As I stood up, Marin looked at me with a puzzled expression.

I gave her a bright smile—and before she could even react, I did exactly what I had done to the other maid earlier.

I dumped the soup right over her head.

“KYAAAH!”

Unfortunately, the portion was small and already cold, so her clothes weren’t completely soaked, and she didn’t get burned. Still, her obnoxious orange hair turned a greasy yellowish color, which looked better than expected.

Unlike my thoughts, Marin shrieked in shock.

“What—what do you think you’re doing right now?!”

“…Marin, did you really think I wouldn’t notice?”

“W-What are you talking about?!”

“You. Pretending to be me, ordering the maids around, acting like you’re the lady of the house… Fine, I let that slide. But now? You’ve gone so far that you look down on me, too?”

“N-No! I’ve never thought that way! Everything I said was for your sake, Young Lady!”

What a joke.

“Really? Do you think everyone would see it that way? How about we go to the Duke together?”

“…E-Excuse me?”

“If you can repeat everything you just said—about me being a criminal—right in front of him, I’ll acknowledge your ‘devotion’ to me.”

“Ah… well, that…”

No matter how disliked I was, I was still a noble lady.

If it became known that a mere maid spoke to me like that, she wouldn’t be left unpunished—if only for appearances.

“Let’s go. Right now.”

I turned and started walking toward the door.

“Y-Young Lady?!”

The moment I grabbed the doorknob and swung it open, a maid standing outside froze in surprise.

I thought Marin was the only one lurking around outside Ruby’s room—but…

‘I’ve never seen this maid before.’

Well, it didn’t matter.

I walked past her.

Only then did Marin seem to grasp the situation. Her face turned pale as she rushed forward and dropped to her knees in front of me.

“I-I’m sorry, Young Lady! I was too arrogant! I got too comfortable after being with you for so long… I won’t do it again. Please forgive me!”

That was fast.

‘…Well, someone that cunning would have been able to manipulate the original heroine all this time.’

Looks like she finally understood her place.

“I don’t think I can trust your words.”

I shrugged indifferently.

At my response, Marin trembled even more—but I felt no pity.

That behavior was nothing more than an act to escape the situation.

“I really won’t do it again! Please—!”

Well… I didn’t want to make things too big today.

I pretended to hesitate, then nodded as if granting mercy.

“…Fine. If you insist, I’ll let it slide this once. As you said, we’ve been together for a long time.”

“Then—!”

“I’ll watch you one last time. But if something like this happens again… I won’t stay silent.”

“Thank you! Thank you, Young Lady! I’ll make sure nothing like this ever happens again. I’ll serve you with all my heart!”

‘We’ll see how long that lasts.’

I sneered inwardly, but wore a benevolent smile on my lips.

I glanced at the maid who had witnessed everything.

Good.

If she spread the word, no one would dare mess with me so easily again.

Satisfied, I smiled.

***

“Your Grace!”

“…What is it?”

The Duke, buried in paperwork, looked up at his white-haired butler, Rubel, who had rushed in.

Normally, the experienced butler wouldn’t even blink at most things—but today, his face was clearly shaken.

If something had startled him this much, it must be serious.

The Duke set the document he was holding aside.

“There’s been quite a commotion in the mansion—because of Lady Ruby.”

“…Ruby?”

Ruby Escart—his youngest daughter.

The Duke fell into thought.

Now that he thought about it… she had seemed a bit different at breakfast, too. She had always greeted him without fail before.

The child was born at the cost of his beloved wife’s life.

Of course, he knew it wasn’t her fault.

But he couldn’t bring himself to feel affection for her.

Every time he saw her, he was reminded of his wife—and the fact that she didn’t resemble his wife at all, but only him, made him feel uneasy.

So he had simply provided the bare necessities and planned to marry her off quickly to another family.

And now… that child?

“Yes. Lady Ruby has… ‘disciplined’ her personal maid. It’s causing quite an uproar.”

“…If a maid caused trouble, disciplining her is only natural. What’s the issue?”

The Duke looked puzzled at Rubel’s fuss.

But Rubel shook his head and sighed deeply.

“Disciplining isn’t the problem! It’s Lady Ruby we’re talking about! Did you truly not know she had been bullied by the servants all this time?”

Even at the butler’s reproachful tone, the Duke merely shrugged.

“…Then that just means she failed to discipline them properly. Those above must manage those below. Still, it seems she finally did it this time.”

Rubel thumped his chest in frustration.

“That’s not what I mean! You may regret this later—shouldn’t you at least go and speak with her, find out what happened?”

“Enough. Leave.”

Annoyed, the Duke waved him off.

Under the dismissal, Rubel could only grind his teeth and leave.

‘That child… disciplining a maid…’

Though he acted indifferent, the Duke was inwardly surprised.

That quiet, timid child—who used to seek even a bit of his attention desperately—had gotten angry?

He couldn’t imagine it.

‘She did seem different at breakfast… Has something changed?’

The Duke crossed his arms and sank into deep thought.

***

After the day I dealt with Marin, the witnessing maid must have spread the story. The servants who once ignored me now began avoiding me.

Marin, too, seemed shaken and started behaving cautiously.

It was a very welcome change.

‘Looks like things around here are finally settling down…’

Now then.

Time to start the training I had been putting off.

But first, I needed proper training clothes.

The wardrobe only had a few worn-out dresses.

‘Money… I need money.’

For what lay ahead, money was essential.

Normally, a romance fantasy heroine would be overflowing with jewels and gold—but why was this one broke?

I didn’t want to ask the Duke—but he was the only source. Since I was still his daughter, maybe I could casually ask for an allowance.

It had already been a week since I entered this world. And tomorrow morning was the weekly family breakfast. I would see him then. Maybe I could bring it up casually.

If he ignored me, then so be it. It was a gamble anyway. If it didn’t work, I’d have to find another way to earn money outside the mansion.

Of course, that was the backup plan.

With my thoughts organized, I waited for the next morning.

***

“Young Lady… are you awake? It’s time to go to breakfast.”

“…Yeah. I’m ready.”

As soon as morning came, Marin greeted me politely, bowing her head—completely different from the first time I met her.

She couldn’t even meet my eyes. It was almost laughable, but I didn’t show it as I stood up.

It had been this easy to put the servants in their place—and yet the original heroine endured Marin’s bullying until the very end.

Pathetic… and a little pitiful.

“…Let’s go.”

I stepped forward. Marin quietly followed behind me.