Lucilia, who hadn’t even touched Bessie, let alone pushed her down the stairs, tried to remain calm. Bessie had lifted her head and was looking up at Lucilia standing at the top of the stairs.

It was a scene where anyone would misunderstand that it was Lucilia’s doing.

Lucilia descended the stairs at a measured pace.

“Bessie! Are you alright?”

“Ugh… Ah!”

Bessie, who had gotten up holding her waist while groaning, suddenly began to wail loudly as if struck by intense pain.

Finding herself in a situation where she had seemingly made Bessie cry, Lucilia felt both awkward and annoyed, heat rising inside her.

She had resolved countless times to respond calmly. Getting excited in this situation would only make her appear more malicious.

“Bessie, are you badly hurt? You should have watched your step. I was so startled when you suddenly collapsed.”

“Well… Aah! Ugh.”

How fortunate that a maid happened to be passing by at that moment.

Lucilia called out to the maid who was staring with wide eyes.

“You there.”

“Yes, yes, my lady.”

“Quickly take Bessie to the estate physician. If you tell him I sent you, he’ll treat her with special care.”

Despite her lack of status, Lucilia was still a member of the baron’s family. Therefore, even the dedicated physician couldn’t simply ignore the young mistress’s request.

Having a mere maid treated by the estate physician was already beyond what was expected. Bessie seemed relieved by Lucilia’s orders.

Lucilia sighed at the situation that wasn’t going as planned.

‘I wanted to try doing something while the young baron was away, but nothing was working out.’

Though no one openly humiliated her, the cold treatment showed no signs of diminishing.

Whether it was the butler, the head maid, or the other maids.

The wariness and contempt she felt so palpably was impossible to ignore.

Lucilia, who had been planning to go for a walk, returned to her bedroom instead.

She sat on the sofa in the reception room, lost in thought.

As her thoughts continued to spiral, she suddenly had a bad feeling.

Of all people, Bessie had to be the one who got hurt.

Knowing Lucilia was no longer a saint, Bessie had revealed her arrogant inner thoughts without filter.

“What can you do to me when you’re not even a saint anymore? No one will take your side. Our young master doesn’t care about you at all, does he?”

Would things be any different now?

This incident might also be blamed on Lucilia.

With maids who loved to gossip, rumors would spread quickly.

* * *

Time passed inevitably. After the dark night, the next morning dawned.

From early morning, maids came in and out of the bedroom for the purification ritual.

Lucilia stared intently at the mirror.

She left the maids alone as they brought water for washing, prepared clean clothes, and combed her hair, which had no accessories.

Lucilia’s face in the mirror, devoid of makeup, was as pale as moonlight.

As she stroked her cheeks, which seemed to have thinned overnight, the maids glanced sideways at her unusual behavior.

Just as the maids were exchanging puzzled looks with each other, Lucilia suddenly inhaled and held her breath.

“Ah!”

Karen quickly approached, adjusting her glasses.

“What’s wrong?”

“My, my eyes…”

“What about your eyes? Are you uncomfortable somewhere?”

“Oh, no. It’s… nothing.”

Though she tried to dismiss it quickly, Lucilia continued to rub her eyes.

She would squeeze them shut and then try to focus clearly, or mutter as if in prayer.

Looking extremely anxious, she soon tried desperately to make eye contact with those around her.

She, who normally avoided looking directly into others’ eyes, now frantically searched their gazes as if looking for something.

Eventually, she trembled her fragile body while shedding tears.

Her sobbing and pitiful figure were enough to evoke sympathy.

“My lady, I’ll call the physician right away.”

“No. I want to be alone, so would everyone please leave?”

“There isn’t much time left.”

“I just need a moment.”

Lucilia turned her head to the opposite side, trying to hide her tears.

But it was impossible to pretend they hadn’t seen the tears she had suddenly shed. It was clear as day that unsettling rumors would spread from mouth to mouth, growing in magnitude.

This was exactly what Lucilia was aiming for.

Spread far and wide.

With suspicion and added interest.

Wasn’t it perfect for planting doubt in the servants’ minds?

She has lost her sacred power.

So the rumors of her being a witch were true—indeed, God has taken away her abilities.

