maid, after all. His goal was to sneak around and search Gael’s estate.

So it would be a waste of time to linger on trivial matters. Being a knight, Bay quickly finished cleaning his assigned area. Then he immediately began moving stealthily around the manor.

‘It’s chaotic.’

Bay recalled the sentence Gael had received. He had two weeks to find a place and leave the capital immediately after. Consequently, the servants were bustling around.

‘It’ll be tough to find anything in this chaos.’

There were many things Bay needed to investigate about Gael, but it seemed it would be challenging.

‘I need to find out if he’s involved in the bomb theft, his true reasons for colluding with Buck Rodley, and if he’s connected to the fields in the Kettlelin Forest…’

As he listed them, Bay realized how much there was to uncover. He resolved to investigate thoroughly, determined to discover something significant.

However, every place that seemed suspicious was locked tight, making it difficult to search. Bay decided to prioritize which doors to unlock first.

‘Huh?’

He suddenly heard slow footsteps coming from the end of the hallway. Bay quickly hid behind a corner.

“Sigh… What should I do?”

A soft voice filled with anxiety reached Bay’s ears. He discreetly peeked out and saw a woman with her hand on her stomach.

‘Ronae Bartram?’

It wasn’t unusual for Ronae to be wandering the manor, but it was strange to see her with such a troubled expression.

“Baby, I’m sorry. You deserved better parents.”