The carriage crossed the moat guarded by soldiers and turned onto the well-maintained stone path leading to St. Berte Castle.

Randolph, after gazing at the vast, meticulously arranged garden landscape, exchanged glances with Mariette before shifting his gaze to Carlo sitting across from them.

“People love gossip. The more negative it is, the more attention it draws.”

“While Your Highness shouldn’t be too concerned about what the press is saying, we’re worried that the animosity toward the grand duchess is spreading more widely than we anticipated.”

When Mariette added her thoughts, Carlo looked at the Swinton couple. Her words naturally brought something to mind.

Early that morning, Carlo, rising before anyone else to read the delivered articles, had discovered a cheap weekly magazine tucked between the newspapers.

These thin weekly publications that mainly dealt with gossip were pouring out all sorts of stories about the grand duchess. They showed no restraint in their daily gossip about her.

Randolph must have read the weekly magazine inserted in the newspaper he received at the annex, for he had rushed to the main building to request a meeting with Carlo.

Carlo had held meetings with all the newspapers associated with the Hedegen family, while the Swinton couple had been circling the square to hear what people were saying. They were now returning together from their meeting place.

“The good news is that since every newspaper is constantly talking about the grand ducal couple, the imperial citizens are growing tired of it. When a new topic emerges to divert attention, interest will quickly shift.”

Articles about the improving relationship between the Grand Duke and his wife had been published for some time, but only in newspapers owned by the Hedegen family and others maintaining good relations with them.

Newspapers on the opposite side went to great lengths to ridicule the grand duchess, making her an object of mockery. Their owners were all connected to Count Azanie and deeply involved with the imperial family.

“They consider His Highness untouchable, so they direct all their criticism at the grand duchess. It’s truly… no different from what shameless people would do. While pretending to insult Her Highness the Grand Duchess, they’re essentially disrespecting His Highness the Grand Duke.”

Mariette spoke in a cold tone, as if trying to suppress her anger but unable to completely hide her emotions.

“They’re trying to suggest I’ve lost my mind for protecting a grand duchess suspected as a prime suspect.”

“But no one would dare speak that way about Your Highness.”

“Of course not. At least not yet?”

When Carlo responded nonchalantly with a hollow laugh, Randolph fell silent for a moment, unable to deny it.

The newspapers publishing normal articles reported that the relationship between the two people walking around Mertid Square in St. Berte appeared quite good.

They stated that if the grand duchess were the culprit, the Grand Duke wouldn’t act this way, and also included criticism of the rumors targeting her as a suspect.

“I heard from my daughter… in this situation, the imperial family has even invited the grand duchess. I strongly suspect they’re just trying to make her a laughingstock.”

“They’ll realize it as soon as they meet the grand duchess in person. They’ll see that she has a kind heart and cannot treat others carelessly. I’m afraid she might become a target.”

Carlo, who had been listening silently to Mariette’s words, turned his head back toward the window.

As the carriage stopped in front of the main gate, all three people got out, and the coachman and servants busily moved to put the carriage in the large carriage garage.

“……”

While the Swinton couple headed to the annex to check on their belongings, Carlo entered the hall, greeted by Norbert. His eyes briefly scanned the surroundings.

She wasn’t visible.

It seemed like someone should have been scurrying over like a squirrel to stand before him when he returned.

“The lady went to meet the maids.”

Norbert, noticing that he was looking for the grand duchess, reported as if making an official statement.

Carlo’s eyes immediately turned cold.

‘The maids,’ he thought.

The grand duchess still didn’t know about the previous incident when someone had tried to feed her tainted food.

What trouble was she getting into now, oblivious to everything?

“Would you like to go see her?”

Carlo frowned at Norbert’s question.

“No need.”

Carlo indifferently replied and walked past the hall, heading upstairs.

“She’ll manage on her own.”

When I opened the bedroom door and went out, Medlin greeted me with a puzzled face.

“Is something the matter, my lady?”

“I’m looking for those maids I saw earlier. Oh, what were their names…? Right, Jeanne and Celli!”

Startled, Medlin blinked and instructed the doorkeeper servant standing beside her to go to the head maid and find out where the two maids were.

“Do you have something you need them to do?”

“No, nothing like that. They kindly prepared snacks for me before, and I wanted to thank them, but I haven’t seen them since. I just spotted them from the terrace.”

“Ah…”

Medlin stared at me as if she had heard something unexpected, then listened to a whispered message from the servant who had hurriedly returned. She carefully approached me.

“Would you like to go see them, my lady?”

“Yes, please.”

When I nodded eagerly, Medlin led me to the stairs and then through a back door that opened to the backyard.

“I’ve been wanting to take a walk in the backyard anyway.”

Beyond the windows stretched the endless grand canal, boathouses lined with yachts, and a large flower garden.

Just then, Medlin turned away from the wide walking path and followed a small trail, so I changed direction to follow her.

Soon, tall trees with branches drooping on both sides began to surround us.

After walking far enough that the main path was no longer visible, a clearing came into view.

“They’re over there.”

It appeared to be a place for hanging laundry.

White and colorful fabrics fluttered in the wind, emitting a clean scent.

So this is where they hang laundry, out of sight.

As Medlin stepped back, I moved forward to find Celli and Jeanne.

The two were shaking out and hanging fabric while conversing.

As I got closer, I could gradually hear their conversation.

“Those places are already taken by people with money, and they won’t accept people like us. You should have slipped some money to Caleb.”

“Where would I get that kind of money? My father takes all my wages, so I never even get to touch it.”

“If it’s tough, take some of my wages this month. Your siblings are still young.”

“No, I can’t do that.”

It seemed that parents who make their children’s lives difficult existed in this world just as they did in the other.

But to offer all her wages like that…

I could only think what an incredible friendship they had.

I moved forward, pushing through the pleasantly swaying, fresh sheets.

“Celli, you’re going through all this because of me. You were originally a kitchen maid and only had to cook. And now you’re being punished like this when you were so happy about being promoted to bake bread. I’m really sorry.”

They’re being punished?

“It’s only for a few more days.”

“This laundry hanging is supposed to be done by ten people, but because of me… You were right. That day, we shouldn’t have messed with the grand duchess’s dessert.”

What? As I approached them and pushed aside the fabric, Jeanne screamed as if she’d seen a ghost, turning deathly pale.

“Eek!”

They clearly hadn’t expected me to come, as both of them froze. Celli trembled and opened her eyes unnaturally wide.

I looked at both of them in turn and carefully asked.

“What kind of prank did you pull…?”

At my question, Celli turned even paler, looking like she might faint at any moment.

Seeing Celli like this, Jeanne squeezed her eyes shut and then opened them. Then she spoke up instead.

“W-we put salt in it, my lady.”

Jeanne’s lips trembled as she spoke.

“In the snacks you gave me then…?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

I asked out of genuine confusion, but Celli began to cry silently.

Then Jeanne, with bloodshot eyes, mustered her courage and said:

“It was me. I’m sorry. I did it because I hated Your Highness. I committed a disrespectful act.”

“Why would you do such a thing?”

“……”

But the two remained silent, tightly sealing their lips without further response.

Feeling frustrated, I looked at them for a moment before speaking again.

“You did it simply because you hated me?”

“……”

I couldn’t understand why they still showed no sign of answering and only stared at the ground.

Watching Celli’s pitiful tears falling one by one, I spoke again.

“If you don’t answer, I can only misunderstand. That you acted with malice toward others. I thought you had shown me kindness back then…”

At that moment, Jeanne hesitantly began to speak.

“Before you lost your memory…”