Once one question mark arose, everyone would make similar assumptions.

Some might pity Lucilia, abandoned not only by the Papal Office and her family but also by the God she served, but others would clearly be watching for an opportunity.

An opportunity to crush the pride of a fallen woman who pretended to be their mistress.

A chance to step on the parasite who lived off Tudra’s lord without any merit of her own.

With luck, the hope of driving her out of Tudra would grow, eating away at their dark hearts.

When Lucilia, with a gloomy expression, asked everyone to leave, they all hesitantly stepped back.

She could feel Karen watching her keenly from the doorway, but she didn’t look in that direction. She dabbed at her tears, sniffling as if immersed in melancholy.

When the head maid’s skirt completely disappeared behind the closed door, Lucilia lifted her previously lowered head.

“Make sure you report to the young baron exactly what you’ve seen and heard.”

These meaningful words flew toward Karen, who couldn’t hear them.

* * *

It took less than half a day for Lucilia’s prediction to come true.

Bessie, who had just come out of the kitchen to prepare lunch, squeezed herself into a group of maids huddled together.

“What are you all whispering about? If it’s interesting, let me in on it too.”

“It’s not certain yet.”

“So what is it? I’m dying of curiosity, so tell me quickly.”

“You know… the mistress seems strange.”

Bessie’s freckled cheeks twitched.

“Why? Why is she strange?”

“Her behavior is different from usual.”

“She’s been strange since she came to Tudra. Did she do something suspicious?”

“Suspicious indeed. Extremely so.”

“Really! Stop beating around the bush and get to the point!”

When Bessie glared fiercely, the maid hunched her shoulders. Soon, overwhelmed by the hostile aura, she whispered in a barely audible voice.

“Well, you see. It seems she can’t see anymore.”

“You mean she’s become blind?”

“No. Her eyesight is the same, but it’s like she’s lost the ability to read people’s minds…”

“What?”

“She was squeezing her eyes shut and then opening them, and staring into the mirror for a long time. Then she started sobbing as if shocked, you know?”

“Has she lost her sacred power?”

“That’s what I think too. This morning, she told everyone to leave because she wanted to be alone. Something must have changed about her.”

“Oh my… how pitiful.”

Bessie covered her desire to cackle with a look of regret.

While losing her sacred power would be a weakness for Lucilia, it was a gain for others. Bessie comforted the maids by pointing this out.

“It’s good that we no longer have anything to fear, right?”

“Bessie’s right. I’ve been uneasy about approaching the mistress because of those ominous rumors. This is actually better for us.”

“By the way, isn’t the purification ritual amazing? How does it work so quickly? It’s truly remarkable.”

They all shook their heads, saying if the priest’s abilities were this powerful, how formidable must Lucilia’s powers have been when she was a saint.

They shuddered, saying she might have exposed not only their inner thoughts but all their internal organs as well.

“But Bessie, how many times do I have to tell you to clean your room?”

“What did I do!”

Since Bessie was there, everyone seized the opportunity to vent their frustrations. They were all fed up with how lazy and avoidant she normally was.

“Why do you act like growing up poor is something to be proud of?”

“What do you mean? How am I showing off?”

“Why do you hoard leftover bread? You’re causing mice to run around because of you. It’s so annoying!”

“Fine, I’ll clean it up.”

“Don’t just say it, please actually clean it up. How many times have we told you?”

Other maids joined in, scolding Bessie for her laziness.

“You threw a fit wanting your own room, so we gave you that corner room, but at least you shouldn’t cause problems for others.”

“That’s right, Bessie! If mice appear one more time because of you, I’ll tell the head maid and have you sent to the barn.”

“How can you be so harsh?”

“Would we be like this if you did things properly?”

“Oh, I don’t know, I don’t know. I need to bring a meal to the baron’s room, so I’m going first.”

“Clean your room!”

“I said I will!”

Bessie, who had shouted back, waved to her colleagues and leisurely left the scene.

They grumbled that she was annoying, but she didn’t mind hearing it. It must be because of the good news she had heard.

Only after hiding behind the building could Bessie laugh to her heart’s content.

“Phew, I was struggling not to laugh. So she’s lost her sacred power, has she?”